The Work of the People: Help Us Write This Book

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When we think of liturgy, we tend to think in terms of a church service or “responsive reading,” as it was called in the tradition I grew up in. But the word actually means “the work of the people” —and that’s why we want to invite you to participate in the creation of Every Moment Holy.

Author Doug McKelvey has almost half of the book’s liturgies already written, and he’s hard at work on completing the project, but from the beginning it’s been part of the plan to open the brainstorming up to you, the people.

To that end, we want to invite you to suggest topics for liturgies you’d like to see Doug write for the book. Are there ordinary moments of life for which you wish you had a specific prayer? What milestones or annual events might your family want to mark with a liturgical reading? Are there daily or seasonal rituals and routines, or fleeting incidents whose importance is too often overlooked and might be well served by a liturgical moment of preparation?

We’re interested in any and all suggestions. We’ll gather your ideas together and give them careful consideration to determine which are best in line with our vision for the book, and if we choose one of your topic suggestions to use, you’ll receive a complimentary copy of the finished book as our token of thanks (we’ll contact you via the email on your comment if we choose to use your suggestion).

Disclaimer: Doug already has a list of well over 100 liturgies he’s drawing from, so as the Rabbit Room community makes suggestions, we’re looking for new ideas we like better than the ones he’s already planned. We anticipate that as you submit topic ideas, there will almost certainly be some overlap with what we already have—but don’t let that stop you from brainstorming! We’ll give credit where credit is due.

Note that we aren’t asking for the liturgies themselves (that’s Doug’s job), just potential subjects or titles, like “A Liturgy for Sunsets,” or “A Liturgy for the First Day of School,” or “A Liturgy for a Meal Eaten Alone.” (Those are all liturgies that will appear in the book.)

Leave us your ideas in the comments section, and if you like someone else’s idea, click the like button on their comment to let us know. Suggest as many as you like. We won’t necessarily pick those that get the most likes, but it’s a great way to let us know what you’re interested in (and who knows what may follow in volume 2—yes, we’re already thinking about volume 2).

Don’t forget, all donations to the project during the month of May are being matched by a generous donor! Help us put this over the finish line financially. Your contributions—both financial and liturgical—are what is making all this possible. Click here to visit the campaign page.

Oh, and please share the project with your friends (click here)!

 

Pete Peterson is the author of the Revolutionary War adventure The Fiddler’s Gun and its sequel Fiddler’s Green. Among the many strange things he’s been in life are the following: U.S Marine air traffic controller, television editor, art teacher and boatwright at the Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch, and progenitor of the mysterious Budge-Nuzzard. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Jennifer, where he's the Executive Director of the Rabbit Room and Managing Editor of Rabbit Room Press.


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142 Comments

  3. Linda Rogers

    I want a liturgy for setting up for a craft show. It could be broadened to any event that someone is putting a lot of effort into and has no idea how it will turn out. (Concert, dance recital, doing a song in a church meeting, etc.) But especially when I am not feeling my best, have not had enough sleep, and am worried about the results of the day, a liturgy that would help me remember who God is and that He is involved in my work and that the results I’m looking for are only a tiny thing compared to the Kingdom He is building would be REALLY valuable to me.

  4. Jebi

    I don’t mean for this to sound sarcastic, I hope it doesn’t sound that way: my friend Solomon asked me the other day if DKM was planning on making a prayer for broken appliances. He was particularly thinking of his favorite coffee grinder that is now dysfunctional.

    I will try to think of things more worthy of a liturgy, but I thought this might be legitimate, maybe.

  5. Pete Peterson

    @pete

    Totally legitimate, Jebi. In fact we’ve already got a liturgy for home repair, which is in the same territory at the very least. Good suggestion!

  6. Victoria

    A liturgy for going on a road trip (or for going on a family trip). A liturgy for the first and last day on a job.

  7. Bethany Winz

    @bwinz

    I’m just spitballing here, but…

    -A Liturgy for a Single Person at Close of Day (since there’s one for husbands & wives)
    -A Liturgy for a Haircut
    -A Liturgy for Changing the Toilet Paper Roll
    -A Liturgy for Sitting in Traffic
    -A Liturgy for Taking Medication (especially the daily meds that quietly keep us alive/functioning)
    -A Liturgy for Picking Your Nose (every moment holy, right?)
    -A Liturgy for Scrolling Facebook (think of the number of nasty comments that could be prevented!)
    -A Liturgy for Going to Therapy
    -A Liturgy for Changing the Oil
    -A Liturgy for Waiting Rooms

    Okay, I’ll stop there. For now.

  9. Jamie

    Liturgy for when your car breaks down. At the rate I go to the mechanic, I feel this would be the most used by me ????.

