leadinginworship

Are you called to lead people in worship?

Are you looking for resources for a Christian service? Feel free to use or adapt my prayers, poems and litanies.  Some were written for worship services, some are more personal reflections on faith.  We encounter God in the stories of our lives; these writings grapple with the meanings of these encounters.  They are written in a Mennonite voice, for ears of all kinds.  It’s my delight to pass along these thoughts to you through this blog.  I’d love to hear from you.     Carol Penner

Using these resources:

Feel free to use these orally in a worship service, but if they are printed in a bulletin please use the following credit “Copyright Carol Penner  www.leadinginworship.com.”  Contact me for use in newsletters or printed resources, I am happy to grant permission but I would like to know how my writing is being used.

 

Gentle Shepherd Congregational Prayer

Gentle Shepherd:
Thank you for the way you have led us to green pastures and still water;
you’ve shown us beauty this week that has fed our souls.
The brilliant green of the budding trees glowing in the morning sun
the delicate symphony the birds sing each morning
the caress of the warm sun on our upraised cheeks,
the fragrance of lilac in the evening.

Some of us have walked through dark valleys this week,
and all of us know someone in a dark valley,
valleys of sickness, grief, uncertainty, fear.
You meet us there in the darkness, you protect us.
Our enemies are present in our lives;
forces that would take us away from you.
Pride, envy, hatred, selfishness,
all played out on an individual and corporate level.
We need your help in our lives.
You have heard the concerns of our hearts
that were spoken during our sharing time today,
and you heard the concerns that were unspoken,
which weight too heavily for us to share them.
We call on you for help; you guide us carefully.

You have provided for our basic needs this week,
thank you for the food we’ve eaten,
for the luxury of variety in our diet,
for the joy of cooking,
for the clean water that comes out of our taps.

You anoint us with oil,
you gift us with grace,
providing unexpected blessings over and over,
encouragement and new strength when we falter
tender compassion when we are spent.
Goodness and mercy is following us
all the days of our lives.
We give thanks for this good life,
for life and breath this day,
a day to praise and thank you,
we want to stay in your Presence forever.   Amen.

[after this prayer we moved straight into the song "Gentle Shepherd"]

Offering Prayer: over and over

Before the offering:  
This is the time where we make our love visible
through the giving of our tithes and offerings.
Let’s give with cheerful hearts.

After the offering:
Generous God;
Over and over your grace sustains us,
over and over your love provides for us,
over and over your arm steadies us.
We give you these gifts,
with gratitude and joy,
thankful that you are God over all.
Amen.

Call to worship from busy-ness

Here we are Lord!
We come from the busy-ness of our daily lives
from the hubbub of our work and play
from the hue and cry of the world around us,
we come to worship you.
In this hour, we long to meet you,
to feel your presence surrounding us,
enveloping us, loving us.
We long to settle into silence,
laying aside our worries and our cares,
aware of your presence around us,
before us, behind us, within us.
Come, Lord Jesus.

Kindred Spirits

Thank you God for the quick connection,
for the interest in another’s eyes
and sympathy that is not forced.
Thank you for simultaneous laughter
and a quiet moment,
for interests that connect,
and the spontaneous invitation, “We should…”
and the quick reply of “Let’s”.
Thank you for the light giddiness that comes
from encountering a kindred spirit.
In a world where friends seem few and far between,
God of friends,
thank you for finding me new friends
on the long journey.

Jesus makes breakfast: a poem about John 21:1-14

I could smell that charcoal fire a long way off,
while we were still rowing far from shore.
As we got closer I could smell the fish cooking,
I imagined I could hear it sizzling.
When you`re hungry, your mind works that way.

When the man by the fire asked us about our catch,
we held up the empty nets.
And his advice to throw the nets in once more
is something we might have ignored,
except for the smell of cooking fish…
this guy must know something  about catching fish!

The catch took our breath away;
never in my life have we pulled so many in one heave.
I was concentrating on the catch,
but John wasn`t even paying attention,
he was staring at the shore
as if his life depended on it.
Then he clutched my shoulder, crying
it is the Lord!

Suddenly, everything came into focus,
the man, the catch, the voice;
and nothing could stop me,
I had to be with the Master.

There were no words at breakfast,
beyond, pass the fish,
or I`ll have a bit more bread.
We sat there, eating our fill,
basking in the sunrise.
we didn`t have to say anything.
Jesus just smiled and served. 

 

Two roads to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-35

Narrator:  Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  And he said to them,

Jesus:  “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?”

Narrator:  They looked at each other, and then at the stranger.  Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him,

Cleopas:  “Actually, it’s none of your business. 

Disciple:  Can’t you see we are overcome with sadness.  Please let us grieve in peace.

Narrator:  And the men hurried on. They said to each other,

Cleopas:  I just want to be left alone, one day’s peace, is that too much to ask?

Palm Sunday congregational prayer - responsive

In our lives this week,
we turned away from your triumphal entry.
The words in our heads and on our lips have been,
“Can’t”  “Won’t”  “Never” “Impossible”.
Believing our problems are too deep for you,
we have underestimated your power
and stewed in our own misery.
We repent of this hardheartedness.
    Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Too often we pray only for ourselves and our own needs.
In spite of ourselves,
you walk a road straight to the heart of us.
You heal us, help us, hold us.
We gobble your comfort greedily and run away,
never returning to say “Thank you”.
Help us to be thankful for your presence in our lives.
    Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You place people in our road
who are in desperate need of your good news,
and we have walked by on the other side.
Or we’ve said, “We’ll help them tomorrow,
when we have more time
or more money
or more something.”
Help us to be your hands and feet in this world.
    Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of grace, we long to be dear disciples,
washing each other’s feet.
We long to be faithful companions,
awake in the darkest hour.
We long to follow in your footsteps,
even if they lead to crosses on a barren hillside.
These are the desires of our hearts.
    Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Easter congregational prayer

God of the bright and morning star,
God of the rising sun,
God of darkness banished,
we praise and worship you!
For empty tombs:  thank you!
For disciples running with good news:  thank you!
For your presence, alive, powerful, resurrected:  thank you!
We celebrate your victory over death,
over all the powers that would defeat us.

Help us to grasp resurrection;
to understand its power,
to see its force at work in our world,
overturning evil empires,
changing the hatred within us,
moving the world slowly, forcefully,
bending us towards love and truth.

On this day of great gladness
empower us to be your ambassadors,
proclaiming good news.
Good news in our kitchens and living rooms,
good news in the offices and workshops
good news in the fields and factories
Help us to be that good news,
walking softly on this good earth
caring gently for all people,
living hopefully into your kingdom.

Today we think of all who are grieving, especially…[name those who are grieving]
and for the sick and dying….[name those who are ill]
for places in the world that are torn by war and bloodshed…[name countries at war]
In this world of broken hopes and dreams
we catch sight of your kingdom come,
in the person of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns in us forever.  Amen.

 

Easter call to worship

On this Easter morning of now done darkness
we lift our hearts with praise,
we open our lives with joy!
We thank you for our Saviour, the Light of the world
who has brought death to death, and life to life.
We come into your presence with singing,
our hearts echoing the chorus of the ages,
“Hosanna!  Alleluia forever and ever!
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Good Friday congregational prayer

We come gingerly to prayer on this Good Friday
holding the pieces of our broken world.
So much is ruined and spoiled,
so much hatred and anger,
so many acts of violence.
Our eyes turn to the cross
as evidence of our sinfulness,
crucifying even the one who loved us most and best.

There is no talk today of who is greatest
no talk of triumph and victory.
Instead we stand quietly here at the foot of the cross,
joining the few friends who stand in silent witness.
In this solemn hour,
as we remember the death of our Saviour,
crack open all that is hard within us,
every place that is self-satisfied and self-serving,
every attitude that is superior and smug.

We come before you as your broken people,
penitent, sorrowful, anguished. 
Our comfort lies in words spoken at death’s door;
Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.