The Uniting Church of St James
Curtin, ACT
Minister-in-Placement: Revd Rex A E Hunt, MSc(Hons), GradDipCommMgt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
3 February 2008. Epiphany 4A. (Green).
10.30am. Contemporary liturgical worship.
Celebrating community: Sacrament of Holy Communion
Acknowledgement of land
(An act towards reconciliation by the Church of St James, Curtin.)
For thousands of years Indigenous people have walked
in this land, on their own country.
Their relationship with the land is at the centre of their lives.
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal People and their stewardship
of this land throughout the ages.
St James is a safe place for all people to worship regardless of
race, creed, age, cultural background or sexual orientation
GATHERING
Gathering music
Entry into worship
The gong is sounded three times
As we gather together in this sacred place may we recognise and affirm:
the pieces of possibility,
the bits of good, we bring,
allowing our individual gifts to weave a patchwork of peace.
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
"The ceaseless flow of time" (Tune: 459(i) TiS, McKee 86 86) 350 SLT
The ceaseless flow of endless time
no one can check or stay;
we'll view the past with no regret,
nor future with dismay.
The present slips into the past,
and dream-like melts away;
the breaking of tomorrow's dawn
begins a new today.
The past and future ever meet
in the eternal now:
to make each day a thing complete
shall be our new year vow. John Storey
Remain standing
Opening sentences
From the corners of this city,
from the confusion of life,
from the loneliness of our hearts
All Gather us, O God.
To feed our minds,
to fire our imagination,
to free our hearts
All Gather us, O God.
Prayer of awareness
We pray:
God of surprises, startle us with truth we do not see,
amaze us with your power and grace,
beckon us, and lead us
far above restricted hope and narrow faith.
Amen.
Hymn “Celebrate a new day dawning" (Tune: 152 TiS, Joyful joyful)
Celebrate a new day dawning,
sunrise of a golden morn;
Christ Sophia dwells among us,
glorious visions now are born,
Equal partners 'round the table,
we make dreams reality;
Calling out our gifts we nurture
hope beyond all we can see.
Christ Sophia lights the pathway
to a world of harmony;
Sister Brother love surrounds us,
nourishing our synergy.
Earth joins in our rich communion,
grateful for our healing care;
Leaping deer and soaring eagles,
all earth's fullness now can share.
Sing a song of jubilation,
dance with joyous revelry,
Clapping trees and laughing rivers
join our call to liberty.
Free at last to blossom fully,
flow'ring forth in beauty bright.
We become a new creation,
bursting open into light. Jann Aldredge-Clanton/ctl
The people sit after the hymn
Welcome
In your own words
A warm welcome is extended to all.
Especially those who are worshipping at St James for the first time
or who have returned after an absence.
Your presence both enriches us and this time of celebration together.
Refer to printed liturgy.
Fellowship hour following worship.
Those visiting, please sign our Visitors book.
Silence
Let us take a moment to settle into the silence.
Hear and feel your quiet breathing.
Hear and feel the quiet of this place and this community of people.
In this quiet hour may our spirits be renewed.
In this gathering of old and new friends
may we be ready to extend ourselves to those in need,
and with trust to receive the hand that is offered.
In this time of celebration, may our minds be open to new truth,
and our hearts be receptive to love,
as we give thanks for this life we are blessed to share. Emmy Lou Belcher
Music of reflection
EXPLORING
Reading from our biblical tradition
A reading from our biblical tradition shall be read by (NN).
Gospel:
Matthew 5:1-11 (Inclusive Text)
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill.
There he sat down and was joined by the disciples.
Then Jesus began to speak. This is what he taught them:
How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the unfolding of the divine dream.
How happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called beloved of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the unfolding of the divine dream.
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A celebration of faith
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand a share a celebration of faith.
The people stand as they are able
We celebrate that we are safe in the hands of God.
That God does not leave us alone,
All who breathes within us our life and walks within our way.
We affirm that Jesus as Companion
truly lived as we do:
All cried out with our cry, laughed with our laughter.
We believe that we are not defined
by the deaths that others deal us,
All and we need not be defeated by the powers which stand against us.
We claim this peace in Christ.
All We receive this miracle from Creator God.
We celebrate this hope from Empower Spirit. (Adapted-Dorothy McRae-McMahon/bst)
The peace
This is a house of God. A place of peace.
A place where we befriend one another.
Therefore, let us greet another as a sign of God's peace and of our shared friendship.
The peace of God is here... to stay.
All Thanks be to God.
You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours.
