The next time it gets light I will awake with hope And tonight as it gets dark I will not fear The next time it grows light I will welcome the dawn The next time morning comes I’ll be reborn The next time it grows dark I will not hide away The darkness does not […]
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A Psalm for World Water Day 22 March Inspired by Psalm 104: 1, 10-13 Eternal One, your magnificence astounds us. You direct springs to gush forth, to flow along valleys, to slither between hills, providing drink for wild animals, to cool parched throats, to quench thirst. Beside streams you create safe havens for birds who […]
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Intercessory Prayer inspired by Psalm 107 Lent 4, Year B We bring our thanks to you, our God, for the faithful love that is always present with us. We look back at the times when we have been held by your love, gathered from isolation and disintegration, and brought into your reconciling grace. In the […]
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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 […]
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Inspired by Exodus 20.1-17 Third Sunday of Lent, Year B Our God, you are always creating. It is easy to see and to praise the wonders of nature, perhaps not so easy to see and praise the wonders of complicated human relationships. Help us to see your glory in the face of all people we […]
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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 […]
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May the moon that illuminated the night of the shepherds of Bethlehem, embrace your fears and your struggles, renew your yearnings for a good life and your hope in the arrival of peace. May the star that guided those who migrated from distant lands guide your searches and lead you always to the entrust with […]
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At Christmas we remember a baby born into poverty, a child who grew up and preached a radical message of peace, justice and equality, a message he knew that would eventually get him killed. Knowing that his time was coming to an end, he wanted to explain again to those closest to him what he […]
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Matthew 1:18-21 — Joseph’s Dream How often do you hear a voice telling you to not be afraid? Maybe it isn’t a “voice” exactly, but maybe more like a sense of something bigger than yourself. We live in times where there is much to fear. And, yet, I often find myself wondering about all times. […]
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In this place We open to the creative heartbeat of this morning, The divine urging which is within, around and beyond us. Dispel our stupor. Energise our bodies. Enthuse our passion. Centre us So this day is worthy of the name holy.
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Thirty after Allen wrote for Christian Century, with the majority of our churches continuing to use male-dominated language in worship, a fresh read of Allen’s article can raise the persistent and critical ‘cry in the wilderness’ as she provides important concerns and suggestions for worship leaders committed to inclusive language in worship. Allen’s article opens with […]
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Great mysterious Spirit of Love, be with me today and all days. Open my heart, move my hands, speak through my mouth and awaken my mind to prepare me for the work of love, caring, and justice in this broken and beautiful world. Sustain me when I am afraid. Goad me forward when I retreat […]
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Welcome! Come! Gather! What words do we use to call people together for worship? Newest ‘Call to Worship’ posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Call to Worship’ resources . . .
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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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Amanda Udis-Kessler’s website, Queer Sacred Music, includes numerous songs (lyrics, scores and recordings) and worship items. Several new songs and worship resources express a relevancy to a pandemic reality. To access the songs on Amanda’s website, I prefer starting at the page entitled ‘Recordings’ where one can find the lyrics in addition to the recording […]
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A responsive Call to Worship for face-to-face worship with COVID-19 protection We gather today in masks. We gather today in love. Wearing masks shows our commitment to the health of all people. We gather today in compassion. Wearing masks enables us to welcome others into our physical space. We gather today in hospitality. Wearing masks […]
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God’s peace: carry, keep and hold you. God’s love: nourish, bless and enfold you. God’s spirit: inspire, lift and mold you. May God, merciful and just, help you persevere on the path before you.
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Ascension Ascending Who went where? Where is the place or space or experience to which they went? Why up? Above the clouds? Beyond the Horsehead Nebula? Into the void? What words, what concepts do we use to talk about this mysterious event? Or is it a non-event? It comes around every year, 40 days after […]
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Go now in the comfort and peace of the One who gave birth to us. Go in the assurance that the Comforter is with us always. Go to give comfort and peace to others. Divine Wisdom guide us as we go forth on Her paths of peace. May She give us blessings more precious than […]
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What is a blessing? When do we say a blessing? When do we want a blessing said or performed? Why might a blessing be asked for or offered? According to the on-line Miriam-Webster Dictionary, a blessing is words of ‘approval, encouragement’, ‘a thing conducive to happiness or welfare.’ And the opposite of a blessing is […]
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You are invited to pray in the spirit of the Lord’s Prayer, and in your original language, as that is appropriate. All Gracious Spirit, Who loves us like a mother, Whose realm is blooming among us now. And within. We pray that your compassion guide us in every action. Give us what we need for […]
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Thank you for meeting us on this day to worship and praise you. We pray for families and those affected by recent natural disasters [insert relevant references from current news]. We pray for the leaders of government relief agencies that will be involved in aiding the communities. We pray also for the weak and vulnerable […]
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A reflective and interactive prayer for a group preparing to share a communion meal. At the end of each section, pause to allow participants time to reflect and fill in the names of places and people as appropriate, silently or aloud, as appropriate for the group. I cannot take bread and forget those who are […]
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Thank God for church! This might be read by numerous voices, responsively or by a single voice. Remember to pause and focus on firstly each attribute of the Spirit and secondly each specific gratitude. After each refrain, take time to consider specific people, activities, worship words, prayers, songs, sermons, and other aspects of church for […]
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Inspired by Psalm 23 God is my shelter, my protection, and my guide. I want for nothing, and I will practice thanksgiving! God invites me to places of peace and beauty where wildflowers bloom and mountain streams flow. God will restore me, and I will practice sabbath rest. Even when anxiety and fear threaten to […]
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Second Sunday of Easter (Sunday after Easter), Year C John 20:19-31 Acts 5: 27-32 *Bible quotations are from ‘The Inclusive Bible,’ Rowman & Littlefield publishers 2007 www.rowmanlittlefield.com Certainties & Doubts: a Biblical drama The worship leader interviews ‘Doubting Thomas’ discussing doubt, faith and our world today. The script includes an introduction and conclusion and an […]
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Year C Easter 2 Reading: John 20:19-31, particularly verses 19-29. Not specifically on the reading but on the general issue of doubt Tune: Forest Green For the lyrics, music and a power point, click here. In Praise of Doubt Some people say, ‘To doubt is wrong’ We should not doubt at all; To question our […]
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Eternal One, We give thanks for all the people who gather here to worship this morning And for all the effort that has gone into our church activities this past week. [If a special event has taken place, e.g. a festival, mention it here.] May our efforts inspire all who visit our church. This morning […]
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Consider using for: International Day of Peace, 21 September Peace Sunday, 2nd Sunday of October Hiroshima Day, 6 August Adapted for Worship Words Jesus said; “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” We are called to be peacemakers, to stand against injustice, inequality and oppression For injustice anywhere is a […]
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Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10) Roles: God, Amos, Amaziah (priest), Jeroboam (king) Each role may be filled by any age or gender. Ready-to-print downloads of the script: PDF Amos 7, 7-15 – drama – Amos, God, King, Priest WORD Amos 7, 7-15 – drama – Amos, God, King, Priest Script Amos: I am the […]
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As we go about our busy and frenetic lives we thank you for your on-going unfailing love, that at times we almost forget is there. We thank you, that you are always present in our lives, behind and before us. Your love is so great that we know you will never let us down, you […]
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Prayers for our World (Intercession) In response to Mark 5:21-43 We turn to God, reaching out through our prayers of intercession, lifting up those near and far, known and stranger, trusting that even if our entreaties but touch the hem of the divine garment, they will be heard. Pray with me. God, thank you for […]
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Jesus stills a storm Mark 4:35-41, using text from the New Revised Standard Version – Pentecost 5, Year B Readers: Worship Leader, Storyteller, Jesus, the Disciples (congregation) Download a ready-to-print copy of the drama: Mark 4, 35-41 – Jesus stills a storm Leader: Mark tells many stories about Jesus. This story puts Jesus and the disciples […]
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You call us to be your voices in this world and we stay silent. You call us to be your hands in this world and we keep them hidden. You call us to be your feet in this world and we go our own way. You call us to stand up for our faith And […]
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Lectionary readings & resources for Lent Year A… To access all Worship Words Lent resources click here. May this year’s journey towards Easter be one which we enter in spirit and in truth. –– Lynne Roberts, Australia For more Lent resources click here.
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The Open English Bible ( covering only the NT and part of the OT at this time) provides a modern English translation which is completely free of copyright restriction, so that you can use it however you feel appropriate. The OEB in not the most scholarly rendition, but offers those seeking inclusive Biblical texts the […]
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Words understood by all . . . which do we choose? What words express the hope, the unity, the promise of Pentecost? Share your Pentecost worship words: an invitation to you to participate in a conversation… What does the message of Pentecost sound like today? Looking ahead, what songs will you be singing? […]
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Advent readings and resources for Year C… For all Worship Words Advent resources click here. Christmas readings and resources for Year C… For all Worship Words Christmas resources click here. Christmas Season & New Year readings and resources for Year C
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Easter Sunday readings and resources… Eastertide Sunday readings and resources…
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Call to Confession Face the music. Jesus calls us to follow him, not just to another party of praise, but to the hard work of bringing God’s love and justice into this world of violence and fear. Let us prepare ourselves for this task by confessing our sin. Prayer of Confession One: Source of all […]
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