The Uniting Church of St James
Curtin, ACT
Minister-in-Placement: Revd Rex A E Hunt, MSc(Hons), GradDipCommMgt
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
23 September 2007. Season of Creation4/Pentecost 17C. (Green).
10.30am. Contemporary liturgical worship.
Celebrating community: Sacrament of Holy Communion
Theme: Cosmos Sunday
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
Silence
The gong is sounded three times
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
This flame is warm as the companionship of friends is warm.
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life
in the presentness of God.
Entry into worship
v2 Fountain of life...
Pulse of life...
Breath of life...
All Earth is filled with the presentness of God.
v1 Holy! Holy! Holy!
The cosmos is filled with the presentness of God.
All Holy! Holy! Holy!
Earth is filled with the presentness of God.
v2 Together this day, let us sense the face of God in all creativity.
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
"God of the galaxies" (Tune: Cheam) 54 AA
God of the galaxies spinning in space,
God of the smallest seed, our living source,
yours is the gift of this beautiful place.
Let us care for your garden
and honour the earth.
Careless and covetous, gross are our greeds,
taking the riches the garden provides,
wasting its goodness, forgetting its needs.
Let us care for your garden
and honour the earth.
Forests and rivers are ravaged and die,
raped is the land till it bleeds in its clay,
silenced the birdsong and plundered the sea.
Let us care for your garden
and honour the earth.
Remain standing
Opening sentences
The Spirit of God has hovered over the waters…
We invite the cosmos to worship with us:
All We invite glittering galaxies high in the sky
to radiate the splendour of God’s presence.
We call distant domains of space to celebrate with us.
All We invite nebula, nova and black holes
to thank God for their fascinating formation.
We summon that piece of stardust called Earth,
All To pulse with the rhythm of God's presence
and celebrate God's glory in this planet garden.
We invite millions of living species to dance with life,
All The turtle, the toad and the elephant,
the earthworm, the ant and the dragonfly.
We invite every creature in the web of creation
All To consciously connect with others
in this community called the cosmos.
Dance creation, dance!
All Dance with cosmic energy! (Norman Habel)
Prayer of awareness
We pray:
As we reflect on the mysteries of the cosmos,
we celebrate our connectedness to this vast web of life.
May we connect with all living beings.
May we sense the presentness of God in the stars and the planets.
May we care for the oceans, the earth and the air.
Amen.
Hymn (Cont.) "God of the galaxies" (Tune: Cheam) 54 AA
Let there be beauty, and let there be air
fragrant with peace, never poisoned with fear,
freed from the plagues of pollution and war.
Let us care for your garden
and honour the earth.
Life is a holy thing, life is a whole,
linking each creature and blessing us all,
making connections of body and soul.
Let us care for your garden
and honour the earth. Shirley Murray
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.
Remembering
This morning we continue the celebration called Season of Creation.
Today’s iturgical theme is Cosmos Sunday.
A eucalyptus leave was given to you as you entered.
Smell the leaf and rub it between your fingers,
and share with the person next to you
times when you were acutely conscious
of the vast world of time and space.
Conversation
Silence
We remember moments of wonder,
sensing the infinite world of space,
feeling the mystery of the moment.
All We remember and rejoice.
Now away from the busyness of life
and in the silence of this sacred place,
let us give thanks for the gift of life,
and the mystery of an endless horizon
stretching out across the universe.
(Silence)
Dance, creation, dance!
All We give thanks for living cosmos
so much a part of who we are!
Music of celebration
EXPLORING
Reading from our religious tradition
A story from our biblical tradition will be told by (NN).
Gospel:
Luke 16:1-8a (Inclusive Text)
Jesus said to the disciples,
There was a rich householder who had a steward
who was denounced for being wasteful
with the householder's property.
The householder called for the steward and said,
‘What is this that I hear about you?
Draw me up an account of your stewardship
because you are not to be my steward any longer.’
Then the steward thought,
‘Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do?
'Dig? I am not strong enough.
Go begging? I should be too ashamed.
'Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office
there will be some to welcome me into their homes.’
