Note: During the season of Lent you may want to have the following items available for your gathering space: a candle and matches, a cup of water, a roll or a piece of bread, a cut out of a heart, a cross and a piece of purple cloth. Welcome Invite those gathered to bring a designated item and use this liturgy as a way to begin your time of learning together. One: This is the season of Lent, 40 days to remember and pray, worship and think deeply on the ways we can… All: Follow in the ways of Jesus. One: He came as a baby to bring light to the world and how us how to… (Place a candle on a table in your gathering place and light it.) All: Follow in the ways of Jesus One: The Bible tells the story of the way he called disciples when he was on earth and how he still calls disciples today who will… (Place an open Bible on a table in your gathering place.) All: Follow in the ways of Jesus. One: When people were hungry, he gave them … [Read more...]
Spiritual growth through relationships
When I was in college, my campus chaplain was someone who was influential beyond words in my spiritual direction. She was the type of mentor and leader who could ask challenging questions, call me on my bluffs or denials, encourage me when I was struggling, help guide me to resources when I had questions beyond her skill set and the one person I was always able to call and celebrate the joys of life with. My relationship with her helped shape me and mold me on my journey into ministry. She was one of the first people I talked about my desire to go to ministry, to change the career path I was working on in college and to change course in graduate school. The day I told her she just smiled, and then a chuckle came with as she said, “I’m so glad you’ve found what others and I have known for a while.” When I attended seminary and was working toward ordination, she was the one I would call to discern with, laugh with and cry with as I encountered all the challenges and joys that come … [Read more...]
Order of worship — March 7, 2021
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation. It is free for worship use. Please credit Roger Gench of the Presbyterian Outlook. Download the PDF of the full order worship: Liturgy 03-07-21 … [Read more...]
What’s right about Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church?
Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church — Livonia, Michigan Our church is known as the Mission Station. Through the passionate leadership of pastors and staff, mission happens every day at Rosedale. We’ve been honored to be part of a Christmas Eve Blessing Bags project, delivering bags to employees working the holiday at nursing homes and a hospital. In April 2020, we were asked to provide blessing bags for hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every Veteran’s Sunday, our church honors military, first responders and their families. Handmade quilts are presented to veteran members at Rosedale and to a local organization serving the community. Other mission projects include holiday food deliveries, elementary school math volunteers, youth mission trips, Crop Walk, service with Life Remodeled (a neighborhood revitalization nonprofit in Detroit) and many more. Mission truly ignites our passion to build community as we provide caring service for the glory of God. — Judy … [Read more...]
Who prays for you?
I recently began meeting with a new spiritual director. At the beginning of our session, she asked if I would like to begin together in silence, by praying or having her pray for me. After an entire day of Bible study, meetings and phone calls, I chose silence. When we closed, I asked if she would close us in prayer. During the meeting, she asked why I was seeking spiritual direction. I did not fully articulate this during our meeting, but as she closed by praying for me, I realized that spiritual direction is a unique opportunity for a pastor to have someone pray for us. As she closed by praying for me, I felt myself physically relaxing and the Holy Spirit offering me much needed peace. When you are a pastor, who prays for you? In the PC(USA) the person most often named as “pastor to the pastors” is the executive presbyter of a presbytery. I am blessed to have an executive presbyter who takes this part of the job description quite seriously, but I know this is not always … [Read more...]
Warm hearts at a freezing cold Texas camp
Guest commentary by Cliff Stewart Next year will mark a century of ministry at the Presbyterian Buffalo Gap Encampment in Texas! The camp is primarily a place for summer camps — including three fun weeks of camp for the children and youth of Palo Duro Presbytery. Buffalo Gap is a little community just 20 miles outside of Abilene. The camp is owned by 13 cooperating Presbyterian churches. Key to the success of the camp is the generous support of Palo Duro Presbytery. James and Linda Myers are the camp managers. They both have big hearts — which were evidenced on Valentine’s Day, February 14. They went to bed that night unaware of the catastrophic crisis many Texans across the entire state would be facing during the night and in the following week. When James and Linda woke up on Monday morning, they discovered they had no electricity. Soon, there would also be no water as an unprecedented, historic “winter invasion” descended on Texas. Record zero temperatures, snow and ice … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 443
- Next Page »
Tweet With Us
Be A Facebook Fan
Our World in Photos
Pin With Us