Revd Rex A E Hunt
Mail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
26 April 2009. Easter 3B. (White).
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
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.
(Silence)
Hymn “God present to all” (Tune: ‘Ombersley’ 88 88. 567 TiS)
Creation sings amazing songs;
This is a place where God belongs
In movement, colour to behold
In past and future yet untold.
Source of all life's vitality
Enlivens love consistently;
We see God's presence in each face,
In kindly deeds and acts of grace.
Deep in our soul with vision clear
We see God's presence re-appear
Each time a human babe is born,
Each time we rise to greet the dawn.
Wonderful visions constantly
Express great beauty as we see
God's presence in humanity,
So vivid once in Galilee. (GStuart)
Opening sentences
v1 As we gather together on this Autumn morning,
may we weave here a patchwork of peace:
v2 The soft deep blue of sensitivity and understanding;
Wm The red energy of creativity;
Mn The white heat of convictions;
v1 The risky, fragile green of new growth;
Wm The golden flashes of gratitude;
Mn The warm rose of love.
All Together, in our gathered diversity,
we form the whole. So be it. (BWienecke)
Prayer of awareness
We pray:
God of light and colour, we offer our grtitude
for the glories of red and yellow, brown and green:
all the shades of this autumn season.
May our lives be lived in appreciation of all that life offers us.
Amen.
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
Hymn “Chant for the Seasons” (Tune: ‘Praha’, Irreg.) 73 (v1) SLT
Summer-time has turned the star-wheel,
autumn is upon us. (Repeat)
Sweet the angling sun,
sweet upon the air
the smell of blue mist rising.
Summer-time has turned the star-wheel,
autumn is upon us.
Glorious the trees,
glorious the sight
of rust leaves, falling.
Summer-time has turned the star-wheel,
autumn is upon us.
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
Meditation
Continuing the series of ‘After Easter’ meditations
by Michael Benedikt… Jewish by birth.
“God is conceived in good will”
Michael Benedikt. God is the good we do. Theology of theopraxy/6.
God is conceived in good will.
God is nurtured by understandings of virtue.
But God is brought to life and flourishes
only in actual good doings.
These are God's body, God's life.
"His" hands guide the good surgeon's hands;
"His" voice sounds as the good teacher’s voice.
God arrives just on time, and every time
a person has a choice
and sees that it is good,
and makes it good,
and can rest
because it remains so.
Silence
Let us again listen to the silence of this sacred space.
A space made ready for us by willing hands.
(Silence)
May we give thanks for all the silences in our lives:
the silence of sunrise,
the silence of midst on the lake,
the silence at the end of a story,
the silence between notes of music,
the silence between us here…
(Silence)
Music
EXPLORING
Readings from broad biblical tradition
Two readings from our broad biblical tradition shall now be read by (NN).
World around us:
Psalm 1
A 21st century exploration by Francis Macnab. A fine wind is blowing/2.
There are many pathways in front of us.
We see some people take pathways that turn-out
to be destructive and unhealthy.
All But our happiness and well-being depend on us
taking the pathways that keep us connected
with the best purposes
and with the best spirit.
Look carefully at the tree that flourishes beside the river -
its leaves are healthy and it bears fruit in season.
We can be like the tree.
All But we can forget all that and become
like chaff blown in all directions by the wind.
God of all life has created in us a desire to be the best we can be.
When we follow that desire,
our whole being is strongly affirmed.
All But when we become indifferent to that desire,
we lose our connection with the best purposes
and the best spirit.
Gospel:
Luke 24:35-44 (Inclusive Text)
The disciples told their story of what happened on the road
and how they had recognized Jesus at the breaking of bread.
They were still talking about this when Jesus himself stood among them and said,
'Peace be with you!'
In a state of alarm and fright, they thought
they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus said,
‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts
rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet;
yes, it is I indeed.
‘Touch me and see for yourselves;
a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.'
And as Jesus said this he showed them his hands and feet.
Their joy was so great that they could not believe it,
and they stood dumbfounded; so Jesus said to them,
'Have you anything here to eat?'
And they offered Jesus a piece of grilled fish,
which he took and ate before their eyes.
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
Earth litany
In response to the word reflected on, and in celebration of the season of Autumn,
let us share a special Earth litany.
The people remain seated
v1 After the sun of Summer has done its work,
people gather in threshing fields,
vineyards,
orchards and
home vegetable gardens,
to celebrate their reward.
v2 The seeds entrusted to Mother Earth in the Spring
have been watched, watered and weeded
until the time of harvest is at hand.
This morning, we celebrate the season of change and reward - Autumn.
And witness it daily in the changing colours of the leaves.
v1 But let us also remember the earth and our attachment to it.
Welcome are all earth’s lands, each for its kind.
Wm Welcome are lands of pine and gum tree,
welcome are lands of the lemon, coconut and fig.
Mn Welcome are lands of gold.
All Welcome are lands of rye and oats,
welcome those of the grape and nut.
v1 Welcome are lands of sugar and rice.
Welcome the cotton lands,
Wm welcome those of the onion and potato.
Mn Welcome are mountains, valleys, sands and forests.
All Welcome the rich river flats,
open paddocks and grassed park lands.
v1 Welcome the measureless farmlands,
welcome the teeming soil of orchards, pineapple and honey.
