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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Song of Solomon 8:6-7 NRSV How wonderful it is when an ancient sacred text speaks with a seemingly contemporary voice. Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame. Many […]
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I have something in my bag. (Take out a broken bowl.) 1. What’s this? [broken bowl] 2. Have you ever broken something? 3. How did you feel? 4. Have you ever broken something your mum or dad told you to be careful with? 5. What happened? 6. Even when we do something wrong, our parents […]
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Click on title to hear Malcolm read aloud. Transfiguration For that one moment, ‘in and out of time’, On that one mountain where all moments meet, The daily veil that covers the sublime In darkling glass fell dazzled at his feet. There were no angels full of eyes and wings Just living glory full of […]
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A picture is worth a thousand words. These photos are available free-of-charge for your use during the Season of Lent, or anytime of the year. Please credit the photographer.
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22 January 2021 marked the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), the first international treaty to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons. A prayer from Japan to mark this landmark day… God who calls us on the path to reconciliation, One year ago today, the UN Treaty on the […]
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Gracious God. Bless our offering. Help us use it to share your love. Bless our lives. Use each of us to share your love. Amen.
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4th Sunday after Epiphany, Year B Celebrate Love! Join hearts in delight and gratitude! The brilliance of eternity stretches out before us Solid, trustworthy, unfailing. Free of fear, step into Now With wisdom and understanding.
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A picture is worth a thousand words. These images are free to download and use. Please acknowledge the photographers and artists.
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What words express comfort and care? How do we articulate comfort in the face of illness and death? In the face of a pandemic? In the face of suffering? Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Comforting Words’ resources . . .
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Invitation to give. God is generous. Created in God’s image, we have been blessed with generous spirits. Our gifts, arising from that wellspring of generosity, will be used for the work and mission of the church. Dedication of gifts Generous God, thank you for all the gifts you have bestowed upon us, for your persistence, […]
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Prayers ‘In view of the coronavirus pandemic‘ have been shared by the World Council of Churches, which writes: ‘At this time when we have to keep physically distant from one another, it is more important than ever that we draw close to one another spiritually, praying together.’ The selection on the slider at the top […]
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We open our hearts to The God that is within, around and beyond This God we know, glimpse and are yet to discover Whose voiceless words invite us Personally, intimately To a creative dance across the cosmos And yet this very magnificent God Is also waiting to be discovered in Refugee campsite, rundown shopping centre, […]
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Eternal One. You are the God in whom we live and move and have our being. We give you thanks for the diversity of life inherent in your creation and within each and every last one us, wonderfully made in your image. Today we particularly give you thanks for your Rainbow Children, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, […]
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Scripture Acts 19:1-7 adapted from the New Revised Standard Version Readers: Storyteller, Paul and 1 or 2 Disciples Storyteller: While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. Paul had this conversation with the disciples: Paul: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you […]
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In threshold places, where endings meet beginnings, we are invited to listen backwards as we move forward. What can we learn from the year past – from how evil played its cards, or from relationships gained and lost? What brought you deep delight, when everything was swirling? To whom were you able to turn to […]
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Benedictions, words of commissioning, blessing, dismissal, sending forth… What transitional words do we use to move from corporate worship into the world? Newest related posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Sending forth’ resources . . .
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A Children’s Message for after Guy Fawkes, New Years or Independence Days, connecting to the sounds of fireworks. O Children of Jacob, O people of God, Come, let us walk in the light of God. —Isaiah 2:5 (Ask one child) What are you thankful for? God, thank you for (repeat what child said). 3-2-1 CLAP! […]
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Praise from the heart: psalms framed and phrased for church worship For Epiphany Ready-to-download and print: Epiphany Praise Psalm 72 – Duncan Wilson WORD Epiphany Praise Psalm 72 – Duncan Wilson PDF Teach your rulers, O God, how to rule your people with justice and how to govern with gentleness the people who […]
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Wise ones… Magi… Kings, queens, rulers… Astronomers… What words do we use to tell the story of those traveling from the east? Those arriving with gifts? Those growing in wisdom as a result of encountering the Presence of Love? Worship resources for Epiphany — an alphabetical listing (Further resources for the Epiphany Season are listed […]
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There you are In quieter moments In fragile sunrises In delicate tapestries There you are In words of encouragement In the tenderest touch In a subtle embrace There you are In sweeping majesty In roaring oceans In crashing thunder There you are In a stable On a cross In hope you are there
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This is indeed a holy season. This is a season of light shining in the shadows. And the shadows will not overcome it. This is a season where we allow God to light hope, peace, joy and love on the wicks of our lives. This is a season of thin spaces where the distance between […]
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Making use of John 1:5 I am cast adrift, O God, I am cut off from your face. A thick darkness surrounds me, I am enmeshed in a mist of confusion. And it seems all creation must mourn, Must mourn and lament, must weep, For we are alone and apart, The light has gone out […]
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Christmas is… The mythic story of a true turning point In the natural history of consciousness, Celebrating the birth of unconditional compassion. The turn away from an eye for an eye, The passing of supernatural, superpower God; The rising of God with no power but love. A story of hope for the peaceable kin-dom, Activation […]
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May the moon that illuminated the night of the shepherds of Bethlehem, embrace your fears and your struggles, renew your yearnings for a good life and your hope in the arrival of peace. May the star that guided those who migrated from distant lands guide your searches and lead you always to the entrust with […]
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At the Manger Tune: Cradle Song New words for ‘Away in a Manger’ For printable lyrics and music click here. Visit George’s website here to discover several modern Christmas Carols set to familiar tunes. Away in the manger, no pillow or bed, The baby boy Jesus is born in a shed; The stars in the […]
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At Christmas we remember a baby born into poverty, a child who grew up and preached a radical message of peace, justice and equality, a message he knew that would eventually get him killed. Knowing that his time was coming to an end, he wanted to explain again to those closest to him what he […]
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Holy and loving God, in this Advent Season [on this Sunday of Advent], we turn our hearts and our minds towards you. You are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with tenderness all that exists: Every creature that crawls or swims or flies, every plant that turns […]
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Creator God, As I prepare to go into the world, help me to see the sacramental nature of wearing this cloth. Let it be a tangible and visible way of living love for my neighbours, as I love myself. Since my lips will be covered, uncover my heart, that people would see my smile in […]
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God, we thank you for gifts: The gift of love we give one another; The gift of Jesus you gave to us. May our gifts this morning be used to bring joy to others near and far.
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A responsive Call to Worship written specifically for intergenerational worship (works well during Advent) God, you came into the world weak: A baby born in a stable, Sleeping in a feeding trough With animal sounds and smells all around. This is how love came to earth. God, you have made us vulnerable. Our bodies can […]
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A Christmas Carol for today Tune: Cranham – original words: Christina Rossetti Photo by Carol Kreis, USA In this bleak pandemic, lonely and afraid City streets are empty, gatherings delayed Snow has fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, Oh this bleak pandemic, how long will it stay? Once there was a stable, in a […]
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Tune: I saw three ships The love of God is with us here Good News for all, Good News for all The Word of life in flesh appears God comes to dwell here among us This Christmas let us celebrate As hope is born, as hope is born Let love abound and conquer hate Let […]
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Response-able Luke 1:26-32 (Jesus’ birth told to Mary) Advent 4, Year B Supplies: • Illustrated Bible – pictures of Mary & Angel, Nativity, adult Jesus • Strips of cloth – one for each child and leader • Baby doll – ideally brown-skinned like a baby Jesus of Palestine Empty manger, i.e. no baby Jesus yet […]
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The days are short. The nights are long. Your universe mirrors the reality of our hearts, Revealing your gracious spirit that Mourns with us in grief, Cries with us in sorrow, Sits with us in despair. You are not a distant God, removed from human pain, But a faithful companion Closer to us than our […]
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Isaiah 40:1-11 Mark 1:1-8 God, in the busy-ness of this season, help us remember the wilderness where your people meet you over and over again. We remember how even Jesus, busy teaching, healing and seeking justice, even Jesus took time out for re-freshment, re-newal and re-creation, retreating to draw closer to you. As we remember […]
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Mark 1:1-8 Let us look back in time about 2000 years and join a mother working in her kitchen, preparing for the Chanukah holidays. She worries about her nineteen year old daughter who disappeared leaving chores undone. Let’s listen in. Mum: That girl! She knows there is work to be done: floors to sweep, water […]
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Matthew 1:18-21 — Joseph’s Dream How often do you hear a voice telling you to not be afraid? Maybe it isn’t a “voice” exactly, but maybe more like a sense of something bigger than yourself. We live in times where there is much to fear. And, yet, I often find myself wondering about all times. […]
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Tune: The old rugged cross We’ve been waiting so long For the birth of the one Who would rescue and salvage the lost. But we didn’t expect The Messiah we’d get, Neither manger, compassion nor cross. Chorus And I think I can just see a star; I can almost hear angel choirs sing. And I […]
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