Inspired by Psalm 95, verses 1-2 Reading for Third Sunday of Lent, Year A, and 25th Sunday of Pentecost, Year A Sing for joy! Shout aloud in thanksgiving for the permanence of the Eternal One. Stand firm in faith, grateful for our unshakable foundation. Give thanks with music and song.
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Remembrance Day, United Kingdom 11 November This prayer arises from a prayer written by Cara Heafey. God, we lift our prayer for all who suffer as a result of conflict, and asking that they may know peace: for the service men and women who have died in the violence of war, each one remembered […]
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23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B Children’s Conversation and Prayer Mark 10:46-52 Hold up cards of different colours, one at a time. Ask: What can you name that is… [the colour of the card being held up] orange/red/purple/etc? Thank you God for the colour orange/red/purple/etc and everything that is orange/red/purple/etc. God created our eyes to […]
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This service was compiled in 2007 for Boronia Church of Christ, Boronia, Victoria, Australia Call to Communion Face the music. Jesus calls us to follow him, not just to another party of praise, but to the hard work of bringing God’s love and justice into this world of violence and fear. Let us prepare ourselves […]
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The original script has been adapted by Ana Gobledale, UK, with permission from the author, Ron VandenBurg, Canada* The drama can stand alone. Optionally, one might add the bookends of an introduction and conclusion to provide an entire message/sermon. Click here to preview these bookending items, or scroll down the screen. Cast — six characters […]
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Traditionally for the Maori, Ngā Mata o te Ariki, more commonly known as Matariki, is a time to remember those who have died in the last year. The Progressive Christianity Aotearoa website provides the outline of a service that may be used for Matariki, All Hallows Eve or All Saints Day. Matariki is the Māori […]
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This All Saints Day service was originally posted on the Progressive Christianity Aotearoa website. This service may also be used for Matariki, a traditional Maori mid-winter festival which marks the beginning of a new year for Maori. Matariki is a time for remembering the dead, and celebrating new life. We gathered at the gateway to […]
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Monday – New Creation from a Daily Prayer Series by Lawrence Moore, UK Meditation God is making all things new. The old things are passing away: death, sorrow, crying, pain. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox. Swords will be made into ploughshares. Justice and peace […]
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Year C – 11th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 13) Let us go out with joy Awakened to the treasure within and around us, To bring transformation, challenge and hope to the world. And may the abundant blessings of God, Source, Saviour and Spirit Be ours today and always, Amen.
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Each September the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum of the World Council of Churches invites participation in the World Week for Peace in Palestine & Israel, a week of advocacy and action supporting an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine and a just peace for all in Palestine and Israel. Congregations and individuals around the […]
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God is Love, the cosmic creativity present everywhere and in everything, Gently urging all toward the good. To transcending Love, we raise our awestruck praise! Jesus embodied the Love that is God. He loved the poor, the sick, the outcast, He loved the unpopular, and even his own enemies. He loved so completely, he loved […]
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(use freely with attribution) Tune: Madrid 6.6.6.6 – “Come Christians, Join to Sing” Watch mountain shadows run Allelujia! Amen! Clouds gilded by the sun Allelujia! Amen! Hear tumbling water sing Birds calling on the wing In canyons echoing Allelujia! Amen! Breathe in the desert air Allelujia! Amen! Let footsteps call to prayer Allelujia! Amen! Layers […]
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This wedding was held in Washington State, USA, soon after same-sex marriage became legal. The couple had been waiting for more than a decade. The names have been changed. Outline of Service Welcome Prayer Scripture Reading Purpose of Marriage Words of Intention – lawfully free & willing to create this “intentional family” Sharing: a […]
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2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A Pentecost 19, Year C I lift up my eyes to the hills… We lift up our hearts To you, Spirit of the Universe God will not let your foot be moved… Trusting you to hold us securely When we feel caught in the mire of indecision When we hesitate […]
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3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A 19 March 2017 God, are you with us? We seek assurance. Like the Israelites at Massah we desire proof. Like the people of Meribah we ache for assurance beyond words, Something we can see and touch. Forgive our testiness and fickle faith. Renew our commitment to […]
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So … May you be awoken. Awoken to the universe and galaxies of beauty and creativity – And to the Creative energy alive in you – creating, living, longing and loving. And may you, with Christ as your guide, live alive in this very universe as a witness to the goodness and creativity of God.
