We come with all that we carry: our week, our worries, our hopes. We come to worship God. We lift our eyes to the hills— where does our help come from? Our help comes from God, the Maker of heaven and earth. God is present. God is faithful. God is our help. When our steps […]
Read full text
To be read responsively Inspired by Psalm 95 Lectionary reading for Third Sunday of Lent, Year A, and 25th Sunday of Pentecost, Year A Come, let us worship the Eternal One. We come to worship God, our Maker. Come with thanksgiving and joy. We come to sing songs of praise, for God is a great. […]
Read full text
Sing a new song to our God for all the wonders which God keeps on doing! God’s strength of will and faithful purpose win the day and prove such good intentions and saving power to all the nations. God keeps this promise of loyal and constant love, and all the people of the earth can […]
Read full text
Teach us your way and we will follow it faithfully. Encourage us to serve you with all our heart. With all that is within us, we will praise you and everywhere we will speak of your goodness. How can we measure your love? You have restored our lives. Still, there are those who seek only […]
Read full text
A responsive Call to Worship Raise the roof, all you peoples. Let us praise our God! God calls us together from near and far; God answers our prayers. Let us praise our God! When greed, fear of the other, and sin separate us from God, God forgives. Let us praise our God! It is God […]
Read full text
Maker of the heavens, Lift our eyes to you. Maker of the earth, ground us in your love. Maker of us all, take us, shape us, soften our hearts. We place this time together into your hands. Originally written for Year C, 13th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 18 Photo: Sunset in Hwange Game Reserve, Zimbabwe, […]
Read full text
drawn from various interpretations Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from God’s Spirit. God is solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul. Let us put our trust in God — every moment of every day. Let us pour out our hearts to the Spirit, for God is our […]
Read full text
Adapted from Psalm 50:1-7 Might be read as a responsive reading with the congregation or by two readers From the rising of the sun to where it sets God almighty speaks, calling to all the earth. God shines forth. God is coming! In all power and might, A fire before, a storm raging all around. […]
Read full text
inspired by Psalm 106 To be read responsively Praise the Eternal One! We give thanks for God’s steadfast love. Praise God’s mighty acts of creation and the wonders of the universe. We give thanks for beauty and goodness. Praise the Holy One that hope is not extinguished by evil. We give thanks for God’s promise […]
Read full text
Adapted from Psalm 147 Praise God! Hallelujah! What joy to sing praises to God. God is gracious. God heals the broken-hearted and bandages their wounds. God numbers the stars, giving each a name. Downtrodden, oppressed, rejected, ignored? God will lift you up even as your oppressors experience the natural consequences of their injustice. Let us […]
Read full text
adapted from various translations Praise the Eternal One! Hallelujah! I will give thanks to God with my whole heart. Right here as this gathered community, let us voice our praise. God is gracious and merciful, full of loving compassion. The works of God are faithful and just. God liberates humanity — indeed all creation! God […]
Read full text
Adapted from Psalm 105 Might be read by a single voice or responsively O give thanks to the Eternal One! Call on God’s name. Make known God’s deeds among the peoples. Sing praises to God. Tell of all God’s wonderful works. Glory in God’s holy name!
Read full text
Adapted from Psalm 107 Give thanks, for God’s goodness overflows into our lives. All redeemed by God declare it so! When we cry out to God, God delivers us from our troubles. God leads us down a path we can navigate. Give thanks, for God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Read full text
Inspired by Psalm 107 May be read by one voice or responsively Give thanks to God! For God is good! God’s steadfast love lasts forever. God gathers God’s people From east and west, north and south, From the deserts of our weary and aimless wanderings, From the shadows and gloom of our struggles, From the […]
Read full text
Prayers of approach Based on the phrase in Psalm 42: “Deep calls to deep…” Eternal one, creator, God of covenant promise, ever-faithful, You commit to us. You continue to shape us. You know us. You are close to us as breath. Deep calls to deep… may we lean into your love. Jesus, Saviour, Lamb of […]
Read full text
Epiphany 5, Year B How good it is to sing God’s praise! How right to voice our acclaim. For God rebuilds and gathers the scattered peoples, healing those who are broken in spirit binding up their injuries. It is the same God who numbers the stars and calls each one by name. How mighty is […]
Read full text
Inspired by Psalm 107 Responsive reading for 2 voices or for one voice leading the congregation Give thanks to God! For God is good! God’s steadfast love lasts forever. God gathers God’s people From east and west, north and south, From the deserts of our weary and aimless wanderings, From the shadows and gloom of […]
Read full text
For one or two voices Happy are those who spurn advice from the wicked and turn aside from the path that leads to their door; who refuse a seat with the scoffers. Happy are those who delight in God’s will and dwell upon it day and night. They are like trees planted by the waterside […]
Read full text
