After Communion: A Rookie Anglican Guide to the Post-Communion Liturgies
What happens when a worshipper approaches God with faith in Christ through the liturgies of Word and Sacrament? What happens after we come by faith to receive Holy Communion? Anglicans believe that the worship experience has a transformative effect on the worshipper. The people of God change as they spend time together in the presence of God.
The Post-Communion Prayer
The Post-Communion Prayer takes everything we have received and, after thanking God, asks him to “send us now into the world and grant us strength and courage to love and serve…”
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Here is the text of the post-communion prayer(s) from the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. The Anglican Standard Text option reads:
Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us, in these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us, through this Sacrament, of your favor and goodness towards us: that we are true members of the mystical body of your Son, the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs, through hope, of your everlasting kingdom. And we humbly ask you, heavenly Father, to assist us with your grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all the good works that you have prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
The Renewed Ancient Text option reads:
Heavenly Father, We thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal Kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
The food God gives us nourishes our souls so we can go out in his strength, serving him.
The Post-Communion Prayer reminds us and commits us to the fact that worship is not selfish. The Word fills our imaginations and heals our souls, and the sacrament given to our whole selves is a cup that runs over.
The Blessing & Benediction
The blessing is an ancient custom in which the bishop or priest pronounces to the people that God’s comfort, protection, and presence is upon and remains with his people. Sometimes, the bishop or priest will use the priestly blessing from Numbers 6:24-26:
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
Often, the blessing will end with the following:
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
The blessing is a sacramental moment in which the words are said over and to the people with raised hands and in a clear and robust voice (usually the same voice that bids the people to confess their sins and promises God’s forgiveness).
Indeed, this blessing is a short but essential portion of the liturgy. As fallen creatures, we need constant reassurance that God is with us. We need to bow our heads and raise our hands to receive this truth and the assuring gift of his smile. And truly, the blessing is, in its sense, a liturgical moment that imparts the grand extravagance of God’s grace to his beloved people.
We leave as “faithful witnesses” of his majesty, “living members” of his body, and a people with the assurance that he loves us and always goes before us. We do not simply receive because we are sent to give also.
The Dismissal
The end of the service is the beginning, as the Post-Communion Prayer and Blessing imply. That is why the deacon dismisses the people with one of the following dismissals:
“Let us go forth in the name of Christ…
“Go in peace to love and serve the Lord…
“Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit…
“Let us bless the Lord…
The people respond:
“Thanks be to God!”
Therefore, the dismissal does not end with an “Amen.” We end worship with “Go in Peace…” Worship has no end; we continue to worship as we go where Christ calls us to go.
Photo by Cameralenta for Getty Images, courtesy of Canva.
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