Liturgies for Hope: Sixty Prayers for the Highs, the Lows, and Everything in Between

by Audrey Elledge, Elizabeth Moore, Jon Tyson (Foreword)

ECPA BESTSELLER • Sixty contemporary, comforting liturgies that break through the noise of modern life to offer time-tested wisdom for readers navigating burnout, anxiety, and other stresses.

“Beautiful words to help us access the longings of our souls and bring them to God. If you’re looking for a jumpstart to your spiritual life, start here.”—Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship and author of Good and Beautiful and Kind

Remind us, Jesus, that You lay sleeping in the boat, in the middle of the storm at sea. You are neither surprised nor distressed by the mounting chaos. You are not a God who panics.

When writers Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore were inspired to create an anchor of hope for their own local community, they moved forward by turning to the past, to a time when Christians looked at the collapsing world around them and resolved to offer something beautiful—something true—through poetic prayers. 

The stunning result is Liturgies for Hope, an original collection of modern liturgies reminiscent of past generations of faith. Designed to awaken your prayer life, the entries in this gentle guide explore experiences such as

• feeling burned-out and soul-weary
• embracing the mystery of faith
• receiving the kindness of others
• struggling with secret shame
• bursting with thanksgiving

With Scripture references for every prayer, Liturgies for Hope is both timeless and ideal for this moment, offering words to express our longings, shore up our prayers, and reorient our souls.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Religion, Spirituality, Prayer, Poetry, Faith

191 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Audrey Elledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to. 😉

[Kaitlyn Bouchillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fresh. Hope-full. Honest. This collection of liturgies, split into seven sections (faith, vocation, health, relationships, wonder, mystery, and confession) is one you'll want to have on your shelf and on your phone, too, so the words are more likely to be nearby as you go about your day, run errands, or travel. I read an ARC via digital format and will absolutely be (happily) pre-ordering so I can return to it again and again. Here's a small sampling of liturgies (one from each section) you'll find within the pages:

A Liturgy for Those Who Have Been Hurt by the Church
A Liturgy for Paying Bills When There's Not Enough Money
A Liturgy for a Lunch Break
A Liturgy for Feeling Butterflies Around Someone
A Liturgy for Those Looking for Joy
A Liturgy for a Disappointment
A Liturgy for Those Consumed by Media

5 stars. Please, write another.

[Nikki Slonaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took my sweet time going through these liturgies and I am so stirred in my affections for God and for poetry! Beautiful prayers for truly any season or need. Couldn’t recommend this more!! It will be my go to gift for awhile :)

[Ferrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book renewed my spirit and ignited my gratitude for the gift of God’s word in every circumstance. Will continue reading through multiple times a week, but in this moment I am so grateful to have been guided by these words to see Him more clearly in what I would often times consider the mundane.

[Alyssa Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

These prayers are so beautiful and I really enjoyed this book. I did find myself wishing some of them would have been more focused on raw lament. The prayers of confession are particularly moving.

[Chloe Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me so much in looking at prayer in a new perspective! Liturgies and how to use them have always been hard for me to grasp but this book was so encouraging and sitting and reading 1 or 2 prayers every morning has been the best way to start my day with hope during this season of life

[Tamara Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

John O’Donohue wrote To Bless the Space Between Us and I can’t tell you what a gift those words have been to me - a place to find words when there aren’t any. But this little book? Liturgies for Hope is another book I know I will come back to regularly to find words, to find comfort, to find hope.

What a gift.

(e-ARC provided by Netgalley for review)

[Alexa Cummins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a companion to my faith journey since I picked it up. The authors’ words meet me in times of longing, despair, hope, and confusion, and point me to the divine. I am grateful for these prayers that lead me back to the presence of God. 💛

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

The words that I didn’t know even know I needed.

[Haley Stricker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be reading and rereading these liturgies for a long time. They felt incredibly timely and helpful for me, especially the sections on faith and mystery. So good👏🏼

[Londyn Edmondson · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is one you just don’t ever stop reading

[Abby VanderMeeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing like it

[Sami Grace Danley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something for every single person and heart posture and season of life in this book. I hope I’m still re-reading it when I’m 100 because it will still be relevant.

[Amyanne Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

ty SJ for this beloved book. if I included quotes I loved I would have to rewrite the majority of the liturgies!! this has been an accessible thing to open when I’ve needed prayers but didn’t have words.

“May my tears not feel hollow as they fall, devoid of substance, but rather become the wet evidence that there is a spring in my heart I can draw from, a well of life that can still be stirred.”

“There is no shame in laughing amid our sorrow, for to laugh is to trust in You, to believe that the rug we roll upon will not be pulled out, to understand that the Author has given us a peek of eternity, and we know how the story ends.”

the rug bit 😭 come onnnnn

[Emily Magnus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars feels drama and low, but honestly I found a lot of these liturgies a lil too much on the cheesy side. But for every overly fluffy language or liturgy there were some really honest pieces that I loved. Maybe I wanted it to be more of a John O Donohue type of thing. I really knew nothing about the book except it was yellow 🤣

All in all- good tid bits, but some of the words felt like spiritual bandaids to me

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beauty.

