Carol Penner

Call Congregational Prayer

Thank you God for the glorious weather we are having;
summer is still calling us to come out and play.
Tall trees are still filled with dark green leaves with just a hint of yellow,
combines are harvesting long golden windrows,
there is a fragrance of mint in the garden,
we’re enjoying the golden taste of fresh corn,
and the cool breezes on days that still feel hot.
You extend a call to live each day to the fullest.
Jesus, we also hear your call to love, expressed again and again
through many kind hands and warm hearts around us.
Thank you for giving us intricate networks of family and friends and church 
who embody your love, and invite us to love in return.
Open our eyes to this call, which is not narrow, but as wide as the world.

Read More »

God of Hope Call to worship

God of Hope,
we come into your presence this morning
with confidence that you will meet us here.
Where there is sadness, bring joy;
Where there is tiredness, bring refreshment;
Where there is despair, bring a renewed sense of hope.
Let this place be a sanctuary,
a safe haven for us,
a home for holy words and songs and prayers
as we devote ourselves to you.
We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Read More »

Creation Care

I’m another in the long line of admirers.
Eve and Adam admiring the garden,
Abram staring, open-mouthed, at the stars,
Elijah running through a beautiful rain,
and David singing, always singing on the hillsides.
God’s praises being sung through the ages,
praise to a Creator whose work stands the test of time. 

This time, it’s my turn.
I close the computer, open the back door
and step into the garden.
My heart is a sounding board
for the night sky, deep with stars.

Read More »

Knit Together or Frayed: A Poem about Relatives

Close can be comfortable
and close can be uncomfortable.
Knit together in our mother’s wombs,
we emerge and…
the fabric of the family holds us tight.
Loved and cherished from a young age,
we feel close-knit and strongly supported.
Or the opposite.
Abused, neglected or abandoned in childhood,
we can feel frayed at the edges,
unravelled at key points,
at loose ends in the world. 

Read More »

All Yours Call to Worship

Our call to worship is from Psalm 24:1-2
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas,  and established it on the rivers.  (NRSV) 

Let`s pray:
We are yours Lord,
life and breath, all belong to you.
Thank you for this time today,
make it holy and precious,
so that all we say, all we sing, all we think and all we do
will give glory and honour to you.  Amen.

Read More »

All for You Call to Worship

God of all people:
We pray…it’s to you
We sing…it’s for you
We read scripture…to learn about you
We come together as your church…following your call.
As we gather in your house
we dedicate this time to you,
with all our heart and soul
and mind and strength.
In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

Read More »

Crossroads Congregational Prayer

We come to prayer this morning
at the crossroads of summer and winter.
Summer still shines, asters blooming with yellow and orange vividness,
warm days calling us to walk outside and enjoy the sun,
fresh fruit and vegetables still fill our tables and delight our tastebuds.
And yet, the nights grow cold, we see our breath in the morning,
yellow and red creep into the leaves of the trees,
the days get shorter, the earth tilts
and there’s no stopping the coming of winter….

Read More »

Kingdom Come Offering Prayer

We worship you with our words,
and with our songs, Lord,
and we praise you with our money.
Everything we have is yours,
and these offerings are for the work of your kingdom come,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Amen.

Read More »

Windy Day Call to Worship

God in heaven,
you are the God of rushing winds
swirling over mountains and across the plains,
the God of mighty gusts
driving clouds and current around the earth.
The winds of time are yours,
a century is but a moment in your sight.
This morning we ask for the wind of your Spirit
to blow through your church,
stirring us with your courage,
moving us with your compassion,
filling us with your hope.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Read More »

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

Recent Posts

Posts By Month
Categories
  • Popular Tags

    Your browser doesn't support the HTML5 CANVAS tag.