Luke 1:46b-55 What might Mary have said when she learned that she was about to become an unwed teenage mother? I’m what? Pregnant? And you want me to tell people what!? You know that in the eyes of all my neighbours, my child will always be regarded as a . . .. You know what […]
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Tune: Bunessan (Morning has broken) Praise God, creator, source of all being, present around us, and deep within. When we are open, accepting and loving, we find connections, journeys begin. Praise God in singing, dancing and playing, showing God’s wonders through every word. Sharing ideas, new paths revealing, journeys continue, Spirit is heard. Praise God […]
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Commitment for Life Worship Resources These worship resources support the global outreach programme of the United Reformed Church in Great Britain called ‘Commitment for Life’. Worship Words has agreed to provide this space for supportive worship resources. All worship resources are available copyright-free. Please acknowledge the writer. (Note: most of Commitment for Life resources use […]
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Tune: Servant Song We are people on a journey, through the world of love and fear, drawing strength from knowing Jesus and his message ‘God is near’. God unites us on our journey, leading us on paths unknown, showing wonders unimagined, by our side, not on a throne. One with us and with all people, […]
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Inspired by verses in Genesis 1 Reader 1: May God’s truth continue to be revealed. The ancient story becomes our story. With a word of love, God creates beauty, nature and goodness. God: ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.’ […]
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What words do we use to lift up the history of oppression, current struggles and future hopes? How is our language in worship shaped by race? What colours do we see as we speak the words of our faith? Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. -Psalm […]
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Ritual has great power to infuse a sense of deeper connection among people. Recognizing the sacred responsibility that comes with a driver’s license/licence can invest a new driver with an inner motivation to drive safely and considerately. Just as potent as it is to ceremonially inaugurate a new driver’s driving career, it is as powerful […]
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Who knew it would be so like looking into the human soul, the wonder and mystery, the light and dark so mingled, each made glorious by the other, the awe at how one can overcome and the other relent for a while— and how unlike, this celestial dance laid out since the beginning, while your […]
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This blessing of the Driver’s Licence/license* might be held at home or in the gathering place of one’s faith community. Ritual has great power to infuse a sense of deeper connection among people. Recognizing the sacred responsibility that comes with a driver’s licence can invest a young person with an inner motivation to drive safely […]
Read full textOur Mother, who is in heaven and within us, we call upon your names. Your wisdom come. Your will be done, in all the spaces in which you dwell. Give us each day sustenance and perseverance. Remind us of our limits as we give grace to the limits of others. Separate us from the temptation […]
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Our creator, from whom the breath of life comes, who fills all realms of sound, light and vibration, may your light be experienced in our core. Your heavenly domain approaches. Let your will come true – in the universe (all that vibrates) just as on earth (all that is material and dense). Give us wisdom […]
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We believe that the imagery conveyed by language and language itself is important and that they articulate and influence our understandings of what is revealed to us about the nature and activity of God and the dignity of all God’s people as created in the image of God. — Inclusive Language Covenant, United Church of Christ […]
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Hiroshima Remembrance Day, 6 August On this day of remembrance, we remember the dead, the injured, the scarred, the broken lives. In many places paper lanterns will float on the waters of ponds, lakes and streams, each holding the memory of lives extinguished at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. May the images we choose to share in […]
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See how we love (Together All) Lyrics and music (posted below) composed by David Williams. Together All! We wait upon the hour To stand and show your power To those with whom we live Together All! We long for them to say, as happened in the day ‘See how they love’! Refrain: So we stand […]
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Brian Schroeder’s article, ‘De-gendering God: How inclusive language revolutionizes worship’, can be found on his website: Worship Forward–resources for inclusive churches. A church musician, Brian explains: ‘A great way to easily find gender-free worship songs is to seek out ‘You’ language. A lot of songs that refer to God as ‘You’ are safer bets for […]
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I believe in mystery. I believe in magic. I believe in miracles. I believe in intuition. I believe Spirit seeks connection, through stars and trees and soil and flesh and beauty blooming and every movement of freedom and mobilization toward liberation. I believe divinity is moments of felt connection, resonances that spark and open into […]
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A picture is worth a thousand words. (Apologies, when I shared this last month the images were scrambled. Hopefully, this is better.) These images aim to both raise awareness about the urgency to care for creation as a response to the ecological crisis and to provide images for use in a worship service focusing on […]
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This hymn might be used for welcoming new church members or in any service highlighting our call to discipleship. Tune: Aurelia (The Church’s One Foundation) Disciples here with Jesus In solidarity We now affirm each other Within our liturgy; In God we come together; In God we are as one; In God we can continue […]
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Gather, God’s people! We seek to be here, fully and completely! Yet often we find ourselves distracted by questions: How can I be successful? How can I be wealthy? How can I get more ‘likes’? We get caught up wanting answers: Why me? Why not me? Who is the greatest? We seek, to be here, God, fully […]
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What words do we use to celebrate years of worship together? What words do we use when we are an aging congregation? What words signify the hope of new life in our church? Songs for Church Anniversaries: Prayers and worship resources for Church Anniversaries:
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Note: before using the ‘Digital Manifesto’ in full, consider the congregation. What are local concerns and worries about digital usage? Perhaps a selection from the Manifesto might suffice. Perhaps there are other concerns to be added or inserted. May this act of faith be meaningful. Worship offers us space in which to reflect on our […]
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What words express the mystery of the unknowable? the beliefs that defy the rules of nature? our faith? our doubt? What words enable the wordless to speak? the deaf to understand? Dare we speak truth into this mystery? exasperation? doubt? solid faith? Explore these Worship Words resources to find words for your worship experience on […]
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Open Table Worship Using inclusive language and imagery for intimate worship settings at which everyone is welcome and valued Theme: Stand firm in our faith A complete worship service weaving together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion Compiled & written by Ana Gobledale for Open Table This service is designed for a congregation gathered around […]
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Who are we? We are God’s beloved. Where are we going? To lunch, to the park, to our homes, to work and to school: out into God’s world. With what do we venture forth? With the illumination of hope, with the strength of community, with the love of Christ. With whom will we share it? […]
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Luke 24:36-38 (a version for today) While the disciples discuss the resurrection news, Jesus stands among them and says, ‘Peace be with you.’ Startled and terrified, they think they are seeing a ghost. Jesus asks, ‘Why are you frightened and, why do doubts arise in your hearts?’ We join fearful Peter now to listen to […]
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Prepared by Washington Park United Church of Christ, Denver, Colorado Background “The Good Friday Vigil Against Gun Violence emerged out of what Denver experienced as the Summer of Violence in 1993, when there was a high incidence of gun deaths in the metro region. The staff of Washington Park United Church of Christ thought it […]
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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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‘Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness….” Genesis 1.26 Lesson: Looking at skin colour to learn more about God. What colour are you? Listen to this poem by Kathleen McGinnis, and see if you can find a colour that matches your skin. Some people are black like ebony wood. […]
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What words do we use to lift up the history of oppression, current struggles and future hopes? How is our language in worship shaped by race? What colours do we see as we speak the words of our faith? Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. -Psalm […]
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Racial Justice Sunday UK is observed on the second Sunday of February. What is God’s dream? What is our dream today? What is God’s hope? What is our hope? What are we willing to change in our lives to make these dreams and hopes come true? How hard are we willing to persist and push […]
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In honour of LGBT+ History Month… The resources listed below have been written specifically for worshipping communities intentionally created to provide safe and meaningful worship for the LGBT+ community and friends. Editor’s Note: A primary purpose behind Worship Words is to provide worship resources usable by all people, providing inclusive language and religious imagery. My […]
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…lest we forget Observances around the World Different countries observe Holocaust Memorial Day on different days. Many countries have adopted 27 January, the date designated by the United Nations as International Holocaust Memorial Day. Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration and death camp, was liberated by Soviet troops on 27 January in 1945. The UK has adopted this date, […]
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God, who in Jesus, broke down all barriers, between people of different races rich and poor, male and female, Jew and Gentile, between heaven and earth, we worship you. God, at this time of heavy responsibility, as decisions about future relationships with our neighbouring nations are being taken, we pray for our leaders: that they […]
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Confession and assurance God of love, you know us inside and out. With you there is no point in hiding or pretending. You invite us into your presence, and we come as we are. We confess that we often forget to listen for your voice. That moments of stillness are few. We hurry about with […]
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Daily Prayer, by Shantideva, Buddhist sage 700 A.D., India Prayer performed each morning by His Holiness the Dalai Lama May I be a guard for those who need protection A guide for those on the path A boat, a raft, a bridge for those who wish to cross the flood May I be a lamp […]
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Epiphany Evening When Mary was really cold, she gave an angry kick to the frankincense jar (flashy gift, but ultimately useless) and then she saw it – ‘Look what the magi really left us! I can start this fire with what fell behind the caravan’s two-toed feet. ‘Something ordinary is the only way to warm […]
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Mysterious paradoxes collide in this story. A story of a baby, Born into nothing, Yet born into everything. Born in a shed, But born in love, And is love And brings love. The paradox of a young woman, Not yet wedded, Blessed to bring life, Into this world that needs life Needs hope Requires love. […]
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God of all seasons and senses, grant us the sense of your timing to submit gracefully and rejoice quietly in the turn of the seasons. In this season of short days and long nights, of grey and white and cold, teach us the lessons of endings; children growing, friends leaving, loved ones dying, grieving over, […]
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A poem for Christmas and Epiphany This night we steer our paths By lights in holy skies. Like eyes of old, we stare Aloft at certain stars. Pressed hard by cruel tones And ugly, unseemly times, We linger at a star of beauty, A gleaming, affirming fire. To homes and naves we go With children […]
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‘Do not be afraid’ — words of the angels Prayers of Intercession This was originally written for a worship service marking the opening of a week-long Angel Festival. It might be used during Advent, particularly at a Blue Christmas or Longest Night service. The word ‘angel’ is not always popular, or sometimes over-popular! How can […]
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