Lord’s Prayer version — Steve Garnaas-Holmes, USA

Our Mother, our Father, Source of our being, whose presence is heaven, all Creation sings of you, “Holy!” May your Realm unfold among us, your desire be fulfilled, this world blossoming out of your delight. Give us the breath of life, one breath at a time. Accept our brokenness; give us acceptance of others who […]

Read full text

World Health Day – 7 April

‘There is much to celebrate in the world of global health. Neonatal deaths have been cut in half since 1990.  Mother-to-child transmission of HIV has substantially decreased.  Polio and guinea worm are on the verge of elimination. ‘But there is still much to be done.  Drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis and malaria bring new threats to […]

Read full text

Disciples Prayer — Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, USA

ready-to-print copies: PDF Disciples Prayer by Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson WORD Disciples Prayer by Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson Holy One whose name we honour and praise, When we laugh, you laugh with us. When we weep, your tears wash over the earth. You know the joys and sorrows of our hearts, Our efforts for change and our resistance to […]

Read full text

Cafe Church, Open Table service — Pentecost

Theme:  Pentecost (Whitsunday) A complete worship service weaving together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation and communion Compiled & written by Ana Gobledale for Open Table (with a grant from the United Reformed Church in Great Britain) This service is designed for a congregation gathered around tables.  It can easily be adapted for a more traditional setting. The Leader’s […]

Read full text

New words to old tunes — Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, USA

Carolynshymns.com is a website loaded with thoughtful and meaningful hymns. Each song is easily accessible by a Topical Index, Revised Common Lectionary indexes, and Scripture Index. Carolyn “writes hymns about how faith speaks to events in the world (disasters, social concerns, everyday living, etc.) as well as new hymns based on scripture, including lectionary lessons.” Her moving hymn “How […]

Read full text

Singing a New Song – George Stuart, Australia

George Stuart has written sing-able hymns with grounded, authentic and original lyrics set to traditional and familiar tunes. He, graciously, has made his work available free on line.  Click here for his website, ‘Singing a New Song‘. ‘Love them. Cute songs for our little kids, too.’ – Comment from a worship leader His “Singing a […]

Read full text

Love words

What words express the mystery of love? Love felt? Love received? Love committed? Love lost? Love divine? Words of love express our care and compassion, inviting others into relationship. Explore these resources to discover ‘Love Words’ relevant to your experience and situation, to use in both group worship and personal devotions. Newest posts . . . […]

Read full text

Cafe Church, Open Table service — Mothering Sunday

This ready-to-use Café Church Mothering Sunday worship service weaves together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion.  It has been designed for worship around tables, but is easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. This service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a list […]

Read full text

Wisdom Words

Words to move us from indecision to certainty, from doubt to trust, from unknowing to knowing . . . Explore these resources to discover ‘Wisdom Words’ relevant to your experience and situation, to use in both group worship and personal devotions. Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Wisdom Words’ […]

Read full text

Peace Words

What makes for peace? What words express the urgency of reconciliation and bridge-building, and our longing for trust and serenity? Explore these resources to discover ‘Peace Words’ and images relevant to your experience and situation, to use in both group worship and personal devotions. Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) Peace Words […]

Read full text

Ritual Words

What words express the depth of experience at peak moments in our lives? How do we articulate the feelings, the vows, the hopes? Words for rituals… baptism / christening / naming / dedication blessing services: blessing a home blessing for a distressed home blessing of animals blessing gardens & gardeners blessings with water commissioning communion confirmation […]

Read full text

Praise Words

Words of praise exhilarate and empower, catapulting us into joyful action. Explore these resources to discover ‘Praise Words’ relevant to your experience and situation. Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Praise Words’ resources . . .    

Read full text

Meditation Words

Words to slow the pulse, calm the breath, settle the soul . . . Explore these resources to find Meditation Words relevant to your experience and situation.   Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Meditation Words’ resources . . .    

Read full text

Strengthening Words

Words connect us to the power and strength we need to meet the day. Explore these resources to find ‘Strengthening Words’ relevant to your experience and situation.   Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Strengthening Words’ resources . . . Featured image:  African Beauty in opalstone by Peter […]

Read full text

Healing words

Words can reach out to pain and suffering, bringing renewal and new life. Explore these resources to discover ‘Healing Words’ relevant to your experience and situation. Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Healing Words’ resources . . .  

Read full text

Prayer arising from 1 Samuel 3:1-10 — Cara Heafey, UK

Prayers of Approach Second Sunday of Epiphany, Year B Trinity Sunday Second Sunday of Pentecost, Year B   God our creator: You spoke the universe into being Your word is the source of all life You spoke through the prophets You speak to us still We praise you!   Jesus, teacher, storyteller: You spoke and […]

Read full text

Hopeful words

Words of hope defy despair. Words of hope buoy us when we sink, hold us when we falter. Explore these resources to discover Words of Hope relevant to your experience and situation. Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) ‘Words of Hope’ resources: an alphabetical listing

Read full text

Gratitude words

With what words do we express thanksgiving? How do we convey the depths of our gratitude? Words of thanks and gratitude illuminate the path of life. Explore these resources to discover ‘Gratitude Words’ relevant to your experience and situation. Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Gratitude Words’ resources . […]

Read full text

Candlelight words

Accompanying a flickering flame, words bring light into the darkness, illumination into the wondering . . . Explore these resources to discover ‘Words by Candlelight’ relevant to your experience and situation. Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Words by Candlelight’ resources . . .  

