God of Creation:
the winter solstice sun is low,
crouched over the southern horizon.
All day long shadows pivot and turn
pointing to a longer night, the longest night.
And so we pray,
Lord, we are longing for light!
Our community has touched
the darkness of death this week,
as we said good-bye to our dear friend ___________.
Thank you that we who dwell in darkness
Great God,
this week we have been witnesses to the power of hope and resurrection;
slow motion explosions of green soundlessly changing our landscape,
blossoms blossoming pink, tulips tulip-ing their brilliant colours,
opening their mouths to the warmth of the sun.
We find ourselves opening up too in these warm days,
opening our windows, turning our faces upward, breathing deeply.
The fragrance of spring permeates our world,
and we give you thanks for the blessing of life renewed.
We pray for our government;
New life beckons,
peace holds out its arms!
Begin your week
knowing that you are walking
Colossians 1:18-20 and
Jesus, we come to worship today
beginners in the school of beginning.
You are the firstborn of the dead,
herald of hope in despair,
bringer of light after a long season of darkness.
Begin a new thing in us today,
new ways of thinking,
new ways of living,
new ways of being a reconciling community.
We pray this together
as people of peace,
as a people longing for peace, your peace,
peace that passes understanding. Amen.
God of Slumber,
we go to bed
trusting in your arms
to hold the world close,
knowing that you
will whisper words of love
in our ears
as we sleep.
Amen
Accept these humble gifts we pray
and in our hearts forever stay.
With these gifts may You bring peace
that suffering, want and war may cease.
Amen.
Creator God,
thank you that we are a connected people.
We are connected in ways
other generations could never have imagined;
connected with wires and radio waves,
fibre optic cables and the internet,
connected with roads and train tracks
and airline flight plans.
We are more connected with each other
than at any other time in history and yet…
something isn’t right.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon us
bringing good news to the oppressed,
proclaiming liberty to the captives,
releasing the prisoners.
Great Redeemer, we need your good news
for all of us who are captive to addictions.
Good news for people who are addicted to alcohol or drugs.
Good news for people who are addicted to gambling.
Good news for people who are addicted to tobacco or food.
Good news for people who are addicted to pornography.
Good news for people who are addicted to work.
Grant liberty to all who are bound by the chains of addiction.
Thank you God for this amazing world,
that is both diverse and complex.
Thank you for a world that includes snowy tundra and desert,
that includes rocky mountains and tropical beaches,
that includes icy lakes and warm oceans,
that includes cold winds and warm breezes.
Thank you that the world is not all the same
and that this biodiversity works together.
Thank you for our amazing families,
that are both diverse and complex
You know our relationships inside out,
you know that we have family we love,
family we tolerate, family we can hardly stand.
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
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