For Lent: Feast on simple pleasures, and fast from all that gets our bodies and souls out of balance. Feast on kindness, and fast from sarcasm. Feast on compassion, and fast from holding grudges. Feast on patience, and fast from anxiety. Feast on peace, and fast from stirring up needless conflict. Feast on acceptance, and […]
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14 Questions: Stations of the Cross – Jim Burklo, USA
A tool to use while walking through Lent: the Stations of the Cross, responding to 14 questions from Jesus Ideas for using this tool during Lent: Idea: engage with the questions by contemplating them as Stations of the Cross. Participants might be invited to write their reflections on papers and put them in baskets or […]
Read full textPay attention! — Amanda Udis-Kessler, USA
We are called to pay attention: a responsive reading Many: This morning/afternoon/evening and all mornings/afternoons/evenings, we are called to pay attention. One: We are called to pay attention to our individual lives, to our delights and pains. We are called to understand and cherish ourselves, to take good care of ourselves, to know ourselves as […]
Read full textWhat more do you want from us? – Tod Gobledale, Australia
To accompany the lectionary readings on the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A — Psalm 119:33-40 and Romans 13:8-14 Supplies: a cross, towel and basin, and a soft (stuffed) animal toy set out on a table or other central focal point one heavy hammer and 2-3 large nails mop and bucket photos of children facing […]
Read full textDistract, prayer — Sam Goodman, UK
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 […]
Read full textDrawn Up — David Long-Higgins, USA
Loving God, Draw everything of me Into the mystery of You Bending the barrenness Of winter’s weary wait Toward Your leading light Hinting at things to come. Let everything of me Be swayed toward You Resisting every wind Of the world’s uprooting Often blowing within Daring to break my resolve To follow Your Christ-love Wherever […]
Read full textPsalm 119 Renewed — Duncan Wilson, UK
Lection for Epiphany 6, Year A To be read responsively, by two voices or by a solo voice How happy we could be if we could reach perfection, if we could just keep to the rules. How happy if we could follow orders with a willing heart. Some people do manage to steer a straight […]
Read full textPeople of reconciliation, prayer — Simon Cross, UK
A responsive prayer of intercession & confession Silence: a diamond symbol (♦) indicates a short pause. One: God, we call to mind the fractured beauty of the world we live in. All: May we be people of reconciliation. ♦ One: We call to mind broken relationships. All: May we be people of reconciliation. ♦ One: […]
Read full textMay I…., a meditation — Daphne Armstrong, USA
This might be used as a corporate prayer, substituting ‘we’ for I’. It might also be used at a service of affirmation — an induction, ordination, baptism, re-commitment or confirmation, substituting ‘you’ for ‘I’. May I…. Hands at third eye centre: May I see things as they really are, and not as how I want […]
Read full textCommitment Litany — Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, USA
A Responsive litany of commitment God calls each of us according to our gifts, to serve those in need, to seek justice for the oppressed and disenfranchised, to care for the earth and all the creatures that inhabit it, and through our words and action to bring God’s love and peace to all creation. Will […]
Read full textCreated for joy, Collect — Warren Hartley, UK
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, […]
Read full textUkukabila, My heart’s desire, song — Cephas Ng’oma, Zambia
Lyrics are sung in Bemba and translated below into English. Here’s a link to Cephas Ng’oma singing this song. Chorus Uku Yahweh ekukabila kwa mutima wandi (YHWH, this is my heart’s desire) Uku Yahweh ekukabila kwa mweo wandi (YHWH, this is my life’s desire) Isusheni umutima wandi (Fill my heart) Isusheni umweo wandi (Fill […]
Read full textHelp me stay awake, prayer — Cara Heafey, UK
Originally written for Good Friday Jesus, man of sorrows, give me the courage to be a faithful witness to those who are suffering. Help me to overcome my awkwardness and fear to sit with them among the ashes, and to stay alongside. Help me to not recoil from sickness or death, but to be a […]
Read full textWelcome God’s kin-dom– Christian Peacemaker Teams, USA & Canada
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 the heavens. Let us seek to do the will of God and, in doing so, welcome God’s kin-dom. From the service ‘The Bible and Civil Disobedience / […]
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