Revd Rex A E Hunt
MSc(Hons), GradDipCommMgt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
10 August 2008. Pentecost 13A. (Green).
Acknowledgement of land
(An act towards reconciliation)
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 (NN) People and their stewardship
of this land throughout the ages.
(NN) 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
Every creature is a word of God,
and all creation is a book about God (Meister Eckhart).
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of this God.
Lighting of the candle
The community candle is lit in silence
We light this flame as a symbol of the creativity of our faith:
the creativity to explore new avenues of religious insight;
the creativity to develop a caring community;
the creativity to envision a world of peace and freedom. (Adapt.Wm J. Gardiner)
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
"Sing to celebrate the city!” 122 AA
Sing to celebrate the city!
Sing the lives of people there,
sing the work of skill and beauty,
all who serve and all who care.
In the dictates of the dollar,
in the systems where we live,
find the currency of kindness,
eyes to smile and hearts to give.
We who are the city's traffic,
driving, driven, keeping pace,
name the God who makes us neighbours,
give our faith a human face;
in the workplace of God's people,
in the highrise and the home
our agenda is for justice -
changing lives for good to come.
Celebrate the art of living!
every colour, every sport,
every culture's dance and music,
every truth that love has taught -
be for God within the city,
life and loving are not priced:
light and lights of joyful worship,
set the table for the Christ!
Sing to celebrate the city!
Sing the lives of people there,
sing the work of skill and beauty,
all who serve and all who care. Shirley Murray
Remain standing after the hymn
Opening sentences
On a winter morning it is a good morning to be together!
All Drawn by the warmth of faces familiar and new,
to the welcoming space of this sacred place.
In this safe place let us open ourselves to
new understanding,
reassurance, and hope
All For this is a place where truth, love, and challenge meet.
It is a good morning to be together. Barbara Cheatham/adapt.
Prayer
We pray:
We have gathered here in community.
A place has been made for each of us.
Let what we say and do here be both real and honest,
thus preparing ourselves for the life of the world.
Amen.
Hymn “We praise you God for you have made” (Tune: ‘Duke Street’, 88 88. 439 TiS)
We praise you God for you have made
A world of such variety;
A world of colour, light and shade,
Of varied sexuality.
We come as ones who love you, God,
In many different frames and ways.
Indulge us, help us find a place
To share your loving, daring days.
We hold each other, hold us now
And never, ever let us go
God, give us generosity
That we may share the love we know (Andrew Pratt/cl)
The people sit
Welcome
In your own words
A warm welcome is extended to all.
Especially those who are worshipping at (NN) 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.
CENTERING
Silence
Let us now take some time to sit in comfort,
to breathe deeply,
to relax, in the presentness of God.
(Silence)
Music of reflection
Silence
May our spirits be renewed.
May our minds be open to new truth.
May we give thanks for this life we are blessed to share.
(Silence)
EXPLORING
Readings from our broad religious tradition
Two stories from our broad religious tradition shall now be read by (NN).
“No other plans. A story”
By Wm J Bausch. A world of stories/336-37.
Upon Jesus’ arrival in heaven, a vast host of angels greeted him.
After the formalities,
they asked him whom he had left behind on earth
to finish the work he had begun.
Jesus replied,
‘Just a small group of men and women who love me.’
‘That’s all?’ asked the angels, astonished.
‘What if this tiny group should fail?’
Jesus replied: ‘I have no other plans.’
Gospel:
Matthew 14:22-33 (Inclusive text)
Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side
while he would send the crowds away.
After sending the crowds away, Jesus went up into the hills by himself to pray.
When evening came, he was there alone,
while the boat, by now far out on the lake,
was baffling with a heavy sea,
for there was a head-wind.
In the fourth watch of the night Jesus went toward them,
walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the lake they were terrified.
'It is a ghost' they said, and cried out in fear.
But at once Jesus called out to them, saying
'Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.'
It was Peter who answered,
'If it is really you, tell me to come to you across the water.'
'Come' said Jesus.
Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus
across the water, but as soon as Peter felt the force of the wind,
he took fright and began to sink.
'Save me!' he cried.
Jesus put out his hand at once and held him.
'You of little faith,' he said 'why did you doubt?'
And as they got into the boat the wind dropped.
Those in the boat bowed down before Jesus and said,
'Truly, you are the Begotten of God.'
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A litany: ‘Basketful’
The people stand as they are able
Spirit of God,
brooding over the waters
of our chaos,
All inspire us to generous living.
Wind of God,
dancing over the desert
of our reluctance,
All lead us to the oasis of celebration.
Breath of God,
inspiring communication
among strangers,
All make us channels of your peace,
that we may give
in deep thankfulness,
All placing the overflowing basket
of our gifts
on the table
of rejoicing (Kate McIlhagga/ghs).
The peace
God makes peace within us. Let us claim it.
God makes peace between us. Let us share it.
