tune: St Denio (Immortal, invisible, God only wise) When we turn the tap on clean water just flows no time spent, no effort, that’s just how it goes. Yet billions walk long miles for water each day that’s tainted and heavy and spills on the way. Each drop of the water required in the home, for […]
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Preparation: In a bag — a broken teddy bear or other soft toy in a bag; a photo of a girl I have something in my bag. What is it? [A teddy bear] What’s wrong with it? [It’s broken. It’s torn.] What’s this? [A picture of a girl.] Let’s give her a name. What shall […]
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Tune: St. Columba Arising from Matthew 4:18-22 Near by the Sea of Galilee Where Jesus called to some To follow him, to fish for folk, He said God’s reign had come. We may not have a boat to leave, No fishing nets to mend, But when compassion guides our path We see God’s reign extend. […]
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Since at least 1857, churches, countries and the United Nations have designated particular days on which to celebrate and honour children. June 1 and November 20 are the most popular dates. Whatever day, or days, a church might choose to highlight in the year, a Children’s Sunday offers a congregation the opportunity to focus on […]
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World Environment Day was set as an annual observance by the United Nations to encourage worldwide awareness and action for the environment. Worship resources for World Environment Day including prayers and hymns ready to use:
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Dreams & Wishes, a message for children and all ages Preparation: Print all 4 images: Image 1: Abram, Sarai and Nicodemus Image 2: Wish 1 Image 3: Wish 2 Image 4: Wish 3 Attach each image to thick card, so it is sturdy and easy to hold up for all to see. Print up the […]
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Tune: Yield not to temptation Hear God call in silence Pray to hear God’s word Stay true to the message Learn from what we’ve heard Be clear as disciples To reach out to all Just listen for mercy Lift those who may fall Chorus Travel gently and lightly Know that God travels with us Bring […]
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Loving God, Form our lives Into the soil necessary To fill the breach So deep in our days. Let us become the ground Of Your new beginnings Growing Your green Gift of healing and hope Otherwise impossible To imagine in a world Stretched ever wider In needless distancing From each other. Yes, cultivate in us […]
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Holy Spark of Life, Fan into flame Your Pentecost fire And cast its light Across Your whole creation. Let it be A fire of inspiration Bearing a hope that heals. Let it be A fire of consolation Mending every old brokenness With surprising new beginnings. Let it be A fire of possibility and promise Spreading […]
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Our 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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God, hear our cries. Our calm and trust have been shattered. Keep us ever mindful that you are our God, the Prince of Peace, the God of Love. Let our hearts not respond with hate or generalizations, not with phobias nor a desire for payback. We pray for all who have been personally impacted by […]
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Ah, the mystery, and perhaps dilemma, of ‘trinity’. What words do we use to describe what is indescribable? For some, there will be an insistence to strive for explanation — three parts of a whole egg; a three-legged stool. For others, the concept represents an unsuccessful human attempt to make meaning out of mystery. For […]
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Prayer of approach and confession Life-giver: in these damp days of winter blurring into spring, awaken us gently. Make us attentive to the quiet hope that stirs beneath the soil, the first valiant spears of green from buried bulbs, the slow return of morning birdsong, uncertain at first, but building. Let the light and warmth […]
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Preparation: In a bag (ideally the same bag used each week for the children’s message), place a picture of a large group of people. I have something in my bag. [Ask one of the children to take it out of the bag.] What do you see? [a picture of lots of people] Who does God […]
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God, we know you hear our cries and concerns as you hear the prayers of all who suffer around our world. Today we particularly remember in prayer countries destabilized by war and violence – we pray for the people of …… God of transformation, hear our prayer of hope. We remember those in need in […]
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What words will be chosen to recall and remember horrors? What words will draw us closer to the holy when the forces of evil seem to swirl around us? What words offer peace in the face of injustice beyond words? Worship resources for remembering: The Armenian Genocide occurred from 1915 to 1923 when Armenians, as […]
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Come, let’s shout praises and make a joyful noise to our God, Our God is a great God Let us come into God’s presence with songs of praise and thanksgiving; Our God is a great God God made the mountains, the seas, and the whole world. Our God is a great God So come, let […]
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We come with all that we carry: our week, our worries, our hopes. We come to worship God. We lift our eyes to the hills— where does our help come from? Our help comes from God, the Maker of heaven and earth. God is present. God is faithful. God is our help. When our steps […]
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tune: Woodlands (Tell out my soul) Lead us to life, a full life that comes from you Abundant in the times we meet and share Show us your world and how your love is true Lead us to love and show us how to care Lead us to hope and trust in your tender ways […]
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O Tree of Life, You scatter Your grace Falling as it does In radiance around You Bearing beauty’s blessing. Let it stir in me an awe Savoring sight and scent Of Your descending Awakening in me Your call to the same Marvelous motion Of radiating love Without exception. Let Your petal blossoms Bearing fragrant incense […]
