God’s Story for All Seasons is designed to be an alternative to the Revised Common Lectionary. It provides materials for worship services in units that match the seasons of the Church year. As these are written, each unit has its own part of the arc of the Biblical story, but units across a single year will also link to each other, wherever possible, to allow for more in-depth exploration and understanding.
Beginning with Advent, the stories leading up to Christ’s birth and Epiphany are shared. The next unit, for the Season after Epiphany, will include stories of Jesus’ life and ministry happening before He turns toward Jerusalem and the cross. The season of Lent unit covers stories from that journey and culminates in the events of Holy Week and Easter. Experiences from the Season after Easter come next, leading up to and including the birth of the Church at Pentecost. This takes us into the Season after Pentecost, the longest season of the year, which lasts until Advent comes again. This season is broken up into different units for late spring and summer, which celebrate the life of the Church, and fall, which introduce God’s story in the Old Testament.
The rhythm of these seasons - the anticipation of Jesus coming, His life and ministry, His death and resurrection, His body the Church being established and its life lived out - are all important. Also important are the stories pre-dating Christ’s arrival that come from the Old Testament. Units for the fall will highlight these stories that tell the history of the Jewish people, and which prophesy and remind us of the need for a Saviour, a Messiah.
Each unit includes introductory notes about the season and the included stories, as well as placement of the scriptures within the arc of God’s greater story. Suggestions for using the materials are also included, along with focus and supporting scriptures, music suggestions, Calls to Worship, prayers and benedictions, and springboard ideas for children’s times and adult messages. To get a better idea of what is included for each service, see the sample below.
Sample worship service taken from Two Promised Babies
RESOURCES AVAILABLE
Two Promised Babies
This unit’s Advent services are anchored by Luke 1 and focus on the Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love with a Christmas Eve/Day service from Luke 2:1-20. Invite your congregation to explore the prophecy of, preparation for and arrival of John the Baptist and his cousin Jesus. Also included are two Christmas season services from John 1 and an Epiphany service based on Matthew 2. Introductory Biblical background is included as well as notes about this important first season in the Church calendar. Recommendations are included for scheduling the Christmas services depending on your worship calendar.
All eight services include the focus scripture, suggested Psalms and supporting scripture, full Calls to Worship and prayers, music suggestions, and several springboard ideas for your children’s time and adult sermons. The liturgies can be used word for word or modified for your context.
48 pp
Price $25.00 CAD available as a PDF download only which will be e-mailed to you
(Note: this is a non-refundable item)
ISBN: 978-0-9812772-3-3
John the Baptist and Jesus
This unit includes 8 services for the Season after Epiphany, which begins in 2026 on January 11th. The focus scriptures include the intersection points of John the Baptist and Jesus, covering the beginning of their ministry and Jesus’ baptism up until John’s death. Introductory Biblical background is included as well as notes about this season and the unique relationship of these cousins as they fulfilled their God-given calling. Recommendations are included for scheduling the services depending on how many weeks you need to fill on the calendar.
All eight services include the focus scripture, suggested Psalms and supporting scripture, full Calls to Worship and prayers, music suggestions, and several springboard ideas for your children’s time and adult sermons. The liturgies can be used word for word or modified for your context.
48 pp
Price $25.00 CAD available as a PDF download only which will be e-mailed to you
(Note: this is a non-refundable item)
ISBN: 978-0-9812772-4-0