Inspired by Psalm 104 (22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B) Praise God, the source of all being, eternal and transcendent. We wonder at the majesty of God seen around us in the world, we sigh with awe at the splendour that is creation, that is God. God is in the light, the water, the clouds, […]
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This is a round, easy to learn, fun for all ages. Tune: For health and strength and daily bread, we praise thy name…) For Harvest Time and daily food, we give our thanks today!
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Tune: Wir Pflugen (We plow the fields) You call us to be active To spread your love around To share the fruit you give to us It’s where your love is found The mission that you give Calls us to move and share To make your gospel mobile Spread your love everywhere Chorus Harvest gives […]
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You have walked with me in the shadows and held for me the light I couldn’t see You have struck for me the blows and suffered the pain which striking them must bring you for the sake of my soul You have honoured me with your ruthlessness and comforted me with your tenderness You have […]
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Scars that are invisible Hurts that don’t heal Attitudes that are risible Stigma that’s real And as you carry me Just like the cross I’m not a burden to you I’m not lost Scars that are complicated Wounds that are deep Traumas that are conflated Agony that won’t sleep And as you find me Naked […]
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What words do we use to lift up the history of oppression, current struggles and future hopes? How is our language in worship shaped by race? What colours do we see as we speak the words of our faith? Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. -Psalm […]
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It is enough, what I have here But only if your voice is heard Above the clamour of the world That still, small voice may fade away Unless I make a place for it Pulling aside the curtains of my mind Holding onto the voice that has a root in me A place where it […]
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The famine in the land is over. It’s time to go home. The harvest is ready. It’s time to reap. The table is set. It’s time to gather. The banquet is served. It’s time to eat. The labourers are few. The harvest is ready The need is still great. The hunger is still real. We have […]
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Inspired by Psalm 8 Eternal God, source of all being, your essence is woven throughout creation, your love shines within the fabric of life. From the laughter of a child, to tears of joy glinting in the eyes of memory, the sparkle of your love surprises us and nourishes us. When I look at creation […]
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The Air, the Air is everywhere. Holy Air, Stirring the waters of creation, Sweeping across the desert. Breathing life into humans. Feel the Air, Holy Air, like the rush of a mighty wind awakening lost spirits. Breathe the Air source of life, filling a newborn’s first cry. Breathe deep, the Holy Air, centring in your […]
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Children and their loved ones: My voice matters. Worship leader: When someone is being treated badly, I will say that is wrong. Children and their loved ones: My voice matters. Worship leader: When someone is being left out of the group, I will say that is wrong. Children and their loved ones: My voice matters. […]
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Ritual has great power to infuse a sense of deeper connection among people. Recognizing the sacred responsibility that comes with a driver’s license/licence can invest a new driver with an inner motivation to drive safely and considerately. Just as potent as it is to ceremonially inaugurate a new driver’s driving career, it is as powerful […]
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Who knew it would be so like looking into the human soul, the wonder and mystery, the light and dark so mingled, each made glorious by the other, the awe at how one can overcome and the other relent for a while— and how unlike, this celestial dance laid out since the beginning, while your […]
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Tune: Finlandia These words might be meaningful in any service of dedication, promise-making or discipleship. Your love alone turns action into service, Your grace alone turns speaking into prayer. All that we are is held within your mercy, All that we do, made holy in your care. Spirit of God, breathe through us in our […]
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Reflection from a quiet day at Dale Abbey Derbyshire You took me in When the world abandoned my hope You gave me breath And I drew on your vastness and scope You taught me peace When rest and calm seemed out of reach You rescued me When I was far off you called me without […]
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They are here, These whispers of hope that insist on singing under the dust and rubble of these streets of pain. We will have to stand still, shush any rising urge to explain away tanks and hostages and terrors in the night sky. We will have to press our ear to the earth, where the […]
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This blessing of the Driver’s Licence/license* might be held at home or in the gathering place of one’s faith community. Ritual has great power to infuse a sense of deeper connection among people. Recognizing the sacred responsibility that comes with a driver’s licence can invest a young person with an inner motivation to drive safely […]
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Tune: Chartres Ready-to-print lyrics (PDF), in bookmark form: Little Star lyrics bookmarks Little star up in the night sky, shining brightly over earth, when we see you, we remember stories of a special birth. Of a child born with a message that would challenge status quo, and reveal God’s presence with us as we live […]
Read full textOur Mother, who is in heaven and within us, we call upon your names. Your wisdom come. Your will be done, in all the spaces in which you dwell. Give us each day sustenance and perseverance. Remind us of our limits as we give grace to the limits of others. Separate us from the temptation […]
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Resolution – a hymn of reconciliation Tune: Laus Deo Arising from the lectionary for Proper 18, Year A — Matthew 18:15-20, particularly verse 15 Link to download musical score, lyrics for a PowerPoint and to listen to tune: Resolution In communities we gather For encouragement in life; We need grace, acceptance, nurture, Ways to halt […]
