People of God! May you, like Ruth, be steadfast in love. May you, like Daniel, be obedient to truth. May you, like Rahab, be brave and self-sacrificing. May you, like Jesus, Shout out for justice! Go forth, people of God! Photo: Manchester UK
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Independence Day for Jamacia for Ghana for the United States of America breaking away from oppression forgive us for the ways we keep others back down, under, behind, invisible breaking away from tyranny forgive us for the ways we claim privilege, power, prestige forgive us when we walk through an open gate and close […]
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Text to read before the message: John 13:31a, 34-35 Prepared as a Children’s Message, but usable with all ages. To learn the tune: Todah, La El, Hallelujah – YouTube ( start at 1:12; not great, but the best example I can find) Script How does God say to treat one another? [with love] What does […]
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Open Table Worship Using inclusive language and imagery for intimate worship settings at which everyone is welcome and valued Theme: Stand firm in our faith A complete worship service weaving together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion Compiled & written by Ana Gobledale for Open Table This service is designed for a congregation gathered around […]
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‘Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness….” Genesis 1.26 Lesson: Looking at skin colour to learn more about God. What colour are you? Listen to this poem by Kathleen McGinnis, and see if you can find a colour that matches your skin. Some people are black like ebony wood. […]
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Adapted from a prayer written by Terri Hord Owens God of Love, our hearts break at the violence in our world, the loss of life, the dishonouring of children of God, the vile insults hurled and the wounds of history reopened. We pray for the families of those who have died and all the wounded. […]
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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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This service might be used in a family home, in a garden, beside the sea or wherever the family chooses. Prayers might be modified to use phraseology more closely matching the beliefs of the family. This service has evolved over the years and may include items written by others. Please notify Worship Words if you […]
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Tune: St Columba 87 87 (Iambic) Gathered round this table spread God’s faithful people gather For food, for strength, for wine, for bread In love and trust together Christ’s gift to us, remembering That upper room assembly Friends breaking bread, receiving grace United in God’s fam’ly. No one left out, a place for all To […]
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This might be used on Zoom or in a face-to-face service. Materials: Sign reading ‘Hospitality’ Script: Do you ever have visitors at your home? What do you do when you have visitors? What do your parents do? welcome the visitors Feed them talk with them smile play together? How do you make visitors feel […]
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Come! Gather! Celebrate! We come to worship as the people of God. Come! Listen! Pray! We come to hope, dream and share visions. Come, for all are welcome in this place.
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How does one mark the Platinum Jubilee (70th anniversary) of the reign of a monarch? What words do we use to honour the loyalists, the republicans, members of the broader Commonwealth, and those who threw off the mantle of royal rule hundreds of years ago? How does one honour the victims of Empire? In April […]
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God entrusts to us a great treasure, the gift of Enough When I was young I wanted more persistent insistent unquenched desire I expended energy precious time accumulating earthly things But then God granted me the treasure of Enough not wanting more satisfied contentment not needing to eat too much food buy too many shoes […]
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Materials: a seashell — ideally with twists and hollow spaces If used in summer, take advantage of any connection available to the seaside. What’s this? [a shell] What words might we use to describe it? – pointy, smooth, hollow, full of air, hard, When we look at the shell from different angles, we learn more […]
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The Phenomenon of Prayer I’d love to say that I pray without ceasing, but I do, cease that is. I would love to say that I pray with understanding, but I often pray from a place of not-knowing. I would love to say that I pray with a deep sense of connection to the Spirit, […]
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What starts this week? — the Olympics Many people are gathering from all around the world to compete in sports. And they all will try their best to win a medal. What colour medals can they win? Gold, silver and bronze Which colour means that athlete has performed the best in their sport? Gold […]
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This interactive activity has been created for use at baptism services. Leader: I need some children to help me out, 6 to be exact. You will not need to say anything. (Provide as much explanation as necessary until the required number of volunteers stand at the front.) Give each child/volunteer a giant letter to hold, […]
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Walking through the valley of the shadow of death… Death accompanies us all. Waiting silently for acceptance. Not frightening, except for those who fear shadows. Peaceful. I’m grateful for those who show me how to transition from the life we know into this unknowable mystery. So many names and angles of understanding: eternity, resurrection, dust-to-dust, […]
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Text: Mark 6:1-13 (Pentecost 6, Year B) Title: Like a noodle! Theme: Resilience Supplies: Dry spaghetti noodles and cooked spaghetti noodles Works well for InPerson or Zoom (online) service. Script with actions: Good morning. Today we’re thinking about resilience. I wonder what ‘resilient’ means? Any ideas? [Wait for any responses.] If a person is resilient, […]
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An interactive Children’s Message I have something in my bag. What is this? [a globe] Where are we? [find location] I was born in ____________________. Can you find it on the globe? Where were you born? Can you find it? What about your mums and fathers? Where were they born? Let’s find those countries on […]
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Invitation to give. God is generous. Created in God’s image, we have been blessed with generous spirits. Our gifts, arising from that wellspring of generosity, will be used for the work and mission of the church. Dedication of gifts Generous God, thank you for all the gifts you have bestowed upon us, for your persistence, […]
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A Children’s Message for after Guy Fawkes, New Years or Independence Days, connecting to the sounds of fireworks. O Children of Jacob, O people of God, Come, let us walk in the light of God. —Isaiah 2:5 (Ask one child) What are you thankful for? God, thank you for (repeat what child said). 3-2-1 CLAP! […]
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‘Until we meet again; don’t know where, don’t know when.’ Death accompanies us all. Waiting silently for acceptance. Not frightening, except for those who fear shadows. Peaceful. I’m grateful for those who show me how to transition from the life we know into this unknowable mystery. So many names and angles of understanding: eternity, resurrection, […]
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God’s peace: carry, keep and hold you. God’s love: nourish, bless and enfold you. God’s spirit: inspire, lift and mold you. May God, merciful and just, help you persevere on the path before you.
