Revd Rex A E Hunt
MSc(Hons), GradDipCommMgt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
2 December 2007. Advent 1A. (Blue).
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 (NN)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 the celebration
The gong is sounded three times
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.
Music of celebration
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
Advent wreath – ‘Source of light’
Advent 1
v1 Spontaneous sun
generous giver of light,
heat and energy…
Light first candle
v2 Father God
we give thanks for the sun,
for its rising and setting that never fails.
We pray for all people in the daytime,
be with those in work,
be with those out of work,
may we not to waste these hours of light HJohnston/ssb
All Amen.
Presentation of the Christmas Bowl
Let us remember that without hope,
people struggle to find their way.
The bowl is place near the Advent wreath
Blessing of the Christmas Bowl
We pray a blessing on this Christmas Bowl,
on all who give to it,
and all whose lives will be affected by it.
May our hearts burn within us, enabling us
to become reflections of love, and hope in the world.
All Amen.
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing. Children move to Sunday Club.
"Carol our Christmas" (Tune: Reversi) 9 (v1) AA
Carol our Christmas,
an upside down Christmas;
snow is not falling and
trees are not bare.
Carol the summer, and
welcome the Christ Child,
warm in our sunshine and
sweetness of air.
Remain standing
Opening sentences
The season of Advent challenges us
All to see God's vision of what is yet to be,
to hear God's voice calling anew,
All to smell the scent of God in our world.
Prayer of awareness
v1 We pray:
Now is the moment of magic, when the whole,
round earth celebrates the sun.
So here's a blessing:
days will continue to get longer and brighter.
v2 And here’s another blessing:
we already possess all the gifts we need,
we've already received our presents:
ears to hear music,
eyes to behold lights,
hands to build true peace on earth
and to hold each other tight in love. (VSafford/adapted)
Hymn “When our heart is in a holy place” 1008 STJ
Refrain:
When our heart is in a holy place,
When our heart is in a holy place,
We are blessed with love
And amazing grace,
When our heart is in a holy place.
When we trust the wisdom in each of us,
Ev’ry colour every creed and kind,
And we see our faces in each other’s eyes,
Then our heart is in a holy place.
Refrain:
When we tell our story from deep inside,
And we listen with a loving mind,
And we hear our voices in each other’s words,
Then our heart is in a holy place.
Refrain:
When we share the silence of sacred space,
And the God of our Heart stirs with in,
And we feel the power of each other’s faith,
Then our heart is in a holy place. Joyce Poley
Refrain:
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.
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.
Centering 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 readings from our biblical tradition shall be read by (NN).
Hebrew scriptures:
Isaiah 2:1-4 (Inclusive Text)
The vision of Isaiah son of Amos saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In days to come the mountain of the Temple of God
shall tower above the mountains and be lifted higher than the hills.
All the nations shall stream to it.
Peoples without number will come to it and they will say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of our God,
to the Temple of the God of Jacob, Leah and Rachel,
that we may be instructed in God's ways
so that we may walk in God's paths.’
God will wield authority over the nations
and adjudicate between many peoples;
these will hammer their swords into plowshares,
their spears into sickles.
Nation will not lift sword against nation,
there will be no more training for war.
Psalm:
Psalm 122 & 123 (Francis Macnab)
These psalms speak of a sacred place. In its biblical version its focus is on Jerusalem the so-called "holy city". Today as much as any time, we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem. But we all need our Jerusalem - our sacred place, where we discover a strong peace emanating from the Good Presence.
What a scramble our lives can be.
We rush from place to place.
We live on a knife-edge, ready it would seem,
to throw our lot in with those who surrender to the negatives of our humanity.
What a relief to come into a place like this
where we can feel a quietening presence;
where people can come together
and find a common purpose and a unifying spirit.
This whole city needs to re-find its sanity
lest people come to believe that all their stresses are inevitable.
So I say, let a good peace come over this city;
let peace come to these walls;
let all who come here, all their friends and their families
know a strong and healthy peace with them.
O God, we have been too long and too much
with our eyes on the wrong things,
even though we believe them to be right.
Lift our eyes to a bigger better dimension,
to be participants in your broadening good presence.
We know the pains and the prejudices of life…
Help us to experience the best kindness and the gentlest healing
that flow from the very heart of the universe.
I name you to be God;
I believe you to be God.
God, the source of all that is good!
Hymn "Let justice roll down" 85 AA
Refrain:
Let justice roll down life a river,
let justice roll down like a sea,
let justice roll down like a river,
let justice begin through me.
Justice for all who go hungry,
crying to God to be fed,
left in a world of abundance
to beg for a morsel of bread.
Justice for those who are homeless,
victims of warfare or need,
trapped on the borders of no-where,
lost in the canyons of greed.