  12. Clay Clarkson

    I think the table blessing is terribly under-served in our day of spontaneous evangelical “let’s pray” Christian lingoturgy. I have not found a resource that rises to the level of what I would consider a “blessing liturgy” in the form that Doug is writing. And I am wanting more than just one or two “thank you, Lord” liturgies. What I would like to see, at a bare minimum in EMH, is a week of blessing liturgies, one for each day of the week. They should not be long, but rich and theological blessings that would help me move beyond my default plugin prayers to offer words about God, creation, beauty, and joy that invite all at the meal into the feast of fellowship, faith, and food that every table should be. A month of short liturgies would be even better, but perhaps that would be for the next book, Every Meal Holy.

  13. Patricia Hunter

    @patricia-of-pollywog-creek

    A liturgy for leaving for vacation

    A liturgy for coming home from vacation

    A liturgy for visiting someone who is sick or in the hospital

    A liturgy for conflict resolution

    A liturgy for parenting, including parenting adult children

    A liturgy for welcoming new members into the family: from babies to in-laws

    A liturgy for delighting in nature

     

     

     

  15. Mary Ellen Tharp

    A Liturgy for getting dressed for the day.

    A liturgy for tilling the soil and planting the garden.

    A liturgy for chopping wood.

    A liturgy for sweeping and mopping.

    A liturgy for needle and thread.

    A liturgy for packing for a trip.

    A liturgy for ironing. (Does anyone still iron?)

    A liturgy for making the bed.

  16. Megan

    A Liturgy for Insomnia

    A Liturgy for Meetings with Difficult Bosses

    A Liturgy for Homesickness

    A Liturgy for Nightmares

    A Liturgy for Moving Homes

    A Liturgy for Anxious Doctor Visits

    A Liturgy for Checking my Bank Account

  18. Dan Rechlin

    A liturgy for opening one’s eyes the second time in the morning (liturgy for the snooze alarm)

  19. Mindy

    Liturgy for a miscarriage

    Liturgy for the discovery of pregnancy

    Liturgy for a vigil over a sick child

    Liturgy for the reconciliation of family members

    Liturgy for entrenched homemakers

    Liturgy for a power outage

    Liturgy for the first snow

    Liturgy for a rainbow

    Liturgy for the sighting of a new bird

    Liturgy for a child’s fear in the night

    Liturgy for fretful insomnia

    Liturgy for a birthday dinner

    Liturgy for renewed hope in battle

    Liturgy for defeating despair

    Liturgy for the outset of a journey

    Liturgy for jumping into the lake

    Liturgy for bathroom cleaning

    Liturgy for a homecoming

    Liturgy for the first tree blossoms

    Of spring

    Liturgy for the first red leaf

    Liturgy for the planting of spring lettuces

    Liturgy for the sprouting of seeds

    Liturgy for garden firstfruits

    Liturgy for childhood milestones

    Liturgy for an answered prayer

     

    I eagerly await this beautiful project. Thank you. We read a liturgy for feasting with friends this last weekend at my husband’s 40th birthday gathering. ♡

  20. Mindy

    Especially the miscarriage one and perhaps pregnancy after loss. It is so very difficult and there are no words to find. No words to read, no words to send. As a sad and horrible effect of sin, our culture has little regard for the unborn who die, wanted or not, they are not treated as fully real, and mourning them is difficult and fraught with confusion. In my own losses I deeply craved some sacred words to hold, to speak. And as I walk friends through this deep and dark disappointment, I crave sacred words to speak over their wounds.

  27. Lesley T

    A liturgy for those who are living through infertility

    A liturgy for new empty nesters

    A liturgy for releasing your firstborn into the world

    A liturgy for releasing your last-born into the world

    A liturgy for when the days are long, but the years are short

  30. Jamie

    – Memorial liturgy for a loved one (anniversary of his/her passing or birthdays remembered)

    – Liturgy for friends and family who do not know the Lord, and wisdom and words and ways to plant seeds of knowing in their lives

    – For Godly (and of course book-loving) family culture in our homes

    – For moral courage and discernment for our teen and pre-teen kids in their daily struggles

    – For the change of seasons

  31. Mike Whitaker

    Liturgy for changing guitar strings.

    Liturgy for the ride to drop the kids off at school.

    Liturgy for waiting for someone who’s late for an appointment.

    Liturgy for pastors and worship leaders after a church service ends.

  32. Jamie

    – Liturgy for kids doing their daily chores

    – Morning and evening  liturgies for special days (a child’s birthday, baptism, confirmation, a family outing)

    – Liturgies that correspond with the church year

    – Liturgy for reveling with delight and awe in His creation and power (watching a thunderstorm, star gazing, taking a hike through the woods,  etc)

  33. Megan

    A Liturgy for Insomnia

    A Liturgy for Long Meetings with Difficult Bosses

    A Liturgy for Homesickness

    A Liturgy for Nightmares

    A Liturgy for the Library

    A Liturgy for Falling in Love

  34. Jamie

    Liturgy for the moment you finish a book that made your life richer, and you close it with a sigh of mingled regret and contentment. Even if you’ve read the book many times before. 🙂

  36. Carey

    A liturgy for surrendering control.

