Ite Missa Est are the traditional words ending the Latin Mass, it is from them that the Mass gains its name. These are the words of dismissal given by the Priest, and they contain a benediction and special reminders according to the day and season.
Protestants tend to end their services with less formality though also with prayer and blessing.
It is instructive to contemplate however a more formal and didactic ending, a formal dismissal given in the form a small reminder and exhortation along with prayer and blessing.
For example, at the close of a worship service we may be reminded that we have been, by our worship, calling Jesus, Lord. Then we may be reminded that Jesus Himself challenged us all when He asked why one would call Him Lord but not do the things He said.
Such a deliberate dismissal may be designed to summarize some theme brought out in worship. Or it may be used to encourage some response to the revelation we have reflected upon in worship. In short it is both an encouragement and a reminder to take the fruit of our worship with us into our daily lives.
“Go! You are dismissed.” implies the Church has a God given mission that we are to engage in outside of worship services.
©FH 2012