Carol Penner

All We Desire Call to Worship

This is what we desire:

Your love breaking down barricades of hatred.

Your peace melting permafrosted hearts.

Your joy cascading over bleak resignation.

Your patience bending the world slowly.

Your gentleness permeating even the most impermeable.

Your goodness towering above all evils.

Your kindness embracing our fear.

Your faith moving mountains.

Your spirit, God, is all we desire. 

Be with us in this hour of worship. Amen.

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Divine Default Settings

In our remote control world

advertisements compete to control

body, mind, thoughts.

Pop-ups telling us how

to look, walk, eat, buy.

Telling us who to be, what to see

who to fear, what to wear

how to think, where to shop.

Stop. Why?

Your spirit, a divine virus checker

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The Innkeeper: An Epiphany Poem

They were grateful lodgers,

considering the humble accommodations.

We did the best we could,

the place full up,

our stable the last corner we had.

Mary, who had a baby coming,

wanting only peace and privacy,

was happy with anything.

It was a birth like any other,

the mother spent, the baby crying,

the father bewildered.

I gave her swaddling clothes,

the ones my Daniel used.

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A Prayer of Blessing for Labour Day

Bless the work of our hands, O God.
Bless the hands that work the land;
hands that move earth, plant seeds and harvest,
hands with callouses and dirty fingernails, strong hands. 

Bless the hands that use machines;

hands that drive cars, trucks and forklifts,

hands on computer keyboards, capable hands.

Bless the hands that make things;

hands that manufacture and create,

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Waiting for God

We are waiting for your presence, God–

patient, like a lover sitting by the telephone

waiting for the voice of their beloved;

attentive as a farmer watching clouds for rain

waiting for the parched soil’s relief;

intent as a child standing by the road

waiting for the parade to appear;

empty as a satellite dish scanning the heavens

waiting for a message from the stars;

poised as the still arms of a windmill

waiting for the wind’s inspiration;

open as the wide sand beach

waiting for the tide’s embrace.

Come, Lord Jesus.

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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

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