Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
1 February 2009. Epiphany 4B. (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 worship
The gong is sounded three times
We are the sisters and brothers of all that is,
cherishing the earth,
embracing its life.
So let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.
Lighting of the candle
The community candle is lit
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Morning has broken” (Tune: ‘Bunessan’, 55 54D) 156 TiS
Morning has broken
like the first morning;
blackbird has spoken
like the first bird.
Praise for the singing,
praise for the morning,
praise for them, springing
fresh from the word.
Sweet the rain’s new fall
sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall
on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness
of the wet garden,
sprung from completeness
where his feet pass.
Mine is the sunlight;
mine is the morning
born of the one light
Eden saw play.
Praise with elation,
praise every morning,
God’s recreation
of the new day.
Remain standing after hymn
Opening sentences
God, who sets us on a journey
to discover, dream and grow,
All stir the spirit, stretch our minds,
grant the vision that we lack.
Exploration brings new insights, changes,
choices we must face;
All give us wisdom in deciding,
give us courage for the journey,
cherish only what's essential,
All there can be no turning back (Adapt./JDine/ffs)
Prayer
We pray:
Excite our hearts and minds, Creative Life Source,
to trace new truths,
to catch creation's flair,
and to live within the contexts of compassion and care.
Amen.
Hymn “Where wide sky rolls down” (Tune: ‘Hanover’, 55 55 65 65) 188 TiS
Where wide sky rolls down and touches red sand,
where sun turns to gold the grass of the land,
let spinifex, mulga and waterhole tell
their joy in the One who made everything well.
Where rain-forest calm meets reef, tide and storm,
where green things grow lush and oceans are warm,
let every sea-creature and tropical bird
exult in the light of the life-giving Word.
Where red gum and creek cross hillside and plain,
where cool tree-ferns rise to welcome the rain,
let bushland, farm, mountain-top, all of their days
delight in the Spirit who formed them for praise.
Now, people of faith, come gather around
with songs to be shared, for blessings abound!
Australians, whatever your culture or race,
come, lift up your hearts to the Giver of grace. EJSmith
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.
Those visiting, please sign our Visitors book.
Fellowship hour following worship.
CENTERING
Meditation
“To God, to the Source, to yourself”
By Eckhart Tolle. A new earth.
Even a stone, and more easily a flower or a bird,
could show you the way back to God, to the Source, to yourself.
When you look at it or hold it and let it be
without imposing a word or mental label on it,
a sense of awe, of wonder, arises within you.
Its essence silently communicates itself to you
and reflects your own essence back to you.
This is what great artists sense and succeed
in conveying in their art.
Van Gogh didn’t say: “That’s an old chair.”
He looked, and looked, and looked.
He sensed the Beingness of the chair.
Then he sat in front of the canvas and took up the brush.
The chair itself would have sold for the equivalent of a few dollars.
The painting of that same chair today would fetch in excess of $25 million.
Silence
Now, in the quiet of this day and the safety of this place
we take this moment to sit in silence:
to give thanks for another day;
to give thanks for all those in our lives
who have brought us warmth and love;
and to give thanks for the gift of life.
(Silence)
Music of reflection
EXPLORING
Reading from our biblical tradition
A story from one of the early Jesus Movement communities
shall now be told. Our reader is (NN).
Gospel:
Mark 1:21-28 (Inclusive Text)
Jesus and his followers went as far as Capernaum and as soon as the sabbath came
Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach.
And the teaching made a deep impression on them
because, unlike the scribes, Jesus taught them with authority.
In their synagogue just then there was someone
possessed with an unclean spirit, and it shouted,
'What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are: the Holy One of God.'
But Jesus said sharply, 'Be quiet! Come out!'
And the unclean spirit threw the person into convulsions
and with a loud cry went out.
The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant.
'Here is a teaching that is new' they said, and
'with authority behind it: this teacher gives orders
even to unclean spirits and they obey.'
And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere,
through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
CELEBRATING
Epiphany litany
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand and share together an Epiphany litany.
The people stand as they are able
v1 There is a song in the air
v2 There is a star in the heavens
v3 There is a lowly stable
All There is a child to meet.
v1 Let us bring our gifts
v2 Let us honour this child
v3 Let us follow the light coming from where he sleeps
All Let us seek blessings for our journey
through the wilderness.
v1 May we be held in the palm of God’s hand
v2 May we keep the light before us
v3 May we know the gift that the Christ Child gives to us
All May we know the love of the Messiah in our journeying! (Unknown)
The peace
v1 The Kingdom is not a thing to be observed,
but the experience of God within human activity. John Shea
v2 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
“Our world is one world” (Tune: ‘Chernobyl’, 58 86 4) 134 SLT
Our world is one world
what touches one affects us all:
the seas that wash us round about,
the clouds that cover us,
the rains that fall.
Our world is one world
the thoughts we think affects us all:
the way we build our attitudes,
with love or hate, we make,
a bridge or wall.
Our world is one world
it’s ways of wealth affects us all:
the way we spend, the way we share,
who are the rich or poor,
who stand or fall.
Our world is one world
just like a ship that bears us all:
where fear and greed make many holes,
but where our hearts can hear,
a different call. (CTaylor)
AFFIRMING
Offerings
Our offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond, shall now be received.
Presentation People stand as gifts are presented
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. (FMacnab)
People sit
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)
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 appropriate
All God, lover of us all, most holy one.
Help us to respond to you.
To create what you want for us here on earth.
Give us today enough for our needs.
Forgive our weak and deliberate offences,
just as we must forgive others when they hurt us.
Help us to resist evil and to do what is good.
For we are yours, endowed with your power
to make our world whole.
Amen. (LWinkley/cw)
SCATTERING
Hymn "I am that great and fiery force" (Tune: ‘Duke St.’ 88 88. 439 TiS) 27 (v1-2) SLT
I am that great and fiery force
sparkling in every thing that lives;
in shining of the river's course,
in greening grass that glory gives.
I shine in glitter on the seas,
in burning sun, in moon and stars.
In unseen wind, in verdant trees
I breathe within, both near and far.
Remain standing
Words of mission
The God we worship is never confined to this holy place.
So go and travel with the God
who is found in ordinary and surprising places.
The candle is extinguished
We receive fragments of holiness, glimpses of eternity,
brief moments of insight.
All Let us gather them up for the precious gifts that they are and,
renewed by their grace,
move boldly into the unknown. SCampbell/slt
Blessing words
May you be wholly present in your own life
ready to be surprised by the wonder
of each ordinary moment. (JMead/bb)
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont) "I am that great and fiery force" (Tune: ‘Duke St.’ 88 88. 439 TiS) 27 (v3) SLT
And where I breathe there is no death,
and meadows glow with beauties rife.
I am in all, the spirit's breath,
the thundered word, for I am Life. Hildegard of Bingen, 12th Cent.
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:
Burgess, R. 2001. A book of blessings. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Faith forever singing. Songs for a new day. 2000. 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.
Macnab, F. 2006. A fine wind is blowing: Psalms of the bible in words that blow you away. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Singing the living tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
Together in song. Australian hymn book 2. 1999. NSW: Sydney. HarperCollins Religious.
Tolle, E. 2008. A new earth: Awakening to your life's purpose. GtB: London. Penguin.
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.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA. < www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>