Eternal God, we grapple with the mystery and wonder that you make space for us in your heart. To reach us with your love, you emptied yourself. Whether we have arrived here feeling hopeful and open, or depleted with little to offer, we trust in your warm, wide, welcome. Photo: Art in the Park, Loveland, […]
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Mwaikala Apashila – You dwell in the Holy Place Refrain: Yahweh, your dwelling place is Holy. Your dwelling place is Holy, God. God, it is you who is Holy. There is no-one else like you. Yahweh, you are Mighty. You are Merciful. Yahweh, you are Holy. You are the God of Light. Lion of the […]
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Be exalted O God above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth. All: Come, let us worship our God. I invite you all dear parents, brothers and sisters to stand with me and sing as we open our service. Thomas Bwalya, now a minister in the United Church of Zambia, wrote this […]
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Come, all you weary ones, you hopeful ones, you hurting ones. Bring your grateful hearts and your tender wounds. You are welcome here. Lean into the grace that invites you onto holy ground. Breathe in the love that surrounds you. You are welcome here. Come, Spirit of God, playful and wild, truth-teller, change-bringer, you are […]
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You beckon us to the mountaintop. You walk with us in valleys low. You sing to us sweet and soothing songs. You speak through protest chants and calls for justice In laughter and play, hope and celebration, In sorrow and struggle, suffering and perseverance, you are with us, author of all things. Open our hearts […]
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One: Humans of God’s creation, we are diverse. All: We are beautiful. We are unique. One: We judge each other’s differences, yet our diversity is an illustration of the infinite mystery of God. All: The God in me sees the God in you. One: Humans of God’s creation, we are political. All: We hold onto […]
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Loving God who conceived life, originates ingenuity, embraces individuality, welcomes everyone, celebrates diversity, encourages unity, offers serenity, gifts simplicity, lavishes compassion, we worship you! Living Jesus who breathes our air, walks our streets, feels our pain, sheds tears, enjoys company, bubbles with laughter, holds our hands, we worship you! Gentle Spirit who strengthens fragile spirits, […]
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Inspired by Romans 15:4-13 Rejoicing, gather as God’s community. We gather, welcoming one another as Christ has welcomed us. Praising God, gather in harmony. We gather to glorify God with one voice. Filled with expectation, hear the promises to the ancestors. We gather for encouragement from the scriptures. The root of Jesse shall come bringing […]
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One: Holy God, who whispers into the dawn of the new day and writes stories of love across the universe, may the dreams of your peace not be lost in our waking. Litany One: Because of the witness of those who have gone before us All: Our hope is in you, God One: Because of […]
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Celebration of the Earth – a Call to Worship Dance (adapted) Might be used on Earth Day or during the Season of Creation Be creative! Susan integrates numerous actions, props and readings into this Call to Worship dance. Adapt the actions and words to fit your situation. Select the elements that fit into your worship […]
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A candle, or candles, might be lit as these words gather the congregation in the Light of God. The light of God surrounded them: God’s light in flames of fire within a bush telling Moses to take off his shoes for he is standing on Holy Ground; God’s light in a pillar of fire leading […]
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This dramatic Call to Worship might be used during the Season of Creation (Creationtide) or on Earth Day Sunday (22 April). Simplify the props or movements as needed. Any of the parts might be used separately from the whole. Materials and arrangements: five candles on table at front, or in centre a large glass bowl […]
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Tune: Finlandia How good it is to hear the words you’ve spoken To take your love and offer it to all To take your hope to where your world is broken To help and heal and lift up those who fall How good it is to know your love and feel it To know how […]
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First Sunday of Advent, Year A Inspired by Romans 13.8-14 and Matthew 18.15-20 People of God, open your eyes! Look around! The presence of Christ is here— among us and within us. God’s salvation is close at hand— nearer than you know. So open your hearts and minds to the Spirit, and let us worship […]
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In a world dry and thirsty Living Water flows; In a world fainting and breathless Divine Wind blows; In a world cold and dark Spirit’s Flame glows; Spirit has always been here, and we open our awareness to perceive her and receive her. Spirit is here! We give thanks and celebrate! John […]
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Gather, God’s people! We seek to be here, fully and completely! Yet often we find ourselves distracted by questions: How can I be successful? How can I be wealthy? How can I get more ‘likes’? We get caught up wanting answers: Why me? Why not me? Who is the greatest? We seek, to be here, God, fully […]
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‘Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life’s journey you are welcome here at Christ’s table.’* You can bring your problems, you can bring your doubts. You can bring your body with its aches and pains, its stretchmarks and scars. You can come in your ‘Sunday best’ or your scruffiest scuffed-up sneakers. You can […]
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Come, people of God, Let us journey together! Through the uncertainty of the wilderness, Through the uncertainty of our questions, God goes with us: Around us, among us, and within us. Come, people of God: With our doubts, With our questions, With your apprehension and fears. Come, people of God! Let us seek, not a […]
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Distract us From overthinking situations Beyond our control Distract us From being led astray By the lure of temptations Distract us From the vain pursuit of fame Wealth and status Focus our hearts On following and nurturing Shepherd us well A version for personal devotion: Distract me From overthinking situations Beyond my control Distract me […]
