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
8 July 2007. Pentecost 6C. (Green).
10.30am. Contemporary liturgical worship.
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
Music
Entry into worship
The gong is sounded three times
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.
Lighting of community candle
The candle is lit
Let the light we kindle go before us,
Strong in hope,
wide in good will,
Inviting the day to come. (Adapted/ G K. Beach)
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“When God’s spirit” (Tune: “Abbot’s Leigh’, 87 87D. 153 TiS) 146 RP
When God's spirit lends a lightness
to the songs we want to sing,
when we celebrate the brightness
that the love of God can bring;
then the grace of God surprises,
and our faith in God grows strong,
as the praise that we have sought for
is re-echoed in our song.
Here in song we find a freedom,
music wings our words on high,
now we know this is the season,
now we know the reason why
life is filled with exaltation,
joy inspires each love and life,
lifts beyond our expectation,
brings an end to former strife.
On beyond our pain and sorrow,
walking onward into light,
we will greet a new tomorrow
colours flaming out of night.
Light is dawning on the future,
guiding us within this maze;
love and grace will hold and nurture,
forming faith, reclaiming praise. Andrew Pratt
Remain standing
Opening sentences
Let us gather in celebration and prayer.
All It is good to be here.
Let us also pay deep attention to the world around us:
All we are present with our eyes,
…to hear the sounds of creation
All we are present with our ears,
…to feel the pain of our fellow people
All we are present with our hearts,
…to smell the banquet of abundant life
All we are present with our lives. (Adapted/J Nelson-Pallmeyer/wsj)
Prayer
We pray:
Blossom of Love, give us courage and an open spirit
as we consider the life and teachings of Jesus.
May we feel an invitational embrace
beckoning us to fullness of life where we
celebrate beauty and
engage the causes of suffering.
Amen.
Hymn “In the bulb there is a flower” (Tune: “Maria’s Tune”, 87 87D, 420 TiS)
In the bulb there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise;
butterflies with soon be free!
in the cold and snow of winter
there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
There's a song in every silence,
seeking word and melody.
there's a dawn in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future,
what it holds, a mystery;
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning;
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing;
in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see Natalie A W Sleeth
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.
Music of celebration
EXPLORING
Readings from our religious tradition
Let us now listen to some stories from our religious tradition.
Early church (Authentic Paul):
Galatians 6: 14-18 (Inclusive Text)
Paul is writing to the small gathering of Jewish Christians in Galatia:
The only thing I can boast about is the cross of Jesus Christ,
through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.
It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not.
What matters is becoming an altogether new creature.
Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, who form the Israel of God.
I want no more trouble from anybody after this;
the marks on my body are those of Jesus.
The grace of Jesus Christ be with your spirit,
my sisters and brothers. Amen.
World around us (Responsive reading):
“In this ordinary place”
By Bret Hesla. Worship in the spirit of Jesus/103.
May we awaken to the presence of God,
All here in this ordinary place.
May we awaken to the power of love,
All here in this ordinary crowd.
May we build a neighborhood of justice for all,
All now in this ordinary time.
May we daily work to build a world at peace,
All now with these ordinary hands.
Hymn In solidarity with those for whom standing is not easy or possible we will remain seated to sing...
“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
Gospel:
Luke 10:1-10 (Inclusive Text)
Jesus appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him,
in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit.
Prior to them starting out, Jesus said:
'The harvest is rich, but the labourers are few,
so ask the owner of the harvest to send labourers to the harvest.
'Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
'Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals.
Salute no one on the road.
'Whatever house you go into, let your first words be,
"Peace to this house!"
'And if people of peace live there, your peace will go and rest on them.
If not, it will come back to you.
'Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer,
for the labourer deserves wages. Do not move from house to house.
'Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you.
Cure those in it who are sick, and say, "The realm of God is very near you."
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
An affirmation of faith
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand and share together an affirmation of faith.
The people stand
We believe in God
All who made the world, loves it and smiles on it;
Wn who created human beings to be different and asked them to get on with each other;
Mn who took the risk of leaving us alone, knowing that one day our differences
might threaten the earth's safety;
All who trusts us in full knowledge or our frailness.
