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
7 October 2007. Pentecost 19C. (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
Sing out happiness upon the morning.
Celebrate the famous sun and the comely earth.
Think upon love, that it may grow within us,
and compassion, that it may call us to its service. Kenneth Paton
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 day will come, must come, and soon” (Tune: O Waly Waly 2, 654 TiS)
The day will come, must come, and soon
when we will sing a song of joy
with sisters, brothers, not like us,
who share the image of one God.
Whatever name, which ever faith,
at heart we share a common bond,
a shared humanity in God,
whose name and character is love.
That love will drive us to the day
when every wall is broken down,
when love and joy and song are one:
that day will come, must come, and soon. Andrew Pratt.
Remain standing
Opening sentences
Among us the spirit of Creativity God conceives new life
All And we feel the life within us.
In our history Jesus the Sage makes gentle entry
All And we see the light before us.
Within our dreams the truth of our God is revealed
All We await the hope of the world.
Prayer of awareness
We pray:
Holy One of many names,
whose presence we most often recognise only in retrospect,
bless us this day.
Amen.
Hymn “Perfect singer” (Tune: ‘Catherine’, 77 77. 622 TiS) 332 SLT
Perfect Singer, songs of earth
rise on every field and hearth;
let our voices sound again
ancient songs of joy and pain.
All your creatures strive for life
suffer hurt in angry strife,
seek compassion, find release
in the covenant of peace.
Sing a sacred melody
for the justice that shall be;
let our harmonies resolve
dissonance in steadfast love.
Steadfast Seeker, find our song
woven into lives made strong;
let the patterns of surprise
kindle hope with each sunrise. (G K Beach)
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.
Meditative silence
How good it is to be alive!
Yes, we feel the beat of our own hearts,
the pulsing of life in our veins,
the rhythm of our breathing.
We come into the silence of this time with gratitude for this day.
(Silence)
We come with our needs.
And we come because we have gifts to share.
In our coming and in our going
may we be strengthened
in our bonds of love and peace.
(Silence)
Music of reflection
EXPLORING
Readings from our religious tradition
A story from our religious tradition shall be read by (NN).
Gospel:
Luke 17:5-10 (Inclusive Text)
The apostles said to Jesus, "Increase our faith."
Jesus replied,
"Were your faith the size of a mustard seed
you could say to this mulberry tree,
'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."
"Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep,
would say when the servant returned from the fields,
'Come and have your meal immediately'?
“Would you not be more likely to say,
'Get my supper laid; make yourself tidy and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You can eat and drink yourself afterwards'?
“Must you be grateful to the servant for doing your bidding?
So with you:
when you have done all you have been told to do, say,
'We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty."
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A litany of thanksgiving
In response to the word reflected on,
let us join together in a litany of thanksgiving.
The people stand a they are able
For our community gathered here,
for the spirit that called us together and drew us to this place:
All We give thanks this day.
For moments we have shared with others;
for times when we have reached out across barriers of distance and fear;
for times when others have reached out to us;
for moments when we have discovered another along our path:
All We give thanks this day.
For this community of celebration and growth,
introspection and solitude, and for those moments of
‘that peace which passes all understanding’:
All We give thanks this day.
For our gathering together out of separate places;
for our weaving together out of many separate selves
this hour of celebration and worship:
All We give thanks this day. Jane Mauldin
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 Most compassionate Life-giver,
may we honour and praise you:
may we work with you to establish
your new order of justice, peace and love.
Give us what we need for growth,
and help us, through forgiving others,
to accept forgiveness.
Strengthen us in the time of testing,
that we may resist all evil.
For all the tenderness, strength and love are yours,
now and forever. Amen. (Bill Wallace)
CELEBRATING
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
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:
Source of all our best imagination,
may we be infused with that energy and desire
to step beyond our safe boundaries and zones of comfort,
to see new possibilities, and
to have the courage to pursue them. Francis Macnab
Amen.
The people sit
The tradition of the meal
Such an event as sharing bread and wine was common in the time of Jesus.
Folk gathered for the sacred moment of the meal
when bread was broken
and the cup blessed.
It reminded them of their story,
the way they believed their God had led them,
the hope that was given to them,
and the blessing they received.
The church through the generations
has embraced this meal-event as a central sacrament of the Faith.
It was to be the substantial symbol of a life-enhancing presence,
giving the courage to bring a different spirit to the world.
This table sets before us the symbols of life.
All We give thanks to God for our life
and the courage we are given to live it.
We are here given this sacrament to
enhance and enrich our life.
All We will receive it with thanksgiving and faith.
Silence
Wherever we are, we are surrounded by the Good Presence.
All May the Good Presence change our way of being in the world.
(Pause)
Here in this sacred place, we are lifted into
the awesome mystery of life.
All And we reach out to all that is good.
Here in this sacred place, we are in
the Presence of the God of all goodness.
All And we pause to be open to that Presence and that goodness.
And so we take these gifts of bread and wine,
such ordinary things of life,
to lift us into the eternal mystery of God's
acceptance and grace.
Bread and wine
As he took the bread, I take it.
As he blessed the bread, I bless it.
As he broke the bread, I break it.
Let it be a symbol of the Presence:
a symbol of care and compassion
calling us to the highest spirit of care and compassion.
The bread is broken for us to take.
All We will receive it in faith.
As he took the wine, I take it.
As he raised the cup, I raise it.
As he blessed the cup, I bless it.
Let it be a symbol of remembering.
And a symbol of healing and renewal.
The wine is here for us to take.
All We will receive it in faith.
Bread and cup holding us in this Great Family of faith.
Communion
Bread and wine is served
After communion
Take with you the blessing of this sacrament.
Take with you the blessing of the Good Spirit into your daily life.
Take with you the blessing of care and compassion. (Adapted/Francis Macnab)
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Brother, sister.../The call of Christ” (Tune: 'Servant Song', 87 87, 650 TiS)
Brother, sister I'm beside you,
Let me be as Christ to you,
Pray that I might have the grace
to let you be as Christ to me.
We are pilgrims on a journey
and companions on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.
I will share your problems with you
I'll support you in your space
I will help you run your distance
I will look you in the face.
Remain standing
Words of mission
Let us take on this week’s life with renewed hope and imagination...
The community candle is extinguished
With faith in the creative powers of life,
With hope for the future of life in this world,
With love for all others who share this life with us,
Let us go forward together in peace.
All Our worship in this sacred space has ended.
Let our service begin.
Blessing words
Go in peace, embraced by the light and warmth of our gathering.
Go in love, ready again to struggle on.
Go in beauty, shining forth like a lamp for freedom. Sarah Lammert
All Amen!
Hymn (Cont) “Brother, sister.../The call of Christ” (Tune: 'Servant Song', 87 87, 650 TiS)
I'll remember that God made you
I'll not take your dignity
I'll encourage you in your skills
to create and feel and be.
Brother, sister I'm beside you,
Let me be as Christ to you,
Pray that I might have the grace
to let you be as Christ to me. Richard Gillard/Shirley Murray
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.
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.
Macnab, F. 2006. A fine wind is blowing: Psalms of the bible in words that blow you away. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Patton, K. 1967. Services and songs for the celebration of life. MA: Boston. Beacon Press.
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.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA.
Andrew Pratt Web site. UK.