An interactive Children’s Message I have something in my bag. What is this? [a globe] Where are we? [find location] I was born in ____________________. Can you find it on the globe? Where were you born? Can you find it? What about your mums and fathers? Where were they born? Let’s find those countries on […]
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31 March Transgender Day of Visibility Creator-God, mother and father of us all, you delight in all that you have made. We rejoice in the glorious diversity of your creation. You have room to hold us all inside your love. Rebel Christ, at home on the margins, you rejected the names and labels others imposed […]
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Give thanks to God because God is good, with a love that endures for ever. Let the people say, ‘Our God’s love reaches from here to eternity.’ Just listen to the shouts of triumph in the homes of God’s people – ‘God’s great power has done it, it has brought us victory – supreme over […]
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Gather us in, O God From every age and outlook. Gather us in, O God From every creed and colour. Gather us in, O God From every circumstance and walk of life. Be found among us In the sharing of bread and wine, in the offering of friendship and service, in the openness of thankful […]
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Words for departing worship — sending forth God of life and wholeness, God within, around and beyond, Fill our minds with wonder, our hearts with love And make us thirsty For trusting beyond where we can see, so our worship Can inspire and transform us And help us travel with relevance today in the way […]
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A picture is worth a thousand words. When using an image, please acknowledge the photographer or artist.
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The next time it gets light I will awake with hope And tonight as it gets dark I will not fear The next time it grows light I will welcome the dawn The next time morning comes I’ll be reborn The next time it grows dark I will not hide away The darkness does not […]
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Inspired by Psalm 96 Sing a new song, Sing all the earth, Sing praises to God
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Ready-to-print music: God, The Soaring Eagle, music God, the soaring eagle, God, the mother hen, Architect and potter, shelter, shield and sun, Comforting the people others have condemned: You of many names, you nameless one: All our words of praise have just begun. God the gentle shepherd, God the mighty king, Crying out in […]
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Mirrors are liars. They do not show us ourselves, We are invisible, and this is pain, To be forced to go unseen. To hide, hide, hide, For safety or for someone else’s sake, And not show face, Until we know what face you want to see. But there is One who watched us grow, Since […]
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For Palm Sunday Open now the gates to God’s holy place. We will go in and give thanks to our God. The foundation stone which the builders set aside has proved the most important of all. This was achieved by God and how wonderful to behold. Today celebrates God’s victory. Rejoice in it. God bless […]
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A picture is worth a thousand words. When using an image, please acknowledge the photographer or artist.
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A picture is worth a thousand words. These photos are available free-of-charge for your use on Maundy Thursday, or anytime of the year. Please credit the photographer or artist.
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International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) takes place on 31 March each year to celebrate trans and non-binary people and raise awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide. ‘The day was founded by US-based transgender activist Rachel Crandall of Michigan in 2009 as a reaction to the lack of days celebrating transgender people, citing the […]
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We are the church together, each of us an important part, sharing in the responsibility to reach out to those in need, to keep the building in good condition, and to pay the running costs. As we consider what to give this morning, on our church’s anniversary, we reflect on what this church, this congregation, […]
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Lent 5, Year B Be merciful towards us, O God, and because of your faithful love, wipe away our sins, wash away their stains and cleanse us from all that is wrong with us and our world. We are constant companions to our faults, they confront us wherever we look. It is you we have […]
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A Psalm for World Water Day 22 March Inspired by Psalm 104: 1, 10-13 Eternal One, your magnificence astounds us. You direct springs to gush forth, to flow along valleys, to slither between hills, providing drink for wild animals, to cool parched throats, to quench thirst. Beside streams you create safe havens for birds who […]
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Dear and glorious God, we cry to you. At the moment, love seems both deeply hidden and alive like never before. Selfishness is alarmingly exposed, numbing us to the fear which feeds it. Selflessness is gloriously and exhaustingly alive, restoring our faith in you and in humanity. In this Lenten time, stir in us, waking […]
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Let us feast on simple pleasures, and fast from all that gets our bodies and souls out of balance. Let us feast on kindness, and fast from sarcasm. Let us feast on compassion, and fast from holding grudges. Let us feast on patience, and fast from anxiety. Let us feast on peace, and fast from […]
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Matthew 21:1-11 Blessed is the one that weeps for us and with us when we have lost our way. Blessed is the one that comes towards us in majesty and humbleness down that ancient twisted path straight into our gated cities, locked up hearts. Blessed is the one that hears our shouts of joy then […]
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Lent is… Bowed row of ashy heads, Gentle service winding down, In penitent reflection. Lent is… I give up this, you gave up that, We laugh, Over how long it will take until we fail. Lent is… Reading the same book together, Talking over points, Laid forth in prose, Straining together to deepen ourselves. But […]
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Lent 4, Year B ‘Give thanks to God for God is good, with a love that never fades.’ Keep on saying these words to recall how you have been saved, rescued from your adversaries, brought home from exile, from east and west, from south and north. Not everyone was wise, many falling into sinfulness, and […]
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A picture is worth a thousand words. These images and photos are available for you to use free of charge. Please acknowledge the photographers and artists.
