Whose words will you find on Worship Words?
In alphabetical order (by surname/last name)…
Daphne graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Public Policy and Psychology. She is the founder of two companies in the sustainability realm. She resides in Santa Barbara, California. Daphne’s mission in life is ‘for there to be more compassion for mother earth and all of her inhabitants because she has lived’.
Daphne’s contributions to Worship Words:
Wellingtone received his Bachelor of Theology degree at the United Church of Zambia University in Mindolo, Kitwe, Zambia.
Wellington’s contributions to Worship Words:
Stephen, ordained in the United Reformed Church in Great Britain, served the National Synod of Wales. Retired in 2024, Stephen looks forward to more painting, holding his first exhibition in 2025. 
‘Anyone wishing to make use of my material in worship should feel free to do so; a simple authorship acknowledgement suffices. Stephen’
Click here to read more about Stephen Best.
Stephen’s contributions to Worship Words:
Anna Blaedel, an ordained minister, serves as theologian-in-residence at ‘enfleshed’ which brings ‘an attentiveness to the intersections of academic, activist, and ecclesial engagement.’ Anna nourishes students through campus ministry for the University of Iowa Wesley Center and is enrolled in a PhD program in Theological and Philosophical Studies at Drew University’s Graduate Division on Religion.
Shared with permission from ‘enfleshed,’ which describes itself as follows:
‘While the world aches for transformation and healing, God is not a distant observer but an enfleshed presence at the margins, in the soil, in chaos and quiet, in pleasure and pain. The Divine is intimately entangled with all aspects of our collective life: The material. The political. The intimate. The sensual. The struggle. The places where they all meet.
With this assurance, enfleshed creates and facilitates spiritual resources for Christian-adjacent communities learning and unlearning dominance in belief and practice. As the Spirit, tender and fierce, calls us all to courage, enfleshed hopes to provide sources of deep spiritual nourishment for the work of collective liberation before us.’
Read this and more liturgical writings on the ‘enfleshed’ website.
Anna’s contributions to Worship Words:
Dr Merryl Blair, an ordained minister in the Churches of Christ in Australia, served as Senior Lecturer of Old Testament at Stirling Theological College, Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia and Melbourne College of Divinity, Australia. Merryl, now retired, continues to write liturgy primarily arising from her reading of the Old Testament.
Merryl’s contributions to Worship Words:
Susan, an ordained minister, is passionate about participatory liturgy. She has kindly allowed Worship Words to share some items from her book, Re-imagining Worship. She strives to ‘go beyond traditional liturgies to capture what is happening in the lives of congregations, [to] go beyond the walls of the church into the world.’ Susan hopes the book will inspire worship leaders to be ‘creative, try new things and involve your congregation in the process.’
Her book includes sections on topics identified as primary elements of Worship: Words and preaching, Music and songs, Prayer and silence – meditative services, Liturgical Art, Interaction and participation – sermons with congregational input, plays (dramas, sketches) and skits, Movement and dance, Rituals. The resources focus on Holy Days in the liturgical year, non-religious holidays and special themes.
Susan’s contributions to Worship Words:
Re-imagining Worship is available on Amazon.
Jim Burklo, retired Associate Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, writes regularly for the ProgressiveChristianity.org liturgy project. Many of his liturgical materials can be found in his book Birdlike and Barnless: Meditations, Prayers, and Songs for Progressive Christians (2008, St Johann Press). Explore Jim Burklo’s blog for hymns, prayers and more.
Advent & Christmas resources by Jim
Hymns by Jim
Psalms & Prayers by Jim
Reflections & Worship Resources by Jim
Click on the link to read more about Jim Burklo.
Retired from Chaplaincy at Plumtree School, Plumtree, Zimbabwe
Karen, an ordained Elder & Church Related Community Worker, serves the United Reformed Church as Secretary for Global & Intercultural Ministries.
Karen’s contributions to Worship Words:
“I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, moved to Winfield, Kansas for college at Southwestern College, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy in 2009. I attended seminary at Phillips Theological Seminary. I live in Lakewood, Colorado with my wife and 2 dogs, cat, and cockatiel. I work as an Independent Life Skills Trainer, helping brain injury survivors regain skills for independent living.”