Justice for all who are powerless,
yearning for freedom in vain,
plundered, and robbed of their birth-right,
silently bearing their pain. Colin Gibson
Gospel:
Matthew 24:36-40 (Inclusive Text)
Jesus said to the disciples:
'As it was in Noah's day, so will it be when the Promised One comes.
'For as in those days before the Flood
people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands,
right up to the day Noah went into the ark,
and they suspected nothing until the Flood came and swept all away.
'It will be like this when the Promised One comes.
'Then, of two workers in the fields one is taken, one left.
Of two at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left.'
'So stay awake, because you do not know
the day your God is coming…
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A celebration of faith
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand
and share a celebration of faith…
The people stand
v1 The creativity of God fills the universe.
v2 Like rain falling upon the earth
and sun warming the rocks,
All the heart of God flows over us all
in renewing grace and love.
v1 The generosity of Companion Jesus fills our lives.
v2 With company on the journey
and mercy in understanding,
All the Bread, the Way and the Truth
set us free to live again.
v1 The faithfulness of the Spirit fills our future.
v2 It surrounds us with a cloud of hope
and lifts our tired feet once more.
All In courage born of costly life,
it calls and sings and dances on.
v1 We are the people of freedom.
v2 We lay down our past in God’s forgiveness.
All We will walk on into God’s new day.
The peace
This is a house of God. A place of peace.
A place where we befriend one another.
Let us greet another as a sign of God's peace and of our shared friendship.
The peace of God is here... to stay.
All Thanks be to God.
You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours.
CELEBRATING
Hymn of the Month
“Dream a Dream” 12 FFS
Dream a dream,
a hopeful dream,
as children do on Christmas Eve,
imaginings,
surprising things
to hold and to believe.
Dream a time,
this Christmas time,
when no one’s hungry or afraid;
that weapons go
and harvest grow,
that friends are met and made.
Dream a peace,
our planet’s peace,
the greening of the earth at play,
the holy ground
where life is found,
where God has touched the clay.
Dream a gift,
the Christmas gift
that changes everything we see:
the shimmering
of angel wing,
the Child, the Mystery. (SMurray)
Offerings
Our offerings and gifts to the Christmas Bowl, shall now be received.
Presentation All stand as we are able, for the presentation of the gifts
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.
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 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)
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
"Called as partners in Christ's service" (Tune 446 TiS)
Called as partners in Christ's service,
Called to ministries of grace,
We respond with deep commitment
Fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing,
Side by side and friend with friend,
Equal partners in our caring
To fulfil God's chosen end.
Christ's example, Christ's inspiring,
Christ's clear call to work and worth,
Let us follow, never faltering,
Reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer,
All God's people, young and old,
Blending human skills together
Gracious gifts from God unfold.
Remain standing
Words of mission
Time has now come for us to leave this sacred place.
As we do, may we embrace the challenges
of our lives and our world...
The candle is extinguished
May you live forever
All May you live forever
in the name of love.
All in the name of love.
May you love forever
All May you love forever
in the name of life.
All in the name of life.
Called by God
All Called by God
filled with the spirit
All filled with the spirit
compassionate and faithful
All compassionate and faithful
rejoicing always
All rejoicing always,
may you live in love
All may you live in love
forever. Amen.
All forever. Amen. (MTWinter/wpws)
Blessing words
The worship of the gathered community is now ended.
Go in peace.
Go in joy.
Go in love.
Carry with you what is precious to us all:
reverence for all life,
beauty that displays itself in love,
deep, abiding peace. (Gordon B. McKeeman)
All Amen!
Hymn (Cont) "Called as partners in Christ's service" (Tune 446 TiS)
Thus new patterns for Christ's mission,
In a small or global sense,
Help us bear each other's burdens,
Breaking down each wall or fence.
Words of comfort, words of vision,
Words of challenge, said with care,
Bring new power and strength for action,
Make us colleagues, free and fair.
So God grant us for tomorrow
Ways to order human life
That surround each person's sorrow
With a calm that conquers strife.
Make us partners in our living,
Our compassion to increase,
Messengers of faith, this giving
Hope and confidence and peace. © Jane Parker Huber
The people sit after the hymn
'This week' at (NN)
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.
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.
Duncan, G. (ed). 2001. Shine on, star of bethlehem. A worship resource for advent, christmas and epiphany. 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.
Inclusive readings. Year A. 2004. 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.
Macnab, F. 2006. A fine wind is blowing: Psalms of the bible in words that blow you away. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Seasons of the Spirit/Whole people of God.
Singing the journey. 2005. MA: Boston. UUA.
Winter, Miriam T. 1987. Women prayer. Women song. Resources for ritual. CT: Hartford. Meyer Stone Books.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA.