Contributor - writer

Simon Cross – progressive writer & activist, UK

Simon Cross is a ‘writer, journalist, activist and academic, currently investigating ways in which spiritual capital may be said to develop in post secular society, looking particularly at the motivation that underlies participation in activity for the common good.’ Simon currently serves as Chair of PCN Britain — that’s the Progressive Christian Network in Britain. […]

Read full text
John van de Laar, song writer, South Africa

John van de Laar — EvoFaith founder, South Africa

John van de Laar is a liturgist with 40 years of experience in a wide variety of church, community, and musical settings.  He created and edits the website Sacredise which provides ‘theologically deep and experientially inspiring’ worship resources and training for progressive churches.  As a minister of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, John served […]

Read full text

George Stuart, Australia — Singing a New Song

George declares that he has ‘drunk deeply from life’s love and beauty.’ George  has written sing-able hymns with grounded, authentic and original lyrics set to traditional and familiar tunes, all posted on his website, “Singing a New Song” Thanks to George’s generosity, all of his lyrics published on Worship Words and on his website are […]

Read full text

Amanda Udis-Kessler — open-hearted composer, lyricist & liturgist, USA

Amanda Udis-Kessler– hymnwriter, songwriter, composer, and writer — specializes in music and lyrics for liberal religious people and communities, including inclusive, social justice-minded Christians, Unitarian Universalists, and other open-hearted religious traditions.  She served informally as composer-in-residence at Vista Grande Community Church (UCC).  Her music website, Queer Sacred Music, includes numerous songs. Her second website features […]

Read full text

Zach Ford — fantasy novelist turned liturgist, UK

‘Zach Ford (they/them) is a queer epic fantasy novelist who has stumbled into a second calling as a modern psalmist and liturgy writer. In between making stories about dragons and magic, they aim to create original, lyrical prayers expressing the full range of their emotions and their relationship with God.’ Zach contributes regularly to Worship […]

Read full text

Cara Heafey, liturgist, UK

Cara, a regular contributor to Worship Words, writes thoughtful worship resources emphasising the radical inclusiveness of the divine.  Cara, an ordained Minister in the United Reformed Church in Great Britain, writes, ‘I live in Oxford, in the UK, with my wife and two rescue dogs. I enjoy art, printmaking, writing and walks in fields and […]

Read full text

Duncan Wilson – reclaiming psalms

Duncan Wilson writes contemporary versions of psalms calling the on-going project ‘Praise from the heart: The Psalms in liturgical order’.  He intends to make the psalms ‘accessible for all ages, inclusive and relevant, as the Psalms were inspired by people with thoughts and experiences much like ours.’ Additional worship resources by Duncan are found at […]

Read full text

Jim Burklo, USA – theologian, hymnist & liturgist

Jim Burklo is a regular contributor to Worship Words through his weekly ‘Musings’ email.  Retired Associate Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, Jim writes regularly for the ProgressiveChristianity.org liturgy project.  Many of his liturgical materials can be found in his book Birdlike and Barnless: Meditations, Prayers, and Songs for Progressive Christians […]

Read full text

Stephen Best, Cumbria UK – writer of prayers & hymns

Stephen Best offers numerous prayers and hymns through Worship Words.  Ordained in the United Reformed Church in Great Britain, Stephen serves in ministry in Cardiff, Wales. ‘Anyone wishing to make use of my material in worship should feel free to do so; a simple authorship acknowledgement suffices. Stephen’  

Read full text

Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, USA – liturgist & photographer

A contributor to Worship Words since its inception, Thandiwe, ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), serves in ministry at Loveland United Church of Christ in Lovedale, Colorado. Many of the photos on Worship Words are through the discerning lens of Thandiwe’s camera. Thandiwe’s Worship Words contributions are divided into five groups:  Children’s worship […]

Read full text