We gently caress you, the Earth, our planet and our home. Our vision has brought us closer to you, making us aware of the harm we have done to the life-network upon which we ourselves depend. We are reminded that we have poisoned your waters, your lands, your air. We have filled you with the […]
Read full text
We call to mind your deeds, and remember your wonders of old. We meditate on all your works, and muse on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who works wonders You have displayed your might among the peoples. When the […]
Read full text
We send you out to learn That God loves the world And all its people And that God loves you. We Amen. We send you out together As our loved children To learn, to play, And as part Of the family of God. Amen. From Liturgies for the journey of Life (pages 4 and […]
Read full text
Wild and restless spirit of God Accompany our Lenten journeys. Give us courage to spend time in the wilderness The place where you bring us face to face with ourselves. Help us to pray with honesty Help us to live with simplicity Make us hungry and thirsty for your life-giving presence. When we return to […]
Read full text
God, you are not distant from us You came to us in vulnerability You offered yourself as a gift of love. We pray today for those who are in the midst of darkness The darkness of poverty The darkness of loneliness The darkness of grief The darkness of despair Wherever shadows threaten to overwhelm Wherever […]
Read full text
Merciful God, your love embraces all of creation. Your realm knows nothing of the borders we draw between nations. You have taught us that every woman, man and child is our neighbour. You have commanded us to love, love, love, without thought of our own security, or glory, or gain. Remind us that you have […]
Read full text
This website, Worship Words, was short-listed for the award iChurch Site of the Year:Best Use of iChurch. The site has been recognized as “a great example of creating an engaging presence on the web” by judges of the 2016 iChurch Awards. Receiving this award during the website’s first month on-line provided a source of great […]
Read full text
Spring We should celebrate This wildest Erupting In Spring. With colours recklessly Splashed everywhere In this the season of new Daily episodes Of wonder And delight. Autumn is turned on its head: Not the richness the life’s ebbing, But buds bursting Hearts thirsting Green shoots on grey branches Marking Not the end, But a million […]
Read full text
Our God We pray for Empathy – seeking to understand: ideas, people, situations, ourselves, our faith, our hopes, seeking, exploring the why of life, the why of who we are. seeking because we know that only by seeking, do we go beyond ourselves, to where answers reside, answers that we had never considered. And we […]
Read full text
Our God, The world is more magical, less predictable, more autonomous, less controllable, more varied, less simple, more infinite, less knowable, more wonderfully troubling than we could have imagined being able to tolerate when we were young. More surprising, able to operate without us adaptive, resistant robust fragile complex and into this environment, we are. […]
Read full text
Our God, Your living word is not static but the unfolding story of your actions in the world We pray that we would be part of that story as recipients and participants cutting across the addiction people have for the world cultural addictions of greed, of status, appearance, recognition, of voyeurism, celebrity worship, the need […]
Read full text
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 […]
Read full text
Tune: Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night) For the lyrics, music and a power point, click here. Verse 1 In this sacrament with water God can be seen; In each human son and daughter God can be seen; When love streams from fathers, mothers, Gen’rously from sisters, brothers, When compassion flows from […]
Read full text
Our Church meets in a building, That is a civic pride. We sometimes need a shoehorn To fit the folks inside. We have many groups, who meet here And do the things they do. But the buildings only made of stone The church is me, is you. Many folk can tell you Where our church […]
Read full text
Life winds in many connected strands, Most controlled by other hands, We’re often pulled this way and that, Minds changing like the drop of a hat. Their expectations running high, We can only strive and try, Comes a time we clearly see, This is not a life meant for me. The things that matter beyond […]
Read full text
Each Advent season, the Scout International Peace Light travels from Bethlehem around the world. Towns and faith communities hold services for receiving the light and for sending it forth. These resources are for use in a Peace Light Service. Peace Light Prayer May the kindly spirit of Christmas spread its radiance far and wide, So all the […]
Read full text
Luke 24:13-49 – Third Sunday of Easter, Year A Luke 24: 36-48 – Third Sunday of Easter Year B Theme: The road to Emmaus Spirit of new hope and promise… Stay with us in our places of hopelessness and despair. Spirit of joy and delight… Stay with us in the shadows of grief and terror. […]
Read full text
The progressive Christianity movement continues to morph and evolve in relationship to the voices rising up within the Christian movement as a whole. Groups identifying themselves as Progressive Christians uphold freedom of thought and practice paramount within Christianity, and respect and humility paramount regarding how Christians relate to other religions and beliefs. There are on-going […]
Read full text
“Just language– language that reflects our changing consciousness about God, the universe, class, gender relations, race, disabilities and violence– is essential if we are to overcome the injustices and hatred that obstruct the peace, equality and harmony we long for.” –Kaye Ashe, O.P., Eighth Day Center, Chicago USA The Eighth Day Center in Chicago publishes […]
Read full text
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 […]
Read full text
God, open our hearts so we are ready for the messengers you may send to us. Help us to find your message in a world that needs it more than ever. — Erik Mason, Cairn Christian Church, Colorado USA
Read full text
When times are difficult we can lean on one other. The SALT Project has produced an inspirational short film about the strength of “sistering.” The SALT team writes: ‘We teamed up with Glennon Doyle Melton (New York Times Bestselling author of, Carry On, Warrior, mastermind behind Momastery.com, and all around amazingly strong and witty human […]
Read full text
Words resting in the silence of our hearts Words spoken into eternal presence Word felt Words uttering our deepest need and strongest faith, our doubts and uncertainties Prayers for Sunday Prayers for Monday Prayers for Tuesday Prayers for Wednesday Prayers for Thursday Prayers for Friday Prayers for Saturday Prayers for today, words for you:
Read full text
Benedictions, words of commissioning, blessing, dismissal, sending forth… With what words to we close worship and move into the world?