    A liturgy for bedtime battles.

    A liturgy for everyday motherhood.

    A liturgy for a burnt cake (or other kitchen disasters).

    A liturgy for the parking lot.

    A liturgy for entrepreneurs.

    A liturgy for watercolor.

    A liturgy for seeing others.

    A liturgy for unplugging.

  37. Jason Custer

    I’m not exactly sure how to phrase this one, but the first one that comes to my mind is a “liturgy for summiting a mountain” or “finishing a hike” or something along those lines. I love the moment of sitting down after a long hike to admire the view, and always feel like I need some way to worship at that moment – I’d love a liturgy for that moment.

  38. Lara

    Liturgy for transitions both big and small

    Liturgy for yard work

    Liturgy for giving gifts

    Liturgy for home improvements

    Liturgy for little ones losing teeth

    Liturgy for changing of the season

  39. Jason Custer

    Other times I’d have loved a liturgy:

    Liturgy for chemotherapy infusions

    Liturgy for losing hair

    Liturgy for sitting in an airport (delays and cancellations)

    Liturgy for flying (both takeoff and landing)

    Liturgy for taking/finishing exams

  40. Jenny Dorf

    @jennydorf

    A liturgy for visiting and then returning from your childhood home…touching on homesickness, nostalgia, rootedness, and place.

  41. Jennifer

    A liturgy for moms with no children on Mother’s Day.

    A liturgy for going to church when you don’t want to.

    A liturgy for using Google Maps to go somewhere for the first time.

  42. Javen Bear

    @javen

    There ought to be a liturgy for:

    a fishless day of fishing.

    getting a letter/package in the mail.

    the finishing (pronouncing ‘done’) of a song or poem or story.

    old, worn, out of tune pianos.

    seeding a front lawn.

    old friends around a campfire.

    returning to the smell of your house after a long trip.

    listening to a baseball game.

    a faithful pair of shoes or pants or belt…

     

     

  45. Teresa Sayles

    A liturgy for the packing of a suitcase

    A liturgy for the rereading of a beloved book or poem

    A liturgy for watching Netlix

    A liturgy for thunderstorms

    A liturgy for the painting of a wall

    A liturgy for moving homes

    A liturgy for a walk in the park

    A liturgy for going to the grocery store

    A liturgy for taking risks

    A liturgy for foggy days

    A liturgy for Christmas shopping

    A liturgy for going to the doctor/dentist

    A liturgy for playing in the rain

  47. Brian Porteous

    A liturgy for apologizing to a child.

    A liturgy for getting your blood drawn.

    A liturgy for looking for someone else’s lost keys.

    a liturgy for looking through used vinyl at a thrift store.

    A liturgy for driving past a roadside BBQ stand.

    A liturgy for finishing a book that you wish didn’t end

    A liturgy for watching a movie with your kids that you hope will end soon.

    A liturgy for taking apart pens piece by piece and putting them back together.

    …okay, I’m done…

     

  48. Sarah

    Liturgy for changing diapers

    Liturgy for a parent looking for strength to choose love again after being assaulted by their child with special needs (Or, more broadly, Liturgy for strength to choose love again after conflict and hurt)

    Liturgy for receiving a difficult medical diagnosis

    Liturgy for donating possessions

    Liturgy for seeing and caring for a person begging on the street

  49. Briana

    Liturgy for the death of a pet.

    Liturgy for the end of a beloved book series.

    A liturgy for a great accomplishment.

    A liturgy for a great sadness.

  50. Christine cleary

    A liturgy for my time during outreach to the homeless

    a liturgy for when a new foster child/adopted child enters your home or returns to their forever home

  51. Brandi Walker

    Liturgy for taking care of aging parents.

    Liturgy for porch swing visits with God.

    Liturgy of giving of the first fruits/tithes.

    Liturgy of giving to missions.

    Liturgy when coming across the homeless.

    Liturgy for our neighbors… friendly and the unfriendly .

    Liturgy for those adopting… Gotcha Day… Adoption Day.

    Liturgy for the child in Foster Care.

    Liturgy for the Foster Parent.

    Liturgy for the Parent who has lost a child…

    Liturgy for the empty nester mother/father.

     

  52. April McClure Stewart

    I’d love a liturgy for:

    – the reheating of a cup of coffee for the nth time because Motherhood

    – for inadequacy in the face of a loved one’s self doubt

    – for the smell of a baby’s head

    – for the first time a child sleeps through the night

    – for a return to lovemaking after a hiatus

    – for the things we remember about our departed loved ones- the feel of a hand, the swoop of the hair, the way the skin at the sides of eyes crinkled when laughing

    – for the feel of freshly made bed, or the scent of deep, rich coffee or the sound of the wind blowing through poplar trees

    – for making an apology

    – for receiving an apology

    – for praying when prayer feels impotent

     

  53. Naomi

    For

    Anxiety

    Uncertainty

    Goodbye

    Remembering the past

    For when you have an empty page in front of you and you are about to start writing, creating something on it

    For making Kombucha, a probiotic nourishment for the whole family

    For gazing at the stars

    For weeding the garden

    For talking to a child after he or she has done something he shouldn’t have

    For apologizing to a child after saying hasty words

     

  54. The One True Stickman

    @theonetruestickman

    I second Bethany’s suggestions of A Liturgy for Sitting in Traffic.

    I also love the idea of a liturgies for broken appliances, or changing the oil – the idea I came here with was A Liturgy for Small Engines, having a few of them that need some manner of maintenance or resurrection at the moment. I think the common theme that draws me to those is the specific intersection between worship and work, blessing and sanctification and joy of vocation. This is something that seems less emphasized in technical or “blue collar” vocations, and particularly interesting to me since repairing things feels like such a tangible incarnation of redemption.

     

  56. Dawn

    A liturgy for the first day back to your normal life after leaving the gathered family for a funeral. Not the death or the funeral itself, but the first day back in your real word when you feel shaky, alone, vulnerable, downtrodden, exhausted, relieved for normal, and numb – all at the same time – and you’re headed back to school or work and your daily, miniscule and vast responsibilities and duties. A liturgy for that day, the one when you go back to living.

     

  57. Rebekah

    Yes, liturgy for sitting in traffic or for sitting in an airport!

    I also like the idea of liturgy of lament for unexpected death, especially when family can’t be in the same place to mourn. (I think we could use more liturgy, or awareness/teaching of liturgy, for lament in general.)

    Thanks! Can’t wait to hear!

  59. Dan Luce

    A liturgy for the start of your school day (homeschool, sending your kids off on the bus, etc)

  61. Dan Luce

    A liturgy for when someone is released from jail/prison

    -This may seem like an odd one, but what a rock-bottom moment this can be for some folks.  I teach a class on biblical conflict resolution to a group of men in our local jail and some upon release really strive to continue to walk out what they’ve been learning in the context of the church community.  A liturgy for this occasion could be something really special and help solidify the realness of they are about to walk into: a life of more freedoms and the challenge that comes with trying to live a new life with a new community

  63. Josh Bishop

    @joshbishop

    A Liturgy for the Brewing of Ale
    A Liturgy of Gratitude for Finding Something You’ve Lost
    A Liturgy for Baking Cookies to Welcome New Neighbors
    A Liturgy for Getting the Winter Boots Out of Summer Storage
    A Liturgy for When Friends Move Away
    A Liturgy While Away from Home on Vacation
    A Liturgy for the End of a Long Book
    A Liturgy for When Your Parents Come to Visit
    A Liturgy for Borrowing Something from a Friend
    A Liturgy for Organizing Your Bookshelves
    A Liturgy for an Aging Body

  64. Clay Clarkson

    A liturgy for losing a job/position/career.

    A liturgy for starting a new job/position/career.

  67. Rachel

    A liturgy for:

    – Choosing/cutting your Christmas tree
    – Washing dishes, definitely!
    – Bookbinding
    – Waiting for a reply (mail, messaging etc.)
    – The moments when you need a hug (but aren’t getting one)
    – When it’s too late to go to bed
    – Also, there might be something for the part of the day when you check the mailbox, hoping someone has decided to send you something in the mail, and realize there’s nothing for you.

    Side note: Some of these are more for impromptu moments. Some are for moments that aren’t shared with others (personal liturgies I guess).

  68. aimee guest

    The Liturgy for the Library made me smile. I love the library.

    Liturgy for 16th, 21st, 40th and other milestone birthdays

    Liturgy for the last day of school

    Liturgy for excercising when you don’t want to

    Liturgy for the first gray hair (and the last gray hair, or the last hair, ha!)

    Liturgy for the weird aches we didn’t expect to feel so early.

    Liturgy for the first time your teenager drives a car!

  69. Eddy Efaw

    for artists (makers, making, creating)

    for going to a museum (viewing art)

    for texting

    for social media(ing)

    for mowing grass

    for your lunch break

    being home with a sick child

    for dropping a child off at college

    before diving into a new book

    for the first day of school (student version and teacher version)

    for making coffee

    for splashing in puddles / playing in the rain

    for taking a walk

    for sitting in the park

     

     

     

     

     

     

  70. Christine

    a liturgy for acknowledging my great need from my Creator and Sustainer

    a liturgy for seeing with love not reason alone, disadvantiging myself for the advantage of another when appropriate

    a liturgy for a desire to move with intention, to be on the lookout for awe and wonder, the sacred everywhere

    a liturgy of  contentment and gratitude  when dismayed, dissapointed, bruised, beaten and broken along the way

  71. Dessa

    For welcoming sons to manhood/inviting them to be men/making it clear that they have what it takes to be good-hearted men.

     

    When your spouse has always been the spiritual leader, but you now feel like they need you to take the lead because life has served them some tough stuff and they are stuck. (They have never voiced this, but you know what they have been beaten down with the past two years (season) and you know you must follow Jesus hard and invite them to keep trying, keep being willing to be broken because broken people need Christ’s love.

     

     

  74. Christine

    @winterfinch

    I don’t have a succinct title for this, but a liturgy for one’s last day with a fellowship/group that has been woven tightly into his life before moving on to the next big adventure.

    Similarly, a liturgy for the first day of college or the freshman commencement ceremony, when many young adults say goodbye to their family and live on their own for the first time, taking on the responsibility of their education and life.

  75. Kathy Seeger

    A Liturgy for the Adoption of a Child

    A Liturgy for Seizing the Day/Rejoicing in The Lord Always

    A Liturgy for Being in Nature

    A Liturgy for a Road Trip/Travel

    A Liturgy for Time Apart (for families to pray separately while they are apart, whether Dad is on a business trip, or a longer time away like military service, etc)

  76. Josh Bishop

    @joshbishop

    A Liturgy for Building or Mending a Fence
    A Liturgy for Cleaning the Day’s Catch
    A Liturgy for a New Business Endeavor
    A Liturgy for Building a Relationship With Someone Unlike You
    A Liturgy for the Peculiar Love of a Mother
    A Liturgy for Sand and Waves
    A Liturgy for the Buying and Selling of Goods
    A Liturgy for Unseasonable Weather
    A Liturgy for Felling a Tree
    A Liturgy for Nursing Mothers
    A Liturgy to Encourage Creative Play
    A Liturgy to Open Family Meetings
    A Liturgy for Words on the Tip of the Tongue
    A Liturgy to Encourage the Discouraged
    A Liturgy for Moments When Liturgies Aren’t Enough

  77. Reesa K.

    @reesak

    A liturgy for midterms and final exams

    A liturgy for becoming an orphan

    A liturgy for filling helium balloons

    A liturgy for misspelling words

  82. Lynn

    A liturgy for Surgery

    A liturgy for Endings / Goodbyes

    A liturgy for Parents and Birth Parents

    A liturgy for Dementia / Alzheimers

    A liturgy for Birthdays / Anniversaries

    A liturgy for Walking

    A liturgy for Aging

    A liturgy for Conversations with Friends

    A liturgy for Unplugging from Media

  83. Lynn Holloway

    @lholloway

    A liturgy for Surgery

    A liturgy for Endings / Goodbyes

    A liturgy for Parents and Birth Parents

    A liturgy for Dementia / Alzheimers

    A liturgy for Birthdays / Anniversaries

    A liturgy for Walking

    A liturgy for Aging

    A liturgy for Conversations with Friends

    A liturgy for Unplugging from Media

  84. Ambre Sautter

    Aliturgy for releasing dreams- your own due to health changes, those for a child lost young/in the womb, those for a child with limitations or different gifting than anticipated.

  85. Mandy

    A liturgy for beginning a new book.

    A liturgy for studying scripture together – I was thinking of this being used in our small group time, but it could be families or individuals as well.

    A liturgy for hot cocoa with marshmallows by the first fire of the winter.

    Alternatively, A liturgy for wearing shorts in January. (I live in Houston.)

    A liturgy for resting in a hammock.

  86. Sarah

    A liturgy for moments you know are a “last”

    A liturgy for moving away

    A liturgy for unexpected laughter

    A liturgy for coming across something that takes your breath away

    A liturgy for the start of a trip

  88. Heidi Johnston

    A liturgy for moving forward after an argument (when the apologies have been made, the air cleared and you want to take a moment to choose to let go of it and move forward with more understanding and more grace.)

    A liturgy for pruning plants in autumn.

    A liturgy for spring planting

    A liturgy for the preparation of a meal

    A liturgy for the first day of the new school term.

    A liturgy for leading a Bible Study

    A liturgy for unexplained sadness.

    I can’t wait for this book!

  89. Adam Ruffo

    A liturgy for when “Your parents are in jail”

    A liturgy for when you “Come to after another moment of relapse”

    A liturgy for when “You’ve just broken up with someone”

  90. Tyler Smith

    A liturgy for disappointments

    A liturgy for time wasted on the Internet

    A liturgy for a song stuck in your head

    A liturgy for painting a room

    A liturgy for preparing to host a party/preparing to have houseguests

  92. Tyler Smith

    A liturgy for using screens (similar to Lynn Holloway’s comment above, but more about using screens faithfully than simply unplugging)

    A liturgy for sermon preparation

    A liturgy for retiring a favorite article of clothing

    A liturgy for stressful deadlines

  93. Heidi Johnston

    A Liturgy for moving forward after an argument (When the apologies have been made and the air cleared but you want to take a moment to acknowledge that you are letting go of the argument and moving forward with a deeper understanding of grace.)

