Revd Rex A E Hunt
MSc(Hons), GradDipCommMgt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
3 August 2008. Pentecost 12A. (Green).
Celebrating community: Sacrament of Holy Communion
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 worship
The gong is sounded three times
Life is meant to be an adventure;
change is a gift that we have to learn to use aright.
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of this life in the presentness of God.
Lighting of the candle
The community candle is lit in silence
As we light our flame this morning:
we celebrate by its warmth the depth and breadth of our congregation;
we celebrate by its light the faith we share.
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Sing praise to all” (Tune: ‘Lobe den Herren’, 14 14 4 7 8. 111 TiS)
Sing praise to all that has offered us life and sustains us -
All that has opened our hearts to the love borne within us:
Family and friends,
Beauty we see without end -
Gifts that our lives lay before us.
Sing praise to all that has opened our minds to new vistas -
All that has called us to seek out new truths through the ages:
Vision and word,
Music that sought to be heard
These are the gifts that will mould us.
Sing praise to minds that will fashion our bold new tomorrows -
Yesterday's wisdom released from its dogma and credos.
Evermore free
To live out what we believe
Walking the path that Life hallows. Gretta Vosper
Remain standing after the hymn
Opening sentences
In the beginning, God made the world:
Wn Made it and mothered it,
Mn Shaped it and fathered it,
Wn Filled it with seed and signs of fertility,
Mn Filled it with love and its folk with ability.
All that is tender, firm, fragrant and curious,
All God's is the hand that created you.
All that speaks, sings, cries, laughs or keeps silent,
All God's is the hand that created you.
The world belongs to Creativity God
All The earth and all its people. (Iona/St Hilda Communities/adapt)
Prayer
We pray:
Spirit of life and love, we have gathered in this sacred place, again.
May we create here a circle of love,
ever expanding,
ever growing.
A place of wisdom.
A place of connection.
A place of hope.
Amen.
Hymn "Faith has set us on a journey" (Tune: Venture) 14 FFS
Faith has set us on a journey
past the landmarks that we know,
taking risks with no insurance
but the Word that tells us "Go!"
Friend or job or home or lover
we may need to leave behind,
outworn truths and ways of thinking,
baggage to the past consigned.
Some are swags of easy conscience
who with others hitch a ride,
some are tourist-package Christians,
dollar-safe, with Book and guide.
There are others on this journey -
those who long and pray and search,
heave the stones to free the structures,
love the Christ and leave the Church.
We are this unlikely people
in the Body knit as one,
company of clowns and cripples -
some are wise and some can run.
Prophets are our travel agents,
gospel-makers lay this road:
to the place of peace and promise
faith will take us into God. Shirley Murray
The people sit
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.
CENTERING
Silence
May the silence of this place which now engulfs us,
be for us a time of reflection, prayer and meditation…
(Silence)
Music of reflection
Silence
Great possibilities do await us.
The grandeur of life, of which we are a part,
fills us with hope… if we seek to choose it.
(Silence)
EXPLORING
Readings from our broad religious tradition
Some readings from our broad religious tradition
shall now be read by (NN) and (NN).
Gospel:
Matthew 14:13-21 (Inclusive text)
When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist's death
he withdrew by boat to a lonely place
where they could be by themselves.
But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after Jesus on foot.
So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd;
and he took pity on them and healed their sick.
When evening came, the disciples went to Jesus and said,
'This is a lonely place, and the time has slipped by;
so send the people away and they can go to the village
to buy themselves some food.'
Jesus replied,
'There is no need for them to go:
give them something to eat yourselves.'
But they answered,
'All we have with us is five loaves and two fish...'
World around us:
"Just a housewife"
By Cordelia Baker-Pearce. Celebrating women/44.)
I packed five cakes of bread and two small fishes,
Sent him off, my youngest lad,
To take his father's dinner to the field.
Came back alone he did, all goggle-eyed.
My fresh-baked bread that varmint gave away
To some young travelling preacher out of Galilee.
