Saturday, April 24, 2021

Benedictions

A benediction is a blessing spoken by the leader to end a Christian gathering, like a pastor closing a church service. There are many recorded in the Bible from Genesis on that we may be familiar with. For example: "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace," from Numbers. And from Paul in the New Testament, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

I have been trying to remember the one that the pastor in the church I grew up in used, and I think it finally came to me. 

It goes something like this: Now go in peace and in the fellowship of God's love, remembering that it was in the love of God you were born, it is in the goodness of God you were redeemed, and it is in the providence of God that you have been kept all the days long. 

A benediction is warm and fitting way to conclude a gathering. 

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