Item of Interest

Inquiries are frequently made by Readers in branch churches, and by others, regarding the nature and use of benedictions in Christian Science church services. Therefore the following comments on the subject of benedictions may prove helpful.

As used in church services, a benediction is generally in the form of an invocation of divine blessing upon the members of the congregation, such as the often-used one from II Corinthians: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." And it should be remembered that the benediction is an invocation, not an exhortation.

Mrs. Eddy considered the benediction an important part of the Sunday service in Christian Science churches, since she included it in the order of service given in the Manual. (See Church Manual, p. 121.) Enumerating the duties of the First Reader, on page 314 of "Miscellaneous Writings," our Leader stated that he should "pronounce the benediction." And it is right that benedictions should be given their true value as a prescribed part of our Sunday services. Therefore they should be read and listened to with reverence and respect.

Benedictions are selected by First Readers in our churches from the Authorized Version of the Bible. They may be taken from either the Old or the New Testament, and should not be too long. It is not advisable to use parts of sentences, especially if they are from different books of the Bible.

Many suitable benedictions are to be found in the epistles of Paul, as, for example, the following (Phil. 1:2): "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." Equally good benedictions may, of course, be found elsewhere, and First Readers should make the selection of them a matter for individual demonstration, rather than depend upon a list of benedictions used by a predecessor or upon other so-called "helps." A benediction can usually be found which is in harmony with the leading thought of the Lesson-Sermon for the day.

The use of the word "amen" at the end of a benediction is optional. When it occurs in the Bible verse used, it would seem quite natural to include it; but even when it does not occur, it might well be added, if for no other reason than that it indicates to the congregation that the service is concluded. And the harmony of our services is greatly helped when all members of the congregation remain quietly in their places until the benediction has been pronounced. Undue haste in returning Hymnals to the racks, putting on wraps, and otherwise preparing to leave does not add to the serenity of the occasion. On the other hand, waiting until the proper time for leaving, and departing quietly from the auditorium, is in itself a blessing. In many churches the congregation remains silently standing after the benediction until the Readers have left the platform, a practice that is to be commended as adding to the reverence and dignity of the service.

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