Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
26 June 2011. Pentecost 2A/7A. (Green).
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
From the wintry white wastes of the Antartic,
to the burning summer heat of the Equator,
the seasons of the year
spice and flavour our universe. (SHardwick/hfw)
Let us then celebrate the richness and diversity of life
in the presentness of God in our universe.
Lighting of the candle
The community candle is lit
This flame is warm as the companionship of friends is warm.
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
"For this great sunburnt land" (Tune: ‘Nun Danket’. 106(i) TiS)
For this great sunburnt land
We join in celebration,
With all its native life,
The joy of God's creation:
Fresh lakes and tall blue gums
Who raise their voice on high,
Black swans that sweep with grace
Across the morning sky.
Now thank we, God, this day
For pioneers with vision,
Who found this heritage
A gift from God's deep passion.
O God of this wide land,
Grant us the faith to see,
You filled its soul with song,
A sacred mystery.
With this great sunburnt land
We join in celebration,
With roos and cockatoos
And mobs from ev'ry nation;
Custodians God chose
For bush and billabong,
We join with grateful voice
To sing this country strong. © NHabel/hh
Remain standing after the hymn
Opening sentences
Empowering God, when the road ahead looms endless,
All empower us to be companions
for one another along the road.
Inspiring God, when the road forward is blocked,
All inspire in us creative responses
that move us beyond the barriers.
Enabling God, when the road before us divides,
All enable us to feel your presence luring us on.
Prayer
We pray:
As we listen to the life of our city, may we sense
a Sacred Presence in its murmuring rhythms,
its working and walking and talking,
its colours and faces and longings.
Amen.
Hymn “God beyond, within, between” (Tune: ‘St Magnus’, 86 86. 378 TiS) 20 SNS
God is beyond, within, between;
The now and what has been;
God in the future and before;
The ever wondrous 'More'.
God is beyond gods we create
Ev'n those we venerate.
God is beyond what is beyond,
But still our hearts respond.
God is within, the force we know
In all life's ebb and flow,
In God we live and move and be,
And touch and taste and see.
And God we know is in between,
Involved but still unseen,
When fostering in you and me
A rich community.
God is within to sanctify;
Beyond to glorify;
God is between to beautify;
Of this we testify. (GStuart)
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 be a silence among us…
(Silence)
May God’s stillness and peace rest upon us.
May God’s presence permeate all our living.
May God’s blessing bloom around us.
(Silence)
Music of reflection
EXPLORING
Readings from our religious tradition
Some readings from our broad religious tradition shall now be read.
The reader is (NN).
Hebrew scriptures:
Genesis 22:1-2, 9-14 (NRSV)
God tested Abraham. God said to Abraham,
“Take you son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah,
and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains…
When they came to the place that God had shown him,
Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order.
He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to, kill his son.
But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said,
"Abraham, Abraham!"
And he said, "Here I am."
The angel of the Lord said,
"Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him;
for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son,
your only son, from me."
And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns.
Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up
as a burnt offering instead of his son.
Abraham called that place "The-Lord-will-provide";
as it is said to this day,
"On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided”.
From the world of theology:
“Jesus as rebel”
By B Brandon Scott, in Re-imagine the world/138.
Jesus' revolt takes a very special form.
He revolts in parable.
I see no evidence that Jesus was leading a political revolution
or that he had a social program in mind.
He clearly affected the lives of people, but he was not a social organizer or activist.
Although the idea is now out of fashion,
Jesus the oral storyteller seems to me closer to a poet.
The activist will always be dissatisfied with the poetic vision,
but change comes about because a creative individual has that vision.
Hymn People stand as they are able, to sing
“Touch the earth, reach the sky” (Tune: ‘Touch the earth’, 6 7 9 8) 301 SLT
Touch the earth, reach the sky!
Walk on shores while spirits fly
over the ocean, over the land,
our faith a quest to understand.
Touch the earth, reach the sky!
Children ask the reasons why.
In our lives the answers show,
and by our love they learn and grow.
Touch the earth, reach the sky!
All are born and all shall die;
Life’s the time left in between,
to follow a star, to build a dream.
Touch the earth, reach the sky!
Hug the laughter, feel the cry.
May we see where we can give,
for this is what it means to live.
Touch the earth, reach the sky!
Soar with courage ever high;
spirits joining as we fly,
to touch the earth, to reach the sky. GLewis-McLaren.
People sit
Gospel:
Matthew 10: 40-42 (Inclusive Text)
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows:
'Those who welcome you welcome me;
and those who welcome me welcome the One who sent me.
'Those who welcome a prophet because that person is a prophet
will have a prophet's reward; and those
who welcome the righteous because they are righteous
will have the reward of the righteous.
'Those who give so much as a cup of cold water to one
of these little ones because they are my disciples,
then I tell you solemnly, they will most certainly not lose their reward.'
