Archive - Page 54 of 71 - Leading in Worship

Graceful Life Congregational Prayer

July 25, 2012

Grace us, God, with your presence,
because sometimes things can be such a mess.
We try to live ordered organized lives
with good principles and lofty goals,
but then there we stand at the end of it;
our days scattered with broken dreams,
words that should not have been spoken,
actions we wish we could take back,
and many many things we did not do.
In the shattered life, in the fractured family,
in the falling apart world,

Canada Day Prayer

June 30, 2012

Thank you, God, for this piece of the world called Canada,
a slice of land broad and wide,
blessed with rivers and great lakes,
wide skies and great forests,
high mountains and gracious plains,
beautiful from sea to sea to sea.
Thank you for letting us live in this land,
even though we do not own it;
this land is your land,
which we use in trust for future generations.
Thank you for its rich history,
which includes the Inuit and Aboriginal and Metis peoples.

Gentle Shepherd Congregational Prayer

May 2, 2012

Gentle Shepherd:
Thank you for the way you have led us to green pastures and still water;
you’ve shown us beauty this week that has fed our souls.
The brilliant green of the trees glowing in the morning sun,
the delicate symphony the birds sing each morning,
the caress of the warm sun on our upraised cheeks,
the fragrance of honeysuckle in the evening.
Some of us have walked through dark valleys this week,
and all of us know someone in a dark valley,
valleys of sickness, grief, uncertainty, fear.
You meet us there in the darkness, you protect us.

Your Presence Call to Worship

April 26, 2012

Here we are Lord!
We come from the busy-ness of our daily lives
from the hubbub of our work and play
from the hue and cry of the world around us,
we come to worship you.
In this hour, we long to meet you,
to feel your presence surrounding us,
enveloping us, loving us.
We long to settle into silence,
laying aside our worries and our cares,
aware of your presence around us,
before us, behind us, within us.
Come, Lord Jesus.

Kindred Spirits

April 26, 2012

Thank you God for the quick connection,
for the interest in another’s eyes
and sympathy that is not forced.
Thank you for simultaneous laughter
and a quiet moment,
for interests that connect,
and the spontaneous invitation, “We should…”
and the quick reply of “Let’s”.
Thank you for the light giddiness that comes
from encountering a kindred spirit.
In a world where friends seem few and far between,
God of friends,
thank you for finding me new friends
on the long journey.

Jesus Makes Breakfast: A Poem about John 21:1-14

April 20, 2012

I could smell that charcoal fire a long way off
while we were still rowing far from shore.
As we got closer I could smell the fish cooking,
I imagined I could hear it sizzling.
When you’re hungry, your mind works that way.

When the man by the fire called out asking us about our catch,
we held up the empty nets.
And his advice to throw the nets in once more
is something we might have ignored,
except for the smell of cooking fish…
this guy must know something about catching fish!

Two Roads to Emmaus: A Reading with Luke 24:13-35

April 12, 2012

Narrator: Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them,

Jesus: “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?”

Narrator: They looked at each other, and then at the stranger. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him,

Cleopas: “Actually, it’s none of your business.

Disciple: Can’t you see we are overcome with sadness. Please let us grieve in peace.

Palm Sunday Confession

March 22, 2012

On this day when we remember your triumphal entry
we admit that we, too, have paid lip service to you,
but have not wanted to follow when the road is difficult.
The words in our heads have often been,
“Can’t,” “Won’t,” “Never,” “Impossible.”
Believing our problems too deep for you,
we have underestimated your power
and stewed in our own misery.
We repent of this hardheartedness.
God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bright Easter Congregational Prayer

March 22, 2012

God of the bright and morning star,
God of the rising sun,
God of darkness banished,
we praise and worship you!
For empty tombs: thank you!
For disciples running with good news: thank you!
For your presence, alive, powerful, resurrected: thank you!
We celebrate your victory over death,
over all the powers that would defeat us.

Help us to grasp resurrection;
to understand its power,

About Carol Penner

I am a Mennonite pastor currently teaching theology at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario. I’ve served congregations in Ontario and most recently, Alberta.

I love to write and to lead worship! If you are finding my writing helpful, I would love to hear from you! Feel free to use or adapt the material here, it is all written by me. If printing material, please credit “Copyright Carol Penner www.leadinginworship.com” (and say whether you modified it). If publishing, please contact me for permission. Contact me at carol@leadinginworship.com

Graceful Life Congregational Prayer

Canada Day Prayer

Gentle Shepherd Congregational Prayer

Your Presence Call to Worship

Kindred Spirits

Jesus Makes Breakfast: A Poem about John 21:1-14

Two Roads to Emmaus: A Reading with Luke 24:13-35

Palm Sunday Confession

Bright Easter Congregational Prayer

About Carol Penner

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