Chouse_blessinghalking the door is a modern take on an old tradition of praying for God’s blessing on a home and those who live there, remembering the wise men coming to Jesus’ house and looking forward to a new year. Bless your home and family this January by chalking the door. 

Chalk is used to mark the door, or the doorframe, or the floor near the entrance, with this mark or something similar: 20 + C  M  B + 17 . 2017 for the year and C M B for Christus Mansionem Benedicat, which is Latin for ‘May Christ bless this dwelling’.

You could also say one or both of these prayers:

Loving God, may all who cross this threshold and see this sign know your faithfulness this year and be reminded of the story of your Son Jesus Christ.  We ask it in his name. Amen.

May the Lord watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth and for evermore. Amen.

You could do this on your own, with younger members of your family, or as a group visiting each other’s homes at the start of the year.

This is an idea from http://www.faithinhomes.org.uk.  More details including other prayers and readings are here