Resources on Carol Penner

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

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

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

Graceful Life

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer based on God's grace, leavening us, lightening us, filling us with hope that surprises, like happy laughter in a dark place.

Grace, Hope, Resurrection, Laughter

Prayer for Those Seeking Shelter

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner offers a prayer for homeless people. "As your children, can we meet and hear stories? Instead of only a handout, can we sit together."

Homelessness, Marginalization, Hope, Courage

The Year I Put God on the Christmas List

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Poetry

Carol Penner's poem puts "God on the Christmas list," wondering what God would like for Christmas. What could make God say, "This is just what I've always wanted!"?

Christmas, Gift, God's Omnipotence, Present

God Confronts War

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Scripture Drama or Paraphrase

Carol Penner offers a modern adaptation of Psalm 46. "The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge as we long for peace."

Psalm 42

Peace, War, Refuge, God's Presence

Leaving Marriage: A Survivor's Prayer

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner offers a prayer from the perspective of one who has reluctantly decided that they must leave a marriage. "Help me trust that even if I leave him, you will never leave him."

Marriage, Violence, Anger, Despair

Teach Us to Pray

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner offers an intercessory prayer that captures the various experiences of faith and doubt we go through, asking God to "teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).

Luke 11:1

Confession, God's Imminence, God's Presence, Prayer

Waiting for God

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner offers a poetic prayer employing several metaphors referring to waiting for God's presence. "Come, Lord Jesus."

God's Presence, Waiting, Coming Of Christ

Mary on Easter Morning

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Poetry

Carol Penner's poem is a first-person account of Mary Magdalene's experience at the tomb of Jesus, based primarily on John's account of the resurrection (John 20).

John 20:1-18

Resurrection, Joseph Of Arimathea, Tomb, Body

Prayer for Playing

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner's prayer thanks God for rest and play and invokes God's presence. "Help us to choose activities in our leisure time that re-create us and diminish no one."

Technology, Recreation, Sabbath, Immanuel

Road to Emmaus

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Carol Penner offers a call to worship invoking Jesus' presence "in your risen power," based on Jesus' promise of presence (Matthew 18:20) and the disciples' walk to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).

Matthew 18:20; Luke 24:13-35

Emmaus, God's Presence, Walking, Disciple

Come, Holy Spirit, Come

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner's prayer uses a number of metaphors for the longing for God's presence in the Holy Spirit. "We are waiting for your presence, God--patient, like a lover sitting by the telephone."

God's Presence, Holy Spirit, Waiting

Disciples at Emmaus

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Offering Liturgy or Prayer

Carol Penner presents an offering prayer based on the experience of the disciples at Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). "May our eyes be opened to your holy presence, now and always."

Luke 24:13-35

Offering, Devotion, Bread, Emmaus

A Prayer for all who are Addicted

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner offers a prayer for persons who are addicted, for those who walk with them, and for those who try to help them. "God of creation, we give thanks for the way you see us."

Courage, Wisdom, Addiction, Freedom

We Give Thanks

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Words of Praise

Carol Penner offers words of praise alluding to John 1:14. "We give thanks that you make your home among us."

John 1:14

Longing, God's Presence, Name, Community

Last Christmas

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Prayer

Carol Penner offers a prayer from the perspective of those who understand that the coming Christmas will be their last, "so they enter this season with different eyes."

Christmas, Love, Laughter, Death

Thanksgiving

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

This call to worship by Carol Penner voices the desire that everything be for God's glory. Gathering in worship, this "holy day of thanksgiving," we collectively declare it so.

Blessing, Thanksgiving, Glory, Discipleship

Call to Worship for a Virtual Service

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Carol Penner offers a call to worship for a virtual service, emphasizing the goodness of community via screens, and the kindness, justice, and walking humbly with God enjoined in Micah 6:8.

Micah 6:8