Worship Ways
Worship Ways are original liturgies written in English and in Spanish by United Church of Christ pastors, based on readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. Look for Sunday, festival and special UCC worship services here, organized by seasons of the Church Year. Check out the newest feature of Worship Ways, The Living Psalms. The Psalm for each week is reinterpreted in poetry and art as a reflection of God’s work of justice and compassion in our midst today. Click here for Mission Moments, which can be used with your newsletter or Sunday worship bulletin.
Seasons
Epiphany/Epifania
Epiphany, Year B
January 6-February 14, 2021
The Church explores the identity of Jesus in this season after Epiphany—Gospel story after story challenges us: who is this person of power and Spirit who has appeared in our midst? The season begins and ends with Festival days—Epiphany and Transfiguration—with festival colors; the Sundays in between are green.
- Revealed to Us – Epiphany 2 – Year B, January 17, 2021
- Martin Luther King Weekend Service – January 18, 2021 – Year B
- 2 epifania -17 de enero
- Living Psalm 29 – Baptism of Christ – Year B
- Living Psalm 139 – Epiphany 2 – Year B
- Black History Month Call to Worship – February 2021 – Year B
- Light’s Wisdom: Service Prayers for the Festival of Epiphany – Year B, January 6, 2021
- Baptism of Christ – Epiphany 1 – Year B, January 10, 2021
- Reluctant Evangelists – Epiphany 3 – Year B, January 24, 2021
- Holy, Whole One – Epiphany 4 – Year B, January 31, 2021
- The Delightful Lightness of Being in Light – Epiphany 5 – Year B, February 7, 2021
- Transfiguration Sunday – Year B, February 14, 2021
- Epifania—6 de enero
- 1 epifania—10 de enero
- 3 epifania—24 de enero
- 4 epifania—31 de enero
- 5 epifania—7 de febrero
- Transfiguacion – 14 de febrero
Lent/Cuaresma
Lent, Year B
February 17- March 28, 2021
The late Representative John Lewis of Georgia talked about stirring up “good trouble” that leads to justice. Jesus stirs up a lot of good trouble in the Lenten Gospels this year; we are called to prepare ourselves and follow. The traditional color for Lent is purple; churches may want to adopt subdued colors such as gray or beige or no color at all to signify the starkness of the season.
- Ash Wednesday – February 17
- Lent 1 – February 21
- Lent 2 – February 28
- Lent 3 – March 7
- Lent 4 – March 14
- Lent 5 – March 21
- Palm-Passion Sunday – March 28
- Maundy Thursday – April 1
- Good Friday – April 2
- El Dia Miercoles de Ceniza—17 de febrero
- 1 cuaresma—21 de febrero
- 2 cuaresma—28 de febreri
- 3 cuaresma—7 de marzo
- 4 cuaresma—14 de marzo
- 5 cuaresma—21 de marzo
- Domingo de Ramos y de Pasion—28 de marzo
- El Viernes Santo—2 de abril
Holy Week
Holy Week Year B
March 29-April 3, 2021
The church follows Jesus and the disciples from triumphal procession into Jerusalem through the devastating procession to the Cross. With storytelling, ritual and music we travel all the way to the tomb. Colors for Holy Week may be the purple of Lent, a festival color for Maundy Thursday, and a mourning color for Good Friday.
- All Holy Week Services: Year B
COMING SOON
Easter
Easter, Year B
April 4-May 23, 2021
An empty tomb astonishes Mary Magdalene and the other disciples on Easter morning, and Jesus is soon discovered in the community, alive and present in a new way, especially in the “breaking of the bread”. Easter Sunday begins a season of fifty days celebration of Jesus’ new life. The season ends with Pentecost Sunday, when Jesus sends the Spirit to guide and challenge the church. Festival colors are worn through the season until the last day: Pentecost, when the color is red for the Spirit’s fire.
- All Easter Services: Year B
COMING SOON
Pentecost Season
After Pentecost, part 1
Year B, May 30-August 29, 2021
The Spirit at work guiding the church in our day is the theme for the very long season after Pentecost. In year B, the primary gospel is Mark. The color for the Season after Pentecost is traditionally green, the color of nature’s growth.
- All Pentecost Service: Year B COMING SOON
After Pentecost
Season After Pentecost, part 2
Year B, September 5-November 21, 2021
The Spirit at work guiding the church in our day is the theme for the very long season after Pentecost. In year B, the primary gospel is Mark. The color for the Season after Pentecost is traditionally green, the color of nature’s growth.
- All Season After Pentecost Service: Year B
COMING SOON
Advent
Advent, Year B
November 29-December 24, 2020
Advent is the start of the church year, a season of expectation, four weeks looking forward to celebrating the birth of Christ at Christmas. Scriptures give voice to longing for God and searching for the Holy in challenging times. We are challenged to get ready—to recognize and make room for the Holy One in our midst. Seasonal colors are purple or deep blue; the third Sunday anticipates the joy to come with rose, the color of dawn.
- Living Psalm 85—Advent 2 – Year B
- Living Psalm 80—Advent 1 – Year B, image
- Blue Christmas Liturgy
- Service Prayers for the First Sunday of Advent – Year B, 11.29.20
- Service Prayers for the Second Sunday of Advent – Year B, 12.6.20
- Service Prayers for the Third Sunday of Advent – Year B, 12.13.20
- Service Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Advent – Year B, 12.20.20
- Living Psalm for Advent 3 and 4 – Year B – Luke 1
Christmas
Christmas, Year B
December 25, 2020-January 5, 2021
The twelve days of the Christmas season celebrate the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us. The stories tell of the God of all born into a poor family, travelers in need of shelter. We ponder the mystery of how this can be; we celebrate as we seek the presence of God in our world, surprising us with possibility. Traditional liturgical colors have suggested light—white or gold—but expanding the festive color palette is appropriate for celebration.