Inspired by Michael Rosen His were the hands That shaped the wood That smoothed the knot That summoned the friends And launched the boat His were the hands That touched the blind And opened ears That held the child And cast out fears His were the hands That fingered the coin That plucked the corn […]
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Lectionary reading for Epiphany 5 Year A To be read responsively or by a single voice How happy the servant who shows respect for their God and delights in fulfilling God’s instructions. It bodes well for her children and their future. Her family will go short of nothing. Light shines on those who live good […]
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One thing we ask and one thing we seek, that we may live in God’s presence all the days of our life. For God will be our shelter when hard times come, covering and protecting us, planting our feet on solid ground.
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Dear cousin… You may be surprised to hear that I am also, as they say, ‘expecting’. Yes, a boy is on his way… Don’t ask how I know it’s a boy…you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Joseph is in two minds, happy with the idea of fatherhood but knows he’s not the ‘real’ […]
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Greetings, You know that I missed out on schooling so never got the proper hang of writing and rarely needed it anyway so long as I could scribble a bill. I’ve asked the Rabbi to help me with this short letter telling you the latest news. Everything is overshadowed by this tax registration. There’s no […]
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Advent 3 & Pentecost 23, Year C From Isaiah 12 Since God is our Saviour we will trust and be unafraid. God is the source of our confidence and will keep us safe from harm. On the day when God comes to our rescue, joy will rise like water from the spring. So give thanks […]
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This reflection might be read on Easter morning, or during a time of meditation, having distributed a hazelnut for each participant to hold. Text: Wee, wizened pod of latent life, dormant hope protecting, I hold your power entire within my hand and wonder […]
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Written for Epiphany, Year C Teach your Chosen One, O God, how to rule your people with justice and how to govern with gentleness the people who stagger under heavy loads. May your Chosen One judge fairly and give attention to the people most in need. May your Chosen One be like showers of rain […]
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Advent 4, Year C Hear us, Shepherd God, leading your flock, we are in trouble and need you to save us. Bring us back, show us your mercy, come to our rescue. Do not take offence at our pleading. The world is like a cup filled with sorrows. We have shed too many tears, fighting […]
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First Sunday of Advent, Year C Here we bring you our prayers, dear God, because we know we can trust you, and because you don’t keep on reminding us about the things we do wrong. Help us to see where your way leads and to follow in it. Make us listen to the guidance you […]
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Proper 29, Year B Awesome God, wrapped in glory, by your strength you set the earth upon its axis, immovable for ever. Before time began, you held sway. The ocean canyons bellow, yet your voice from heaven rings out over the soaring waves, louder than the ocean’s rage. And in this way your laws, and […]
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for Christ the King Sunday, Year B Awesome God, wrapped in glory, by your strength you set the earth upon its axis, immovable for ever. Before time began, you held sway. The ocean canyons bellow, yet your voice from heaven rings out over the soaring waves, louder than the ocean’s rage. And in this way […]
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For Pentecost 14, Year B May be read responsively or by a single voice. Guardian over all the nations, how we love your dwelling place. Here, even the sparrow may find a home and the swallow make her nest, raising her brood beside your altars. Happy are those who are at home in your house. […]
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You, our Holy One, are gracious and compassionate, long suffering and ever faithful. You are good to all; And your compassion rests upon all you have made. You keep faith with us and are consistent in all you do, supporting all who stumble and raising those brought low. All your creatures, dear God, raise their […]
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The Holy One is great and is worthy of generous praise- -here in this sacred place, the dwelling of our God. The city of God brings joy to all the world. God it is who will keep us safe. We have heard what God has done and we have seen it for ourselves that God […]
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Lectionary reading – Easter 6 Year B This might be read by a solo reader or responsively. Come, let us sing a new song to the One who has worked such wonders! By power and righteous strength, victory has been won. God has kept faith with the children of Israel, with loyalty and love towards […]
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Lectionary reading – Lent 4A, Easter 4 ABC, Proper 23 A, Proper 11 B This might be read by a solo reader or responsively. You are like a shepherd to us, providing all we need. You give us rest in green places, you lead us by peaceful streams, you help us recover our strength. You […]
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Lectionary reading – Easter 3 This might be read by a solo reader or responsively. Answer me, O God. When I have been in trouble you have always been there for me. Listen, and go gently with me. There are those who insult you by loving only what is worthless. You will always listen to […]
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Psalms for Worship Easter 2 , Year B How good and how pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together as one! It is like fragrant oil poured over the head and face, then running down as if the dew of Hermon were falling on the Holy City. See how God bestows this blessing, […]
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Give thanks to God because God is good, with a love that endures for ever. Let the people say, ‘Our God’s love reaches from here to eternity.’ Just listen to the shouts of triumph in the homes of God’s people – ‘God’s great power has done it, it has brought us victory – supreme over […]
