Closing Meeting Prayer

Closing prayers are prayers that are recited just before the closing of a session of activity which may include lecture, class, worship or any other type of meeting. It's basic purpose is to bring the session to a peaceful end and invoke a general prayer of thanks. There are many different versions of a closing prayer and the key is to pick one that is appropriate for the specific situation. When .

Benediction is another word for a closing meeting prayer. The term is used frequently in relation to a religious gathering or service. For a smaller service, participants may join hands while a member of the congregation or clergy offers a prayer. To close a larger service, participants may repeat an invocation of the pastor, recite passages from a religious text or sing a hymn. Any of these actions may be considered an alternate form of a closing meeting prayer.A closing meeting prayer is not an uncommon occurrence in other types of gatherings or services. For instance, members of Alcoholics Anonymous recite the Lord's Prayer to close their meetings. Another possible instance of a closing prayer's use is to end a spiritual retreat session. Some companies also choose to close select seminars with a prayer. For gatherings of a business nature, the prayer is more likely to be informal and brief.Here is an example of a traditional prayer that is used to end a religious service:

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, starvation and war
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them
And to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen.
- Franciscan BenedictionFor a more extensive list of prayers for religious services visit: http://rac.org/social/worship/closing/.This website offers prayers for multiple faiths some of which are suitable for non-ecumenical services.