Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
3 December 2006. Advent 1C. (Blue).
Celebrating community: Sacrament of Holy Communion
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 (N) 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 celebration
v1 The season of Advent challenges us
to see God's vision of what is yet to be,
to hear God's voice calling anew,
to smell the scent of God in our world.
v2 Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life
in the presentness of God.
Music of celebration
THE ADVENT WREATH WITH THE CHILDREN
Advent 1
Summer is in the air:
we look for the joys ahead;
for holy-days and recreation,
waiting and discerning.
All Come, companion Jesus, and walk with us.
v1 Let us prepare a manger in our hearts
for the birth of the sacred.
v3 Why do we light one candle?
v2 This candle reminds us of the light of hope.
A candle is lit.
v4 hope
like a seed buried deep within the earth;
hidden, covered by layers,
disappointment, struggle, pain;
buried yet stretching,
growing and becoming.
hope
like a seed becoming new life.
This is why we light a candle for hope.
Kathy Hawker/Outside the box
Presentation of the Christmas Bowl
Hymn “Anna’s Song” 55 IST
Lift this child to the sun,
Raise this child to the sky;
God has come from above,
Come to earth from on high.
Lift this child, lift this child to the sun. © Norman Habel.
Remain standing. The children depart for Sunday Club.
Opening sentences
Let us acknowledge the
awesome mystery embodied in every person.
All Through us God comes to unique
and personal expression.
Let us give thanks
for the abundance of life on this earth.
All Through it we and all people
may be nourished. (M Morwood/adapted)
Prayer of awareness
We pray:
Holy and Creative Light, may we continue
to love this earth, our home.
This quiet star, marbled blue and white,
was spinning in black space long before we came:
delicate,
self-contained,
easily torn apart!
Holy it is. As caretakers and stewards
may we watch over it, savor its beauty, and breathe its air.
Amen. (Charles Grady /adapted)
Hymn “Advent song” 281 (v1-3) GA
Refrain:
Gather in hope, people of God.
Sing the Advent song!
Song of faith, song of trust,
a song to welcome the Christ.
Let the warmth of our love,
like the long summer days,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord.
Let our will for justice,
as strong as the sun,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord.
Refrain:
Let our thirst for the truth,
like the dry, parched earth,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord.
Let our dream for peace,
as bright as the sky,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord.
Refrain:
Let the prophet be heard,
like the blaze of fire,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord.
Let the poor and the rich,
as the lamb and the lion,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord.
Refrain: Deirdre Browne
The people sit after the hymn
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
Reflection
"Prayer of the Earth"
By Andrew Hill.
Space-hanging Earth,
fragile as a Christmas babe
delicate as a Christmas Tree ornament:
nurture us as a mother nurtures children,
like Mary nursing Jesus.
Forgive our hurtful ways.
Help us to fairer sharing.
And so may you sustain all earth's children and all earth's beings
even your Earthly self
unto all generations and
into all time to come.
Silence
In this familiar place, listen:
to the sounds of breathing,
creaking chairs,
shuffling feet,
clearing throats,
and sighing all around.
Know that each breath, each movement,
holds a life within it.
(Silence)
These are signs
that we choose to be in this safe place. Barbara Pescan/adapted
EXPLORING
Readings from our religious tradition
Some stories from our broad religious tradition shall now be read.
From the mystics
"In your midst"
By Hildegard of Bingen. The essential mystics/192.
I, God, am in your midst.
Whoever knows me can never fall,
Not in the heights,
Nor in the depths,
Nor in the breadths,
For I am love,
Which the vast expanses of evil
Can never still.
Gospel:
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 (Inclusive Text)
• Introduction
This is a strange reading. The predictions, like the images of horror and hope, fail the reality test at one level.
But at another level these same predictions also point to reality. A sense of potential doom and danger of global proportions is not to be despised.
oo0oo
Jesus said to the disciples:
'There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars;
on earth nations in agony, bewildered
by the clamour of the ocean
and its waves;
people dying of fear as they await
what menaces the world,
for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
'And then they will see the Promised One
coming in the cloud with power and great glory.
When these things begin to take place,
stand erect, hold your heads high,
because your liberation is near at hand...'
'Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened
with dissipation and drunkenness
and the cares of life,
and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap.
'For it will come down on every living person
on the face of the earth.
'Stay awake, praying at all times
for the strength to survive all that is going to happen,
and to stand with confidence before the Promised One.'
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
Advent litany
The people stand as they are able
v1 Among the poor,
v2 among the proud,
v3 among the persecuted,
v2 among the privileged,
v1 Christ is coming.
All Is coming to make all things new.
v3 In the private house,
v2 in the market place,
v1 in the wedding feast,
v2 in the judgement hall,
v3 Christ is coming.
All Is coming to make all things new.
v1 With a gentle touch,
v2 with an angry word,
v3 with a clear conscience,
v2 with burning love,
v1 Christ is coming,
All Is coming to make all things new.
v3 Within us,
v2 without us,
v1 among us,
v2 before us,
v3 in this place,
v2 in every place,
v1 for this time,
v2 for all time,
v1 Christ is coming,
All Is coming to make all things new. (wgwg)
Hymn of the month
“Star-Child, earth-Child” 40(ii) COC
Star-Child, earth-Child
go-between of God,
love Child, Christ Child,
heaven's lightning rod,
Refrain:
This year, this year,
let the day arrive,
when Christmas comes
for everyone,
everyone alive!