Angie’s contributions to Worship Words:
Visit Simon Cross’s blog — ‘Researching and writing at the intersection of spirituality, well being, mental health, social science and theology.’
Simon currently serves as Chair of PCN Britain — that’s the Progressive Christian Network in Britain. He is a writer, journalist, activist and academic, currently investigating ways in which spiritual capital may be said to develop in post secular society, looking particularly at the motivation that underlies participation in activity for the common good. Born in Scotland and raised in rural Northumberland, he went on to study Politics and Sociology before embarking on a career in journalism. Simon is currently writing a PhD, having previously been awarded postgraduate qualifications from Staffordshire University and Lancaster University.
Simon’s contributions to Worship Words:
Fiona serves as an Elder at Salisbury United Reformed Church.
Ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Thandiwe serves in ministry at Loveland United Church of Christ in Loveland, Colorado.
Many of the photos on Worship Words are through the discerning lens of Thandiwe’s camera.
Thandiwe’s contributions are divided into five groups:
- Children’s worship resources – Children’s Messages & items for children and youth to lead/read in worship
- Advent & Christmas resources
- Prayers
- Psalms
- All other worship resources
Children’s worship resources by Thandiwe (Children’s messages & items for children and youth to read/lead in worship)
Advent & Christmas resources by Thandiwe
Prayers by Thandiwe
Psalms by Thandiwe
All other worship resources by Thandiwe
Photos by Thandiwe – click here
Zach Ford (they/them) is a queer epic fantasy novelist who has stumbled into a second calling as a modern psalmist and liturgy writer. In between making stories about dragons and magic, they aim to create original, lyrical prayers expressing the full range of their emotions and their relationship with God.
Zach’s contributions to Worship Words:
Visit Steve’s blog, Unfolding Light, “a daily reflection rooted in a contemplative, Creation-centered spirituality, often inspired by my daily walk in the woods.” The items included in Worship Words are re-printed with permission from the author.
Steve describes himself on his blog: “I’m a United Methodist pastor in Massachusetts. I’ve served churches for 37 years, mostly in Montana and New Hampshire. I’ve also lived in South Dakota, California, Washington and Minnesota. I have a wife, Beth, and three grown sons whom I love dearly. I often lead retreats on prayer, poetry and renewing our language about God. I used to write and perform with the Montana Logging & Ballet Company, a quartet that did music and comedy around the country…”
Steve’s contributions to Worship Words:
Writer and retired minister in the United Reformed Church in Great Britain who cares about words and loves children, worship and baptisms! Ana established and edits Worship Words. She was ordained into ministry by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) USA.
Ana, with her husband Tod, served pastorates in the United Kingdom from 2010 – 2022, in London and Salisbury, and in the USA for 3 years in Franklin, New Hampshire. Their years of international service, many with Global Ministries (Christian Church-Disciples of Christ USA and United Church of Christ USA), have taken them to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia and most recently in 2019 to Zambia.
Ana’s most recent posts:
Ana’s contributions are divided into groups:
- Advent & Christmas resources
- Dramas and readings for multiple-voices
- Prayers
- Psalms
- All other worship resources
Advent & Christmas resources by Ana
Dramas & readings for multiple-voices by Ana
Prayers by Ana
Psalms by Ana
All other worship resources by Ana, listed alphabetically
Tod, with his wife, Ana, served pastorates in the United Kingdom from 2010 – 2022, in London and Salisbury, and in the USA for 3 years in Franklin, New Hampshire. Their years of service in Global Ministries (Christian Church-Disciples of Christ USA and United Church of Christ USA) have taken them to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia.
Tod’s contributions to Worship Words:
Sam writes, ‘I’m a member and elder at Central United Reformed Church in Derby, UK. I’m also currently on a candidating journey which is a response to a call into some form of ministry.’
In addition to writing prayers, Sam writes new lyrics for old hymn tunes. Scroll down to find links to his hymns posted on Worship Words.
Prayers and worship resources by Sam
Hymns by Sam
Elizabeth creates images and liturgy ‘to offer a calm centre inside complicated theological or social issues, or find paths to clear outcomes with steps along messy expectations of social sector projects, or gently reveal the progressive God I know who loves all of this and more’. She’s developing an exciting website full of her paintings and prayers.
Elizabeth’s contributions to Worship Words:
Warren Hartley, member of Open Table Liverpool, serves as the LGBTQIA+ Ministry Facilitator at St Bride’s Church in Liverpool
Website: St Brides Liverpool LGBTQIA
Warren’s contributions to Worship Words:
Cara, an ordained Minister in the United Reformed Church, serves at Summertown URC as associate minister and in the Oxford Hospitals as a chaplain. ‘I live in Oxford, in the UK, with my wife and two rescue dogs. I enjoy art, printmaking, writing and walks in fields and forests with our two lovely dogs.’ Click on the link to read more about Cara Heafey.
Advent, Christmas & Epiphany resources by Cara
Communion resources by Cara
Easter worship resources by Cara
Lent worship resources by Cara
Death & Dying resources by Cara
Prayers by Cara
Other Worship resources by Cara
Bob Hill is a nonfiction writer, poet, and community consultant for non-profit organizations focusing on social justice issues, particularly quality public education, voter registration, and quality health care for all. Previously he served for more than 30 years as pastor at Community Christian Church in Kansas City, Missouri, before shifting into semi-retirement and being named Minister Emeritus in 2015.
Bob’s contributions to Worship Words:
‘I am a second career Pastor. I came from a very fundamentalist denomination where women weren’t allowed to do ANYTHING in public worship and here I am, a fully ordained minister! God truly does move in mysterious ways!’
Janice, ordained in the United Church of Christ USA, currently serves a congregation in Tulare, California.
Janice’s contributions to Worship Words:
Rex is a Progressive preacher, liturgist and activist in Australia. Rex Hunt’s impressive web site contains lectionary-based ‘sermons, liturgies, prayers, and articles from a progressive/post-liberal theological perspective.’ Rex Hunt shares numerous resources from a life-long career as a progressive minister in the Uniting Church in Australia. The site is easy to use and will prove a valuable resource to any progressive worship planner. Click here to explore Rex Hunt’s liturgy website.
Rex’s contributions to Worship Words:
Dave currently serves as Conference Minister, Heartland Conference, United Church of Christ USA. His prayers arise, and we’re grateful he writes them down!
Lauren, ordained by the Churches of Christ in Australia, serves Hartwell Church of Christ in Melbourne, Victoria.
Loren McGrail, a minister in the United Church of Christ USA, served as a mission co-worker with Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Disciples of Christ for five years in Israel/Palestine. She served as an Ecumenical Accompanier for the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program of Palestine/Israel. Explore her blog, ‘A Garment of Destiny,’ to read more of her liturgical writing.
Loren’s contributions to Worship Words:
Originally from South Africa, Lawrence holds standing in the United Reformed Church of Great Britain.
Ele, of Kenmore, Washington, writes poetry, music and hymns. She has produced two CDs of her music and poetry, and published a book of her poems entitled, ’40 Degrees from Elsewhere’. She is pictured here at Kirtland United Church of Christ where she served as musician for many years.
Oberman writes prolifically on the website LUPA* providing liturgical resources. Thank you to Gerardo for allowing Worship Words to share his work.
Gerardo Oberman, Pastor ordenado de las Iglesias Reformadas en Argentina desde 1965. Realizó sus estudio de teología en el ISEDET (Buenos Aires) y en la Universidad Libre de Amsterdam (Holanda). Es presidente de las Iglesias Reformadas en Argentina desde 2009, Uno de los fundadores de la Red Crearte, espacio dedicado a la formación y renovación litúrgica y musical en América Latina.
Gerardo Oberman, ordained in 1965, served as Pastor of the Reformed Churches in Argentina and President of the Reformed Churches in Argentina from 2009. He completed his study of theology in the ISEDET (Buenos Aires) and the Free University of Amsterdam (Netherlands). Oberman is one of the founders of the Red Crearte — space dedicated to liturgical and musical formation and renewal in Latin America.
*Lupa Protestante (Lp), founded in 2005, is a digital magazine of theology, opinion and culture from a Christian-progressive, evangelizing, critical, ecumenical, inclusive and in dialogue with contemporary society and non-Christian religious traditions. Lp is committed to the defence of human rights in all areas, both religious and secular. Lp is an independent publication and is not linked to any ecclesial institution.’
Gerardo’s contributions to Worship Words:
David has been an active Street Pastor, musician and worship leader.
Pastor, husband, father, runner, reader, thinker. I’m a former independent, fundamental Baptist who stumbled into ‘liberal’ Christianity, ordained by the Disciples of Christ and proudly serving a United Church of Christ congregation.
Loren’s statement of faith, ‘What I do and do not believe,’ is included in the Worship Words Longest Night Service resources.
Loren’s contributions to Worship Words:
“I am a retired United Methodist clergy person serving half-time at the Lattimer United Methodist Church in Lattimer Mines, Pennsylvania, USA. I have represented my Annual Conference at various ecumenical and interfaith gathering. My wife, Anne, and I live with four cats.”
Lynne, a member of the Churches of Christ in Australia, has been writing prayers and liturgy for many years. Formerly both a primary school teacher and a professional musician, Lynne had to give up work for health reasons. She now assists theological students with proof-reading, concentrating mainly on students whose first language is not English. Her passions are reading, music, art, photography and social justice.
‘Chris was born in the rural county of Norfolk, England in 1948, where he has lived and worked for much of his life. Most of his working career has been spent in the agricultural industry. His love of nature, the countryside and the time spent within the agricultural industry is very much reflected in much of his writing.’ His work is also posted on Silent Flight Publications.
Jenny is a retired teacher and an Elder in a United Reformed Church in the UK.
Joan, a Lay Preacher in the United Reformed Church, worships at Salisbury United Reformed Church.
An hymn writer and ordained minister in the United Reformed Church, Ray serves as Development and Support Officer in the Wessex Synod.
Bill is a member of Water’s Edge, a creative church community in Ocean Beach, California USA. Now retired he continues to consult, teach and speak on behalf of those who struggle with this stage in life we call dying. In addition to Sunrises and Sunsets, he has written three books related to his work with loss and grief: A Gift to Self, Conversations, and A New Way to Hope. Learn more about Bill and his books on his website WilliamStephensonBooks.
Bill’s contributions to Worship Words:
Maren writes:
‘Retired from parish ministry, I now focus on encouraging other writers, and use writing to support justice action. I serve as a guest preacher most Sundays and enjoy visiting different churches (now virtually). I love to read and write and gather up the words of others in written form so that people can read them. I’ve been a local church pastor in the United Church of Christ since 1980 in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and am the author or editor of numerous books. My newest book is Christmas Eve at the Epsom Circle McDonald’s and Other Poems, a seasonal opportunity to celebrate the ways the holy arrives in the midst of the ordinary.’
Read more about Maren here.
Visit Maren’s blog: Gifts in Open Hands | A Blog for a Pentecost Year
Maren’s contributions to Worship Words:
Brenda writes, ‘The United Methodist Church became my church home in 2000, when we emigrated from Canada to Southern California. A long personal journey brought me home: pastoring a local church. This foray into creative writing has been only a recent and surprisingly powerful endeavor.’
Amanda Udis-Kessler is a hymnwriter, songwriter, composer, and writer who specializes in music and lyrics for liberal religious people and communities, including inclusive, social justice-minded Christians, Unitarian Universalists, and other open-hearted religious traditions. She has served informally as composer-in-residence at Vista Grande Community Church (UCC). Her music website, Queer Sacred Music, includes numerous songs. Her second website features her writing (non-music items). Click on the link to see Amanda Udis-Kessler’s liturgical work.
