A responsive prayer of intercession & confession Inspired by Psalm 51 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 […]
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Epiphany 5, Year B How good it is to sing God’s praise! How right to voice our acclaim. For God rebuilds and gathers the scattered peoples, healing those who are broken in spirit binding up their injuries. It is the same God who numbers the stars and calls each one by name. How mighty is […]
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Before you know it, your kid’s childhood is over and she’s gone off to college. Before you know it, your vacation is over and it’s time to go back to work. Before you know it, the storm has passed and the sky is clear. Before you know it, way too much of your life has […]
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God of new beginnings, Be with us as we gaze ahead in hope and enter into this new year with faith. Illuminate the way as we step into the unknown with trust striving to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Thank you for your church where we journey together as God’s family.
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Words for Epiphany and the New Year Let us look for Christ wherever we go Let us never stop seeking Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness Which the darkness shall not overcome And may the love of the Creator The joy of the Spirit And the peace of the Christ-child […]
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In threshold places, where endings meet beginnings, we are invited to listen backwards as we move forward. What can we learn from the year past – from how evil played its cards, or from relationships gained and lost? What brought you deep delight, when everything was swirling? To whom were you able to turn to […]
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A Children’s Message for after Guy Fawkes, New Years or Independence Days, connecting to the sounds of fireworks. O Children of Jacob, O people of God, Come, let us walk in the light of God. —Isaiah 2:5 (Ask one child) What are you thankful for? God, thank you for (repeat what child said). 3-2-1 CLAP! […]
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Inspiring God, As we enter this New Year fill us with your love and energising power, so that our worship may be filled with gratitude for our many blessings in the past, and full of hope for a safe and fulfilling future. Amen One might substitute ‘move through this year’ for ‘enter this New Year’.
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Tune: Ba Ba Black Sheep When a New Year comes our way, When we work and when we play, When we fail or succeed, God will meet us in our need. God is love; we know that’s true; God loves me and God loves you. Adapted from a children’s song by George Stuart, Australia
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“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” ― T.S. Eliot in Little Gidding
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Originally written for Epiphany Sunday, Year C. Let us look for Christ wherever we go Let us never stop seeking Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness Which the darkness shall not overcome And may the love of the Creator The joy of the Spirit And the peace of the […]
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Revelations 1:8, 21:6, 22:13 — Lectionary reading for Christmas and New Year A,B,C; Easter 2C, 5C and 7C, All Saints Day Year B, Pentecost 27B (Proper 29B) Alpha & Omega: Introducing the symbols of the church to children This message offers children the opportunity to look around the sanctuary or worship room and discover […]
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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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Quietly the New Year slips in. Are we now more fearful, the radio asks? More careful? More tired? Are we now more aware of the suffering, the violence, the inequality, the injustice in our world? Holy God, In this New Year, We seek you As we have always sought you. We need you As we […]
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Theme: Welcoming the New Year This ready-to-use Café Church New Year service weaves together scripture, reflection, conversation, communion and rituals of light and gathering. It has been designed for worship around tables, but is easily adaptable to a more traditional setting. This service includes everything you need — an Order of Service to handout, leader […]
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Ready-to-print copy: WORD Prayer for the New Year, Sandy Messick God of all times and seasons, On this threshold of a new year, we turn and return again to you. The year spreads before us with possibilities and challenges, joys and concerns. There is beauty all around: in the smiles of children, in the […]
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May God make your year a joy-filled one! Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain, But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes; Not by making your path easy, But by making you sturdy to travel any path; Not by taking hardships from you, But by taking fear from your heart; […]
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Let us look for Christ wherever we go Let us never stop seeking Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness Which the darkness shall not overcome And may the love of the Creator The joy of the Spirit And the peace of the Christ-child Be with you this New Year, […]
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Pause before the prayer, allowing God’s Spirit to search your heart. Make your own confession. Pause after the prayer to experience the reality of God’s forgiveness. The old ways are so comfortable, O God. They fit like old slippers; they feel like old friends. I don them more readily than my resurrection clothes; I live […]
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In Memoriam by Alfred Lord Tennyson British Poet Laureate, 1850 Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light: The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The […]
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