Revd Rex A E Hunt,
MSc(Hons), GradDipCommMgt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
13 July 2008. Pentecost 9A. (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
'Today is a day the Lord has made',
says an old religious writer,
'let us therefore rejoice and be glad in it'.
It is indeed!
For it is a sacred time, this.
And a sacred place, this.
So let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.
Lighting of the candle
The community candle is lit
We light this flame to affirm that new truth is ever waiting
to break through to illumine our minds,
May we be always open to the rich possibilities
such an experience brings us.
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“A man of ancient time and place” (Tune ‘Tallis’ Canon’, 88 88, 443 TiS)
A man of ancient time and place
with foreign speech and foreign face,
reveals the glory, power and grace
of costly, unexpected love.
A rabbi, schooled in Moses’ Law,
a male, amending Herod’s flaw,
arouses wonder, rage and awe
with costly, unexpected love.
By teasing word and healing deed,
a leper touched, an outcast freed,
he bears the fruit and plants the seed
of costly, unexpected love.
The cost we barely can surmise
when, lifted up before our eyes,
the face of God we recognize
in crucified, unfathomed love.
May faith and hope within us grow,
the way of Christ to tell and show,
and may the Spirit breathe and blow
in costly, unexpected love. Brian Wren
Remain standing after the hymn
Opening sentences
v1 Sisters and brothers, open your hearts,
for faith has come,
and in faith you are set free.
Wm Free, not to mind your words, but to speak the truth in love.
Mn Free, not to look up to some, and down to others,
but to look kindly eye-to-eye.
v2 So clothe yourself in Christ.
And praise God. (D L Tuck.adapt/ctl)
Prayer
We pray:
Spirit of life, present in this hour...
may we sense your presentness as we gather in this sacred place.
Let all who enter here find comfort
and wisdom in this community.
Amen.
Hymn “God of unexplored tomorrows” (Tune: ‘Marching’, 87 87. 165 TiS) 27 FFS
God of unexplored tomorrows,
of today and yesterday,
God of rock and flowing river,
be our refuge, be our way.
Guardian rock above, before us,
strong foundation where we build,
landmark through the haze of doubting,
shelter where our fears are stilled,
Be the cleansing, quenching water,
irrigate, disturb and move,
stir us from our easy shallows,
current of refreshing love.
God of rock and flowing river
now and ever with us stand,
to transform our land of promise
into each one's promised land. Beverley Jones
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 silence be placed around us now, like a mantle.
Let us enter into it,
as through a small secret door;
to emerge into an acre of peace,
where stillness reigns and God is present.
(Silence)
May this mantle of silence become
a cloak of understanding
to warm our hearts this day. (Adapt.Kate McIlhagga/ghs)
(Silence)
EXPLORING
Readings from our broad religious tradition
Some readings from our biblical tradition shall now be read.
The reader is (NN).
Hebrew scriptures:
Isaiah 55:10-11 (Inclusive Text)
Thus says our God:
'As the rain and the snow come down from heavens and do not return without watering the earth,
making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread to the eating,
so the word that goes forth from my mouth
does not return to me empty,
without carrying out my will
and succeeding in what it was sent to do.'
Contemporary response:
"Spirit of life"
By Pam Wyley. Gentle rain on parched earth/89.
Out of the ordinariness of the bare earth,
you brought the extra ordinariness of human life
All Your spirit lives within us, O God.
In the ordinariness of the bare earth
we plant grain from last year's harvest
All Your spirit lives within us, O God.
Out of the ordinariness of water
comes the life of the seed
All Your spirit lives within the water, O God.
In human life and in the life of the seed
lies the life of this community
All Your spirit lives within this community, O God.
From the life of God
comes creation and recreation
All Your spirit lives within creation, O God.
Out of the heart of God comes peace and hope
All Your spirit lives within us, O God.
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“In water we grow” (Tune: “Paderborn”, 55 55 65 65) 494 TiS
The people sit
Gospel:
Matthew 13:1-9 (Inclusive Text)
Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such crowds gathered round
that Jesus got into a boat and sat there.
The people all stood on the beach,
and Jesus told them many things in parables.
He said:
'Imagine a sower going out to sow.
As the seeds were sown, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up.
'Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil
and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth;
but as soon as the sun came up
they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away.
'Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
'Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop,
some a hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.
'Listen anyone who has ears!'
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A celebration of faith
In response to the word reflected on
let us stand and share together a celebration of our faith.
The people stand as they are able
Our land is alive with the glory of God:
All desert sands hum and gum trees dance,
brown grasses sing
All and mountains breathe their stillness.
All created things add their rhythm of delight
All and even the stones rap out their praise.
Let our voices mingle with the song of the earth.
All May our hearts join the beat of her joy.
For our triune God is with us:
All our creator surrounds and upholds us.
Christ Jesus walks beside and before us.
The Spirit moves within and between us.
Blessed be God, our wonder and our delight. Jenny Tymms/mgs
The 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
“Touch the earth, reach the sky” (Tune: ‘Touch the earth’, 6 7 9 8) 301 SLT
Touch the earth, reach the sky!
Walk on shores while spirits fly
over the ocean, over the land,
our faith a quest to understand.
Touch the earth, reach the sky!
Children ask the reasons why.
In our lives the answers show,
and by our love they learn and grow.
Touch the earth, reach the sky!
All are born and all shall die;
Life’s the time left in between,
to follow a star, to build a dream.
Touch the earth, reach the sky!
Hug the laughter, feel the cry.
May we see where we can give,
for this is what it means to live.
Touch the earth, reach the sky!
Soar with courage ever high;
spirits joining as we fly,
to touch the earth, to reach the sky. Grace Lewis-McLaren.
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 work of ministry in this place and beyond,
shall now be received.
Presentation People stand as the gifts are presented
Compassionate God,
may we serve you night and day,
wherever we are, in all we do.
People sit
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)
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.
Prayers
Pastoral
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 Indwelling God,
infused throughout all existence,
we honour you with many names.
Your realm is within the human heart.
We accept life for all that it can be,
on earth as throughout all creation.
May we continue to draw sustenance from this earth,
and may we receive forgiveness equal to our own.
May we ever move from separation toward union,
to live in grace, with love in our hearts,
forever and ever. Amen. FF Keip
SCATTERING
Hymn "God gives us a future" (Tune: ‘Camberwell’ 65 65D) 687(v1-2) TiS
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 candle is extinguished
Worship need not cease.
It can echo in our lives,
in our words,
in our deeds,
in our moods,
in our dreams.
Carry worship with you wherever you may go.
Be a blessing in your going out and your coming in. G B. McKeeman
Blessing words
Go in peace and faith.
If you are tired, may you find rest.
If you are anxious, may you find peace.
If you are lonely, may you find friends.
Go in peace and faith,
for nothing can separte you
from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont) "God gives us a future" (Tune: ‘Camberwell’ 65 65D) 687(v3) TiS
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:
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.
Duncan, G. (ed). 2002. Courage to love. An anthology of inclusive worship material. GtB: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
Faith forever singing. Songs for a new day. 2000. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
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.
Liebelt, P; N. Nicholls. (ed). 1996. Gentle rain on parched earth. Worship resources for rural situations. VIC: Melbourne. JBCE.
McIlhagga, K. 2004. The green heart of the snowdrop. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Moving with God's spirit. A collection of prayers, hymns, affirmations and reflections. 1997. WA: Perth. Uniting Church in Australia, National Assembly.
Singing the living tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
Together in song. Australian hymn book 2. 1999. NSW: Sydney. HarperCollins Religious.
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/>
Stainer & Bell Ltd. Web site: hymns.uk.com