2012 January 1

Leader: The Lord God is awesome and worthy of praise

Children: Let all that God has made praise him

All: Sun, moon and morning stars, earth, seas, and all living creatures

Come, praise our creator God.

Leader: The glory of God is reflected in what He does

Children: He invites all of us to be his friends!

All: We are blessed because we worship the living God.

11 Dec 25

Leader: Let us bow before the beauty of God

Children: This means everybody and every creature

All: The whole earth declares the glory of the Lord

Leader: Let heaven celebrate and the earth rejoice!

Children: God rules! He treats everyone fairly.

All: Let us rejoice in the presence of the living God.

11 Dec 18

Leader: Let us sing of the Lord’s great love

Children: Tell the babies and the great grandparents

All: We declare that God’s love stands firm forever!

Leader: God is faithful and keeps his promises

Children: He made a big promise to David

All: The son of David will rule forever

And his love will never fail.  

Third Sunday of Advent

Leader: Let us rejoice together in the light.
Children: John the Baptist was witness to the light
All: Let us also be witnesses to Jesus Christ, the light of the world
Leader: We join with sisters and brothers around the world,
lighting candles to mark our steps in this Advent journey.
Children: Today, we light the candle of Joy
All: We will rejoice in Jesus Christ, the light of the world
Leader: Let joy permeate the very depths of our being
Children: Let’s sing and shout and dance and play!
All:  Together, we proclaim to the world that, in Christ, we have joy.

11 Advent One

Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
Children: We look up to the night sky and see the southern cross
 All: God has placed lights in the sky to mark the seasons
Light shows us the way, and dispels the darkness
Leader: We join with sisters and brothers around the world,
lighting candles to mark our steps in this Advent journey.
Children: Today, we light the candle of Hope.
All: Even though the night seems dark and cold,
we know that the light of Christ is coming. 
Leader: The face of our Lord will shine, and we shall be saved!
Children:  In a world where there is pain and darkness,
We dare to declare there is light!
All:  Together, we proclaim to the world that, in Christ, we have hope.

11 December 4

Leader: The Lord promises peace to his people

Children: We know that God keeps His promises

All: Salvation is near to those who obey God.

Leader: Love and Truth will meet for coffee

Right living and whole living will linger over lunch.

Children: It will be good times!

All: God will give goodness and beauty,

And our obedience will prepare His path.

11 November 27

Leader: Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel

Children: You lead your people gently and kindly

All: You sent us your light and your salvation.

Leader: Hear us and restore us, Lord God Almighty

Children: Help us to hear you and know you are here

All: Jesus Christ is our Lord, our light and our salvation.

Let us praise and worship him together.

11 November 20

Leader: Come, let us shout to God

Children: Let’s make some noise!

All: For He is our God, the King above all else.

Leader: God made the Waitomo Caves, and Mt Aoraki

Children: God make the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea.

All: He is our God, and we are the flock he cares for.

11 Nov 13

Leader: Look up! Look up! Look up!

Children: We watch and wait, holding our breath,

We look up like a baby watches for mum.

All: We look to the Lord our God.

Leader: Have mercy on us O God

Children: We are sick of being laughed at.

All: We look to our Creator, Lord, Friend.

Nov 6

Leader: Hurry to our rescue O God

Children: People are out to get us!

All: Bless those who pass judgment on us,

Those who gossip and lie and wish us ill.

Leader: Let all those who seek God rejoice!

Children: Our God is mighty! Our God is mighty!

All: You O Lord are our help and our deliverer.

Oct 30

Leader: The Lord is just and righteous.

Children: Sometimes we have terrible, awful, no good days. No fair!

All: Let your light and truth break into our reality.

Leader: Come and worship, with passion and intelligence

Children: No matter what, we choose to sing God’s praises.

All: We trust in God, our hope and our salvation.

Let us give thanks together.

11 Oct 23

Leader: Lord, you teach us to tell time differently.

Children: A thousand years or a day makes no difference to you.

All: Help us to make the most of every moment you give us.

Leader: A day without you at the centre is a day wasted.

Children: Show us your love in the morning

And we will skip and dance all day long.

All: May the blessing of the Lord rest on us today.

11 Oct 16

Leader: Sing a brand new song to the Lord.

Children: Update your blog! Tweet the latest!

All: Let us proclaim together the glory of the Lord.

Leader: Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise

Children: The Lord makes pagan gods look like worn out McDonald’s toys.

