Some of these resources are short rituals to be used within a service of worship; some are longer liturgies and will replace most, if not all of the regular service. These have an intentional flow to them, so please do not change the order, move the pieces around, or cut pieces out. Thanks! In some I have suggested options for music etc., to make it more flexible for your use.
Life-giving hope has been with us and always will be: In acts of compassion In the resilience and power of community within the web of life In those who do not give up In those who do give up for a time, but then stand up and try again In… Read More »Easter Resources for a Season of Lament and Hope for Creation
We see Christ crucified in acts of violence throughout God’s Creation, against God’s children of all nationalities, religions, species and types. The cry of Christ, the words of Christ’s anguish, explode out of Creation’s pain. Here. Now. In these shadows of Holy Week, in this interplay of light and darkness,… Read More »A Holy Week Service of Lament and Hope for Creation
Welcome to Lent! So it begins! You might ask yourself, what are we giving up for Lent this year? When I served churches as a pastor, I usually gave up sleep for Lent! But we are here together on this Lenten journey not to give something up (except, perhaps, sleep),… Read More »Lent: a Season of Lament and Hope for Creation
Advent has been a story of ordinary people in overwhelming times. Powerless people in a “power-over” world. Characters caught up in a story of destruction and oppression. And they each said “Yes!” to God’s call to change the world, to trust the vision of a new Creation, to love strongly,… Read More »Christmas Eve for Ordinary People in Not Ordinary Times
The Bible is full of ordinary folks. In fact, that’s who mostly makes up our extraordinary holy scripture. Ordinary people trying simply to live, and to figure it all out, in the midst of marginalization, fear, oppression, and uncertainty…of Empire. But also in the midst of hope and wonder and… Read More »Advent for Ordinary People in Not Ordinary Times
Some time ago, I posted the Tenebrae for Creation service here on the website. In the spring of 2023, a few of us in my congregation gathered in our sanctuary and conducted an informal version of this Tenebrae. We recorded the service, and with the exception of a couple of… Read More »Tenebrae for Creation video
Blessing of the animals – we extend our hands, and in our magnanimity, we offer our blessing because that is, of course, what all our animals and the wild things really want, after all. And we bless, and we bless. And then we go home. Uh, no. Blessing of the… Read More »Blessing of the Animals: A Celebration in Two Parts
The journey leads us to an empty tomb.Easter brings surprise.Easter brings a shout and a sob…Easter brings questions…God picks us up, spins us around, and pushes out, saying “Go! Love! Hope!” Years ago, my son and I went to see the most recent “Jesus” movie at the time (it was… Read More »Easter: Wonder, Absurdity, and Holy Questions
O beautiful and wounded Creation, we confess we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed… O God of love and unity, we lament the many ways we find ourselves separated from others, from ourselves, and from you. We’ve allowed our beliefs, our politics, our biases, and our fears… Read More »Lent: A Journey from Separation to Connection, for the Love of Creation
A Journey from Separation to Community Lent is a journey.Lent is a journey from separation to connection and life.The steps are reflection and lament, confession and celebration. There’s letting go and taking in.This is the journey we have to take for the sake of our world, God’s good Creation.We take… Read More »Ash Wednesday – For the Love of Creation