It fed five thousand people.
What a tale!
It can't be true... but if it is.
What kind of dough did these hands knead
This morning?
Gospel: (Cont)
'Bring them here to me,' he said.
Giving orders that the people were to sit down on the grass,
Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish,
raised his eyes to the heaven and said a blessing.
And breaking the loaves he handed them to the disciples
who gave them to the crowds.
They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected
the scraps remaining, 12 baskets full.
The number who ate were many more than five thousand.
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A litany: Word made flesh
The people stand as they are able
God speaks!
with excitement!
with enthusiasm!
with new life!
All God is present!
God is with us!
nothing can separate us!
Even when we feel unsure,
unclear,
confused,
even when we feel broken to the core of our being -
All We hold fast to God's love,
God's acceptance,
we are always welcome in God's household.
We will each, once again,
feel like a well-watered garden.
Full of life!
Radiant in the sun!
All It will be good.
It is good. (Rosemary Mitchell/bb)
The peace
Let us take a moment to celebrate each other.
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
“Shake up the morning” (Tune: ‘Shake up’). 18 HSNW
Shake up the morning, let the dawn undress,
Let dew reglisten nature’s loveliness;
Waken the songbird and unseal the throat
That greets the daybreak with a crystal note.
Praise to the Lord, whose morning we inherit;
Praise creation’s fuse, the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son who rises with the dawn,
Leaving graveclothes scarcely three days worn.
Shake up the world and let the Kingdom come,
The dumb be listened to, the lost find home;
Make earthly politics the stuff of prayer
Till want and warring are dispelled by care.
Praise to the Lord, whose world we inherit;
Praise God’s catalyst, the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son whose choice it is to bless
Those who work for peace and live on less.
Shake up the Church and let all Christians show
That faith is real, that God is good to know;
Fashion new symbols of the coming age
When hope and love with take the centre stage.
Praise to the Lord, whose Gospel we inherit;
Praise God’s bird of love, the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son whose will and words decree
All are one in this community.
Shake up the evening, let the shadows range
As clouds to castles in the sunset change;
Kindle the moon and stars which through each night
Reflect the glory of tomorrow’s light.
Praise to the Lord, whose evening we inherit;
Praise creation’s presence in the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son whose brightness none can kill,
Lighting paths for those who seek this will. © Iona Community
CELEBRATING
With the children
Children gather on the conversation mat
Conversation
"Somewhere someone"
The kingdom of love is coming because:
All somewhere someone is kind when others are unkind,
somewhere someone shares with another in need,
somewhere someone refuses to hate, while others hate,
somewhere someone is patient - and waits in love,
somewhere someone returns good for evil,
somewhere someone serves another, in love,
somewhere someone is calm in a storm,
somewhere someone is loving everybody.
Is that someone you? (jke)
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
As one heart is lifted
All May we share its celebration
As one heart is burdened
All May we share the pain it knows (Gretta Vosper)
And so we take this flame and light our special care candle.
The Care candle is lit
In all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful
of the presentness of God among us,
and to see new possibilities of the now.
Pastoral prayer
Lord's Prayer
You are invited to pray in the spirit of the Lord's Prayer, and in your original language, as that is appropriate
All Indwelling God,
infused throughout all existence,
we honour you with many names.
Your realm is within the human heart.
We accept life for all that it can be,
on earth as throughout all creation.
May we continue to draw sustenance from this earth,
and may we receive forgiveness equal to our own.
May we ever move from separation toward union,
to live in grace, with love in our hearts,
forever and ever. Amen. FF Keip
Offerings
Our offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond,
and our gifts of bread and wine, shall now be received.
Presentation People stand as the gifts are presented
The riches of God's gracious love have been entrusted to us.
May we share the beauty of God
with all who walk with us,
in caring service.
People sit
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Thanksgiving
May it be well with you.
All And also with you.
Life is a gift and we its celebration.
All May we rejoice in the beauty that we are. Gretta Vosper
We give thanks and praise for all that is good in the world.