    A liturgy for the pruning of plants

    A liturgy for spring planting

    A liturgy for unexplained sadness

    A liturgy for the preparation of a meal

    A liturgy for leading a Bible study

    A liturgy for exam time

    I can’t wait for this book!

  95. Bethany

    Because my husband is in medical school (!):

    A liturgy for giving a hard diagnosis.

    Liturgy for reading over charts first thing each morning.

    Liturgy for the first/last patient of the day.

    A liturgy for beholding suffering.

    A liturgy for a physical exam.

    Liturgy for opening a medical textbook.

    Liturgy for spending all day in the library studying.

    A liturgy for stewarding knowledge well.

    A liturgy for sifting information in search of the truth.

    A liturgy for coming home.

  96. Bethany

    Because my husband is in medical school (!):

    Liturgy for giving a hard diagnosis.

    A liturgy for a physical exam.

    Liturgy for beholding suffering.

    Liturgy for reading over charts each morning.

    Liturgy for first/last patient of the day.

    Liturgy for opening a medical textbook.

    Liturgy for spending all day in the library studying.

    Liturgy for stewarding knowledge well.

    Liturgy for sifting information in search of the truth.

    Liturgy for coming home.

  97. Karoline

    @karolinedawn

    I haven’t read all the previous comments, so maybe I’m repeating some here, but… : a liturgy for moments of inexpressible, inexplicable longing (perhaps C.S. Lewis would call it Joy), like when I see a sunset that randomly brings me to tears, or a song that awakens something in me that I just cannot explain. And a liturgy for breaking something — I just broke my favorite teapot. I can replace it, but it will never be the same. A liturgy for the drive home after a looong day of work. A liturgy for sharing a new point of view with someone — I would say witnessing, but sometimes a new point of view is the first step. That’s it… for now…

    And, I am so looking forward to this, and so thankful for RR. 🙂

  98. Jaclyn

    liturgy for attending weddings alone

    liturgy for checking into rehab

    liturgy for an impromptu visit, celebration, or roadtrip

    liturgy for writing to your grandmother

    liturgy for binge-watching

    liturgy for overspending

    liturgy for when the devastating illness ends

    liturgy for accepting the nicest words ever said to you

    liturgy for haunting memories

    liturgy for choosing the place to go for lunch

    liturgy for living on social media (Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, or YouTube)

    liturgy for selecting a donut

    liturgy for starting late

    liturgy for drinking too much caffeine

    liturgy for bumper to bumper traffic

    liturgy for when you overpluck your eyebrows, or get a terrible haircut

    liturgy for staying up all night

    liturgy for feeding the baby

     

    …and my personal favorite:  liturgy for becoming obsessed with writing liturgy ideas. Forreal, I want to write my own daily liturgies book now. This is so addicting. Probably the healthiest one I have =D

  99. Jaclyn

    whoops! I really enjoyed reading everyone else’s liturgy ideas, but it appears I repeated some anyway (i.e. “bumper to bumper traffic” and “feeding the baby again”).

    Super looking forward to seeing the finished product.

  100. Julie Silander

    A liturgy for beginning a book.

    A liturgy for finishing a book.

    A liturgy for the first day of each season.

    A liturgy for the first day of class.

    A liturgy for camping out.

    A liturgy for building something.

    A liturgy for a first-time gathering (small group, dinner party, etc.)

    Wow this is fun. What a fabulous project.

  103. Seth Lancaster

    For the drive home after a frustrating morning at church.
    For deciding what to read next.
    For husbands comforting their wives when children cause pain.
    For theological searching.
    For the moment one realizes the workday will be longer than expected.
    For the removal of animals from the attic.

  104. VB

    A liturgy for waiting for news that may alter the expected path of your life (medical diagnosis that could go either way, grad school application response, pregnancy yes/no)

    A liturgy for a squabble

    A liturgy for irreconcilable differences that yet have to be lived with

    A liturgy for loneliness

    A liturgy for food poisoning

    A liturgy for a new object one has acquired

    A liturgy for desiring an object that one doesn’t get to have

    A liturgy for feeling like one has been taken advantage of

    A liturgy for “but for the grace of God there go I”

    A liturgy for upsetting and out-of-control news/world events

  105. VB

    A liturgy for too many options.

    A liturgy for being interrupted. (especially by telemarketers)

    A liturgy for returning to things after being interrupted.

    A liturgy for tax prep.

    A liturgy for watering the houseplants.

  106. Jessica Boniface

    A liturgy for the celebration of the success of others.

    A liturgy for sleepless nights.

