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CHAPTER 15
The
Dismissal of the Community
The
people and presiding priest depart in the name of the
Lord
Following the Prayer after Communion the community is
dismissed by the deacon, or (in the absence of a deacon) by
the presider. The words of dismissal are said from the
front of the church (and before any procession) so that all
God's people are seen to be included in the commission to
go to "love and serve the Lord."
From Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost, "Alleluia!
Alleluia!" is added to the dismissal and to the people's
response:
Go now to love and serve the (risen) Lord.
Go in peace. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Amen.
We go in the name of Christ. Alleluia!
Alleluia!
On an occasion when the community will remain in the same
place following the Eucharist, the words to "Go now" may
appear inappropriate. The Prayer Book provides one possible
alternative on page 545. Another alternative, when it is
not intended that the people leave, is to use the versicle
and response, "Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God."
Processions out, like entrance processions, might be
reserved for particular feasts or seasons. The way all
leave can vary with the feast, season, architecture, size
of the congregation, and so on. Sometimes all might leave
in no particular order. At other times the liturgical
ministers might leave the building first. On major feasts
there might be a procession with banners and so on. On
occasion the whole community might decide to process out of
the church building. The Day of Pentecost is an appropriate
example. The Paschal Candle is lit at all services from
Easter Day up to and including the Day of Pentecost. On the
Day of Pentecost all might once more receive candles lit
from this Easter candle and as the Easter candle is
extinguished all might process outside with candles lit,
clearly symbolising our mission to bring the light of the
risen Christ into our lives and world.
Extinguishing the altar candles is a simple function it
should not become a ceremonial action which rivals the
Dismissal of the Community. There is nothing symbolic in
the order in which the candles are extinguished. This task
can be performed after the service, when other things in
the sanctuary are also being tidied up.
A
New Zealand Prayer Book has several rubrics indicating
where hymns may appropriately be sung. It will be noticed
that it is not anticipated that there would be a hymn after
the Dismissal. If there is to be a hymn after communion it
more appropriately follows the distribution of communion.
After this would come the Prayer after Communion and the
Dismissal.
Blessings (like the Absolution) developed during a period
in church history when most in the congregation were not
receiving communion during the Eucharist. Now that the
baptised normally receive communion at each celebration of
the Eucharist, a blessing as a substitute for communion is
no longer necessary. In particular, blessings should not
appear to be given more liturgical prominence than
receiving communion, nor should the impression be given
that Christ's self giving in communion needs to be
supplemented.
Some
Questions
Do the practices in your community at the dismissal give a
strong message of everyone being sent out (including those
in the sanctuary and choir) or are there several
"dismissals"?
"God receives you by baptism
into the Church.
Child of God,
blessed in the Spirit,
welcome to the family of Christ."
