Author Archives: carolhprickett

A Prayer for New Elders

This prayer is appropriate for an ordination/installation service of elders or for the opening of a session meeting. God of grace,pour out your Holy Spirit on [names],that they may be your faithful elders in this church.  Give them creativity and sound judgment,wisdom and courageto order the life of the churchin obedience to your Word. HelpContinue reading “A Prayer for New Elders”

Communion Liturgy for John 12:1-8

Invitation to the Table Jesus was often found at the dinner table. Eating with friends, eating with sinners, eating with hypocrites and holy men, eating with disciples and traitors. And now he joins us here, at this table, to eat with us.  All are welcome at this table, because Jesus welcomes all.  The Great PrayerContinue reading “Communion Liturgy for John 12:1-8”

Confession Cycle: Walking the Hard Road

These unison confessional prayers were created to accompany the Lenten sermon series “Walking the Hard Road: When Faith is Challenged.” 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 We are OfferedContinue reading “Confession Cycle: Walking the Hard Road”

Call to Worship Cycle: Walking the Hard Road

These opening words for worship were created to accompany the Lenten sermon series “Walking the Hard Road: When Faith is Challenged.” 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.Continue reading “Call to Worship Cycle: Walking the Hard Road”

Walking the Hard Road: When Faith is Challenged

The season of Lent grew from a strengthening period of preparation for baptism and entry into the Christian life, acknowledging that it is not always an easy life. Using scriptures from the Revised Common Lectionary, Lent Year C, this sermon series invites us to look deeper into the challenges our faith may face along theContinue reading “Walking the Hard Road: When Faith is Challenged”

Affirmation: Gospel (Second Helvetic Confession)

The Second Helvetic Confession is one of twelve statements of faith from our Book of Confessions, composed in 1561 by Heinrich Bullinger, a Reformed minister serving in Zurich, Switzerland during the emergence of Swiss-German Reformed Protestantism. The following is excerpted from the longer confession.

Affirmation: Sanctification (Shorter Westminster Catechism

The Westminster Confession of Faith, one of twelve statements of faith from our Book of Confessions, was developed between 1643 and 1649 to settle theological disputes between the English government and the Church of England. These questions come from the Shorter Catechism, designed by a prominent Cambridge mathematician for children to memorize and repeat. TheContinue reading “Affirmation: Sanctification (Shorter Westminster Catechism”

An Exam Week Prayer

Jesus, Rabbi, Teacher, we pray for disciples, learners of all kinds. We pray for those who study, write, create, experiment, research.  We pray for those who face an uncertain future.  Remind our students that they are  fearfully and wonderfully made, worthy in your eyes beyond any test score, diploma, achievement, or award. Give them strength and perseverance, discernment, guidance, and rest.  Help them to do the most beautiful that is in them, and to give the rest into your waiting hands.  We pray in your most holy name. Amen. 

Confession Cycle: Promises

These confessional prayers were created to accompany the Advent sermon series “Promises: Awaiting Christ in a Weary World.” The bold text is spoken by the whole 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 HolbrookContinue reading “Confession Cycle: Promises”

Call to Worship Cycle: Promises

These opening words for worship were created to accompany the Advent sermon series “Promises: Awaiting Christ in a Weary World.” 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: Promises”

Promises: Awaiting Christ in a Weary World

Following the Revised Common Lectionary for Advent Year C, this four week Advent sermon series encourages your congregation to celebrate the promises God has kept, and also to keep faith in the promises God has yet to fulfill. Living in between kept and unkept promises takes great trust, and developing that trust is the majorContinue reading “Promises: Awaiting Christ in a Weary World”

Affirmation: Jesus (Brief Statement of Faith)

The Brief Statement of Faith, one of twelve statements of faith from our Book of Confessions, 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 modern language to express our storied faith. The below is an excerpt fromContinue reading “Affirmation: Jesus (Brief Statement of Faith)”

Confession Cycle: Where Our Treasure Is

These unison confessional prayers were created to accompany the stewardship sermon series Where Our Treasure Is. 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: “Worshipping God” Gracious Lord, we confessthat sometimes weContinue reading “Confession Cycle: Where Our Treasure Is”