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Written after visiting my first grandchild. Baby smells waft into my nostrils. A pattering heart pulsates in my embrace. Tearlets moisten my eyes. Powerful hope swirls through my core. This is my body. This is my blood. God’s own child rests in my arms. By what name shall this child be called? Hope. Promise. Future. […]
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Born white Into privilege and power No hiding Birth mark Marked at birth Step into access Step into education Seen as a full wallet/purse Walking with a shadow Of responsibility Of oppression Of exploitation So many wrongs How many generations must pass To be free of the burden of the sins of our ancestors? To […]
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Thoughts on partnerships and relationships Acts 28 To the ends of the earth Go and build bridges Go and connect Demolish dividing walls At least peer over them Search for openings Find points of intersection Along the many footpaths See not a single way Know your own path And cherish its rightness for you Pause […]
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My family and I have experimented with the Jesus Prayer, the Lord’s Prayer. By removing gender-orientation and limiting phrases and inserting words that ring with meaning and truth for today, this prayer has remained a pillar of my faith practice. In the 1980’s saying nightly prayers with my children, we replaced “Our Father” with “Almighty God.” Today, with […]
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A prayer of confession and an entreaty for transformation, inspired by the contrast between the simplicity of life in Zambia and the complexity of life in the United Kingdom. (To create a group prayer, change ‘my’ to ‘our’ and ‘me’ to ‘us’.) God, forgive my/our barns My cupboards My bureaus Full to overflowing. Invade my […]
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Creator God, your love abounds forever; Creation’s beauty fills the earth and sky. Your shining stars, the universe expanding, Amazing power, creation does display. Chorus: Creator God, we lift our song to you, How great your love, how great your love. (repeat) When through the veld and grassy plains we wander, we hear the birds, […]
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‘The realm of God is like a treasure hidden in a field….like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When one is found of great value, the merchant goes away, and sells all their belongings and buys it.’ –Matthew 13:44-46 Beauty Becoming The cutter eyes the stone A stalk of translucent green tourmaline Its essence shines […]
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Written in Salisbury Cathedral while listening toSt Matthew’s Passion by JS Bach and preparing a funeral service. Death Ceasing to be Becoming what? Breathless Containing all life Life-less Moving from Moving toward Leaving Arriving Shutting down It is finished Dust on the mantle Ash on the hearth Carried on zephyr puffs Lifted Unknowing Fear not […]
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Friends, come in peace for all things are now ready. After or as the bread is distributed… The bread of life shared with you. After or as the juice is distributed… The power of God shared with you. After meal is shared… We give thanks to you, Source of all life, that you have refreshed […]
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An Interview of the Slave Girl and Jailer who meet Paul and Silas. To be used within a worship service, possibly as the message itself. Acts 16:16-34 Easter 7, Year C Roles: Interviewer (Int) Slave Girl, Harriet (S.G.) Jailer, Jaden (J.) Reader of Acts 16 Ready-to-print scripts: Interview – Acts 16.16-34 – Slave Girl & […]
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We gather, celebrating our life together With gratitude to those who have gone before. We gather, looking ahead to our life together With anticipation as we step into the future. We gather to worship and serve the living God the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Whoever you are and wherever you […]
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Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday after Easter), Year C John 20:19-31 Acts 5: 27-32 *Bible quotations are from ‘The Inclusive Bible,’ Rowman & Littlefield publishers 2007 www.rowmanlittlefield.com Certainties & Doubts: a Biblical drama The worship leader interviews ‘Doubting Thomas’ discussing doubt, faith and our world today. The script includes an introduction and conclusion and an […]
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Matthew 28:1-18 Do not be afraid. Allow time for the children to answer each question. When are you afraid? What helps you be brave? The Easter message for us, from God, is ‘Do not be afraid. No matter how scary things are, I am with you.’ Pray with me. God, thank you for […]
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Invite a bagpiper to join the congregation for worship on St Andrew’s Sunday. They might play a traditional Scottish hymn or other songs agreed upon. Ideally, they will dress in full Scottish regalia. Invite the children to come forward to join the worship leader and to meet the bagpiper, look closely at the instrument, and […]
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How do we mark the passing of time after a death? What words do we share when we gather to install, place or unveil a gravestone or marker? This service has been used when unveiling a gravestone or placing a plaque at a grave. Complete Service ready to download and print PDF Gravestone unveiling – full […]
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Written April 2018 during a time of personal reflection in the Lady Chapel, Ely Cathedral, UK, following the bombing of Syria by the US and the UK. Broken Bombed Darkness descends How did it come to this? God groans The world whimpers. We cower Fearfully crying out, ‘Which way?’ What about our grandchildren? Follow the […]
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