Street child, beat child
no place left to go,
hurt child, used child,
no one wants to know,
Refrain:
Grown child, old child,
mem'ry full of years,
sad child, lost child,
story told in tears,
Refrain:
Spared child, spoiled child,
having, wanting more,
wise child, faith child
knowing joy in store,
Refrain:
Hope-for-peace Child,
God's stupendous sign,
down-to-earth Child,
star of stars that shine,
Refrain: Shirley Murray
The people sit
Care candle
We are people of all ages who enter this space
bringing our joys and concern.
Joys and concerns
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
Prayers
Pastoral
Lord's Prayer
You are invited to pray the Lord's Prayer in your original language, as that is appropriate.
All Father, may your name be holy.
May your rule take place.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Pardon our debts, for we ourselves pardon
everyone in debt to us.
And do not bring us to trial
into a trying situation. (B Mack/Q)
Amen.
Offerings
Our offerings and gifts of bread and wine shall now be presented.
Presentation People stand as they are able, as gifts are presented
Creating God,
the landscape of life and your presence is near:
a rose in bloom,
a single green leaf,
the red and green flash of a parrot.
May we too be a people of adventure and life,
grace-filled companions, offering
courage and hope in unexpected places.
Amen.
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Thanksgiving
Source and Sustainer of life we name God,
present and active from the beginning of time,
we are gathered in your ever presentness.
All And it is right that we give thanks and praise,
and tell our stories of celebration and connectedness.
In time beyond our dreaming
you hovered over the water
revealing yourself in
fire and storm and precious law.
You created humanity in your likeness,
and placed us on this earth,
with its minerals and waters,
flowers and fruits,
living creatures of grace and beauty!
You showed Noah a rainbow;
you gave strength to Moses to free his people,
and taught Miriam to sing;
you gave courage to Esther
and loyalty to Ruth.
All We give thanks for men and women
in many different cultures and times who spoke about
our connectedness with each other,
and with all of creation.
In this age and season,
with its TV and shopping and summer sun,
we wait again with expectant hearts
and hopeful spirits,
as we seek your presentness among us.
So we join our celebration
to the adoration of all your people
in heaven and earth, saying:
All Holy, holy, holy, compassionate 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.
Breaking of bread/Pouring of wine
Long ago,
Jesus came in the humble birth of a child,
a child of amazing and divine love,
a child of Mary's 'yes' to you,
a child of Joseph's acceptance,
a child of our humanity.
All We pledge ourselves to be embodiments
of the dream he dreamed.
Long ago, Jesus took bread,
gave thanks, broke it and said:
v2 'This bread is broken, as my body will be'.
And he handed it to his friends,
and invited them to eat, saying:
v2 'Remember all that I have been to you'.
Long ago, Jesus poured a cup of wine,
offered thanks for it,
gave it to his friends and said,
v2 'This wine is poured out as my life will be poured out.
As you drink give thanks for all I have given'.
Loving God, it is through your goodness
we have this bread and wine to offer...
bread, that was once scattered as grain in a paddock
and gathered together and baked into a loaf;
wine, that was once grapes grown on a hillside
and gathered together and pressed into juice.
May this gathering of your community of faith be comforted.
All May people see in us the courage and the generosity
that characterised Jesus' life.
Amen.
Communion
Served at the front by intinction
Come, for all is now ready.
After communion
We are one with the mystery and Source and Sustainer
of all that exists.
We rejoice in our human capacity
to wonder and marvel,
to appreciate,
to rejoice,
and to give thanks.
The peace
God makes peace within us. Let us claim it.
God makes peace between us. Let us share it.
The peace of God is here... to stay.
All Thanks be to God.
You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours.
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.
Words of mission
Worship need not cease.
All 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.
All We will be a blessing
in our going out and your coming in. (Adapted/G B. McKeeman)
Blessing words
May the God you see in all the colours of creation
arouse in you a sense of awe and wonder.
May the God who is a sacred presence be real to you.
May the God who is a source of inspiration and courage
keep calling you forward.
May your God go with you, and bless you. (Francis Macnab)
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont.) "The ceaseless flow of time" (Tune: 459(i) TiS, McKee 86 86) 350 SLT
The past and future ever meet
in the eternal now:
to make each day a thing complete
shall be our Advent vow. John Storey/adapted
The people sit after the hymn
'This week' at (NN)
Notices
Birthdays and anniversaries
Significant events
Journey candles
Recessional 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.
Carol our christmas. A book of New Zealand carols. 1996. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Gather Australia. 1995. Vic: Ashburton. NLMC Publications.
Harvey, A. (ed). 1996. The essential mystics. NY: New York. HarperSanFrancisco.
In spirit and in truth. A worship book. 1991. Switzerland: Geneva. World Council of Churches. Seventh Assembly.
Inclusive readings. Year C. 2007. Qld: Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation.
Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book. Scotland: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Mack, B. L. 1993. The lost gospel. The book of Q and christian origins. NY: New York. HarperSanFrancisco.
Morwood, M. 2003. Praying a new story. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Singing the living tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
The St Hilda Community. 1996. The new women included. A book of services and prayers. Gt. Britain: London. SPCK.
Together in song. Australian hymn book 2. 1999. NSW: Sydney. HarperCollins Religious.
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.
Wild Goose Worship Group. 1997. Cloth for the cradle. Worship resources and readings for advent, christmas & epiphany. Gt. Britain: Glasgow. Iona Community.
Withrow, L. 1995. Seasons of prayer. Resources for worship. Gt. Britain: London. SPCK.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA.
Kathy Hawker. Outside the box. <liturgyoutside.net/AdventCandleOutside.html>