International Presbytery of the Church of Scotland
We need your presence on the long road, Lord.
The road between fear and hope,
the road between the place where all is lost
and the place of resurrection.
Like the disciples walking the road to Emmaus,
we are in need of your company!
Jesus, stand among us, in your risen power,
let this time of worship, be a hallowed hour.
~ written by Carol Penner, and posted on Leading in Worship
From the blog
On pilgrimage
To Emmaus and back
Walk the walk
We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you. (1 Thessalonians 1:4)
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
(based on Psalm 13)
We’ve come to worship,
to sing and pray and hear God’s Word, because:
God’s love lasts forever!
Even when God seems far away, we know:
God’s love lasts forever!
Even when nothing is going right,
and we’re ready to give up, we know:
God’s love lasts forever!
When people treat us badly, we know:
God’s love lasts forever!
When we’re all alone,
and we feel like no one loves us, we know:
God’s love lasts forever!
Let’s worship God together!
~ Christine Longhurst, re:Worship
Whitby sunset (Photo: Irene Bom)
(based on Psalm 148:1, 7-11, 13)
Praise the Lord!
You creatures of the ocean depths,
fire and hail, snow and storm,
wind and weather that obey him,
mountains and all cedars,
wild animals and all livestock,
reptiles and birds,
kings of the earth and all people!
Let them all praise the name of the Lord.
For his name is very great;
his glory towers over the earth and heaven!
~ from re:worship
Bird hovering over Wilhelminapier, Rotterdam (Photo: Ina de Visser)
(inspired by Jonah 3-4)
The word of God came to Jonah.
The word of God comes to us.
Go
despite your fears.
Speak
the truth of God.
Love
your neighbour and your enemy.
Forgive
as you have been forgiven.
Receive
grace upon grace
overflowing from the fullness of God.
~ written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith.
From the blog
Theme: Ever sustaining [prayer sheet]
A very present help in trouble
A prayer to the God of summer
We worship the God who inhabits our world
and indwells our lives.
We need not look up to find God,
we need only to look around:
within ourselves,
beyond ourselves,
into the eyes of another.
We need not listen for a distant thunder to find God,
we need only listen to the music of life,
the words of children,
the questions of the curious,
the rhythm of a heartbeat.
We worship the God who inhabits our world
and who indwells our lives.
~ posted on the Presbyterian Church USA website.
Three’s company (Photo: Irene Bom)
As a songwriter, it’s such a privilege to write songs inspired by our shared faith in Jesus. And it’s such a joy to share my songs in my local church and beyond, also on this platform.
For a few seasons now I have taken part in the 12-song challenge organised by resoundworship.org. It has kept me writing songs on a regular basis, even when I barely had the time or energy.
This month’s challenge was to write a Taizé type song. My song is based on two lines from the Call to Worship from our Advent service on “Longing”. Here is a recording I made yesterday, with some harmonies and counter melodies to give it something extra. Enjoy.
My soul thirsts
by Irene Bom
My soul thirsts for the Living God
Come, Lord, fill my longing
Living God, come fill my soul.
inspired by Psalm 42
As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Come to us, Lord, and fill our longing.
from re:worship (adapted)
From the blog
When hot and bothered
3 Prayers for wayfarers
Theme: Sharing in Jesus’ ministry [prayer sheet]
Those who were at the October 2021 Presbytery meeting might recognize this verse from Isaiah 40:26, which I posted in the chat to encourage us.
(inspired by Psalm 147)
Celebrate God’s grace!
How comforting it is to know God always accompanies us.
Approach God in awe!
How amazing it is to consider that God has created each of us
and each star in the heavens.
Praise the living God!
How good it is to sing praises together.
~ written by Ana Gobledale, and posted on Worship Words.
The story behind the card
I made this card towards the end of a two-week stay at Dutch L’Abri, returning home in time for our October 2021 Presbytery meeting (via zoom). This card is one of a whole pile of cards I made on my last full day at L’Abri, to give away to the staff and guests. I took photographs of all the cards I made, but I only kept this one, and happened to have it on me during our Presbytery meeting, tucked into a notebook.
In our discussions around the future of our Presbytery and the different charges, it seemed a timely reminder, worth sharing: If not one of the stars is missing because of God’s great power and mighty strength, surely we can trust ourselves and our congregations to God’s care and sovereignty too.
Spotted on a canal tour in Paris (Photo: Irene Bom)
We come into the presence of a God
we can neither see nor touch,
yet a God we can sense.
We are fools for Christ’s sake.
We come in the name of Jesus,
whose beauty we cannot explain or capture,
but know intimately.
We are fools for Christ’s sake.
We come to hear from a book,
words and stories that are ancient, and yet ever new.
We are fools for Christ’s sake.
We live in a world whose economy is based on keeping,
yet in this place we are invited to give.
We are fools for Christ’s sake.
We come, leaving behind all the business of our lives—.
all the other important things we could be doing.
We come here to worship.
We are fools for Christ’s sake.
~ from the United Church of Canada’s Bay of Quinte Conference website,
posted on re:worship
based on Psalm 149 (The Message)
Hallelujah!
Sing to God a brand-new song!
Praise God in the company of those who love Him!
Let God’s people celebrate their Sovereign Creator,
and praise His name with music and dance!
For God is here among us,
and He delights to hear our praise!
source: re:worship
Extra
Sing a New Song ~ by David Mathis
5 Ways to Teach a New Song ~ by Gary Durbin
Scripture-in-song as genre ~ by me
(Photo: Irene Bom)
(inspired by Isaiah 35:1-10)
Listen–all creation rejoices, can you hear it?
There is so much noise and chatter, are you sure there is music?
Listen–the wilderness and desert are breaking out in song, can you hear it?
It’s been so long since we’ve heard a melody of praise.
Listen–the crocus blooms with joyful singing,
the very mountains join in the refrain. Can you hear it?
We join our voices in hope,
worshipping our God who brings forth a new song in the world.
Life-giving God, we are a blessed people.
In this moment of worship we pray that you might bless us anew.
Give us ears to hear the melodies of praise that fill the world around us.
And as we hear the songs,
teach us to sing,
to dance with abandon,
to rejoice in the wonders of your grace.
Forgive us when we have passed by signs of your mercy.
From this moment forward,
open our eyes to the places where joy is springing
up from parched ground.
Lead us by your Spirit in the pathways of your overflowing
peace, hope, and joy.
Amen.
~ written by Rev. Nancy J.
posted on wonderings, writings and scribbles
From the blog
Theme: Part of creation [prayer sheet]
Bright and beautiful
A prayer to the God of summer