Children and their loved ones: My voice matters. Worship leader: When someone is being treated badly, I will say that is wrong. Children and their loved ones: My voice matters. Worship leader: When someone is being left out of the group, I will say that is wrong. Children and their loved ones: My voice matters. […]
Read full text
These closing words partner with the hymn, ‘Church is more than just a building,’ by Amanda Udis-Kessler. Church is indeed more than a building, as those of us who worship on Zoom know. While we, the church, may be a ‘crew of misfits’, we know this: We each are given a place at the table, […]
Read full text
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 […]
Read full text
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 […]
Read full text
A reading for a Pride Day Service Written to be read responsively or by two voices. One: Today, Pride Day, we affirm with joy that we are proud. Many: We are proud to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and questioning. One: We are proud to have survived and thrived despite challenges to our dignity, […]
Read full text
written for the Reconciling Ministries Network One: As we enter Holy Week, we remember the holy work of Jesus in order to take up that work in our own lives and for our own time. Many: Holy One, we are here in gratitude and hope. May we serve your Kin-dom well. One: We remember that […]
Read full text
A Responsive Reading (could be read by two voices) One: Spirit of love and life, far too wildly inclusive to care what’s in our wallets, Many: We confess that we have failed to live up to your radical generosity. One: We have kept our religion to ourselves. Many: We have made ourselves comfortable with worship […]
Read full text
Ready-to-print music: God, The Soaring Eagle, music God, the soaring eagle, God, the mother hen, Architect and potter, shelter, shield and sun, Comforting the people others have condemned: You of many names, you nameless one: All our words of praise have just begun. God the gentle shepherd, God the mighty king, Crying out in […]
Read full text
Great mysterious Spirit of Love, be with me today and all days. Open my heart, move my hands, speak through my mouth and awaken my mind to prepare me for the work of love, caring, and justice in this broken and beautiful world. Sustain me when I am afraid. Goad me forward when I retreat […]
Read full text
Tune: Nettleton 8787D — John Wyeth, Repository of Sacred Music, Part II, 1813 We are gathered in the Spirit though our bodies are apart, Filled with joy and touched with wonder, separate hands but mingled hearts Giving thanks and singing praises for the love that calls us on. From our many different places we are […]
Read full text
Inspired by: Micah 6:8; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 4:16-21 Tune: Hyfrydol 1. Church is more than just a building, more than wood or metal or brick. Church is how we love our neighbour. Church is how we tend to the sick, Feed the hungry and heal the suffering, welcome strangers and give to the poor. All […]
Read full text
Amanda Udis-Kessler’s website, Queer Sacred Music, includes numerous songs (lyrics, scores and recordings) and worship items. Several new songs and worship resources express a relevancy to a pandemic reality. To access the songs on Amanda’s website, I prefer starting at the page entitled ‘Recordings’ where one can find the lyrics in addition to the recording […]
Read full text
A responsive Call to Worship for face-to-face worship with COVID-19 protection We gather today in masks. We gather today in love. Wearing masks shows our commitment to the health of all people. We gather today in compassion. Wearing masks enables us to welcome others into our physical space. We gather today in hospitality. Wearing masks […]
Read full text