All: Let us worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness.

11 Oct 9

Leader: Remember the Lord, remember the Lord your God

Children: Don’t settle for substitutes

All: We will remember the mighty saving acts of God.

Leader: Don’t be like those who rebelled in the desert

Children: They made a calf, a metal idol, a make believe God.

                        How silly!

All: We will remember the living God, great in power,

Whose love endures forever.

11 October 2

Leader: God’s word is more precious than anything.

Children: God’s word is better than shiny things.

All: The word of the Lord is safer than gold.

Leader: We will put our trust in the living Word.

Children: God’s word keeps us safe from danger,

and leads us to hidden treasures.

All: Let your Word find a welcome in our hearts today.

11 September 25

Leader: Come, put your trust in the Lord.

Children: Take us by the hand and show us how you work

All: Remember O Lord, your great mercy and love.

Leader: God is fair and just. Listen! Pay attention to his word.

Children: You don’t have to earn it. Just ask for help and say yes!

All: Guide us, merciful and loving God
Teach us your way.

11 September 18

Leader: Come to worship, and remember what the Lord has done.

Children: He makes us rich! He leaves no one behind.

All: God keeps his promises.

Leader: The Lord led Israel in the desert by cloud and by fire

Children: He made sure they had enough to eat.

All: God keeps his promises. Let us sing with joy!

Sept 11

Leader: How great is our God!

All: Remember how he saved Israel from slavery in Egypt.

Children: The Sea took one look and ran away.

Leader: Be careful everyone. We are in God’s presence now.

Children: Our God can make living water come from solid rock.

All: Let all the earth worship the Creator, Saviour, and Counselor
The Holy One, who brings life and freedom in surprising ways.

September 4, 2011

Leader: Sing to the Lord a new song
Children: Why can’t we sing a song we know?
All: Let us find fresh ways to praise our King together

Leader: For the Lord keeps doing amazing things,
Children: So we will find new ways to say thank you,
All: Let us praise God here, and when we go home,
In public and in private, let us praise the Lord.

11 August 28

Leader: Come, let us worship the Lord,

Children: We have been very good!

All: We trust in the Lord with all our hearts.

Leader: Examine our hearts and minds O God,

Children: We remember that you love us very much.

All: We choose to praise your name today.

August 21, 2011

Leader: If the Lord had not been on our side

All: If the Lord had not been on our side

Leader: When enemies attached us

Children: They would have eaten us all up

Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord

All: Praise be to the Lord

Children: Even though those enemies have big sharp teeth

All: We have escaped! Our help is in the Maker of heaven and earth.

Tweet

August 14

Leader: Come, let us worship God in unity

Children: It is choice when brothers and sisters get on.

All: When we are united in the love of Christ,
It is like precious, sweet smelling balm.

Leader: Come, let us be together in worship

Children: No more fighting! No more “me first.”
What really matters is God – and God is love!

All: As we draw near in worship, there is blessing and new life,
Let us worship our loving God together.

August 7

Leader: Come, let us worship God who keeps his promises

Children: Remember the story of Joseph, the dreamer,

All: We will trust God in the deepest of dark wells and in the sunshine.

Leader: Come, let us worship God who cares for us,

Children: Remember Joseph who went from prisons to palaces,

All: We will praise God! His love endures forever.

July 31

Leader: O Lord, hear our call

Children: We are straight up. We say what we mean.

All: Let our vindication come from you and you alone.

Leader: Test our hearts, examine our thoughts,

Children: You say you love us – and we believe you!

All: We call on you O God – listen to our prayer.

July 24, 2011

Leader: Come, let us give praise to the Lord
Children: Sing, sing, sing!
All: Tell the stories of what God has done
Leader: Come, let us look to the Lord who is strong
Children: Remember, remember,
All: God is holy and He keeps promises,
Praise the Lord our God.

July 17, 2011

Leader: Teach us your ways O Lord

Children: Help us not to have secrets from you

All: We will praise you with all our hearts

Leader: Come, let us praise the name of the Lord

Children: God is bigger that the worst we can imagine

All: The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger, full of love and faithfulness.

July 10, 2011

Leader: Come, let us worship the Creator

Children: God sends the rain so that everything grows,

All: The rivers of God never run dry,
And storage lakes of the Lord are never empty.

