Worship is central to the Reformed tradition. Engage your congregation in the issues related to HIV and AIDS through the prayer of confession/assurance of pardon, the lighting of the Advent candle, the children’s moment, the sermon, a minute for mission (see the entry for December 1, World AIDS Day, in the 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study), the prayers of the people and a work of art or a bulletin insert. Here are some descriptions and examples.
This video is an introduction to a new resource from the Office of Theology, Worship and Education, “Invitation to the Word.” The resource guides the user through 5 steps of how to engage with the word of the Bible in their everyday life – not just on Sundays.
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Believe it or not, it is possible to talk about AIDS with children, even in a worship service. Use these guidelines for planning the discussion in your congregation.
For assistance in preparation for a service lifting up HIV and AIDS. These worship resources can be used for World AIDS Day (December 1), or any time throughout the year. AIDS is an important issue that impacts people in your congregation, community and around the world. The resource packet includes:
The traditional themes of the Sundays of Advent are hope, peace, joy and love. Many congregations light a candle each week and focus part of the liturgy on the concept for that week. Each of these words has unique meaning in a world where an estimated 33 million people are living with HIV or AIDS and an estimated 2.7 million more people are being infected with HIV annually. Since World AIDS Day usually falls between the first and second Sundays in Advent, we will focus on the themes of hope and peace. If you are incorporating these themes into your …
Journeys Through Revelation: Apocalyptic Hope for Today is the Horizons Bible study written by Barbara Rossing. The Horizons Bible study is published annually, and studied by individuals and groups, women and men throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and other Reformed denominations. Journeys Through Revelation explores the mysterious images of Revelation to find a message of hope and promise.
See all the lessons for this study.
For best results, right-click the Download link (or click and use "control" key for Macintosh) and save the file.
Engage: The Gospel, Your Community and Discipleship, presented by Ray Jones at the 2010 Congregational Transformation Conference.
This Great Prayer of Thanksgiving is especially intended for use during a Thanksgiving celebration.
Use this collection of Thanksgiving litanies as you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving.
While Thanksgiving is a national holiday, the tradition of giving thanks at the end of the harvest is a religious event celebrated in most cultures. The national practice of giving thanks in November is therefore quite biblical.
Scripture abounds with thanksgiving to God, for thanksgiving is part of the Christian way of life, no matter what the circumstances. These are just a few scriptures you may wish to use for a Thanksgiving liturgy.
For a church service Col. 1 is particularly appropriate, bridging the liturgy between Christ the King Sunday and the First Sunday in Advent. In lean years, other …