This week we will be looking at the story of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 . . . AND we will be worshiping with board members from the Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Interests. (I wish I could say that I plan stuff like this–but I don’t.) Below is the…
Here are the prayers we will use this week for our hymn sing worship service. Blessings to you all as you plan, lead, and live worship this week–and beyond. Call to Worship (from Psalm 63:1-5) You, God, are our God, earnestly we seek you; we thirst for you, we long for you with our whole…
What can I say? Wednesday was Ash Wednesday. So the Wednesday Worship Pieces got moved to Friday. And that’s how life goes sometimes. Both of these pieces will work well with general Lenten themes, I think. So they wouldn’t necessarily have to be used this first week of Lent. First, an offertory prayer: God of…
Here is a simple blessing based on this week’s Gospel reading: May the Spirit be upon you as you proclaim good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. Go with power and go in peace. Earlier today I read over a sermon I wrote based…
If you are looking for material connected to this week’s lectionary readings, there is a call to worship and benediction that go along with the feeding of the 5000+ here. Tomorrow is the funeral for the 6-year-old son of two of my college friends. I have been holding them in deep prayer this week, while…
I’m loosing track of the days during these summer months–thus a “weekly” worship piece instead of a “Wednesday” worship piece. I imagine I am not the only pastor preparing for a summer wedding (or two or more). My favorite benediction for weddings comes from Ephesians 3:16-19. I pray that out of God’s glorious riches you…
You can find some additional worship pieces for Trinity Sunday on the Index page. And don’t miss the sermon in which I explain the Trinity in 1700 words or less. Here are today’s offerings: Communion Prayer Creator God, we give you thanks for the grain farmers, the bread bakers, the grape growers, the juice makers.…
This benediction is inspired by one of the lectionary readings for this week: Acts 10:44-48. It is my prayer for each of you. May you go out into the world with your eyes and your ears and your hearts wide open, that you may be astounded by the gifts of the Holy Spirit; gifts poured…
Here is the order of worship for our Christmas Eve service this year. This is basically a “Lessons and Carols” service–though not with all of the traditional readings. We will be using a variety of translations for the scripture readings, because sometimes you just need to hear King James English. (And sometimes you don’t.) Christmas…
Here’s a brief piece–a benediction we will use this week as we reflect on the story of the Exodus: Go out into the world to join God in the work of love, of peace, of justice. Take in the breath of life. Take off your shoes. Know that you are ever in the presence of…
