Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
12 December 2010. Advent 3A. (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 (with DVD/slide images of stars, sky, people on beaches)
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
Advent wreath – ‘Source of light’
Advent 3
v1 Stars without number
gathered in forms and patterns
that shine together.
Light third candle
v2 Father and Mother God,
we give thanks for the stars and the planets
for their light and shapes that never fail.
We pray for all people
that we may learn to live together,
to love each other,
to work together,
to make this world a better place. Adapted-HJohnston/ssb
All Amen.
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing. Children move to Sunday Club.
"Carol our Christmas" (Tune: Reversi) 9 (v1-3) 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.
Sing of the gold and the
green and the sparkle,
water and river and lure
of the beach.
Sing in the happiness
of open spaces,
sing a nativity summer
can reach!
Shepherds and musterers
move over hillsides,
finding, not angels,
but sheep to be shorn;
wise ones make journeys
whatever the season,
searching for signs of the
truth to be born.
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 an eastern star
beckons the ignorant toward an unknown goal.
So here's a blessing:
they find nothing in the end but an ordinary baby,
born at midnight,
born in poverty,
and the baby's cry, like bells ringing, makes people wonder
as they wander through their lives, what human love
might really look like, sound like, feel like.
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)
Amen.
Hymn “Christmas is real” (Tune: ‘Highwood’, 11 10 11 10. 620 TiS)
Christmas is real when the cost that we measure
reaches the manger and touches the skies,
shop fronts give way to divine revelation,
God is among us and selfishness dies.
Christmas is real when the gifts that are given
mirror the love of this God upon earth,
God who is known in self-giving and loving
crowning our poverty, coming to birth.
Christmas still echoed when screams of the children,
slaughtered by Herod inflamed people's fear.
Christmas remains when the trees and the tinsel
make way for news that we'd rather not hear.
Christmas is real when we enter the squalor
mirrored in Bethlehem so long ago;
off'ring the love that was seen in the God head,
total self-giving not baubles and show. © APratt 2006
OR
"To a world so torn and tortured" (Tune: 'Birabus', 87 87. 634 TiS)
To a world so torn and tortured
Came the voice of one who knew,
What it cost to lift oppression,
Challenge the accepted view.
John convicted crowds before him,
Charged hypocrisy with God;
Opened up the way for Jesus
Who would follow where he trod.
Then imprisoned, John was silenced;
Yet a voice more powerful still
Challenged in and out of season
All who heard to do God's will.
Living Christ would lift oppression,
Dying he would seem to fail;
Crying out in desolation,
Yet God's love would still prevail. APratt/sosb
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
“Day by day, month by month”
By Susan Suchocki.
Day by day, month by month, year by year
we are confronted with all that we do not know,
that we do not understand,
that we do not grasp.
Sometimes we are humbled by this knowledge and say:
God, it is too wonderful for me to comprehend
but I know this universe is more grand
and more beautiful than I ever could have imagined
and I give thanks for the blessing of being here
and seeing, hearing, experiencing, and sensing
all that is so wonderful around and in me.
Sometimes we are saddened by this knowledge and say:
O merciful spirit, we need to have the burden
of hurt and suffering removed from us.
Grant us the courage, the wisdom and fortitude
to bear the pain of living.
Send us those who will carry our burdens for a short while
and send us those who will comfort us
with their healing words and thoughts…
Always let me continue to search for the unknown in myself and others.
Centering silence
Let us now take a moment to settle into the silence.
Some thoughts from Hildegard of Bingen, 12th century mystic…
Glance at the sun. See the moon and the stars.
Gaze at the beauty of earth’s greenings. Now, think.
What delight God gives to humankind
with all these things.
(Silence)
EXPLORING
Readings from our religious tradition
Two readings from our broad biblical and religious tradition
shall be read by (NN).
Nag Hammadi Library:
The Infancy Gospel of James 2:1-7
Anna mourned and lamented greatly for two reasons, saying,
“I lament that I am a widow and I lament that I am childless”.
When the great day of the Lord was drawing near, her servant Juthine said,
"How long are you going to humble yourself?
Do you not see that the great day of the Lord is approaching?
You are not allowed to mourn.
“Take this headband which the leader of the activity gave me.
I am not allowed to tie it because I am your slave and it has a royal mark."
Then, Anna said,
"Get away from me. I did not cause these things,
even though the Lord God has humbled me greatly.
Perhaps a crafty person has given this to you
and you have come to cause me to partake of your sin."
Her servant Juthine replied,
"Should I invoke a curse on you because you did not hear my voice?
The Lord God has shut your womb
and he will not give you offspring in Israel."
So Anna also became extremely frustrated and
removed her mourning garment, washed her head
and clothed herself with her wedding dress.
Around the ninth hour, she went down to her garden to walk around.
She saw a laurel tree and sat down under it.
After a rest, she petitioned the Lord, saying,
"God of my ancestors, bless me and hear my prayer,
just as you blessed our mother Sarah and gave her son Isaac to her."
Gospel:
Matthew 11:2-11 (Inclusive Text)
John in prison had heard what Jesus was doing and sent disciples to ask him,
‘Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?’
Jesus answered,
‘Go back and tell John what you hear and see;
the blind see again,
and the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear,
the dead are raised to life and the Good News is proclaimed to the poor;
and happy is the one who does not lose faith in me.’
As the messengers were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people about John:
‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see?
A reed swaying in the breeze? No?
Then what did you go out to see?
‘One wearing fine clothes?