Amanda’s contributions to Worship Words:
Thanks to Amanda for her generosity: ‘You have my full, express, written, and permanent permission to print my lyrics in full on Worship Words. Anyone interacting with your website has my full, express, written, and permanent permission to remove or copy any and all of my resources from Worship Words (and from my website queersacredmusic.com) and to freely print such resources for use in worship or other events and to adapt such resources for their immediate context as appropriate or desired (as long as such adaptations do not contradict the open-hearted and fully inclusive spirit of my materials).’
Several students at the United Church of Zambia University (UCZU) have submitted worship material reflecting contemporary worship in Zambia today. A special section called ‘Zambia Praise‘ has been created on Worship Words to house this growing resource.
John is a liturgist with 40 years of experience in a wide variety of church, community, and musical settings. He created and edits the website Sacredise which provides ‘theologically deep and experientially inspiring’ worship resources and training for progressive churches. As a minister of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, John was worship director for three National Conferences and was the chief liturgist for the dedication of the new Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary in 2010. Currently, John devotes his time to helping churches navigate the new and growing reality of online worship and community while also founding and coordinating EvoFaith.com—a new evolution of online spiritual community.
John’s contributions to Worship Words:
Bronwyn’s writing celebrates spirit and faith in postmodern, post-christian life: 21st Century words for evolving understanding. She draws on the Judeo-Christian tradition of her upbringing and her progressive Christian faith communities— real and online.
Bronwyn lives on the Kāpiti Coast in Aotearoa New Zealand, where Christmas comes at summertime: a festive season where pōhutukawa and rata are in bloom, friends gather around barbecues or picnic at the beach on Christmas Day, and many people travel to catch up with family or enjoy school holidays. On this small group of islands in the Southern Hemisphere, the rich culture of indigenous Māori people and the introduced religions of settlers and colonists, along with migrants from the Pacific, Asia and Europe, blend into a unique mix of creative, spiritual art forms: music, writing, paintings, sculpture and other creative work.
Bronwyn identifies as a cultural and evolving christian (lower case) but is part of a vibrant Progressive Christian faith community because she believes change—theological and on issues of social justice and equity—needs to come from within the Church. Bronwyn loves liturgy, “the work of the people”—writing, presenting and being a part of it so long as the theology is inclusive, progressive and contemporary. Her philosophy is, “Living with faith, not belief”.
Bronwyn has written two liturgical books, and is preparing a third for publication. You can buy You who delight me and Something new to say via her website Spirit & Faith or from Philip Garside Publishing.
Bronwyn’s contributions to Worship Words:
Worship resources written by Christine:
Heather is both a liturgist and a hymnist. Ordained by the United Reformed Church in Great Britain, she currently serves churches in Luton and Dunstable. She writes, ‘Around 2011 I first encountered quantum theology and have been hooked ever since.’ Heather’s article, ‘Quantum Theology & hymnody’, was published in Progressive Voices, Issue 28, March 19, 2019.
Heather’s contributions to Worship Words:
Heather shares this ‘brief introduction to Psalms for a Quantum world’:
‘Some years ago, during a sabbatical in which I looked to explore John’s Gospel through the lens of quantum science, I was side-tracked into a project which has continued with me since then. To this day I am not sure how this happened but like to think it was more than serendipity. The project was to rephrase for the twenty-first century some of the most often used Psalms, and my working title was Psalms for a Quantum World. In some ways this was the collision, or connection, of three different strands of my ministry, a long-standing struggle with the language and image of the Psalms, a passion for spirituality, and a more recent interest in quantum theology. The latter is, I believe, best described as the application of new understandings from quantum science to the way we understand our humanity, God and creation.
My relationship with the Psalms has never been easy, I find the language and images at odds with my understanding of God. The God of love often seems hidden beneath anger, wrath, and punishment. My reading had led me to a new understanding of the message of Jesus, I sensed that Jesus knew God in a different way and was encouraging his listeners to see beyond the traditional understanding and the necessity of intermediaries. Jesus was inviting us into a direct relationship, and inviting us to recognise the reality of our oneness with God and creation. It is through this lens that I examined the Psalms and sought to re-vision them for a new century and a new understanding. I have used these Psalms for a quantum world in many situations and often people comment on the relevance to the world in which they live.’
