How many pastors give a benediction?

[BobHunt]

I am speaking of not just "have a good week" but a benediction like "May the Lord's face shine upon you and give you peace.........." This is one other item that attracted me to the COTN. The other denomination we attended did not do this, instead, they would have a closing prayer. You have no idea how much the benediction means to me, especially if you can feel that the pastor is sincere.
Is this a part of your Sunday sermon?

[Jen Blackburn]

my pastor does it, as does my parent's pastor.. it is nice to hear every sunday.

[Wilson L. Deaton]

I'm afraid I typically give a "closing prayer" thanking God for His word and the lessons we find there usually related specifically to the sermon and ask for his help to follow, obey, etc.

For example, after a sermon on the Good Samaritan I might close with something like: "Father, we thank you once again for Word. We thank you for being a loving, caring, God and ask that as we think about and remember Jesus' lesson on the Good Samaritan that you would help us to see the hurting around us and give us the courage and desire to be like the Good Samaritan. Please be with us as we seperate and go out into the world to serve you for another week. Amen."

I am, however, in the process of "reforming" our worship (at least a little bit) and am considering adding on the type of benedictory blessing you refer to. I'm glad you brought it up.

Wilson

[Gary Swartzlander]

Our senior pastor rarely does it, but our young adult pastor does it on a pretty regular basis.

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

Good question Bob. We generally close with open altar and the Pastor Prayer, then we sing "Always Remember Jesus, Jesus" - a great chorus by Andre Crouch. The second time we sing it, it serves as our benediction.


I am speaking of not just "have a good week" but a benediction like "May the Lord's face shine upon you and give you peace.........." This is one other item that attracted me to the COTN. The other denomination we attended did not do this, instead, they would have a closing prayer. You have no idea how much the benediction means to me, especially if you can feel that the pastor is sincere.
Is this a part of your Sunday sermon?

[William Hunter]

My benediction approach changes from week-to-week, based on the theme of the music and message from God's Word, but it is always made with the as an attempt to hlep my people see that they are always in God's presence every moment of each day and night and that God is already there in their lives in the week coming. I use a variety of benedictions to do this.

[Larry Osweiler]

I would fall more into the "Thanksgiving" category. I'm a pretty informal type anyhow, so I usually thank the Lord for being with us, allowing us to feast on His Word, and then encourage a corporate "Amen."
Now maybe you call me formal in some ways. I do usually say, "now dismiss us in your blessing, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Sometimes I will say, "now go in peace to love and serve the Lord." I hijack that from my Catholic days. I still find it a good benediction phrase.

[Jenny Mitchell]

I usually do a closing prayer. I always do a benediction. I'm still working on making those a higher quality part of the service.

[Bruce Carriker]

When I was a pastor, I always did a benediction.

Now, in my capacity as a park chaplain, I do a benediction at the end of each service. I find that the Baptists, Nazarenes, Presbyterians, Assemblies of God don't find it too "popish", and it helps the Catholics, Episcopalians, and Lutherans realize that the chapel service is over. :)

[Barb Bouldrey]

John always raises both hands and gives a benediction...usually scripture. It is at the end of a closing prayer.

Most people have their eyes closed and do not see it.

[Marsha Gupton]

My pastor closes in prayer with one hand raised as to bless the congregation.

[John Kennedy]

I used to have a pastor who after praying a closing prayer would ask the congregation to open their eyes to receive the benediction - he always used a scriptural benediction. I liked it. It was a visible and conscious reminder that we were going into the word under the blessing of God.

[Jon Twitchell]

I conclude each of our services with a scriptural benediction, with both hands raised above the congregation to bless them. Some close their eyes and bow their heads, others look at me. Prior to giving the benediction, I say something like, "Receive today this benediction--this good word of blessing--upon you."

Since the prior pastor also concluded services this way, I know that out of the 38 years of this congregation's existence, at least 8-10 years have had services concluded in this manner.

Grace and Peace,

Jon

Grace and Peace,

Jon

[Wilson L. Deaton]

I was on the edge of doing some "order of service" reform when this thread came around and I ended up making a benediction part of that reform.

I now pray a "closing" type prayer at end of sermon (a response to the message) then our praise team comes and leads us in a closing song then I give a true Benediction!