Oh no, those who wear fine clothes are to be found in palaces.
Then what did you go out for?
‘To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet:
This is the one of whom scripture says:
Look, I am going to send my messenger before you
who will prepare your way before you.
‘I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women,
a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen;
yet the least in the realm of heaven is greater than John is.’
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
An affirmation of faith
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand
and share an affirmation of faith…
The people stand as they are able
We believe in Creativity God,
All from whose heart flows forth healing
enough for the pain of the world and our pain.
We believe in Jesus the Companion,
All who saw into the souls, minds and bodies
of people like us and reached out in healing touch,
gathering in the wounded ones
in love beyond the commonplace.
We believe in the Spirit Holy who breathes
All warmth into the cold places,
touches with living fire the deathliness in our life
and remembers with grief, all the hurts
which we dare not name. (Adapt./ D McRae-McMahon/bst)
The peace
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
"Now the star of Christmas" (Tune: 'Kupe', Colin Gibson OR 'Noel Nouvelet', 382 TiS) 105 HoS
Now the star of Christmas
shines into our day,
points a new direction:
change is on the way -
there's another landscape
to be travelled through,
there's a new-born spirit
broadening our view.
When the Christ of Christmas
speaks to heart and mind,
clears the clouded vision
hurting humankind,
kindred spirits gather,
drawn toward the light,
sharing revelation,
joyful at the sight.
If we choose to follow,
we may yet be wise.
Where the three kings travel,
three great faiths arise:
Jesus Christ for Christians,
Jesus, Judah's son,
Prophet for the Muslim,
wisdom in each one.
Where the star enlightens,
light is shared around.
God has drawn no borders,
faith sees common ground:
Peace the hopeful journey,
justice without bar,
God's illumination
from a Christmas star (SEMurray)
Offerings
Our offerings and gifts to the Christmas Bowl,
shall now be received.
Presentation People stand as gifts are presented, as they are able
May we find a meaning
in life, a
purpose, a
belonging.
And may we find pleasure in receiving from life and
satisfaction in enriching life.
Reflections and prayers
Care candle:
We are people of all ages who enter this space
bringing our joys and concerns.
Joys and concerns shared.
Listening response:
In the light and beauty of day
All We
give thanks in awe and wonder.
In
the dark and stillness of night
All We
dream of healing and hope (GVosper/wwg)
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.
Pastoral prayers:
The Abba Prayer:
You are invited to pray 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
“Look in wonder“ (Tune: ‘Yr Hun Gan’, 87 87D. 590 CSH)
Look in wonder, hold in honour
all the beauty of the earth!
World, surrender to her splendour:
God’s own blessing for her birth;
sense and savour every colour,
every season, sun to star,
see the measure of this treasure,
all we nurture, all we mar.
Every creature by its nature
shares the cycle, life’s design,
every human, man and woman
joins the circle, moves the line;
look in horror, look in anger –
these are life-streams we destroy!
tree and river gone forever,
bird and flower dead to joy.
Remain standing
Words of mission
As we prepare to leave this sacred space where we have celebrated together,
let us return to our work enlivened and renewed...
The candle is extinguished
Go now in peace.
Deeply regard each other.
Truly listen to each other.
Speak what each of you must speak.
Be ready in any moment to disarm your own heart,
and always live as if a realm of love had begun.
All So be it. Blessed be. BHamilton-Holway
Blessing words
Be still!
And let God's peace wash over you
Like waves lapping over stones
Smoothing rough edges of insurmountable worries
To tiny insignificant gains of sand,
Taking away the jaggedness of sin
To leave smooth shining love.
Be blessed!
In the name of God who forgives.
In the name of God, who loves.
In the name of God who daily calls us to action,
in God's life-sustaining, liberating
and transforming grace.
All Amen!
Hymn (Cont) “Look in wonder“ (Tune: ‘Yr Hun Gan’, 87 87D. 590 CSH)
In this garden, Eve and Adam
still are given time and place,
ours to cherish, ours to nourish,
ocean, water, land and space;
God, unnerve us, God, forgive us:
how we plunder, waste and war!
Give new meaning to earth’s greening,
that the beauty thrives once more. © SEMurray, 2006
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:
Abbott, M. 2001. Sparks of the cosmos. Rituals for seasonal use. SA: Unley. MediaCom Education.
(AA) Alleluia Aotearoa. Hymns and songs for all churches. 1993. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Church of Scotland Hymnal. 2005/Shirley Murray, NZ.
Duncan, G. (ed). 2001. Shine on, star of bethlehem. A worship resource for advent, christmas and epiphany. GtB: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
(HoS) Hope is our song. New hymns and songs from Aotearoa New Zealand. 2009. NZ: Palmerston North. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Inclusive readings. Year A. 2004. QLD: Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation.
Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
McRae-McMahon, D. 1996. The glory of blood, sweat and tears. Liturgies for living and dying. VIC: Melbourne. JBCE.
Mack, B. L. 1993. The lost gospel. The book of Q and christian origins. NY: New York. HarperSanFrancisco.
Vosper, G. 2008. With or without God. Why the way we live is more important than what we believe. Canada: Toronto. HarperCollins.
Web sites:
Safford, Suchocki, Hamilton-Holway. UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston.
<www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
Andrew Pratt Hymns&Books blog site. UK.
<http://hymnsandbooks.blogspot.com/>
Early Christian Writings. http://<www.gospels.net/translations/infancyjamestranslation.html>
Shirley Murray. NZ. Direct from the author.