A prayer arising from 1 King 19 God ever-new and ever-old, Teach us to listen: To listen with patience, when we want immediate answers; To listen with openness to a new word, when we are more comfortable with the old; To listen with deep respect to the roots of our faith, when we […]
Read full text
A reflection for Advent Luke 1:11-15a But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son… . I can commiserate with Zechariah. I’m doing my work at the temple and a strange being comes and says don’t be afraid. […]
Read full text
Tune: “Fairest Lord Jesus” (Crusaders’ Hymn: 5.6.8.5.5.8) Seeker of justice, turner of the tables One who made sure that the poor were fed Land for the landless, home for the homeless And baskets filled with fish and bread. Friend of the friendless, lover of the enemy, Love that conventions cannot contain, Boundless […]
Read full text
Ezekiel 37:1-14 Breathe on me, breath of God, till I am wholly thine, until this earthly part of me, glows with thy fire divine. Breath of Life, can these bones live? Valleys of dry bones confront us, threatening to separate us from you. Each day, our newspapers highlight the numerous and extensive dry-bone-valleys […]
Read full text
Ezekiel 37:1-14 Fifth Sunday in Lent – Year A 2 April 2017 God of life, hear my prayer. Withered, cracked, pale Sometimes I feel like a pile of old bones Dry, brittle, broken Sometimes I feel as though all hope is lost. Dry bones, hear the word of the Divine! […]
Read full text
For Mothering Sunday Inspired by Julian of Norwich Ready-to-use printable copies: WORD Mothering Sunday prayers of approach, Cara Heafey PDF Mothering Sunday prayers of approach 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 […]
Read full text
We have used this introduction, conclusion and closing prayer book-ending the Sunday Morning Live drama as the ‘sermon’ on Palm Sunday. Possible sermon titles: Not what we expected! or Two Kings: Take your choice! Prayer: Pray with me. God may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight. […]
Read full text
Prayers for our world — inspired by Psalm 23 Let us turn our mind and thoughts to others. We will lift up prayers for our world, our nation, our community and our church, responding with the phrase: Good Shepherd, Guide us in love. Pray with me. . Good Shepherd, we hear the cries and joys […]
Read full text
Words seeking the deepest places Words for rigorous honesty Words to cleanse the spirit, mind and soul Newest posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Words of Confession’ resources . . . Featured image: Holocaust Memorial, San Francisco, California USA
Read full text
What words reach out to a gathered congregation? Do they bring comfort? Challenge? A call for renewal and re-commitment? Are we free or stuck in a formula? What words enable God to speak through us? Newest related posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Pastoral Prayers’ resources . . .
Read full text
Time for worship has arrived. Worship leaders gather for prayer. What words will inspire us? guide us? ground us? What words will remind us of the need for both humility and authority? What words will connect us to our common purpose, faith and God? This quiet time for gathering and invoking the presence of the […]
Read full text
for Second Sunday of Epiphany, Year A Characters: (and starting positions) Narrator (pulpit or lecturn) John the Baptist (to side) _____________________________ Andrew, Disciple of John (to side) ___________________ Disciple of John 2 (to side)__________________ Jesus (at back) _____________________________ Simon Peter (to a wing) _____________________________ Script NARRATOR [at pulpit or […]
Read full text
Hey, beautiful morning, we’re singing your God song, a psalm of seas and mountains, of empty roads and houses yawning under a new blue bowl of sky. It’s the song of the bellbird, of steaming cows in sheds, of freckled trout quivering in deep dark pools, and dew on cobwebs lacing trees. Hey, beautiful morning, […]
Read full text
For Christmas Day or Epiphany Ready-to-print download: Now Comes the Brighter Day. – Bob Hill Now comes the brighter day so wanted, needed now, reminding all that dark is stalled when love comes home to stay. Now comes the brighter ray, a beam for all to show, a flame of fame, no one […]
Read full text
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 text
Inspired by Psalm 80 Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A Hear us! You who are said to hear the cries of the people. You who hold all time and all matter in Your hands. You who knelt in the dust to make and to mould us. Hear and heed. Come, save us! Bring us […]
Read full text
Photo by Kerry Handasyde, Australia A service for use in personal or corporate devotion focused on creation, perhaps on Earth Day or Trinity Sunday (Year A of the Common Lectionary) when Genesis 1 is read, or during Season of Creation (Creation Time). Reflecting on the universe You promised us the earth and you delivered. You gave […]
Read full text
Simple Living provides lyrics for Christmas Carols with Justice. The verses blend traditional and bold progressive language. They are easy to use and bring the real world into Christmas. “Jesus’ birth has taken on much cultural significance as a celebration of good will, warm feelings and excessive consumerism. These new stanzas help to connect his birth […]
Read full text
Led by the children and leaders of Sunday Club Advent 1 voice 1 Spontaneous sun voice 2 generous giver of light, voice 3 heat and energy… Light first Advent candle voice 4 We give thanks that throughout this season of hope we are warmed by the signs of hope we see in our world and […]
Read full text
Tune: Rivaulx Click here to download the score and lyrics from George’s book, Singing a New Song, volume 1 For all the blessings in our life, For peace and calm amidst the strife, A thankful hymn of joy we raise In celebration and in praise. For parents, children, family ties, For rainy days and […]
Read full text
Great Spirit, For the beauty of the earth we give thanks. For the streaks of morning sun we give thanks. For the warmth of family close we give thanks. Power of Love, Link us together in love. Shower our day with laughter. Create in us a commitment to re-kindle your kin-dom here and now.
