Progressive Christian liturgy

Lent, hymns for the season — George Stuart, Australia

George Stuart has written at least one hymn for each Sunday of Lent, for each year of the Common Revised Lectionary.  Using familiar tunes, he incorporates words that are straightforward, understandable and faithful.  And they match musically so the songs are easy to sing. If you go directly to George’s website, you will find printable lyrics and music, […]

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Call of Compassion — John van de Laar, South Africa

If we’re honest, compassion does not come easy to us, God; We see others who struggle; those without homes, or food; those dying from curable diseases, simply because they can’t get access to the medicine they need; those who have lost loved ones through death or circumstance, and long for human companionship; those who are […]

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Psalm 8 Interpreted — Jim Burklo, USA

O dear One whose name is more than a name whose power I cannot tame O dear One I look into the sky, brushed with streaks of pink and orange at the dawn And am reduced to babytalk — ohhhh, wow…. I gaze at mountain ranges, parapets of stone And remember how puny is my […]

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Psalm 48, Longing for Justice — Merryl Blair, Australia

Inspired by Psalm 48 Pentecost 7, Year B Our God, we come to you in longing. We have a deep desire for justice: in our international policies, in our local politics, and in our personal relationships. We long for leaders with vision, leaders who place common good above political gain, who look beyond the next […]

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Benedictions

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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Reign of Christ, Call to worship — Cara Heafey, UK

Originally written for Reign of Christ Sunday*, the last Sunday of the Church Year. To be read responsively or by a single voice. Holy is the Creator of the heavens and the earth Of sunlight and starlight, forest and ocean. Holy is the composer of birdsong and thunderstorm. Let all creation sing praise! Holy is […]

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Pastoral Prayer, Matthew 11 — Ana Gobledale, UK

Matthew 11:16-30 5th Sunday of Pentecost, Year A Almighty, creator God, we have gathered to praise you, giving thanks that you have given us life and breath, that you do daily attend us with goodness and mercy.* May this time together in worship strengthen us that we might transcend our current state of social isolation […]

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Open our eyes — Heather Pencavel

An Opening Prayer   (might be used as the basis of a vestry prayer) Open our eyes, ever-present God, To see you here and now in this place and in one another. Open our ears, Word of Life, To hear you speaking in the words we hear and say and sing and in the silence. Open […]

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Watched Word by John Potter, UK

Communion invitation — Ana Gobledale, UK

Friends, come in peace for all things are now ready. After or as the bread is distributed… The bread of life shared with you. After or as the juice is distributed… The power of God shared with you. After meal is shared… We give thanks to you, Source of all life, that you have refreshed […]

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Psalm 97, Call to worship — Ana Gobledale, UK

Inspired by Psalm 97 Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C The Eternal One cares for all creation as a wise and just ruler cares for a realm. Let the earth celebrate this truth. Light dawns for the virtuous, and joy for the upright in heart. Delight in the Eternal One, you who are just and […]

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Cross Friday (Good Friday)

What words express the anguish, the grief, the horror? What words connect us today to eye witnesses, to friends, to family? What words explain the collision of earth and divine? Worship Words resources for Cross (Good) Friday:

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Maundy Thursday

Matthew 26:17-75 Mark 14:12-72 Luke 22:7-65 John 13:1 – 18:27 Worship Words resources for Maundy Thursday (alphabetical order):

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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 […]

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Psalm 147, Call to worship — Ana Gobledale, UK

Inspired by Psalm 147 Epiphany 5, Year B Read responsively or with two voices, with enthusiasm! There are two versions, one shorter and the other longer. Leader: Inspired by the words of Psalm 147, we lift our voices in praise. Shorter version: Celebrate God’s grace! How comforting it is to know God always accompanies us. […]

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Communion Institution — Jim Burklo, USA

You bring alive what once seemed dead Your word becomes as real as bread Your love we taste in sips of wine Your meal reveals the life divine   Jim Burklo, Associate Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, writes regularly for the ProgressiveChristianity.org liturgy project.  Many of his liturgical materials can […]

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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 […]

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Psalm 148, The Divine Gardener — Ana Gobledale, UK

Praise the Divine Gardener! Inspired by Psalm 148 Praise the Eternal One, the Divine Gardener. Who plants the sun, the moon, the stars in the heavens. Who creates earth, the amazing garden upon which we live. Who loosens rocks into teeming, incubating soil. Who spreads the seeds of life in the seas, land, and skies […]

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Cafe Church, Open Table Service — Harvest: celebrating abundance

This ready-to-use Café Church Harvest 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 of […]

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Easter drama, at the tomb — Ana Gobledale, UK

A dramatic litany for Easter morning At the Tomb — A litany for 5+ voices 1st voice: Woman, why are you weeping? 1st woman: We mourn these dark days of death and denial. Abandoned, betrayed, forsaken. Left alone. Jesus gone. Where have they laid him? 1st voice: Woman, why are you weeping? 2nd woman: We […]

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A slow dawning — R S Thomas, UK

The first king was on horseback. The second a pillion rider. The third came by plane. Where was the god-child? He was in the manger with the beasts, all looking the other way where fourth was a slow dawning because wisdom must come on foot.   R. S. Thomas, Counterpoint (1990) Shared by Sarum College, […]

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Spirit of Unity, hear our prayer — Ana Gobledale, UK

A prayer for our church, community and world, originally written for Trinity Sunday     Spirit of Unity,    hear our prayer. We pray for your Church in all its many forms and manifestations: for the churches in our neighbourhood; For [church name], [church name] and our own church, [church name], We pray for those […]

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Earth Prayer — David Pickering, UK

Renewing God, we pray for a new spirit of care to branch out across the earth, that all nations might act for your creation in silencing the roar of the chainsaw in extinguishing the burning of the forests in purging the pollution of the air in conserving valuable energy in stemming the tide of pollution […]

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Progressive Perspective Liturgy — Pilgrim Uniting Church, Adelaide, Australia

This active website for worship planning “from a progressive perspective” is chalk-a-block full of ready-to-use resources! Focusing on the Revised Common Lectionary, this”resource website for worship planning” for Adelaide’s Pilgrim United Church in the City provides “a compilation of resources from various sources, as well as resources written by Pilgrim worship planners.” One ready-to-use item […]

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Liberated Liturgy

When our liturgy is truly liberated it will no longer bend to the tyranny of tradition nor the rule of church law. Neither will it bend to the tyranny of change-for-change’s-sake nor weaken due to a perceived ‘need’ for change. Liberated Liturgy will reflect a freedom to use authentic, grounded and progressive words whether they […]

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