Here we are, a mere 6 days from the First Sunday of Advent. Some of us run with the apocalyptic/second-coming theme…some of us run away from it, looking for a cute baby to look for instead. Some of us have full-season themes all ready to go, others of us are on the week-by-week (or even the day-by-day) plan. We’re all probably praying something like Isaiah–“tear open the heavens and come down.” Maybe you’re pondering God’s faithfulness as we come to yet another season of waiting. Whatever your style, you’re welcome here! What are you up to this week? What liturgy do you need? What words are waiting to be born? What music needs do you have? Let’s create together!
Sunday's Coming
But Wait! There’s More?
Well, the bulletin may be close to done, but the liturgy is not. There are still prayers to write, offering invitations to think about. On this Reign of Christ Sunday, are you helping your folks really think about what they’re saying when they pray, “Let your kingdom come”?
Oh, and what about that children’s sermon? What do you have on deck for this Sunday?
Or maybe your attention is already fully turned toward Advent. Many of you are already offering some great original liturgy ideas on this site. Check them out. And send your own! We look forward to creatively collaborating our way through the season.
But Wait! There’s More
Well, if your weeks are anything like mine, the bulletin is done, but the liturgy is not. I wait until later in the week to write the parts that don’t have to be typed on a page. (Maybe some of you lucky worship planners work with words on a screen and can wait until Saturday to settle on any liturgy.)
So what liturgy are you needing/working on today? Anyone have a special Invitation to Offering and Prayer of Dedication for stewardship Sunday? What about a Prayer for Illumination? How do you do the Prayers of the People in your church?
Prayers for you all as you prepare for Sunday!
Sunday’s Coming: working toward November 13
These waning days of Ordinary Time can be so challenging–some of us are still wrapping up Stewardship campaigns (check out the Stewardship brainstorming conversation for ideas about dedication, consecration, actions of commitment, and maybe to collaborate on writing a litany if you still need one!). We also have a call to worship for a commitment Sunday–check it out if that’s you this week!
Some of us are working through the interminable Matthew parables, this week working on everyone’s favorite: the talents. There’s nothing quite like a stewardship commitment sermon on the text “to those who have, more will be given, and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” Oh, the prayers of confession we could write with that!
Maybe you’re detouring to Deborah this week, in keeping with the women who were prepared last week. She was certainly prepared–but for what? What do these women of prepared faith tell us in this time?
Maybe you’re still in Thessalonians, contemplating the end (or at least the end of the liturgical year!). What does a life lived “in the day” look like during these days of waning daylight in the northern hemisphere? How can we encourage one another as we enter this season of giving thanks (in the US)?
Do you have a direction? A liturgical need? A call to worship or a prayer of confession you want to share? A prayer of dedication for our talents, buried or invested? The perfect hymn idea?
Join the conversation as we create together.
Sunday’s Coming: working toward November 6
Maybe you’re saving All Saints for this Sunday, because yesterday was Reformation Sunday.
Maybe you’re having stewardship commitment/dedication Sunday.
Maybe you’re in the middle of the stewardship campaign.
Maybe it’s a communion Sunday.
Maybe it’s just another Sunday in the endless Year A journey through Matthew.
Whatever you’re doing this Sunday, we want to create together for worship! Join in the comments below as we write together, bounce ideas around, contemplate themes or hymns or creative expression. How are the people of God encountering the living Word this Sunday?
If you follow the lectionary, you might be pondering telling our history and figuring out how to make a choice to serve the Lord. What does it mean to serve the Lord with your congregation’s particular story? How might that relate to All Saints or Communion or Stewardship? Or you might be wondering what’s up with those lazy bridesmaids who didn’t make sure they had enough oil. Aside from singing Keep Your Lamps, what are some ways we can use the liturgy to help our congregations be prepared to encounter God? If you’re pondering the connection between yet another missed rapture date and All Saints, perhaps Thessalonians is your guide. What liturgical language do you need to illuminate this strange and oft-misunderstood idea?
As we contemplate the plot twists, the lives of our communities, and the movement of the Spirit–what language are you leaning toward for this week? What ideas do you hope to convey? What musical ideas do you have?
Let’s create together!
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