Advent Benedictions

Advent 1 Benediction
Be people of hope. 
Let hope live in your heart and share the hope of Christ with all you meet. 
Share hope by noticing someone else’s humanity. 
Share hope by listening to someone’s story. 
Share hope by praying for our world. 
In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share hope. 
As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations, share hope with those you meet. 

And the blessing of God Almighty, 
The Source of Our Being, 
The Light in Our Darkness,
Spirit of Wisdom in Our Seeking, 
rest upon you and remain within you, always.
Amen. 

Advent 2 Benediction
Be people of peace.
Let peace live in your heart and share the peace of Christ with all you meet.
Share peace by acting out of compassion and not fear.
Share peace by listening to all sides of the story.
Share peace by praying for our world.
In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share peace.
As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations, share peace and hope with those you meet. 

And the blessing of God Almighty, 
The Source of Our Being, 
The Light in Our Darkness,
Spirit of Wisdom in Our Seeking, 
rest upon you and remain within you, always.
Amen. 

Advent 3 Benediction
Be people of joy.
Let joy live in your heart and share the joy of Christ with all you meet.
Share joy by seeing the good in each other.
Share joy by remembering good times and hoping for good times to come.
Share joy by praying for our world.
In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share joy.
As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations, share joy, peace, and hope with those you meet.

And the blessing of God Almighty, 
The Source of Our Being, 
The Light in Our Darkness,
Spirit of Wisdom in Our Seeking, 
rest upon you and remain within you, always.
Amen. 

Advent 4 Benediction
Be people of love.
Let love live in your heart and share the love of Christ with all you meet.
Share love by loving those you see regularly.
Start by loving your community.
Share love by loving those you do not know.
How do your actions affect the rest of God’s creation?
Share love by praying for our world.
In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share love.
As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations, share love, joy, peace, and hope with those you meet. 

And the blessing of God Almighty, 
The Source of Our Being, 
The Light in Our Darkness,
Spirit of Wisdom in Our Seeking, 
rest upon you and remain within you, always.
Amen. 

Christmas Eve Benediction
Tonight, as we celebrate God is with us in the birth of Jesus, let us continue to live lives of hope, peace, joy, and love. Share God’s love with the shepherds you meet on the hillside. Let the communion of the Holy Spirit fill your heart with glad tidings like the angels. And the Prince of Peace born again tonight, may He live in your heart to comfort and challenge you as you seek to live as one of his disciples.

And the blessing of God Almighty, 
The Source of Our Being, 
The Light in Our Darkness,
Spirit of Wisdom in Our Seeking, 
rest upon you and remain within you, always.
Amen. 

--The Rev. Susannah DeBenedetto, from LiturgyLink.