Open Table Worship Using inclusive language and imagery for intimate worship settings at which everyone is welcome and valued Theme: Stand firm in our faith A complete worship service weaving together scripture, drama, reflection, conversation & communion Compiled & written by Ana Gobledale for Open Table This service is designed for a congregation gathered around […]
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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. Newest ‘Transgender Day of Remembrance’ posts . . . (images link to posts) ‘The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was started by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a […]
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Inspired by Psalm 107 May be read by one voice or responsively Give thanks to God! For God is good! God’s steadfast love lasts forever. God gathers God’s people From east and west, north and south, From the deserts of our weary and aimless wanderings, From the shadows and gloom of our struggles, From the […]
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Holy God, Grant us a heart full of grace, And a soul generated by love, That we may serve you and your world. Thank you for all those who have shown us the way And all those who are showing us the way.
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Loving God, We gather as your people Seeking your presence, your comfort and your love. In this Epiphany Season of light Shine your light upon us – Into the recesses of our spirits, Those places where we experience anxiety, depression, fear and despair. This morning, we lift up in particular all among us who are […]
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This has been a difficult season for many of us. Illness… unemployment… separation from loved ones… broken relationships… unmet hopes and expectations… events that have divided our homes, families, communities and country… loneliness and isolation… the death of a friend or family member… the loss of a pregnancy… war in our world… fear for our […]
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Adapted from Psalm 81 Written to be read responsively Pentecost 12, Proper 17, Year C Pentecost 2, Proper 4, Year B Sing to God! God is our strength. We will shout for joy. Open your mouth, your mind, your heart, your soul, God will fill it! God will fill us! Listen to the Lord, your […]
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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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Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be….’ — Luke 1:34 “How can this be? In the Advent season, we prepare to say yes to God’s call, to step forward in courage, faith and hope, whatever that might look like in each of our lives. God, forgive us for those times when we have […]
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Written to mark the 20th anniversary of 9-11 You have generously devoted yourself to helping others — thank you. Your work requires you to be prepared for whatever comes: You make difficult and complicated decisions, often in a split second. You put yourself at risk to serve your community — often encountering those among us […]
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This is indeed a holy season. This is a season of light shining in the shadows. And the shadows will not overcome it. This is a season where we allow God to light hope, peace, joy and love on the wicks of our lives. This is a season of thin spaces where the distance between […]
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Holy and loving God, in this Advent Season [on this Sunday of Advent], we turn our hearts and our minds towards you. You are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with tenderness all that exists: Every creature that crawls or swims or flies, every plant that turns […]
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A responsive Call to Worship written specifically for intergenerational worship (works well during Advent) God, you came into the world weak: A baby born in a stable, Sleeping in a feeding trough With animal sounds and smells all around. This is how love came to earth. God, you have made us vulnerable. Our bodies can […]
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A picture says a thousand words. Thanks to all the photographers and artists for sharing your work. All photos posted on the Worship Words website may be used for worship and devotional purposes. Please acknowledge the photographer/artist. Images are listed by theme, season and by photographer (scroll down). Photographs arranged by themes throughout the Church […]
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Hold us and heal us with your love Alternative phrases for both American and British English are provided. Ow! That hurts! Mama! Grandma! Daddy! [Mummy! Nana! Daddy!] A whimper. A wail. A wound. Oh God, Hold us and heal us with your love. Silent. Withdrawn. Pain visible only in our eyes. Or perhaps hidden […]
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A Call to Worship written for young readers — The lines in bold might be given to very young children to say. Inspired by ‘Retelling of Mark’ 10 in Children of God Storybook Bible. All: Hey God! Wanna play? Voice 1: God’s too busy taking care of the world, listening to our troubles […]
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A Call to Worship for young readers The bold sections may be said by a very young child. Use two or many voices. Let’s praise God! Let’s sing! Let’s laugh! Praise God! God, you mend our broken hearts when we feel sad, when we are hurt, when friendships end, when things change, when beloved people […]
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A Call to Worship written for young readers The bold lines might be said by a very young child. I have so many questions, God! Who are you? What are you? How did you make the universe? How did you make me? Whales, moose and bears? Why do bad things happen Even when we try […]
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This might be used as a Call to Worship or Call to Communion. It works as a responsive reading involving the entire congregation or read by 2-3 readers. It has been written with young readers in mind. If you’re worshipping on-line, parents might video their children reading this, or audio-record it and play as the […]
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Helpful for those still looking for a template for Maundy Thursday for families to use at home. Thandiwe gives full permission for the use of the service and Maren Tirabasi gives permission for all that is adapted from Gifts in Open Hands. Maundy Thursday: A Feast of Love Though we are separated in body, nothing […]
