The sun slips a bright note under my door: Its announcement of the season’s arrival. I stare at it reverently. A quietude falls over the valley: All is caught in a hush, a pause, Languid in autumnal bliss, Receiving the blessing of the bowing sun. The sandstone boulders in the canyons Are bathed in the […]
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Loving God, Raise me from earth’s water Just enough for awe Evoked by sights Often not seen Except for kindnesses Offered by others Whose love lifts me To see otherwise overlooked Beauty awaiting my wonder. Grant me grace To savour such sights Of heaven and earth Holding each other In perpetual praise Ancient and present. […]
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Numbers 6: 22-27 modified for today May the Source bless us and keep us. May the Source let their face shine on us and be gracious unto us. May the Source uncover their face and bring us peace.
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All: God makes peace within us. Let us claim it. God makes peace between us. Let us share it (nwi). One: Let us greet another as a sign of God’s peace. The peace of God is here… to stay. (Iona) All: Thanks be to God. From the Pentecost Service, “Gathering for the Celebration of Life” […]
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Thomas Long writes: ‘Take the issue of inclusive language. Why should I be bothered with inclusive language in worship? Some people say that you should use inclusive language because otherwise, feelings will get hurt. That is true but not very persuasive. Others say that you must use inclusive language because kids in school are using […]
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Prayers of approach and confession Loving God Our souls sing out in worship And all of creation bursts forth with praise! For you look with compassion on all who suffer. You shed tears of sorrow with those in grief. You reach down into the dark pit of hopelessness. You kneel in the dust to lift […]
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Could be read responsively. O Christ who shares our nature, in whom God found delight, you stood in radiant glory, transfigured by the light. Resplendent in God’s favour, O Christ in beauty bright, illumine all who see you, transform us by your light.
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Come to the mountaintop. What will we find? Jesus, the disciples’ teacher. The prophets who have gone before. God’s voice. We want to worship. We want to hide. Instead, give us the courage to rest in the mystery, To reach toward the thin places Where the in-breaking of the divine shakes us to the core. […]
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We follow you O Christ, Up the mountain to pray, not knowing what you have in store. We witness you O Christ, Your face transformed with light, Moses and Elijah beside you. We worship you O Christ, For we are awed by the power of your love. Emmanuel, God with us Jesus, our brother, Christ […]
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With the knowledge that God’s compassion is bigger than all our sins, let’s pray together. Forgiving God, we admit that we don’t really like praying prayers of confession. To speak aloud our imperfection, our failings, our actions that caused harm and the good we refused to do… it makes us vulnerable. Not only that, but […]
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Friends, come in peace for all things are now ready. After or as the bread is distributed… The bread of life shared with you. After or as the juice is distributed… The power of God shared with you. After meal is shared… We give thanks to you, Source of all life, that you have refreshed […]
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Good on you, Friend, for being a presence of Christ to me. You came when I needed you I didn’t have to ask. You didn’t have to say. You just turned up out of the blue, carrying no luggage, both hands free to carry mine, and somehow, you made it look as though I was […]
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Doxology written in 1890 – to the tune Old Hundredth Great God accept our gratitude, For the great gifts on us bestowed– For rainment, shelter and for food. Great God accept our gratitude. Great God, our gratitude we bring, Accept our humble offering, For all the gifts on us bestowed, Thy name be evermore adored. […]
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This children’s message was initially incorporated into a Songs of Praise service in which several church members (of all ages) chose a favourite hymn and shared why it is special to them. Download a ready-to-use script: Children’s message – Karl Barth & music PDF Children’s message – Karl Barth & music WORD Lectionary links This […]
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What words express the anguish, the grief, the horror? The surprise, the joy, the ecstasy? What words connect us today to eye witnesses, to friends, to family? What words explain the collision of earth and divine? What words express the Passion journey through Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Cross (Good) Friday and into Resurrection Day? Worship […]
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Vulnerable God, broken and poured out to give us life: May we go from your table with full hearts. Ready to be vulnerable, broken and poured out, to share your love with a hungry world.
