International Worship Resource
This bibliography includes some of the many resources for prayers and liturgical materials from around the world. All books are readily available from Amazon.
Updated May 2008
Compiled by the Rev. Karen Farthing
600 Blessings and Prayers from Around the World
Geoffrey Duncan, (Twenty-Third Publications, 2001).
This resource includes prayers from English-speaking countries such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States.
1000 World Prayers
Marcus Braybrooke (O Books, 2003)
Prayers, poems, and quotes from many religious traditions around the world, including both historical and contemporary sources.
An African Prayer Book
Desmond Tutu, editor, (Image, 2006).
This book of African prayers was compiled by Nobel Peace Prize winner and Archbishop, Desmond Tutu of South Africa. Each prayer is noted both for its country and the indigenous peoples from which it comes.
Gifts of Many Cultures: Worship Resources for the Global Community
Maren C. Tirabassi and Kathy Wonson Eddy, (Pilgrim Press, 1995)
This resource includes a wide variety of worship materials, including full services, prayers, invocations, benedictions, scripture resources, litanies, artwork, poetry, stories, and descriptions of various worship practices and activities. The country of origin is listed for each entry, and there is also a complete index by country.
Hallelujah for the Day: An African Prayer Book
Anthony Gittins, editor, (Liguori Publications, 2002)
This book contains 150 prayers from 50 African societies. Each prayer lists both its ethnic and country of origin, and there is a map of Africa at the beginning of the book showing the locations of the different indigenous peoples.
Harvest for the World: A Worship Anthology on Sharing in the Work of Creation
Geoffrey Duncan (Pilgrim Press, 2003)
Includes prayers, blessings, graces, and a global selection of recipes.
In God’s Hands: Common Prayer for the Word
Hugh McCullum, Terry MacArthur (World Council of Churches, 2006)
This book includes prayers and other worship materials encompassing every region and nation of the world, and from many Christians traditions and communities, arranged in a weekly prayer format.
Of Rolling Waters and Roaring Wind: A Celebration of Woman Song
Edna Orteza, Lynda Katsuno (World Council of Churches, 2000)
Prayers, meditations, poems and reflections, by women around the world, living in different social and cultural contexts and drawing on diverse church traditions. Also includes a series of meditations for Holy Week and some 20 songs of prayer and praise.
Prayers Encircling the World: An International Anthology
(Westminster John Knox Press, 1999)
This resource includes 300 Christian prayers from over 60 countries. The country of origin is listed for each entry, and the countries are also indexed. Prayers are organized by theme.
Prayers from the East: Traditions of Eastern Christianity
Richard Marsh (Augsburg Fortress Press, 2004)
This unique collection of liturgical prayers reveals the great diversity of the Christian East, including the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, the Coptic Orthodox Church and many others.