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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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The shrouds of life From the swaddling of a baby to the warming blankets of later years, we carry a shroud. Babies are wrapped in blankets for warmth and security; toddlers and young children carry a comforter for security; teenagers use a hoodie for security. All of these are shrouds. As adults we leave behind […]
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What words express the hope, the anticipation, the surge of the excited crowd? What words fill the air of our worship centres? filling the hollows of the week ahead? How do we express the shadow looming? the darkness beneath the palms? Songs for Palm/Passion Sunday: Dramas for Palm/Passion Sunday: Worship Words resources for Palm/Passion Sunday: […]
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What words express the anguish, the grief, the horror? The surprise, the joy, the ecstasy? What words connect us today to eye witnesses, to friends, to family? What words explain the collision of earth and divine? What words express the Passion journey through Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Cross (Good) Friday and into Resurrection Day? Worship […]
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Arising from John 9.1-41 (Lent 4, Year A) tune: Morning Hymn When we’re too certain how things are our firm resistance may push far, like Pharisees when Jesus healed, we may deny what God’s revealed. The evidence before our eyes we may laugh off, ignore, despise, and prejudice of divers kinds may cloud the workings […]
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Ephesians 5.8-14 (Lent 4, Year A) Tune: Wild rover (popular Irish song) — can be heard on YouTube The byways of darkness are many indeed, and both low folk and high folk use them to succeed, Succeed at their tricks, shady deals and dark schemes, for our world is ensnared by its dark, dodgy memes. […]
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This hymn might be used 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 What Jesus has begun. We voice […]
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Praying for others… Praying for our world… What words do we use to express the pain of our world? How do we meaningfully express our concerns, fears and anger? How do we verbalize the pain and suffering of creation — the people, the creatures, the land? How do we respond to both natural disasters and […]
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This ready-to-use Café Church Mothering Sunday worship service weaves together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion. 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 script sheets, reader printouts, song suggestions, a list […]
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I made you myself, carefully and lovingly. I gathered your molecules together, Scooping them out of the dust, warming them into clay. I formed you, deftly With the skill and vision of an artist Into a unique creation. A tiny masterpiece. Your contours bear the imprint of my fingers. Your imperfections and irregularities are a […]
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One: Humans of God’s creation, we are diverse. All: We are beautiful. We are unique. One: We judge each other’s differences, yet our diversity is an illustration of the infinite mystery of God. All: The God in me sees the God in you. One: Humans of God’s creation, we are political. All: We hold onto […]
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God, in whose likeness all are made, teach us to see each other as you see us – each individual, nation and people – beautiful. Beloved. Valued beyond measure. Enable us to see as you see. God, who is love, teach us to love each other as you love us – from the very heart […]
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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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God, fill me to overflowing. Empty me of the bile of disdain, the sour taste of harsh judgement, the hurtful bite of sarcasm, the sharp nettle of scorn. Open my mouth and my hand that all the bile juices might flow out and away, that I might be free, left clean. Fill me now with […]
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What is it about a gentle breeze Is it the breath of God stirring your senses? What is it about the sound of birds greeting the morning that reminds you you are not alone? What is it about the sound of rushing water that soothes the soul – washing away any negative thoughts that are […]
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Reflection of the Magi A Christmas & Epiphany Poem What wisdom I have Awakens me to my blindness. I cannot see light itself What I know of light Is only an alluring shadow Of what it is and does. From billions of years away in space-time, Through darkness intervening, At its inconceivable speed The light […]
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Wise ones… Magi… Kings, queens, rulers… Astronomers… What words do we use to tell the story of those traveling from the east? Those arriving with gifts? Those growing in wisdom as a result of encountering the Presence of Love? Worship resources for Epiphany — an alphabetical listing (Further resources for the Epiphany Season are listed under […]
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Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.’ –Revd Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Martin Luther King Day is an […]
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Prayers of Approach Second Sunday of Epiphany, Year B Trinity Sunday Second Sunday of Pentecost, Year B God our creator: You spoke the universe into being Your word is the source of all life You spoke through the prophets You speak to us still We praise you! Jesus, teacher, storyteller: You spoke and people listened […]
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Praise to our God! Give praise, you heavens above and those who inhabit your heights – All you angels that adore, all you hosts that obey. Praise your God, you sun and moon; give praise, you shining stars. Praise your God, you swirling clouds, Give praise, you tumbling showers. Let all of you praise this […]
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