That’s what this book was.

Pure beauty.

It spoke to me.

It made me cry.

It opened my heart and touched places deep inside.

I will be buying this book because, while I did read straight through for review purposes, this book is meant to be used for specific moments. I need a copy I can mark up and hold and turn to a certain liturgy to pray over and over again when I need it.

Practically speaking I really liked that the liturgies are divided into categories. I liked that the otters cover such a wide range of topics, from the “big and deep” to the “ordinary and mundane”. There is a liturgy for going on a walk and one for waves of grief.

Oh, and I can’t believe I almost forgot my favorite part - the Scripture references. These liturgies are steeped in Scripture (as they should be) and at the end of each one the authors list all the references. I love this because you can “check up” on the liturgy. I really appreciated that aspect of this book.

Get this book. Gift this book. Use this book.




Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy. All opinions are my own and a favorable review was not required.

[Hannah Brick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I can't really say I've made progress on this book as it is a book of prayers...but I have gone through the entire thing and prayed a few that I found applicable and meaningful! Really really cool concept and also helpful in my new liturgical Anglican/Episcopal journey (hiii)! I really enjoy the voice that Elledge writes the prayers in, and how approachable they are as someone new to the idea of liturgy. Ask me more about it and I'll show you my favorites!!!!!

[Mikayla Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal.
"Like the woman caught and surrounded by stones, I am net with a gaze of love, a quiet calling to come home to the One who will wait up for me."
I loved all of these liturgies for hope. As I was reading each one, I honestly thought this prayer didn't describe me. By putting down my prideful attitude, I DID need this prayer. But not just this one prayer - I needed to read them. Their words are so simple, yet so compassionate. Reminds me of God simple and compassionate.

[Addy Gaines · Rating 5 out of 5]

The very combination of words I have been searching for in the things I often feel. So reverent. So honest. So beautiful. Tears for the majority of each prayer.

Worthy of constant gift-giving and daily revisiting.

[Angela Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book of prayers written by two members of Church of the City New York. Audrey and Elizabeth are truly gifted by God to pen heartfelt prayers in inspiring and poetic language! I will come back to this time after time and will gift it to many!

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed the rhythms of the liturgical calendar, and this read feels like a return to those rhythms for everyday moments, big and small. This book along with "Liturgies for Wholeness" are reads I will continue to pick up as it fits a variety of seasons and situations.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. A beautiful collection of liturgies for the strange times we find ourselves that are also somehow timeless. I’d give a copy of this to any of my friends,

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will be reaching for this again and again.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed working my way through this collection over the last year. These prayers were just what I needed, and now I have the words to share with friends for whatever season they're in.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so good. Next time, I’d prefer to read a physical copy of this. I listened to it on audiobook, but I think this is one I’d like to have so I can reference it over and over again.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I can’t wait to buy a physical copy - I know it’s one I’ll pick up often. For anyone that loves Every Moment Holy, this is a necessary addition to the collection 🤍🥳

[Bella Seelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read through this book pretty slowly and is one you want to always have on your nightstand. Love these liturgies, they hold a place in my heart as I clung to them at camp and through all of college thus far.

[Steph Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought ten copies.

[Amanda E. (aebooksandwords) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liturgies for Hope is a book of prayers written by two women in New York City in the midst of the tragic happenings of the COVID-19 pandemic. The liturgies quickly began to minister to their church family as they sought to put words to the fears, hopes and longings people were facing—which relates not just to this trial but all areas of life.

I always appreciate books of pre-written prayers. Like the Book of Common Prayer and collections such as McKelvey’s Every Moment Holy, they can help give us a voice when we lack the words to express our hearts to God in prayer at certain moments in our lives, as well as help us pray in unison with others.

Liturgies of Hope is one of these collections. The book provides expressions of prayer for those needing the words to describe their yearnings when words are failing them, or even to give prayerful words to those who never realized they wanted or needed them.

I like how the book can be utilized by simply looking into the table of contents and choosing a prayer based on a need you, your family, or the community has at the moment, joining then to pray either alone or together as you seek God. The prayers are listed by category: Faith, Vocation, Health, Relationships, Wonder, Mystery, and Confession.

A few examples of liturgies you will find include:

- A Liturgy for Those Who Have Been Hurt by the Church
- A Liturgy for Those Who Are Too Busy
- A Liturgy for Those Without Words to Comfort Others
- A Liturgy for the Fear of Missing Out
- A Liturgy for Letting Go of Your Younger Self
- A Liturgy for Going on a Walk

The liturgies contained in the book are filled with poetic words that will help you reflect deeply and pray honestly. What a beautiful collection! I definitely look forward to having a physical copy to pray with.

I received a review copy of this book for free from the publisher, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prayers in this book are so relatable and cover a wide range of topics. This would be a wonderful book to come back to again and again.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. The book will be released on November 1, 2022.