something new to say - Print.

something new to say: words of spirit, faith and celebration for Advent and Christmas: 2nd edition

By Bronwyn Angela White

This collection of liturgical resources offers inclusive prayers, reflections, and blessings for Advent and Christmas, celebrating the vibrant summer spirit of Aotearoa New Zealand.

This book:

• Enriches worship services with diverse and inclusive language.
• Inspires deeper connections within faith communities through shared prayers and reflections.
• Provides accessible resources for lay and ordained leaders during the festive season.
• Promotes social justice themes, encouraging congregants to act for peace and equity.
• Enhances personal contemplation and spiritual growth throughout Advent and Christmas.
• Introduces fresh perspectives on traditional liturgical practices for progressive audiences.
• Fosters a spirit of celebration and joy, embodying the essence of summer festivities.

Features

• Contains a variety of liturgical resources, including prayers, reflections, and blessings tailored for Advent and Christmas.
• Uses inclusive language emphasising “faith not belief” to cater to diverse audiences.
• Includes responsive litanies designed for communal participation.
• Written to be read aloud, making it suitable for worship services and personal reflection.
• Offers adaptable content, allowing leaders to mix and match elements for their specific needs.

Published: November 2022
Language: English
B/W text, 70pp
Soft cover
ISBN: 9781991027368

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Description

Something New to Say is a vibrant collection of liturgical resources designed to enrich the spiritual experience during Advent and Christmas. Authored by Bronwyn Angela White from Aotearoa New Zealand, this book captures the essence of summer festivities, where pohutukawa and rata bloom, and families gather for barbecues on Christmas Day.

The book features a variety of inclusive prayers, affirmations, reflections, and blessings crafted with a focus on “faith not belief” and social justice. It serves as an ideal resource for progressive and liberal faith communities, offering materials that lay and ordained worship leaders will find particularly helpful. Each piece is written to be read aloud, fostering a sense of community and engagement during worship.

With sections grouped by type – such as prayers and reflections – this book allows worship leaders to mix and match to create a unique liturgical experience. The repetitive structure intentionally showcases how familiar forms can introduce new and liberating theological concepts.

Whether for worship services or personal contemplation, Something New to Say invites readers to see the sacred in everyday life and embrace the joy and hope that the festive season brings.

Reviewers comments

“Bronwyn’s words are more powerful and real than a thousand theological treatises on incarnation.” Rev Dr Margaret Mayman  

About the Author

Born in Aotearoa New Zealand, Bronwyn’s writing celebrates inclusiveness and social justice; affirms spirit and faith in postmodern, progressive and post-Christian life. Bronwyn participates in and sometimes leads services at her progressive faith community – including writing and presenting several Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Matariki, Season of Creation and other church services. Many of those resources are in this book.      

Contents

• About the words

Poems and Prayers

• A world safe for a new born baby
• Emergency responders & peace-keepers
• Entertaining angels
• In this season of Advent and wonder
• Let us be the gift we long for
• Love born in us this day
• Red tape, red ribbon
• Refugee child
• Signs of home
• We wait in the silence of this whare kōwhanga
• Spring to summer
• Suddenly there is light all around
• We ask—and answer
• Wonder of life-stories told afresh
• You who delight me

Affirmations, calls to worship & responses

• Affirmation of faith for Advent
• Come, let us walk the road
• Star—Light—Word
• Word made flesh in a baby
• Word reborn—embodied
• We crouch with Mary on the straw

Reflections

• Angel messages
• But where are the others?
• Doors wide open
• Gifts for a baptism
• Holy Families—outrageous possibilities
• I have to differ
• Kissing the face of God
• Mary full of grace—Anna’s story
• Mary to Elizabeth

Blessings

• Celestial brightness
• Christmas Blessing
• Courage of a teenage Mary
• Hope, joy, love of Christmas
• Blessing of Water and Spirit

Glossary and References

• Definition of te reo Māori words
• References

Thanks again
Praise for “you who delight me”