Resources on Carol Penner

Death, Resurrection, Peace, Communism

Voices for Peace: People That Made a Difference

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner's sermon on 2 Chronicles 22:10-12 observes that "Jehoshabeath is a woman of courage, who defied her wicked mother to save a future king."

2 Chronicles 22:10-12

Jehoshabeath, Courage, Athaliah, Shiphrah

Living Water

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Carol Penner's congregational prayer thanks God for water and uses other symbolic references to water, such as "thirst for righteousness and justice" and confession of "living parched lives."

Scripture Drama or Paraphrase

Water, Thirst, Rain

A Shepherd Watches

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner offers an imaginative dramatic monologue by a shepherd, based on Luke 2:1-14.

Luke 2:1-14

Bethlehem, Shepherd, Angels, Hope

A Child is Born

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Scripture Drama or Paraphrase

Carol Penner's dramatic reading features first-person statements by 10 biblical characters anticipating, or commenting on, the birth of Jesus. Each statement includes "For unto us a child is born!" (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Isaiah 9:6-7

Mary, Abraham, (biblical Patriarch), Hagar, Jacob (biblical Patriarch)

In Advent

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer, thanking God for the joyful signs of Christmas that appear during Advent, and waiting for the presence of Emmanuel, God with us.

Advent, Christmas, Emmanuel, God's Presence

The Gate of Heaven

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner’s sermon on Genesis 28:10-17 recounts Jacob’s vision when he was in trouble, and proclaims that God is near even during COVID, as God was revealed to Julian of Norwich during the bubonic plague.

Genesis 28:10-17

God's Love, Vision, God's Presence, Blessing

Finding You in Advent

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer for Advent, asking for God's presence to give us generosity, gratitude, patience, contentment, and peace.

Christmas, Advent, Peace, Emmanuel

Pregnant Hope

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner's sermon on Isaiah 9:1-7 and Luke 1:26-38 reflects on the pregnant Mary, and how the physical act of pregnancy teaches us how to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Isaiah 9:1-7; Luke 1:26-38

Advent, Hope, Mary, Pregnancy

Life to Life

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer based on the creation. All the world sings, calls, signals, speaks praise to God whose glory grows in all that breathes.

Breath, Creation, Holy Spirit, Life

Praying for Fire and Brimstone

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Scripture Meditation or Sermon, Artwork

Carol Penner's sermon on Jonah 4 says, "We are so often tempted to hate our enemies, to wish the worst on them, to forget that they are loved by God too."

Jonah 4

God's Love, Enemies, Blessing, God's Mercy

We Hear Your Call

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Carol Penner presents a short offering prayer. "God of grace, we hear your call to generous giving in the way you meet our needs each day, and in the peace you give."

Blessing, Grace, Generosity, Peace

Jesus in the Synagogue: Terror and Hardheartedness

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Scripture Meditation or Sermon, Poetry

Carol Penner's sermon imagines a film version of Jesus' healing of the man with a withered hand on the sabbath (Mark 3:1-6).

Psalm 143:3-8; Mark 3:1-6

Obduracy (hardness), Fear, Synagogue, Healing

For Farmers

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer specifically for farmers, acknowledging the challenges unique to their lives and lifting up prayers for harvests, the hungry, the earth, and more.

Earth, Food, Farming, Agriculture

Swearing Oaths: Taking Jesus’ Words to Heart

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner's sermon on Exodus 22:10-11 and Matthew 5:33-37 says that "Jesus calls us to be truthful people. We do not need to swear...in order to be made to tell the truth."

Exodus 22:10-11; Matthew 5:33-37

Truth, Oath, Swearing, Identity

Labor Day

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer for Labor Day, thanking God for work and for rest, and confessing "the times we abuse the gift of work."

Work, Sabbath, Rest, Technology

Overthrown: God’s Power to Change

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner's sermon on Jonah 3 says that the repentance of Nineveh from Jonah's preaching gives hope for repentance and change, not only in individuals but at the organizational level.

Jonah 3

Change, Hope, Repentance, Love

We Need You

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Carol Penner offers a pastoral prayer. "God of hope, hear the hidden prayers of our hearts, and the longing for you that goes too deep for words."

Comfort, Hope, God's Love, Justice

Our Bodies as Gift and Sacrifice

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner's sermon on Romans 12:1-13 reflects on how our bodies "are a gift from God...we are called to give our bodies as a gift, as a sacrifice, back to God."

Romans 12:1-13

Incarnation, Body, Gift, Sacrifice

After a Mass Shooting

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer that laments the tragedy of mass shootings, bringing before God questions, confusion, and petitions.