God, you have become known to us, Not in abstract theologies, But in action – Specifically, the action of salvation. We cried, you heard – And our cries caused such an upheaval in you that they could not be borne in silence and inaction. You then became known to us In the gift of torah: […]
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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 and friends we give thanks. Power of Love, Link us together in love. Shower our day with hope and joy. Create in us a commitment to extend your welcome to all, […]
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What words do we share at a Nine Night service? Who writes them? Who says them? Who hears them? Nine Night, evolving from a Caribbean wake tradition, is a celebration held before the funeral. In my experience as a minister in southeast London, Nine Night festivities usually include an open house with a party-celebration atmosphere, at […]
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God speaks the universe into creation. Words of kindness create goodness; words of cruelty create hurt. Our words matter. Jump to… Creative and Refreshing liturgy for today’s church Liberated Liturgy “Creative and Refreshing liturgy for today’s church “Creative and Refreshing liturgy for today’s church…” How does the progressive twenty-first century minister or worship leader find inspiring authentic, grounded […]
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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 […]
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Gathering Litany for multiple voices Act of Awareness Prayer Gathering Litany Voice 1 Come, from every corner of the earth, Voice 2 from every time and place Voice 1 from south and north Voice 2 from east and west, Voice 3 gather… Voice 4 gather… Voice 5 gather… Voice 6 gather… Voice 1 For the […]
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This communion service was prepared by John Churcher for the Progressive Christian Network in Great Britain. Churcher based the service on various sources including the Methodist Worship Book and the writings of Bishop John Shelby Spong and Marcus Borg. The full communion service is published on the PCN website. Gathering Many names and images are […]
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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 to shame, […]
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For 3 readers: Storyteller, Judas, Jesus Storyteller: In today’s New Testament reading, John presents a struggle between financial care and costly extravagance, between financial management and abundant generosity. Hear anew the story of Mary and Judas at dinner with Jesus in Bethany. I am ready from chapter 12 of John’s Gospel. Six days before the […]
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Proper 17 13th Sunday after Pentecost – Year A 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, isolating, discordant. We want to make […]
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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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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 […]
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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. […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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! […]
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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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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. […]
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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 […]
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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
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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 . . .
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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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, […]
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The earth needs saving. This service has been created for worship focused on creation, perhaps on Earth Day, Trinity Sunday (Year A of the Common Lectionary) when Genesis 1 is read, or during Season of Creation (Creation Time).
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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 […]
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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 in our own lives. . OR Advent 1: ‘Earth’ […]
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Tune: Rivaulx For the lyrics, music and a power point, click here. These lyrics work well on Mother’s Day. With the simple substitution of ‘father’ for ‘mother’ in the last verse, it fits in well on Father’s Day. For all the blessings in our life, For peace and calm amidst the strife, A thankful hymn […]
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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 […]
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Inspired by Psalm 95, verses 1-2 Reading for Third Sunday of Lent, Year A, and 25th Sunday of Pentecost, Year A Sing for joy! Shout aloud in thanksgiving for the permanence of the Eternal One. Stand firm in faith, grateful for our unshakable foundation. Give thanks with music and song.
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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 to […]
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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 […]
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(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 prayer Allelujia! Amen! Layers […]
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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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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 […]
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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 […]
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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.
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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 […]
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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:
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