Read full text
Renewing God, we pray for a new spirit of care to branch out across the earth, that all nations might act for your creation in silencing the roar of the chainsaw in extinguishing the burning of the forests in purging the pollution of the air in conserving valuable energy in stemming the tide of pollution […]
Read full text
We gently caress you, the Earth, our planet and our home. Our vision has brought us closer to you, making us aware of the harm we have done to the life-network upon which we ourselves depend. We are reminded that we have poisoned your waters, your lands, your air. We have filled you with the […]
Read full text
Inspired by Psalm 95, verses 1-2 Third Sunday of Lent, Year A Come, sing for joy! Shout aloud in thanksgiving for the permance of the Eternal One. Stand firm in faith, grateful for our unshakable foundation. Come, give thanks with music and song.
Read full text
23rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year B Children’s Conversation and Prayer Mark 10:46-52 Hold up cards of different colours, one at a time. Ask: What can you name that is… [the colour of the card being held up] orange/red/purple/etc? Thank you God for the colour orange/red/purple/etc and everything that is orange/red/purple/etc. God created our eyes […]
Read full text
God is Love, the cosmic creativity present everywhere and in everything, Gently urging all toward the good. To transcending Love, we raise our awestruck praise! Jesus embodied the Love that is God. He loved the poor, the sick, the outcast, He loved the unpopular, and even his own enemies. He loved so completely, he loved […]
Read full text
(use freely with attribution) Tune: Madrid 6.6.6.6 – “Come Christians, Join to Sing” Watch mountain shadows run Allelujia! Amen! Clouds gilded by the sun Allelujia! Amen! Hear tumbling water sing Birds calling on the wing In canyons echoing Allelujia! Amen! Breathe in the desert air Allelujia! Amen! Let footsteps call to […]
Read full text
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: […]
Read full text
2nd Sunday of Lent, Year A I lift up my eyes to the hills… We lift up our hearts To you, Spirit of the Universe God will not let your foot be moved… Trusting you to hold us securely When we feel caught in the mire of indecision When we hesitate to step forward […]
Read full text
3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A 19 March 2017 God, are you with us? We seek assurance. Like the Israelites at Massah we desire proof. Like the people of Meribah we ache for assurance beyond words, Something we can see and touch. Forgive our testiness and fickle faith. Renew our commitment to […]
Read full text
Proper 17 13th Sunday after Pentecost – Year A 3 September 2017 Paul makes it sound so easy. Just be sincere, determined, altruistic. Yet we find ourselves hesitant, shifty, unreliable, selfish. Just be zealous, hopeful, patient. Yet we feel tired, desperate, anxious. Just be generous, hospitable, harmonious. Yet we find ourselves hoarding, […]
Read full text
So … May you be awoken. Awoken to the universe and galaxies of beauty and creativity – And to the Creative energy alive in you – creating, living, longing and loving. And may you, with Christ as your guide, live alive in this very universe as a witness to the goodness and creativity of God.
Read full text
Mark 14:27-31 (Year B) Jesus: “You will all become deserters…” Peter: “Even though all become deserters, I will not!” Jesus: “Truly I tell you… this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” Peter: “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you…” Disciple 1: (stand in […]
Read full text
How do we say thank you? How do we say good-bye? How do we release our minister so that they can move forward into retirement or into another ministry position? How do we help them release us to move forward into our future without them as our minister? Resources for leave-taking services:
Read full text
This service of leave-taking was originally written for the departure of Revd Bob Day by Revd Kate Gray, Manchester UK. Time to give thanks There is a time to give thanks, for the times of challenge and hardship for the times of tiredness and distress for the times of solidarity and justice with […]
Read full text
inspired by John 14:6 Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A You are the Way Help us to find new ways of Walking You are the Truth Help us to find new ways of Talking You are the Life Help us to find new ways of Living You are Love Help us to find new ways […]
Read full text
Second Sunday of Epiphany, Year C Your love, O God, breaks the small boundaries of our understanding. Your faithfulness is not constrained by etiquette and protocol. Your righteousness is as firm, yet as fluid as the ever-changing face of the mountains. Your justice can plumb the depths of our humanity and raise us […]
Read full text
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Year A Narrator: Today’s reading is from the Prophet Micah, chapter 6, beginning with verse 1. Micah places us in a court room drama. First the judge speaks, ordering the complainant to rise, and introducing the case. Then God brings charges against Israel, God’s own people. Then Micah responds on behalf […]
Read full text
Let us prayerfully focus on this water, as I pour it into the bowl, and as we do, let each of us infuse it with our commitments to share with (this child / name) the unique gifts that God has given us, gifts (this child / name) will need from us as s/he goes along […]
Read full text
Written in 1986 for a Maundy Thursday evening service at Mfanefile United Congregational Church, Zululand, South Africa, where we (Ana & Tod) lived illegally (in a Black Spot) and ministered at the time. With no electricity, the church was lit by a few candles. In the days of apartheid, the world felt very dark. Peter: […]
Read full text