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Lent 5, Year B Be merciful towards us, O God, and because of your faithful love, wipe away our sins, wash away their stains and cleanse us from all that is wrong with us and our world. We are constant companions to our faults, they confront us wherever we look. It is you we have […]
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Lent 4, Year B ‘Give thanks to God for God is good, with a love that never fades.’ Keep on saying these words to recall how you have been saved, rescued from your adversaries, brought home from exile, from east and west, from south and north. Not everyone was wise, many falling into sinfulness, and […]
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Praise from the heart: psalms framed and phrased for church worship For Epiphany Ready-to-download and print: Epiphany Praise Psalm 72 – Duncan Wilson WORD Epiphany Praise Psalm 72 – Duncan Wilson PDF Teach your rulers, O God, how to rule your people with justice and how to govern with gentleness the people who […]
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Praise from the heart: psalms framed and phrased for church worship Proper 16 (usually Pentecost 12) Year A Pentecost 3 Year B Epiphany 5 Year C I am praising you, our God, with all my being. When I called for help, you answered me, you gave strength and courage. However high and exalted you may […]
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Praise from the heart: psalms framed and phrased for church worship Psalm 67, Proper 15 (usually 11th Sunday after Pentecost), Year A God be gracious to us and bless us that your face may shine upon us and your purpose may be known on earth and your saving power throughout the nations. May every country […]
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Praise from the heart: psalms framed and phrased for church worship –from Psalm 105, Proper 14 (usually 10th Sunday after Pentecost), Year A We give you thanks, dear God, and here proclaim your greatness among all the nations. Let us spread far and wide the story of the wonderful things that God has done. We […]
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Reading for: Proper 13 (usually 9th Sunday after Pentecost), Year A 22nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C; Inspired by Psalm 145 part 2 (verses 14-21) You, our God, are gracious and compassionate, long suffering and ever faithful. You are good to all; your compassion rests upon all you have made. You keep faith and […]
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This might be read responsively or by a single voice. It is good to praise you, God, And to honour all our promises to you because you answer our prayers. With refreshing rain, you care for the ground making it rich and fertile. Streams fill with water and earth brings forth its harvest. How rich […]
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Might be read responsively or by a single voice. Dear God, everything you do is thoughtful and your love is always there whatever happens. You care for all that you have made and you feel for anyone in trouble. You always keep your promises and you never let people down. You help people who are […]
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Happy are the people who worship you, who walk in the light of your presence! All day long, you give us cause for joy. For yours is the righteousness that lifts us up, the confidence that fills our songs, the grace that holds our heads high, the shield that protects us. All day long you […]
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Thoughts on ‘Trinity Sunday’ ‘God, I’m lonely,’ God thought, Where’s the point of a void? ‘I’ll make me a world – hold that – a universe – full of wonders, creatures to keep me company, to enjoy each other – to enjoy me.’ And God did. Life abundant. Night and day, God made, flower and […]
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Thoughts on Pentecost… Who could have predicted it? What did they expect? A mild morning breeze? A gentle introduction, a saunter into a new way of life? Not by the sound of it. For the Holy Spirit read ‘typhoon’ or ‘whirlwind’ – everyone’s hair restyled – garments turned inside out – blown into sails – […]
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One minute he’s here and the next minute gone and no-one seems to know how. ‘Taken up to heaven’, says Mark. ‘As he was blessing them’, says Luke. Not a word from John, more concerned about Peter’s destiny. And Matthew? Just final instructions to his friends – To baptize, to teach, to obey – but […]
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His were the hands That shaped the wood That smoothed the knot That summoned the friends And launched the boat His were the hands That touched the blind And opened ears That held the child And cast out fears His were the hands That fingered the coin That plucked the corn That wrote in sand […]
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A version of Romans 5. 12-19 First Sunday of Lent, Year A Adam set the tone. From his time onward, human beings seemed destined to do wrong and the path of wrongdoing led to a dead end. There was plenty of sin about before we were ever given the Law. But when there are no […]
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Lection for first Sunday in Lent, Year A To be read responsively, by two voices or by a solo voice Happy are the people whose misdeeds are forgiven; whose failures are totally blotted out! Happy are the people in whom God finds no fault, who prove to be straightforward and honest. When we own up […]
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Originally written as a responsive reading for the Second Sunday of Epiphany, Year A. Ready-to-download and print: Praise Psalm 40 — Duncan Wilson, UK WORD Praise Psalm 40 — Duncan Wilson, UK PDF We wait patiently for the Holy One who hears our cry for help. lifting us out of the quick sands […]
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Praise from the heart: the Psalms framed and phrased for church worship Year A, Epiphany 6 Psalm 119. 1-8 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 […]
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Lectionary reading on Third Sunday of Advent, Year A Listen to the news of hope reborn from Isaiah 35. The desert will rejoice and flowers will bloom in the wild places. Everywhere will reflect God’s glory. Tired hands and bent knees will be strong again. Eyes will see again, ears be opened. The lame will […]
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Written for Advent (Third Sunday of Advent Year A; Second Sunday of Advent Year B) Tune: Cecilia (6.6.6.6) A desert voice rings out to bring the faithful near; a voice that’s firm and strong, a call that’s loud and clear. A voice that rings with truth reminds us how we fall but lifts us up […]
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