Category Archives: Liturgy

Prayers of the People: Advent Peace

Holy, beloved God,we come before you seeking strength,and comfort,someone to help us bear the load,or to give us a load worth bearing. In our praying give us open ears to hear your assurancesand open hearts to feel your peace,even as we say together: God of peace,hear our prayers.

Slowing Down the Season: Advent Candlelighting Liturgies

These liturgies were developed alongside a sermon series, “Christmas Without the Crazy.” They lift up the value of slowing down and focusing on the simple gifts of Christ in a busy season. The pieces of each liturgy may be split among groups as desired.

Call to Worship Cycle: Christmas Without the Crazy

These opening words for worship were created to accompany the Advent sermon series “Christmas without the Crazy.” 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.” WeekContinue reading “Call to Worship Cycle: Christmas Without the Crazy”

Confession Cycle: Christmas Without the Crazy

These confessional prayers were created to accompany the Advent sermon series “Christmas Without the Crazy.” 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 Holbrook Prickett.” Week 1:Continue reading “Confession Cycle: Christmas Without the Crazy”

Affirmation: Church (Second Helvetic Confession)

Our Affirmation of Faith is adapted from the Second Helvetic Confession, composed in 1561 by Heinrich Bullinger, a Reformed minister serving in Zurich, Switzerland during the emergence of Swiss-German Reformed Protestantism. It is known for its particular focus on the life of the church. This affirmation is excerpted from the longer confession.

Affirmation: Our Response (Brief Statement of Faith)

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)”

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)”

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)”