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
15 July 2007. Pentecost 7C. (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
For gathering today in this sacred space, we light the flame.
For the opportunity to be together as a community,
to remember the past,
to claim our future,
to be alive in our present,
we light the flame. (Adapted/Dillman Sorrells)
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“A firemist and a planet” (Tune: 'Aurelia', 76 76D, 457 TiS) 343 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.
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
Remain standing
Opening sentences
God of all creation -
Be with each one of us,
All as growth, creativity and healing,
as light and wisdom.
Spirit of the living God -
Live within our community,
All giving courage to dispel fear and resolve conflict,
giving fire to inflame with love.
Spirit of Peace -
Dwell with us so that we may
All know your presence in silences and stillness,
know your vision for your people.
Prayer
We pray:
God of the important and the common place,
you reach into our lives through story.
Open our hearts to be attentive:
that seeing, we may perceive,
and hearing, we may understand,
and understanding, we may act.
Amen
Hymn “Here I am, Lord” (Tune: ‘Here I am, Lord’) 658 TiS
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.
Silence
Let us now take some time
to sit in comfort
to breathe deeply
to relax in the presence of God.
Silence
Music of reflection
EXPLORING
Reading from our religious tradition
Gospel:
Luke 10:25-37 (Inclusive Text)
There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said,
'Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'
Jesus said,
'What is written in the Law? What do you read there?'
The lawyer replied,
'You must love your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your strength,
and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.'
'You have answered right,' said Jesus. 'Do this and life is yours.'
But the lawyer was anxious to be justified and said to Jesus,
‘And who is my neighbour?'
Hymn In solidarity with those for whom standing is not easy or possible we will remain seated to sing...
“When I needed a neighbour…” (Tune: ‘Neighbour’, 13 10 and refrain) 629 TiS
When I needed a neighbour, were you there, were you there?
When I needed a neighbour, were you there?
Refrain:
And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter,
were you there?
Jesus replied,
A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho
and fell into the hands of brigands;
they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead.
Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road,
but when the priest saw the man,
he passed by on the other side.
Hymn Remain seated to sing...
“When I needed a neighbour…” (Tune: ‘Neighbour’, 13 10 and refrain) 629 TiS
I was hungry and thirsty, were you there, were you there?
I was hungry and thirsty, were you there?
Refrain
I was cold, I was naked, were you there, were you there?
I was cold, I was naked, were you there?
Refrain
In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him,
and passed by on the other side.
Hymn Remain seated to sing...
“When I needed a neighbour…” (Tune: ‘Neighbour’, 13 10 and refrain) 629 TiS
When I needed a shelter, were you there, were you there?
When I needed a shelter, were you there?
Refrain
When I needed a healer, were you there, were you there?
When I needed a healer, were you there?
Refrain
But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him
was moved with compassion when he saw him,
went up and bandaged his wounds,
pouring oil and wine on them.
The Samaritan then lifted him on to his own mount,
carried him to the inn and looked after him.
Next day, the Samaritan took out two denarii
and handed them to the innkeeper saying:
"Look after him and on my way back I will make good
any extra expense you have."
‘Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the one
who fell into the brigands' hands?'
'The one who showed compassion,' the lawyer replied.
Hymn Remain seated to sing...
“When I needed a neighbour…” (Tune: ‘Neighbour’, 13 10 and refrain) 629 TiS
When they put me in prison, were you there, were you there?
When they put me in prison, were you there?
Refrain
Jesus said, 'Go and do the same yourself.'
Hymn Remain seated to sing...
“When I needed a neighbour…” (Tune: ‘Neighbour’, 13 10 and refrain) 629 TiS
Wherever you travel, I'll be there, I'll be there,
wherever you travel, I'll be there. Sydney Carter
Refrain
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
v2 Beckoning Christ,
you call us out of our comfortable ghetto of 'us' and 'them'
to risk discipleship without walls.
All You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where God is worshipped above all other.
Wn You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where prayer is offered day and night.
All You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where we can share what we are
with others who love you.
Mn You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where each person has something to give to the whole.
