Though the original words are exclusive, the sentiment is eternal. The bracketed phrases have been inserted to include everyone… I dream a world where [each person] No other [person] will scorn, Where love will bless the earth And peace its paths adorn I dream a world where all Will know sweet freedom’s way, Where greed […]
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Call and Response One: Humans of God’s creation, we are diverse. Many: We are beautiful. We are unique. 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. Many: We […]
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Originally written in response to police shootings and deaths in the USA… God, You who are ultimately in control, the fury and pain and death of this world are before us this day. We weep over the hunger, war, conflict, and hate cursing the landscape of the earth, wasting lives that barely had a chance, […]
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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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What words do we use to comfort and strengthen those who are nearing death? Resources providing words for sharing with the dying and their loved ones:
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A Cat, Rat, Mouse and Spider bring the nativity story to life as they meet Mary, the Innkeeper, Shepherds, an Angel and the Magi. Full of knock-knock jokes, carols and talking animals, the Joyful Animals’ Nativity is a delightful Christmas nativity drama ready for you to use. Download ready-to-print scripts: PDF Joyful Animal Nativity script […]
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Spring has sprung! Come gardeners and farmers! This service, originally created to celebrate Earth Day (22 April), lends itself to multiple multi-age voices. This all-age service of celebration and blessing has been shared in the UK and the USA and includes optional prayers, readings and sermons. It is easily adaptable for a new location. Ready-to-print […]
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Inspired by Genesis 1 which is included in the Sunday lectionary for Epiphany Year B, Trinity Sunday Year A, and Easter Sunday Years A, B and C. Our God, We come before you with minds, hearts and eyes open To the many ways in which you reveal yourself to us: In the colours of autumn, […]
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This active blog, Lectionary Liturgies, provides liturgies based on the the Revised Common Lectionary readings for each Sunday of the church year. They are posted the week before “for folks to use in worship, as they deem appropriate.” While the spirit of the language used tends to be open and welcoming, the specific words are […]
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What words express our faith? What words confirm our faith? What words express our welcome of new companions along the journey?
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Inspired by Psalm 16 2nd Sunday of Easter, Year A 26th Sunday of Pentecost, Year B 3rd Sunday of Pentecost, Year C Come! Rejoice! For we are in the presence of the Holy One. We turn our eyes and hearts toward the Light of Love. Be glad and rest secure in the Eternal One. […]
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While written in response to a specific event, these prayers are easily altered to be applicable today and might be used on Father’s Day, inserting current events and concerns. This prayers was originally written in memory and honour of Jo Cox, Member of Parliament, UK, murdered at her surgery, and her surviving husband, Brenden. Jo was […]
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Splish Splash! Drip Drop! Water of Life, You wash over the world. You quench our thirst, Water plants and trees that give us food, Wash us clean, Tumble over rocks and roots in rivers, And ebb and flow in oceans. Thank you for water! Help us use water wisely, carefully and joyously.
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What words do we use for describing fathers… -who they are and who they have been? -our relationships with them — the easy ones, the complicated ones, the painful ones? Newest ‘Father’s Day’ posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Father’s Day’ resources . . .
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Inspired by Luke 15 originally used on Father’s Day This drama may be adapted to include any parent (mother or father) and any two siblings. Ready-to-print downloadable copies: PDF Children’s Message Prodigal Son – by Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson WORD Prodigal Son Children’s Message – by Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson Henry and Matt, the two brothers, might be exchanged […]
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For 4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C in the Revised Common Lectionary Tune: Hyfrydol 8787 D For the lyrics, music and a power point, click here. Jesus, when he went to dinner, he used every time and place To proclaim God’s love and mercy, and display forgiving grace; Jesus, when he went to dinner, used […]
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She that trusts in me from her deepest heart, Shall rivers of living water flow forth. She that trusts in me from her deepest heart, Shall rivers of life flow forth. She that trusts in me is the theme song for the World Day of Prayer worship service prepared by women of Sweden for the […]
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Inspired by Psalm 32 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C Eternal One, You have blessed us. You have forgiven our hurtful actions. You have blocked out our mistakes and wrongs. When you add up our errors, the total always seems to vanish. And we start with a clean slate. You erase our shame […]
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Inspired by Psalm 32 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C Trust in the Eternal One We come in hope. Rejoice in God’s unfailing love. We come in faith. Celebrate the forgiveness that is ours. We come to sing with gladness.