    A liturgy for the reception of terrible news, be it the death of a relative or a terrorist attack.
    A liturgy for releasing control (again)
    A liturgy for being misunderstood
    A liturgy for when emergency service vehicles pass you on their way to assist those in need
    A liturgy for observing screaming children (or parents) in the store
    A liturgy for encountering panhandlers
    A liturgy for when your days blend one into another
    A liturgy for engaging long term tasks
    A liturgy for growing up and yet retaining childlike faith

  107. Peggy

    This may have already been suggested, but I would like to see a liturgy for the entering of rehab for addiction, as well as one for completing rehab.  Perhaps there could also be one for significant markers along the recovery path–6 months of sobriety, a year.  Perhaps another for after a relapse.  So looking forward to this book.

  108. Rusty Hammon

    A liturgy for caring for aging parents.

    A liturgy for parent/grandparent’s death

    A liturgy for a child starting High School

     

  109. Bethany

    A liturgy for:

    sitting alone in church

    thrift store shopping

    going home alone after a fun party

    calling your parents

    arriving at work

    leaving work

    sending a text message/email

    online dating

    walking the dog

    considering a new career

  110. William Jones

    A liturgy for parents or grandparents whose children/grandchildren have lost their faith.

  111. Reagan Dregge

    @rdregge

    I must echo A Liturgy for Losing a Pet.

    A Liturgy for Loneliness.

    I’d second A Liturgy for Baseball, but “Casey at the Bat” is my go-to on that subject.

  112. Rebekah Ackerman

    @tournesol

    A liturgy for:

    planting a garden
    weeding/watering a garden
    getting poison ivy
    bird watching
    getting in touch with a long-lost friend
    going to the wedding of a family member or friend
    going through a loved one’s things after they have died
    spring cleaning
    organizing a closet/room
    writing poetry
    the birth of a niece or nephew
    sitting on the porch at dusk
    using up leftovers
    painting a room
    mowing the grass
    being at home with the flu

  113. Rebekah Ackerman

    @tournesol

    This is an addictive exercise. After posting I couldn’t stop thinking of moments when I would like words for communicating awe, remembering God’s guidance, and/or consciously inviting His presence.

    A liturgy for:
    morning birdsong
    seeing a rainbow
    star-gazing
    going to a job interview
    leaving a church family
    looking for a church in a new town
    doing algebra (or other hard academic work)
    dealing with a child’s misbehavior
    setting the alarm clock
    driving to church
    taking out the trash
    a housewarming
    going through physical pain
    finding something lost or forgotten
    walking with a friend through relational or emotional struggles
    playing in snow
    disagreeing with one’s boss
    parent conferences
    political debates/conversations
    election day
    driving through the mountains
    walking on the beach
    a picnic

  116. gllen

    a liturgy for a rainy day

    a liturgy for paddling quietly in a canoe

    a liturgy for a flat tire

    a liturgy for bearing wounds from others

    a liturgy for a troubled world

  117. Gwen

    I’m not of a religion that practices liturgy, but I love the concept of recognising the holy in every moment and of ritual words to honor something. I mean no offense by my suggestions if I have misunderstood what exactly liturgy is.

    I think there ought to be a liturgy for spring cleaning

    For menstruation

    And for being the one who stays behind.

  119. Danielle

    I echo from above: A liturgy for joy (or perhaps, a liturgy for small joys)

    And submit: A liturgy for beholding another’s heartbreak.

  120. Bailey Suzio

    A liturgy for deployment comings and goings (military wife!)

    A liturgy for meeting new neighbors

    A liturgy for not knowing what to make for dinner

    A liturgy for when things are too noisy

    A liturgy for oversleeping your alarm

    A liturgy for spilling your coffee

    A liturgy for a bonfire

    A liturgy for the first snow of winter

    A liturgy for comforting a friend

    A liturgy for surgery

    A liturgy for questioning God’s goodness

    A liturgy for infertility

    A liturgy for a miscarriage

    A liturgy for the birth of a baby

    A liturgy for 1st birthdays

    A liturgy for simple pleasures (hot tea, blowing bubbles, etc)

    A liturgy for finishing a book.

  121. M. Cockroft

    Liturgy for moving from a house you love

    Liturgy for when both your parent die and you find yourself parentless

    Liturgy for when a grown child leaves home

    Liturgy for when you become the caretaker of your parent

    Liturgy for the bitter sweetness of your children growing up

    Liturgy for turning 40

    Liturgy for 50th anniversary

    Liturgy for the mentally ill

    Liturgy for family gatherings

    Liturgy for a child (or adult) diagnosed with a chronic disease

    Liturgy for suffering

    Liturgy for an injustice suffered

    Liturgy for faithfulness–of Christ, family, or friends

    Liturgy for healings received

    Liturgy for healings not received

    Liturgy for hope

    Liturgy for giving

    Liturgy for God’s provision liturgy for the gift of prayer

    Liturgy for the love of God’s people

  123. Aaron Wolcott

    Liturgy for traveling abroad

    Liturgy for your child’s first steps

    Liturgy for naming your child.

