This affirmation is adapted from The Brief Statement of Faith, one of twelve statements of faith from our Book of Confessions. The Brief Statement of Faith is the product of the two major branches of the Presbyterian church reuniting in 1983. It was designed for use in worship and employs modern language to express our storiedContinue reading “Affirmation: Our Response (Brief Statement of Faith)”
Author Archives: carolhprickett
A September 11th Prayer
Nail-Scarred Christ, we lift into your heart this day the scars we have bourne for long years now. We lift to you the grieving, still. We lift to you the wounded, still. We lift to you the frightened, still. We lift to you those who work for healing, still. We lift to you those whoContinue reading “A September 11th Prayer”
A Prayer for the Solar Eclipse
Creator God, we thank you for stars and sun and moon, the heavens you wove together and set dancing. We thank you for scientists and teachers, those who stand in the gap between your mystery and our minds who help us know more fully what you have done. We thank you for the gift of wonder, for marvels to shake us from complaceny, for curiosity that brings us together. Remind us that the darkness is as light to you, and that you have created us as your miracles too. Help us to look on those around us with the same joy and wonder. All glory, praise, and honor to you, now and forever. Amen.
Prayers of the People: Joys and Sorrows All Mixed Up
Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer God, We come before you this morning with full hearts, with joys and sorrows all mixed up together. We rejoice in the beauty and miracle and majesty of creation. We rejoice that our children can go to school, and we rejoice in the teachers who give their time and energy to serveContinue reading “Prayers of the People: Joys and Sorrows All Mixed Up”
Affirmation: The People of God (Brief Statement of Faith)
The Brief Statement of Faith is one of twelve statements of faith from our Book of Confessions. Printed here is an abridged version of its full form. This affirmation is the product of the two major branches of the Presbyterian church reuniting in 1983. The Brief Statement was designed for use in worship and employsContinue reading “Affirmation: The People of God (Brief Statement of Faith)”
Prayers of the People: In the Summer
Believing we have an ever-present companion in God, who laughs with us in joy and weeps with us in pain, let us share our prayers with God.
Prayers of the People: Trinity Sunday
On this day, Living God, we celebrate that you are not distant from us,not trapped in a temple or secluded in the heavens,but right here with us, in every time and place.
Prayers of the People: Ascension
Jesus, friend and saviortoday we remember your ascensionnot as the moment that you left usbut as the moment you promised to be with us foreverthrough the Holy Spirit, our guide and companion.
Affirmation: New Life (Confession of 1967)
Our affirmation of faith is excerpted from the Confession of 1967, the first contemporary American creed. The Confession of 1967 draws heavily on the idea of reconciliation as it aims to address the role of the church in the modern world. The following is adapted from the longer confession.
Jesus Affirmation for Easter (Brief Statement of Faith)
The Brief Statement of Faith is one of twelve statements of faith from our Book of Confessions. Printed here is an excerpt from the full creed. This affirmation is the product of the two major branches of the Presbyterian church reuniting in 1983. The Brief Statement was designed for use in worship and employs modernContinue reading “Jesus Affirmation for Easter (Brief Statement of Faith)”
Maundy Thursday Blessing
Jesus said, “Eat this bread and drink this cup In remembrance of me.” On the cross, a criminal hung beside him. The criminal said, “Jesus, Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus promised that he would. We remember the story. We make love our first memory– our foundational memory. We remember weContinue reading “Maundy Thursday Blessing”
In Remembrance (A Maundy Thursday Communion Liturgy)
Tonight, at this table, we remember we remember another table, in another place and time not a sanctuary but an upper room where friends gathered to celebrate their sacred meal the Passover and to remember what God had done for them. We remember the beginning before the beginning where there was nothing chaos and voidContinue reading “In Remembrance (A Maundy Thursday Communion Liturgy)”
Communion: Led by the Spirit (Lent I)
Invitation to the Meal We come to this meal today, as Lent begins. We will return to it as Lent concludes. Between now and then we will wander far, and find ourselves at many tables. But no matter where we go, or whom we meet, we remember that we are always welcome here. Whether weContinue reading “Communion: Led by the Spirit (Lent I)”
Going Deeper (Ash Wednesday Prayer of Confession)
Holy one, forgive us for skimming the surface:
Prayers of the People: Gratitude and Grace
Now, as children of our heavenly creator,let us bring our prayers to God.
Thanksgiving Over the Water for One Who Has Come to Baptism Late in Life
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Prayers of the People: MLK Day
This prayer was written by the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. around 1956 and preserved in Howard Carter’s The Prayer Tradition of Black People (1977). It has been lightly adapted for inclusive language (primarily changing “man” to “human”). Other adaptations or insertions are noted by brackets.
Prayers of the People: Touches of Grace
We come to God in prayerbelieving that prayer is not futileor without resultsbut that in opening our hearts to Godwe find the courage and strength to keep workingthat we are restoredre-filled with God’s love and peace,so that we can share it with others.Prayer transforms us,and through us,the whole world.
A Christmas Eve Blessing
May the angels’ song never fade for you may it ring in your ears until you too lift your voice.
A Christmas Eve Communion Liturgy
The italic sections of this liturgy are from the hymn Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, which uses the text of a second or third century Syriac communion liturgy. The entire liturgy may be spoken, but it is also effective to sing the stanzas of the hymn. The Invitation Tonight, heaven and earth meet. Tonight, a backyard shedContinue reading “A Christmas Eve Communion Liturgy”
