I frequently hear pastors say that while their congregations love sermon series, they themselves love the rich resources–preaching helps, liturgy, podcasts, commentaries, and more–curated around the Revised Common Lectionary. The great news for those pastors is that you don’t have to choose between the lectionary and sermon series. With a little pastoral attention and creativity,Continue reading “How to Create Your Own Sermon Series from the Revised Common Lectionary”
Author Archives: carolhprickett
All Day: a Confession of Sins for Maundy Thursday
Forgive us, Lord Jesus,because we have betrayed youin a thousand mindless ways. All day we workwithout working for your kingdom. All day we talkwithout talking about your love. All day we eat and drinkwithout remembering your goodness. Now the day is nearly over, and we cannot change what we have doneor left undone. But we doContinue reading “All Day: a Confession of Sins for Maundy Thursday”
Confession Cycle: Salve-ation
These unison confessional prayers were created to accompany the Lenten sermon series “Salve-ation: A Lent for Healing and Wholeness.” You are welcome to use or adapt these liturgies for worship, with credit. When printing these liturgies, please use the following credit line: “Prayer by Rev. Carol Holbrook Prickett.” Week 1: Refuge God of mercy, weContinue reading “Confession Cycle: Salve-ation”
Call to Worship Cycle: Salve-ation
These opening words for worship were created to accompany the Lenten sermon series “Salve-ation: A Lent for Healing and Wholeness.” The bolded words are spoken by the congregation. You are welcome to use or adapt these liturgies for worship, with credit. When printing these liturgies, please use the following credit line: “Prayer by Rev. CarolContinue reading “Call to Worship Cycle: Salve-ation”
Salve-ation: A Lent for Healing and Wholeness
Feeling wounded, parched, or disconnected in this challenging season? This sermon series, which follows the Revised Common Lectionary for Lent Year C, offers a balm for the burned and burned out by drawing close to the grace of experiencing God. While “salve” and “salvation” come from different root words, the English confluence offers us aContinue reading “Salve-ation: A Lent for Healing and Wholeness”
Liturgical Season Starter Pack
The liturgical seasons anchor our day-to-day lives in God’s eternal story. These elegant graphics introduce each of the major liturgical seasons (although, since they vary across traditions, feel free to pick and choose what you need). Share them on social media, add them to newsletters, turn them into bulletin covers, or print them out andContinue reading “Liturgical Season Starter Pack”
Ritual: A Communion Liturgy
Invitation to the Meal We come to this table,again and again,continuously. Sometimes this meal is tedious,a ritual we must get through before we can eat our real lunch. Still we come. Because sometimes this meal becomes for us—somehow, by some miracle—the very presence of Christ in our midst. The table is set, as it always is,forContinue reading “Ritual: A Communion Liturgy”
Prayers of the People: Psalm 23
This pastoral prayer is interspersed with the words of Psalm 23. It is especially powerful when read in two voices.
A Litany for Holy Week
This litany is appropriate for the closing of a Palm Sunday service. Today we have hailed you as our champion. Tomorrow distractions will overtake us, and our enthusiasm may fade. Help us keep our eyes on you this week: on Monday, when you clear the temple of greed and deceit;on Tuesday, when you challenge our comfort and ease;onContinue reading “A Litany for Holy Week”
A Celebratory Call to Worship for Palm Sunday
Lift up your palm branches, lift up your hearts—the Savior is coming to town.Sing Hosanna, sing praise—the Savior is riding in.Throw down your cloaks, throw down your lives—the Savior is drawing near.Join the parade, join the celebration—our Savior is here!
Palm Sunday Confession of Sins
Holy Christ, this is the week we cheer you on a Sunday, fail you on a Thursday, betray you on a Friday, and creep away on a Saturday. Yet this is the week you ride into danger for us, establish a new covenant of grace for us, pray for us, and die for us. AsContinue reading “Palm Sunday Confession of Sins”
Call to Worship Cycle: Meeting Jesus
These opening words for worship were created to accompany the Lenten sermon series “Meeting Jesus.” The bolded words are spoken by the congregation. You are welcome to use or adapt these liturgies for worship, with credit. When printing these liturgies, please use the following credit line: “Prayer by Rev. Carol Holbrook Prickett.” Week 1: “WhenContinue reading “Call to Worship Cycle: Meeting Jesus”
Confession Cycle: Meeting Jesus
These unison confessional prayers were created to accompany the Lenten sermon series “Meeting Jesus.” You are welcome to use or adapt these liturgies for worship, with credit. When printing these liturgies, please use the following credit line: “Prayer by Rev. Carol Holbrook Prickett.” Week 1: “When Satan Met Jesus” Merciful God, we come to youContinue reading “Confession Cycle: Meeting Jesus”
Meeting Jesus
Encounters with Christ can be mystifying, maddening, but ultimately, miraculous. This Lent series, following the Revised Common Lectionary for Lent Year A, follows seven characters whose meetings with Christ leave them forever changed, encouraging us to do the same. Week 1: “When Satan Met Jesus”Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11Every year, the RCL begins the season of LentContinue reading “Meeting Jesus”
A Communion Liturgy for New Year’s Day
Invitation to the MealFriends, the year may be new, but the story is old and worth retelling:Christ gave his life that we might live our ownknowing we are loved, forgiven, and freed.
A Litany of Commitment for the New Year
This litany of commitment is inspired by the concept of the Wesleyan Covenant Renewal service in the Methodist tradition. The list of commitments is generously adapted from the G-1.0304, “The Ministry of Members,” from the PCUSA Book of Order. If you serve a traditional PCUSA congregation, you may wish to substitute the list from theContinue reading “A Litany of Commitment for the New Year”
A Halloween Prayer
God of Wonders,who made both the dark and light,as we go out to play tonightwith the eerie, spooky, and frightening,we give thanks for the lightsthat shine in the darkness. For jack-o-lantern candleswinking in the night. For front doors held open to neighbors,pouring light onto the sidewalk. For light-up sneakerspeeping out from under costumes. For theContinue reading “A Halloween Prayer”
A Litany of Dedication: The Gifts of God
The gifts of God are all around us:in full grocery bags and crunchy leavesin costumed kids running around the neighborhoodin good coffee and warm socks and enough to go around.Praise God from whom all blessings flow! The gifts of God are right beside us:in a warm hello in the pew or in a chatin joyfulContinue reading “A Litany of Dedication: The Gifts of God”
Liturgical Wall Calendar 2022-2023
Looking for a liturgical calendar that looks like… well, a calendar? Look no further! These calendar pages can be printed out on 11×17 paper, or you can upload the PDFs to the printing company site of your choice for a more professional look. Want to customize the calendar with your church’s own special days andContinue reading “Liturgical Wall Calendar 2022-2023”
Call to Worship Cycle: Daring Dreams
These opening words for worship were created to accompany the Advent sermon series “Daring Dreams: Advent with the Prophet Isaiah.” The bolded words are spoken by the congregation. You are welcome to use or adapt these liturgies for worship, with credit. When printing these liturgies, please use the following credit line: “Prayer by Rev. CarolContinue reading “Call to Worship Cycle: Daring Dreams”
Deep Well Worship 