Leader: You, O Lord, bring blessing to us,

Children: You make sure we have more than we need,

All: Wherever your footsteps touch the earth,
A rich harvest is gathered.
Let us shout for joy and sing together.

Feedback

If you are a worship leader using these calls to worship, I'd love to know! Just for July, 2011, could you post a comment, or drop me an email and let me know where in the world you are, what church you worship with, and how many children and adults you usually have in your congregation?
E.g. I am using these at St Stephens Presbyterian church in Timaru New Zealand. We have anywhere from 8 to 18 children and 50 -70 adults on a Sunday morning.
Thanks!

July 3

Leader: Let us come to worship as a bride comes to her wedding
Children: We need to have a bath and wear our best clothes
All: Let us come with joy and laughter to the house of the King,
Leader: Come to worship, knowing you are greatly desired,
Children: We need to get ready – it will be good times!
All: With young and old, with people from all nations,
Let us worship God together.

June 26

Leader: Come, let us sing the Lord’s praise
Children: Why? Sometimes it feels like God has forgotten us.
All: How long, O Lord, will you hide your face?
Leader: Come, let us remember God’s faithfulness,
Children: That’s right. God has answered our prayer.
All: We live by faith, not by feelings,
So come, let us sing the Lord’s praise together.

June 12, 2011

Leader: Lord, our Lord, your name is holy and majestic,
Children: And you love to listen when children lead worship
All: What? Will the creator of the world take notice of my voice?
Leader: Yes ! Yes! Yes! You are loved by God. You matter to God.
Children: God calls each one of us to an important job!
All: Lord, our Lord, your name is holy and majestic.

June 19 2011

Leader: We pause and ponder at the greatness of God’s creation
Children: Sharks and salmon swim in the salty sea
All: The earth is full of creatures made by God
Leader: Come, let us worship the creative creator,
Children: Tiny plankton and humungous whales,
All look to God for their very life,
All: Send your Spirit O God, and recreate your world.

June 5

Leader: Come, let us sing and give thanks to the Lord.
Children: Why should we? What has God done?
All: He rules over rulers,
And he cares for those who have no one.
Leader: Let us sing our thanks and give praise to the Lord
Children: Tell us the stories of God’s mighty actions
All: The Lord sets the prisoners free
Let us rejoice before the Lord our God.

May 29

Leader: Praise our God all you people
Children: Let’s praise God who keeps our feet from slipping
All: The Lord has brought us to a place of plenty
Leader: Come and hear, all you who fear God
Children: Life can be tough, but God gets us through
All: Let us praise God with words and with everything we do.

May 22, 2011

Leader: Lord, we come to you for protection
Children: You are like an earthquake strengthened building.
All: Fulfill your promises to us, and save us O God.
Leader: Lead us and guide us so your name will be honoured
Children: Keep us safe from dangers we don’t even see
All: You are faithful, and we trust you with everything.

May 15, 2011

Leader: The Lord is our shepherd.
Children: You are better than a GPS!
All: We are never lost with you in charge,
And you find us good places to rest and eat.
Leader: The Lord is our caregiver and protector
Children: We don’t need to be afraid
All: And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

May 8, 2011

Leader: What shall we return to the Lord for all his goodness to us?
Children: We’re going to say thank you!
All: We will complete what we promised, together with all God’s people.
Leader: Let us pray in the name of God,
Children: Our God thinks every single one of us is precious
All: Here we are, your servants, Lord,
We are ready to offer our sacrifice of praise and thanks.

May 1

Leader: Every good thing we have comes from God.
Children: God is so awesome!
All: The Lord is right beside us.
Leader: The Lord guides us and teaches us.
Children: We are safe in his presence.
All: You will show us the way of life
And fill us with the joy of your presence!

April 24

Leader : From the tents of God’s people come shouts of victory.
Children: The Lord is powerful! The Lord is powerful!
All: The Lord has answered our prayers and saved us.
Leader: The Lord has become our salvation.
Children: The stone the builders rejected is now the most important.
All: Let us rejoice today and be glad!

Passion Sunday April 17

Leader: Be merciful to us O God.
Children: Sometimes we have terrible, bad, no good days.
All: Our eyes grow weak with sorrow, our soul and bodies with grief
Leader: But we will trust in you, O God.
Children: No matter what happens, you are our God.
All: Let us know your presence is here O God
Save us in your unfailing love.

