Title: I have good news…and bad news… Readings: Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:39-55 This dramatic monologue, a phone conversation between pregnant teenage Mary and her Mum, was originally written as the sermon accompanying the lighting of the Advent Candle of Love. It can be used effectively anytime during Advent. Notes: Mary pauses throughout the conversation when […]
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How easy it is to get caught up in the busy-ness, the doing, the decorating, the cooking, the sending, the buying, the eating of Christmas. Now don’t get me wrong, I love each of these parts of Christmas – setting up the Christmas tree and hanging decorations, the home-made Christmas cookies and egg nog, writing […]
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Hope when pressed to earth Will find nourishment and life In truths long buried.
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The Christmas season is not always a happy time. — Mary Oliver (from Thirst, Beacon Press, Boston, 2006) The Advent and Christmas seasons can remind us of loved ones or relationships we have lost. The sights and smells of the weeks approaching Christmas, rather than bring joy and delight, can bring sadness and grief. A “Blue […]
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“I said to my soul, be still and wait without hope, for hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love, for love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith, but the faith and the love are all in the waiting. Wait without thought, for you are not ready […]
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Compiled from various resources. Click here for a Blue Christmas service pdf download. This complete one-hour service is ready to print and use. It is a reflective service created for a December afternoon or evening. 16 readers (or double-up if fewer readers are available) Preparation and set-up: The worship space is important. See suggestions on […]
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What words move us through Advent, from World AIDS Day into the New Year? Summer in the South — Winter in the North — words of warmth for the cold nights, words that cool the hot sun. 1st – World AIDS Day 6th – Day of Remembrance, Canada Resources to explore and use during this […]
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Written especially for St. Andrew’s Day, by the Glasgow Churches Together. (adapted) God, our loving Creator, St Andrew introduced Peter, the Greek visitors, and the little boy with loaves and fishes, to Jesus. May we be like Andrew in sharing friendship and hospitality, […]
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What words express the grief? the devastation? the despair? What words express the hope of a cure? Worship resources
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This beautiful and thoughtful Advent devotional has been shared through the generosity of Presbyterians for Earth Care. Download a PDF copy in full colour: 2018-Advent-Devotional-Presbyterians for Earth Care, USA Presbyterians for Earth Care have created thoughtful and challenging, as well as beautiful, Advent and Lenten devotionals for several years. Click here to explore their archive […]
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Originally written for and shared in a Transgender Remembrance Service in Salisbury, UK We Will Remember Them Falling into the depths of negativity once more, The dreaded bleakness of a mind overcome with grief. The time, it seems, was taken much too quickly, By some great faceless nameless thief. Their path was short, their footsteps […]
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God of all ages God of all peoples God of all hopes and dreams Today we remember those among us who are transgender: We grieve the murders of those killed for the sake of hate, We celebrate the lives of each and every transgender individual; Those who are able to live into their fullest selves […]
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This response may be used throughout prayers of thanksgiving and intercession. It was originally used at the United Reformed Church Assembly in 2014. Leader: Water of life, All: Renew the world and us.
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Prayer items are listed before the prayer starts, bringing the news of God’s gathered people into the light. This allows time for the experience of surprise and concern to arise in the hearts and minds of all, and a time of resettling as the congregation continues with the prayers. This family news is shared in […]
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Written in response to Mark 13:1-2, using elements of a prayer by Louise Gough. For The 26th Week of Pentecost (Proper 28) Loving God, who summoned the world into being, moulded the mountains, bathed the earth in colour and light, and breathed into us the Spirit of life, we gather in your church, your temple, […]
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What makes a Nativity (Christmas Pageant) memorable? Meaningful? Engaging? Inclusive? Fun? Worship Words dramatic nativity resources (Christmas pageants and dramas):
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Invite a bagpiper to join the congregation for worship on St Andrew’s Sunday. They might play a traditional Scottish hymn or other songs agreed upon. Ideally, they will dress in full Scottish regalia. Invite the children to come forward to join the worship leader and to meet the bagpiper, look closely at the instrument, and […]
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With praise and elation Tune: To God be the glory For the lyrics, music and a power point, click here. With praise and elation we greet the Divine In beauty of love that we just can’t define; The mystery is wondrous; it captures our soul; It gives our life purpose; it makes us feel whole. Praise […]
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Start at 10:55 so silence will commence at 11:00 am. Scripture Deuteronomy 32:7 Hear the ancient words of our faith from the Hebrew scripture, Deuteronomy, chapter 32, verse 7: Remember the days of old, consider the years long past; ask your parents, and they will inform you; your elders, and they will tell you. […]
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Worship Words resources for special days and events in November: 1st – All Saints Day 11th – Remembrance Day, Veterans Day (USA) 20th – Transgender Day of Remembrance 4th Thursday – Thanksgiving, USA 30th – St Andrew’s Day November worship resources A-Z: Additional days of interest in November: mid-Oct – mid-Nov — Diwali (date fluctuates) Hindu […]
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A quiet place A pause in our day A turning toward the source of peace What words do we use when we reach out to the Spirit of Life? Do we talk? Do we listen? Do we think? Do we feel? Explore these resources (click theme) to find worship words relevant to you today: What […]
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What words express our awe and wonder of creation? What words do we use to confess our abuse of creation? ‘Creation is charged with the grandeur of God.’ – Kelvin Inglis, UK Creation prayers and worship resources:
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Eternal One, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever you had formed the earth and the world, From everlasting to everlasting You are God. — Psalm 90:1-2 Bright eyes take in all the world. Tiny hands wave and reach and hold. Feet kick and push. […]
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Powerful weekly images created by “painter of liberation”, Maximino Cerezo Barredo, are available for use in worship and church publications. An image has been etched for each Sunday of the three-year lectionary cycle. Explore the images for each week at: Year A images Year B Images Year C images “There are liberation theologians … and there […]
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Adapted from Ana Gobledale’s “Call to Worship” inspired by Psalm 16:9 and Gerardo Oberman’s “Opening Prayer” – both found on Worship Words. Come! Rejoice! For the Holy One is here. We stand on holy ground. Come, children of God! Just as you are. Receive God’s grace, hope, courage and sustaining love. We come to […]
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The Holy Spirit propels Philip to the Ethiopian – a dramatisation Acts 8:26-40 (Year B, Easter 5) This might be incorporated into a celebration of baptism or the renewal of baptismal vows. Actors/readers: Philip, Ethiopian, Storyteller (Narrator), Angel, Spirit Complete scripts — ready to download and print (2-sided): Drama, Acts 8, Philip & Ethiopian PDF Drama, […]
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Harvest in the south in April. Harvest in the north in September. The cycle of our year offers numerous opportunities to express our gratitude and thanksgiving. What words do we use to celebrate the abundance of a good harvest? Or to mourn the scarcity in times of drought?
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National days set aside for thanksgiving offer wonderful opportunities to express our gratitude, often in an interfaith setting. How do we say “Thanks”? Worship resources for Thanksgiving & Harvest
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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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The origins of this prayer are unknown, but it surely presents another perspective of St Francis. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger […]
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How do we mark the passing of time after a death? What words do we share when we gather to install, place or unveil a gravestone or marker? This service has been used when unveiling a gravestone or placing a plaque at a grave. Complete Service ready to download and print PDF Gravestone unveiling – full […]
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Written April 2018 during a time of personal reflection in the Lady Chapel, Ely Cathedral, UK, following the bombing of Syria by the US and the UK. Broken Bombed Darkness descends How did it come to this? God groans The world whimpers. We cower Fearfully crying out, ‘Which way?’ What about our grandchildren? Follow the […]
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Worship Words networks writers and users across time and space and provides a place to share progressive prayers, songs and liturgies with others. Worship Words strives to provide free worship material which is: Inclusive: avoiding gender-exclusive language and imagery for people and God Thoughtful: attending to word-craft, selecting each word and phrase with purpose. Avoiding cliché and […]
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This is a round, easy to learn, fun for all ages. For Harvest Time and daily food, we give our thanks today! (Tune: For health and strength and daily bread, we praise thy name…)
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Consider using for: International Day of Peace, 21 September Peace Sunday, 2nd Sunday of October Hiroshima Day, 6 August Adapted for Worship Words Jesus said; “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” We are called to be peacemakers, to stand against injustice, inequality and oppression For injustice anywhere is a […]
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Dear God of all, grant us understanding of our brothers and sisters worldwide. Plant in us the seed of oneness. Nourish us with your love and grace so that we may live God-like in our interactions with those who are different from us. Grant us the ability to recognize the spirit and sameness that unites […]
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Reading/Acting parts: Storyteller, Jesus, Peter, Thomas, Judas There is no need to require memorisation; allow readers to hold and read scripts. Full script ready to print and use: PDF Mark 9, 30-37 – drama WORD Mark 9, 30-37 – drama Script Storyteller: Jesus and his disciples travel through their home country of Galilee. Jesus teaches a […]
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A prayer arising from 1 King 19 God ever-new and ever-old, Teach us to listen: To listen with patience, when we want immediate answers; To listen with openness to a new word, when we are more comfortable with the old; To listen with deep respect to the roots of our faith, when we […]
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Written on a card available in the Cathedral… This Holy Water Stoup … contains water blessed and set apart to remind us of the new life which God give us in Jesus. Christians are baptised into God’s life in Jesus by having water poured over them symbolising dying and being born again; leaving behind everything […]
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What words connect us with the spirit as we gather? What words unite us with the holy? Explore these Opening Prayers posted on Worship Words:
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