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. Each ministry unit has a code which you will need to activate it. Contact your priest for the code.
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