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Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year C Call to Worship (inspired by Psalm 30:4-5) A responsive reading Sing praises to the Eternal One. Today we praise the sacred with enthusiasm. Rejoice in the morning light. We rejoice in the never-ending love of God. Sadness and anger have darkened our paths. Yet in the light of hope we […]
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Blessing of seeds, soil, water, gardening tools and gardeners, for use in a springtime service of celebration. Can be used effectively connecting to Earth Day 22 April or in a Rogation Service (sixth Sunday of Eastertide). Everyone is invited to wear their gardening attire and bring their gardening tools and seeds. Suggestion: use children and […]
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What gives us life? What sustains us? Using water as the focus, we gather and bless one another. Worship Words resources for Blessing of water rituals:
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For Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C God is gracious with blessings. God’s face shines upon us. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy! We sing for joy, for God judges the peoples with equity and guides the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise God! We praise God, for God’s […]
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Inspired by Psalm 148 5th Sunday of Easter, Year C 1st Sunday of Christmas, Year C Appropriate for Blessing of Gardens & Gardeners, Earth Day, or Blessing of Animals services. Presentation: The three questions, asked by Voices 1,2 and 3, might be asked by children or youth, or posed from different places in the gathered congregation. […]
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Tune: Hyfrydol For the lyrics, music and a power point, click here As we come in celebration, We now contemplate our past We delight in former friendships And the love that holds us fast; All our past is now accepted; Through its troubles we have grown; Now the future beckons to us, Knowing we are […]
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Creator of the Universe, Lover of all that you make, We thank you for this marvellous world Which you have given us for our home. Help us to show our gratitude As much by our lives as by our words. We acknowledge that so often Our best efforts are tinged with greed, The desire for […]
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We gently caress you, the Earth, our planet and our home. Our vision has brought us closer to you, making us aware of the harm we have done to the life-network upon which we ourselves depend. We are reminded that we have poisoned your waters, your lands, your air. We have filled you with the […]
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We call to mind your deeds, and remember your wonders of old. We meditate on all your works, and muse on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who works wonders You have displayed your might among the peoples. When the […]
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We send you out to learn That God loves the world And all its people And that God loves you. We Amen. We send you out together As our loved children To learn, to play, And as part Of the family of God. Amen. From Liturgies for the journey of Life (pages 4 and […]
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Wild and restless spirit of God Accompany our Lenten journeys. Give us courage to spend time in the wilderness The place where you bring us face to face with ourselves. Help us to pray with honesty Help us to live with simplicity Make us hungry and thirsty for your life-giving presence. When we return to […]
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God, you are not distant from us You came to us in vulnerability You offered yourself as a gift of love. We pray today for those who are in the midst of darkness The darkness of poverty The darkness of loneliness The darkness of grief The darkness of despair Wherever shadows threaten to overwhelm Wherever […]
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Merciful God, your love embraces all of creation. Your realm knows nothing of the borders we draw between nations. You have taught us that every woman, man and child is our neighbour. You have commanded us to love, love, love, without thought of our own security, or glory, or gain. Remind us that you have […]
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This website, Worship Words, was short-listed for the award iChurch Site of the Year:Best Use of iChurch. The site has been recognized as “a great example of creating an engaging presence on the web” by judges of the 2016 iChurch Awards. Receiving this award during the website’s first month on-line provided a source of great […]
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Spring We should celebrate This wildest Erupting In Spring. With colours recklessly Splashed everywhere In this the season of new Daily episodes Of wonder And delight. Autumn is turned on its head: Not the richness the life’s ebbing, But buds bursting Hearts thirsting Green shoots on grey branches Marking Not the end, But a million […]
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Our God We pray for Empathy – seeking to understand: ideas, people, situations, ourselves, our faith, our hopes, seeking, exploring the why of life, the why of who we are. seeking because we know that only by seeking, do we go beyond ourselves, to where answers reside, answers that we had never considered. And we […]
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Our God, The world is more magical, less predictable, more autonomous, less controllable, more varied, less simple, more infinite, less knowable, more wonderfully troubling than we could have imagined being able to tolerate when we were young. More surprising, able to operate without us adaptive, resistant robust fragile complex and into this environment, we are. […]
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Our God, Your living word is not static but the unfolding story of your actions in the world We pray that we would be part of that story as recipients and participants cutting across the addiction people have for the world cultural addictions of greed, of status, appearance, recognition, of voyeurism, celebrity worship, the need […]
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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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Tune: Ar Hyd Y Nos (All Through the Night) For the lyrics, music and a power point, click here. Verse 1 In this sacrament with water God can be seen; In each human son and daughter God can be seen; When love streams from fathers, mothers, Gen’rously from sisters, brothers, When compassion flows from […]
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Our Church meets in a building, That is a civic pride. We sometimes need a shoehorn To fit the folks inside. We have many groups, who meet here And do the things they do. But the buildings only made of stone The church is me, is you. Many folk can tell you Where our church […]
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