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 […]
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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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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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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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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 […]
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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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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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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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A church’s mission statement can hold words of affirmation, hope and promise. Our mission statements, our statements about who we are, have an important place in our churches, not just posted on the wall or printed on the website, but proclaimed aloud in our worship. Our vision is to have a healthy church […]
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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, […]
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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 […]
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