Special Sundays/Services
“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 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 moreAsh Wednesday 2021
In the COVID-19 era, the very tactile and personal liturgy for Ash Wednesday poses unique challenges for video worship. Below is a liturgy we developed for 2021 that has been translated for the screen into the following format: 20 minute service will be recorded in advance, rendered into a worship video, and viewed by “share screen” option that is streamed simultaneously through Zoom and YouTube Live. During the Imposition of Ashes, we will pause the video and go live. This will allow us to see one another as we wipe ashes on...
read moreService of Lament and Healing
This Service of Lament and Healing is available for pastors and other churches who would like to take time to grieve and remember those who have died of the COVID-19 virus, as well as passing of John Lewis, Elijah McClain and people of color who have been victims of violence at the hands of police and others. Created as a Sunday worship service, the liturgy includes scripture from Psalms and Romans and an excerpt from Joanna Macy’s book “Pass It On: Five Stories That Can Change the World”. Music under the direction of Peter Amidon include,...
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 moreEaster Eggs in a Basket
Eggs in a Basket to Tell the Easter Story I have used 8 eggs, not the traditional dozen (it’s what I had at my house) The plan is to tell part of the story and then invite the children to guess what might be in the eggs that represent the story I have just shared. Have fun!! Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem: Egg 1 – An antique cardboard Easter egg – inside is a coat (from a Mary Poppins doll), a piece of spider plant (to represent the palms), and a minitaure porcelain stallion. Jesus overturning the tables in the temple:...
read moreThe Passion of Jesus Christ According to Matthew: for 5+ Readers & 1 Cantor
A script written for for Palm/Passion Sunday 2020 to be enacted via video worship. Cast can be scaled up or down as needed. Cast 2 Narrators Judas 2 Disciples Jesus Peter Pilate High Priest Servant girls Cantor Crowd: All Cross Draper Props Cross Black shroud All cast members dressed in black The Passion of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:14-27:66) [Cast is seated on chancel, and on lower level High Priest, Disciple 1 and Narrator 2 stage left. Narrator 1 and Jesus stage right. Cantor and Disciple 2 below, distanced.] Narrator 1: Then one of...
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