Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
29 April 2012. Easter 4B. (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 People stand as they are able, to sing
“God of Diversity” (Tune: ‘Margaret’. By Colin Gibson) 40 HoS
God of diversity, vibrant creation
is bursting with signs of extravagant joy.
In riot of blossom, in species unnumbered
we see that all difference is ours to enjoy.
God of diversity, nations and cultures
tell of the richness life offers to all.
In language and symbol, in story and doctrine
we clothe our experience, respond to your call.
God of diversity, humans embody
the interdependence of ear, eye and hand;
we struggle to learn, in this globe-become-village,
our need of each other in every land.
God of diversity, help us to honour
our different perspectives on things that are true,
as, knowing more deeply the God in Christ Jesus,
we learn how to worship with all who love you. (MBond)
Opening Sentences
As we enter into this sacred place,
put away the pressures of the world that ask us
to perform,
to take up masks,
to put on brave fronts.
Silence the voices that ask you to be perfect.
This is a community of compassion and welcoming. (EAHewitt/adapt)
All We bring all that we are and all that we yet can be,
to this safe and holy place.
Prayer of Awareness
We pray:
God of sky and God of earth, we honour
your presence within us and beyond.
May we be empowered with a loving and just peace.
Amen.
OR
Sing out happiness upon the morning.
Celebrate the famous sun and the comely earth.
Think upon love, that it may grow within us,
and compassion, that it may call us to its service (KPatton/sscol).
May it be so.
All May we make it so with us.
Lighting of the Community Candle
The candle is lit
Hymn "Song of Faith" (Tune: Abbeyfield, 87 87 87 87) 57 FFS
Song of faith that sings forever
through God's people, ages long,
Word that holds the world together
when our hearts take up the song,
always, always somewhere sounding,
though the source we do not see,
counterpoint to all despairing
it is hope that sets the key.
Song of faith in exultation,
rising through the vaults of prayer,
tune of simple celebration
offered up in open air,
song in chapel and cathedral,
descant to our daily tone,
song from sickbed or in prison:
faith must often sing alone.
And when life would overwhelm us,
when there seems no song to sing,
hear the constant voice of courage
out of fear and suffering:
all who've loved and trusted Jesus,
all who lift us to be strong,
endless, endless are the voices
of the faith that makes the song. (SMurray)
OR
“People are God’s Language” (Tune: ‘Ellers’, 10 10 10 10. 301 RCH) 71 SNS2
People are language through whom God can speak;
Heard by the list'ners, found by those who seek;
Heard in a whisper, never in a roar;
Heard in compassion, not through formal law.
People are language through whom God can care
With words of comfort when we see despair;
Spoken in kindness, yet with certainty;
Heard with delight when calming misery.
People are language through whom God can plead
For peace and mercy, for the ones in need;
Spoken in strength, with poise and dignity,
Calling for justice and for liberty.
Sharing of love with acts of gentleness,
Sharing the load with deeds of thoughtfulness,
We can ensure the message can be heard;
For we are language of God's living word (GStuart).
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 here now and at hand”
Michael Benedikt. God is the Good We Do. Theology of theopraxy/6.
God is not out there,
or back then.
God is here, now,
and at hand.
We are larger, each one of us, than all of the galaxies combined.
This is why the rabbis said:
“to redeem one person is to redeem the world”.
Silence
Let us again listen to the silence of this sacred space.
A space made ready for us by willing hands.
Now let silence gently enfold us.
(Silence)
In this day made fresh,
In the chorus of birds,
In the scent of wild flowers,
We embrace this day in hope.
(Silence)
Music
EXPLORING
Readings from Biblical Tradition
Two readings from our biblical tradition shall now be read by (NN).
Hebrew scriptures: (Responsive)
Psalm 23 (Accompanied by drum beat)
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
The Lord lets me rest in green pastures
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
by still waters he leads me, restores my soul.
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
God leads me in paths that are right and true
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
for the sake of the name of my Shepherd, the Lord.
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
Silence
No drum beat
Even though I walk through the valley,
the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, - they comfort me.
Silence
Drum beat
You prepare a table before me,
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
and I’m safe from those who would harm me.
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
With oil on my head you anoint me.
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
My cup overflows with God’s goodness,
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all my life
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
and I’ll live in God’s house all my days.
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
Quieter
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
Whisper
All Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. (WPoG)
Silence
Gospel:
John 10:11-18 (Inclusive Text)
Jesus said:
"I am the good shepherd.
Good shepherds lay down their lives for their sheep.
"The hirelings, since they are not the shepherds
and the sheep do not belong to them,
abandon the sheep and run away
as soon as they see a wolf coming,
and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep.
"I am the good shepherd.
I know my own and my own know me,
just as God, who sent me, knows me, and I know God.
"And I lay down my life for the sheep.
There are other sheep I have that are not of this fold,
and these I have to lead as well.
"They too will listen to my voice,
and there will be only one flock and one shepherd.
"God loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
"No one takes it from me; I lay it down of my own free will,
and as it is in my power to take it up again.
"And this is the command I have been given
by the One who sent me."
Silence for Personal Reflection
AFFIRMING
A Litany of the ‘Ordinary’
In response to the word reflected on,
let us share a litany celebrating the ‘ordinary’.
The people remain seated
May we awaken to the presence of God,
All here in this ordinary place.
May we awaken to the power of love,
All here in this ordinary crowd.
May we build a neighbourhood of justice for all,
All now in this ordinary time.
May we daily work to build a world at peace,
All now with these ordinary hands. (JNelson-Pallmeyer/wsj)
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. (Iona)
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
"Sing with Me, Friends!” (Tune: ‘Faithnotes’) 40 TEL
Sing with me, friends, for God invites us,
find a new song to resonate!
Savor the signs of God around us,
beauty that minds and hands create-
celebrate joy,
celebrate hope,
celebrate this good world!
Sing with me, friends, through calm and crisis,
sing when the roads we take are rough,
stay with our dream of common purpose,
God will provide us strength enough-
stay through the loss,
stay through the pain,
suffering shapes our world.
Sing with me, friends: we need each other,
widening circles on the way,
tending the earth with care together,
taking small measures every day,
singing for life,
singing for peace,
nurturing this good world! (SEMurray)
People sit
Offerings
Our offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond,
shall now be received.
Presentation
Here today,
we renew our unity with one another,
and with all those who have gone before us in this place.
Here today,
we renew our communion with the earth
and our interwovenness with the broken ones of the world.
Conversation 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)
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.
Focused Thoughts:
The 'Abba' 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 People stand as they are able, to sing
“A Firemist and a Planet” (Tune: 'Thornbury', 76 76D, 15 TiS). 343 (v1-2) SLT
A firemist and a planet,
a crystal and a cell,
a starfish and a saurian,
and caves where ancients dwelt;
the sense of law and beauty,
a face turned from the sod
- some call it evolution,
and others call it God.
Haze on the far horizon,
the infinite tender sky,
the ripe, rich tints of [wheat]fields,
and wild geese sailing high;
and over high and low-land,
the charm of golden rod
- some people call it autumn,
and others call it God.
Words of Mission
Let us take on this week’s life with renewed hope and imagination...
The candle is extinguished
May we truly pay attention to the world as it is,
with all its joys and sorrows.
All And may we learn to find joy in savoring
rather than consuming. (JNelson-Pallmeyer/wsj)
Blessing Words
Go forth into this day with confidence in the
enabling spirit of God that challenges and
nurtures you to growth.
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont). “A Firemist…” (Tune: 'Thornbury', 76 76D, 15 TiS) 343 (v1-2) SLT
Like tides on crescent sea-beach,
when moon's so new and thin,
into our hearts high yearnings
come welling, surging in,
come from the mystic ocean
whose rim not foot has trod
- some people call it longing,
and others call it God.
A sentry lone and frozen,
a mother starved for her brood,
and Socrates' dread hemlock,
and Jesus on the rood;
and millions, who, though nameless,
the straight, hard pathway trod,
- some call it consecration,
and others call it God. Wm H Carruth
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:
Benedikt, M. 2007. God is the Good We Do. Theology of Theopraxy. NY: New York. Bottino Books.
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.
(FFS) Faith Forever Singing. Songs for a New Day. 2000. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
(HoS) Hope Is Our Song. New Hymns and Songs from Aotearoa New Zealand. 2009. NZ: Palmerston North. 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.
Nelson-Pallmeyer, J; B. Hesle. 2005. Worship in the Spirit of Jesus. Theology, Liturgy, and Songs Without Violence. OH: Cleveland. The Pilgrim Press.
Mack, B. L. 1993. The Lost Gospel. The Book of Q and Christian Origins. NY: New York. HarperSanFrancisco.
Morwood, M. 2003. Praying a New Story. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Patton, K. L. 1967. Services and Songs for the Celebration of Life. New Resource Material. MA: Boston. Beacon Press.
(TEL) Murray, S. E. 2008. Touch the Earth Lightly. New Hymns written between 2003 & 2008. IL: Carol Stream. Hope Publishing.
Seasons of the Spirit/Whole people of God. Curriculum. Canada and Australia.
(SLT) Singing the Living Tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
(SNS2) Stuart, G. 2009. Singing a New Song. Traditional Hymn Tunes with New Century Lyrics. Volume 2. NSW: Toronto. G Stuart.
Vosper, G. 2008. With or Without God. Why the way we live is more important that what we believe. Canada: Toronto. HarperCollins.
Web sites:
Hewitt. UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. < www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>