Prayers/Litanies
Finger Labyrinth
Here is a procedure outline for using a finger labyrinth in a service of worship. It could be adapted to fit into a variety of places during a special service or on a Sunday morning. Length is approximately 2-3 minutes. I usually print the labyrinth graphic on the front cover of the service bulletin for easy access but it could also be printed as an insert. Scripture reading can be changed according to service theme and season of the year. Introduction: (Say something like this) – “I invite us all now into a time of...
read moreBaptism of Jesus 2019
Here is a full order of worship for the First Sunday after Epiphany (Baptism of Jesus), Year C, 2019. It uses a standard Sunday morning liturgy while adding the language of water and theme of immersion. Through prayer, meditative hymns, and a renewal of baptism after the sermon, the congregation is invited into the waters of Christ’s love and back out again. An altar arrangement and/or artwork with water elements could enhance the worship experience. WORDS FOR CONTEMPLATION: “All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to...
read moreGun Violence Vigil
Here is a simple liturgy for a Gun Violence vigil held at Charlotte Congregational Church, Charlotte, VT in December, 2018. The liturgy below may be used in a group, or simply printed on sheets for attendees to use on their own. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.“Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. – Jeremiah 8:11 ~ Welcome. The Judeo-Christian prophetic tradition teaches us that for real change to occur we need both lament and hope through God. Lament is the act of acknowledging what...
read moreTime to Heal
Here is a greeting and welcome or call to worship that could be used with call and response format. It may be more effective to simply have the worship leader recite it from memory. Time to Heal not the bells, but the ringing not the song, but the singing not the candles, but the fire burning Spirit who inspires not the words, but the tilling not the silence, but the stilling none here strangers, all are neighbors time to heal now from our labors © Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen, 2018 Kevin Goldenbogen is an ordained minister in the United Church of...
read moreWe Told Them Another Parable
For World Communion Sunday, 2018, Kevin Goldenbogen at his home congregation preached about the Parable of the Yeast from Matthew 13:33: “He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” (New Revised Standard Version). The brevity and density of this one sentence parable lends itself to repetition and so before the sermon, and because it was World Communion Sunday, they invited 7 readers to read the story in a different...
read moreCan We Call Evil (& Good & Joy)?
Here are hymn lyrics by Rev. Thomas Cary Kinder set to the hymn tune: Finlandia. Tom wrote this about his work: “The lyrics were inspired by the Amos passage particularly, but Psalm 90 and the Mark passage as well. Most of all it came out of the [10/8/2018] IPCC climate report and the new reality that we have at most 12 years to completely change our society to become the realm of God’s love and justice and well being for all.” You can also find the music and lyrics here formatted to print as a bulletin insert TOM...
read moreChrist’s Threads: A Litany for WCS
Here is a litany written for World Communion Sunday, 2018. It could easily be adapted for your setting and/or for another occasion. Leader: According to John’s Gospel, when Jesus was facing death, he took time to imagine unity and to pray using these words: Response: That they may all be one. Leader: Jesus’ vision was not for unity between some, but between all, and with God. Response: That they may all be one. Leader: It’s true: the unity Jesus imagined and sacrificed to make real, has not been fully...
read moreBlessing of the Backpacks 2018
Here is a cartoon drawn by Rev. Kurt Shaffert that contains a blessing of the backpacks written by Chrissy Rivers. Here is a link to .jpg file as well. KURT REQUESTS THAT YOU LET HIM KNOW WHEN YOU USE IT AT: shaffert@cartoonstudies.org © Rev. Kurt Shaffert (cartoon) & Chrissy Rivers (prayer), 2018 Kurt grew up in Vermont and has a real heart for small Vermont churches. When he was about 12 years old and active in the Castleton UCC, he...
read more2018 Blessing of the Sunday School
Below is a short and easily adaptable blessing for Sunday School students and teachers to be used at the start of a new school year, or whenever appropriate. 2018 Blessing of the Sunday School Curriculum ordered and received. Classrooms organized. Bulletin board updated. Paper, scissors and sticky glue ready at a moment’s notice. Christian Education team is on top of things. A new Sunday School year is about to begin. Some teachers here may be a bit nervous about what is being asked of them. Some students may be a bit nervous about...
read moreBlessing of the Graduates
In June, many congregations take time in worship to celebrate those who have reached academic milestones. Here is a short prayer that can be used or adapted for use in your setting. God of knowledge and reason, we pause at the end of this academic year to recognize and to celebrate those who have graduated from various programs and institutions. The names on our bulletin inserts, and on our tongues, represent a tremendous amount of commitment, dedication and hard work. [Invite congregation to call out names of graduates] Thank you for...
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