Words for worship and reflection during the spring season… 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…. — Ross Kingham, Australia Words for spring: an alphabetical listing of all resources: Free images of spring: All photos posted […]
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Loving God, When devils in disguise Threaten to unhinge my life Grant me the grit of grace Turning temptations around Into opportunities to grow Strong in my desire for You Instead of the sneaky things So easily demanding attention Dressed up in pre-occupations Too numerous to count Their constant flow daring me To give my […]
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with homage to Rumi, the Sufi poet You, the pollen on the bee’s leg That made my flower a pomegranate, You, the haze of yeast on the grapes That made the wine That inebriated Shams of Tabriz, You, who made the clay birds fly, You, who cleansed the soul of ‘I’. You, the reason that […]
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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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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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We believe in the Divine Creator of all that has been made, the Parent of the whole creation. We believe in the Divine Saviour of all that has fallen, the Restorer of our broken world. We believe in the Divine Life of all that lives, the Love that binds all things together in one divine […]
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Luke 2:8-20 A shepherd’s recollection of that first Christmas, read as a dramatic monologue Note: shepherds and angel may be presented as female or male as desired. Script It’s true! It sounds crazy, I know, but I’m telling you, it’s true. It was the most wonderful thing. We had the sheep in the fold for […]
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What words share the meaning and mystery of Christmas? What words do we sing? What dramas, sketches and skits bring the words of Christmas to life? Explore these contemporary resources below: Christmas Songs Nativity & Christmas pageants Christmas (and Advent) Dramas — monologues, letters and more Christmas prayers and worship resources Christmas images – photos free-to-use […]
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Bleak Gaia* A climate kairos worship resource responding to the climate crisis All at peace Slowly rotating Tomorrow creeps Procrastinating Swirled in mists Alone in space Where we exist On a wafer-thin face Clothed in blue Silently screaming And wrapped anew Resplendently dreaming Suspended and drifting A mountain of wealth And angels are lifting More […]
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Peace on earth, good will toward all. — Luke 2:14 The Dayspring from on high hath visited us…to guide our feet into the way of peace. — Luke 1:78-79 ‘Peace on earth,’ the angels sang. We sing it too, in carols, oratorios. We talk of peace, put it on bumper stickers, print it on Christmas […]
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This might be adapted for corporate worship changing ‘me’ to ‘us’ and ‘my’ to ‘our’. Loving God, Grant me the gift Of sacred sabbath rest Interrupting the inertia Of inner and outer worlds Addicted to endless activity And productivity’s promise That work alone can heal. Unwind soul’s tightness Unable to trust your promise Of reinvigorating […]
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God, who wanted and willed me into life, so often I come to you with needs to be met. Seldom I come with joy for all that has been given. Re-sensitize me today to the silent ministries of your quiet gifts, the rest and renewal of last night, the freshness and feeling of this morning, […]
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Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on 20 November honouring the memory of those whose lives have been lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. Find more TDOR resources here. Set up: Place numerous ‘gems’ (plastic or glass) on the central table, more than enough for each person to take two. The […]
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God is Love, the cosmic creativity present everywhere and in everything, Gently urging all toward the good. To transcending Love, we raise our awestruck praise! Jesus embodied the Love that is God. He loved the poor, the sick, the outcast, He loved the unpopular, and even his own enemies. He loved so completely, he loved […]
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Cara, a regular contributor to Worship Words, writes thoughtful worship resources emphasising the radical inclusiveness of the divine. Cara, an ordained Minister in the United Reformed Church in Great Britain, writes, ‘I live in Oxford, in the UK, with my wife and two rescue dogs. I enjoy art, printmaking, writing and walks in fields and […]
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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 […]
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Two versions: first for corporate worship and second for personal devotion As we prepare for worship our souls wait for our Source to come gently into our souls like the fading of dusk and daybreak. As we prepare for worship we yearn to be awakened to all the resources in our lives, lest we measure […]
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Original worship resources from Zambia — including prayers and complete services — are posted on the ‘Zambia Praise’ section of Worship Words. Click here to explore Zambia Praise. Thanks to all who have shared their creative work with Worship Words — Zambia Praise, especially students at the United Church of Zambia University, many of whom […]
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How do we bring words to life? How do we breathe life into old bones, old words, old rituals? Drama offers the opportunity for words to dance, collide, explode and engage. Newest ‘Drama’ posts – Ready-to-use sketches . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Drama’ resources . . .