Wm Welcome just as much the other more hard-faced lands,
Mn lands rich as lands of vegetables or wheat and fruit lands,
lands of mines, lands of rugged ores,
Wm lands of coal, copper, lead, tin and iron.
All Welcome are all earth’s lands, each for its kind. (WWhitman. Adapted RAEHunt)
The peace
No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey,
you are welcome here in this safe and sacred place.
So let us greet another as a sign of God's peace.
The peace and presence of God is here... to stay.
All Thanks be to God.
You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours.
During the Peace, apple pieces will be distributed… Apples being the fruit of the season.
Hymn of the Month
“Where are you going?” (Tune: ‘Pilgrim Tune’, 97 66 7) 86 RP
Where are you going? God only knows.
Walk on pilgrim, pilgrim sing.
It's not where you're going.
It's how you are changing.
Come on pilgrim! Pilgrim sing!
Walk with another, walk on as one.
Come on pilgrim, pilgrim sing.
Your friends will walk with you,
and others will join you.
Walk on pilgrims! Pilgrims sing!
Walk midst the water, walk through the fire.
Walk on pilgrims, pilgrims sing.
Your God will walk with you,
your God will protect you.
Come on pilgrims! Pilgrims sing!
Climb up the mountain, follow the sun.
Come on pilgrims, pilgrims sing.
The leaves turn to auburn
to welcome the autumn.
Walk on pilgrims! Pilgrims sing!
God is behind you, God is ahead.
Walk on pilgrims, pilgrims sing.
The winter may chill you,
the spring will enchant you.
Come on pilgrims! Pilgrims sing!
Summer is coming, spirit of joy.
Come on pilgrims, pilgrims sing.
Then dance as you travel,
sing 'hail resurrection'.
Walk on pilgrims! Pilgrims sing! (APratt)
Offerings
Our offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond,
shall now be received.
Presentation
God the weaver, making patterns,
spinning threads throughout our days,
help us to discern your weaving
in the multi-coloured autumn maze. (Adapt.MDobson/mcm)
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 Father, may your name be holy.
May your rule take place.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Pardon our debts, for we ourselves pardon
everyone in debt to us.
And do not bring us to trial
into a trying situation. (BMack/Q)
SCATTERING
Hymn “Shake up the morning” (Tune: ‘Shake up’). 18 (v1-3) HSNW
Shake up the morning, let the dawn undress,
Let dew reglisten nature’s loveliness;
Waken the songbird and unseal the throat
That greets the daybreak with a crystal note.
Praise to the Lord, whose morning we inherit;
Praise creation’s fuse, the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son who rises with the dawn,
Leaving graveclothes scarcely three days worn.
Shake up the world and let the Kingdom come,
The dumb be listened to, the lost find home;
Make earthly politics the stuff of prayer
Till want and warring are dispelled by care.
Praise to the Lord, whose world we inherit;
Praise God’s catalyst, the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son whose choice it is to bless
Those who work for peace and live on less.
Shake up the Church and let all Christians show
That faith is real, that God is good to know;
Fashion new symbols of the coming age
When hope and love with take the centre stage.
Praise to the Lord, whose Gospel we inherit;
Praise God’s bird of love, the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son whose will and words decree
All are one in his community.
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
If there is any sense to seasons it it this:
That time is timeless and time is life.
All Not Spring nor Summer, not even Autumn is gone.
Each will be what it becomes, as Winter will be Spring.
The seasons play their walk-on parts,
All and we can hardly hear the lines,
much less know the plot, except the final line:
“Life abides”.
Blessing words
In the love of God, may we be warmed and welcomed.
In the joy of Jesus, may we be strengthened and made whole.
In the breath of the Spirit, may we be challenged and blessed. (RBurgess/bb)
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont). “Shake up the morning” (Tune: ‘Shake up’). 18 (v4) HSNW
Shake up the evening, let the shadows range
As clouds to castles in the sunset change;
Kindle the moon and stars which through each night
Reflect the glory of tomorrow’s light.
Praise to the Lord, whose evening we inherit;
Praise creation’s presence in the Holy Spirit;
Praise to the Son whose brightness none can kill,
Lighting paths for those who seek his will. © Iona Community
The people sit
'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:
Bell, J; G. Maule. 1989. Heaven shall not wait. Wild Goose Songs Vol. 1. Revised edition. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Benedikt, M. 2007. God is the good we do. Theology of theopraxy. NY: New York. Bottino Books.
Burgess, R. 2001. A book of blessings. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Dobson, M. 2004. Multi-coloured maze. Drama, hymns, prayers and poems for worship and everyday living. GtB: London. Stainer & Bell.
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.
Mack, B. L. 1993. The lost gospel. The book of Q and christian origins. NY: New York. HarperSanFrancisco.
Macnab, F. 2006. A fine wind is blowing: Psalms of the bible in words that blow you away. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Pratt, A. 2006. Reclaiming praise. Hymns from a spiritual journey. GtB: London. Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Singing the living tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
Stinson, J. 2006. “The encounter of progressive christian theology with the language of prayer and ritual on Sunday morning”. Westar Institute/Westar Leaders Seminar. March 2006.
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. UUA. < www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
George Stuart. “God present to all” Direct for author.