Whose writing will you find on Worship Words?
In alphabetical order (by surname/last name)…
Linda is trained as an educator, a Clinical Musician, and an ordained interfaith minister. She is a prolific song writer, composer and performer. As a Certified Clinical Musician, she is currently employed by a regional hospice provider.
Wellingtone is currently working on a Bachelor of Theology degree at the United Church of Zambia University in Mindolo, Kitwe, Zambia.
Stephen, ordained in the United Reformed Church in Great Britain, serves in ministry in Cardiff, Wales, UK.
‘Anyone wishing to make use of my material in worship should feel free to do so; a simple authorship acknowledgement suffices. Stephen’
Rev Dr Merryl Blair is Senior Lecturer of Old Testament at Stirling Theological College, Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia and Melbourne College of Divinity, Australia. Merryl writes liturgy primarily arising from her reading of the Old Testament.
Jim Burklo, 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 his blog for hymns, prayers and more.
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.
“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 began seminary at Phillips Theological Seminary in 2010 and will graduate with my Master of Divinity in May 2016. 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.”
Fiona serves as an Elder at Salisbury United Reformed Church.
Ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Thandiwe serves in ministry at Lovedale United Church of Christ in Lovedale, Colorado.
Many of the photos on Worship Words are through the discerning lens of Thandiwe’s camera.
Her contributions are divided into four groups:
- Children’s worship resources – Children’s Messages & items for children and youth to lead/read in worship
- Advent & Christmas resources
- Prayers
- 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
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.
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…”
Writer and 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.
Ana, with her husband Tod, serves a pastorate of three United Reformed Church congregations in the United Kingdom. From 2010 – 2015 they served St Andrew’s United Reformed Church in London UK.
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.
Ana’s most recent posts:
Ana’s contributions are divided into four groups:
- Advent & Christmas resources
- Dramas and readings for multiple-voices
- Prayers
- All other worship resources
Advent & Christmas resources by Ana
Dramas & readings for multiple-voices by Ana
Prayers by Ana
All other worship resources by Ana, listed alphabetically
Tod, with his wife, Ana, serves a pastorate of three United Reformed Church congregations in the UK. From 2010 – 2015 they served a URC congregation in southeast London UK.
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.
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.’
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.
Warren Hartley serves as the LGBTQIA+ Ministry Facilitator at St Bride’s Church in Liverpool UK.
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.’
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.
‘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.
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 lives and works in Palestine.
Originally from South Africa, Lawrence holds standing in the United Reformed Church of Great Britain.
