Colours of the rainbow Originally used to illustrate ‘sharing’ as presented in John 6:1-15 (Jesus feeds many) and 2 Kings 4:42-44 (Tenth Week of Pentecost, Year B). Preparation: In a bag: (I use the same cloth bag each week, so children anticipate that there will be something inside it when they gather.) a selection of […]
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These communion prayers focus on creation. They might be used to celebrate Earth Day or during the Season of Creation. Genesis 1:1-19 Words of gratitude God of creation and transformation, for this time together around this table, we give thanks. For the power of this meal, this simple bread and juice, to unite us as […]
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Stilling the storms of life, a guided reflection Text: Mark 4:35-41 NRSV (Lection 5th Sunday of Pentecost, Year B) Prior to reading the passage, set the scene: Jesus’s days, filled with healing and teaching by the lakeside, have tired him and the disciples out. In chapter 3 he asks for a boat to stand […]
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Do we reaffirm? Renew? Re-charge? Re-ignite? Re-commit? What words can contain gratitude for years of commitment past? What words express our hope of continued love and fidelity for years to come? This service, created by Ana Gobledale for use in London,weaves together words from numerous sources. It includes vows, blessing of wedding rings, and an […]
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A responsive reading to use at a Blessing of the Gardens & Gardeners service, on Earth Day, or any day in springtime. LEADER: Seeds we bring PEOPLE: for God’s blessing and use; LEADER: Hoes and trowels we bring PEOPLE: for God’s blessing and use; LEADER: Hands and gloves we […]
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Theme: Pentecost (Whitsunday) A complete worship service weaving together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation and communion Compiled & written by Ana Gobledale for Open Table (with a grant from the United Reformed Church in Great Britain) This service is designed for a congregation gathered around tables. It can easily be adapted for a more traditional setting. The Leader’s […]
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This ready-to-use Café Church Mothering Sunday worship service weaves together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion. It has been designed for worship around tables, but is easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. This service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a list […]
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This responsive Call to Worship might be used at a special New Year’s Day service or on the first Sunday of the new year. Ready-to-print downloads: New Year, Call to Worship PDF New Year, Call to Worship WORD People of the world, it is time to celebrate new beginnings. We step into the new year […]
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Luke 2:22-40 First week after Christmas, Year B A drama for 2-voices — inspired by the New Revised Standard Version Readers: Storyteller & Simeon Click here to download a ready-to-print copy of the complete script: PDF Luke 2, 22-40 drama for 2 readers.doc WORD Luke 2, 22-40 drama for 2 readers Script (also found in […]
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This ready-to-use Café Church worship service weaves together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion. It has been designed for worship around tables, but is easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. This service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a list of supplies, […]
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Theme: Welcoming the New Year This ready-to-use Café Church New Year service weaves together scripture, reflection, conversation, communion and rituals of light and gathering. It has been designed for worship around tables, but is easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. This service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader […]
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Standing up to bullies: Anna & Martin make change (reform) happen Works well for Reformation Sunday; could be adapted to remember another person who stood up to bullies, historic or current. I have something in my bag. What’s this? … DVD – Frozen Who has seen Frozen? Who are the characters? Who do you see here? […]
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This ready-to-use Café Church Remembrance service weaves together scripture, Acts of Remembrance, reflection, conversation & communion. It has been designed for worship around tables, but is easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. This service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a list […]
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Matthew 16:13-20 (adapted from NRSV) Proper 16 (usually 12th Sunday of Pentecost), Year A Adapted by Ana Gobledale, UK Readers: Storyteller, Jesus, Simon Peter, Disciple 2 (optional) Script Storyteller: Today’s reading comes from Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 16, beginning with verse 13. Jesus, Peter and the other disciples enter the district of Caesarea Philippi. Listen carefully […]
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This drama might be used for Thanksgiving (USA or Canada) or Harvest (UK). It is easily adapted for First Sunday in Lent, Year C, when the Deuteronomy passage appears in the Revised Standard Lectionary. Parts: Priest, Narrators 1&2, Israelites 1,2,3,4. Parts may be combined if fewer actors are available. The full script may be downloaded […]
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This service of blessing and exorcism was created in direct response to a request of a terrorised and frightened neighbour at Mfanefile, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. It has been used, with slight modifications, in other homes in Mfanefile, South Africa; Plumtree, Zimbabwe; and London, United Kingdom. Home dwellers consider their residence to be ‘haunted’ or […]
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This ready-to-use Café Church worship service weaves together scripture, a blessing liturgy, reflection, conversation & communion. It has been designed for worship around tables, but is easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. This complete service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a […]
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Preparation: Bag with telephone inside. The telephone should be easily recognizable, as a telephone, by the children. Gather the children around. I like to face the children, with my back to the congregation. I either sit on the floor or on a child’s small chair. The children either sit on the floor around me or […]
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And they all understood No missed messages No mixed messages Confusion moves to clarity Discord moves to harmony Cacophony moves to melody Agitation transformed by peace Individualism transformed by community Nationalism transformed by neighbour-sighting Flags waving to declare identity move to tabletops holding a common cup Strangers move into relationship And they all understand Message […]
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This ready-to-use Café Church Harvest worship service weaves together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion. It has been designed for worship around tables, but is easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. This service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a list of […]
