God is my shelter, my protection, and my guide. I want for nothing, and I will practice thanksgiving! God invites me to places of peace and beauty where wildflowers bloom and mountain streams flow. God will restore me, and I will practice sabbath rest. Even when anxiety and fear threaten to overwhelm me, when depression […]
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Come to the mountaintop. What will we find? Jesus, the disciples’ teacher. The prophets who have gone before. God’s voice. We want to worship. We want to hide. Instead, give us the courage to rest in the mystery, To reach toward the thin places Where the in-breaking of the divine shakes us to the core. […]
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We follow you O Christ, Up the mountain to pray, not knowing what you have in store. We witness you O Christ, Your face transformed with light, Moses and Elijah beside you. We worship you O Christ, For we are awed by the power of your love. Emmanuel, God with us Jesus, our brother, Christ […]
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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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Martin Luther King Day is observed in the USA on the third Monday of January. This morning we remember dreams and dreamers. Joseph, Jesus’ father, dreamt about uncertainty. We, too, know the uncertainty of dreaming. May we, like Joseph, respond in faith. Mary, Jesus’ mother, dreamt about a child, a new beginning. We, too, dream […]
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One: All one All: in Christ! One: In Christ All: all one! This responsive call-out (or shout-out!) arises during services in the United Church of Zambia. It might be used as a call to worship, after celebrating a communion meal or after a prayer of reconciliation.
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Lectionary reading on Third Sunday of Advent, Year A Listen to the news of hope reborn from Isaiah 35. The desert will rejoice and flowers will bloom in the wild places. Everywhere will reflect God’s glory. Tired hands and bent knees will be strong again. Eyes will see again, ears be opened. The lame will […]
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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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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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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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A responsive reading Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel and restore us O God: Let your face shine, that we may be saved. From the throngs of city centers to the far-flung wilderness: Let your face shine, that we may be saved. To every nation, race and people: Let your face shine, that we may […]
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With praise and elation Tune: To God be the glory To download lyrics, music and to hear the tune click here. With praise and elation we greet the Divine In beauty of love that we just can’t define; The mystery is wondrous; it captures our soul; It gives our life purpose; it makes us feel whole. […]
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Adapted from Ana Gobledale’s “Call to Worship” inspired by Psalm 16:9 and Gerardo Oberman’s “Opening Prayer” – both found on Worship Words. Come! Rejoice! For the Holy One is here. We stand on holy ground. Come, children of God! Just as you are. Receive God’s grace, hope, courage and sustaining love. We come to […]
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Consider using for: International Day of Peace, 21 September Hiroshima Day, 6 August Jesus said; “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” We are called to be peacemakers, to stand against injustice, inequality and oppression For injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Let us gather, as the […]
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We gather in this place Tune Crimond Click here to download music and lyrics and to listen to the tune. We gather in this place today To hear a word we need; From Jesus’ teaching we gain strength; We listen. We take heed. We come with open hearts and minds To hear a word […]
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These words open the time of worship… As we ring the bowl three times, may we open to the wisdom of our own and other traditions, to the joys and sufferings we carry with us today, and to God’s presence here, among these people and in the world.
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We follow the way of Jesus. He opens our hearts To know that our true selves are one with God, who is Love. Jesus saves us from fear, from selfishness, from meaninglessness. He leads us to serve with compassion and act for justice. He moves us to curiosity and creativity. He brings us together in […]
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Words from a woman passionate about gender inclusivity… Inspired by Proverbs 3:13-15, 17-18 “We come today seeking Wisdom. If we seek Wisdom, She will come to us. Come, Wisdom! ….” For the full text in a ready-to-print form click here.
