Home > Resources for Worship  
CRI/Home
Site Contents
Daily Readings
Bible Topics
Worship Topics
Ministry Topics
Lectionary
Church Year
Theology Topics
Non-English
PhotoTour
New Additions

Resources for Worship

These resources are offered as a ministry of the Christian Resource Institute with no access charge or subscription fees.
How You Can Help . . .

Resources and Reflections on Worship - Services of Worship - Resources for the Lectionary
Resources for the Church Year - Sermons and Homilies - Readings and Drama

Resources and Reflections on Worship

What is Liturgy? Evangelicals and Liturgical Worship

Essay on the growing trend of evangelicals toward liturgical worship, with a summary of its seven main elements.

The Prayers of the People

The theological basis for the liturgy of the "Prayers of the People," with an example.

Teach Us to Pray: Public Prayers for Services of Worship

Short article introducing the need and value of written prayers for public worship, with a menu to a range of model prayers for use in worship.

Prayers for Military Chaplains

Collection of model prayers for military chaplains, mainly invocations for various military functions.

Word and Table:  Reflections on a Theology of Worship

An examination of the theological basis for the renewed emphasis on "word and table" as the structure for Christian worship in some historically low-church traditions; the balance of word and table in worship.

Can We Sing Christmas Carols During Advent?

A short essay on the theological role of Advent as distinct from Christmas

"Low Church" and "High Church"

A brief explanation of the differences between low church and high church approaches to worship.

A Thanksgiving Reflection

A brief reflection on hope and giving thanks.

Biblical and Christian Symbolism

A menu page for articles dealing with various kinds of symbolism in Scripture and the Church, including the use of objects, color, numbers, and various images.

Services of Worship

A Liturgy of Infant Baptism

A liturgy for the baptism of infants from an evangelical perspective, including family and congregational responses.

Death of an Infant (Graveside Service)

A brief graveside service for the death of an infant.

Reformation Sunday: A Service of Worship

A Service of Worship for Reformation Sunday, with information for a worship folder insert.

All Saints Sunday: A Service of Worship

A Protestant Service of Worship for All Saints Sunday, with introductory information

Christ the King Sunday

A brief explanation of this Sunday in the Church Year, with a service of worship in Scripture and music that retraces the journey through the Church Year in preparation for the beginning of Advent.

A Service for the Hanging of the Green - Traditional

A service of worship for the beginning of Advent, explaining the various symbols of the Christmas season while decorating the sanctuary for Advent; for more traditional evangelical Protestant churches.

A Service for the Hanging of the Green - Liturgical

A more liturgical version of the Service for the Hanging of the Christmas Green at the beginning of Advent.

A Service of the Nativity

A service of worship for the beginning of Advent or Christmas Eve, focusing around the Nativity Scene; the service centers around the Christmas story as told in Matthew and Luke, and can be adapted in a variety of ways.

A Service of Worship for Ash Wednesday

A Protestant Service of Worship for Ash Wednesday, adapted from The Book of Common Prayer.

Remember: Communion for Lent

A service of Eucharist that can be used as an Ash Wednesday service or adapted for a Maundy Thursday service.  It is built around the concept of remembering from Psalms 105 and 106.

The Symbols of Lent

Congregational responsive readings for worship during Lent and Easter Sunday using symbols of the season, soem of which are coordinated with the RCL Scripture readings for for the three year cycle:
Year A    Year B    Year C

Haggadah: A Passover Seder for Christians

A complete Seder service built from traditional Jewish observance but adapted to Christian celebration. It can be used in a family context or in a public service for Maundy Thursday.

Introduction to a Christian Seder

Background information and details to help organize and prepare a Christian Seder service, including directions for table setting and recipes for traditional foods.

The Cross as A Journey: Stations of the Cross for Protestant Worship

A brief explanation of the Stations of the Cross and how it can be used in Protestant worship during Holy Week including a brief service of worship

See also: The Fourteen Stations of the Cross

A brief description and photos of the traditional Fourteen Stations of the Cross.

Resources for the Lectionary

The Lectionary

The Lectionary as a tool for preaching and teaching in the Church.

The Revised Common Lectionary, Index by Sunday

A complete listing of Sunday Bible readings for the three year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary readings, arranged in order by season of the church year beginning with Advent.

Index of Lectionary Readings by Biblical Books

This listing of biblical readings provides a quick reference to determine when any particular biblical passages is used in the three year cycle of Revised Common Lectionary readings.  It is color coded to distinguish between different types of readings.

Index of Lectionary Commentaries by Year and Sunday

Theological Commentary on one or more of the Sunday Lectionary texts including exegesis of the text and Preaching Paths, organized by Year and Sunday.

Index of Biblical Passages

Lists biblical passages that are the main topic of an article in the CRI/Voice web, including Lectionary Commentaries, organized by biblical book.

