On this page are worship resources for different seasons in the Christian calendar, including Lent.
CWM Advent resources
2020 A Voice Cries Out (in turbulent times)
CWM offers these reflections for Advent at the close of a turbulent year. Advent is itself a time of turmoil and hope. We use it to prepare for the coming of the Christ-child into our realities and to attend to the prophetic voices indicating where this child will be born, for whom and what new worlds he will institute. The voices who cry out in this resource name how and where Christ is coming to work again for the transformation of a world of mountainous inequalities, grounded in the upheavals of violence and repression. Voices from India, Taiwan, the Philippines, Europe and indeed the earth and the body are joining with Zechariah.
2018 Human Trafficking focus
These Advent reflections, prepared by Council for World Mission, focus on the issue of Human Trafficking. The resource reads the genealogies of Jesus through the Sundays leading to Christmas. Find how trafficking featured in the family history and story of Jesus. The reflections include the lighting of an advent candle each Sunday through Advent.
PresCare 2014 Lenten Resources
This booklet contains weekly reflections based on the lectionary readings in the weeks leading up to and including Easter Sunday. Each reflection has been contributed by a minister of the Presbyterian Church, and all Presbyterian Support regions have contributed a story.
The illustrations in this booklet are from artwork submitted for the PresCare Art Competition in 2013. The theme of the competition was, Love Reaches Out: We Can Make a Difference.
The 2014 PresCare Lenten resource will be mailed to all parishes the week commencing Monday, 9 December 2013.
You can download the 2014 Lenten resource here.
There are three parts to each reflection; within your study group, or in your personal devotional time, we suggest you follow this sequence:
READ each of the lectionary passages
MEDITATE on the reflection which is based on one or more of the passages
CONSIDER the questions they pose
TURN to the Presbyterian Support contribution
REFLECT on how you can put your faith into action this week
BRING these reflections, thoughts and intentions to God in prayer
The Lenten resource also includes Kids Friendly family devotions, which are made to be shared! Here’s how they work:
READY One way we learn about Jesus and how he wants us to live in the world is by reading the Bible. So when you see READY get your Bibles and find out more.
STEADY Jesus wants us to be STEADY in our faith to him and his way. So when you see STEADY it’s time to chat about what you’ve heard in the Bible reading and how it can be applied in your life.
GO Jesus told his disciples to GO out into the world to share the good news of his life on earth and to love each other. So when you see GO, make a plan to reach out in love this week in your homes, schools, churches and communities. You can make a difference!
PresCare 2013 Lenten Resources
Over the 40 day period of Lent, from 13 February - 30 March 2013, PresCare invites congregations to focus on our shared concerns at this very significant time in our Christian faith.
When we read the Bible, the strongest heartbeat of God we hear is the call to care for needy, the poor, the vulnerable.
This Lenten booklet contains weekly reflections which are based on the lectionary readings in the weeks leading up to Easter. Each reflection has been contributed by a minister in the Presbyterian Church and all Presbyterian Support regions have contributed a story.
The booklet also includes family friendly devotions which are made to be shared! Here’s how they work:
Lent is a special time in the Church when we remember the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. It was a difficult time for Jesus. He fasted (ate no food) and was tempted by the devil. During Lent some people give up things to remind them how Jesus gave up his life for us. Other people do extra kind and generous things during Lent to share Jesus’ love. This Lent we want to encourage you to be the “hands and feet” of Jesus by loving others the way he does. Once a week at breakfast, dinner, or bedtime, take time to read the Bible together, talk about it and decide how you are going to reach out in love.
The illustrations in this booklet are from artwork submitted for the PresCare Art Competition in 2012. The theme of the competition was, Love Reaches Out.
The 2013 PresCare Lenten resource will be mailed to all parishes the week commencing Monday 11 December 2012.
You can download the 2013 Lenten resource here.
How to use this booklet:
READ each of the lectionary passages
MEDITATE on the reflection which is based on one or more of the passages
CONSIDER the questions they pose
TURN to the Presbyterian Support contribution
REFLECT on how you can put your faith into action this week
BRING these reflections, thoughts and intentions to God in prayer
PresCare 2012 Lenten Resources
Over the 40 day period of Lent, from 22 February to 8 April 2012, PresCare invites congregations to focus on our shared concern for the wellbeing of children and families. Our belief that peace and justice and the care of the most vulnerable are central to our Christian faith, lead us to prayer, practical action as well as supporting a prophetic voice that might speak to the underlying causes of such high levels of family violence in a country which is blessed in so many ways.
During the second week of February all congregations will be sent a number of booklets which focus on these themes through a series of Lenten reflections and also express our support for the work of Presbyterian Support’s Family Works, by providing you with an opportunity to donate to their work.
You can download the 2012 Lenten resource here.
Download the letter sent to all congregations from Moderator the Right Rev Peter Cheyne and Frazer Barton, Chair of the National Council of Presbyterian Support.
How to use the Lenten booklet
The 2012 Lenten reflections booklet has been created in consultation with a number of ministers and Presbyterian Support workers for personal or small group study in parishes and is divided into weekly themes for the period of Lent and Holy Week, running from Ash Wednesday, February 22 to Easter Sunday, April 8. Many verses (marked with a * in the booklet) are sourced directly from the current Lectionary if you wish to integrate content with your services and other meetings. There are also weekly devotions created specifically for families and children by the team at Kids Friendly.
PresCare 2011 Lenten Resources
Prescare offers a collection of meditations, one for each day in Lent, available now to all congregations.
In addition, PresCare offers resources to help provide a brief focus within worship on the needs of children and families.
The resources are available as PDF and PowerPoint slides. Download them here: PDF Version, PowerPoint slides for Weeks 1-3 and Weeks 4-6.
The resources include
- A prayer for families that may be used each Sunday in Lent
- A short blessing for children and families
- An insight into the situation of a New Zealander whose family is broken or at risk
- A bible passage or prayer linking this insight to Sunday's worship and the PresCare meditations for the week.
They can be used in any way and in any combination you want – whatever best suits your style of worship.
They can become a special focus within a service or supply the basis for discussion.
However you use them, we hope these offerings will provide a way to remind your congregation as we travel towards Easter of our common calling to extend Christian care to the families within our land whose lives lack the warmth and joy so many of us take for granted.
Read here the Moderator’s PresCare letter to congregations and email.