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Gathering words inspired by Psalm 25 God is good, steadfast and true. Trust that which brought you here. Enter in hope and anticipation. Be ready to be fed and nourished. Open yourself to this oasis on the path of your life journey. Come! Be in this moment, this place. Shed the world at the door […]
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Inspired by Psalm 147 Written for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany in Year B of the Common Lectionary. To be read responsively, with enthusiasm! Celebrate God’s grace! How comforting it is to know God always accompanies us. Approach God in awe! How amazing it is to consider that God has created each of us […]
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Inspired by Luke 17:21 and Matthew 6:10 Let us gather together and search it out. ‘Your kin-dom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ (Matthew 6:10) Let us seek to do the will of God and, in doing so, welcome God’s kin-dom. From the service ‘The Bible and […]
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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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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 thanks to […]
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Inspired by Psalm 43 Pentecost 22 Year A Come, come into the light of God! It is difficult to shake off the darkness of our world. Come, come into the brilliance of God’s truth. Our minds wander to worry and care. Come, turn into the embrace of the Holy One. Our hope and […]
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We gather, looking back to see the paths taken, Looking forward to see our path. We honour those who have gone before us, Learning from their successes and failures. We celebrate who we are today, And welcome the possibilities and opportunities before us. We gather to worship God, the God of yesterday, […]
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Come! And trust that which brought you here. Come! Riding in on the grace of the wind Come! Floating in on the river that feeds your soul. Come! Walking on the path that unfolds in front of you. Come! And be in this moment, this place; welcoming in the love of living. Used in services […]
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Adapted from “Opening Prayer” by Gerardo Oberman, Argentina (adapted for use at a leader’s gathering, by Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, USA) At this junction on our journey, we heed your call, O God. We gather as your people, looking for new life for our life. We gather, as your imperfect children, aware of our moments of selfishness […]
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…God, heaven and earth cannot contain you, much less this place which our imagination has conceived and our money has built. But we come now to pray that you will use it to fulfil some part of your purposes. You are the centre,… the heart of all that exists. It is your breath which gives […]
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Give thanks to God! Celebrate God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. Sing of the ways of God, for God is magnificent! or select a more traditional last line: for great is the glory of God! Psalm 138 is a Common Lectionary reading on the 12th Sunday of Pentecost in Years A, B and C.
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What gives us life? What sustains us? Using water as the focus, we gather and bless one another. Set up a large bowl in the centre of the worship space, or in the centre of each table. small glasses (or communion cups) partially filled with water — at each place or on a tray at […]
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Based on Genesis 32.22-31 God, we come with praise and gratitude. Thank you for your word, for speaking to us anew today. In faith and trust, we open our ears and minds to you. We know you are with us in the rush of life. God, you see us as we truly are, with our […]
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May be read in unison as a Call to Worship I worship and adore God, source, essence, and aim of all things, spirit that enlivens all beings. I follow the way of Jesus, who found God in himself and shared a way for others to find God in themselves. He […]
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Might be used as an opening meditation at a confessional reflective service such as Ash Wednesday or Good Friday. Can be read by a single voice, multiple voices or responsively. Start in Silence. A drumbeat begins, getting louder than softer. The drumbeat tapers off into a soft background beat for the prayer. O Steady One, […]
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Second Sunday of Epiphany, Year A Happy are those who are patient and trust God, for God has performed wondrous deeds, too many to count. God is steadfast and faithful, the solid rock upon which we stand.
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Call and Response One: Humans of God’s creation, we are diverse. Many: We are beautiful. We are unique. 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. Many: We […]
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Our God, We come before you with minds, hearts and eyes open To the many ways in which you reveal yourself to us: In the colours of autumn, In the challenges and possibilities of reading your Word together, In the complexities of the very human lives From which we have travelled to this place, And […]
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Inspired by Psalm 16 2nd Sunday of Easter, Year A 26th Sunday of Pentecost, Year B 3rd Sunday of Pentecost, Year C Come! Rejoice! For we are in the presence of the Holy One. We turn our eyes and hearts toward the Light of Love. Be glad and rest secure in the Eternal […]
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Inspired by Psalm 32 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C Trust in the Eternal One We come in hope. Rejoice in God’s unfailing love. We come in faith. Celebrate the forgiveness that is ours. We come to sing with gladness.
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Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year C Call to Worship (inspired by Psalm 30:4-5) 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 hope we […]
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For Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C God is gracious with blessings. God’s face shines upon us. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy! We sing for joy, for God judges the peoples with equity and guides the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise God! We praise God, for God’s […]
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