Beyond the Benediction

It all begins when it ends.

Well, at least that's how it seems to be when it comes to worship and life.

As a pastor, I work very hard each week to fill the worship service in my congregation with many things. I follow some of the historic patterns that are given to me by tradition. Sometimes I do some of my own things. Some Sundays stand out among others. Others stand in the background, but have nourished and shaped spiritual journeys nonetheless.

But almost every Sunday worship experience is bookended by a couple of significant moments. First there is the call to worship. It may be preceded by some announcements or not. It may be spoken and it might be musical. It could even be silent. But each worship service calls us to a moment in time at which we decide to move from the routine of our daily lives into an experience together with our brothers and sisters in Christ that we call worship. During that time we will sing, pray, share, preach, and dine together. We will participate in the things that have sustained the church for centuries.

And then, at the end of this experience together, there is a benediction. I am not sure I have ever been to a worship service of any style in which there wasn't a benediction. It may be a prayer by the pastor or a lay person. It might be words spoken directly to the congregation. It might be a musical number. But there is a point at which we know the worship time has ended and we are to leave. We will get up from our chair or pew and walk out of the room in which we have gathered to worship and we will leave.

It all begins when it ends.

A hymn in our United Methodist Hymnal with words by Omer Westendorf phrases it like this:

Sent forth by God's blessing, our true faith confessing,

the people of God from this dwelling take leave.

The service is ended, O now be extended

the fruits of our worship in all who believe.

The seed of the teaching, receptive souls reaching,

shall blossom in action for God and for all.

God's grace did invite us, and love shall unite us

to work for God's kingdom and answer the call.

Just this past Sunday, we celebrated Easter. It was my eleventh Easter as a pastor, but my 39th in this life. As the pastor, I had just preached yet another Easter Sunday sermon. My benediction was simple.

Jesus Christ is alive! Now go and live like it!

 

That is what I hope to do over the course of the years on this blog. I want to "connect the dots" between what we do in worship with what we do in living. I want to understand better how to turn learning into living. I want to understand how to get the good news of Jesus Christ BEYOND THE BENEDICTION and into the daily lives of Christians who will in turn get the good news of Jesus to their neighbors.

 

The church is often hounded with accusations of irrelevance. Christians believe the lie that our faith is "private" and is to be exercised within the safe bounds of the church building. This is not the faith that was handed down to us by the apostles. This is not the faith of an evangelistic people whose final mission from our master was to make disciples of the whole world.

 

So, I hope you'll join me on my way of learning, exploring, and discovering ways to get the Christian faith beyond the benediction and into daily living. God knows we need it.