Adapted from Maya Angelou’s words My wish for you, and God’s wish for you is that you continue… Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humour to lighten the burden of your tender heart. May the blessing of the Ever Present […]
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What words do we share at a Nine Night service? Who writes them? Who says them? Who hears them? Nine Night, evolving from a Caribbean wake tradition, is a celebration held before the funeral. In my experience as a minister in southeast London, Nine Night festivities usually include an open house with a party-celebration atmosphere, at […]
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God, come close and speak our names. Remind us that we are fully known and loved. God, thank you… for calling us by name. Come close to us, re-claim us for life. God, thank you… for calling us by name. Come close to us, and never let us go. God, thank you… for calling us […]
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Words from St Francis Words about St Francis Words about our responsibility for all creatures Words about justice for creation Resources for worship on St Francis Day: Blessing the Animal services St Francis Day is often celebrated with a service of blessing of the animals. These resources for Blessing of the Animal services include a […]
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Worship Words resources for special days and events in October:
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Peace Sunday is usually observed on the 2nd or 3rd Sunday of October, in the midst of the Week of Prayer for World Peace. ‘The Week of Prayer for World Peace was started as a Christian initiative in 1974. It soon became an interfaith activity, and now welcomes everyone, of all faith traditions or none. Dr […]
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God, companion and guide, thank you for the gift of faith. Thank you for accompanying us as we journey together with you and with the companions you send our way in this gathering. Open our hearts to the joy of your presence. Empower us to here your call to action in today’s service, to heed […]
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God, companion and guide, thank you for the gift of faith. Thank you for accompanying us all as we embark upon this new leg of the journey with you and with the companions you send our way along the road. Help us look forward with joy and anticipation, knowing that the past rests securely and […]
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Welcome! Come! Gather! What words do we use to call people together for worship? What words do we choose to invite people into worship space and time? Newest ‘Call to Worship’ posts . . . (images link to posts) Click on the link to go directly to: Call to Worship resources written for young readers Calls […]
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When photos are taken at a funeral or wake and shared, often electronically, with friends and relatives unable to be present, this prayer might be shared with the image of the deceased. It might be offered to the family to be shared before hand, so others can easily forward it with the attached image. Comforting […]
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Originally written in Palestine for World Communion Sunday Slightly adapted for inclusive language God of our grandmothers and mothers, of Eve and Sarah, Miriam and Hanna, Mary and Martha, Mother Mary and Mary of Magdala, of Lois and Eunice we come to your table today, [World Communion Sunday,] in this season of repentance of leaves […]
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Lectionary 19 September Year C Supplies: a personal cross that the leader carries with them. Or if the leader does not have this, the message could be altered to be a time when the leader, also, receives a new cross to keep with them. enough crosses, ideally small metal or wooden ones, to give one […]
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A picture says a thousand words. Thanks to all the photographers and artists for sharing these inspiring images. Items posted here may be used for worship and devotional purposes. Please acknowledge the photographer/artist. (If no photographer is noted, it is usually myself, Ana Gobledale.) Click on the image to see the full enlarged image.
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How do we help our children hear and understand (and share) the words that we think matter so much? How do we speak with children in our church? How do we provide opportunities for the voices, the words, of our children to be heard in worship? Our words matter to their faith development. And their words […]
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Worship Words resources for September:
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This annual observance, stretching from 1 September to 4 October (Day of St Francis of Assisi), aims to raise awareness in the global Christian family about the urgency to care for creation as a response to the ecological crisis. Click on the link to access the numerous Season of Creation resources posted on Worship Words […]
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The Light of God, a poem for Creation Care Month The light of God surrounds me, guiding me on my path. It opens my eyes to wonder, as the world around me bursts into colour. It fills me with joy and awe at the beauty of God’s creation. Leaves shimmer and dance in the breeze as […]
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Links are to ready-to-use printouts using inclusive language (to download). Exodus 23:16 and 19 You shall observe the festival of harvest, of the first fruits of your labour, of what you sow in the field. You shall observe the festival of ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field […]
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Along the dirt path, past golden grasses nodding in the breeze and stubby juniper trees studded with pale blue-green aromatic berries, through narrows the water rushes, falling over steeps in smooth sheets. Around bends it tumbles, creating backflows that spin into eddies. We are whirlpools in the stream of the universe, eddies consisting of eddies […]
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Blessed are you, who trust in the Almighty and put your hope in God. You are like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots to the river. When heat comes, you do not fear, your leaves remain green. You do not grieve the year of drought nor cease to bear fruit. Blessed […]
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We are called to pay attention: a responsive reading Many: This morning/afternoon/evening and all mornings/afternoons/evenings, we are called to pay attention. One: We are called to pay attention to our individual lives, to our delights and pains. We are called to understand and cherish ourselves, to take good care of ourselves, to know ourselves as […]
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To accompany the lectionary readings on the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A — Psalm 119:33-40 and Romans 13:8-14 Supplies: a cross, towel and basin, and a soft (stuffed) animal toy set out on a table or other central focal point one heavy hammer and 2-3 large nails mop and bucket photos of children facing […]
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God speaks the universe into creation. Words of kindness create goodness; words of cruelty create hurt. Our words matter. Liturgy and Language resources: Jump to… Creative and Refreshing liturgy for today’s church Liberated Liturgy Academic reflections – thoughts on liturgy Liturgical Studies at Notre Dame University, Indiana USA Joseph Ratzinger’s (Pope Benedict XVI) Consideration of inclusive […]
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Reading: one of the 7 biblical accounts of the ‘feeding of the multitude’ from either Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Invitation Christ’s invitation is simple — sit down where you are. You don’t need to run off somewhere else — not a nearby village market or a familiar sanctuary, communion is where you are — […]
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Just being. This is a time for just being. Time is a gift, just as nature is a gift – a gift for just being; being one with the chatter of birds, the hum of the freeway in the distance, one with the sunlight through the gnarled oaks playing patterns on the path, one with […]
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Arising from Romans 12.12 -13.1 May we put our hands into the hand of God And walk in divine light. May we welcome and respect those new to this land, celebrate the diversity of its citizens and live together in harmony. May each of us be an ambassador for God’s realm of justice and peace. […]
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Distract us From overthinking situations Beyond our control Distract us From being led astray By the lure of temptations Distract us From the vain pursuit of fame Wealth and status Focus our hearts On following and nurturing Shepherd us well A version for personal devotion: Distract me From overthinking situations Beyond my control Distract me […]
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Arising from Exodus 3.14 (Year A, Season after Pentecost, Proper 17) I am. I am who I am. There are times when I know who I am. There are times when I don’t know who I am. There are times when I wish I didn’t know who I am. I have a God, who when […]
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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 […]
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Call to Worship We come to this hour of worship full of much that clutters and distracts, stifles and burdens, making us often a burden to others and ourselves. We come to this hour of worship to be emptied of gnawing dissatisfactions, of anxious imaginings, of nagging resentments, of old scores to settle. We come […]
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An extensive annotated anthology of Season of Creation (Creationtide/ Creation Time) worship resources, with links– developed for the Joint Liturgical Group of Great Britain A heads up: while several of these resources use inclusive language and progressive images and metaphors, many do not. I have included this anthology, which I developed for the Joint Liturgical […]
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God speaks the universe into creation. Words of kindness create goodness; words of cruelty create hurt. Our words matter. What words are we using in worship?
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This could be read by numerous readers (perhaps passing it around a circle) or in the traditional one/many responsive reading style. It might be used for a nightime reading with a child or with a group out under the summer stars. One: Holy darkness, hold us. Many: Gentle darkness, soothe us. One: Peaceful darkness, heal […]
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With words we cry out for justice in our lives and our world. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:8-9 Explore these worship resources to discover ‘Justice Words’ relevant to […]
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Adapted from Psalm 105 Might be read by a single voice or responsively O give thanks to the Eternal One! Call on God’s name. Make known God’s deeds among the peoples. Sing praises to God. Tell of all God’s wonderful works. Glory in God’s holy name!
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Be still Let the sound of nothing absorb you Be still Let time be motionless and free Be still Let clouds roll by in an unending sky Be still Don’t let thoughts intrude – let go Be still Grasp the precious freedom of now Be still This is just us, you and I, in communion […]
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Intercessions arising from Psalm 51: 10 Silence: a diamond symbol (♦) indicates a short pause. One: God we call to mind the places where we live. All: May your people dwell in harmony. ♦ One: We call to mind the concerns of our neighbours. All: May your people dwell in harmony. ♦ One: We call […]
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Written for a service in nature (outside) Ready-to-print WORD doc: Call to worship for a service in nature – Susan Brecht, USA Leader: Creating Spirit, we gather this morning enveloped in the beauty of your creation. We come to release the stress, the anxiety, the burdens, the worries, the struggles of our lives. We come […]
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Inspired by Genesis 32: 22-32 God, thank you for your love which perseveres, touching our lives, not just in an hour of worship but every day. Your persistent love attends the world, day in and day out, year in and year out. Grant us perseverance, like Jacob, to stand steadfast in our convictions, to hold on […]
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Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 Proper 14 (19), Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A Scripts ready-to-print Genesis 37 – Joseph story DRAMA WORD Genesis 37 – Joseph story DRAMA PDF Characters Narrator Joseph — to side, out of sight Jacob/Israel — centre stage on chair The Shechem Man Rueben — to side, out of sight Judah — […]
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