The Dates for the Church Year: Year A (2019-2020)

The major dates of the Christian Church Year for Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary, beginning with Advent in 2019.

The Dates for the Church Year: Year B (2017-2018)

The major dates of the Christian Church Year for Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary, beginning with Advent in 2017.

The Dates for the Church Year: Year C (2018-2019)

The major dates of the Christian Church Year for Year C of the Revised Common Lectionary, beginning with Advent in 2018.

Resources for the Church Year

The Seasons of the Church Year

The cycle of church seasons that comprise the Christian Church calendar, including links to specific seasons and related articles.

The Colors of the Church Year

A color chart showing the various colors used in the sanctuary for the seasons of the Christian Church Year, as well as the dates for the current year.

The Meaning of Church Colors

A chart with a brief explanation of the symbolism of the various colors used in Christian liturgical worship.

The Church Year: Advent

The Christian Season of Advent from a Protestant perspective, including the meaning of the symbols used to celebrate it and its theological significance as part of Christian worship.

Advent Year B Responsive Readings

Readings for Services of Worship for each of the Four Sundays of Advent, based on the Old Testament RCL texts for Year B.

Advent Year C Responsive Readings

Readings for Services of Worship for each of the Four Sundays of Advent, based on the Old Testament RCL texts for Year C.

The Jesse Tree

The Jesse Tree is a unique Advent calendar that can be adapted in a variety of worship contexts and children's activities.

The Church Year: Christmas

The Christian Season of Christmas, its meaning, and its place in Christian worship.

Christian Symbols: Christmas Ornaments

Illustrations and meaning of a variety of traditional Christian symbols as displayed on Christmas Tree ornaments.

The Church Year: The Twelve Days of Christmas

Significance of The Twelve Days between Christmas and Epiphany, as well as suggested ways to use the the popular song to teach basics of the Christian Faith.

The Church Year: Epiphany

The Christian Season of Epiphany, the climax of the season of Advent and Christmas, and its place in the church year, including a reflective prayer.

The Church Year: Lent

The Christian Season of Lent from a Protestant perspective; includes theological reflections on the significance of Lent as part of the celebration of Easter.

The Church Year: Ash Wednesday

Reflective comments on the meaning of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Christian season of Lent.

The Church Year: The Days of Holy Week

The days of Holy Week (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday) as the climax of Lent and preparation for Easter, focusing on the significance of each in Christian theology and worship.

The Church Year: Easter/Resurrection Sunday

The Christian Season of Easter or Resurrection Day from a Protestant perspective, including ways to celebrate it and its theological significance as part of Christian worship.

What Was in Jeremy's Egg? The Lesson Of Easter From an Unlikely Child

A heart-warming true story that illustrates the meaning of the Resurrection.

The Church Year: Pentecost

The Season of the Christian Church Year known as Pentecost, its history from the Old Testament, and its significance as an aspect of Christian theology and worship.

The Church Year: Ordinary Time

Information about the part of the Christian Church Year known as Ordinary Time, the counted Sundays following Epiphany and Pentecost.

Sermons and Homilies

Christ and the Cross from a Roman Centurion's Perspective

A first person sermon telling the story of Holy Week as seen through the eyes of the Roman Centurion at the foot of the Cross.

The Death of Hope: Good Figs and Good Friday

A homily for Good Friday from Jeremiah's vision of the two baskets of figs, Jeremiah 24:1-10.

Letting Go of the Past

A sermon from Psalm 22 that provides the basis for a service of healing; this can be used as the basis for an anointing service (originally written for the second anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing).

Hope: A Homily for the First Sunday of Advent

A short homily from the RCL Lectionary reading for Advent 1, Year A, Isaiah 2:1-5.

Living Stones

A Tribute to Dona Belle Bratcher, and the value of heritage and tradition; a Mother's Day Sermon from Joshua 4:19-24, that could also be adapted to Father's Day or other services that emphasize heritage.

Change in the Wind

A sermon from 1 Samuel 3:1-20, the RCL Old testament reading for Year B, Epiphany 2 and Proper 4.

Readings and Drama

Responsive Readings for Advent Year A

(Not yet available)

Responsive Readings for Advent Year B

Readings are based on Scripture Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary

Responsive Readings for Advent Year C

Readings are based on Scripture Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary

An Interactive Reading of John 9:1-41

The Gospel of John chapter 9, adapted for oral reading by a small group.

These resources are offered as a ministry of the Christian Resource Institute with no access charge or subscription fees.  (See Copyright and User Information Notice).  If you find these resources useful in your personal Faith journey or ministry,  we only ask that as you use the material you assist us by a contribution or monthly donation to enable us to continue making them available.  See How You Can Help!
Donation button gif

-Dennis Bratcher, Copyright © 2018, Dennis Bratcher - All Rights Reserved
See Copyright and User Information Notice

Related pages