Palm Sunday April 17

Leader: Open up the gates of justice, right relationship, and faithful love.
Children: Give thanks to God, because his love never gives up.
All: We give thanks because God calls us and saves us.
Leader: This is the gate through which the righteous may enter
Children: Jesus is the way.
All: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
His love endures forever

April 10, 2011

April 10

Leader: From the deepest places, we cry out to you Lord.
Children: Lord, is your cell phone on? Will you take our call?
All: We wait for the Lord. We wait for the Lord.
Leader: Our wrong doing is evident but forgiveness is your very nature.
Children: Jesus is always ready to listen and to talk.
All: We put our hope in Jesus Christ, his unfailing love, his full redemption.

April 3, 2011

Leader: The Lord is our Shepherd. Listen to his voice.
Children: He keeps us on the right path, he keeps us safe.
All: The Lord is faithful and true.
Leader: The Lord is with us, in life and in death.
Children: You treat us to a feast, and we are your special guests!
All: Your kindness and love will always be with us
And we will live forever in your house, O Lord.

March 27

Leader: Come on everybody, let’s make some noise!
Children: Who is the best? Who is the best?
All: The Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
Leader: Come, let us bow down in worship
Children: The deepest caves and the highest mountains are his.
All: He is the Lord our Maker, and we are under his care. Praise God!

March 20

Leader: What is the biggest thing around?

Children: Mt Aoraki is our mountain. The Waitaki is our river.

All: Our strength comes from God who made Mt Aoraki,
Who tells the mighty Waitaki where to flow.

Leader: Is our God random? Is our God fickle?

Children: No way! Our God loves us.
He stays awake to watch over us.

All: The Lord protects our very life, now and forever.

March 13, 2011

Leader: Who will listen to our fears and save us in our time of trouble?
Children: Guilt makes you tired and sick and sad
All: When we confess our sin, the Lord is faithful and forgives us.
Leader: The Lord is near.
Children: He is our safe place.
All: The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds those who trust in him.

March 13

Leader: Come, let us be honest and straight up
Children: Let’s face it. We are not perfect.
All: Blessed are those who confess and are forgiven
Leader: The Lord’s love is unfailing.
Children: Help us to learn how to do what is right
All: We trust in the Lord and we rejoice.

March 6

Leader: The Lord sits on his throne in heaven
Children: Yes but does anyone take any notice?
All: We declare that the Lord God is king.
Leader: Serve and honor the Lord with gladness
Children: Pay attention! Listen! Learn!
All: The Lord blesses and protects all who run to him.

Feb 27

Children: Who is the king of the castle?

Leader: The time for playing games is over.

All: It is time to worship, to proclaim the Lord is King.

Children: It is time to listen and to learn

Leader: It is time be still and wait on God

All: We put our hope in the Lord.

Feb 20

Feb 20
Leader: Teach us, grant us insight, direct us O Lord.
Children: Help us not to get distracted!
All: Turn our hearts towards you, that we might delight in your praise.
Leader: Help us on the pilgrim way,
Children: Pick us up when we fall over
All: We praise you, for you keep all your promises.

Feb 13

Leader: We are blessed when we stay on the road revealed by God.
Children: We know the right way because God has told us.
All: Let us praise the Lord our God who is righteous.
Leader: Come, let us dwell on God’s teachings,
Children: Let’s make them part of who we are,
All: Let us praise God with everything we are.

February 6

February 6
Leader: Come, let us praise the Lord
Children: It’s good to be on God’s side
All: Even in darkness, light dawns for God’s people
Leader: Trust in the Lord and do good.
Children: Don’t waste time worrying – decide to trust God right now!
All: Blessed are those who fear the Lord and obey the commands of God.

January 30

Leader: Who may come to worship in the presence of God?
Children: People who do the right thing and tell the truth.
Leader: Who may dwell in the presence of God?
All: The one whose walk is blameless and who does what is right
Leader: Who may live on God’s holy mountain?
Children: People who keep their promises – no matter what!
All: In Christ alone we find hope and power and promise,
To worship God as we are called. Amen.
(mostly Ps 15)

January 23

Leader: The Lord is our light and our salvation
Children: We want to hang out at God’s place!
All: In the day of trouble, the Lord will keep us safe.
Leader: Let us worship the Lord in the holy place.
Children: God’s place is like a solid rock, and an awesome tent.
All: We come into God’s presence with confidence and celebration!
The Lord is our strength and our salvation.