  124. Sarah Moss

    A Liturgy for Ministering to the Heart of a Friend in their Loss

    A Liturgy for The Awkward Social Moment

    A Liturgy for After-Church Fellowship

    A Liturgy for Awkward After-Church Fellowship

    A Liturgy for Battling The Lies

    A Liturgy for Meeting New Neighbors

    A Liturgy for Finishing a Good Book When You didn’t Want it to End

    A Liturgy for Marveling at the Image of Our Maker in The Other (the one different from us)

    A Liturgy for Biking through the Neighborhood at Dusk

    A Liturgy for Cleaning the Bathroom

    A Liturgy for Surrendering to Noble Limits (Our Humanity)

    A Liturgy for Getting a Phone Call from an Old Friend

     

     

     

     

     

     

  125. kadubb

    @kadubb

    A Liturgy for when you feel lonely in Church

    A Liturgy for the Joy of Singleness

    A Liturgy for the Sorrow of Singleness

    A Liturgy for the Parents of Missionaries

    A Liturgy for Caring for Aging Parents

    A Liturgy for The Thorn in your Flesh (for me it is Multiple Sclerosis)

    A Liturgy for the Softening of a Heart

    A Liturgy for The Life You Weren’t Expecting (not what you hoped for)

    A Liturgy for the Years of Wilderness

    A Liturgy for the Day You Just Don’t Want to Get Out of Bed

    A Liturgy for the Person with an Invisible Illness

    A Liturgy for The Isolation of Chronic Health Problems

  126. Emma Chmura

    @emmaj

    A liturgy for having broken something that was special to you. This is inspired by several painful instances of dropped dinnerware, but could also apply in the abstract to relationships or other things that one might regret one’s handling of. Regret is hard. One often wishes that life came with an undo button. In God’s sovereignty, it does not.

  129. Jason Rummel

    A Liturgy for Leaving Home When You Don’t Want to Go

    A Liturgy for Staring at a Mountain

    A Liturgy for Picking Fruit

    A Liturgy for Mowing

    A Liturgy for Weeding

    A Liturgy for Trying to Find the Right Thing to Say

    A Liturgy for Putting On Your Shoes (varieties of shoes, going places, etc.)

    A Liturgy for a Glass of Wine

    A Liturgy for Walking the Dog/Changing the Litter/Cleaning the Stall, etc.

    A Liturgy for Thinking of Liturgies

  130. Donn Herring

    A liturgy of parting.

    So often we treat the act of saying goodbye as unimportant, especially if we believe we will see that person again soon. The fact is that we have no guaranty that we will ever see a person again this side of heaven. As a result, I think a liturgy of parting might better recognize the uncertainty of the future and the significance of the relationship.

    This is particularly personal to me as I will always regret that the last time I saw my kid sister I was distracted and failed to say a proper goodbye. Forty-eight hours later see was taken from our family by an act of domestic violence. While a liturgy of parting would not have changed the outcome, it would have provided a proper means of expressing the love I had for my sister.

    Thanks and Good Luck with this exciting project.

  133. Dana Daggett

    @danadaggett

    I know he would hate this, so I am not really serious, but selfishly this am I was thinking I wish there was a liturgy for missing Rich.

  134. Kim

    Liturgy for when my dyslexic, highly distracted daughter is resisting her reading lessons again.

  136. Sheri Cornett

    @sheripendragon

    A liturgy for coping with a migraine

    A liturgy for insomnia

    A liturgy for going on a date with your spouse

    A liturgy for buying/selling a house

    A liturgy for a rainy day

  137. Sheri Cornett

    @sheripendragon

    A liturgy for coping with a migraine

    A liturgy for insomnia

    A liturgy for going on a date with your spouse

    A liturgy for buying/selling a house

    A liturgy for a rainy day

  138. Linda Rogers

    @misslinda

    I’m rather late suggesting this, but I want a liturgy for when someone is doubting, something along the lines of “I believe, help my unbelief.” But more than just an individual prayer for that person to pray, I want a prayer that a whole group can say (either together or separately) that is identifying with, supporting, and encouraging the person who is struggling. I think this is something that is missing in most groups that I have been in- the ability to acknowledge that you are struggling and have the group respond well. Maybe with some guidance or a written liturgy to start with, we could do better.

  139. Mike BROWN

    A liturgy for reprimanding an employee or student. All things need to be done in love. As a school administrator I try to pray before dealing with my staff.

  140. Linda Rogers

    @misslinda

    I’m very late, but it is important. I need a liturgy for dealing with life’s disappointments when something I deeply want is out of reach for me. The way I wrote that, it isn’t clear whether this is big dreams or small temporary things, but maybe that is better than what I originally intended. (My post is inspired by having to miss church today because of health issues when I REALLY wanted to go. I’m missing lunch and a baptism too. But I cannot have what I want, and God is present in this disappointment too.)

  142. Jacob

    I litergy for when I don’t understand why people are writing litergies.

    A litergy for when I doubt.

    A litergy for frustration with other believers.

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