Rev. Dr. Barbara Wilkins-Crowder was ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1988. She has served congregations since as both member and minister. She currently works as Executive Director of a not-for-profit that strives to keep the elderly and disabled living in their homes of choice.
Barb’s contributions to Worship Words:
Duncan Wilson is a retired minister of the United Reformed Church in Great Britain with former ministries in Leeds, Sheffield and Nottingham and now living in Banbury. He writes contemporary versions of psalms calling the on-going project ‘Praise from the heart: The Psalms in liturgical order’. Click on the link to read more about Duncan Wilson.
Reflections & worship resources by Duncan
Psalms by Duncan
For many years, Duncan has been using the lectionary’s choice of Psalms each week as a call or introduction to worship. He has paraphrased each psalm as a responsive call to worship and is now offering them as a resource for churches and worship leaders to use as they wish. He intends them to be accessible for all ages, inclusive and relevant, as the Psalms were inspired by people with thoughts and experiences much like ours.
Duncan describes his writing in these words:
‘Towards the end of the United Reformed Church in Great Britain’s hymn book, Rejoice and Sing, is a section entitled Psalms and Canticles. I suspect it is used infrequently except for some well known numbers. Some are elegantly paraphrased, some by recent authors in the form of hymns. Others take the form of ‘metrical psalms’ which could as well be spoken as sung since they are set out for responsive chanting. But in many cases their language is somewhat archaic, at least not very accessible, and is hardly gender inclusive.
‘In trying to reclaim Psalms as a call or opening for worship, I have, for many years, been adapting them with both age and gender in mind for what we generally call ‘family worship’.
‘It seemed to me that the Psalms had a prominent part to play in Reformed worship before ever hymns became current and that they provided a very special resource in sharing with us the thoughts and feelings of people far removed from us by time but not by faith and the experience of life. The Psalms speak to us still.
‘Mine are paraphrases without any claim to skill in translation. I have read and compared many versions not with the aim of finding the most accurate translation but the one most likely to ‘strike a chord’, to resonate with life today, therefore subjective to a degree. So, I have taken some liberties which I trust God forgive.
‘There are, of course, some Psalms which refer to adversaries or certain hostile attitudes in a way which grates with us now and hardly helps to lift up our hearts as we open our worship. These I am guilty of glossing over.
‘This has been a personal and individual task and joy that, week by week, has compelled me to really read and imbibe the text. As I come back to them, I frequently modify them.
‘At the end of the day, the Psalms, like all of holy scripture, are there to inspire, to transcend the words with images of a God who has been trusted to be good, to be a saviour, a haven, a healer, a teacher, a companion, a judge and a shepherd. So, the ultimate aim is to encourage and sustain faith and hope. See what you think.’
Consider submitting a prayer, poem, liturgy, song or photo to Worship Words. Submit your ideas here.
All of us who write for worship are part of ‘the modern liturgical movement” which is usually considered to stretch from 1600 to 2000 particularly in North America and Europe. Let’s extend that movement into the 21st century and around the globe!
Accept the invitation to both write and network liturgical and worship resources nestled in your files and tucked away in books. By sharing what we have written, we can share the power of worship!
If you would like to submit a written item or photo, please click here to read the Submission Guidelines.
Writing worship words full of authenticity and power? Consider submitting them to Worship Words.
Writing lyrics that speak from your heart? Consider submitting them…
Consider submitting your words of beauty, struggle and truth.[/toggle
Consider submitting your prayer words and conversations.Thanks to all those who have given their permission to reproduce copyright and non-copyright material, words and images, on this website. Every effort has been made to trace and contact the owners of material (copyright and non-copyright) and I hope that no copyright has been infringed. Pardon is sought and apology made if the contrary be the case, and a correction will be made as soon as the website manager is notified.
Contributors – click on the link to read their post which includes links to their resources available on Worship Words.
