Prayers/Litanies
“Star Words” A Service
Below is a complete order of worship created by Rev. Leigh McCaffrey for Sunday worship at Barre Congregational Church, Barre, VT on January 9, 2022 (The Feast of Epiphany). The order ends with the distribution of “star words” to the entire congregation. What are star words? See description below from https://www.ucc.org/worship-way/festival-of-epiphany-year-c/ (accessed 12/8/22), written by Debbie Gline Allen, Commissioned Minister of Christian Formation, who serves as Minister of Faith Formation for the Southern New England...
read moreHope Fund: Epiphany Resources 2023
Promoting the HOPE Fund During Epiphany 2023 As the HOPE Fund committee winds down our fundraising efforts and hands the baton to the HOPE Fund Discernment Team to award grants, we are asking congregations who have not yet contributed to the HOPE Fund to be part of this historic effort in the Vermont Conference. It would be so exciting to have 100% of our congregations participate in some way as we prepare for 2023, and the projects that the HOPE fund will support! Perhaps you have a traditional year-end fundraiser, or usually designate a...
read moreHope Fund: Advent Resources 2022
Promoting the HOPE Fund During Advent 2022 As the HOPE Fund committee winds down our fundraising efforts and hands the baton to the HOPE Fund Discernment Team to award grants, we are asking congregations who have not yet contributed to the HOPE Fund to be part of this historic effort in the Vermont Conference. It would be so exciting to have 100% of our congregations participate in some way as we prepare for 2023, and the projects that the HOPE fund will support! Perhaps you have a traditional year-end fundraiser, or usually designate a part...
read moreOn Our Knees
The prayer-poem below was written in the same week that a leaked opinion draft authored by Supreme Court Justice Alito revealed that Roe v. Wade was likely to be overturned in June 2022. It was delivered at Charlotte Congregational Church, United Church of Christ on Mother’s Day, 5/8/22. Dear God, One needn’t be a mother just a woman or a girl to feel the slap, the lash across the back that drives us to our knees. “Down,” it demands, “fool that you are, weak, stupid untrustworthy and lustful.” The secret is that down here...
read moreHope Fund: Pentecost Resources
On November 13th, 2021, a special meeting of the Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ enthusiastically approved the creation of a visionary initiative called the Hope Fund. At that meeting the people of the Vermont Conference also approved the creation of a fundraising team to support this effort. Your fundraising team: Paul Sangree, Elise Foster, Kevin Goldenbogen, Elissa Johnk, Leigh McCaffrey, Andy Nagy-Benson (chair) On Pentecost Sunday, June 5th, 2022 (or another Sunday of your choice), we invite your church to hold a...
read moreLitany for Regathering
After almost 17 months of worshipping outside of our church sanctuary due to COVID-19, we regathered inside once again on 7/4. Towards the beginning of our service, we’ll pray together with the litany below. It is easily adapted to use in your setting. Re-Gathering Litany & Lord’s Prayer One: Since last we gathered in this sanctuary as a congregation, so much has happened. Many: 2 Easters and one Christmas have come and gone. Jobs have changed. Neighbors have moved. 2 classes have graduated. Babies have been born. Some of...
read moreRolling the Stones Away
The Spring and Summer of 2020 brought us heaviness: pandemic, financial distress, deepening political divisions, and the death of George Floyd which further exposed police violence against black and brown people and rekindled the resistance against systemic racism and white privilege. Any one of these would be heavy. Together they are weighing us down and threatening to crush us. This special service is a liturgical response to the heaviness and is intended to inspire hope and “roll the stones away.” LINK TO VIDEO HERE:...
read moreLitany of Remembrance: Memorial Day 2020
Based on John 15 In the Gospel of John we hear the story of how Jesus, in the final hours before his death, taught his followers some essential truths. This is part of what he taught them: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” On this Sunday before Memorial Day, we pause to remember the self-giving love of Jesus Christ that he modeled for us and which has been imitated in the self-giving love of those men and women who died in...
read moreLitany in the Time of COVID-19
The litany below was written in a time of COVID-19. It can be used as is or adapted for use as a call to worship, opening prayer, pastoral prayer, etc. Let us pray: Paul wrote these words so long ago: “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. [Rom. 8:26-NIV] And surely, we are the ones without words, silent before the immensity of the pandemic. We offer our despair at the suffering of millions of people all over the world We offer our grief for the many thousands who have died...
read moreEaster Dinner Devotional
A Simple Order for an Easter Devotional Around the Table Call to the Table One: A tomb sealed with a stone is now empty! A people in darkness are bathed in light. A moment of violence has been transformed by Love, with love, for the love of everyone forever. Hallelujah!! Lighting of the Candle Scripture Reading (select one or both): Isaiah 25:6-9 Luke 24:13-49 Easter Dinner Grace (choose one): This table is set with good things. Feed us so that we may feed others! AMEN. Risen Christ, for our wounds and sores, make us resilient. For our...
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