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Intercessory Prayer inspired by Psalm 107 Lent 4, Year B We bring our thanks to you, our God, for the faithful love that is always present with us. We look back at the times when we have been held by your love, gathered from isolation and disintegration, and brought into your reconciling grace. In the […]
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Loving God, We clear our minds and open our hearts to you. [pause] Be with [name of worship leaders and preacher] as they bring the message in ways which allow you to speak through their words to bring a spark of understanding and inspiration to our congregation this morning. May the prayers and music lift […]
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To be read responsively by a leader and group, or divided into two groups of voices (e.g. left & right) Mothers come in many different forms, and today we celebrate them all! Thank God for mothers! Everyone here is either a daughter or a son. Thank God for our mothers! For those women who have […]
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Exodus 20:1-17 Jim writes… ‘The ten commandments endure as a foundation for morality, after thousands of years. But just like other guiding/governing documents, from time to time we need to add amendments to them. The ten commandments are a short list, and that is a very good thing. They mostly tell us what not to […]
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Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away to the next room. I am I and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, That, we still are. Call me by my old familiar name. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. […]
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‘Inclusive language is language that is free from words, phrases or tones that reflect prejudiced, stereotyped or discriminatory views of particular people or groups. It is also language that doesn’t deliberately or inadvertently exclude people from being seen as part of a group. Inclusive language is sometimes called non-discriminatory language.’ From ‘Guidelines for Inclusive Language‘ […]
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This prayers are provided as ready-to-use or starters for building your own prayer. Loving God, Thank you for all the gifts you have given us. Help us be grateful. Now we share our gifts. Please accept these gifts of love that we offer to enhance the lives of others. For you have taught us that […]
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Inspired by words of Julian of Norwich: ‘All shall be well and all manner of things shall be well for there is a force of love moving through the universe that holds us fast and we never let us go.’ Never let go Though it’s hard to hold on This love will hold you And […]
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Psalm 22 arises in the Revised Common Lectionary on Good Friday, Lent 2 (B) and Proper 7 (C) and 23 (B). Oh, vacant sky! Oh, empty land! Oh heart of mine, bereft of hope! Why do I even bother crying? What’s the use Of even complaining? When there is no one to hear And no […]
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When tomorrow starts without me, And I’m not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me, I know how much you love me, As much as I love you, and each time that you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too. I hope […]
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Tune: In Christ alone You are my rock, safe and secure All that I treasure comes from you When others fade, you will endure Your promises are always true Chorus From where I stand, from what I know You are my strength, you are my guide Wherever I am called to go Your love will […]
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Words of sending forth And now friends, Know that This God who is within, around and beyond, Delights in our probing, Wriggles with joy at our exploring And hugs and holds us as we search for understanding. So let’s always enjoy our journeys into the wonder of God And until we meet again: God bless […]
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Invitation God has blessed us with so many good things. May we respond to God’s generosity with generous gifts of our own to support the ministry and mission of this churh and the work of Christ’s church in our city, that all people may experience the joy of abundance, unity and justice. Dedication Gracious God, […]
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Lent 3 & 5, Year B God of wide skies and speechless joy, as we come before you in wonder, may our words join the voiceless songs of praise uttered by the simple beauty of all created things. Allow your wisdom, balance, and connecting love to draw us into the centre of […]
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‘We (the United Kingdom) passed 100,000 deaths from Covid. I had to write this or my heart would have broken.’ — Zachary We are gone to rags and tatters, So many broken threads, The warp and weft of life gone all awry. This earthquake reaching out, From life to life, Lethal shock passing like static, […]
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Presbyterians for Earth Care USA has released its 2021 Lenten Devotional with inspiring reflections, visually appealing layout, original artwork and photos. The cover art, shown here, is entitled, ‘Raise Your Head’ by Lauren Wright Pittman. Explore her artwork here: Biblical Artwork by Lauren Wright Pittman. To read the complete Devotional Booklet on the web click […]
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Inspired by Exodus 20.1-17 Third Sunday of Lent, Year B Our God, you are always creating. It is easy to see and to praise the wonders of nature, perhaps not so easy to see and praise the wonders of complicated human relationships. Help us to see your glory in the face of all people we […]
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