writer & poet
Along the path I’m wearing thin
between this place and that
stands a wide field, some years corn
and some years soybeans.
And today,
the corn is shorn close
like the back of a sheep
and the honey wagon trundles along
expelling rich brown manure behind.
They will cut it
into the cooling
earth.
The frost will seal it in, that it may
do the long work of making
the weary ground fertile,
a fit vessel
ready to enfold
new seed, Mary’s arms
encircling her swollen belly.
I first tried my hand at liturgical writing when I was living in Chicago and part of Western Springs Christian Reformed Church. The worship of this body of believers was truly my first introduction to responsive written prayers, scripturally-rich orders of service, and the liturgical calendar. Initially, I was skeptical. I came from a house church tradition which upheld freedom and the leading of the Holy Spirit and eyed any form as rote and unnecessary.
But the more I experienced the order of worship at WSCRC, the more richly I encountered the story of Scripture. I began to understand more clearly how the Gospel crashes in on our daily lives and imbues our daily rituals with meaning. But mostly, when I had no words, I could rest in the arranged Scripture and the recorded worship-words of historic and contemporary saints.
I was reminded each week of the glory of God, the necessity of continual confession and repentance, the assurance of God’s grace and pardon of my sin, and what it means to live a new life in Christ. I feasted at the table of Word and Sacrament, and every time I returned I found something new. It was the exact opposite of what I had believed about “high church liturgy” growing up. It was not a substitute for encountering God, it was an aid – and such an aid submitted to His Lordship and engaged in with a heart of faith elevated my eyes and ordered my steps.
So since then, I have continued to write words of worship for whichever church body I am a part of. One in particular strikes at a very present moment in the church body: A Liturgy for Separated Worship. This responsive prayer revolves around the unique situation many of us find ourselves in right now – separated bodies meeting both online and in-person. This is not the way it’s supposed to be, but it is currently the way we function. Until embodied worship begins again, every service feels like we’re missing part of ourselves. This liturgy is free until the end of the year, when it will hopefully not be needed.
Looking to the next stage of the church calendar, I’ve also recently uploaded the following new liturgies:
All Saint’s Entry & Exit Liturgies: In some sense, this liturgy is another one that groans with the weight of separation – between the Church on earth and the Church triumphant.
Advent Introits: Lamps Lit & Canticles: These two sets of introits offer Advent candle-lighting responsive readings on scriptural themes of waiting and singing.
Peace on Earth: A Christmas Pageant: This full service is designed as a concert or pageant for your Christmas celebrations. Includes a short children’s drama, Scripture readings, reader’s texts, and suggested hymns.
Christmas Exultation: A festive, joyous responsive reading for churches to use during Christmastide (particularly on Christmas morning).
I’ll continue to upload more (and write more!) in the ensuing weeks. I hope they are of encouragement to you and your church body in worship.