Resources on Carol Penner

Creating Sanctuaries: Abuse in the Church

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Scripture Meditation or Sermon, Song or Hymn

In this sermon on Exodus 25:3-9 and Psalm 32:7, Carol Penner reflects on the church "sanctuary" in the sense of a place of refuge.

Exodus 25:3-9; Psalm 32:7

See more resources like this

Abuse, Sanctuary, Refuge, Security

Really Listening to the Story of the Wheat and the Tares

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

Drawing on examples from Mennonite Church History, this sermon by Carol Penner on Matthew 13:24-30 demonstrates the danger of prematurely judging the different worship practices of others. Penner asserts that God alone should judge our actions.

Matthew 13:24-30

See more resources like this

Parables, Worship, Mennonites, Diversity

After a Mass Shooting

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Prayers of the People

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

See more resources like this

Lament, Violence, Guns, Massacre

Communion Service - With Thanksgiving

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Communion Liturgy or Prayer

Carol Penner offers a communion service with thanksgiving. "Send your Spirit upon us so that we know that all who eat and drink in this room and around the world are one body, one holy people."

See more resources like this

Thanksgiving, Communion, Lord’s Supper, Blessing

Worshiping the God who Sees Me

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

"God sees Hagar, but do we see Hagar?" Carol Penner's sermon from Genesis 16:1-14 emphasizes "seeing" domestic violence and responding in a helpful way, i.e, reporting it.

Genesis 16:1-14

See more resources like this

Hagar, Violence, Abuse, Family

You are a Greeter in God’s House

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Scripture Meditation or Sermon, Song or Hymn

In this sermon on Psalm 84, Carol Penner argues that God's people should represent God by being a welcoming presence to others who enter the sanctuary.

Psalm 84

See more resources like this

Worship, Church, Hospitality, Welcome

Gentle Shepherd

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Prayers of the People

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer, with multiple allusions to the shepherd imagery of Psalm 23. "You anoint us with oil, you gift us with grace, providing unexpected blessings over and over."

Psalm 23

See more resources like this

Beauty, Enemies, Fear, God's Provision

Canada Day, a Prayer

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Prayers of the People

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer for Canada Day, thanking God for the country's beautiful nature, its rich history, and freedoms, while asking for God's blessing and keeping.

See more resources like this

Canada, Gratitude, Creation, Leadership

Prayer for Those Seeking Shelter

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Prayer of Intercession

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."

See more resources like this

Homelessness, Marginalization, Hope, Courage

Litany for People Living with Mental Illnesses

Carol Penner | Reformed Worship

Prayer

Carol Penner offers a litany for people living with mental illness. It mentions several categories of emotional suffering and has the refrain, "Bring healing, bring peace."

See more resources like this

Healing, Mental Pathology, Despair, Peace

Extinction of Species: Does Jesus Care?

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Scripture Meditation or Sermon

In this sermon based on Psalm 104:10-23 and Deuteronomy 22:6-7, Carol Penner laments our failure to be stewards of creation and encourages believers to be more active in creation-care.

Deuteronomy 22:6-7; Psalm 104:10-23

See more resources like this

Worship, Jesus, Creation, Leading Worship

Joyful Easter Prayer

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Offering Liturgy or Prayer

Carol Penner writes an Easter prayer to be thankful, to be joyful and in praise for the resurrection.

See more resources like this

Easter, Prayer, Worship

Thanksgiving

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Prayers of the People

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer for Thanksgiving, emphasizing not a list of things to be thankful for, but rather thanksgiving as a transformation of the heart.

See more resources like this

Thanksgiving, Image Of God, Freedom, Transformation

Prayer for the War in Ukraine

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Prayer

A prayer for the war in Ukraine by Carol Penner.

See more resources like this

Ukraine, War

Graceful Life

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Prayers of the People

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.

See more resources like this

Grace, Hope, Resurrection, Laughter

No Taking Sides

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Offering Liturgy or Prayer

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer that reflects on the fact that God is both on our side, as well as, on the side of our "enemies." May this God-of-no-sides give peace to all.

See more resources like this

Love, Peace, Enemies, Divisions

Looking for Good News

Carol Penner | Leading in Worship

Prayer of Intercession

Carol Penner's Advent prayer thanks God for the small things that bring Christmas comfort in the midst of trying times. It also testifies to God's love being "born again" in those who serve with selflessly.

See more resources like this

Advent, Christmas, Incarnation, Pandemic

God of Gardens

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Offering Liturgy or Prayer

Carol Penner offers a congregational prayer praising and petitioning our "God of gardens," using language of gardening, growth, cultivating, and more.

See more resources like this

Compassion, Community, Gardens, Creation

Voices This Christmas

Carol Penner | Together in Worship

Scripture Drama or Paraphrase

Carol Penner's reader’s theatre, for four voices, imagines the events surrounding Jesus' nativity occurring in a modern context.

See more resources like this

Nativity, Glory, Servant, Light

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!"?

See more resources like this

Christmas, Gift, God's Omnipotence, Present