Hymn of the Month
“For the music of creation” 41 AA
For the music of creation,
for the song your Spirit sings,
for your sound's divine expression,
burst of joy in living things:
God, our God, the worlds composer,
hear us, echoes of your voice:
music is your art, your glory,
let the human heart rejoice!
Psalms and symphonies exalt you,
drum and trumpet, string and reed,
simple melodies acclaim you,
tunes that rise from deepest need,
hymns of longing and belonging,
carols from a cheerful throat,
lilt of lullaby and lovesong
catching heaven in a note.
All the voices of the ages
in transcendent chorus meet,
worship lifting up the senses,
hands that praise and dancing feet;
over discord and division
music speaks your joy and peace,
harmony of earth and heaven,
song of God that cannot cease! Shirley Murray
A COVENANT FOR NOW AND
Introduction
In former days, so our tradition reminds us,
God chose Israel as a people
and gave them the gift of the Law.
In the New Covenant, God made the gift of the Holy One,
who fulfils the Law for us.
We stand within the New Covenant
and we bear the name of Christ.
This way God promises us new life.
This covenant is also renewed
each time we ‘celebrate community’ around the Table.
Today we meet, as generations before us have met,
to renew that which bound them and now binds us to God. (Adapted from UIW)
The people stand
We open our minds and hearts to the presentness of God in us,
Source and Sustainer of all that exists.
May God-in-us find generous and courageous expression
in our words and actions as we undertake
to make the reign of God evident in our world
All We will value each other and seek to be an inclusive community in which every member
is given full justice, dignity, and respect.
We give thanks for the insights we have gained
from people of various times, places, cultures and religions
whose lives have been characterised by
gratitude, compassion, generosity and forgiveness.
All We will seek to be sensitive to the lure of God in all aspects of our personal life,
and open to discovering new hopes and dreams for our corporate life.
Thus we commit ourselves to deepen our experience
of God’s presentness within and around us.
All We will do this in solidarity with one another,
through our communal worship,
through our spiritual journey,
through faithful action in the local community
and in honest fellowship with each other.
We commit ourselves to this congregation called St James,
for we believe it is with and through each other
that we have been called in love to serve.
And we commit ourselves to act upon our discoveries in the faith,
for we believe we are partners together
with the Source and Sustainer of all that exists. (Adapted. Morwood/pns. Falla./bfl)
Silence
Recollection of baptism
Let us remember our own baptism.
Water is poured into the font
Come, Jesus, Companion of all, refresh the lives of all faithful people.
As water is sprinkled...
Always remember you are baptised and be thankful.
Care candle
We are people of all ages who enter this space bringing our joys and concerns.
Joys and concerns shared.
In all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful
of the presentness of God among us,
and to see the new possibilities of the now.
The Care candle is lit
And let us recommit ourselves to the inclusive ways of Jesus.
Prayers
Pastoral
Lord's Prayer
You are invited to pray this contemporary prayer in the spirit of the Lord's Prayer, and in your original language, as that is appropriate
All O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos,
Focus your light within us - make it useful:
Create your reign of unity now.
Your one desire then acts with ours, as in all light, so in all forms.
Grant what we need each day in bread and insight.
Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,
as we release the strands we hold of others' guilt.
Don't let surface things delude us,
But free us from what holds us back.
From you is born all ruling will,
the power and the life to do,
the song that beautifies all, from age to age it renews.
Truly - power to these statements -
may they be the ground from which all
my actions grow: Amen. (Neil Douglas-Klotz)
With the children
Children gather on the conversation mat
Conversation
"Somewhere someone"
The kingdom of love is coming because:
All somewhere someone is kind when others are unkind,
somewhere someone shares with another in need,
somewhere someone refuses to hate, while others hate,
somewhere someone is patient - and waits in love,
somewhere someone returns good for evil,
somewhere someone serves another, in love,
somewhere someone is calm in a storm,
somewhere someone is loving everybody.
Is that someone you? (jke)
CELEBRATING
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation
In all the colours and scents and sounds of the world,
we see God's signature as the beauty of things.
Offering
Our offerings for the work of ministry in this place and beyond,
and our gifts of bread and wine, shall now be received.
The presentation The people stand as they ae able, as the gifts are brought forward
As a sign of hope in the world we offer these gifts
of bread, wine and money.
May we and these be used to further your way
of love, hope, and justice.
Offerings/bread and wine are placed on table.
Thanksgiving
God of the summer’s day,
All Praise and wonder be.
God of the lingering sunset and early dawn,
All Praise and wonder be.
God of the hot north wind and the refreshing shower,
God of the shady tree and the cool water bag,
God of the ripening harvest and sparkling sea,
All Praise and wonder be.
The people sit
We gather together conscious that raising our hearts and minds
is a gift of the Spirit of Life at work in the depths of our being.
All For the presence of that Spirit in us, we give thanks.
We gather together conscious that our celebration
gives the Spirit a way of breaking into word and song
unique in all the universe.
All For the words and songs within each of us, we give thanks.
And so we offer our thanks and praise
inviting the Spirit of Life, Love and Goodness
to move freely in our words and actions.
All Holy, holy, holy, celebrating God,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
All Hosanna in the highest.
Jesus is the story we gather around and give thanks for.
Human like us, he discerned where this Spirit of Life is found:
in the everyday,
in human interaction,
in caring,
in sharing,
in being neighbour.
He urged people to work together to establish the 'reign of God'
by wholehearted generosity,
by eliminating boundaries between people,
by trust in the goodness of people,
and by working for peace and justice in all human endeavours.
All We remember his total commitment to living fully and loving totally
and his faith in a God to be trusted
whatever twists life could take
in this imperfect world. (Adapted/ M Morwood/pns)
We also remember the tradition...
On the night before he died
Jesus again shared a meal with his friends.
Through grain and grape, bread and wine,
and in fellowship together,
Jesus spoke of his enduring love for each of them.
Bread and wine
Bread is broken. Wine poured out.
Communion
And they recognised him in the breaking of the bread.
Bread and wine served around the Table in small groups
After communion
May the life and the teachings of Jesus
motivate all that we do, so that what we profess
to have seen in his life and heard in his teaching
might be evident in our living and loving
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
"Deep in the heart of God" (Tune: 'Tyrolese', 86 86 86 86. 235 TiS )
Deep in the heart of God there lurks
A mischief making note,
A gurgle of suppressed delight
A chuckle in the throat.
Deep in the heart of God there lies
A reservoir of pain,
A cross-marked agony of love
Filled and refilled again.
Remain standing
Words of mission
The God we worship is never confined to this holy place.
So go and travel with the God
who is found in ordinary and surprising places.
The community candle is extinguished
May the quality of our lives be our benediction.
All And a blessing to all whom we touch. Philip R Giles
Blessing words
Go now, into the world God loves so much, to bear the fruit of love.
Go in peace and with delight
for God the source of life and love goes with us.
In this is great blessing!
All Amen!
Hymn (Cont) "Deep in the heart of God" (Tune: 'Tyrolese', 86 86 86 86. 235 TiS )
God of our laughter and our tears,
Transcending human thought,
You share our fun in life, our fears,
By incarnation brought:
Father of Jesus Christ, the clown,
Whose Spirit gives us breath,
Hear us, who look to you to crown
Our merriment, our death. Ian Fraser/ea
The people sit after the hymn
'This week' at St James
Notices
Birthdays and anniversaries
Significant events
Journey candles
Music
Fellowship
Morning tea is now served.
You are invited to share in the moment of fellowship.
You are invited to keep this copy of the liturgy and take it home with you
to share with another member of your family, or with a friend.
The contemporary hymns used in this liturgy,
are reproduced with permission under license #A1197.
LicenSing - Copyright cleared music for churches.
Some of the resources used in shaping this liturgy:
Alleluia Aotearoa. Hymns and songs for all churches. 1993. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Binkley, C. G.; J. M. McKeel. 2001. Jesus and his kingdom of equals. An international curriculum on the life and teaching of Jesus. CA: Santa Rosa. Polebridge Press.
Burgess, R; C. Polhill. 2004. Eggs and ashes. Practical & liturgical resources for Lent and Holy Week. Gt. Britain: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Douglas-Klotz, N. 1990. Prayers of the cosmos. Meditations on the aramaic words of Jesus. NY: New York. Harper & Row.
Falla, T. C. (ed). 1994 . Be our freedom lord. Responsive prayers and readings for contemporary worship. Revised edition. SA: Adelaide. Open Books Publications.
Inclusive readings. Year A. 2004. Qld: Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation.
Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book. Scotland: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
McRae-McMahon, D. 1996. The glory of blood, sweat and tears. Liturgies for living and dying. VIC: Melbourne. JBCE.
Morwood, M. 2003. Praying a new story. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Prewer, B. D. 1983. Australian prayers. SA: Adelaide. OpenBook Publishers.
Singing the living tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
Uniting in Worship. Leader’s Book. 1988. VIC: Melbourne. Uniting Church Press.
Ward, H.; J. Wild, J Morley. (ed). 1995. Celebrating women. New edition. Gt. Britain: London. SPCK.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA.