The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

• More in this Section:
• Overview
• GDPR advice for Parishes
• Prayer Diary
  • Prayers for the 1st day of the month
  • Prayers for the 2nd day of the month
  • Prayers for the 3rd day of the month
  • Prayers for the 4th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 5th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 6th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 7th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 8th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 9th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 10th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 11th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 12th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 13th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 14th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 15th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 16th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 17th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 18th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 19th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 20th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 21st day of the month
  • Prayers for the 22nd day of the month
  • Prayers for the 23rd day of the month
  • Prayers for the 24th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 25th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 26th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 27th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 28th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 29th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 30th day of the month
  • Prayers for the 31st day of the month
• Building and Property
• Finance
• Parish Governance
• Safeguarding Trust
• Resources for Clergy
• Pastoral Support for Clergy

Resources for Clergy

The resources in this section have been suggested by clergy and staff in the diocese. If you have a resource which you wish to recommend and be included in the section, please forward it to the Venerable Dr Stephen McBride at archdeacon@connor.anglican.org.

Most of the material listed can be obtained through Richard Ryan www.thebookwell.co.uk.

Download a collection of liturgical resources (compiled as part of the diocese’s Liturgical Roadshows October 2015).

Prayers and Intercessions

Hear our Prayer & Leading Intercessions both by Raymond Chapman. These are intercessions based on Common Lectionary readings for years A,B and C.

Prayer for Parish Groups Donal Harrington and Julie Kavanagh Columba Press

Prayers of Intercession, by David Adam, for years AB & C

Clouds and Glory, Year A. Traces of Glory, Year B Traces of and Glory Year C by David Adam

Prayers of Intercession Susan Sayers

Light dawns 100 meditations for public worship from Advent to Epiphany Nick Fawcett

The Rhythm of Life – Celtic Daily Prayer David Adam

Celtic Daily Prayer. Inspirational prayers and readings from the Northumbria Community

Common Worship- Times & Seasons for seasonal material

http://www.layanglicana.org – a useful resource in the preparation of intercessions.

All-Sorts Prayer 1 & 2 interactive prayers for all ages Claire Benton-Evans www.kevinmayhew.com

Sermon preparation or devotions

The Church of Ireland’s Liturgical Advisory Committee’s Service of Prayer and Naming and the Funeral Service in cases of Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death, as approved by the General Synod, can be downloaded from the Prayer and Worship section of the Church of Ireland website.

The Oxford Bible Commentary

New Jerusalem Biblical Commentary

The Bible for Everyone series Tom Wright

www.lectorprep.org This website provides a summary of the readings, historical background and suggestions with regards to proclaiming them. Be aware that sometimes the readings are slightly different from the Revised Common Lectionary.

www.churchnewsireland.org This website provides up to date news and information as well as liturgical resources for the major festivals throughout the year.

www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/starters_for_sunday This website is produced by the Church of Scotland and includes weekly sermon notes and intercessions based on the RCL

www.wordlive.org is a daily online email or app from Scripture Union

Common Worship Living Word edited by Jane Williams. This is a series of four cd-roms for each liturgical year and is produced by redemptorist publication available from www.rpbooks.co.uk

The Meaning in the Miracles by Jeffrey John

Man’s Quest for God & The Prophets, by Abraham Joshua Heschel

Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time & Meeting Jesus in Mark, both by Marcus Borg

The Greatest Prayer (on the Lord’s Prayer) John Dominic Crossan

The Power of Parable: How fiction by Jesus became fiction about Jesus John Dominic Crossan

Sacred Space from the Irish Jesuits is good for daily personal devotions, available in book form or online at www.sacredspace.ie

Our Haven and Our Strength, by Martin Samuel Cohen, a translation of the Psalms with a comment on each by a New York rabbi. Some fresh perspectives from a non-Christian angle.
H+ Course (Bible Society)

The Prayer Course http://prayercourse.org (by Alpha & 24-7 Prayer is group study in six interactive downloadable video sessions based on The Lord’s Prayer – it is FREE

http://www.sacredise.com/ a very useful resource in the preparation of pew sheets and has some very good resources for the preparation of one off liturgies.

Liturgy

The Wild Goose community have produced a marvellous selection of festival based liturgical resources their website is www.ionabooks.com.

Candles and conifers – from All Saints’ to Advent

Cloth for the cradle – Advent, Christmas and Epiphany

Stages of the way – Lent Holy Week and Easter

Eggs and ashes – Lent and Holy Week

Down to Earth worship for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Rosie Rushton – www.kevinmayhew.com

Coming Ready or Not! All Age services for Advent to Epiphany Val Hawthorne www.kevinmayhew.com

Study Groups

Pilgrim is a new series published by the Church of England. It is an innovative and inspiring programme for enquirers and new Christians. www.pilgrimcourse.org

Exploring the Void – a Lent course by Nicholas and Judith Calver

Exploring God’s Mercy Steven Croft – Excellent study resource www.chpublishing.co.uk

Experiencing God’s Mercy Steven Croft www.chpublishing.co.uk

A way through the wilderness – experiencing God’s help in times of crisis Paula Gooder wwwchpublishing.co.uk

Essential 100 – Journey through the Bible In 100 readings. Whitney T Kuniholm

Following Jesus: What the NT teaches us, by Daniel Harrington, suitable for group study.

The Prayer Course http://prayercourse.org (by Alpha & 24-7 Prayer is group study in 6 interactive downloadable video sessions based on The Lord’s Prayer – it is FREE

What’s so amazing about grace? Philip Yancey Zondervan

Children’s Ministry

www.sermons4kids.com This is a free website which provides a children’s address on the RCL readings as well as puzzles, word searches and colouring-in pictures all of which are excellent for use in youth organisations and schools

www.assemblies.org.uk This is a free website which provides seasonal and other school assembly talks for a variety of age groups

www.calvarycurriculum.com is a useful children’s site that can readily by adapted or adopted as you see fit.

Creative ideas for Children’s Worship Years AB&C Sarah Linton. Each book comes with a CD rom and provides sermon ideas, dramas and intercessions which are suitable to children

Celebrations! All age worship. Nick and Claire Page. This book includes eight ready to use services New Year, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost, Harvest, Advent and Christmas

Family All Age Worship. Nick and Claire Page

www.rootsontheweb.com An ecumenical, lectionary-based resources in two magazines, plus a huge library of online materials.

For Christmas ideas please see Advent and Christmas section below.

Music

Small Church Music – www.smallchurchmusic.com/ – This website is useful for backing tracks, from basic organ/piano to small band versions and is especially helpful in the absence of live musicians.

21st Century Folk Hymnal– published by Kevin Mayhew. Simple versions of a selection of choruses and hymns, both well-known and lesser known.

The Psalms, by Martin E. Leckebusch, 150 metrical psalms for singing to well known hymn tunes.

New Psalms for Common Worship, compiled by Colin Mawby, is a collection of chants for new psalter, with straightforward refrains. Psalm can be chanted by choir/cantor, with congregation joining in refrain, or whole thing can be attempted by congregation, with or without refrain.

Musicademy ‘Worship Backing Band’ DVD series available from http://www.musicademy.com

DVDs

Start! is an enquirers’ course in the vein of Alpha, except that it works more on visuals rather than from texts. This series is especially helpful where literacy an issue. It comprises of six sessions, with two short DVD clips to open and close each topic, provoking and encouraging discussion in between. Handbook material comes with it, making use of cartoons & simple text. This useful introduction to the Christian faith and provides an alternative to the Alpha course. It is available through the Leading your Church into Growth organisation.

NOOMA with Rob Bell. A fantastic series of modern presentations of the teaching of Jesus with questions for group discussion

Jerusalem – The Making of a Holy City, Simon Sebag Montefiore (BBC)

‘Life Journeys’ by Jeff Lucas – a DVD small group series (publisher CWR) http://www.cwr.org.uk/store/

LICC materials including: ‘Life on the Frontline’ & ‘Fruitfulness on the Frontline’  – DVDs for small groups with downloadable resources on website http://www.licc.org.uk

Advent and Christmas

Videos – These videos could be used in an all age service but would be particularly relevant to a youthful congregation

The Christmas Scale, what is the good news of Christmas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNDtHdG5mVk

He came – focuses on incarnation   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u65m__-LLfs

Someone is coming, looks at a biblical overview to Christmas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woRD3aSclK8

‘My Christmas is plastic’ – a reflection on what Christmas is really about   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypXrT1eJkRQ

Children’s Services at Christmas – Animals Stories Christmas Nativity

Christmas Jesus vs Easter Jesus