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By your side There is peace, A quiet place Of beauty and realisation, Where wisdom Seeks reason and understanding, Where myth is laid to rest By the reality of knowledge. By your side There is hope, That arrogance and greed Will not destroy, That selfless love Will prevail. By your side Life is sacred, A […]
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Tune: Bishopgarth For the lyrics, music and a power point click here. The New Year brings another time To practise some reflection, To contemplate priorities; What past ways need rejection; The call of Jesus comes again To strengthen our connection To his inspiring way of life, And maybe change direction. The past is gone; cannot […]
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Living, loving God, thank you for the world around us, your splendid garden creation entrusted into our hands. Please grant us the wisdom to be faithful stewards of your earth: • Keeping air and water clean • Being mindful of energy consumption • Growing foods to share with all your people, our sisters and brothers […]
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Ever felt uncomfortable praying ‘Lead us not into temptation’? Ever wondered why God would need to be asked to refrain from leading us toward that which tempts us? The French Catholic Church (Bishops, March 2018) has altered their translation of this troubling petition to read: ‘Ne nous laisse pas entrer en tentation.’ In English: ‘Do not […]
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What words express the depth of experience at peak moments in our lives? How do we articulate the feelings, the vows, the hopes? Words for rituals… baptism / christening / naming / dedication blessing services: blessing a home blessing for a distressed home blessing of animals blessing gardens & gardeners blessings with water commissioning communion confirmation […]
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Words to slow the pulse, calm the breath, settle the soul . . . Explore these resources to find Meditation Words relevant to your experience and situation. Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Meditation Words’ resources . . .
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Proper 29 (usually Pentecost 25), Year A Responsive reading inspired by Psalm 100 Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth. We will worship God with gladness; Come into God’s presence with singing. We sing, for God made us, and we are God’s people. Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and praise. We give […]
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You are not alone with your desire for inclusive language and Progressive liturgy. While these links may not provide ready-to-use material, they do offer valuable worship resources. Inclusive-language Bibles Inclusive-language resources: Lectionary Study resources: Lectionary-related Liturgy resources: Year A Worship Words resources Year B Worship Words resources Year C Worship Words resources Lectionary-related songs and […]
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What do we believe? How do we verbalise our faith? What words do we use to express our core values and beliefs? How do we articulate that which cannot be explained yet is known intimately? Affirmations or Statements of Faith are created when we bring our faith into words. They may be used in acts […]
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Mark 15:25-39 Response I didn’t sign up for this. Not whips and nails, splinters and thorns, blood and stink and agony. I didn’t sign up for this. Not failure and despair, discouragement and derision, ignominy and ridicule. If it comes to this, I want to walk away too – flee; deny having ever known you. […]
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Inspired by Julian of Norwich Ready-to-use printable copies: WORD Mothering prayer, Cara Heafey PDF Mothering prayer, Cara Heafey Mothering God, you birthed the universe into being. Home-maker, your creation is habitat and sustenance to all that lives. How costly for you our freedom must be. How painful the separation From the parent who has numbered […]
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Loving, embracing Spirit We strive and we fall often, straight into the safety net of your compassionate embrace. We pick ourselves up and try again, secure in the knowledge that you will always be there for us, and that we are so much more than our successes and failures. Help us to learn from our […]
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This wedding was held in Washington State, USA, soon after same-sex marriage became legal. The couple had been waiting for more than a decade. The names have been changed. Outline of Service Welcome Prayer Scripture Reading Purpose of Marriage Words of Intention – lawfully free & willing to create this “intentional family” Sharing: a […]
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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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The mystery of matrimony “Who brings this woman to be married?” We do. To be married To be coupled To be knotted, twisted together Today tomorrow to death Joining a heritage of still-married Great grands through alcoholism and a debilitating stroke The hospital bed at living room centre Year after year Today tomorrow to death […]
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