Words for Liturgy
Winter Solstice Call To Worship
In this season of light returning to balance the darkness We gather together To light candles To sing songs To listen deeply And to share our hearts May our light shine ever brighter as we join our hearts in worship this morning. Thanksgiving Meditation
On this Thanksgiving weekend, we pause together to consider the abundance in our lives. In the midst of an autumn that has not been an easy one for this community, we still have much to be grateful for. When were you last swept up by gratitude? Was it this morning? Yesterday? Last week? Last year? Where were you? Was it in the midst of the trees? In the midst of your friends or loved ones? In the midst of your Thanksgiving Dinner? What were you grateful for? Was it gratitude for the vastness of the universe? For the small kind act of an individual? For the beauty of a sunset? What is it that you are most grateful for in this moment? What is it that you are most grateful for in your life? Carrying these blessings in our heart we utter the simplest of prayers: Thank You. Amen and Blessed Be. |
Prayer for Veteran’s Day
Calling on all that we may call sacred or holy,
in this world and beyond,
we join together now in the spirit of prayer.
To the God of our own understanding,
the spirit with whom we commune this morning
We ask that our minds be open, our hearts welcoming, our arms embracing.
On this Veteran’s Day, we hold in our hearts all those who have served our country and all those who continue to serve. Though we may not honor the wars that they fight in, he honor our veterans today
We pray today not only for our veterans but also for all those in our world who are affected by war.
We pray for the friends and families who send their loved ones off to war, not knowing if they will ever come back.
We pray for all those in war-torn countries, those who live constantly under the threat of violence, those who live in fear.
We pray for peace, and for the strength and courage to carry on even when it seems peace will never be found.
Amen and Blessed Be.
Calling on all that we may call sacred or holy,
in this world and beyond,
we join together now in the spirit of prayer.
To the God of our own understanding,
the spirit with whom we commune this morning
We ask that our minds be open, our hearts welcoming, our arms embracing.
On this Veteran’s Day, we hold in our hearts all those who have served our country and all those who continue to serve. Though we may not honor the wars that they fight in, he honor our veterans today
We pray today not only for our veterans but also for all those in our world who are affected by war.
We pray for the friends and families who send their loved ones off to war, not knowing if they will ever come back.
We pray for all those in war-torn countries, those who live constantly under the threat of violence, those who live in fear.
We pray for peace, and for the strength and courage to carry on even when it seems peace will never be found.
Amen and Blessed Be.
Winter Meditation
In a moment I will invite you to close your eyes, but before I do that, I want you each to make sure that you have the sprig of evergreen that you were given on your way in this morning readily accessible.
And now I invite you now to close your eyes, and enter into a time of meditation and reflection. Let’s take one deep breath together…and let it out…The dark days of winter offer us a space to slow down, with short days and long nights. The darkness invites us to contemplation. As the animals of field and forest retreat to their lairs, planning to sleep away the cold days of winter, it seems that the whole earth slows down in this season. Before we rush in with our candles and carols, before we light up the long nights of December, let us dwell a moment in the darkness together, and remember the value of dark, the balance of nature, the need for times of rest and hibernation.
Now pick up that sprig of evergreen, the green that lasts through even the darkest and coldest days of winter. I invite you to bring that sprig up to your face and take a good long whiff of it. (pause) What memories do you smell in that little sprig of green? What images come to mind? Perhaps it is the clear white of a new-fallen snow sparkling in the moonlight that comes into your mind, perhaps the brilliant blue skies of winter, or perhaps the bright green of the pine tree standing out against the grays and browns of the barren winter trees. Perhaps your mind takes you indoors to trees dressed with tinsel and bulbs, with family gathered around, the room filled with warmth and love.
In the depths of winter, in the cold and dark, what does the evergreen speak to? What does it speak to in your heart? Perhaps it is a sign of brightness amidst the dreary branches. Perhaps it is a symbol of light in the midst of the longest night. Perhaps it is the warmth of community gathered round in the dark of winter. Or perhaps it is a sign of life, resilient, ever present, ever growing, ever green, even in the darkest days of the year.
When you are ready, I invite you to open your eyes, to return to this place, filled with the cozy comfort of darkness, the brillance of winter, and ready to look toward the return of the light.
In a moment I will invite you to close your eyes, but before I do that, I want you each to make sure that you have the sprig of evergreen that you were given on your way in this morning readily accessible.
And now I invite you now to close your eyes, and enter into a time of meditation and reflection. Let’s take one deep breath together…and let it out…The dark days of winter offer us a space to slow down, with short days and long nights. The darkness invites us to contemplation. As the animals of field and forest retreat to their lairs, planning to sleep away the cold days of winter, it seems that the whole earth slows down in this season. Before we rush in with our candles and carols, before we light up the long nights of December, let us dwell a moment in the darkness together, and remember the value of dark, the balance of nature, the need for times of rest and hibernation.
Now pick up that sprig of evergreen, the green that lasts through even the darkest and coldest days of winter. I invite you to bring that sprig up to your face and take a good long whiff of it. (pause) What memories do you smell in that little sprig of green? What images come to mind? Perhaps it is the clear white of a new-fallen snow sparkling in the moonlight that comes into your mind, perhaps the brilliant blue skies of winter, or perhaps the bright green of the pine tree standing out against the grays and browns of the barren winter trees. Perhaps your mind takes you indoors to trees dressed with tinsel and bulbs, with family gathered around, the room filled with warmth and love.
In the depths of winter, in the cold and dark, what does the evergreen speak to? What does it speak to in your heart? Perhaps it is a sign of brightness amidst the dreary branches. Perhaps it is a symbol of light in the midst of the longest night. Perhaps it is the warmth of community gathered round in the dark of winter. Or perhaps it is a sign of life, resilient, ever present, ever growing, ever green, even in the darkest days of the year.
When you are ready, I invite you to open your eyes, to return to this place, filled with the cozy comfort of darkness, the brillance of winter, and ready to look toward the return of the light.
Benediction
Whatever light you have found here this morning,
Whatever hope,
Whatever love,
May you carry it out with you into the world
And let it shine.
Carrying the lamp of our faith.
Blessing the world as you have been blessed by this community.
Whatever light you have found here this morning,
Whatever hope,
Whatever love,
May you carry it out with you into the world
And let it shine.
Carrying the lamp of our faith.
Blessing the world as you have been blessed by this community.