Originally written for a gathering of welcoming LGBTQ+ Christians. Psalm 139 arises in the Common Revised Lectionary on Epiphany 2B; Pentecost 7A, 2B and 13C. Ready-to-download Word document and rainbow PowerPoint to project in worship: Psalm 139 – Responsive Acclamation, Ana Gobledale Psalm 139 Responsive Acclamations PPT – Ana Gobledale I praise you, for I […]
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Ninth Sunday after Pentecost; Proper 13, Year A Readers: Narrator, Jesus, Disciple 1, Disciple 2 Supplies: 5 bread rolls, two paper ‘fish’, lots of baskets, any costume items. Signboards for characters can prove helpful. Ready-to-download and print: Matthew 14.13-21 – feeding the crowd – drama PDF Matthew 14.13-21 – feeding the crowd – drama WORD […]
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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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Living One, we are your disciples – your hands and feet in the world today. In this time when we are staying away from one another, we sometimes feel extremely burdened, as if under a great weight. Truthfully, we have frequently been tempted to turn to fear and doubt, not trusting in your presence. We […]
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Matthew 11:16-30 5th Sunday of Pentecost, Year A Almighty, creator God, we have gathered to praise you, giving thanks that you have given us life and breath, that you do daily attend us with goodness and mercy.* May this time together in worship strengthen us that we might transcend our current state of social isolation […]
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Matthew 11 5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A God of gentleness, thank you for relieving our burdens and for filling our emptiness with the Bread of Life. Create of us the living Body of Christ, that in these challenging times we might witness the power and possibility of your love and peace in our world […]
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Inspired by Psalm 68 Come before God with joy! We come with jubilation! Come worship the protector of orphans and widows. We come to praise God with singing and exultation.
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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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Isolated Broken Spreading Infecting Darkness descends How did it come to this? God groans The world whimpers. We cower Fearfully crying out, ‘Now what?’ What about our old age? What about our grandchildren? Be not afraid. Follow the light. Follow peace. Where? Into the brokenness. Into this new reality. Fear not. Into the unimaginable. Cling […]
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Eternal God, we turn to you knowing you are the source of the living water for which we thirst. Living water, In faith, we lift our prayer to you. We pray for those, like the woman by the well, confronted by their own reality and being invited to step boldly into the unknown. May they […]
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Adapted from Psalm 112:1-10, Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Year A Praise the Biggest of the Big!* Happy are those who fear the Eternal One, who greatly delight in the divine commandments. They are gracious, merciful, and just. They rise in the darkness as a light for others. *Nkulunkulu, ‘the biggest of the big’ – Ndebele […]
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God, prepare me. Proclamation Channel Instrument Prepared yet overtaken Connection Identification ‘That’s me!’ Mouth of God Beyond words translated Interpreted Confirming purpose and usefulness Use me, God. Keep me humble. Use me beyond my perceived limits. Today may I be on fire With your spirit With your word Consumed yet refined Given yet received Blessed
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Who am I? The mother, a vessel for someone else’s plan? The father, not the father, standing sentinel? A shepherd, dirty and bedraggled, a loner from the veld? A magi, wise and discerning, hoping in star-studded messages? An angel, iridescent, illuminating and terrifying? A donkey, nuzzling the manger, hungrily searching for hay? A lamb, bleating, […]
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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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God, we gather in this place Home for our souls. Here we sense our true selves Renewed in wholeness; Scattered, now gathered in. Fragments re-united, re-connected Standing on solid ground Upheld by faith Renewed by love We open ourselves to you.
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Luke 23:33-43 – Jesus and the two criminals Told from the perspective of three Roman soldiers present at the crucifixion of Jesus. Appropriate for Good Friday or the 24th Sunday of Pentecost, Year C. Ready-to-print scripts: Luke 23, 33-43 drama PDF Luke 23, 33-43 drama Storyteller: Today’s Gospel reading, from Luke’s account, reminds us how […]
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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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Written for nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C Psalm 121 & Luke 18:1-8 (the widow and the unjust judge) Where whence comes our help? Our help comes from God, the Eternal One, who made heaven and earth. Join me in our prayers of intercession. Pray with me. God, you are, indeed, our help in times […]
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Inspired by Psalm 30:4-5 Originally written for the third Sunday of Easter, Year C A responsive reading Sing praises to the Eternal One. Today we praise the sacred with enthusiasm. Rejoice in the morning light. We rejoice in the never-ending love of God. Sadness and anger have darkened our paths. Yet in the light of […]
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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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I was filled with great happiness when I was called to go to church. What sweet fellowship we find in you O wonderful house of God built on a solid foundation. You grant to us a sweet time of prayer, despite our different languages and cultures. There is justice in your presence. All people enjoy […]
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Creator God, your love abounds forever; Creation’s beauty fills the earth and sky. Your shimmering stars, your circling planets, Amazing power, creation does display. Chorus: Creator God, we lift our song to you, How great your love, how great your love. When through the veld and grassy plains we wander, we hear the birds, and […]
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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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Thank God for church! This might be read by numerous voices, responsively or by a single voice. Remember to pause and focus on firstly each attribute of the Spirit and secondly each specific gratitude. After each refrain, take time to consider specific people, activities, worship words, prayers, songs, sermons, and other aspects of church for […]
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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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Inspired by Psalm 97 Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C The Eternal One cares for all creation as a wise and just ruler cares for a realm. Let the earth celebrate this truth. Light dawns for the virtuous, and joy for the upright in heart. Delight in the Eternal One, you who are just and […]
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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 […]
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Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday after Easter), Year C John 20:19-31 Eternal One, as we travel through life’s valleys, in the places of darkness, and despair, we know that you are with us. Even when life’s doubts assail us, we know that you still abide with us, watching over us. Strengthen our faith. Help us […]
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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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Mary’s Lament – a reflection originally written for a Good Friday service. This dramatic monologue revealing Mary’s anguish and distress has been read effectively at a Blue Christmas service, also. 2 Readers: Mary, mother of Jesus, and a Storyteller (narrator) Ready-to-print downloads: PDF Mary’s Lament dramatic reading WORD Mary’s Lament dramatic reading Life often overwhelms […]
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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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What words do we use to describe the mystery of Easter? Bodily resurrection? Spiritual continuum? Risen? Risen indeed? What words might Jesus’s friends have used to explain their experiences that day? This drama presents words Mary Magdalene might have shared. Ready-to-print downloads of full script: Easter drama – I, Mary Magdalene PDF Easter drama – I, […]
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[names of couple], we rejoice to celebrate with you the reaffirmation of your marriage covenant, as you re-commit yourselves as /wife and husband / partners/ wives / husbands/ in marriage. [Use the terminolopgy chosen by the couple.] This year you celebrate ____ years of marriage, your anniversary coming up on [date]. In this post-modern world, […]
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2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 Dramatised for 3 readers The parts may be portrayed by women, men or youth. They need not memorise but may hold and read their scripts. Microphones will be needed by all three. If there is a high lectern or pulpit, that is a good spot for the Storyteller; a great opportunity […]
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Epiphany 2, Year C This prayer is inspired by Psalm 36:5-10 It’s like standing beneath a street lamp On a misty evening. In the light, I see light, But objects appear blurry and obscured, half lit. God, standing in your light, I see light, But the path ahead appears blurry and obscured, seemingly […]
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Prayer inspired by 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Second Sunday of Epiphany, Year C Note: this prayer can be written either in the singular (me/I) or the plural (us/we). In this bleak midwinter Gifts abound Given in the same spirit, a spirit of love. When words of wisdom we cannot bring to utterance, Thank you for the […]
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Title: I have good news…and bad news… Readings: Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:39-55 This dramatic monologue, a phone conversation between pregnant teenage Mary and her Mum, was originally written as the sermon accompanying the lighting of the Advent Candle of Love. It can be used effectively anytime during Advent. Notes: Mary pauses throughout the conversation when […]
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