Dedicated to the Pursuit of Peace

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Congregational Blessing

1)Love as I Have Loved You

A Service of Congregational Blessing

2)Prelude and Preparation

3)Hymn of Gathering: "Gather Your Children" Stanzas 1-2

4)Lighting of the Peace Candle and Prayer for Peace

5)Welcome

6)Call to Worship: I Peter 3: 8-12

SP 3

*Hymn: "Holy Spirit, Come with Power"

7)*Prayer of Invocation

*Response

HS 287

Disciples’ Generous Response

Reflection: What is our response as followers of Jesus? 
                 How will we extend this blessing to others?
Blessing and Offering of Mission Tithes

8)Scripture Reading and Homily

9)Hymn: "Weave"

10)Testimony of Harmony

NS 51

11)Hymn: "Mighty God, Transforming God!" Stanza 1

12)Testimony of Transformation and Empowerment

 NS 38

13)Song of Dedication: "Lord I Give You" Stanzas 1-3

14)Blessing of the Priesthood

Blessing of the Children and Youth

NS 32

Song of Dedication: "Lord, I Give You" Stanzas 4-7

Blessing of the Families and Home
Blessing of the Congregation

NS 32

15)*Hymn: "Gather Your Children" Stanzas 3-4

 SP 3

*Sending Forth

Go forth, blessed to be a blessing to others. "Love as I Have Loved You." Amen.

*Postlude

______________________
*All who are able may stand.

Our songbooks:

HS = Hymns of the Saints, large burgundy book
SP = Sing for Peace, small burgundy book
NS = Sing a New Song, small gold book
R-x = By Request: Songs for the Community of Christ, small book with Temple Spire

"Love as I Have Loved You" – Annotations

Congregational Blessing

As with all orders of worship in which a sacrament is enacted, the congregational blessing should be the liturgy's focal point or climax. The welcome, call to worship, invocation, scripture readings, hymns, and homily should thematically complement the purpose of the service and move the worshippers in a meaningful way towards participation in the blessing. Accordingly, the blessing should not be given early in the service.

The congregational blessing is ideally a culmination of many weeks of dialogue, home visitation, priesthood and leadership meetings and other congregational activities focused on a congregation's particular need. The blessing should address the need and should be contextual to all age groups.

  1. Make every attempt to use the World Church theme and lectionary scriptures for the day. If they just do not seem appropriate for the sacrament, select a theme and scriptures that highlight the sacrament of blessing.

  2. Through music and, perhaps, presider’s comments, the congregation is encouraged to gather in a manner that allows for preparation for the sacrament.

  3. The gathering hymn properly reflects the anticipation of the congregation in being together for the celebration of the sacrament.

  4. If your congregation has the tradition of lighting a peace candle and offering the prayer for peace, include it here.

  5. The presider should warmly welcome all attendees and briefly address the unique purpose of this service, particularly for the benefit of visitors.

  6. The suggested call to worship scripture focuses on harmony.

  7. The prayer of invocation can include a statement of thanksgiving, praise, and expectation, as well as invoking God’s Spirit.

  8. For this service, the reading and homily are not the focal point of the worship and should be much briefer than a typical sermon. Five minutes is sufficient. The homily should address the scriptural theme and prepare the congregation for the blessing to follow.

  9. A hymn of unity and purpose fits the focus of the worship and the sacrament.

  10. The testimony should also be brief and focus solely on the image of harmony.

  11. This hymn could be omitted or replaced by a ministry of music. It could also be changed to a brief period of silence.

  12. See note 10, only this time the image is of transformation and empowerment.

  13. The song of dedication is broken into segments and allows the congregation to participate as community in the midst of the blessing.

  14. There is not prescribed formula for the prayer of blessing. Although this order of worship illustrates the evangelist’s blessing as three separate prayers, this should not be understood to be the proffered model for this unique sacrament. The blessing can be offered by one evangelist or more than one. If there are several prayers, they can each have a central focus as in this order of worship. A basic outline for a prayer of blessing is as follows:

    Salutation     - The salutation addresses God. It includes praise and thanksgiving and functions much like an invocation.

    Purpose     - The blessing's central purpose should be stated early in the prayer.

    Petition     - A petition for God's blessing properly is contextual to the age groups and families represented.

    Congregation's Covenant     - This is an expression of the congregation's commitment to work towards the desired focus (mission, reconciliation, healing, etc.)

    God's Covenant - The evangelist should articulate God's desire and willingness to bless the congregation. This is where specific words of counsel and guidance are offered. This is the central body of the prayer - an expression of God's longing to strengthen the group as an authentic community of Jesus Christ.

    Conclusion     - The evangelist concludes quickly and briefly with a closing statement and amen.

  15. Ask the congregation to form a circle around the perimeter of the sanctuary prior to singing the remaining stanzas of this hymn.