Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
5 February 2012. Epiphany 5B. (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
The presence of Creativity God fills this place of gathering.
The whole earth is full of God's glory.
So let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life
in the presentness of this God.
Lighting of the Candle
The community candle is lit
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Santo, santo” (Tune: ‘Santo santo’) 723 TiS
Santo, santo, santo.
Mi co razon te a do ra!
Mi co ra zon te sabe de cir:
Santo eres Senor.
Holy, holy, holy,
My heart, my heart adores you!
My heart knows how to say to you:
Holy are you, Lord.
Remain standing after hymn
Opening Sentences
To worship is to stand in awe under a heaven of stars,
before a flower, a leaf in sunlight, or a grain of sand.
All To worship is to sing with the singing beauty of the earth.
To pause, to be silent... and receptive (JTrapp/adapt)
Prayer of Awareness
We pray:
Spinner, weaver of our lives, your loom is love.
May we who are gathered here be empowered by that love
to weave new patterns of truth and justice
into a web of life
that is strong, beautiful, and everlasting.
Amen. (Adapt.BWells/slt)
Hymn "Human Touch Can Light the Flame" (Tune: ‘Dunedin’, 88 88. 387 TiS) 307 SLT
The human touch can light the flame
which gives a brightness to the day,
the spirit uses mortal flame,
life's vehicle for work and play.
The lover's kiss, the friends embrace,
the clasp of hands to show we care,
the light of welcome on the face
are treasured moments all can share.
May all who come within our reach
be kindled by our inner glow,
not just in spirit's words we preach,
in human touch love's faith we show. JStorey
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
Silence
Now, in shared quietness, we shall listen to the wisdom
of our inner hearts and minds as we join in this time
of silence and meditation.
Let us give thanks for our personal journeys…
sometimes long and hard journey...
Let us seek forgiveness for times when our fears
have outweighed our love...
Let us be mindful of the greed which so often rules us...
Let us remember, in silence... and wonder.
Silence
Music of Reflection
EXPLORING
Readings from our Biblical Tradition
Two readings from our biblical tradition shall now be read.
The first is from one of the authentic letters of Paul.
The second is from one of the early Jesus Movement communities
Our reader is (NN).
A letter to an early church community:
i Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23 (Inclusive Text)
I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me;
I should be punished if I did not preach it!
If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it,
but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands.
Do you know what my reward is?
It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the good news free,
and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me.
So though I am not a slave to anyone
I have made myself the slave of everyone so as to win as many as I could...
For the weak I made myself weak.
I made myself all things to all people in order to save some at any cost;
for the sake of the gospel, to have a share in its blessing.
Gospel:
Mark 1:29-39 (Inclusive Text)
On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John
straight to the house of Simon and Andrew.
Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever,
and they told Jesus about her straightaway.
Jesus went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up.
And the fever left and she began to minister to them.
That evening, at sunset, they brought to Jesus all who were sick and those
who were possessed with devils.
The whole town came crowding round the door,
and Jesus cured many who were suffering
from diseases of one kind or another.
Jesus also cast out many devils, but would not allow them to speak,
because they knew who Jesus was.
In the morning, long before dawn, Jesus got up and left the house,
and went out to a lonely place and prayed there.
Simon and the others set out in search of Jesus,
and when they found him, they said, 'Everybody is looking for you.'
Jesus answered,
'Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring towns, so that I can preach there too,
because that is why I came.'
And Jesus went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.
Silence for Personal Reflection
CELEBRATING
A "Families" Litany
In response to the word reflected on, and as the children join us again this year,
let us stand and share together a 'Families' litany.
The people stand as they are able
v1 We form families out of our need for intimacy and security.
All We are foreigners in our own land
and often estranged from our own neighbours.
v1 A family is a safe haven, but not
a fortress, sanctuary or prison.
All Some must be liberated from their families of origin
to find a place to be free.
v2 Some walk nameless streets in search of a family that never was.
All Others remember their home street with
fond memories of family gatherings.
v1 We can be ‘family’ for one another;
this is not easy but it may be necessary.
All No one should be homeless.
It shouldn’t hurt to be a child.
v2 It is never too late to find a family.
It is always timely to forgive.
All May we find here a family that
dismisses the boundaries of blood
and speaks the language of love. (GLStewart)
The Peace
v1 When imagination is allowed to move to deep places,
the sacred is revealed. Thomas Moore
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 People stand as they are able, to sing
“We Gaze in Wonder…” (Tune: ‘Gaze in wonder’, 11 10 11 9) 30 WNC
We gaze in wonder at the morning’s dawning,
positive witness to God’s faithful grace;
we turn our backs, and in the shadow standing,
shield the light we need to find our place.
