J Conclusion
Stories from the four churches
Today at St Ann's the whole service has been centred around the theme of God's love. After the distribution of Communion, there is silent prayer, and then the whole congregation joins together in the Post Communion prayer:
Lord, we have broken your bread,
and received your life.
By the power of your Spirit
keep us always in your love … (J35 below)
The first verse of 'We are marching in the light of God' is
sung followed by the Blessing and Dismissal from the chancel
step, and then the whole congregation go out singing the rest
of the hymn.
At St Bartholomew's today there has been a
baptism, so the Baptism Post Communion prayer is used (page 362
in Common Worship), followed by the threefold Blessing, 'The
Father, whose glory fills the heavens, cleanse you by his
holiness and send you to proclaim his word …' (J98
below). One of the churchwardens then presents a lighted candle
to the parents of the baby who has just been baptized. He uses
the words on page 363 of Common Worship. The minister says the
Dismissal, and leads the baptism party out first with the
candle held high, as a symbol of bearing the light of Christ
into the world.
At St Christopher's after the Post Communion prayers there is a recessional hymn during which the choir move to the back of the church. The president pronounces the Blessing from the sanctuary, and moves to the door as the Deacon says the Dismissal from the back of the church.
The president at St Dodo's starts the shorter congregational Post Communion prayer and, while that is being said, fumbles with the ribbons in Common Worship to find the Post Communion for the day.Unfortunately he turns to the page where the traditional form of the prayer is found, when the rest of the service has been in modern English. He goes straight into the Blessing, having just invited the congregation to kneel and given them insufficient time to do so. After the Dismissal he announces the final hymn. At the end of this, everybody kneels for the final vestry prayer which is amplified for the congregation to hear. Nobody moves, as they have been taught - wrongly - that the service is not over until that point, and that theyshould wait for the final 'liturgical ending'.
Ending services
The service should have a clear ending. This may be
* a blessing;
* a dismissal (with or without a
preceding blessing);
* some other liturgical ending,
including the Peace, the Grace or a suitable ascription or
responsive conclusion.
This is set out in the final rubric and Note 9 to A Service of the Word. The Dismissal in Order One Holy Communion (Common Worship, page 183) provides for a blessing (which is optional) and a responsive dismissal (which must be used, though three options are given) after which 'The ministers and people depart'. One form of blessing is provided on page 183, but the rubric says that the seasonal or another suitable blessing may be used, and more are provided on page 299 and pages 300-329. Those planning the service will want to ensure that both the blessing and any prayer immediately before it gather up what has been going on in the service and focus on God who now sends his people out into the world.
So any prayer near the end of the service should not be general intercession, but a brief combination of thanksgiving and petition for grace to go out and serve God. Many of the Post Communion prayers (pages 376-521) are also suitable for use at the end of A Service of the Word as well, and more are provided below, divided into these two categories. Note 22 to Common Worship Holy Communion suggests that if two prayers are used after communion, the second should be a congregational one. If only one is used, it may be presidential or congregational, and may be one of those printed in the main text or one of those in the supplementary texts, some of which are included below. This may have a seasonal or thematic flavour.
A dismissal, ending or blessing should be the last item in any service, and should not normally be followed by a hymn or more prayers.
Notes to the resources
This section includes:
* Closing prayers, suitable for use
in a non-eucharistic Service of the Word;
* Prayers suitable for use at the end
of a service of Holy Communion, either as Post Communion
prayers, or as part of the sending out;
* Blessings;
* Acclamations for the end of a
service.
In general the congregational 'Amen', which concludes a prayer
said by the leader, has not been printed here. It may need to
be added if a full congregational text is being produced.
Texts in bold are suitable for congregational use.
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004