Resources for individual reflection and for preparing to lead worship
Prayer Resources
Prayer Apps
Epray daily – Morning, Evening Prayer from A Prayer Book of Australia, as well as Compline and a Service of the Light. Epray daily conveniently has the readings and psalms for the day included in the free app.
Visit Broughton Publishing and follow the instruction in the right hand page about e-pray: Broughton Publishing
Time to Pray – from the Church of England http://www.anglicannews.org/
The Church of England – daily prayer available under Prayer and Worship tab on its home page. https://www.churchofengland.org/
Laudate – The full seven services (Hours of the Day) from the Catholic Office of the Day, plus much more.
Universalis – Hours of the Day readings from the early Fathers and Mothers. Available as an app or online http://www.universalis.com/
Pray as You Go – available as an app or bookmark it on your computer. https://pray-as-you-go.org/
Websites for Contemplative Prayer
Centring Prayer – a simple, still prayer to connect deeply to God. http://www.centeringprayer.com/
Christian Meditation See: https://www.wccm.org/
Center for Action and Contemplation See: Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation
Contemplative at Home Contemplative at Home | Christian Meditations, Retreats & Spiritual Direction
Children’s Christian Meditation See: Christian Meditation for Children | Christian Meditation Center
Messy Church. https://www.messychurch.org.uk/resources/prayer-and-music-ideas
Online Retreats
Ignatian Spirituality – has online retreats (some charge a small fee, and some are free). Ignatian Prayer Online – IgnatianSpirituality.com. This site has a rich collection of articles and it is worth a browse around for other ways to discern the presence of God to become more self aware and to grow closer to God. https://www.ignatianspirituality.com
Music Resources for Worship
Singing from the Lectionary – Hymn suggestions according to the lectionary readings for the week. Singing from the Lectionary
Carolyne Gillette – Carolyn writes modern words to older tunes and has an extensive range of hymns to suit all seasons and feasts. carolynshymns.com
Scripture Resources
Daily Scripture
NRSV Bible with Apocrypha – free app for phone (can be used offline).
Deep Calls to Deep from ABM – daily reflection from Holy Week to Ascension on the scriptural theme of chaos and light.
Daily Scripture – Servants of the Word links to the Early Church Fathers and others on the daily readings. Available as phone app or computer download. https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Sacred Space – a Jesuit site. As an app or on computer. See: https://www.sacredspace.ie/
Bible Commentaries
The Bible Project – excellent short animated videos on all the books of the Bible, the meaning of Scripture as a whole, word studies and themes of the Bible. https://bibleproject.com/
Translation of the Greek – discussion of the Gospels. See Mark Davis’ blog, an engaging translator and interpreter of the New Testament. https://leftbehindandlovingit.blogspot.com/
The Text this Week – This has an amazingly extensive collection of articles about the Sunday readings. It is a little difficult at first to navigate.
- Go to the home page.
- Go to right hand side and see where it says Calendars.
- Click on Year A (or the relevant year).
- Scroll down to the Sunday of the year you want and click on that.
An extensive page will open which includes many links to the following areas: translations, images and movies, commentary, Exegesis and Sermon preparation, lectionary reflections and discussions, sermons, group discussions, liturgies, music suggestions, children’s worship, graphics and drama.
Resources for Home Worship
A simple service for Sunday worship at home for the family. See Sunday Worship at Home
Holy Week at Home:Holy_Week_at_Home
A prayer service at home for when you cannot attend a funeral. See Funeral prayers at home public
Weekly reflections on the Sunday Readings
Sarah Bachelard and others at the Benedictus Centre Canberra provide weekly sermons. See: Reflections – Benedictus Church
Well Tempered – Mark Clavier writes a blog which is not always on the precise Sunday, but great reflections on Christianity and the Church Year. See: Well-Tempered | Mark Clavier | Substack
The Church Times – go to Faith and click on Sunday Readings (you should be able to read this weekly although most things are behind a pay wall.
Jamberoo Abbey – Prayerful reflections on this week’s gospel. Weekly lectio divina
Working Preacher – Weekly reflections on the lectionary readings for Sunday by different theologians. Working Preacher
Church of Scotland – Weekly reflections on the lectionary readings for Sunday. Weekly Worship | The Church of Scotland