God, companion and guide, thank you for the gift of faith. Thank you for accompanying us as we journey together with you and with the companions you send our way in this gathering. Open our hearts to the joy of your presence. Empower us to here your call to action in today’s service, to heed […]
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Reading: one of the 7 biblical accounts of the ‘feeding of the multitude’ from either Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Invitation Christ’s invitation is simple — sit down where you are. You don’t need to run off somewhere else — not a nearby village market or a familiar sanctuary, communion is where you are — […]
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Distract us From overthinking situations Beyond our control Distract us From being led astray By the lure of temptations Distract us From the vain pursuit of fame Wealth and status Focus our hearts On following and nurturing Shepherd us well A version for personal devotion: Distract me From overthinking situations Beyond my control Distract me […]
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Be still Let the sound of nothing absorb you Be still Let time be motionless and free Be still Let clouds roll by in an unending sky Be still Don’t let thoughts intrude – let go Be still Grasp the precious freedom of now Be still This is just us, you and I, in communion […]
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Psalm 68 – framed and phrased for church worship Easter 7, Year A, New Revised Common Lectionary Sing out to God! God it is who gives the friendless person a home, and leads the prisoner to safety. God it is who brings rain to restore the worn-out land, providing food for the poor. Sing out […]
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A prayer inspired by the Sacred Ally Quilt Ministry* Loving God, Stitch us anew Forming the fragments Of your human family Into something more Than the world sees As possible or probable. Let no story be scrapped As unimportant Or unworthy of notice All carrying something of you And your beloved unfolding. Let your Christ-presence […]
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Loving God, Let today be the day I turn to You in everything Before I get so involved In the call of the many I forget You are ready To Break open Every hard place Too heavy for me Alone to open. O Love, Let today be the day I trust your love more Than […]
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Numbers 6: 22-27 modified for today May the Source bless us and keep us. May the Source let their face shine on us and be gracious unto us. May the Source uncover their face and bring us peace.
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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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from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin, Ireland Loving and healing God, we, turn to you in prayer, Confident that you are with us and with all people in every moment. We stand before you as people of hope, trusting in your care and protection. May your faithful love support us and soothe […]
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Prayers of approach and confession Loving God Our souls sing out in worship And all of creation bursts forth with praise! For you look with compassion on all who suffer. You shed tears of sorrow with those in grief. You reach down into the dark pit of hopelessness. You kneel in the dust to lift […]
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A message of hope Lockdown Yes there is fear. Yes there is isolation. Yes there is panic buying. Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise You can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet […]
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Parting Words If we are the image of God: God is beautiful! If you are the image of God: God is beautiful! If I am the image of God: God is beautiful! If this community is the image of God: God is beautiful! Words from Morison Memorial United Reformed Church, Clydebank, UK Stained glass window […]
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A contemporary rendition of Psalm 146, Common Lectionary reading — Advent 3, Year A Happy are those whose hope is in the goodness of our God, maker of heaven and earth, the seas and all that they contain, who keeps faith with us for ever and brings justice to those who are oppressed. God it […]
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19 March 2023 10 March 2024 30 March 2025 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 ‘Mothering Sunday’ posts . . […]
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Year C Easter 2 Reading: John 20:19-31, particularly verses 19-29. Not specifically on the reading but on the general issue of doubt Tune: Forest Green For the lyrics, music and a power point, click here. In Praise of Doubt Some people say, ‘To doubt is wrong’ We should not doubt at all; To question our […]
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Baptism – Christening – Naming – Dedication What words do you use to explain the mystery of belonging? What words do we use to present our children to the truth of Love? To affirm their welcome by the One which cannot be named or known? To welcome them into the family of Love? Scroll down […]
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Gracious God, Today we pray for a moment of quiet to catch our breath; to give thanks to you; to listen to the insects and the birds, to the cars and airplanes; to watch the breeze move gently in the leaves and the squirrels collect food for their winter store. Grant us quiet. Today we […]