Let us greet another as a sign of God's peace.
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
“Shake up the morning” (Tune: ‘Shake up’). 18 HSNW
Shake up the morning, let the dawn undress,
Let dew reglisten nature’s loveliness;
Waken the songbird and unseal the throat
That greets the daybreak with a crystal note.
Praise to the Lord, whose morning we inherit;
Praise creation’s fuse, the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son who rises with the dawn,
Leaving graveclothes scarcely three days worn.
Shake up the world and let the Kingdom come,
The dumb be listened to, the lost find home;
Make earthly politics the stuff of prayer
Till want and warring are dispelled by care.
Praise to the Lord, whose world we inherit;
Praise God’s catalyst, the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son whose choice it is to bless
Those who work for peace and live on less.
Shake up the Church and let all Christians show
That faith is real, that God is good to know;
Fashion new symbols of the coming age
When hope and love with take the centre stage.
Praise to the Lord, whose Gospel we inherit;
Praise God’s bird of love, the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son whose will and words decree
All are one in this community.
Shake up the evening, let the shadows range
As clouds to castles in the sunset change;
Kindle the moon and stars which through each night
Reflect the glory of tomorrow’s light.
Praise to the Lord, whose evening we inherit;
Praise creation’s presence in the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son whose brightness none can kill,
Lighting paths for those who seek this will. © Iona Community
CELEBRATING
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)
Offerings
Our offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond, shall now be received.
Presentation People stand as the gifts are presented
The riches of God's gracious love have been entrusted to us.
May we share the beauty of God
with all who walk with us, in caring service.
People sit
Reflections and prayers
Care candle
We are people of all ages who enter this space
bringing our joys and concerns.
Joys and concerns shared.
Listening response
As one heart is lifted
All May we share its celebration
As one heart is burdened
All May we share the pain it knows (Gretta Vosper/wwg)
And so we take this flame and light our special care candle.
The Care candle is lit
In all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful
of the presentness of God among us,
and to see new possibilities of the now.
Pastoral prayer
Lord's Prayer
You are invited to pray in the spirit of the Lord's Prayer, and in your original language, as that is appropriate
All God - heart of the world:
revealed through every aspect of creation:
understood through our awareness.
May we honour the holiness of creation and act accordingly
so that your love is reflected
in the way we live.
May we always be thankful for the food we eat
and the friends we have.
May we forgive those who transgress against us
and be forgiven for our own.
In the freedom of love may we live as your heartbeat
and not be compromised by hesitation.
Through our freedom, may your justice
be seen and heard and experienced
forever and ever. Amen. Sherri J. Weinberg
SCATTERING
Hymn "To risk the way" (Tune: ‘Chilton Foliat’, 10 10 10 10. 487 TiS)
To risk the way of Jesus we are called.
To follow, his compassion we will share.
To struggle with the hurts and with the pain
To follow where he heads us we will dare.
We'll need the grace of Jesus for the way.
We'll seek each other as companions true.
We'll pray together for the strength we need.
We'll go with joy for those he sends us to.
The lonely and the broken ones we'll seek.
The young and old alike are his concern;
The refugee, the stranger and the poor;
The spirit of his caring we will learn.
Remain standing
Words of mission
Time has now come for us to leave this sacred place.
As we do, may we embrace the challenges
of our lives and our world...
The candle is extinguished
May we go forth from this place
thankful for the life that sustains and renews us,
and open to the grace
that surrounds and surprises us.
All May we go forth from this place
with openness and with thanksgiving! Charles A. Howe
Blessing words
The calling of a magpie greets the promising sunrise on a winter’s morning.
May there be awakened in us long held hopes
and a keening of our longing for you, Gracious God.
All And we are blessed. Amen.
Hymn (Cont) "To risk the way" (Tune: ‘Chilton Foliat’, 10 10 10 10. 487 TiS)
To be the church at mission in our land;
To share our faith; to offer others care;
To follow Jesus through the times of change;
To risk the way of Jesus we will dare. © David Manton.
The people sit after the hymn
'This week' at (NN)
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.
I recommend the use of
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.
Bell, J; G. Maule. 1989. Heaven shall not wait. Wild Goose Songs Vol. 1. Revised edition. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
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.
Inclusive readings. Year A. 2004. Qld: Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation.
Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
McIlhagga, K. 2004. The green heart of the snowdrop. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Macnab, F. 1996. Hope: The deeper longings of the mind and heart. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Special resources. UCA National Assembly. (Issued from time to time).
The St Hilda Community. 1996. The new women included. A book of services and prayers. GtB: London. SPCK.
Vosper, G. 2008. With or without God. Why the way we live is more important that what we believe. Canada: Toronto. HarperCollins.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA. < www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
Sherri Weinberg. St Paul's Presbyterian Church. NZ: Devonport.
Andrew Pratt eMail distribution. UK.