Closing words bring the service to an end and prepare people to return home. If the service has been thematically tied together, the words can be a summation, a parting thought, a final nugget for people to reflect on throughout the week.

Benediction comes from the Latin, to speak well or the good words, and are a final blessing on the community. Benedictions are a blessing: words of comfort, strength, and encouragement for the week to come.

Search Words for Worship Services

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  • May whatever gatherings or activities we engage in this Sunday afternoon help restore us — our connections to one another; our sense of hope, beauty, and fun in this world; our deep knowing that we have to take care of ourselves and each other with love and joy if we are to soulfully survive the...
    Benediction | By Heather Rion Starr | April 13, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Balance, Connections, Direct Experience, Joy, Playfulness, Presence, Secular, Unitarian Universalism
  • I invite you to rise in body or in spirit, and join hands with your neighbors. Hands touch hands. These hands you hold now, once held _________’s hands. Hand by hand we touch those who are here with us, and those who are no longer with us. And hand over hand, we touch all of humanity. Let our...
    Benediction | By Matt Alspaugh | April 6, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Connections, Death, Memorial Services, Relationships
  • No matter how weak or how frightened we may feel, we each have gifts that can make a difference in the world. In this coming week, may you do at least one thing to support the broken; to welcome the stranger; to celebrate what is worthy; to do the work of justice and love. Be strong. Be connected.
    Benediction | By Maureen Killoran | February 7, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Calling, Caring, Challenge, Direct Experience, Hope, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Service, Unitarian Universalism
  • Night has fallen. Stars beckon in an indigo and velvet sky Somewhere a baby is being born. Tonight, the world lazes in a love of goodness while glories stream from heaven afar God is meeting us, tonight, where we are. So be not afraid, and be of good cheer, We wish you, each and all, very Merry...
    Benediction | By Tom Schade | January 18, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Beauty, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Love, Tradition, Wonder
  • This was written for Christmas Eve, or other occasions when people are each holding a candle. The spirit of the holy dwells in each of us. The spirit of love dwells in each of us. May the flames in our hands remind us that Eternal Love dwells in our hearts....
    Benediction | By Renee Ruchotzke | January 1, 2017 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Awe, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Community, Connections, Immanence, Love, Spirituality, Unitarian Universalism, Wonder
  • If I were to wish you peace, it would not be for long. It would be peace to rest, to reflect, to make ready for the coming day, that the full force of your creativity and love might be released and shared. I do wish you peace.
    Benediction | By Bill Hamilton-Holway | December 22, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Activism, Commitment, Humanism, Living Our Faith, Meaning, Peace, Purpose, Secular, Seven Principles, Unitarian Universalism
  • May we see all as it is, and may it all be as we see it. May we be the ones to make it as it should be, For if not us, who? If not now, when?...
    Closing | By Andrea Hawkins-Kamper | December 8, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Anti-Oppression, Calling, Conscience, Human Rights, Humanism, Inclusion, Justice, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Unity
  • Go forth in simplicity. Find and walk the path that leads to compassion and wisdom, that leads to happiness, peace and ease. Welcome the stranger and open your heart to a world in need of healing. Be courageous before the forces of hate. Hold and embody a vision of the common good that serves the...
    Benediction | By Sam Trumbore | December 8, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), Community, Compassion, Courage, Freedom, Healing, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Simplicity, Unitarian Universalism, Vision, Wisdom
  • We extinguish this chalice flame, daring to carry forward the vision of this free faith, that freedom, reason and justice will one day prevail in this nation and across the earth.
    Chalice Extinguishing | By Maureen Killoran | October 19, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Freedom, Justice, Reason, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism
  • The Chalice is now extinguished, but its light lives on in the minds and hearts and souls of each one of you. Carry that flame with you as you leave this place and share it With those you know With those you love and most especially, with those you have yet to meet.
    Chalice Extinguishing | By Brian Kiely | October 7, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Commitment, Direct Experience, Purpose, Service, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism
  • May the next ten days be days of reflection, introspection, and peace.
    Closing | By Debra Haffner | September 29, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Beginnings, Connections, Judaism, Letting Go, Rosh Hashanah
  • My friends, when you go from here know that our hearts are always in a holy place, for we are always connected to one another. Know that deep down, our hearts beat in one universal rhythm. May we each find the sacred space to hear it.
    Benediction | By Israel Buffardi | September 22, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Arts & Music, Community, Connections, Love, Music Sunday, Sacred, Unity, Valentine's Day
  • Become aware of the hands that you are holding: their warmth, texture, and weight. As an infant, these same hands reached out for the nourishment of milk. As a child, these hands shakily wrote a name on paper for the first time....
    Closing | By Amy Bowden Freedman, Keith Kron | June 1, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Body, Connections, Direct Experience, Growth, Justice, Purpose, Service, Work
  • Having let go, Set our intentions, Named our curiosity, Committed our energies, And given ourselves over to lives of balance, purpose and meaning, Let us begin again In love...
    Closing | By Lois Van Leer | May 3, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Beginnings, Ending, Hope, Journey, Letting Go, Love, New Year
  • Within each of our hearts there is a most glorious light....
    Benediction | By James Morison | April 4, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Generosity, Healing, Hope, Humanism, Love, Secular, Strength, Unitarian Universalism, Wisdom, Worth
  • For all those who celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, may this day be another affirmation of divine love and promise; For all those who see the eternal story of new spring and life beginning anew, may you breathe deeply of a season of promise and hope. For all who are experiencing despair or...
    Closing | By Alex Holt | April 4, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Acceptance, Beginnings, Christianity, Courage, Direct Experience, Easter, Hope
  • Let us go out into the world singing. Let us go out into the world singing songs that proclaim liberty. Songs that turn ashes into garlands Songs that bind up the afflicted and those who mourn. Songs that, like oaks, have roots that go deep and stand strong. Let us go out into the world singing....
    Benediction | By Dawn Skjei Cooley | March 1, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Activism, Arts & Music, Christianity, Compassion, Music Sunday, Transformation, Vision, Wholeness
  • There is too much hardship in this world to not find joy, every day There is too much injustice in this world to not right the balance, every day There is too much pain in this world to not heal, every day Each of us ministers to a weary world....
    Benediction | By Darcy Roake | February 20, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), 6th Principle (World Community), Activism, Challenge, Coming of Age, Commitment, Community Ministry Sunday, Empathy, Graduation Recognition, Healing, Justice, Justice Sunday, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness
  • Dear God, Spirit of Life and Love, An Eagle Scout Court of Honor marks the end of one journey, a journey of participating in Scouting. Now a new journey begins with a commitment to better Scouting where all may participate. Bless all of N's future endeavors....
    Benediction | By Aaron Stockwell Wisman | January 12, 2016 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: Integrity, Scout Sunday, Service, Teamwork, Work
  • Tonight in this community, we have shared stories, sung carols, opened our hearts to the beauty of music. Tonight we have turned to one another, lighting each other’s candles in the dark. Tonight we have dared to hear a message of hope spoken once again against the challenge of the world. It is...
    Benediction | By Maureen Killoran | December 21, 2015 | From WorshipWeb
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Acceptance, Caring, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Community, Courage, Unitarian Universalism