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”
Author Archives: carolhprickett
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”
A Christmas Eve Prayer
Holy one, God made flesh, before the wonder of this night we stand amazed.
Prayers of the People: Almost Christmas
Holy God, we know you are with us each moment.Nothing we say in our prayers can surprise you.Yet we come to you in prayer anyway,not to keep you informed,but to wedge open a space in our hearts,for us to feel your presence,and know your great love.
Prayers of the People: Stubborn Joy
Holy God,We come before you this morning, With hearts that are heavy with worry,But also stubbornly joyful,Carrying sparks of your joyThat refuse to be put out. We dare to pray Not just for things to be okay,Not just for things to be a little better,But for joy,Pure joyFor your people.
Deep Well Worship 