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God of the prophets, we lift our prayers to you. Prayers of intercession for Eighth Sunday of Pentecost, Year B Amos 7:7-15 Ready-to-print copy: PDF Prayers of Intercession – Amos 7,7-15 WORD Prayers of Intercession – Amos 7,7-15 A different responsive line might be chosen, e.g. God of the prophets, we lift our prayers to […]
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Worship resources for Easter Sunday and the Easter season, Year A…
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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 […]
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When the earth shakes, the lightning flashes, the tsunami rolls across the waters; when the snow whites out the roads, the floods wash out bridges and homes, the wildfires rage across the ridges; when the tornados race through town, the hurricanes churn up the coast, the heat waves wipe out crops— then, […]
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Pentecost came once – long long, so long ago! What can it mean to us but to inspire perhaps? And yet could it be so that we might know the fire upon our heads and in our souls? Our lives might yet be changed beyond out wildest dreams – or fears? For we might have […]
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Dearest Friend, gentle Spirit, breath of live, source of our being, from the peacefulness of silence, the silence that preceded Creation, your Word entered the void and said, ‘Let there be light.’ This afternoon we sit mindful that we are kin and covenanted to that Word and to your light. We are grateful to you, […]
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Prayers for our world While the prayer was written for a specific Harvest Sunday, it might be used anytime during a Harvest Season. There is an opportunity to light individual candles for specific prayer concerns or people. In the richness of our faith we lift our prayers of intercession to God, sowing the seeds of […]
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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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Refreshing words, by Lawrence Moore, UK Preparation: a bowl of water (to represent baptism) and towel Affirmation I go into today with the gift of the God who calls me, the Christ who walks beside me, and the Spirit who empowers me. I refresh my body with the water of all life. (Wash hands, face […]
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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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God loves a try-er or so ‘they’ say. And God, you know that I’m trying. But somehow I never feel good enough. There’s always something just beyond my reach; something I can’t get right. And somehow I always seem to let me – and you – down. Living Spirit uplift me, I pray. Breathe a […]
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Let us tell the Good News: this world is not God-forsaken, abandoned to futility and destruction. God has not failed: This world will become the Realm of God. Let us live the Good News: care for the sick and suffering, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, struggle against injustice, care for the earth, so that […]
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This communion liturgy seeks to be worshipful, educational and inspirational. Children and youth might be used as servers and/or readers. Welcome & Invitation Here is the table set for our special meal. The bread, the juice, prepared and presented. Ready to be served and shared. We remember Jesus sharing a meal like this with […]
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A worship resource from Christian Aid UK Invite worshippers to name situations and places of concern either silently to themselves, or aloud. Footwashing God, We have named those names on our hearts We have spoken those situations out loud And we look forward To the time when all will know the shelter Of your coming Kin-dom. […]
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A worship resource from Christian Aid UK Christ our life, You are alive in the beauty of the earth, In the rhythm of the seasons, In the mystery of time and space, Alleluia. Christ our life, You are alive in the tenderness of touch, In the heartbeat of intimacy, In the insights of solitude, Alleluia. Christ […]
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Prayers of Intercession arising from Ezekiel 37:1–14 Valley of dry bones John 11:1-45 Resurrection of Lazarus Click here for a ready-to-print Word document: Breath of Life – Prayers of Intercession, Lent 5 Year A Join me in a moment of silence to reflect on those things in your life that feel lifeless. […]
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Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A Unbinding So dear ones this is the hope of this Lenten Gospel reading. Our sisters and brothers who have been entombed will rise. The question is where are we in the Lazarus story? . Are we standing there paralyzed by the force of our own weeping? Are we […]
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May the peace of God surround you Like the trees of the forest May the peace of God warm you all over Like the sun in the sky May the peace of God swell and roll over you Like a wave in the sea May the peace of God fill you Like the cool wind […]
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From Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim, Fr. Edward Hayes To You, O Divine One, from whose hands comes the work of creation, so artfully designed, I pray that this work I am about to do may be done in companionship with you. May the work that I will soon begin sing praise to you, as songbirds […]
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