For that mystery we name God…
For the sage we name Jesus…
For the renewing strength and freedom of the Spirit…
(Silence)
God of winter, the unpopular, slandered season;
God of lightning, wind and storm;
God of brisk winter mornings, frosted back lawns
and stark hillsides; of warm socks, coats and gloves,
raincoats, umbrellas and warm fires,
we open ourselves to all the possibilities life offers us.
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.
Bread and wine
We remember the times 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 (MMorwood).
When we too experience the winter of our lives
may we find the courage to let go
and trust in your guiding, warming light.
(Silence)
And as we eat together at this table
we remember the importance and the words
and the actions of all meals in the tradition of Jesus…
He took bread, gave thanks, broke it,
and gave it to his friends.
Bread
He poured a cup of wine, offered thanks for it,
and gave it also to his friends.
Wine
Ancient symbols. Common acts.
Response
Everyone is welcome to be here.
All In this way, we lift up a world
of inclusion,
where
all people live with respect and dignity.
Everyone
present will receive a share.
All In this way, we lift up a world
of generosity,
where,
as in the examples of Jesus,
abundance
overcomes scarcity so all are fed.
Everyone
is invited now to take a portion,
and
to see others also receive.
All In this way, we lift up a world
of sufficiency,
where
entrenched systems of privilege are challenged,
wealth
is shared equally, and all are satisfied with enough. (JNelson-Pallmeyer/wsj)
Communion
So in the meal tradition of Jesus
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 "This love, this life, this enterprise" (Tune: O Waly, Waly. 88 88) 72(v1-2) WNC
This love, this life, this enterprise
is that by which we will arise
affirmed, up-raised, to live again
when we have suffered death or pain.
Our practical adventure here
involves both urgency and care;
compelled by shared humanity
to offer love, set people free.
Remain standing
Words of mission
As we prepare to leave this sacred space where we have worshipped together,
let us return to our work
enlivened and renewed...
The candle is extinguished
Gathered in this sacred place, we have
lifted our voices in song and thanksgiving.
All May we now show forth our thanks
in simple acts of kindness and concern,
so the essential nature of our faith
many be evident in our daily lives.
Blessing words
May the blessing in the strength of the Brindabellas,
the calm of Lake Burley Griffin,
the freshness of gum tree and wild flower…
remain with you...
And may God's strength, peace and creativity
go with you always.
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont) "This love, this life, this enterprise" (Tune: O Waly, Waly. 88 88) 72 (v3) WNC
And if the task enlarges sight
to wider visions, greater height
than those which we can reach on earth,
then know that God has come to birth. Andrew Pratt
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:
Bell, J; G. Maule. 1989. Heaven shall not wait. Wild Goose Songs Vol. 1. Revised edition. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Binkley, C. G.; J. M. McKeel. 2001. Jesus and his kingdom of equals. An international curriculum on the life and teaching of Jesus. CA: Santa Rosa. Polebridge Press.
Faith forever singing. Songs for a new day. 2000. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Holmes, R. H. 1972. The Bob Holmes worship materials. Vol 1. NY: Little Falls. Self published.
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.
Mitchell, R. C; G. A. Ricciuti. 1992. Birthings and blessings. Liberating worship services for the inclusive church. NY: New York. Crossroads.
Morely, J. 1992. All desires known. Expanded edition. GtB: London. SPCK.
Morwood, M. 2003. Praying a new story. 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. 2002. Whatever name or creed. Hymns and songs. GtB: London. Stainer & Bell Ltd.
The St Hilda Community. 1996. The new women included. A book of services and prayers. GtB: London. SPCK.
Vosper, G. 2008. With or without God. Why the way we live is more important that what we believe. Canada: Toronto. HarperCollins.
Ward, H.; J. Wild, J Morley. (ed). 1995. Celebrating women. New edition. GtB: London. SPCK.
Withrow, L. 1995. Seasons of prayer. Resources for worship. G.B: London. SPCK.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA. < www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>