Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
7 December 2008. Advent 2B. (Blue).
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
The season of Advent challenges us
to see God's vision of what is yet to be,
to hear God's voice calling anew,
to smell the scent of God in our world.
Lighting of the candle
The community candle is lit
In this special season, let us continue to celebrate
the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
"God given energy, flaring and fiery" (Tune: ‘Liebster Immanuel’, 11 10 11 10. 310 TiS)
God given energy, flaring and fiery,
stella collisions of fury and pace;
shafts of the light from the cosmic conception
searing to earth from infinity's space.
Stars from eternity, driven by forces
formed at the birthing of matter and time;
mystical sinews restraining the planets,
elegant science and God's hidden rhyme;
These are the visions of wonder and rapture,
signs of significance, pointers to place,
drawing us out from our narrow discernment,
windows to love and God's infinite grace. APratt
Remain standing after the hymn
Opening sentences
The presentness of Creativity God is among us,
Wm in the wilderness of our cities,
Mn furrowed by freeways and shaded by skyscrapers.
v2 Prepare a way…
The presentness of Creativity God is among us,
Wm in the wilderness of our countryside,
Mn where farmers eke out a drought-feed existence.
v2 Prepare a way...
The presentness of Creativity God is among us,
Wm moving in the air, the land, and the waters,
Mn making our world whole.
v2 Prepare a way...
All Smooth the rough places, move the mountains;
let Creativity God’s glory be displayed. (Adapt.BPrewer/ap)
Prayer
We pray:
Gentle God, as the sun rises each day,
and light lifts our world out of darkness,
give new energy to our bodies,
new healing to our minds,
new strength to our spirits.
Amen.
Hymn In the 19th century John Mason Neale translated the 9th century hymn ‘O come, O come, Emmanuel’.
As we sing this traditional Advent hymn we do so honouring our past, even as we affirm we have moved on in our religious journey and thinking.
“O come, O come, Emmanuel” (Tune: ‘Veni Emmanuel’, 88 88 & refrain) 265 TiS
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.
The children lead us...
Advent Candle of Trust
The winds are scented with every growing thing;
the jacaranda blossoms,
clothes fit for a royal person.
All Come, Lord Jesus, come. (BPrewer/bpa)
Last Sunday we lit the first Advent candle, the candle of hope.
We light it again remembering the hope,
which will always be brought to birth
in, through, and among, all creation.
First candle is lit
The second Advent candle is the candle of trust.
In the stillness of our worship here we light it,
watching it burn and glow.
Second candle is lit
And we affirm that we are a people of God
willing to walk and live in partnership
with all who seek to be people of peace.
Presentation of the Christmas Bowl
Let us again remember that without hope and trust,
people struggle to find their way.
The bowl is place near the candles
Hymn "Child of Christmas story" (Tune: ‘Incarnation’ 65 65) 12 (v1-2) AA
Child of Christmas story,
stable straw and star,
small and sweet and gentle:
tell us who you are.
Child whose baby finger
round our own is curled,
come to melt our hearts, and
come to change the world. SMurray
The children leave to go to Sunday Club
CENTERING
Silence
Let there now be a silence among us…
(Silence)
May we become conscious in this moment
and in every moment of our gathering,
that the Holy One, Creativity God,
is the life giving energy pulsing through us...
(Silence)
Music of reflection
EXPLORING
Readings from our religious tradition
Some readings from our religious tradition shall now be read.
The reader is (NN).
(i) Gospel:
Mark 1:2-3 (Inclusive Text)
As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah,
Look, I am going to send my messenger before you,
who will prepare your way.
A voice cries in the wilderness:
‘Make ready a way for God,
clear a straight path.’
(ii) Gospel:
Mark 1:4-8 (Inclusive Text, adapted)
And so it was that John the baptiser appeared in the wilderness,
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to John,
and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan,
they confessed their sins.
John wore a garment of camel-skin, and lived on locusts and wild honey.
In the course of preaching John said,
'Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am,
and I am not fit to kneel down
and undo the strap of his sandals.
'I have baptised you with water,
but the One to come will baptise you
with the Breath of God.'
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A celebration of faith
On this second Sunday in Advent and in response to the word reflected on,
let us stand and share a celebration of faith.
The people stand as they are able
Unpredictable, irrepressible,
dancing, laughing Spirit,
when we're tempted to be cautious and hesitate,
All Draw us forward
into the surprising and joyful future
you have waiting for us.
Unpredictable, elusive Spirit,
when we're tempted to opt for certainty,
All Free our spirits to adventure and risk,
as your people have always done.
Unpredictable, people-loving,
freedom-loving Spirit,
when we're tempted to be shackled to comfort and conformity,
All Enable us to leave such things behind,
call us through your people
into the surprise of each new day.
Clear our vision, so we may see things,
to which we've paid no attention in the past.
All Sharpen our listening,
so we may hear pleadings and cries
we've never heard before.
Strengthen our hands,
so we may do things we've previously not dared try.
All Put a new spring into our step,
so we may follow your leading into new situations.
Draw us dancing and laughing into tomorrow. JConnan
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
CELEBRATING
Hymn of the Month
“You are born in us again” (Tune: ‘Dunstan’) 52 COC
You are born in us again
Like the warmth of the summer wind you come,
to melt away the icicles of vanity and pride;
you come to blow the very doors of loving open wide.
Like the warmth of the summer wind you come,
like the warmth of the summer sun you come.
You are born in us again
Like the scent of the summer rain you come,
You come to quench the thirsty and to freshen up the land;
you come to clean away the dust that settled in our hand.
Like the scent of the summer rain you come,
like the scent of the summer rain you come.
You are born in us again
Like the light of the summer sun you come,
to give light to the places that have never seen the Son;
you come now to embrace us, you’re the holy, holy one.
Like the light of the summer sun you come,
like the light of the summer sun you come. MWilson
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/wwg)
And so we take a 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 the new possibilities of the now.
Pastoral
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 Gracious Spirit,
Who loves us like a mother,
Whose realm is blooming among us now. And within.
We pray that your compassion guide us in every action.
Give us what we need for each day,
and help us to be satisfied with the miracle of that alone.
Forgiver, whose embrace brings us to wholeness without our asking,
May we reconcile ourselves to one another in humility.
And may we cancel the crushing debts that imprison our neighbours
So that communities of joy and health may flourish.
May we neither profit from nor ignore evil.
But ever work to thwart it with non-violence
As we co-create the realm of peace in this world.
Now and each day.
Amen. (BHesla/wsj)
Offerings
Our offerings for the work of ministry in this place and beyond,
and our gifts of bread and wine, shall now be received.
Presentation People stand as the gifts are presented
Blessed are you, Holy Wisdom,
inweave the fabric of our common life
that the many-coloured beauty of your love
may find expression in all that we do and give.
People sit
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Setting
Source and Sustainer of life we name God,
present and active from the beginning of time,
we are gathered in your ever presentness.
All And it is right that we give thanks and praise,
and tell our stories of celebration and connectedness.
In time beyond our dreaming
Creativity God hovered over the water,
and was revealed in fire and storm and precious law.
Likewise, humanity in this creative likeness evolved on this earth,
along with earth’s minerals and waters,
flowers and fruits,
living creatures of grace and beauty!
All We offer this our thanks and praise.
Our stories go on to say:
Noah was shown a rainbow,
Moses gained strength to free his people,
in the face of danger Miriam would sing,
Esther found courage, and
Ruth stayed loyal.
All We give thanks for women and men
in many different cultures and times who spoke about
our connectedness with each other,
and with all of creation.
In this age and season, with its TV and shopping and summer sun,
we wait again with expectant hearts and hopeful spirits,
as we seek to discern your presentness among us.
So we join our celebration to all people:
All Holy, holy, holy, compassionate 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
Long ago our tradition says,
Jesus came in the humble birth of a child,
a child of amazing and divine love,
a child of Mary's 'yes' to you,
a child of Joseph's acceptance,
a child of our humanity.
All We pledge ourselves to be embodiments of the dream he dreamed.
Long ago our tradition also says, Jesus took bread,
gave thanks, and broke it:
v2 'This bread is broken, as my body will be'.
Bread is broken
And he handed it to his friends, inviting them to eat:
v2 'Remember all that I have been to you'.
Long ago our tradition says, Jesus poured a cup of wine,
offered thanks for it, and gave it to his friends:
Wine poured out
v2 'This wine is poured out as my life will be poured out.
As you drink give thanks for all I have given'.
May this gathering of this community of faith
be comforted and challenged during this Advent season.
All May people see in us the courage and the generosity
that characterised Jesus' life.
Communion
Served at the front by intinction
After communion
We are one with the mystery and Source and Sustainer of all that exists.
We rejoice in our human capacity
to wonder and marvel,
to appreciate,
to rejoice, and to give thanks.
SCATTERING
Hymn "Where is the room?" (Tune: Michaela) 48 (v1-3) COC
Where is the room,
where is the house of Christmas?
Where shall we welcome Jesus,
where are the signs of home?
Where are the signs of home?
Let Christ have space,
place at the heart of living,
centre for birth's new breathing,
cradle for hope and peace,
cradle for hope and peace.
Let there be room,
room for the friend and stranger,
room without hurt or anger,
room for whoever come,
room for whoever come.
Remain standing
Words of mission
Let us embrace the wonder of this week with expectation and imagination...
The community candle is extinguished
Gathered together
All We wait for the light.
Standing together
All We trust in the light.
Praying together
All We hope for the light.
Seeking together
All We step out with the light.
Singing together
All We are blessed by the light. (TWatts/s)
Blessing words
Go now in joy, building, living in, and enjoying
a community full of welcome and equality.
All Thanks be to God. (J Nelson-Pallmeyer/wsj)
Hymn (Cont.) "Where is the room?" (Tune: Michaela) 48 (v4) COC
Let love be here,
love from the Christmas stable,
love at our open table,
love to be shared all year,
love to be shared all year. SMurray
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.
Carol our christmas. A book of New Zealand carols. 1996. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Inclusive readings. Year B. 2005. Qld: Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation.
Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Lee, B. J. (ed). 1987. Alternative futures for worship. Vol 3. The eucharist. MIN: Collegeville. The Liturgical press.
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.
Prewer, B. D. 2000. Australian psalms. Revised and expanded. SA: Adelaide. OpenBook Publishers.
Prewer, B. D. 1992. Brief prayers for Australians. Vol 3. SA: Adelaide. OpenBook Publishers.
Seaburg, C. (ed). 1993. The communion book. MA: Boston. UUMA.
Together in song. Australian hymn book 2. 1999. NSW: Sydney. HarperCollins Religious.
Uniting in Worship. Leader’s Book. 1988. VIC: Melbourne. Uniting Church Press.
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.
Watts, T; G. Lord. 2005. Sanctuary. Where heaven touches earth. A group resource for those seeking simplicity, silence, and nurture. Canada: Kelowna. Wood Lake Books.
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/>
Andrew Pratt eMail distribution. UK.