Adapted from Psalm 81 Written to be read responsively Pentecost 12, Proper 17, Year C Pentecost 2, Proper 4, Year B Sing to God! God is our strength. We will shout for joy. Open your mouth, your mind, your heart, your soul, God will fill it! God will fill us! Listen to the Lord, your […]
Read full text
This modern psalm offers ‘balanced’ gender language, not inclusive, but the powerful juxtaposition between the masculine language of NIV and the feminine language of Edgerton’s version is effective, so I’ve included it. — Ana Gobledale, Editor With Apologies to the Psalmist ‘Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that […]
Read full text
Lectionary reading – Easter 6 Year B This might be read by a solo reader or responsively. Come, let us sing a new song to the One who has worked such wonders! By power and righteous strength, victory has been won. God has kept faith with the children of Israel, with loyalty and love towards […]
Read full text
Inspired by Psalm 98 Easter 6, Year B God of shalom, who holds all things in wonderful balance, we come before you in joyful, noisy praise! Our voices join the songs of birds, the grunts and snorts of animals, the roar of the sea, the rush of the wind through the trees, […]
Read full text
Lectionary reading – Lent 4A, Easter 4 ABC, Proper 23 A, Proper 11 B This might be read by a solo reader or responsively. You are like a shepherd to us, providing all we need. You give us rest in green places, you lead us by peaceful streams, you help us recover our strength. You […]
Read full text
Lent 3 & 5, Year B God of wide skies and speechless joy, as we come before you in wonder, may our words join the voiceless songs of praise uttered by the simple beauty of all created things. Allow your wisdom, balance, and connecting love to draw us into the centre of […]
Read full text
4th Sunday after Epiphany, Year B Celebrate Love! Join hearts in delight and gratitude! The brilliance of eternity stretches out before us Solid, trustworthy, unfailing. Free of fear, step into Now With wisdom and understanding.
Read full text
We come to worship and remember you. We come to hear and to learn more of your word. Your word is unchanging. From earliest time, to now, you have spoken things into being, and they are good. You are mindful of your people. Teach us to be similarly mindful of you. Give us the message […]
Read full text
Gathering words inspired by Psalm 25 God, Elohim, Yahweh, Allah, God, by any name, is good, steadfast and true. Trust that which brought you here. Gather in hope and anticipation, ready to be fed and nourished, ready to be guided and taught. Open yourself to this oasis on the path of your life journey. Be […]
Read full text
Praise from the heart: psalms framed and phrased for church worship Proper 16 (usually Pentecost 12) Year A Pentecost 3 Year B Epiphany 5 Year C I am praising you, our God, with all my being. When I called for help, you answered me, you gave strength and courage. However high and exalted you may […]
Read full text
Inspired by Psalm 112:1-7 A responsive reading (adapted for inclusive language) One: Happy are they who fear God All: and have great delight in God’s commandments! One: Their descendants will be mighty in the land; All: the generation of the upright will be blessed. One: Wealth and riches will be in their house, All: and […]
Read full text
Praise from the heart: psalms framed and phrased for church worship –from Psalm 105, Proper 14 (usually 10th Sunday after Pentecost), Year A We give you thanks, dear God, and here proclaim your greatness among all the nations. Let us spread far and wide the story of the wonderful things that God has done. We […]
Read full text
A responsive reading 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 […]
Read full text
This might be read responsively or by a single voice. It is good to praise you, God, And to honour all our promises to you because you answer our prayers. With refreshing rain, you care for the ground making it rich and fertile. Streams fill with water and earth brings forth its harvest. How rich […]
Read full text
Happy are the people who worship you, who walk in the light of your presence! All day long, you give us cause for joy. For yours is the righteousness that lifts us up, the confidence that fills our songs, the grace that holds our heads high, the shield that protects us. All day long you […]
Read full text
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.
Read full text
Inspired by Psalm 23 Lectionary: Lent 4A, Easter 4 ABC, Proper 23 A, Proper 11 B God is our shelter, protection, and guide. We want for nothing, and we will practice thanksgiving! God invites us to places of peace and beauty where wildflowers bloom and mountain streams flow. God will restore us, and we will […]
Read full text
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 and Zulu name for God Adapted from Psalm 112:1-10, Fifth […]
Read full text
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 […]
Read full text
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 […]
Read full text
Inspired by Psalm 147 Epiphany 5, Year B Read responsively or with two voices, with enthusiasm! There are two versions, one shorter and the other longer. Leader: Inspired by the words of Psalm 147, we lift our voices in praise. Shorter version: Celebrate God’s grace! How comforting it is to know God always accompanies us. […]
Read full text
Proper 29 (usually Pentecost 25), Year A Responsive reading inspired by Psalm 100 Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth. We will worship God with gladness; Come into God’s presence with singing. We sing, for God made us, and we are God’s people. Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and praise. We give […]
Read full text