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Words for reflection and sharing when preparing for worship Too often the best doesn’t happen to us because we don’t expect it to happen. Too often we fasten our attention on the obstacles and not on the possibilities. Too often our fear of failure robs us of the need to risk for what we could […]
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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 […]
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Jim Burklo is a regular contributor to Worship Words through his weekly ‘Musings’ email. Retired Associate Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, Jim writes regularly for the ProgressiveChristianity.org liturgy project. Many of his liturgical materials can be found in his book Birdlike and Barnless: Meditations, Prayers, and Songs for Progressive Christians […]
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a responsive prayer of confession arising from Luke 12.13-21 8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C God of Life, Creator of the earth and all that is in it, We lift our prayers of thanks to you For the beauty of the earth that surrounds us, For spring flowers that dazzle us and summer’s greenery that […]
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Loving God, Let today be the day I turn to You in everything Before I get so involved In the call of the many I forget You are ready To Break open Every hard place Too heavy for me Alone to open. O Love, Let today be the day I trust your love more Than […]
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To be spoken or sung to the tune of either Stuttgart (Come thou long expected Jesus) or Sussex. Verses 1-4 might be used for the opening hymn in worship, while verse 5 might be used as a benediction or words of sending out. Send your spirit as we gather Breath your love into our hearts […]
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Written originally for Ascension Day, but usable throughout the year May you find time to stop and stare, to lift up your eyes. May you wonder at the miraculous and the beautiful, which are all around us waiting to be noticed. May your hope swoop and soar like a kite, trailing prayers behind it. And […]
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Dearest Friend, gentle spirit, breath of live, source of our being, from the peacefulness of silence, the silence that preceded Creation, your speaking entered the void and light burst forth. Our hearts are filled with gratitude that your speaking extends to us today, that your light illuminates our world and our lives. Even as we […]
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Blending words with images, John Potter of the UK uses his own photographs to create ‘Watched Words’ compositions. These were originally produced to be projected as people gather for worship.
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Father’s Day Blessing Thank God for fathers! We pray that love and wisdom may be their guiding light as they nurture and guide the next generations. Sending forth – Responsive Blessing for Father’s Day Go forth, as God’s beloved children. God’s love surrounds us like a father’s love. Go in the knowledge of God’s comfort and […]
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Luke 7.36-50, 8.1-3, Pentecost 4 Year C ‘Walking the talk… I forgive you with all my heart.’ Start with the four pictures and two tiles in your bag. Also have a container with broken tile pieces in it, also in your bag. Pull out first picture from your bag and ask these two questions: […]
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This service was written as a blessing for a home-made wood-fired kiln on the day of its first firing. It might be adapted for other items used in the creative process, e.g. a loom or studio. This service was originally written for the blessing of a kiln designed and built by Daniel Gardner of Loveland, […]
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Month-by-month Calendar with links to Worship Words resources All highlighted text links to worship resources on the Worship Words website.
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With what words does a reader of scripture release hold of the words to be read and allow the spirit to speak? How does a preacher relinquish control and open themself to proclaim the unharnessed ‘word of God’? These prayers might be used preceding or following a scripture reading, or as a segway into the […]
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tune – New Winchester, ‘Ride on, ride on in majesty’ Rejoice in love that brings us here That brings us hope and holds us dear Let’s share God’s love with those we meet At home, at church, at work, in streets Immersed in love, restored by grace Let your redemption fill this place Transform our […]
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‘I am doing a new thing’ – an interview with Mary of Bethany Isaiah 43:16-21, John 12:1-8 (Lectionary readngs for Lent 5, Year C) Characters: P = Preacher; M = Mary P: Will you pray with me? God of new things, this morning we ask you to calm the cacophony of our hearts and minds, […]
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What words enable us to celebrate our diversity and experience God’s extravagant welcome? While parts of the church continue to wait for those who are homophobic to ‘catch up’ or persist in speaking from an historically ‘straight’ perspective, these resources reflect parts of the church that already live in full inclusion. They have been created […]
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For 3 readers: Storyteller, Judas, Jesus Storyteller: In today’s New Testament reading, John presents a struggle between financial care and costly extravagance, between financial management and abundant generosity. Hear anew the story of Mary and Judas at dinner with Jesus in Bethany. I am ready from chapter 12 of John’s Gospel. Six days before the […]
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On my forehead, A sign of the cross, Smudged in ash from the fire That burned down the McMansion of my hubris, And, with it, The money I should have given away, The screens I stare at to numb my senses, The carpet I should have been called on, The doors I should have opened […]
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Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.* I invite you to close your eyes and breathe in that holy presence. Breathe in the power of God, and breathe out the power of the world. Breathe in the presence of God and breathe out the worries, the fears, the burdens […]
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