We welcome each other
and welcome the Spirit
and Jesus welcomes us
into the presence of God
and welcome the Spirit
and Jesus welcomes us
into the presence of God
Welcome In
A Collection of ‘Call to Worship’ resources for download (A5 booklet)
A Collection of ‘Call to Worship’ resources for download (A5 booklet)
Introducing: Call to Worship
The chatter fades. The people stop looking around to see who’s coming in late; eyes forward. Breath slows, a sigh of two. Ah… a moment of peace, a moment of expectation. How will we begin, this Sunday morning?
This moment is when we call the congregation to worship. Often we sing, but we need words too. We gather ourselves together away from our rush and lists or our pain and loneliness. We gather ourselves into the presence of God, in the company of each other.
The words in this Collection are written to help you with that. Most of them are based on specific Biblical texts (mainly Psalms and Ephesians). They are written in open, every-day language which people of all ages and abilities can connect with, while also honouring and remembering old familiar texts. They tend to be up-beat, focused on praise, focused on God, without denying life’s struggles.
Most of them are in the form of ‘call and response’, with one person leading and the congregation saying the lines in bold (easy enough to do on Powerpoint). Because everyone can both read and hear the words it’s a great opportunity to invite less experienced Readers to lead, including the young and the old and the shy. Or two readers could alternate sections, or just one reader can say it all. If the suggested format doesn’t suit you, change it. If it’s too long, just read part of it.
The chatter fades. The people stop looking around to see who’s coming in late; eyes forward. Breath slows, a sigh of two. Ah… a moment of peace, a moment of expectation. How will we begin, this Sunday morning?
This moment is when we call the congregation to worship. Often we sing, but we need words too. We gather ourselves together away from our rush and lists or our pain and loneliness. We gather ourselves into the presence of God, in the company of each other.
The words in this Collection are written to help you with that. Most of them are based on specific Biblical texts (mainly Psalms and Ephesians). They are written in open, every-day language which people of all ages and abilities can connect with, while also honouring and remembering old familiar texts. They tend to be up-beat, focused on praise, focused on God, without denying life’s struggles.
Most of them are in the form of ‘call and response’, with one person leading and the congregation saying the lines in bold (easy enough to do on Powerpoint). Because everyone can both read and hear the words it’s a great opportunity to invite less experienced Readers to lead, including the young and the old and the shy. Or two readers could alternate sections, or just one reader can say it all. If the suggested format doesn’t suit you, change it. If it’s too long, just read part of it.
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Great –
great is our God! Lift – lift up your head, look up! Look – glimpse the greatness hidden in the air carved in stone, curled in leaf Praise – drag gratitude up from the soles of your feet Beyond – utter astonishment shooting beyond your words exhausting your language splashing your imagining with infinity Wonder – simple awe jaw dropping heart stopping beauty Stand – stand in awe, drop everything for great is our God! |
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An Open-Eyes Prayer
As we come to church this morning, we look around We see this beautiful place, the solid beams of wood above us the colour of the glass, the light shining through the strong walls, each stone cut and laid exactly square. May this place draw us into you, loving God. As we come to church this morning, we look around We see these people, each so precious, each unique little ones, older ones, busy ones, tired ones each come to be part of something bigger than just ‘me’ May this community draw us into you, loving God. As we come to church this morning, we look inward We close our eyes, we rest a moment breathe in and out You, O God, are within us, beneath us, above us and around in the motes of dust that float in the air in the stillness that rests under all the noise In this place and in every place, draw us into you, loving God. Amen. |
A Morning Karakia
Āta mārie, e te Ariki I greet you this new day I te pōuri, ki te ao mārama Tihei mauri ora! Your light shines in the darkness Your dawn rises, fresh every morning I entrust you with this day and I trust you with tomorrow I know you with every fibre of my being I give to you every trouble and all the people I love Aroha mai, aroha atu Homai ki a mātou te taro, te kaha, te manawanui mo tēnei rā as all glory returns to you loving Lord Amen |