{"id":53,"date":"2009-06-11T11:42:44","date_gmt":"2009-06-11T11:42:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bettergatherings.com.au\/?p=53"},"modified":"2025-12-19T23:24:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T23:24:53","slug":"concluding-prayers-and-blessings","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bettergatherings.com.au\/?page_id=53","title":{"rendered":"Concluding prayers and blessings"},"content":{"rendered":"

A church service needs to have a definite conclusion, perhaps highlighting the implications of what has been taught and experienced, and praying for faithfulness in the week that lies ahead. Many New Testament letters end with some form of praise to God and commendation of believers to the care and guidance of God. These and other forms of blessing can provide a satisfying indication that the gathering has ended, even though the fellowship and ministry of believers continues informally in various ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12.1<\/td>\nLoving God, we thank you for hearing our prayers,
\nfeeding us with your word,
\nand encouraging us in our meeting together.
\nTake us and use us
\nto love and serve you, and all people,
\nin the power of your Spirit
\nand in the name of your Son,<\/strong>
\nJesus Christ our Lord. Amen<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Prayer Book for Australia<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12.2<\/td>\nEternal God and Father,
\nby whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed:
\nguide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
\nthat we may give ourselves to your service,
\nand live this day in love to one another and to you;
\nthrough Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

An Australian Prayer Book<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12.3<\/td>\nLord Jesus Christ,
\nsend us out with confidence in your word,
\nto tell the world of your saving acts,
\nand bring glory to your name. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Prayer Book for Australia<\/em><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12.4<\/td>\nAlmighty God,
\nyou have given us grace to bring our prayers to you,
\nand you promise that when two or three agree together in your name
\nyou will grant their requests.
\nFulfil now, Lord, our desires and prayers,
\nas may be best for us.
\nGrant us in this world knowledge of your truth,
\nand in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chrysostom’s Prayer<\/em> (modified), based on Matthew 18:19-20<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12.5<\/td>\nLord God,
\nwe rejoice in your greatness and power,
\nyour gentleness and love,
\nyour mercy and justice.
\nEnable us by your Spirit
\nto honour you in our thoughts,
\nand words and actions,
\nand to serve you in every aspect of our lives;
\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday Services <\/em>(modified)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12.6<\/td>\nFor your goodness and generosity
\nin giving us all we need,
\nhelp us to praise you O God.<\/strong>
\nIn every circumstance of life,
\nin good times and bad,
\nhelp us to trust you, O God.<\/strong>
\nIn love and faithfulness,
\nwith all that we have and all that we are,
\nhelp us to serve you, O God.<\/strong>
\nAs we speak or write or listen
\nto those nearby or far away,
\nhelp us to share your love, O God.<\/strong>
\nIn our plans and work
\nfor ourselves and for others,
\nhelp us to glorify you, O God.<\/strong>
\nIn every thought and word and deed,
\nby the power of your Holy Spirit,
\nthis week, may we live for you, O God.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday Services<\/em> (modified)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12.7<\/td>\nTo God the Father, who loved us,
\nand made us accepted in the Beloved:
\nto God the Son who loved us,
\nand loosed us from our sins by his own blood:
\nto God the Holy Spirit,
\nwho spreads the love of God abroad in our hearts:
\nto the one true God be all love and all glory
\nfor time and for eternity. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cf. Ephesians 1:3-10; Romans 5:5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12.8<\/td>\nThe Lord bless you and keep you;
\nthe Lord make his face shine on you,
\nand be gracious to you;
\nthe Lord turn his face towards you
\nand give you peace;
\nand the blessing of God almighty,
\nthe Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
\nbe among you and remain with you always. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cf. Numbers 6:24-26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12.9<\/td>\nThe love of the Lord Jesus
\ndraw you to himself;
\nthe power of the Lord Jesus
\nstrengthen you in his service;
\nthe joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts;
\nand the blessing of God almighty,
\nthe Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
\nbe among you and remain with you always. Amen.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12.10<\/td>\nGo forth into the world in peace;
\nbe of good courage;
\nhold fast that which is good;
\nrender to no one evil for evil;
\nstrengthen the fainthearted;
\nsupport the weak;
\nhelp the afflicted;
\nhonour everyone;
\nlove and serve the Lord,
\nrejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit;
\nand the blessing of God almighty,
\nthe Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
\nbe among you and remain with you always. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:13-22<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12.11<\/td>\nNow to the King eternal,
\nimmortal, invisible,
\nthe only God,
\nbe honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 Timothy 1:17<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12.12<\/td>\nTo him who loves us
\nand has freed us from our sins by his blood,
\nand has made us to be a kingdom
\nand priests to serve his God and Father,
\nto him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cf. Revelation 1:5b-6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

12.13<\/td>\nOther suitable biblical texts to use as concluding forms of praise or prayers for God’s blessing include:Rom 15 13 <\/sup>May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

2Cor 13 14 <\/sup>May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.<\/p>\n

Gal 6 18 <\/sup>The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.<\/p>\n

Eph 3 20 <\/sup>Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 <\/sup>to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.<\/p>\n

Eph 6 24 <\/sup>Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.<\/p>\n

Phil 4 20 <\/sup>To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n

1Thess 5 23 <\/sup>May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 <\/sup>The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.<\/p>\n

2Thess 3 16 <\/sup>Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.<\/p>\n

2Tim 4 22 <\/sup>The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.<\/p>\n

Heb 13 20 <\/sup>May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 <\/sup>equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n

2Pet 3 18 <\/sup>But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

2.14<\/td>\nGo in peace to love and serve the Lord,
\nin the name of Christ. Amen.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A church service needs to have a definite conclusion, perhaps highlighting the implications of what has been taught and experienced, and praying for faithfulness in the week that lies ahead. Many New Testament letters end with some form of praise to God and commendation of believers to the care and guidance of God. These and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":32,"menu_order":12,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-53","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\r\nConcluding prayers and blessings - Better Gatherings<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bettergatherings.com.au\/?page_id=53\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Concluding prayers and blessings - Better Gatherings\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A church service needs to have a definite conclusion, perhaps highlighting the implications of what has been taught and experienced, and praying for faithfulness in the week that lies ahead. 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