Inclusive, justice-shaped worship resources for the Revised Common Lectionary – prayers, liturgy, creative ideas and accessible reflections that connect scripture with everyday life.
The Readings at a Glance
Isaiah 11:1–10
From what looks cut down and lifeless, new growth appears. Isaiah imagines a ruler shaped not by force or pride, but by wisdom, justice, and a deep attentiveness to God – and with that comes a vision of peace broad enough to reshape the whole created order.
Psalm 72:1–7, 18–19
This psalm longs for leadership that is just, compassionate, and life-giving – especially for those who are poor, burdened, or pushed aside. It is a prayer for a world in which power is used to restore rather than exploit, and where peace and flourishing can take root.
Romans 15:4–13
Paul encourages a community of difference to live with patience, hope, and welcome. Rooted in scripture and strengthened by God, they are called to make room for one another in the way Christ has made room for them – becoming a people marked by joy, peace, and hope.
Matthew 3:1–12
John the Baptist arrives with urgency, calling people to prepare for God’s coming by turning their lives around. His words are sharp and unsentimental, cutting through empty religion and complacency, and pointing towards the One who is coming to bring a deeper baptism and a more searching kind of change.
Song
Inspired by Isaiah’s “stump of Jesse”, this song names the devastation of unjust power while praying for the hidden root of hope to send up fresh shoots of justice as we welcome God’s reign.
Our rulers act without conscience,
their hollow slogans deceive;
their lies are endless, abusive,
their crowns lie shattered in shame.
For the forest of our empires
lies silently on the ground,
yet a hidden root is breathing;
holy hope prepares to grow.
From the stumps of devastation,
shoots of justice start to rise;
let love take root and flourish
as we welcome in your reign.
When your promises feel threatened,
and the axe swings at our hope,
we cry out, bewildered, frightened,
trapped in systems we can’t change;
for the landscape of our failures
seems to silence every dream,
yet beneath these broken branches
quiet seeds of trust remain.
From the stumps of devastation,
shoots of justice start to rise;
let love take root and flourish
as we welcome in your reign.
Teach us how to notice seedlings,
signs of justice breaking through;
give us courage to tell others
that the reign of God is near.
For the shoots of stubborn justice
push through concrete, stone and pride;
let our lives proclaim their rising,
to prepare the way of God.
From the stumps of devastation,
shoots of justice start to rise;
let love take root and flourish
as we welcome in your reign.
© Gary Hopkins 2025