Katie's Philosophy of Worship
We worship a living God, so our worship should be as alive and inspired as the God to whom our worship is directed. In a world flooded with so many words, the language we use in worship should cut through that noise to proclaim what is true, what is real, and what is holy. Proclamation of the Word does not begin when the preacher steps into the pulpit on Sunday morning. Proclamation is an act of the whole people of God and begins when the community gathered lifts up prayers, song, and confession. The words we use to direct our worship should point the whole community toward the living God.
Below are samples of liturgy Katie wrote for several conferences, including a Prayer for Reconciliation and a Prayer of Confession/Assurance of Pardon as well as a reflection on intercessory prayer. The language and embodiment of the liturgy was particularly catered to the communities gathered--youth, musicians, etc.
Below are samples of liturgy Katie wrote for several conferences, including a Prayer for Reconciliation and a Prayer of Confession/Assurance of Pardon as well as a reflection on intercessory prayer. The language and embodiment of the liturgy was particularly catered to the communities gathered--youth, musicians, etc.
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Signs of Hope: 2017 Lenten Series New Hope Presbytery A 5 minute reflection on how intercessory prayer occurs inside and outside the bounds of worship services as we seek to love God with our heart, mind, strength, and soul and love our neighbors as ourselves. |
montreat youth conference 2016 (wks 1 and 2)
Liturgy Samples
The liturgy below was written for 1000 youth gathered for a summer youth conference at Montreat. The sample listed here is the prayer of confession and assurance of pardon for Monday's worship. It was designed to be led by youth and to lift out the day's theme "Be Different: God Sets Us Apart for God's Purpose in the Kingdom." The texts for the day were Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 9:1-22.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
One: Creating God, you made us each in your image and called us very good.
All: But we try to conform, dressing alike, trying to be cool, longing to fit in with the crowd. We struggle to see who we really are.
One: God asks us: who are you?
Pulpit side: I am unique.
Piano side: I am creative.
Pulpit side: I am different.
Piano side: I am ordinary.
All: I am a beloved child of God.
One: Loving God, you claim us while we are still being knit together in our mothers’ wombs. In the waters of baptism, your claim is sealed on our lives.
All: But we want to define ourselves, filling our minds with doubts and questions, rejecting God’s promises, wanting to control our own lives. We fail to trust your claim on us.
One: God asks us: who are you?
Pulpit side: I am a doubter.
Piano side: I am a believer.
Pulpit side: I am certain.
Piano side: I am curious.
All: I am a beloved child of God.
One: Calling God, your Spirit calls us to use our gifts to follow the unique call on each of our lives.
All: But we are easily blinded, unable to see our own gifts, uncertain of where we are to go, tempted to just follow the crowd. We cannot see that our differences are needed for your call.
One: God asks us: who are you?
Pulpit side: I am a leader.
Piano side: I am a follower.
Pulpit side: I am called by God.
Piano side: I am sent by God.
All: I am a beloved child of God.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
A youth will serve as liturgist. Several additional youth will model the action below on the stage.
Beloved, each of you is made in the image of God.
Bearing that image, you are claimed and called as God’s own.
Bearing that image, you always walk in God’s light.
Bearing that image, you are always reflecting God’s light to others.
To be made in the image of God is to carry with you God’s name—Yahweh—in your image.
In Hebrew, the name of God is spelled with four letters—yod, hey, vav, heyread right to left.
Trace the image of God in yourself. The yod follows the shape of the face. The hey forms the shoulders and arms. The vav traces your torso. The final hey forms your hips and legs. Each of you bears God’s name in your very being.
Now silently turn to your neighbor. In the space in front of your neighbor, trace the name of God in them. Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey. Your neighbor also bears God’s name in their very being.
Now that you are able to see the image of God in yourself and your neighbor, we offer one another God’s grace by saying together:
Made in the image of God, you are forgiven.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
One: Creating God, you made us each in your image and called us very good.
All: But we try to conform, dressing alike, trying to be cool, longing to fit in with the crowd. We struggle to see who we really are.
One: God asks us: who are you?
Pulpit side: I am unique.
Piano side: I am creative.
Pulpit side: I am different.
Piano side: I am ordinary.
All: I am a beloved child of God.
One: Loving God, you claim us while we are still being knit together in our mothers’ wombs. In the waters of baptism, your claim is sealed on our lives.
All: But we want to define ourselves, filling our minds with doubts and questions, rejecting God’s promises, wanting to control our own lives. We fail to trust your claim on us.
One: God asks us: who are you?
Pulpit side: I am a doubter.
Piano side: I am a believer.
Pulpit side: I am certain.
Piano side: I am curious.
All: I am a beloved child of God.
One: Calling God, your Spirit calls us to use our gifts to follow the unique call on each of our lives.
All: But we are easily blinded, unable to see our own gifts, uncertain of where we are to go, tempted to just follow the crowd. We cannot see that our differences are needed for your call.
