As a pastor I have gotten into some good habits and some bad habits, but worst of all are the lame habits. The best services at our church seem diminished somehow by the embarrassed and awkward stab at closure following the benediction. Early on in my ministry I realized that after giving the benediction (usually one of several Biblical benedictions from the epistles) I needed to utter something to dismiss the people. So I started to say "Go in peace."
Now there are times for going in peace, and times for telling people to do so. But mostly, as a dismissal phrase it just feels canned and cheesy. And there are times when I want people to go not in peace but in holy restlessness (or even turmoil).
So I've been trying to think of alternative dismissal phrases and I'm very open to suggestions.
But here are the ones I'm tossing around right now.
Peace out!
That's all folks!
Out of the saltshaker, people!
and my personal favorite:
You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.
5 comments:
alright let's bounce
Hutela!
Hutela-Ahutelechem!
Don't be stranger
Be eager to do what is good
Ollie Ollie oxen free!
I'm not even going to try to add to. I did forward this along to our pastor and to the Presbyterian pastor here. I couldn't decide how to describe the comments - humorous, serious, studied ... it doesn't matter - it is very thoughtprovoking.
Bi dee bi dee bi dee that's all folks...turmoil
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