90 – Finding or Writing Prayers and Liturgy: Starting to Lead Worship series
A weekly blog of Creative Ideas for Leading Worship
6 – Finding or Writing Prayers and Liturgy
Starting to Lead Worship
This is the sixth of 10 updated posts that aim to give people new to leading worship the tools and confidence to get started. Experienced worship leaders will also find useful information in these posts.
The first 3 posts explore What’s in Your Toolbox? The last 7 posts provide guidance for Constructing a Service.
This post explains the purpose and flow of different types of prayers and liturgical elements in a worship service, from the Call to Worship to the Benediction and The Grace.
It offers a wide range of resources for finding or creating prayers, including books, subscriptions, and the use of AI tools, along with practical tips for writing in a natural, theologically consistent voice.
The emphasis is on intentional preparation, understanding the role of each element, and using language that engages the congregation while staying true to your own theology and style.
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Introduction
As a worship leader, crafting meaningful prayers and liturgy for your services can be both rewarding and daunting. Week after week, you need to find words that are theologically sound, spiritually engaging, and relevant to your congregation.
If you’ve ever wondered where to begin, how to structure your prayers, or how to make them truly resonate, this post is for you. Here you’ll discover clear, practical advice for selecting or writing prayers and liturgical elements that flow naturally through a worship service. We’ll look at the purpose behind each part of the liturgy, explore helpful resources, and also see how tools like AI can support your creativity.
Purpose of Prayers and Other Liturgy
Each type of prayer I include in services has its own purpose and distinctive characteristics.
Call to Worship
Purpose: Gathers and centres the congregation for worship, inviting them into a shared sacred space and setting the tone for the service.
This prayer invites communal participation and focus on God, acknowledges God’s presence and calls for attentive worship. It is often poetic, rhythmic, and inclusive in language. Usually, the leader calls and the congregation responds.
Lighting the Candle/s
Purpose: Symbolises Christ’s light in the world and focuses prayers on specific themes, e.g. healing, justice, remembrance.
This is a symbolic act using light as a representation of Christ or hope. The liturgy is tailored to the theme of the service, invites reflective prayer and can either be said together or by the leader alone.
Opening Prayer
Purpose: Invokes God’s presence and dedicates the worship time to God, offering praise and thanksgiving.
This prayer includes praise and adoration, acknowledges God’s role in creation and life, and requests God’s presence and guidance. It is usually said by the leader but can be in a call and response format.
Prayer of Approach
Purpose: Acknowledges human frailty and dependence on God, inviting God’s presence and offering ourselves in worship.
This prayer has themes of humility and repentance, opens hearts to God’s presence and prepares the congregation spiritually. It is usually in a call and response format.
Words of Assurance
Purpose: Affirms God’s love for us after the prayer of approach.
This liturgy offers reassurance, comfort, and renewal and is often based on scripture or tradition. It is usually said by the leader.
Prayers of Intercession
Purpose: Offers prayers for the needs of the world, the community, and individuals.
This prayer for ourselves and others includes global, local, and personal concerns. It uses a call and response structure (bidding and response). It focuses on themes of justice, healing, and peace.
Lord’s Prayer
Purpose: A communal recitation of the prayer Jesus taught, expressing shared faith and dependence on God.
This universal, ecumenical prayer is profound in its simplicity and theology. It is always spoken or sung together. You can use a traditional or more modern form. If sung in English, we use the setting at #676 in With One Voice. When spoken, I generally use the te reo Māori version.
Offertory Prayer and Blessing of the Offering
Purpose: Dedicates offerings of money, time, and talent to God’s service.
The leader invites people to make a free will offering. After the offering has been gathered, the blessing of the offering liturgy expresses gratitude for God’s provision, and affirms commitment to ministry and mission. Remember to acknowledge offerings given via online banking or automatic payments. The blessing is usually said together.
Benediction
Purpose: Sends the congregation out with God’s blessing and a sense of mission.
This liturgy, spoken by the leader, pronounces peace and blessing, and encourages discipleship and service. It sometimes refers to the Trinity.
The Grace
Purpose: A traditional closing blessing invoking God’s grace, love, and fellowship.
This liturgy is shared aloud by all present as we bless each other. It is usually scriptural and Trinitarian in form, mentioning Father, Son and Spirit. I generally now use the te reo Māori version.
Sources
We can supply these resources:
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Worship at Hand – Ready-to-use worship service scripts that equip leaders with theologically rich liturgies rooted in the Revised Common Lectionary
- Gathering – Worship planning tools for every Sunday, with prayers, sermon starters, and hymn suggestions.
Excellent books for prayers and liturgy include:
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Prayers for Southern People – Responsive prayers and liturgies for the Southern Hemisphere.
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Prayers for Southern Seasons – Prayers and poems for the church year in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Lay Preaching Basics – An eBook with tools and resources for lay preachers and worship leaders.
- Joyful Spirit Bubbling – Poems, prayers, and reflections for the seasons of faith in New Zealand.
Writing Prayers
Why not try writing your own? Start small – with a Call to Worship or Opening Prayer.
AI tools like ChatGPT can also be a stimulating way to get started. Generate a draft, then adapt it so it reflects your voice and theology.
Top Tips
Once you’ve drafted your Order of Service, print it and read everything aloud – this reveals awkward phrases and helps you prepare to lead with confidence.
I always write out the full text of prayers and liturgy in my Order of Service. I don’t pray off the cuff; it’s not my strength.
Prayers can be conversational, formal, or informal (but never casual). Keep the language simple and every day.
Allow a small pause for silence between elements of the service. Keep things moving, but don’t rush.
Conclusion
Leading worship isn’t about filling time with words – it’s about crafting a sacred experience that draws people into genuine connection with God and one another.
When you understand the purpose of each prayer, choose your language thoughtfully, and prepare thoroughly, you can offer worship that’s both accessible and profound. Whether you draw from published resources, write your own prayers, or use AI as a creative companion, the key is to stay true to your voice and theology.
The prayers you choose shape the congregation’s worship experience. With these tools and approaches, you can prepare something thoughtful, inspiring, and uniquely yours.
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The full content of this series and lots more worship ideas are included in my book The Creative Worship Leader’s Toolbox, available in print and eBook formats.
Ngā Mihi
Philip