All You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where compassion and respect
shape missionary endeavour.
v1 Keep on beckoning us out of our safe havens
into your rich fellowship of challenge and reconciliation,
faith and hope. Kate Compston/sco
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
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, 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.
CELEBRATING
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:
We are called to make real
the sharing of the gifts God has given to us.
We offer what we have for the good of all.
Amen.
The people sit
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Thanksgiving
God is the heart of life.
All And we are the heartbeat.
May your hearts be filled with thanks
and praise and songs of joy.
All We rejoice in the miracle of life
and delight in our participation. Sherri Weinberg
We give thanks and praise for all that is good in the world.
For that mystery we name God
and call the creator of heaven and earth and all that is.
For the person we name Jesus
and his message of peace, justice and inclusiveness
that is the realm of God.
For the renewing strength and freedom of the Spirit
always present on the breath of life
All We give thanks for the love, peace and justice,
for prosperity, strength and freedom,
and for the presentness of God in the midst of life.
God of winter, the unpopular, slandered season, we praise you.
God of lightning, wind and storm, we praise you.
God of brisk winter mornings, frosted back lawns and stark hillsides;
of warm socks, coats and gloves,
raincoats, umbrellas and warm fires, we praise you.
So we join our celebration to all people, saying:
All Holy, holy, holy, re-creating 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/Sharing of wine
We remember the time when Jesus faced
difficult decisions and destructive forces:
- in the days and nights of his searching,
- in finding ways to free others from images and ideas
that kept them captive and dependent and fearful of God,
- in breaking down social and religious barriers,
- in facing failure,
- in facing death.
When we too experience the winter of our lives
may we find the courage to let go
and trust in your guiding, warming light.
And we remember
Jesus has shown us that life is stronger than death.
And as we eat together at this table
we remember the words and the actions of that meal...
He took bread, gave thanks, broke it,
and gave it to his friends.
He poured a cup of wine, offered thanks for it,
and shared it also with his friends.
Ancient symbols. Common acts.
Response
Jesus, human like us,
All reveals to us our true identity, temples of God's spirit.
Jesus, human like us,
All reveals God present and active throughout human history.
Jesus, human like us,
All reveals God-always-with-us in our everyday loving.
Jesus, human like us,
All challenges us to let his story be our story also.
Communion
So we break and share bread and drink wine,
pledging ourselves to allow the spirit that moved in Jesus
to move freely in our lives.
The bread and wine is served in the pews
After Communion
God of amazing grace,
in the cold of the winter months
we are grateful for your presence, warming us.
We pray this presence will strengthen us
to follow in the way of Jesus, in this city.
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
Let us take on this week’s life with renewed hope and imagination...
The community candle is extinguished
From all corners of the world:
All God has called a pilgrim people.
From all walks and ways of life:
All God has called a pilgrim people.
Black and white, male and female
All We are signs of our world's division
Black and white, male and female
All We are signs of God's new creation
joined together by the love of Christ.
So let us not journey alone with God.
All Let us not journey only with our friends.
Let us be a place and a people of welcome,
signs of God's all embracing love. Peter Cruchley-Jones/wob
Blessing words
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.
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:
Abbott, M. 2001. Sparks of the cosmos. Rituals for seasonal use. SA: Unley. MediaCom Education.
Duncan, G. (ed). 2000. A world of blessing. Benedictions from every continent and many cultures. Gt. Britain: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
Duncan, G. (ed). 1998. Seeing christ in others. An anthology for worship, mediation and mission. Gt. Britain: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
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. 1996. Hope: The deeper longings of the mind and heart. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Morely, J. 1992. All desires known. Expanded edition. Gt. Britain: London. SPCK.
Morwood, M. 2003. Praying a new story. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Prewer, B. D. 2000. Australian psalms. Revised and expanded. SA: Adelaide. OpenBook Publishers.
Prewer, B. D. 1983. Australian prayers. SA: Adelaide. OpenBook Publishers.
Seaburg, C. (ed). 1993. The communion book. MA: Boston. UUMA.
Singing the living tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
Together in song. Australian hymn book 2. 1999. NSW: Sydney. HarperCollins Religious.
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.
L Bruce Miller. Edmonton, Canada.