So the steward called the master's debtors one by one saying to the first,
‘How much do you owe my master?’
‘One hundred measures of oil,’ was the reply.
The steward said,
'Here, take your bond, sit down straight away, and write 50.’
To another the steward said,
‘And you, how much do you owe?'
'One hundred measures of wheat," was the reply.
The steward said,
'Here, take your bond and write 80.’
And the master praised the dishonest steward for astuteness.
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A litany
In response to the word reflected on, and in solidarity with the Universe
and all who dwell therein, let us stand and share a contemporary litany.
The people stand
Out of the stars in their flight,
out of the dust of eternity,
All here have we come,
Stardust and sunlight, mingling
through time and through space.
Out of the stars have we come, up from time;
Out of the stars have we come.
All Time out of time before time in the vastness of space,
earth spun to orbit the sun,
Earth with the thunder of mountains newborn, the boiling of seas.
All Earth warmed by sun, lit by sunlight:
This is our home;
Out of the stars have we come.
Mystery hidden in mystery, back through all time;
Mystery rising from rocks in the storm and the sea.
All Out of the stars, rising from rocks and the sea,
kindled by sunlight on earth, arose life.
Ponder this thing in your heart;
ponder with awe:
All Out of the sea to the land,
out of the shallows came ferns.
Out of the sea to the land, up from darkness to light,
Rising to walk and to fly,
out of the sea trembled life.
All Ponder this thing in your heart, life up from sea:
Eyes to behold, throats to sing, mates to love.
Life from the sea,
warmed by sun, washed by rain,
All life from within, giving birth, rose to love.
This is the wonder of time;
this is the marvel of space;
All out of the stars swung the earth;
Iife upon earth rose to love.
This is the marvel of life,
rising to see and to know;
All Out of your heart, cry wonder:
sing that we live. Robert Weston/slt
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 of the Month
“Maker of mystery” (Tune: By Colin Gibson) 47 FFS
Maker of mystery,
dreamer of what will be,
well-spring and fertile ground of all our growing:
tending the buried seed,
foreseeing every need,
you draw us into life beyond our knowing.
Christ, strong and living vine,
spreading through space and time,
deep rooted in the love of God our mother:
dying, you live and share
your strength with us, to bear
ripe fruit in season for the life of others.
Wild Spirit, springing green,
coiled in the depths unseen,
promise of fruit within the seed maturing:
new life, you grow and swell,
burst from the outgrown shell,
hundredfold yield in every age ensuring.
Living and loving God,
sing in the pulse of our blood,
help us to know you in your own creation,
love you, the life of all,
serve you and hear your call
from our first forming to our full salvation. Marnie Barrell
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 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. Sherri. Weinberg
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,
and our gifts of bread and wine, shall now be received.
Presentation The people stand, as they are able as the gifts are presented
We pray:
Freely have we received of gifts
that minister to our needs of body and spirit.
We give thanks for moments when we feel we live in a world
that is not indifferent to our needs.
May we continue to live and be with each other
in a way that shows we are also
not indifferent to others needs.
Amen.
The people sit
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Centering words
The earth has gone the round of seasons:
from the vibrant green of spring's new life
to the lush richness of warm summer,
to the brilliant fulfillment of riotous autumn,
to the generosity and self-giving of winter.
Now we stand once again, touched by the promise
of new life in early spring.
Discernment and welcome to the Table
Thus it is fitting that as we celebrate the renewal of life and hope,
we also celebrate the presentness
of the Spirit of Life and Hope and Creativity,
everywhere around and within us.
(pause)
No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey,
you are welcome at this table
with it's symbols of God's Creative Presence.
All In company with all who seek nourishment at this table,
we come to celebrate community,
and to share these life-giving symbols. (Jerry Stinson/adapted)
Thanksgiving
It is right and our joy to give thanks
world-gazing, hope-cheering God, our cherisher.
We celebrate the changing mood of nature:
for sunshine and showers of an early spring day.
for the nesting and cheerfulness of birds,
and the flowers of bush and garden...
wattle, heath, and bottle brush.