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Our creator, from whom the breath of life comes, who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration, may your light be experienced in our core. Your heavenly domain approaches. Let your will come true – in the universe (all that vibrates) just as on earth (all that is material and dense). Give us wisdom […]
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These closing words partner with the hymn, ‘Church is more than just a building,’ by Amanda Udis-Kessler. Church is indeed more than a building, as those of us who worship on Zoom know. While we, the church, may be a ‘crew of misfits’, we know this: We each are given a place at the table, […]
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An affirmation of faith to be read by one or many voices, responsively or in unison. We believe in the Divine Creator of all that has been made; the Parent of the whole creation. We believe in the Divine Saviour of all that has fallen; the Restorer of our broken world. We believe […]
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Christian leaders in Jerusalem issued this joint prayer in 2014 to be used in services of worship on Sunday and during the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, usually observed in September. ‘Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain […]
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Safe! Home safe! A welcome mat of rainbows Hands outstretched to clasp the stranger. Love, you are the power lifting our open arms The thought enabling our inclusion The spirit warming our hearts to the ‘other’, Reminding us that we are ‘other’ to them. Emmanuel, yours is the face they wear, Yours is the clan […]
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Light and shadow carve the stone of the cliff face morning and evening. The light is stronger than the stone. Each day sun and wind work their art on the sea, a different masterpiece every day. Creating God, I am your canvas. Your light, your wind, your grace raining down paint your Word on me, […]
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We believe that the imagery conveyed by language and language itself is important and that they articulate and influence our understandings of what is revealed to us about the nature and activity of God and the dignity of all God’s people as created in the image of God. — Inclusive Language Covenant, United Church of Christ […]
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A prayer of praise and confession Divine Mystery, Your breath fills the universe and makes it alive. We praise you, Divine Life, for the gift of Spirit. Your love blows through all creation and makes it one. We praise you, Divine Lover, for the gift of Spirit. Your presence fills every corner, your […]
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Tune: Sussex (There’s a wideness in God’s mercy) Ent’ring in the holy city, crowds surround them as they walk, laying leaves before their progress on the road that leads to love. No one knew how things would turn out, breaks in trust, betrayal, loss in a week where dark descended on the road that leads […]
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Ephesians 4:25-5:2, John 6:41-51 Lectionary: Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14), Year B In Christ we put on a new way of being: Acting like a Christian may lead to becoming one. Ready-to-print copies: Drama – Ephesians 4.25-5.2 – T Gobledale WORD Drama – Ephesians 4.25-5.2 – T Gobledale PDF Note: the source of the […]
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Inspired by Ephesians 5:15-20 and Proverbs 9:1-6, readings for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15), Year B Sing with joy! Sing with spirit! Sing with thanksgiving! Wrapped in God’s wisdom, walk in balance with nature. Wise to the will of God, shout out what God has set before you. Sober in mind and body, […]
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Hiroshima Remembrance Day, 6 August On this day of remembrance, we remember the dead, the injured, the scarred, the broken lives. In many places paper lanterns will float on the waters of ponds, lakes and streams, each holding the memory of lives extinguished at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. May the images we choose to share in […]
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Let us invite the Divine Spirit to blow through our lives and our world, as we lift our needs in prayer. Divine Spirit, we pray for all who have lost faith in themselves, in others and especially in you. May Spirit renew and inspire them again. We pray, Divine Spirit, for all who have lost […]
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People of God! May you, like Ruth, be steadfast in love. May you, like Daniel, be obedient to truth. May you, like Rahab, be brave and self-sacrificing. May you, like Jesus, Shout out for justice! Go forth, people of God! Photo: Manchester UK
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I hear the Easter story, a story of betrayal and anger, of sadness and despair, of agony and anguish, of loss. A story of hope? A story of life beyond death? A mystery! Jesus is a name given to a relationship of energy. Jesus is the body. The body died. The body was put in […]
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Tune: St Anne (O God our help in ages past) Do you not know, have you not heard God’s love embraces all? A gentle touch, a helpful word A reassuring call Have you not heard, do you not know God’s love embraces you? God’s love holds you and God’s love grows Refreshes and renews Do […]
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See how we love (Together All) Lyrics and music (posted below) composed by David Williams. Together All! We wait upon the hour To stand and show your power To those with whom we live Together All! We long for them to say, as happened in the day ‘See how they love’! Refrain: So we stand […]
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Brian Schroeder’s article, ‘De-gendering God: How inclusive language revolutionizes worship’, can be found on his website: Worship Forward–resources for inclusive churches. A church musician, Brian explains: ‘A great way to easily find gender-free worship songs is to seek out ‘You’ language. A lot of songs that refer to God as ‘You’ are safer bets for […]
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The Revelations of Ashley All religious scriptures are the words of humans about God, not God’s words to humans. They were written by humans no holier than you or I. Just because lots of people believe a scripture is absolutely true, that doesn’t mean that it should make any more sense to you than a […]
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Non-Binary Awareness Week is ‘dedicated to those who do not fit within the traditional gender binary or, put simply, those who do not exclusively identify as a man or a woman, or who may identify as both a man and a woman or may fall outside of these categories altogether.’ From Open Table Liverpool: ‘One […]
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