Before the Amen: Creative Resources for Worship Book

Preface     vii
Beautiful Toes-Words for Advent     1
A Clutch of Stars-Words for Christmas     22
Awash in the Light-Words for Epiphany     31
Meet Us in the Shadows-Words for Lent     53
The Ragged Breathing-Words for Holy Week     72
A New Day Has Begun-Words for Easter     78
Anointing into the World-Words for Eastertide     82
The Storied Fires of God: Words for Pentecost and the Weeks That Follow     97
The Wide Window of Our Spirits: Words for Ordinary Time, or the Second Half of the Season of Wind and Flame     110
Naan, Khlep, Welches, and Napa Merlot-Words for Communion     131
Breathe Deep the Beckoning Sea-Words for Baptism     151
Laughing and Bulrushes-Some Special Services     157
Under Our Roof: Liturgy for Homes, Marriage, and Companion Animals     169
Under Our Steeple: Liturgy for the Community of Faith with a Section on Stewardship     184
On the Street-Liturgy for Civic Concerns and Occasions     199
At the Crossroads: Liturgy for Justice Issues and Open and Affirming Resources     207
Of Healing and Hope-Liturgy around Health and Education Concerns     221
Of Earth and Sky-Liturgy Based in Natural Imagery     232
On Our Hearts-A Diversity ofPrayers     236
Contributors Index     244
Scripture Index     245
Topical Index     247