In arrogance, in darkness we will stumble,
screening our eyes, we turn away from light.
We venerate our skill, the rocket’s rumble,
deadens sense, distorting wrong and right.
As stewards of love, let’s contemplate creation,
filigree frosting of a winter’s pain;
God hold in hand elation, desperation,
born in death that we might live again. (APratt)
People sit
AFFIRMING
Conversation with the Children
Children gather on the conversation mat
Conversation:
Meditation:
As we welcome the children back to the Sunday Club,
let us recommit ourselves to their nurture…
Let us also remember the children we once were
and who still live within us.
Let us love them now, in this quiet moment.
Let us remember the children of our own families
and the children of our friends.
Let us love them now, in this quiet moment.
Let us remember the children who are homeless
children who are separated from their families
children who are hungry or in pain
children whose lives are threatened by
drugs, crime, lack of health care.
Let us love them now, in this quiet moment.
Let us remember all children and commit ourselves
to their growth and safety,
their health and education,
their uniqueness and their unfolding beauty.
Let us love them now, in this quiet moment.
And forever more. (CSternberg)
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
v2 May we find in this day
an awareness of the freedom we are given
to know life unshackled from fear,
v1 and embrace the possibilities of the present,
with every breath we take. (GVosper/ab)
Pastoral prayers:
The 'Abba' 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)
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 gifts are presented
We are here that we might have life and have it more abundantly,
so that we might share it with others (JCMorgan)
These gifts and our lives enable us
to be a generous people.
People sit
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.
Let us then, 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. (RVJones/Adapt)
Communion
And we remember the tradition...
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 friends.
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 served.
After Communion
Let us renew our sense of belonging to this congregation
as we seek to bring the words and ways of Jesus
into relevant connection with life
as we live and understand it today.
All May true knowledge increase in our minds.
May compassion increase in our hearts.
May there be energy and strength for good actions
that serve a suffering world.
And may peace be our portion
and the portion of all who live on this small planet
which is our human home.
All Amen. (Adapt.RVJones)
SCATTERING
Hymn People stand as they are able, to sing
"God's Love Gives Freedom" (Tune: ‘Hymn of Joy’ 87 87D, 158 TiS) 15 (v1-2) SNS
God is love. Our gospel story.
Told so we might comprehend;
Through Christ's life we see God's glory.
Not as despot, but as friend.
Seen as humble, seen as serving.
Not omnipotent, severe;
But as love to undeserving.
Not as distant, but so near.
God is love, we need not tremble.
God forgives and does not blame.
We, confessing, don't resemble
Those weighed down by guilt and shame.
Punishment for past wrong-doing,
In God's dealings, has no place.
Love in constant, keeps pursuing
Humankind of every race.
Remain standing
Words of Mission
Let us take on this week’s life with renewed hope and imagination...
The candle is extinguished
As we leave this place of worship and celebration:
may we remember that each day
offers more things than we can do.
All May we do what needs to be done,
postpone what does not,
and be at peace with what we can be and do.
Therefore, may we learn to separate that which matters most
All and that which matters least of all.
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. (EHowie/grpe)
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont) "God's Love Gives Freedom" (Tune: ‘Hymn of Joy’ 87 87D, 158 TiS) 15 (v3) SNS
God is love and love gives freedom;
Freedom from all fear and guilt.
God is love and love gives welcome;
Broken lives can be rebuilt.
And this love grows even stronger
As disciples live this way.
For to love and serve one's neighbour
Is to do God's will each day. GStuart
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:
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.
Jones, Robert V. 2005. “Liturgy: The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper”. In private circulation from the author. L & L Seminar.
Liebelt, P; N. Nicholls. (ed). 1996. Gentle Rain on Parched Earth. Worship resources for rural situations. VIC: Melbourne. JBCE.
(SLT) Singing the Living Tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
(SNS) Stuart, G. 2006. Singing a New Song. Traditional hymn tunes with new century lyrics. Second edition. NSW: Sydney. CPRT Sydney.
(TiS) Together in Song. Australian hymn book 2. 1999. NSW: Sydney. HarperCollins Religious.
Vosper, G. 2009/2010. Another Breath. Prayers for celebration and reflection. QLD: Brisbane. The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought Brisbane.
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:
Trapp, Morgan, Sternberg. UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. < www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
'Families' Litany. G L Stewart. www.uusf.org