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Written and compiled by Ana & Tod Gobledale, UK Universal Wedding Service (ready-to-print) PDF Universal Wedding Service (ready-to-print) WORD Weddings are for everyone! Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, straight, queer, intersex, heterosexual, women, men, non-church goers, people blending religious traditions, infertile people… weddings are for everyone in love and ready to commit! Wedding services/celebrations can provide a […]
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This ready-to-use Café Church worship service weaves together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion. It has been designed for worship around tables, but is easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. This service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a list of supplies, […]
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These Café Church worship services weave together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion. They have been designed for worship around tables, but are easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. Each service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a list of supplies, a […]
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This might be included in a Blessing of the Gardeners service, or used any time during the planting and tending season. Preparation Put several items into a bag: Bible, flower bulbs, gardening gloves, small gardening tools, e.g. trowel. Take items out as they are mentioned in the script. Method I invite the children forward to […]
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Animal focus I speak of penguins. Choose an animal you like and have a special connection to, perhaps an adopted animal at a zoo or rescue centre, or a pet. Adapt to fit your animal scenario. Keep it simple. Materials: Bag large enough to hold all other items stuffed toy of focus animal photo of […]
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This communion liturgy seeks to be worshipful, educational and inspirational. Children and youth might be used as servers and/or readers. Welcome & Invitation Here is the table set for our special meal. The bread, the juice, prepared and presented. Ready to be served and shared. We remember Jesus sharing a meal like this with […]
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Prayers of Intercession arising from Ezekiel 37:1–14 Valley of dry bones John 11:1-45 Resurrection of Lazarus Click here for a ready-to-print Word document: Breath of Life – Prayers of Intercession, Lent 5 Year A Join me in a moment of silence to reflect on those things in your life that feel lifeless. […]
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We have used this introduction, conclusion and closing prayer book-ending the Sunday Morning Live drama as the ‘sermon’ on Palm Sunday. Possible sermon titles: Not what we expected! or Two Kings: Take your choice! Prayer: Pray with me. God may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight. […]
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This script is ready to download and print: 1 Samuel 16, 1-13 dramatised – full script ready-to-print Samuel: Our Hebrew Bible reading this morning is the story of the priest, Samuel, that’s me. I am busy searching for the King of Israel, and am not sure what to look for. Finally, God, Yahweh, sends me […]
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This service involves each member of the congregation through actions. Each worshipper receives a large nail upon arrival and is invited to interact with their nail at different points in the service. Following the reading from John 19 and Luke 23, they are invited to hold the nail for a personal reflection. Later they are invited to […]
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“Bucket Lists” Genesis 12:1-4a, John 3:1-21 Lent 1, Year A Adapted by Tod & Ana Gobledale, UK Related hymn: Abide with me Interviewer, Abram and Nicodemus sit in a row facing the congregation. Three tall bar stools serve well. Remember to speak to the congregation, not to one another. Use your hands! Big gestures! Minister/Interviewer: […]
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Baptism services often include several children in the congregation, and I want them to be involved and interested. So, I often incorporate into the service a reflection/activity which includes group participation. I ask a group of volunteers, ideally children and youth, to come forward. (The number of volunteers corresponds to the number of letters in […]
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This service was compiled in 2007 for Boronia Church of Christ, Boronia, Victoria, Australia Call to Communion Face the music. Jesus calls us to follow him, not just to another party of praise, but to the hard work of bringing God’s love and justice into this world of violence and fear. Let us prepare ourselves […]
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The original script has been adapted by Ana Gobledale, UK, with permission from the author, Ron VandenBurg, Canada* The drama can stand alone. Optionally, one might add the bookends of an introduction and conclusion to provide an entire message/sermon. Click here to preview these bookending items, or scroll down the screen. Cast — six characters […]
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This wedding was held in Washington State, USA, soon after same-sex marriage became legal. The couple had been waiting for more than a decade. The names have been changed. Outline of Service Welcome Prayer Scripture Reading Purpose of Marriage Words of Intention – lawfully free & willing to create this “intentional family” Sharing: a […]
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A dramatic reading Year A, Second Sunday of Lent–12 March 2017 John 3:1- 21 (adapted from the New Revised Standard Version and “The New Testament and Psalms: an inclusive version” published by Oxford University Press in 1995) Narrator: Today’s reading is taken from John’s Gospel, the story of the encounter between Jesus and […]
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Spring has sprung! Come gardeners and farmers! This service, originally created to celebrate Earth Day (22 April), lends itself to multiple multi-age voices. This all-age service of celebration and blessing has been shared in the UK and the USA and includes optional prayers, readings and sermons. It is easily adaptable for a new location. Ready-to-print […]
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How does faith move from one generation to the next? How does God’s call reach into the heart? Does it pass from one heart to another? Does it blow, like the wind, from a mother’s or father’s very breath? Does it come from a new place, from a separate place, or does it pass through […]
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The mystery of matrimony “Who brings this woman to be married?” We do. To be married To be coupled To be knotted, twisted together Today tomorrow to death Joining a heritage of still-married Great grands through alcoholism and a debilitating stroke The hospital bed at living room centre Year after year Today tomorrow to death […]
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Where do you live, God? Where can I find you abiding? I find you in moments of awe – breathing in the odor of lavender I find you in moments of wonder – looking across the icy waters toward the snow-covered hills I find you in moments of anxiety—lighting the flame of a devotional candle […]
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