United Reformed Church

Worship Notes

Open BibleWorship Notes is a free resource for anyone who leads and plans worship. We offer prayers for Sunday Services, thoughts on the readings, and hymn suggestions.

Each issue of Worship Notes includes:

  • A call to worship
  • Prayers of approach, confession and a declaration/assurance of forgiveness
  • A prayer for illumination
  • An all-age activity or introduction
  • Readings and notes on these readings that could be built into a sermon
  • Prayers of intercessions
  • An offertory Introduction and prayer
  • A blessing
  • Hymn suggestions for local churches sourced from Rejoice and Sing, Church Hymnary 4, Singing the Faith and Combined Mission Praise.

Every month there will be at least one Holy Communion prayer and an Affirmation of Faith.

Each week we publish Weekly Intercessions which can be used in public worship, small groups and for personal prayers.

 

Intercessions for Sunday 24th March can be found in PDF form here and Word form here.

For Easter Sunday, 31st March the intercessions can be found in PDF form here and Word form here.

 

Worship Notes for March 2024

Worship Notes for Sunday 31st March, Easter Sunday, were prepared by the Revd Matt Stone.

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Overview

Matt offers a huge variety of hymns as well as prayers, an all age activity and notes on the readings to help us celebrate Easter.  He includes an Easter Communion prayer from the Methodist service book.

Worship notes for Sunday 3rd March, the Third Sunday of Lent, have been prepared by the Revd Andy Braunston, the URC's Minister for Digital Worship.

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Overview

Andy explores how the 10 Commandments and Jesus' overturning the tables in the Temple are both counter cultural in many ways but reminds us that God speaks through nature, human culture as well as through the Bible and other Christians.  Andy notes the tensions this causes and how our task as Christians is to discern.  He offers the normal range of prayers and hymn suggestions, an affirmation of faith, a Communion prayer and an all age activity.

The worship notes for Sunday 10th March were written by the Revd Fiona Bennett

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Overview

Fiona offers an opening prayer with hand actions, an all age activity focusing on Mothering Sunday, notes on the Numbers and John passages set for today, and the normal range of prayers and hymns.

Worship Notes for the Sunday 17th March, were prepared by the Revd Catherine Mcfie

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Overview

Catherine focuses on the idea of change implicit in our response to the Gospel.  The normal range of prayers, hymns, notes on the two of the readings set for today and two ideas for an all age activity are included.

Worship Notes for Sunday 24th March, Palm Sunday, were prepared by the Revd Walt Johnson.

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Overview

Walt offers hymns and sermon ideas for two possible approaches - one focussing on the events of the first Palm Sunday, the other using the traditional Passion reading which is often read on Palm Sunday.  A huge variety of hymns is offered too!

Worship Notes for April 2024

The worship notes for Sunday 14th April were written by Peter Ranscombe a candidate for ministerial training at the Scottish College.

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Overview

Peter looks at "what happens next" after the Easter narratives.  He includes a children's address based on traffic light sequences and offers sermon notes exploring the theme further and a range of hymn suggestions.

Worship Notes for the Sunday 21st April, were prepared by the Revd Adam Payne.

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Overview

Adam reflects on Good Shepherd Sunday.

Worship Notes for Sunday 28th April were prepared by the Revd Sue McCoan

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Overview

Sue gives extensive notes on all four of the Lectionary readings for today, a good range of hymns mainly from Rejoice and Sing, and all the prayers you would expect to see in Worship Notes.

Worship Notes for May 2024

The worship notes for Ascension Sunday 12th May were written by the Revd Jenny Mills, Secretary for Education and Learning.

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Overview

Jenny offers a range of prayers, an all age activity it would be wise to practice beforehand (!), notes on the readings and a wide range of hymns to mark Ascension.

Worship Notes for Pentecost Sunday 19th May were prepared by the Revd Cara Heafey

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Overview

Cara suggests having a party theme for the younger folk celebrating Pentecost as the Birthday of the Church, offers a very wide selection of hymns, prayers and some ideas on how to approach the readings.  Andy Braunston added some ideas for Plainsong to start the service and a rock-style hymn to end it!

Worship Notes for Trinity Sunday 26th May were prepared by the Revd Dr Sarah Hall

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Overview

Sarah offers a range of prayers, an all age activity, and extensive notes on the readings along with a wide range of hymns for Trinity Sunday.

Useful websites

Talking Absolute Worship

Talking Absolute Worship

Talking Absolute Worship is a weekly panel discussion about how the week’s lectionary readings can inspire our preaching and worship-leading

Politics in the Pulpit podcast

Politics in the Pulpit is a lively discussion linking justice, current affairs and the Lectionary readings for the coming Sunday. Available as a podcast or video

United Reformed Church