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When using this reflection, ‘Mothering Sunday’ may replace ‘Mother’s Day’ throughout. Mother’s Day is complicated. Mother’s Day brings with it many varied emotions. Hallmark [greeting card manufacturers] would have us believe that it is all roses, breakfast-in-bed and hand-drawn cards. But we know and acknowledge that it is much more complicated than that. Some of […]
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Inspired by Psalm 23 Lectionary: Lent 4A, Easter 4 ABC, Proper 23 A, Proper 11 B God is our shelter, protection, and guide. We want for nothing, and we will practice thanksgiving! God invites us to places of peace and beauty where wildflowers bloom and mountain streams flow. God will restore us, and we will […]
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A prayer for Mother’s Day and Mothering Sunday The prayer may be divided into multiple voices, read by individuals or sections of the gathered congregation, e.g. left & right or east & west. Thandiwe has written this for a congregation with clear sections known familiarly as west, mid, east and choir. Replace those designations with […]
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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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Christ, Brother, Teacher, Friend, As we look upon your face transformed by the light of Love, we confess that we have chosen to walk in the darkness of fear, prejudice, selfishness, shame and pride. As we marvel at your ability to forgive and heal, reconcile and make new, we confess that we have chosen to […]
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Martin Luther King Day is observed in the USA on the third Monday of January. This morning we remember dreams and dreamers. Joseph, Jesus’ father, dreamt about uncertainty. We, too, know the uncertainty of dreaming. May we, like Joseph, respond in faith. Mary, Jesus’ mother, dreamt about a child, a new beginning. We, too, dream […]
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Children’s Message for All Saints Day – recognizing God’s workers Images of saints, past and present, are used to help children identify and appreciate people who are ‘saints’, who use their life to make the world a better place. The iconography of Robert Lenz provides numerous portraits of what he calls “marginalized heroes” –both traditional […]
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This ritual draws together a faith community in a renewal and affirmation of gifts and talents. It includes readings, a litany and the laying on of hands. Romans 12:4-8, First Peter 4:8-11, Matthew 20:25-28 Opening words Jesus came among us as a servant and calls us to faith and a life of loving service to […]
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This prayer might be used on Remembrance Day (UK), ANZAC Day (Australia) and days in other nations set aside to remember victims of conflict and war. Praying for Our World As we pray this morning, I will invite you to name those in your life or beloved by you who have served in the military […]
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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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Gracious God, giver of peace, planter of justice, spirit of love, we lift up to you our world – giving thanks for its beauty and majesty, for its many creatures and peoples, for its bounty and flourishing. In our thanksgiving, we also remember those who struggle day in and day out simply to survive, those […]
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Holy God, forgive us, for we have forgotten our baptism. You call us to draw near, but we turn away in fear and shame. You call us to love our neighbour, but we allow our distrust and preoccupations to justify our indifference. You call us to love ourselves, but the voices of insecurity and self-criticism […]
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Eternal One, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever you had formed the earth and the world, From everlasting to everlasting You are God. — Psalm 90:1-2 Bright eyes take in all the world. Tiny hands wave and reach and hold. Feet kick and push. […]
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A responsive reading Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel and restore us O God: Let your face shine, that we may be saved. From the throngs of city centers to the far-flung wilderness: Let your face shine, that we may be saved. To every nation, race and people: Let your face shine, that we may […]
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God of all ages God of all peoples God of all hopes and dreams Today we remember those among us who are transgender: We grieve the murders of those killed for the sake of hate, We celebrate the lives of each and every transgender individual; Those who are able to live into their fullest selves […]
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Eternal One, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever you had formed the earth and the world, From everlasting to everlasting You are God. — Psalm 90:1-2 Bright eyes take in all the world. Tiny hands wave and reach and hold. Feet kick and push. […]
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This prayer has been written in response to the cover-up of sexual abuse revealed within the Roman Catholic Church in Pennsylvania USA. Items italicized might need to be updated to be more relevant to today’s worship. God of righteous anger and holy healing, We pray for our world For Ireland and Pennsylvania and Roman Catholics […]
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These words open the time of worship… As we ring the bowl three times, may we open to the wisdom of our own and other traditions, to the joys and sufferings we carry with us today, and to God’s presence here, among these people and in the world.
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ready-to-print copies: PDF Disciples Prayer by Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson WORD Disciples Prayer by Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson Holy One whose name we honour and praise, When we laugh, you laugh with us. When we weep, your tears wash over the earth. You know the joys and sorrows of our hearts, Our efforts for change and our resistance to […]
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Quietly the New Year slips in. Are we now more fearful, the radio asks? More careful? More tired? Are we now more aware of the suffering, the violence, the inequality, the injustice in our world? Holy God, In this New Year, We seek you As we have always sought you. We need you As we […]
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