Litany

Closing Litany

(based on Ephesians 2, 4 and I Peter 2)

One:    People of God,

            I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

            Be completely humble and gentle;                      

            be patient, bearing with one another in love.

            Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit    

            through the bond of peace.

            There is one body and one Spirit—

            just as you were called to one hope when you were called—

            one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

            one God and Father of all,

            who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph. 4:1-6)

Two:   Remember that at one time you [were] without Christ,

            aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,       

            and strangers to the covenants of promise,

            having no hope and without God in the world.

            But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off

            have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

            For he is our peace….

            He came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off

            and peace to those who were near;

            for through him we all have access in one Spirit to the Father.

            So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,

            but you are citizens with the saints

            and also members of the household of God. (Eph. 2:11-14; 17-19)

One:   Once you were not a people,
            but now you are God’s people;
            once you had not received mercy,
            but now you have received mercy. (I Peter 2:10)

Two:   Come to him, a living stone,

            rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight,              

            and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house,

            to be a holy priesthood,

            to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God

            through Jesus Christ.  (I Peter 2:4-5)

One:    For you are a chosen race,

            a royal priesthood,

            a holy nation,

            God’s own people,

            in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him

            who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  (I Peter 2:9)

~ Compiled by Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Benediction in a Time of Pandemic

Here’s a lovely benediction from Rev. Nora Vedress, Pastor at Calvary United Church in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Benediction

So now we leave this space of worship

And while so much of the road ahead is uncertain,

the path constantly changing,

we know some things that are as solid and sure

as the ground beneath our feet,

and the sky above our heads.

We know God is love.

We know Christ’s light endures.

We know the Holy Spirit this there,

found in the space between all things,

closer to us than our next breath,

binding us to each other,

until we meet we again,

Go in peace.

~ submitted by Rev. Nora Vedress, Calvary United Church in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Blessing: May God Bless Your Eyes

Here’s a blessing/benediction from Jan Richardson’s the painted prayerbook website.

Blessing

May God,
who comes to us
in the things of this world,
bless your eyes
and be in your seeing.

May Christ,
who looks upon you
with deepest love,
bless your eyes
and widen your gaze.

May the Spirit,
who perceives what is
and what may yet be,
bless your eyes
and sharpen your vision.

May the Sacred Three
bless your eyes
and cause you to see.

~ from In the Sanctuary of Women, copyright © Jan L. Richardson.  Posted on the painted prayerbook. http://paintedprayerbook.com/

Benediction: John 3: 16-17

Here’s a benediction based on John 3:16-17.  It comes from the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website.

Benediction

(based on John 3: 16-17)

Just as God’s Word was sent into the world

to heal and redeem,

so God sends you into the world this day

to be light and love, healing and hope.

Go now to be light for the world!

And may the grace and peace of God the Creator,

the Redeemer, and the Sustainer

come upon you this day

and remain with you always. Amen.

— taken from “O Merciful God: God of Wisdom: Prayers for the Fourth Sunday in Lent,” written by Rev. Kathryn Matthews Huey and the Rev. Susan A. Blain.  Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website.

Benediction: Proper 24A

Here’s a benediction for October 16, 2011 (Proper 24A) written by Rev. Elsa Peters and posted on the United Church of Christ website. 

Benediction

(inspired by I Thessalonians 1:1-10, Exodus 33:12-23)

Growing God, we have known your presence.

We have lived in your love.

Show us your glory.

Reveal your glory in us.

We will carry your glory from here.

We will show it to all your children. Amen.

~ written by the Rev. Elsa A. Peters, Pastor of the First Congregational UCC in South Portland, ME.  She blogs at http://impossiblethingswithgod.blogspot.com/.

Benediction: Philippians 3: 4-14

Here’s a commission and benediction based on Philippians 3:4-14, It was written by Nathan Nettleton.

Commission & Benediction

(based on Philippians 3:4-14)

Go now in the righteousness of faith
and live by God’s just demands.
Let nothing claim your devotion above the Lord,
and count nothing of value above knowing Christ.
Press on towards the ultimate prize, of being one with him.

And may God’s perfect word revive your soul;
May Christ Jesus be your saviour and your rock;
And may the Holy Spirit strengthen you to press ever onward.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
........In the name of Christ. Amen.

Copyright © 2002 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net

Benediction: Matthew 10: 40-42

Here’s a closing benediction inspired by Matthew 10:40-42. It was written by Rev. Elsa A. Cook, and posted on Cooking with Elsa (see link below).

Benediction

(inspired by Matthew 10:40-42)

Whoever welcomes you welcomes me.

Quench our thirst for love,

Satisfy our need to be known,

Assure us that we are indeed prophets of welcome.

Let us go to proclaim this peace in God’s name.

~ written by the Rev. Elsa A. Cook. an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. She writes liturgies and shares her thoughts on https://cookingwithelsa.org/.