Progressing the Journey: Lyrics and Liturgy for a Conscious Church

About this book:

Are you looking for fresh, original hymn lyrics and liturgy for your church?

Would you like to celebrate diverse ways of being fully human in a loving faith community?

Is your church ready to explore current ideas about God – not just male, not up there, but down here with us – creation, Jesus & theology?

Then these 42 hymns, 70 gatherings, affirmations, and blessings; along with poems & reflections, will provide a valuable resource to support your worship ministry.

Susan’s lyrics, that can be sung to well known tunes, have been used at a Presbytery inauguration, in communion, at anniversaries, for baptisms and for a same sex wedding. They have featured in Pride services, Transgender Day of Remembrance commemorations, during Bible Month and throughout the Season of Creation.

Susan’s kitset hymn ln our world we find delight, written for original music by Vivien Chiu, covers the whole Season of Creation 3-year cycle.

Her lyrics and liturgy mark the seasons of the church year in unusual ways as well as celebrating: questioning, rainbow themes, faith stages, the cosmos, diverse orientations and identities, gender equality, 21st century reformation, interfaith connection, prodigals, postmodern church, endangered species, and the importance of finding the Self by going deep within.

Praise for Progressing the Journey:

“Lively congregations and alert leaders will welcome this collection of new hymns and original liturgies by a confident and experienced writer.

The songs have a quiet eloquence, their language is simple and direct, and they deal with many of the real life issues which confront us in the ‘new normal’ world. That they are set to well-known tunes will make it easy to absorb them into a singing congregation’s vocabulary of praise.

The liturgies are fresh and vital in thought and language: a useful alternative to the sleepy long-established formulas which still clog our much-changed religious world.

I strongly recommend Susan Jones’ Progressing on the Journey and her deeply contemplated and whole-hearted expression of distinctive New Zealand themes and images; this is a very rich new spiritual resource for troubled times.”
Colin Gibson, Hymnwriter, Composer & Lay Preacher

“This book speaks deeply to me in Aotearoa about the variety of our people. Through these words, different races, genders, and sexual orientations are all welcomed as part of the beauty of God’s world.

I love that Susan’s taken old hymns and provided new words. She takes seriously what we’re doing to the land and each other.

These lyrics and liturgies speak deeply to me about the God I know, the God I see in the Bible but also in the land; its beauty, the mysteries of creation and those around me.

I wish I’d had this book when preparing services each Sunday. Now, it takes me deeper into God as part of my morning prayer. Thank you, Susan.”
Very Rev. Marg Schrader former Moderator, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

"…Jones has a concern for the dignity and inclusion of LGBTIQ people in church and community. She has written several prayers on this theme and for occasions such as Pride month and Transgender Memorial Day. I applaud her prompting us to be truthful, honest and respectful about the variety of human experience.

Finally I applaud her courage. She asks readers if they cannot use the whole of a prayer or hymn as written, then why use it at all? Worship leaders often self-censor. I recommend this brave and poetic work.”
Reviewed by Rev David Poultney in the October 2022 issue of NZ Methodist newspaper Touchstone