Read full text

Psalm 100, Words of Gathering- Ana Gobledale, UK

Proper 29 (usually Pentecost 25), Year A Responsive reading inspired by Psalm 100   Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth. We will worship God with gladness; Come into God’s presence with singing. We sing, for God made us, and we are God’s people. Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and praise. We give […]

Read full text

Worn Spot – Steve Garnaas-Holmes, USA

   There’s a dip in the stone step in the threshold of the old cathedral, worn where thousands of pilgrims have stepped as they entered the darkness to pray. Even in the old country church the railing is rubbed bare where the faithful have grasped, have leaned, have hoped. There is a worn spot at […]

Read full text

Commissioning Services

Go into the world… What words do we use? What feelings do we express? What covenants do we articulate? How do we articulate hopes and dreams? The gathered church often demonstrates its inter-connectedness and care through rituals in which the congregation ‘commissions’ an individual or group to undertake a specific task. More than ‘order’ or […]

Read full text

Seminary Student Commissioning Service — Barb Wilkins-Crowder, USA

This service was written originally for a service at Cairn Christian Church, Lafayette, Colorado USA. It is to be used within a longer service of worship. Ready-to-print leader’s sheets including full text of service: PDF Seminary student commissioning service WORD Seminary student Commissioning service Order of Service (Through out the service [Name] refers to the name of […]

Read full text

Suggested Resources

You are not alone with your desire for inclusive language and Progressive liturgy. While these links may not provide ready-to-use material, they do offer valuable worship resources. Inclusive-language Bibles Inclusive-language resources: Lectionary Study resources: Lectionary-related Liturgy resources: Year A Worship Words resources Year B Worship Words resources Year C Worship Words resources Lectionary-related songs and […]

Read full text

Genesis 1-2, a choral reading, Heaven and Earth – Scott Ward

Based on  Genesis 1:1-2:4, The Message by Eugene Peterson -Arranged by Scott Ward, USA Lectionary: Trinity Sunday Year A, Epiphany Year B (Genesis 1:1-5), Easter Vigil Years A,B,C Downloads:  full scripts, ready-to-print: (horizontal versions are easy for readers to hold) Heaven and Earth Choral Reading, Scott Ward WORD Heaven and Earth Choral Reading, Scott Ward PDF Heaven […]

Read full text

Psalm 105 prayer, Australia

Inspired by Psalm 105 Lectionary for Year A: Proper 12, 14, 17 and 20 We remember your wonderful works and we give thanks We sing praises, we tell of your strength, your faithfulness, your holiness, and we ask, how do we bring glory to you? Your judgements are over all the earth. You are mindful […]

Read full text

Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday of May)

There are all types of mothers. There are people who are not biological mothers who provide nurture and love. What words do we use to describe mothers and those who mother? What words to describe our relationships with our mothers?     Newest ‘Mother’s Day’ posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all […]

Read full text

Faith Statements & Affirmations of Faith

What do we believe? How do we verbalise our faith? What words do we use to express our core values and beliefs? How do we articulate that which cannot be explained yet is known intimately? Affirmations or Statements of Faith are created when we bring our faith into words. They may be used in acts […]

Read full text

Holy, holy, holy, Love Now Ascending (hymn) — Jim Burklo, USA

Tune:  Nicaea  (Holy, Holy, Holy) Words by Jim Burklo (use freely with attribution) Holy, holy, holy, love now ascending Early in the morning our song shall rise to you Holy, holy, holy, joy that has no ending Giving, forgiving, breathing life anew. Holy, holy, holy, love without a limit Care that binds creation in sacred […]

Read full text

Café Church, Open Table — ready-to-use services

These Café Church worship services weave together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion.  They have been designed for worship around tables, but are easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. Each service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a list of supplies, a […]

Read full text

Blessing God’s Creatures — Woodland Hills Community Church, USA

Everyone is invited to bring their pet (or a photo) to this celebration of thanksgiving for pets. Children and youth are involved as readers. The service was first held at Woodland Hills Community Church, Woodland Hills, California. Opening Bless our God, all you creatures. Bless God in heaven and earth. Readings Genesis 1:23-28, 31a   (read by […]

Read full text

Prayer — Farai Chirisa, Zimbabwe

God, we give you thanks for sending Jesus to give us life. In the midst of wealth we are crushed by poverty, and while we are offered Christ-life in all its fullness, we are surrounded by disease, death and destruction. We are tempted to despair, and yet keep hoping, knowing that you care. At times we […]

Read full text

Ezekiel 37, Dry bones, a prayer — Ana Gobledale, UK

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Fifth Sunday in Lent – Year A 2 April 2017     God of life, hear my prayer.   Withered, cracked, pale Sometimes I feel like a pile of old bones Dry, brittle, broken Sometimes I feel as though all hope is lost.   Dry bones, hear the word of the Divine!   […]

Read full text

Good Shepherd, Guide us in love — Ana Gobledale, UK

Prayers for our world — inspired by Psalm 23 Let us turn our mind and thoughts to others. We will lift up prayers for our world, our nation, our community and our church, responding with the phrase: Good Shepherd,  Guide us in love. Pray with me. . Good Shepherd, we hear the cries and joys […]

Read full text