Read full text
World Communion Sunday, celebrated in many countries on the first Sunday of October, offers a congregation an opportunity to hear global voices and sing international hymns. Choose from these hymns and prayers for your service. Complete services for World Communion Sunday Children’s Messages for World Communion Sunday Hymns for World Communion Sunday Prayers for […]
Read full text
World Day of Prayer (formerly Women’s World Day of Prayer) highlights the connection between prayer and action. ‘Informed prayer flows into prayerful action.’ Click here for resources on Prayerful Action from the World Day of Prayer International Committee
Read full text
The Second Coming of Christ – written for Pentecost Tune: Church Triumphant For the lyrics, music and a power point click here Our Lord, our teacher, healer, friend, The One whose love shall never end, Back years ago he lived his life When times were harsh, in days of strife. We look for signs of his […]
Read full text
Which words resonate for you? Our Mother… Our Father… Our Creator… We are Servants of the Word, not slaves to the words of worship. “We invite you to use the language for God that is most comfortable for you: ‘Our Creator,’ ‘Our Father’ or ‘Our Mother.’” –suggestion in the service sheet at the First Congregational Church, […]
Read full text
Old words, familiar words, the sung doxology lives in the hearts and on the tongues of many Christians. The most familiar English version was written by the 17th-century Anglican bishop and hymnwriter, Thomas Ken. I’ve heard several modern versions which alter the language to be inclusive and relevant to modern worshippers. Here are some variations on the theme… […]
Read full text
So God speaks the universe into creation. So words of kindness create goodness; words of cruelty create hurt. Our words matter. What words are you using in worship?
Read full text
Passing or sharing the “Peace of Christ” is a common element in Christian worship. What words feel comfortable for your congregation? Here are some variations on the theme…
Read full text
O Holy Spirit, Spirit of God You are Love. Fill our hearts so that we may know how to forgive. How to understand. How to cherish and how to let go. Holy Spirit, you are truth. Teach us the way of Christ. Expose all falseness in our values and cleanse us from prejudice. Give us […]
Read full text
Remember the Holy One is with you. Bring to mind this loving presence within you and around you as you pray the following: Open my mind to remember your presence. Open my mouth to speak your wisdom. Open my heart to extend your love. Open my hands to serve you generously. Open my whole being […]
Read full text
How does faith move from one generation to the next? How does God’s call reach into the heart? Does it pass from one heart to another? Does it blow, like the wind, from a mother’s or father’s very breath? Does it come from a new place, from a separate place, or does it pass through […]
Read full text
Our stories lie down in the orchard, their time is not now, but something is coming, something is going away. They rise to the stars, and wait to be told. There are listeners who know how little we know, how much we are feeling. We had to go our own way, a little off course, […]
Read full text
The mystery of matrimony “Who brings this woman to be married?” We do. To be married To be coupled To be knotted, twisted together Today tomorrow to death Joining a heritage of still-married Great grands through alcoholism and a debilitating stroke The hospital bed at living room centre Year after year Today tomorrow to death […]
Read full text
Where do you live, God? Where can I find you abiding? I find you in moments of awe – breathing in the odor of lavender I find you in moments of wonder – looking across the icy waters toward the snow-covered hills I find you in moments of anxiety—lighting the flame of a devotional candle […]
Read full text
The USA-based Liturgy Project provides hundreds of liturgical posts by authors around the globe. The free worship planning material is easy to locate using an extensive index. “Progressive Christianity is an open, intelligent and collaborative approach to the Christian tradition and the life and teachings of Jesus that create pathways into an authentic and relevant religious experience.” […]
Read full text
Year A: Third Sunday of Easter A Prayer based on Acts 2:14a,36-4 God of new beginnings, Today we remember our baptisms: A day shrouded in an infant’s hidden memory A day chiselled in the sharp memory of a teenager A day gloriously shining in the memory of a new convert. Your promises live in […]
Read full text