Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals (Zondervan, November 2010) by  Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Enuma Okoro.

The daily prayer resource Common Prayer includes prayers for every evening, morning, and midday that celebrate the Christian tradition and engage with the most pressing issues of our world today. At the Common Prayer website Common Prayer for Ordinary Radicals, there are also songs from various traditions, including African-American spirituals, traditional hymns, Mennonite gathering songs, and Taize chants. There’s a calendar to help remember saints and landmark dates in the struggle for peace and justice  (e.g. Malcom X, Japanese Internment, Kyoto protocol, etc) and there’s a collection of prayers for special occasions.

Check it out!

“Isn’t our God, our mission, our community worthy of more lyrical quality than we are offering so far?” writes author and pastor Brian McClaren.  Read his article here :  Letter to worship songwriters.

Psalms for All Seasons is a new collection published by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Faith Alive, and Brazos Press.  This volume contains multiple settings of each of the 150 psalms spanning a wide variety of musical styles.  Each psalm appears first in pointed chant setting followed by a variety of settings including responsorial, hymn paraphrases and song forms.

Pastor Sara Faulhafer has compiled Lent and Easter on-line worship resources to assist with worship planning. We were unable to upload the materials as an attachment, so they are included here for your use.

General Lenten Worship Planning

African-American lectionary resources

http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=256

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Lent guide

http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/lent-planning-guide

ELCA checklists, guide to planning liturgies, gospel acclamations

http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship/Planning/Lent.aspx http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship/Planning/Lent/Lent-Checklist.aspx

Why we don’t use Alleluias in Lent

http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship/Learning-Center/FAQs/Alleluias- During-Lent.aspx

Thomas Weitzel, ELCA Directory to extensive Lenten resources from Ash Wed. to the Great Vigil

http://www.liturgybytlw.com/LentDir.html

Congregational guides to spiritual disciplines

http://www .kingofpeace.org/resources/lent.pdf http://www .liturgybytlw .com/Lent/Discipln.html

General Lenten Worship Resources

Benedictions & blessings for Lent

http://processandfaith.org/resources/liturgy/season-lent

Candle extinguishing liturgies— somewhat like the reversal of Advent candle lighting

http://processandfaith.org/resources/liturgy/lenten-candle-liturgy http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=5689575&ct= 3715361

Carbon Fast for Lent: weekly reflection, Scripture, prayers

http://earthministry.org/programs/waipl/waipl-lenten-prayer-reflection-guide http://earthministry.org/resources/creation-devotions/lent

Celtic prayers & liturgies

http://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Lent.htm

Church of England resources for families and churches http://www.livelent.net/ (family & adult devotions) http://www.churchofengland.org/media/41155/tslent.pdf (Lent to Ash Wednesday)

Lenten liturgy from the Mennonite Church of Canada

http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/12928/_A_Litany_to_Begin_the_ Season_of_Lent.pdfLenten season, Holy Week & Easter liturgies, sermons and resources

http://www.spirit-net.ca/sermons/seasonalresources.php#lent http://www.easterincyberspace.com/

Lutheran liturgies

http://www .mtcarmellutheran.com/frenz/index.html#lent

Taize Lenten service guide

http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/chapel-for-lent-taize-worship

TraidCraft Justice & fair trade resources for Lent, Good Friday & Easter

http://www .traidcraft.co.uk/Resources/Traidcraft/Documents/PDF/General/church_easter_pack .pdf

Visual art suggestions http://engageworship.org (search tags: Ash Wed, Good Fri, Lent etc.)

http://ecva.org/congregations/resources/resources_lent.html http://www.experientialworship.com/home.html http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/visual-arts-in-lent-introduction http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/visual-arts-in-church-making-the- invisible-word-visible/

Ash Wednesday

African-American lectionary resources

http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=255

FAQs on Ashes from ELCA

http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship/Learning-Center/FAQs/Imposition-of- Ashes.aspx

Mennonite worship services

http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/2015/AshWednesday2005.pdf http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/13546/Ash_Wednesday_ Evening_Song_and_Prayer..pdf http://www .mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/12719/From_Our_Churc hes_-_Ash_Wednesday_Confessional_Prayers.pdf

Thomas Weitzel, ELCA complete liturgical service

http://www.liturgybytlw.com/Lent/AshWed.html

United Church of Canada liturgy & sermon

http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/b-ashwed.php

United Methodist resources: planning, hymns, preaching

http://www .gbod.org/site/c.nhLRJ2PMKsG/b.3879973/k.9C35/Lectionary_Planning_Helps_for_ Sundays.htm?override=yes&date=20110309

Holy Week

Children’s Holy Week service

http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/liturgies/friends.htm

More ideas for helping children enter into Lent & Holy Week

http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2011/01/observing-lent-and-celebrating- easter.html

Christian Resource Institute resources

http://www.cresourcei.org/cyholyweek.html

ELCA Holy Week planning checklist

http://www.elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship/Planning/Easter/Easter-Checklist.aspx

Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday Mennonite worship services

http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/13579/Look_at_the_Darkness,_ Giving_Birth_to_the_Sun.pdf

Palm/Passion Sunday

Children’s Choral Reading, Mennonite Church of Canada

http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/13996/Palm_Sunday_Choral_Rea ding.pdf

Hymn & choral suggestions

http://www .npm.org/Planning/yearb/passion.html http://lectionarysong.blogspot.com/2009/03/palm-sunday-april-5th-2009.html

Palm cross instructions

http://www .kingofpeace.org/palmcrosses/

Passion reading from the Gospel of Mark

http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/b-passion-narrative.php

Thomas Weitzel, ELCA complete liturgical service

http://www.liturgybytlw.com/Lent/PalmSun.html

Uniting Church in Australia (note seasonal differences in wording of the liturgy!)

http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/liturgies/main/index.php?ch_table=link4&PID=7&SID=&year =B

Maundy Thursday

Bass Mitchell’s liturgy

http://www.homiliesbyemail.com/Special/thursday/worship.txt

Children’s Resources

http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2011/01/year-holy-or-maundy-thursday-april.html

Church of England liturgy

http://www.oremus.org/liturgy/lhwe/mt.html http://www.churchofengland.org/media/41156/tspashw.pdf (Maundy Thurs & Good Friday)

Mennonite Church of Canada worship services

http://www .mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/14009/Shadows_of_the_ Cross.pdf http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/12976/The_Last_Supper_ A_Maundy_Thursday_Re-enactment.pdf http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/10722/Foothills_Maundy _Thursday.pdf http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/13562/Silent_Evening_M eal_and_Footwashing_for_Maundy_Thursday..pdf

Thomas Weitzel, ELCA complete liturgical service with Footwashing

http://www .liturgybytlw .com/Lent/MaunFW .html

without Footwashing

http://www .liturgybytlw .com/Lent/MaunThu.html

United Methodist resources

http://www .gbod.org/site/c.nhLRJ2PMKsG/b.3879973/k.9C35/Lectionary_Planning_Helps_for_ Sundays.htm?override=yes&date=20110421

Good Friday

Mennonite Church of Canada worship services

http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/14763/Into_Human_Hands.pdf http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/resourcecentre/FileDownload/12979/Were_You_There_ When_They_Crucified_My_Lord..pdf

Process & Faith liturgy (Process theology is a basic conceptual orientation that sees the universe as creative, interrelational, dynamic, and open to the future. It does not reflect a specific denomination or faith tradition.) http://processandfaith.org/resources/liturgy/good-friday-service

Thomas Weitzel, ELCA complete liturgical service

http://www .liturgybytlw .com/Lent/GoodFri.html

Holy Saturday/Great Vigil

Creighton University (Jesuit) liturgy

https://people.creighton.edu/~roc69903/liturgy/plan-triduum_vigil.html

Episcopalian liturgy

http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/EasterVigil.htm

Multimedia drama

http://ecva.org/wordimage/multimedia/easter_vigil/easter_vigil.htm

New Zealand liturgy

http://liturgy.co.nz/churchyear/vigil.html

Thomas Weitzel, ELCA, Notes

http://www.liturgybytlw.com/Lent/VigNotes.html

Stories

http://www.liturgybytlw.com/Lent/VigStory.html

Liturgy without baptism or reception of new members. (3 other variations of this service are available via the Lenten Directory) http://www .liturgybytlw .com/Lent/Vigil.html

United Methodist

http://www .gbod.org/site/c.nhLRJ2PMKsG/b.3879973/k.9C35/Lectionary_Planning_Helps_for_ Sundays.htm?override=yes&date=20110423

General Easter Season

Celtic prayers for the Easter Season

http://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Easter.htm

Christian Resource Institute background material

http://www.crivoice.org/cyeaster.html

Extensive list of resources: planning, services, visual arts

http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/easter-resource-guide

International reflections from the United Church of Christ

http://globalministries.org/resources/special-days/easter/

Presbyterian worship resources

http://www.pcusa.org/resource/eucharisteaster/ http://www.pcusa.org/resource/eucharistic-prayers-easter-b/

United Methodist extensive worship resources

http://www.gbod.org/site/c.nhLRJ2PMKsG/b.5689561/k.B398/Easter.htmPage 2 of 2 http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/visuals-for-easter-connecting-lent-and-easter

Easter Sunday

African-American lectionary worship resources (check closer to date for 2012 resources)

http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupWorshipAid.asp?LRID=80

Church of England Easter liturgies

http://www .churchofengland.org/media/41157/tseasterlit.pdf

Confessional litany based on Luke’s Gospel

http://www .ucc.org/assets/pdfs/ww62-13.pdf

Lutheran liturgical services

http://www.liturgybytlw.com/Easter/EastDay.html http://www.liturgybytlw.com/Easter/EastPasc.html

http://www .mtcarmellutheran.com/frenz/eastermorn.html http://www.mtcarmellutheran.com/frenz/easterallnew.html