Wilson

[William Hunter]

I was on the edge of doing some "order of service" reform when this thread came around and I ended up making a benediction part of that reform.

I now pray a "closing" type prayer at end of sermon (a response to the message) then our praise team comes and leads us in a closing song then I give a true Benediction!

Wilson

A closing prayer and a closing song does not give our people adequate time to the truth of God's Word presented in the message. After we studied the ancient church for a couple of years so that we had a good base from which to think, we changed our services. The result has been a congregation that does not want to go back to the usual service order, and much more altar response.

We start with a couple of hymns/choruses so that we can begin to focus ourselves. The Praise Team and musicians just start in without me having to get up. Once the instruments start playing my people begin to focus and then we sing. After these two songs I preach. Often at the close of the message I hve Virginia play quietly and I give an altar call. Each time I have done this we have had people at our altar. In the last two weeks we have seen 4 salvations there.

After the message and altar call (if I have an altar call then), we move into the main music package. Then I lead in the pastoral prayer. If I have not had an altar call yet, it do it here and open it up a bit so that more people might feel like taking care of spiritual business. This approach has greatly increased our altar response for it has given my people time to absorb the truth of God's Word. The music all fits the message of the day and reinforces the Scripture. We sing another chorus or two here after prayer and then receive the offering as an act of submission and worship. Then we close with a special solo, trio, etc.

My attempt here is to connect with the intellect, emotions, and volition of those who have come to worship. That likely is not done well in the former and usual order of worship we find in most of our churches. My people keeping telling me that they are not going back to the former order of worship for they find this new order much more to their liking. I like it, too. Also, I have prayer team that meets on Sunday mornings for 45 minutes before the service and for an hour on Thursday mornings to pray for our service, our ministries, lost people, and the needs of the congregation. The sick are not prayed for during these times. This team stays very focused and I believe that with the change in worship and the prayer, we will see an increasing amount of conversions.

We also changed the arrangement of the worship area so that most of our people can see the faces of at least half of the congregation, and my lecturn and stool are out in the seating area. I often sit on the stool as I preach, though I stand some and sit some. The response amazed me here. Most of my men like having me close when I preach and they like the my being seated during parts of my message. They tell me that it seems like the pastor and the Word are more accessable rather than being protected behind the altar, the Communion Table, etc. For them, the new physical seating arrangement makes them feel like we are in this together and gives them a better sense of a family feel. The responses to these changes have amazed me, especially when men come all on their own and start telling you they really like the change and why.

[Dennis M. Scott]

I am reminded that twenty-five years ago, I was asked to pray the invocation and benediction at reunion of our local high school class from twenty-five years prior to that. I guess since I was the pastor from a local church, and they needed someone, I was recruited, although I had neither graduated from that high school nor anyway near that year. Just before the evening's activities began, I was given a list of dead people, people married to dead people, and class members who were in the hospital, etc., etc. Although I only knew a couple people there, it was a good opportunity for exposure in the community, and a free meal. There were several hundred people there.
I prayed an invocation - I had been reminded to pray for the meal. Following the meal they gave away a couple door prizes, sang a couple songs, and had five or six former teachers come and bring greetings. They gave away a few more prizes, and had class officers stand and say a few words. They read a poem from a class member who had died, and then the emcee said, "After we sing the alma mater, we will have Rev. Scott come and pray the benediction." We sang, I went forward and prayed a benedictory prayer. I said amen, people began to mill about, and most of us thought we were going home.
Then the emcee jumped to the microphone and said, "Hey, everybody! Sit down! We're about half way through the evening, and have a lot more to do." They proceeded to have another three speakers, gave away two more prizes, showed a video of pictures from high school days, and sang two more songs. The thing lasted more than an hour longer. Then the emcee said, "OK, folks, that's all there is. You can leave now."
I'm not sure what he thought a benediction was, but I guess he thought something other than what I thought.

[Gina Stevenson]

Well, Dennis, I guess he was taking the word more literally than some of us, or most of us, do. We've had it so ingrained in us, perhaps, that we "go out with a blessing," that we connect "benediction" with "ending."