We believe in Jesus, Human One
Wn who came among us insignificantly, who grew among us uneventfully,
All who walked among us incognito;
Mn who, to change the world, became redundant and called others away from security;
who befriended those whose company would discredit him;
Wn who pardoned those who deserved to be condemned;
Mn who healed those who were hopeless cases;
Wn who spoke the deepest truths in the language of the living room;
who contradicted common sense
by accepting the cross and taking on the grave
and being liberated to live on the third day;
All who calls us, now as then, to a life which is absurd
by the standards of the world.
We believe in the Holy Spirit
All through whom God surprises, disappoints, lures and questions us;
Wn who is the bringer of strength and source of humour;
Mn who leads us to discover the truth we avoid;
who is a paradox - ever present yet unpredictable.
All And we believe that the foolishness of God
is wiser than the wisdom of the world:
and we rejoice that God has made it so. (Unknown)
The peace
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
“We are many” (Tune: ‘Hamilton’.) 67 FFS
We are many, we are one,
and the work of Christ is done
when we learn to live in true community,
as the stars that fill the night,
as a flock of birds in flight,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the branches of a tree,
as the waves upon the sea,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.
All division is made whole
when we honour every soul,
find the life of God in every you and me,
as the fingers of a hand,
as the grains that form the sand,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the threads upon a loom,
as a field of flowers in bloom,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.
We will join creation's song,
make a world where all belong,
build as one in peace and loving harmony,
as the voices of a choir,
as the flames within a fire,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the snowflakes in the snow,
as the colours of a bow,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine. Colin Gibson
CELEBRATING
Offerings
Our offerings for the work of ministry in this place and beyond, shall now be received.
Presentation The people stand, as they are able as the gifts are presented
We pray:
Receive these our gifts, gracious God.
In hope and thanksgiving we offer them to you.
Amen.
The people sit
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 see the new possibilities of the now.
And let us recommit ourselves to the inclusive ways of Jesus.
The Care candle is lit
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, who cares for us,
the wonder of whose presence fills us with awe.
Let kindness, justice and love shine in our world.
Let your secrets be known here as they are in heaven.
Give us the food and the hope we need for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing
as we forgive the wrongs done to us.
Protect us from pride and from despair
and from the fear and hate which can swallow us up.
In you is truth, meaning, glory and power,
while worlds come and go. (Monica Furlong/nwi)
Amen.
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Where the love of God” (Tune: ‘Reconciliation’) 76(v1-2) FFS
Where the love of God is guiding,
there is now another way:
new awareness of compassion
learned from one another;
love, the face of God in Jesus,
new creation's thrust,
love, transforming tears and terror
into health and trust.
Where the truth of God is driving,
there is now another way,
shining through our times' confusion,
sharp with revelation:
words that stifle sense or spirit
changed and redefined,
crosses raised to teach division
lowered, left behind.
Where the life on earth is cherished,
there is now another way,
where a child may grow in safety,
where there's peace and shelter,
when we hold the fragile planet
in our conscious care,
when we see again as sacred
all we are and share.
Remain standing
Words of mission
The presentness of God reaches beyond this place...
The community candle is extinguished
The days pass and the years vanish,
and we walk sightless among miracles.
May our eyes be filled with seeing
and our minds with knowing.
All As the sun rises each day in perfect newness,
so may we break upon each new day
with splendour and expectation (J Nelson-Pallmeyer).
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. (F Macnab/fwb)
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont “Where the love of God” (Tune: ‘Reconciliation’) 76(v3) FFS
God will lead us on this mission,
God, the flightpath and the power,
lifting all who grasp the vision
into understanding:
so the heart and hope within us
set each other free,
where the love of God is guiding,
this shall come to be. Shirley Murray
The people sit after the hymn
'This week' at St James
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.
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:
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.
Nelson-Pallmeyer, J; B. Hesle. 2005. Worship in the spirit of Jesus. Theology, liturgy, and songs without violence. OH: Cleveland. The Pilgrim Press.
Pratt, A. 2006. Reclaiming praise. Hymns from a spiritual journey. GtB: London. Stainer & Bell Ltd.
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.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA.