Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
16 October 2011. Pentecost 18A/23A. (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 the Celebration
The gong is sounded three times
In the name of our God who shares divinity with us,
In the name of our God who shares humanity with us,
In the name of our God who unsettles and inspires us… (JSchaffran)
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.
Lighting of the candle
The community candle is lit in silence
We light this candle to celebrate
the inherent worth and dignity of every person
and to share that love which is ultimately
beyond even our cherished reason,
that love which unites us. (Adapd/SStock)
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
"Sing to celebrate the city!” 122 AA
Sing to celebrate the city!
Sing the lives of people there,
sing the work of skill and beauty,
all who serve and all who care.
In the dictates of the dollar,
in the systems where we live,
find the currency of kindness,
eyes to smile and hearts to give.
We who are the city's traffic,
driving, driven, keeping pace,
name the God who makes us neighbours,
give our faith a human face;
in the workplace of God's people,
in the highrise and the home
our agenda is for justice -
changing lives for good to come.
Celebrate the art of living!
every colour, every sport,
every culture's dance and music,
every truth that love has taught -
be for God within the city,
life and loving are not priced:
light and lights of joyful worship,
set the table for the Christ!
Sing to celebrate the city!
Sing the lives of people there,
sing the work of skill and beauty,
all who serve and all who care. SEMurray
Remain standing after the hymn
Opening sentences
God of the past
who has fathered and mothered us
All We know your presentness.
God of the future
who is always ahead of us
All We trust your presentness.
God of the present
here in the midst of us
All We celebrate your presentness.
Prayer
We pray:
God of all life we give thanks for the signs of love and creativity
that surround us and bless us,
past, present and future.
Amen.
Hymn “Amazing love” (Tune: 'Amazing Grace', 86 86. 129 TiS)
Amazing love that Jesus told,
Two thousand years ago,
A story new, a story old,
A love we all can know.
He spoke to crowds in Palestine,
He speaks to us today,
He tells us all of love divine,
To us he shows the way.
The realm of God is one of love,
Of justice and of peace.
It’s not about a realm above -
Through love this world release.
What we want done to us, can be
The rule by which we live;
To follow it will make us free
To share, to love, to give.
The story comes to challenge us,
It’s not the easy road,
For us to love, as Jesus loved,
To bear another’s load.
The realm of God is here with us
When love and peace we share,
Although we fail, we know God’s grace,
It’s love that helps us there.
Amazing love that Jesus told,
Two thousand years ago,
A story new, a story old,
A love for all to know. MRolfe
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
Let there now be a silence between us for a time.
(Silence)
May the silence which we now share quieten us,
touch our need,
refresh our courage,
enlarge our wonder.
(Silence)
EXPLORING
Readings from our broad Religious Tradition
Two readings from our broad religious tradition
shall now be read by (NN).
From the world around us:
“I am not afraid of death”
Julia Esquivel.
I am no longer afraid of death,
I know well its dark and cold corridors
leading to life.
I am afraid rather of that life
which does not come out of death,
which cramps our hands
and slows our march.
I am afraid of my fear
And even more of the fear of others,
who do not know where they are going,
Who continue clinging to what they think is life
Which we know to be death!
I live each day to kill death;
I die each day to give birth to life,
and in this death of death, I die a thousand times
and am reborn another thousand
through that love
from my People,
which nourished hope!
Gospel:
Matthew 22:15-22 (Inclusive Text)
When the chief priests and Pharisees had heard the parables,
they realised that Jesus was speaking about them.
Then they went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said.
So they sent their disciples to Jesus, along with the Herodians, saying:
‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth,
and show deference to no one, for a person’s rank means nothing to you.
‘Tell us, then, what you think.
Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’
But Jesus, aware of their malice, said:
‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?
Show me a coin used for the tax.’
And they brought him a denarius.
Then Jesus said to them:
‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’
They answered: ‘The emperor’s.’
Then Jesus said to them:
‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s
and to God the things that are God’s.’
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A litany: ‘Commitment to life’
The people stand
In the midst of hunger and war
All We celebrate the promise of plenty and peace
In the midst of oppression and tyranny
All We celebrate the promise of service and freedom
In the midst of racism and despair
All We celebrate the promise of faith and hope
In the midst of fear and betrayal
All We celebrate the promise of joy and loyalty
In the midst of hatred and death
All We celebrate the promise of love and life
In the midst of sorrow and decay
All We celebrate the promise of creativity and renewal
In the midst of death on every side
All We celebrate the promise of the Living Christ. (Adapt.JAnderson/pod)
The peace
Let us take a moment to celebrate each other.
The peace of God is here... to stay. (Iona)
All Thanks be to God.
You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours
Hymn of the Month People stand as they are able, to sing
“To God the Process” (Tune: ‘Edith’) 140 HoS
Gloria! Gloria!
To God the process, God the life,
to God compassion’s spring,
to God the boundless way of love,
to God in everything,
to God the inner Christ of faith,
to God the wine and bread,
to God the sacred energy,
the fabric and the thread.
To you, O God, we sing our praise,
we join the cosmic song,
we walk the path that Jesus walked,
we turn our thoughts from wrong.
For you delight in each of us
and we delight in you.
With hearts on fire we live your praise
in all we think and do.
Amen, Amen, Amen, O God,
to you be endless praise.
Shalom, Shalom, Shalom, O God,
our hearts to you we raise.
For you empower and you fulfil
our latent energy,
the universe within our lives
shall dance your liturgy.
Gloria! (WLWallace)
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 (GVosper/wwg)
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 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 xxx
CELEBRATING
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Offerings
Our offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond,
shall now be received.
Presentation People stand as the gifts are presented
Inspired by stories of a compassionate God,
may we find a good feeling in our hearts
so through these gifts we can
help free some people from hunger,
lift some people from their distress, and
encourage some people to be part of a better world.
People sit
The Invitation
Jesus invited all to the feast of peace and new life.
Jesus risked everything in compassion.
Jesus was known in the breaking of the bread.
The Celebration
When Jesus gathered with his friends
to tell them of a re-imagined way of living and being,
the conversations often went on into the time for a meal.
Jesus ate and conversed with the high and mighty,
with the pious and self-righteous, and
with those considered outcasts and sinners.
His table fellowship included everyone.
He often told them stories that caused them to wonder and ask questions.
He also welcomed these opportunities to eat with those who disagreed with him
and engaged them in open discussion.
In this way, the issues of life and death,
justice and injustice,
conflict and peace,
goodness and evil
were talked through and made real to ordinary people.
Jesus at a meal is a demonstration of his teaching.
He urged his followers to include a wide variety of people
in what he called the realm of God.
And he encouraged them to be open
to the insights and understandings that come
from honest and respectful dialogue
among those who seek a worthy way of life.
We are here to carry on this tradition
of seeking for truth and recognising goodness
wherever they may be found.
To this end, everyone is invited and encouraged
to share in this symbolic meal.
All This being so, we who are followers of Jesus in these times
gather around this table to pledge ourselves anew
to his words and ways.
The Bread and Wine
Now, in the way humans have made certain things
and certain actions holy throughout the ages,
we offer this bread
and this wine to one another...
All This offering represents our lives and our desire
for a world that increasingly conforms
to the words and ways of Jesus.
Let us be grateful for the words and ways of Jesus
as they have been handed down to us
from generation to generation
by faithful followers and conscientious scholars.
All We are grateful for the many records of Jesus’ words and ways
and for those who cared for them, copied them,
studied them, interpreted them, and
preserved them for study and interpretation in our time.
Let us, in the spirit of Jesus, welcome this knowledge
and determine to use it as he would use it
in the service of justice and well being
for all persons, creatures, and things.
All We welcome the new ways of truth
and seek a deeper wisdom about all that is known.
Communion
And we remember...
Jesus took bread and blessed it,
acknowledging with gratitude the hands that produced it
and the earthly goodness that made it possible.
He broke the bread and gave it to his followers
in a spirit of devotion to the new community he wished to form.
In the same way, we break this bread
and share it with one another.
All We give thanks for this bread.
The bread is broken and distributed.
Jesus took a cup of wine and blessed it
for the sense of joy and celebration wine can bring.
Thus do we lift this cup and drink this wine,
celebrating the blessedness of our fellowship
and this time together.
All We celebrate together.
The wine is poured and distributed
(While the Bread and the Wine are being received, this Hymn shall be sun solo) “Jesus comes to me…” (Tune: ‘Joy”). 77 AA Jesus comes to me as a springtime tree and I receive him as a springtime tree. Fragrant the blossoming of the child, fresh with laughter, free and wild, and carrying the green of summer. Jesus comes to me as a summer tree Jesus comes to me as an autumn tree Jesus comes to me as a winter tree
and I receive him as a summer tree.
Warm in the sun and richly laid
with patterns of growth through light and shade,
and carrying the fire of autumn.
and I receive him as an autumn tree.
Season of ripeness, brightly ablaze
like a torch in the quietness of closing days
and carrying the wood of winter.
and I receive him as a winter tree.
Gentle the cross and gentle the snow,
gentle the path where he and I go,
carrying the buds of spring. (JCowley)
After Communion
v1 Let us give thanks for this communion
as it sustains us in our desire to be followers of Jesus
in our time and place.
v2 Let us acknowledge that sharing this bread and this wine
ties us to a great company of people throughout history
and around the present world. (HC liturgy adapted/RJones)
SCATTERING
Hymn “Let My Spirit Always Sing” (Tune: 'Rebekah') 41 (v1-2) FFS
Let my spirit always sing,
though my heart be wintering,
though the season of despair
give no sign that you are there,
God to whom my days belong,
let there always be a song.
Though my body be confined,
let your word engage my mind,
let the inner eye discern
how much more there is to learn,
see a world becoming whole
through the window of the soul.
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
Go in peace.
Hold in your heart the certainty
that the spirit of life is with you always.
All When our hearts are torn asunder
or when we soar with sweet joy,
we are never alone, never apart,
from the spirit that resides within us,
that guides our lives and cherishes us always. Adapt.EA.Virago
Blessing Words
She who has called you will not leave you without encouragement.
Let the great God be between your shoulders,
to look after you at your coming and going.
Let the Son of Mary be very close to your heart.
And the lovely Spirit be poured upon you...
Yes, the lovely Spirit be poured all over you!
All Amen. (From a Celtic blessing)
Hymn (Cont) “Let My Spirit Always Sing” (Tune: 'Rebekah') 41 (v3-4) FFS
Let your wisdom grace my years,
choose my words and chase my fears,
give me wit to welcome change,
to accept, and not estrange,
let my joy be full and deep
in the knowledge that I keep.
Let my spirit always sing,
to your Spirit answering,
through the silence, through the pain
know my hope is not in vain,
like a feather on your breath
trust your love, through life and death. SEMurray
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:
(AA) Alleluia Aotearoa. Hymns and songs for all churches. 1993. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
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.
Galloway, K. (ed). 1996. The Pattern of Our Days. Liturgies and resources for worship. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
(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.
Jones, Robert V. 2005. “Liturgy: The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper”. In private circulation from the author. L & L Seminar.
Vosper, G. 2008. With or Without God. Why the way we live is more important that what we believe. Canada: Toronto. HarperCollins.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. < www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
Julia Esquivel. Threatened with Resurrection. <www.mccchurch.org/Resources/Worship>