If we take the word apart, tho', we find that "bene" meaning "good" or "well," and "diction" being "speaking," a benediction is literally "speaking/wishing someone well/good to someone" ... the word nowhere indicates that it must be in the closing moments of any gathering. So, the guy wanted y'all to "bless 'em" before they were done with whatever (maybe he felt he or someone needed a "blessing" re the outcome of the doorprize give-aways? ha!)

But that is funny ... when most of us, just by virtue of how it's been used over our lifetime(s) ... expect a benediction at "the end." Sort of a, "That's all, folks!" thing ....

'Heard more than once before how our "expectations" can get us into trouble, eh!? :fav17


I said amen, people began to mill about, and most of us thought we were going home.
Then the emcee jumped to the microphone and said, "Hey, everybody! Sit down! We're about half way through the evening, and have a lot more to do." They proceeded to have another three speakers, gave away two more prizes, showed a video of pictures from high school days, and sang two more songs. The thing lasted more than an hour longer. Then the emcee said, "OK, folks, that's all there is. You can leave now."
I'm not sure what he thought a benediction was, but I guess he thought something other than what I thought.

[Hans Deventer]

I'm not sure what he thought a benediction was, but I guess he thought something other than what I thought.

I think so :basic03

Dennis, these events are given us to keep us humble. I think..........

[David van Beveren]

At the Leaderships Conference at EuNC there was an inauguration service for the new rector. At the end of the service there was a Prayer of Benediction and a Blessing. I was there, but didn't get the difference.
Till then I thought both were the same thing.

[BobHunt]

After all these posts, maybe a benediction can take on several different forms? If you pray for someone for the up coming week, are you not wishing God to bless them? This is an interesting thread.

[Kevin Rector]

I'm a bit late to the thread, but I always give a benediction as the last part of the service to send my congregation into the world with a positive word. Sometimes it's scriptural but sometimes it's related to the sermon. If I don't have time to prepare one then my personal favorite is the benedition at the end of Jude, I can do that one by heart. When I was a kid my pastor said that benediciton over us at the end of every service so probably anyone who went to that church could say it by heart.

I'm currently taking a preaching class with Dan Boone and he told the story of the girl who came up to him and said, "you know why I come to your church?" He said, "No, I actually don't". Then she replied, "It's that thing you do at the end where you hold your hands up, smile, and say nice words to us. That's the only time of the week that anyone says anything nice to me."

[Grandma Carolyn]

I am speaking of not just "have a good week" but a benediction like "May the Lord's face shine upon you and give you peace.........." This is one other item that attracted me to the COTN. The other denomination we attended did not do this, instead, they would have a closing prayer. You have no idea how much the benediction means to me, especially if you can feel that the pastor is sincere.
Is this a part of your Sunday sermon?

Our Pastor does! It is so precious. It means so much to me to hear him pray a prayer that God will go with us. I peeped! He even has his arm outstretched and his hand turned over as he moves his arm back and forth over the crowd!

As far as I am concerned it is a powerful closing to our worship! I feel so safe and good knowing this blessing has been prayed over me and the rest of the congregation for the rest of the week.
gc

[Grandma Carolyn]

I'm a bit late to the thread, but I always give a benediction as the last part of the service to send my congregation into the world with a positive word. Sometimes it's scriptural but sometimes it's related to the sermon. If I don't have time to prepare one then my personal favorite is the benedition at the end of Jude, I can do that one by heart. When I was a kid my pastor said that benediciton over us at the end of every service so probably anyone who went to that church could say it by heart.

I'm currently taking a preaching class with Dan Boone and he told the story of the girl who came up to him and said, "you know why I come to your church?" He said, "No, I actually don't". Then she replied, "It's that thing you do at the end where you hold your hands up, smile, and say nice words to us. That's the only time of the week that anyone says anything nice to me."

I sure can relate to that little girl. It is so special and so precious an experience.

Personally, I want that prayer from my pastor.

**GC**

[Gina Stevenson]

I sure can relate to that little girl. It is so special and so precious an experience.

Personally, I want that prayer from my pastor.

**GC**

Yes, Carolyn ... as I was young, I could relate to that little girl, too ... still can, tho' I know better re what I am, or am not, in spite of what someone might say.

{{{ HUGS }}} gina