The final words in the service have two main functions. Firstly, to encourage people to continue following Jesus in the world throughout the week, and secondly, to bless one another in God’s name.
Sometimes before the benediction we will have a ‘sending out song’, often with lyrics that describe our hopes and intentions about living as Christians in the world. Then we say the benediction to each other. It is not pronounced by the pastor or service curator. Our benediction is a declaration that God loves us. It’s not ‘another prayer’; it’s not asking God to be good to us. It is our final act of worship together before we go out into the world. It declares that we do not go alone, but we go with God. We generally divide the congregation in half along various lines — male/female, crunchy/smooth peanut butter eaters, vegetable/meat preferers, etc. and speak the benediction alternately from one half to the other. People are encouraged to look at one another to receive the words that are spoken – most know the benediction by heart. For those who don’t, it’s printed in the newsletter each week. We have found that using the same benediction until it is well known has added a depth to our congregational life. We all know some words in common – unusual in a Baptist context – and can use them at any occasion we gather.
Cityside’s Benediction
You are God’s servants,
gifted with dreams and visions.
Upon you rests the grace of God
like flames of fire.
Love and serve the Lord in the strength of the Spirit.
May the deep peace of Christ be with you,
the strong arms of God sustain you,
and the power of the Holy Spirit strengthen you in every way.
Amen
(Diane Karay Tripp, All The Seasons of Mercy. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1987).
We are grateful to the author for allowing us to use these words in our worship.
Other Benedictions:
Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 16:13, 14, 23; Jude 24, 25; Ephesians 3:20.