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A celebration of faith
In response to the word reflected on let us stand
and share together a celebration of our faith.
The people stand as they are able
We give thanks for the shared life we experience in each other
and that the way we live and celebrate together
will encourage that life.
All We affirm that we see and experience this life in our midst.
It invites other life in us.
It gives life to people beyond us.
We affirm that in each of our sacred places life can be sustained,
All that in us new life can emerge and grow,
and that hope for life is to be cherished every day.
And as we gather in this our sacred place
during this season of winter, we hold ourselves open
to all the new possibilities before us.
All We commit ourselves to go on trying to care for each other,
giving and receiving in a sharing of gifts and graces,
that we may continue to be part
of the transforming life of God. (Adapt. D McRae-McMahon/plpm)
The peace
The peace of God is here... to stay. (Iona)
All Thanks be to God.
You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours
CELEBRATING
Hymn of the Month People stand as they are able, to sing
“As the wind song” (Tune: ‘Wairua Tapu’ – Holy Spirit) 7 HoS
As the wind song through the trees,
as the stirring of the breeze,
so it is with the Spirit of God,
as the heart made strangely warm,
as the voice within the storm,
so it is with the Spirit of God.
Never seen, ever known
where this wind has blown
bringing life, bringing power to the world,
as the dancing tongues of fire,
as the soul’s most deep desire,
so it with the Spirit of God.
As the rainbow after rain,
as the hope that’s born again,
so it is with the Spirit of God,
as the green in the spring,
as a kite on a string,
so it it is with the Spirit of God,
making worlds that are new,
making peace come true,
bringing gifts, bringing love to the world,
as the rising of the yeast,
as the wine at the feast,
so it is with the Spirit of God. (SEMurray)
Offerings
Our offerings for the work of ministry in this place and beyond,
shall now be received.
Presentation People stand as the gifts are presented
We give thanks for our life and the courage we are given to live it.
Let our gratitude for life be expressed in our generosity.
Let our faith be expressed in good causes.
Let our belief in the future find full expression
in our daily attitude of mind. (Adapt.FMacnab/fwb)
People sit
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:
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
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 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. Fred F. Keip
SCATTERING
Hymn “When life juggles” (Tune: 87 87)
When life juggles with our learning,
with the things we thought secure,
then it seems the artist’s palette
spins and faith becomes obscure.
In the wash of different colours,
as we seek for shape and form,
others paint their faith by numbers
forcing God to fit some norm
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
We have come together
to share our concerns,
to speak words of inspiration and
to sing words of hope.
All May we now commit ourselves to do what we can
to ease the burdens of others who suffer, and
to work for a more wholesome environment for us,
and for all the generations that will follow. (Bob Kaufmann/adapted)
Blessing words
The peace of this ancient earth to you...
of the high blue heavens which embrace it,
and the winds which blow freely over it.
The peace of splintered light sparkling on gum leaves,
and gentle rain falling on parched earth.
The peace of star-jewelled skies and full-orbed moons,
of breathless dawns and splendid dying suns.
And the peace of the God of Peace to you (Eliz. Howie/grpe).
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont) "When life juggles” (Tune: 87 87)
But when life has torn the canvas,
when the numbers twist and slip;
then we need to find an image
that will help our hope to grip:
holding us, when we're past holding,
grounding when we're insecure,
till we find a faith, not drifting,
still dynamic, free, yet sure. © Andrew Pratt 28/5/2010
'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:
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.
Duncan, G. (ed). 2003. Harvest for the World. A worship anthology on sharing in the work of creation. GtB: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
(HH) Habel, Norman. 2004. Habel Hymns 1. Songs to celebrate with creation. SA: Adelaide. Flinders Press.
(HoS) Hope is our song. New hymns and songs from Aotearoa New Zealand. 2009. NZ: Palmerston North. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Holy Bible. NRSV. 1989. TN: Nashville. Thomas Nelson Publishers.
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.
Liebelt, P; N. Nicholls. (ed). 1996. Gentle rain on parched earth. Worship resources for rural situations. VIC: Melbourne. JBCE.
McRae-McMahon, D. 2001. Prayers for Life's Particular Moments. VIC: Thornbury. DesBooks.
Macnab, F. 2006. A Fine Wind is Blowing: Psalms of the Bible in words that blow you away. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Scott, B. B. 2001. Re-imagine the World. An introduction to the parables of Jesus. CA: Santa Rosa. Polebridge Press.
(SLT) Singing the Living Tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
(SNS) Stuart, G. 2006. Singing a New Song. Traditional hymn tunes with new century lyrics. NSW: Sydney. CPRT Sydney.
Vosper, G. 2008. With or Without God. Why the way we live is more important that what we believe. Canada: Toronto. HarperCollins.
Web sites:
Keip, Kaufmann, UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. < www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
Andrew Pratt. "When life jiggles" Direct from the author.