Presbyterian worship resources

http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/worship/resurrection-lord-easter/ http://www.pcusa.org/resource/prayers-easter-sunday/

Holy Humour Sunday (Easter 2 or sometimes Lent 4)

Fourth Sunday in Lent is now being observed in a variety of individual churches around the world as “Holy Humour Sunday” or “Lighten Up Sunday”. While this day is not listed on the list of approved feast days of the major liturgical denominations, and while there is no mention of it in the “Revised Common Lectionary”, there is an ancient history to what we call “Laughter Sunday” – whether it is celebrated on the Fourth Sunday of Lent (as suggested by the “rejoice” theme of the original collect of the day), or as it has been in the past, on Easter Monday.

Early Orthodox churches gathered on the Monday after Easter to tell stories, jokes and anecdotes. To this day in Slavic regions Christians gather the day after Easter for folk dancing and feasting in the churchyard. This was a time of celebrating the big joke that God pulled on Satan. It is known as Bright Monday, White Monday, Dyngus Day, and Emmaus Day in various countries. The Latins call it ‘Risus Paschalis’ – God’s Joke, the Easter Laugh. (www.newcelebrations.com –now a dead link)

Lectionary prayers

http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com/2011/04/holy-humor-sunday-easter-2.html

Extensive background, resources, ideas

http://home.comcast.net/~fcba/site/?/page/Helps_for_A_Holy_Humor_Sunday_Liturgy/&PHP SESSID=1505aff3516969c5bdb48e60b8000171

http://www.joyfulnoiseletter.com/history.asp http://www.joyfulnoiseletter.com/hhsunday.asp

Sermons & liturgies

http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/abc-laughtersunday.php

As part of the sending rite of your service, TAKE A PICTURE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT for the KAIROS campaign for 2011-2012, Truth, Reconciliation & Equity: They Matter to Us! KAIROS invites you to put yourself in the picture and help them create a huge public witness for an equitable Canada! As Canadians we are not just observers of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s process but we are invited to be participants. KAIROS invites you and your community to join in the circle where real healing takes place. Step into action by demonstrating your commitment to being part of a better future, part of a different picture. They want our best photos of the people in our church holding a bold sign that says “Truth, Reconciliation & Equity: They Matter to Us!”

For more information and worship resources : Ecumenical worship resources — Truth, Reconciliation & Equity

God of all people, Great Spirit, Holy One, listen to our prayer.

Give your blessing this day to the Indigenous peoples of this land. Guide their (our) elders and give them strength; comfort and renew their (our) men and women in times of sorrow and despair; give grace and pride to their (our) children as the daughters and sons of your creation.

Hear our prayer for those who gather today to learn the true story of the Indigenous peoples of this country. Give us a sense of justice, an awareness of new beginnings, that wrongs may be redressed, broken promises forgiven, and new covenants forged. May those who have used the land with little thought or regard learn to love and respect this gracious heritage; may those who find your presence in the land be free to model its grateful use to all, that in common life and common dignity, different people may receive from you a new humanity. Amen  (KAIROS)

Christ the King Dietrich Bonhoeffer Lutheran Church in Thornhill invites you to listen to their German and English services through live webstreaming.  For more details, http://www.lutheran-church-thornhill.org/services.html .

Herzliche Einladung zum Gottesdienst!

Pastor Sara Faulhafer offers Epiphany web resources to aid with worship planning. Thanks Sara!

Epiphany through Transfiguration_ Worship Web Resources

Consider how your congregation walks with the indigenous peoples in our land — preaching? prayers? offering? advocacy?  I wrote the song “In this moon of wintertime” out of the juxtaposition of the news of Attawapiskat and rehearsing the carol “Twas in the moon of wintertime.”  In this song, the singing of “Gloria” is not only an affirmation of the way of Love, it is a practice that imagines the fullness of God’s time where healing and wholeness have already occurred.  This song became part of our Inshallah Christmas Carol sing.  I offer it to you as a way to stir us all to pray and to live more consciously in a healthy relationship with indigenous peoples of this land.

In this moon of wintertime

In this moon of wintertime when chaos reigns supreme,

Economies and policies suppressing holy dreams

Of peace on earth, good will to all,

O God of promise, hear our call:

“Gloria”  (2x)

The peoples of this land called home are hurting in the North

For food and shelter, let alone the chance to bring forth

Their ways of making peace on earth,

With them we wait for Jesus’ birth:

“Gloria” (2x)

For Jesus’ birth in flesh and blood brings hope and joy and peace.

We long to bring the wholeness that this birth, in fact, completes.

O God of now-and-not-yet time,

Stir us to act and be a sign of

“Gloria” (4x)

Go to www.kairoscanada.org for information on political action and emergency relief for Indigenous peoples in Canada.

debbie lou ludolph, December 13, 2011