We gather today as a congregation to honor the source of our being– the One in Whom we live and move and have our existence. And while we celebrate motherhood in its various forms, we remember that the church (as Your body) is our mother too: a womb of contemplation and action. She...
Manassas, which includes a large number of Pentagon employees among its congregation, has no official position on the U.S.-led war in Iraq.But on Sunday, the 400-person congregation held a red-white-and-blue service where members of the armed forces branches offered prayers for the U.S. ...
Gary Phillips, the pastor of Salem United Methodist Church where our family participates, has invited members of the congregation to offer daily prayers during April as part of the church website. I was asked to offer the prayer on this Good Friday. You may access the video of the prayer h...
In public worship, one person recites the first part of the prayer, which is followed by a response from the congregation (such as “pray for us”). These prayers have their roots in the pre-Christian era when Jews used this responsive pattern in public worship. The first Christian ...
But on the other hand, I desired for this congregation to withhold their praise and shouts of victory in order to rightfully claim it at the end of the Lenten season. In doing this, they would truly walk with their redeemer and taste the sweetness of victory because they had made the ...
When a larger group from the church is praying, you can write a letter to the church to the pastor (or another appropriate contact). That person may choose to read your letter to the congregation. You can add additional paragraphs as needed, depending on how in-depth you want to go. Al...
This page features two famous prayers of David from the psalms (the opening words to psalm 63 and 103), as well as short prayers suitable for calling the congregation to worship and praise. There is also an opening prayer video and a good quote on why thankfulness is important. ...
Isaac and Jacob -- introduced one of these prayers. Jews perform these at synagogue to increase the bond between the members of the congregation. Often, the afternoon and evening prayers are combined into one service, which takes place around sunset. Different sects will conduct these prayers in...
Years ago, a faithful member of my congregation sidled up to me after Communion and cracked, “The service was great, but the portions were small.” I laughed. And then I didn’t. So, let me ask, what’s up with equal-sized portions, little cubes of pre-cut bread, precisely measu...
Traditionally, collection baskets or bags are passed round the congregation, and then stewards bring the offering to the front for the minister or priest for blessing. People are often invited to stand at this point as the prayer takes place. With the advent of smartphones, card machine scanner...