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 […]
Read full textWisdom words
Prayer for perseverance, Proper 13A, Genesis 32 — Ana Gobledale
Inspired by Genesis 32: 22-32 God, thank you for your love which perseveres, touching our lives, not just in an hour of worship but every day. Your persistent love attends the world, day in and day out, year in and year out. Grant us perseverance, like Jacob, to stand steadfast in our convictions, to hold on […]
Read full textGod does not…, Matthew 10.29 — Steve Garnaas-Holmes, USA
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without God. —Matthew 10.29 God does not go around pulling birds out of the air. God is not sitting at a control panel. God does not “plan” your victory or defeat, cancer, your accident, the moment of […]
Read full textPsalm 119 Renewed — Duncan Wilson, UK
Lection for Epiphany 6, Year A To be read responsively, by two voices or by a solo voice How happy we could be if we could reach perfection, if we could just keep to the rules. How happy if we could follow orders with a willing heart. Some people do manage to steer a straight […]
Read full textReflection & confession of the Magi — Jim Burklo, USA
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 […]
Read full textGod in Solidarity — Anna Blaedel, USA
God in solidarity God takes on flesh and joins life in the struggle – this is what radical solidarity feels like. Lives and souls and bodies entangled. Risks and possibilities shared. We’re in this together. The mess, the beauty, the work. Don’t be afraid to feel hopeful. God’s promises are kept. God won’t opt-out or […]
Read full textYes! to Care — Anna Blaedel, USA
Care. Tender care. Soul care. Spiritual care. Material care. Collective care. Not self care, no. Or, rather, not only self care. Because no self is separable from the multitude of our relations, and we are made for murmurations, and our lives and legacies and futures are bound up together, even now, even now. So, yes, […]
Read full textThe treasure of Enough — Ana Gobledale, UK
God entrusts to us a great treasure, the gift of Enough When I was young I wanted more persistent insistent unquenched desire I expended energy precious time accumulating earthly things But then God granted me the treasure of Enough not wanting more satisfied contentment not needing to eat too much food buy too many shoes […]
Read full textMatthew 25:1-13, Questions — Gerardo Oberman, Argentina
Questions for the teacher By Gerardo Oberman, Argentina Re-interpretation of Matthew 25:1-13 (the foolish maidens), lection for Proper 27 (usually 23rd Sunday after Pentecost), Year A Translated from Spanish by Katie Fiegenbaum Ready-to-download: Questions for the teacher PDF Questions for the teacher WORD Perhaps you are asking me, teacher to be numb to the needs […]
Read full text8 May – Julian of Norwich
May 8 marks the Feast of Julian of Norwich. Julian of Norwich (1342-c.1416), mystic and author of The Revelations of Divine Love, is considered the first woman to write a book (that has survived) in English. Revelations of Divine Love arises from a series of sixteen visions she received on the 8th of May 1373. […]
Read full textThe Ten Amendments — Jim Burklo, USA
Exodus 20:1-17 Jim writes… ‘The ten commandments endure as a foundation for morality, after thousands of years. But just like other guiding/governing documents, from time to time we need to add amendments to them. The ten commandments are a short list, and that is a very good thing. They mostly tell us what not to […]
Read full textSacred time — Annie Heppenstall, UK
Let this be a sacred time, O God, in which I let what has begun, gradually grow, finding within me the patience and trust that allows me to tend my concerns with wisdom. This prayer by Annie Heppenstall was distributed at Gloucester Cathedral during the ‘Museum of the Moon’ exhibition in October 2019.
Read full textLoveInEvolution — Sweet Honey in the Rock
Find out more about ‘Sweet Honey in the Rock’ on their website.
Read full textRainbow of God’s design — Wellingtone Bawalya, Zambia
Inspired by 1 Corinthians 4:3-6 (Eighth Sunday after Epiphany, Year A) This prayer arises from a homily given at Morning Chapel, United Church of Zambia University. Wellingtone’s words have been adapted as a prayer by Ana Gobledale. My parents, sisters and brothers in Christ, join me in prayer. Creator God, how wonderful it is that […]
Read full textQuestion for God — Kennedy Chisompola, Zambia
The question that puzzles many is how you came to be And what method is used to create this world. Indeed your ways are mysterious. -taken from a longer prayer
Read full textMothering Sunday Call to Worship, Proverbs 3 – Jann Aldridge Clanton
Words from a woman passionate about gender inclusivity… Inspired by Proverbs 3:13-15, 17-18 “We come today seeking Wisdom. If we seek Wisdom, She will come to us. Come, Wisdom! ….” For the full text in a ready-to-print form click here – Call to Worship link.
Read full textWhat I do and do not believe — A Statement of Faith for a Blue Christmas service — Loren Richmond, USA
Written for a Longest Night (21 December) service in Colorado, USA God is with us in our suffering, loving us, walking with us, comforting us. I do not believe God is the cause or author of such suffering, I do not believe God “allows” bad things to happen. I can’t imagine why God would “allow” […]
Read full textWhat we believe — Center for Spiritual Living, Seattle, Washington USA
Our faith is not a revelation of some particular individual or of any one group. Rather, it is a correlation of the most empowering truths found in religious texts and the discoveries of science. We start with the simple proposition that God, known to many by many names and traditions, is an immediate Presence not […]
Read full textWho is Jesus? — Eleanor Hubbard, Colorado USA
For Emalyn whom Eleanor mentored… Who is Jesus? A little boy born in a barn in a small village to poor parents. Two thousand, sixteen years ago. I wish I understood how and why he came still influencing billions of people today. What I do know is that Jesus healed people. Jesus taught, prayed, […]
Read full textA slow dawning — R S Thomas, UK
The first king was on horseback. The second a pillion rider. The third came by plane. Where was the god-child? He was in the manger with the beasts, all looking the other way where fourth was a slow dawning because wisdom must come on foot. R. S. Thomas, Counterpoint (1990) Shared by Sarum College, […]
Read full textTinged with Greed — Joyce Dent, Hampshire UK
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 […]
Read full textReflection on a daughter’s ordination — Ana Gobledale, UK
How does faith move from one generation to the next? How does God’s call reach into the heart? Does it pass from one heart to another? Does it blow, like the wind, from a mother’s or father’s very breath? Does it come from a new place, from a separate place, or does it pass through […]
Read full textPsalm Before Beginning Work — E Hayes
From Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim, Fr. Edward Hayes To You, O Divine One, from whose hands comes the work of creation, so artfully designed, I pray that this work I am about to do may be done in companionship with you. May the work that I will soon begin sing praise to you, as songbirds […]
Read full text