One: God asks us: who are you?
Pulpit side: I am a leader.
Piano side: I am a follower.
Pulpit side: I am called by God.
Piano side: I am sent by God.
All: I am a beloved child of God.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
A youth will serve as liturgist. Several additional youth will model the action below on the stage.
Beloved, each of you is made in the image of God.
Bearing that image, you are claimed and called as God’s own.
Bearing that image, you always walk in God’s light.
Bearing that image, you are always reflecting God’s light to others.
To be made in the image of God is to carry with you God’s name—Yahweh—in your image.
In Hebrew, the name of God is spelled with four letters—yod, hey, vav, heyread right to left.
Trace the image of God in yourself. The yod follows the shape of the face. The hey forms the shoulders and arms. The vav traces your torso. The final hey forms your hips and legs. Each of you bears God’s name in your very being.
Now silently turn to your neighbor. In the space in front of your neighbor, trace the name of God in them. Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey. Your neighbor also bears God’s name in their very being.
Now that you are able to see the image of God in yourself and your neighbor, we offer one another God’s grace by saying together:
Made in the image of God, you are forgiven.
montreat music and worship conference 2014
Liturgy Sample
The liturgy below was written for an intergenerational music and worship conference hosted by the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. The 2014 theme, "Rise, O Church" was based around the hymn "Rise, O Church, Like Christ Arisen," featured in the new Glory to God hymnal. Worship each day centered around a particular phrase from the hymn's text. The sample prayer below focused on the phrase "mercy be our destination" and incorporated liturgical dancers and art; however, the prayer could be offered just with words.
prayer of reconciliation
During the conference, four panels with images were revealed during prayer for reconciliation to emphasize reconciliation…
with the world (people groups),
with neighbors (individual relationships),
with self,
and with God
Let us enter into a spirit of prayer with our eyes wide open,
challenged to look out, around, inward and up as we pray for reconciliation all around us.
Holy Christ,
your mercy is our destination;
your peace is our final goal.
Pour out your reconciling power on a world in desperate need of healing love.
We look out at a world filled with political tension, violence, and hatred.
Where the greed of some leads to the poverty of many,
upset our unbalanced economic systems.
Where the lust for power trumps the desire for peace,
transform weapons into welcome signs.[1]
Where hatred, violence, and oppression reign,
inspire us to forgive perfectly,
and strengthen us to seek a kingdom of justice and peace.
Breathe your Spirit of peace and reconciliation into a warring and wounded world.
Make every person in authority an agent of your reconciliation,
and every diplomat an ambassador of hope.[2]
Loosen our grip on power that we all might work toward your kingdom of justice and peace.
DANCERS RELEASE PANEL 1.
We look around at strangers in our midst.
Where our selfish desires blind us to our neighbors needs before us,
let the scales fall from our eyes.
Where loneliness and fear prevent us from fruitful relationship,
grant us strength to grow in community.
Where lingering grudges and past hurts continue to separate us,
tear down dividing walls of hostility.
Soften our hearts and prepare us to be bearers of reconciliation wherever you place us.
Reshape strangers into neighbors and enemies into friends.
Loosen our grip so our hands are free to extend a hospitality to neighbors in need.
DANCERS RELEASE PANEL 2.
We look inward at ourselves.
Where pride and envy captivate us,
set us free from ourselves and show us still yet a better way
Where darkness and depression haunt us,
shed light into our lives.
Where sickness in body and soul overwhelm us,
infuse us with your blessing and your healing power, and
grant us the wisdom of doctors, and the care of friends.
Loosen our grip on ourselves that the light of Christ’s mercy might break into our hearts.
DANCERS RELEASE PANEL 3.
We look up at you, Reconciling God.
When our prayers are empty words and our hearts hardened,
let the wind of your Spirit blow freely, interceding where we cannot speak for ourselves
Where doubt disables and inspiration dissipates to apathy,
send the fire of your Spirit to ignite our passion for you.
Where fear inhibits honesty and vulnerability before you, O God,
free us to bear our brokenness and receive your reconciling love
made known through Christ, our Intercessor, Mediator, and Savior.
Loosen our grip on all we perceive can separate us from you.
DANCERS RELEASE PANEL 4.
May your reconciling love, boundless mercy, persistent grace and abiding joy free us and enable us to pray together:
[The Lord's Prayer]
[1] Iona Wee Worship Book.
[2] Book of Common Worship.
Musical Liturgy
The congregation's worship is not just spoken but sung; thus, the words of a hymn both confess and proclaim truths about God and God's people. The text of the hymn below was written by Katie for a Pentecost worship service based on the Acts 2 text.
praise_the_spirit.pdf | |
File Size: | 46 kb |
File Type: |
Curriculum Sample
The following lesson plans offer a way to explore questions about Christian faith in a socially networked world through conversation, reflection with the essays, and consideration of participants' own social media engagement. The lessons assume that those gathered have read and engaged the essays written for @ThisPoint.