Mark 15:25-39 Response I didn’t sign up for this. Not whips and nails, splinters and thorns, blood and stink and agony. I didn’t sign up for this. Not failure and despair, discouragement and derision, ignominy and ridicule. If it comes to this, I want to walk away too – flee; deny having ever known you. […]
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A worship resource from Christian Aid UK The lyrics are a bit of a stretch, but relay an important message. Little donkey, little donkey On the palm strewn road Got to keep on plodding onwards With robes and coats under hoof. Little donkey, little donkey Not a stallion, mule or mare Got to keep on plodding […]
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WORDS Ready-to-print – Prayer for Good Friday, Lawrence Moore O God, you are rich in mercy. For when I was nothing, you made me something. When I wanted nothing to do with you, you came looking for me to bring me home as a lost child, rejoicing. When I swore I never knew you, […]
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A Prayer of Confession inspired by John 11:1-45 We confess that we do not always want our lives restored or renewed. Speaking truth to the things and the people who bind us is very scary. Our ‘burial bandages’ not only bind us tightly, but they also keep us thinking we are secure, hidden away in […]
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Ezekiel 37:1-14 Breathe on me, breath of God, till I am wholly thine, until this earthly part of me, glows with thy fire divine. Breath of Life, can these bones live? Valleys of dry bones confront us, threatening to separate us from you. Each day, our newspapers highlight the numerous and extensive dry-bone-valleys […]
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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! […]
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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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Liturgy of the Palms, Year A Matthew 21:1-11 Tune: Winchester For the lyrics, music and a power point, click here. Ride on; ride on in majesty Yet seeking no hostility; To ride a colt is to proclaim That peace, compassion is your aim. Ride on; ride on compass’nately For victims of cruel tyranny; The poor […]
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Inspired by Julian of Norwich Ready-to-use printable copies: WORD Mothering prayer, Cara Heafey PDF Mothering prayer, Cara Heafey Mothering God, you birthed the universe into being. Home-maker, your creation is habitat and sustenance to all that lives. How costly for you our freedom must be. How painful the separation From the parent who has numbered […]
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This prayer can be used in conjunction with the Palm Sunday drama, Sunday Morning Live. Pray with me. God of Promise, we are taken by surprise at each Palm Sunday parade. We so want Jesus to be powerful, a ruler who will smite the world of all evil, and make all things good and easy […]
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We have used this introduction, conclusion and closing prayer book-ending the Sunday Morning Live drama as the ‘sermon’ on Palm Sunday. Possible sermon titles: Not what we expected! or Two Kings: Take your choice! Prayer: Pray with me. God may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight. […]
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The moderators of General Assembly (United Reformed Church in Great Britain), Alan Yates and Kevin Watson, offer a prayer for us all, in the aftermath of the attack on Westminster , London, Wednesday 22 March 2017. A prayer for the world God of the world,Our hearts go out to all those directly or indirectly affected by […]
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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 be read in unison as a Call to Worship I worship and adore God, source, essence, and aim of all things, spirit that enlivens all beings. I follow the way of Jesus, who found God in himself and shared a way for others to find God in themselves. He was born […]
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This script is ready to download and print: 1 Samuel 16, 1-13 dramatised – full script ready-to-print Samuel: Our Hebrew Bible reading this morning is the story of the priest, Samuel, that’s me. I am busy searching for the King of Israel, and am not sure what to look for. Finally, God, Yahweh, sends me […]
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All my relations. I honour you in this circle of life with me today. I am grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge you in this prayer… To the Creator, for the ultimate gift of life, I thank you. To the mineral nation that has built and maintained my bones and all foundations of life experience, […]
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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 […]
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This resource originates from Creation Justice Ministries USA which develops Earth Day Sunday materials each year to help congregations celebrate and care for God’s Creation. Ready-to-print downloads: PDF – Water, Holy Water – ready-to-print download WORD – Water, Holy Water – ready-to-print download Faith Reflection “I don’t know what tallies as sacred for you but […]
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This service involves each member of the congregation through actions. Each worshipper receives a large nail upon arrival and is invited to interact with their nail at different points in the service. Following the reading from John 19 and Luke 23, they are invited to hold the nail for a personal reflection. Later they are invited to […]
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This litany was first used at an ecumenical Earth Day service in Denver, Colorado USA, sponsored by Eco-Justice Ministries and the Colorado Council of Churches. (slightly adapted for inclusive language) Biblical references include: Lamentations 1:20 (Holy Week), Psalms 5:1 (Sixth Sunday of Pentecost, Year C), Psalms 31:14-15 (Holy Week), 25, Psalms 71:14 (Holy Week), Romans 15:13 (Second Sunday of […]
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Appropriate for Earth Day, during the Season of Creation and other services focusing on the vastness of creation. The Cosmic Walk, an inter-active ritual with actions and readings, invites participants into the story of the universe. Moving between ‘stations’ along a long rope laid out in a spiral, participants are introduced to 21 major events in the history of […]
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Some Christians grapple with the meaning and explanations of resurrection, as both a phenomenon and an experience. While this prayer uses some traditional language, Tod explores the on-going crucifixion of the Body of Christ today, and the response of the faithful to modern atrocities. Based on John 20: 1-18, an Easter Day reading from the […]
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A service for Earth Sunday or Season of Creation (Creationtide) The National Council of Churches USA Creation Justice Ministries develops Sunday worship materials each year to help congregations celebrate and care for God’s Creation. To access these annual resource packets for eco-justice worship services, visit their Earth Day Resource page. PDF – Eco-Justice Service – […]
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“Bucket Lists” Genesis 12:1-4a, John 3:1-21 Lent 1, Year A Adapted by Tod & Ana Gobledale, UK Related hymn: Abide with me Interviewer, Abram and Nicodemus sit in a row facing the congregation. Three tall bar stools serve well. Remember to speak to the congregation, not to one another. Use your hands! Big gestures! Minister/Interviewer: […]
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Tune: Assurance 9.10.9.9. Come voice your struggles, come shed your tears, Come calm your anger, come lose your fears. Here we encounter the Living One Through bread that’s broken, in wine that’s poured Refrain: Come to the table, join in the song, This is the place where all shall belong. Voices in chorus, seeking Christ’s […]
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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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“‘God did it,’ isn’t an explanation,” said Joseph. He got no account for the baby’s chromosomes, No description of the mechanism that Transmuted the divine shadow into royal blood. “‘The devil made me do it’ would have sounded better to me,” said Joseph, Though it never did him any good When he said it to […]
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Might be used as an opening meditation at a confessional reflective service such as Ash Wednesday or Good Friday. Can be read by a single voice, multiple voices or responsively. Start in Silence. A drumbeat begins, getting louder than softer. The drumbeat tapers off into a soft background beat for the prayer. O Steady One, […]
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Loving God who conceived life, originates ingenuity, embraces individuality, welcomes everyone, celebrates diversity, encourages unity, offers serenity, gifts simplicity, lavishes compassion, we worship you! Living Jesus who breathes our air, walks our streets, feels our pain, sheds tears, enjoys company, bubbles with laughter, holds our hands, we worship you! Gentle Spirit who strengthens fragile spirits, […]
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Ready-to-print copies: WORD Lord’s Prayer – Stephen Best, UK PDF Lord’s Prayer – Stephen Best Great Love — the root and sap of our evolving fullness, Nudge us forward in our creative potential So we may flourish for the common good. In each mindful moment, help us recognise that We free ourselves from the ghosts […]
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This multi-voice responsive prayer might incorporate groups of readers or individual voices. Group/Voice 1 states the facts about the suffering in our world. Group/Voice 2 lifts up those taking action to improve the situation and change the world. Group/Voice 3 voices a prayer request. Leader: Through our faith, we reach out to God, interceding […]
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Written by David while he served as Co-ordinator for the Isle of Wight Street Pastors, this song was inspired by an interaction with a young man on the streets of Ryde. This video recording might be played as an integral part of a worship service.
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Tune: Blaenwern 1 Corinthians 13 Any words which I may utter, Without love to reach their goal, Are no more than clashing cymbals, Empty gongs without a soul. Though I conjure future visions, Understand life’s wherewithal, And have faith which moves the mountains, Without love I am not whole. Acts of charitable giving And the […]
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What words shall we use on Valentines Day? Valentines Day as an opportunity to express our love for our earth. These Valentine bookmarks can be distributed as Valentines or used to complement a service focusing on the earth and caring for our environment. PDF Bookmarks – Valentine for the Earth, ready-to-print To You, My Valentine Oh, it […]
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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 bring you our praise. We adore you, the God who first loved us – who knew us in the womb made each of us unique and who tends […]
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Isaiah 58:1-12 For 2-4 Voices: Isaiah (might be divided between 2 readers), People 1 & 2 This readings might be used to explore the Lent theme: “Hineni: Here I Am” – looking at the idea of spiritually showing up and saying ‘Yes’ to God’s call and invitation. Isaiah: Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up […]
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Sixth Sunday of Epiphany, Year A A reading for two voices An attempt has been made to make the language inclusive. READER 1: Hear the teachings of Jesus as recorded by Matthew. We are reading from chapter 5. READER 2: ‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You […]
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Tune: Gonfalon Royal Originally written for Stephen’s ordination service. We find ourselves between two worlds, In one we live, for one we hope To risk their fusion is our call, Achieved through love, which welcomes all. Achieved through love, which welcomes all, Which bends and breaks and mends again, The source of all; and yet […]
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At the end of each section, pause to allow participants time to reflect and fill in the names of places and people as appropriate, silently or aloud, as appropriate for the group. I cannot take bread and forget those who are hungry…. I cannot take wine and forget those who thirst for justice…. I cannot […]
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Baptism services often include several children in the congregation, and I want them to be involved and interested. So, I often incorporate into the service a reflection/activity which includes group participation. I ask a group of volunteers, ideally children and youth, to come forward. (The number of volunteers corresponds to the number of letters in […]
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