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Mark 14:27-31 (Year B) Jesus: “You will all become deserters…” Peter: “Even though all become deserters, I will not!” Jesus: “Truly I tell you… this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” Peter: “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you…” Disciple 1: (stand in […]
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How do we say thank you? How do we say good-bye? How do we release our minister so that they can move forward into retirement or into another ministry position? How do we help them release us to move forward into our future without them as our minister? Resources for leave-taking services:
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This service of leave-taking was originally written for the departure of Revd Bob Day by Revd Kate Gray, Manchester UK. Time to give thanks There is a time to give thanks, for the times of challenge and hardship for the times of tiredness and distress for the times of solidarity and justice with […]
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Inspired by John 14:6 Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A You are the Way Help us to find new ways of Walking You are the Truth Help us to find new ways of Talking You are the Life Help us to find new ways of Living You are Love Help us to find new ways […]
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Second Sunday of Epiphany, Year C Your love, O God, breaks the small boundaries of our understanding. Your faithfulness is not constrained by etiquette and protocol. Your righteousness is as firm, yet as fluid as the ever-changing face of the mountains. Your justice can plumb the depths of our humanity and raise us […]
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Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Year A Narrator: Today’s reading is from the Prophet Micah, chapter 6, beginning with verse 1. Micah places us in a court room drama. First the judge speaks, ordering the complainant to rise, and introducing the case. Then God brings charges against Israel, God’s own people. Then Micah responds on behalf […]
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Let us prayerfully focus on this water, as I pour it into the bowl, and as we do, let each of us infuse it with our commitments to share with (this child / name) the unique gifts that God has given us, gifts (this child / name) will need from us as s/he goes along […]
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We are here to praise God for the life of /Name/, our young friend, who in such a short time has brought us so much joy. Through /Name/ we have experienced birth again in a new and more conscious way; in him, God has created the world again, opening us to wonder and possibility that […]
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Written in 1986 for a Maundy Thursday evening service at Mfanefile United Congregational Church, Zululand, South Africa, where we (Ana & Tod) lived illegally (in a ‘Black Spot’ during apartheid) and ministered at the time. With no electricity, the church was lit by a few candles. In the days of apartheid, the world felt very […]
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Wednesday – Renewal From a Daily Prayer Series by Lawrence Moore, UK Preparation: a candle or tea light. Suggestion: say the prayers aloud Affirmation All that I am, all that I do, all whom I shall meet this day I offer to you now, God. Lighting the Spirit flame The Spirit who moved over the […]
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Inspired by Isaiah 11:3-4a Second Sunday of Advent, Year A Holy One, open our spirits to your righteousness – a righteousness that helps us understand the power innate in all humanity. Grant us the righteousness to recognize the gifts, resources, resiliency, strength and wisdom present in ourselves and in others. Empower us, O […]
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Let us look for Christ wherever we go Let us never stop seeking Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness Which the darkness shall not overcome And may the love of the Creator The joy of the Spirit And the peace of the Christ-child Be with you this New Year, […]
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This morning we have come to tell again The story of angels and shepherds Of disbelieving fathers and unlikely mothers This morning we have come to hear again The good, good news Of love born among us Of God here with us This morning we prepare to receive the gift Of a child born in […]
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Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A Ready-to-Act: a story from Exodus 1:8-2:10 Characters: 1) Narrator, 2) Pharoah, 3) Pharoah’s Daughter, 4) Miriam, 5) Midwife Shiphrah, 6) Midwife Puah Provide large-font copies for all actor/readers; no memorization required. Print landscape with two columns to avoid hiding mouths behind sheets. Script Narrator: Now a new king […]
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A Palm Sunday Dialogue with reflection Mark 14:27-31 (Year B) Introduction to Dialogue: Pray with me. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of all our hearts be acceptable to You. Amen. Australians call them Stuff-ups. What is a “stuff up?” Wait for an answer. Yes! Blunders, errors, mistakes. When I commit them, […]
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A dramatic reading Year A, Second Sunday of Lent–12 March 2017 John 3:1- 21 (adapted from the New Revised Standard Version and “The New Testament and Psalms: an inclusive version” published by Oxford University Press in 1995) Narrator: Today’s reading is taken from John’s Gospel, the story of the encounter between Jesus and […]
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Reading and Heeding the signs of the Times Matthew 2.1-12 Note: The “king” or “magi” or “wise one” may be named as appropriate for the congregation. The part may be played by either a woman or a man. The “minister” might be any worship leader. Originally written for Epiphany Sunday, Year A. Script Minister: …This […]
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Rote makes right: Healing through ritual Year C, 21st Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23) 2 Kings 5:1-3; 7c-15 Luke 17: 11-19 This sermon includes an interview with Naaman. Minster: What ritual or practice brings God’s presence into your life on a regular basis? Turn to your neighbour and share for a moment. What ritual or […]
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Metre: 11.10.11.10.11.10.11.12. Tune: Londonderry is commended for this text We shall go out with hope of resurrection, We shall go out, from strength to strength go on, We shall go out and tell our stories boldly, Tales of a love that will not let us go. We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be […]
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We continue to pray for Syria and peace. Prayers for Syria. . .
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This annual observance, stretching from 1 September to 4 October (Day of St. Francis of Assisi), aims to raise awareness about the urgency to care for creation as a response to the ecological crisis. Click on category to view resources created for the Season of Creation (Creation-tide) Songs Complete services Psalms Prayers Dramas, litanies, choral […]
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Written for Seventeenth Sunday of Pentecost, Year C Note: There’s an invitation for all to say the line in bold. The prompt is always “Amma”. Abba You are our mother and our father And we try to believe you love us Abba, Amma, Remind us we are not alone Abba We don’t always seem to […]
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The International Day of Peace, marked each year on 21st September, is a time for individuals, community groups, nations and international organisations to re-commit to the way of peace with justice. The UnitingJustice Australia website provides worship resources, including a Call to Worship, Litany for Peace, prayers of confession and intercession, blessing and dismissal, UnitingJustice Australia is […]
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Daily Prayers for Thursday Solidarity with the poor –from a Daily Prayer Series by Lawrence Moore, UK Affirmation I live today because of God, the Giver of Life, Jesus, the Bread of Life and the Spirit, the Presence of Life. Praise and thanksgiving There are no no-go areas for you, God of the Poor. […]
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