We who hold all such good things in trust,
in the company of each other,
and in company with people throughout the world
declare as generations before us have declared:
All Holy, holy, holy, hope-breathing 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.
And we celebrate our knowledge of the one called Jesus,
who taught all to care for the birds of the air,
and the grass of the paddock;
living expressions of the Spirit of Life in our midst.
Through his sayings and parables,
he broke down existing biases and opened a way
for more humane ways of living.
Jesus at supper is a demonstration of this teaching.
He urged his followers to include a wide variety of folks
in what he called the realm of God,
and he encouraged them to be open
to the insights and understandings
that come from honest and respectful dialogue among
those who seek a worthy way of life.
We are here to carry on this tradition
of seeking for truth and recognizing goodness
wherever they may be found.
Bread and Wine
Bread is broken, wine poured out
So we take and break this bread,
and pour out this wine, mindful of the Spirit at work in our lives.
Communion
Bread and wine served in small groups around the Table
After communion
We give thanks that we have
gathered together in this sacred place,
and been refreshed at this table.
We rejoice in the giftedness of each person here.
We are grateful for who we are for each other.
May we go forth into the world in courage and peace.
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“A firemist and a planet” (Tune: 'Thornbury', 76 76D, 15 TiS). 343 (v1-2) SLT
A firemist and a planet,
a crystal and a cell,
a starfish and a saurian,
and caves where ancients dwelt;
the sense of law and beauty,
a face turned from the sod
- some call it evolution,
and others call it God.
Haze on the far horizon,
the infinite tender sky,
the ripe, rich tints of [wheat]fields,
and wild geese sailing high;
and over high and low-land,
the charm of golden rod
- some people call it autumn,
and others call it God.
Remain standing
Words of mission
Let us take on this week’s life with renewed hope and imagination...
The community candle is extinguished
Remembering again the wonder and the mystery of the Cosmos…
Will you care for Planet Earth?
All We will empathise with the oceans.
We will care for the fauna.
We will be sensitive to the cries of creation in song and storm.
And we will celebrate life!
Blessing words
May God the starmaker cradle and circle you.
May God the storyteller beckon and encourage you.
May God the life changer challenge you and cherish you.
May you walk in the light of God’s love and laughter
all the moments of your nights and days.
All Amen!
Hymn (Cont) “A firemist and a planet” (Tune: 'Thornbury', 76 76D, 15 TiS). 343 (v1-2) SLT
Like tides on crescent sea-beach,
when moon's so new and thin,
into our hearts high yearnings
come welling, surging in,
come from the mystic ocean
whose rim not foot has trod
- some people call it longing,
and others call it God.
A sentry lone and frozen,
a mother starved for her brood,
and Socrates' dread hemlock,
and Jesus on the rood;
and millions, who, though nameless,
the straight, hard pathway trod,
- some call it consecration,
and others call it God. Wm H Carruth
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,
in addition to those from Together in Song,
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. 2001. A book of blessings. Scotland: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications
Faith forever singing. Songs for a new day. 2000. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Inclusive readings. Year C. 2006. Qld: Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation.
Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book. Scotland: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Jones, Robert V. 2005. Liturgy: The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Westar Insitute/ L & L Seminar. In private circulation from the author.
Morely, J. 1992. All desires known. Expanded edition. Gt. Britain: London. SPCK.
Seaburg, C. (ed). 1993. The communion book. MA: Boston. UUMA.
Singing the living tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
Stinson, J. 2006. “The encounter of progressive christian theology with the language of prayer and ritual on Sunday morning”. Westar Institute/. L & L Seminar. In private circulation from the author.
The St Hilda Community. 1996. The new women included. A book of services and prayers. Gt. Britain: London. SPCK.
Withrow, L. 1995. Seasons of prayer. Resources for worship. Gt. Britain: London. SPCK.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA.
Sherri Weinberg. St Paul's Presbyterian Church. NZ: Devonport.
Norman Habel Creation Liturgies. <www.seasonofcreation.com>