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Call to Worship We come to this hour of worship full of much that clutters and distracts, stifles and burdens, making us often a burden to others and ourselves. We come to this hour of worship to be emptied of gnawing dissatisfactions, of anxious imaginings, of nagging resentments, of old scores to settle. We come […]
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Written for a service in nature (outside) Ready-to-print WORD doc: Call to worship for a service in nature – Susan Brecht, USA Leader: Creating Spirit, we gather this morning enveloped in the beauty of your creation. We come to release the stress, the anxiety, the burdens, the worries, the struggles of our lives. We come […]
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A Litany One: Because of the rising of the sun in the morning of each new day All: Our hope is in you, God One: Because of the setting of that same sun in the evening All: Our hope is in you, God One: Because of the stars that extend towards infinity All: Our hope […]
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As we prepare for worship we seek a fresh breath of life into our being and a renewal of spirit into our souls. As we prepare for worship we look and long for a new season of serenity. We have come to see how the chaos in this world and the conflicts in our own […]
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The singular (me/I) might be replaced with the plural (us/we) for a prayer to include in corporate worship. Your hands hold me They meet me in prayer They comfort my spirit They show me that you care Your hands reach out to me They tell me that love forgives They lead me to a place […]
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Advent 3 & Pentecost 23, Year C From Isaiah 12 Since God is our Saviour we will trust and be unafraid. God is the source of our confidence and will keep us safe from harm. On the day when God comes to our rescue, joy will rise like water from the spring. So give thanks […]
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This might be adapted for corporate worship changing ‘me’ to ‘us’ and ‘my’ to ‘our’. Loving God, Grant me the gift Of sacred sabbath rest Interrupting the inertia Of inner and outer worlds Addicted to endless activity And productivity’s promise That work alone can heal. Unwind soul’s tightness Unable to trust your promise Of reinvigorating […]
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Two versions: first for corporate worship and second for personal devotion As we prepare for worship our souls wait for our Source to come gently into our souls like the fading of dusk and daybreak. As we prepare for worship we yearn to be awakened to all the resources in our lives, lest we measure […]
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Words for reflection and sharing when preparing for worship Too often the best doesn’t happen to us because we don’t expect it to happen. Too often we fasten our attention on the obstacles and not on the possibilities. Too often our fear of failure robs us of the need to risk for what we could […]
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I come To feel flowing from others The same hunger and thirst For hope For Faith For peace For joy I come To acknowledge what I know That You are the ultimate Source of all I long for That You are the Creator of all those I care for That Your Holy Spirit pulsates in […]
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Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. —Isaiah 49:15-16a O Divine Lover, How relentless You are in drawing our attention to Your devotion […]
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God, we sometimes forget that we were created for joy. Our minds are too busy. Our hearts are too heavy for us to remember that we have been called to dance the sacred dance of life. We were created to smile to love to be lifted up and to lift others up. O Sacred One, […]
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The doors open the doors close *behind us, the world *before us, sanctuary *and the stillness of God Be prayer quiet Share quiet Shore up the noisy clanging *in your soul *on your lips Allow God to find you *bind you up *in [God’s] peace Unwind your spirit Let it float *on the song of […]
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Spirit of Community Thank you for church that brings strangers together… Spirit of Truth Thank you for messages that open my/our ears and minds… Spirit of Trust Thank you for familiar words of prayer that provide solid grounding for yet another day… Spirit of Comfort Thank you for the old melodies that reside in the […]
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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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Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.* I invite you to close your eyes and breathe in that holy presence. Breathe in the power of God, and breathe out the power of the world. Breathe in the presence of God and breathe out the worries, the fears, the burdens […]
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Tune: Slane, an old Irish folk tune (Be thou my vision). You can listen here. Try it out a couple times, as the words do fit beautifully. Come to us in worship Bring us closer to you And as our voices rise Your love shines through Your gifts to us encourage Your power makes […]
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I invite you to pause. Close your eyes, if that’s comfortable and focus on your breathing, the sound of your breath in … and out … in … and out…. [pause for 2-4 breaths]. We live in a busy world, and God invites us to pause in the presence of the divine. [silent pause for […]
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Worship High Church Low Church In-between church A window into wisdom A portal into presence A receiving A giving A sharing Gathering to be fed by the Word Gathering to feast upon colour, flame, Gathering to feel the power of community Gathering to free the spirit
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To download an illustrated worship page for World Refugee Day (20 June), visit the Church World Service website. LEADER: We give praise to our God who gathers us as one people. PEOPLE: We delight in our God who has mercy upon us. LEADER: We seek to be one with refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants. PEOPLE: […]
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