Revd Rex A E Hunt
MSc(Hons), GradDipCommMgt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
8 March 2009. Lent 2B. (Purple).
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 gather here to celebrate life's beauty
and find healing for its pain;
to honour our kinship with each other and with the earth;
and to create a more compassionate world,
beginning with ourselves. (Adapt/GKowalski)
So let us celebrate the richness and diversity of this 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
“God gives the song” (Tune: Kingsfold’ 86 86D, 262 TiS) 20 TMT
God gives the song which we shall sing
Of freedom for us all
To leave behind our guilt and fears
And break our narrowness
Refrain:
Come share your tears of joy with me.
Dance like the Autumn leaves;
Life is for loving, joy and fun,
God is the lively one.
God gives the song which we shall sing
Of laughter for us all
Of twinkling eyes replacing frowns
And structures freed by clowns.
Refrain:
God gives the song which we shall sing
Of justice for us all
Of sharing with the hungry poor
What they should own by right. (WWallace)
Refrain:
Remain standing
Opening sentences
There is a time for everything in creation:
Mn a time for light and a time for darkness,
Wn a time for sound and a time for silence,
Mn a time for action and a time for reflection,
Wn a time for others and a time for oneself.
But all these times are God’s time
All and now is the time to be aware. (Adapt. WWallace/htw)
Prayer
We pray:
Spirit of Life and Love, we have gathered
in this sacred place, again.
May we create here a circle of love,
ever expanding,
ever growing.
A place of wisdom.
A place of connection.
A place of hope.
Amen.
Hymn “God who sets us on a journey” (Tune: ‘Canvas’’) 32 FFS
God who sets us on a journey
to discover, dream and grow,
lead us as you led your people
in the desert long ago;
journey inward, journey outward,
stir the spirit, stretch the mind,
love for God and self and neighbour
marks the way that Christ defined.
Exploration brings new insights,
changes, choices we must face;
give us wisdom in deciding,
mindful always of your grace;
should we stumble, lose our bearings,
find it hard to know what's right,
we regain our true direction
focused on the Jesus light.
End our longing for the old days,
grant the vision that we lack –
once we've started on this journey
there can be no turning back;
let us travel light, discarding
excess baggage from our past,
cherish only what's essential,
choosing treasure that will last.
When we set up camp and settle
to avoid love's risk and pain,
you disturb complacent comfort,
pull the tent pegs up again;
keep us travelling in the knowledge
you are always at our side;
give us courage for the journey,
Christ our goal and Christ our guide. JDine
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.
CENTERING
Silence
As we gather let us claim
some stillness,
some silence.
A space and time to wonder…
(Silence)
The curious thing about wonder is that it sets human beings
apart from all other life forms.
Wonder gives us not only the capacity
to enjoy and respect nature, but also
the sense that we are part of a wider world.
Wonder excites us to look beyond immediate survival needs
to broader and far reaching contexts (ILawton/C3CCC)
(Silence)
EXPLORING
Readings from our religious tradition
Two readings from our broad religious tradition shall now be read.
The first is the second in a series we are hearing during Lent,
written by retired Uniting Church minister, Bruce Prewer.
The other is from the storyteller Mark, who's audience
was one of the early Jesus Movement communities.
Our reader is xxx.
In an Australian accent:
"Like a plover"
By Bruce Prewer. Australian prayers/73.
God, tender and strong,
as the plover defends her young
against their enemies,
so defend me
against those anxieties and nameless fears
which are my enemies.
Save me in the hour of trial,
and deliver me from evil.
Under your wings
let me shelter
until faith and courage return...
Gospel:
Mark 8:31-38 (NRSV/adapted)
Jesus began to teach the disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering,
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
He said all this quite openly.
And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him.
But turning and looking at the disciples, Jesus rebuked Peter:
Get behind me, Satan!
For you are setting your mind not on divine things
but on human things.
Jesus called the crowd and the disciples, and said to them,
If any want to become my followers,
let them deny themselves and take up their cross
and follow me.
For those who want to save their life will lose it,
and those who lose their life for my sake,
and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?
Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?
Those who are ashamed of me and of my words...
of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed
when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A litany celebrating community
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand
and share a litany celebrating community.
The people stand as they are able
We gather together in the awe of life
All To celebrate mystery and community
We embrace all with unconditional love and gracious acceptance
All All are welcome; all are valued
Today we celebrate the place of inclusion, unity and the progressive way
All We commit to life, to worthy and essential deeds
and happiness for all
We find a window to the God of many understandings
through the one we call Jesus
All And also seek the insights of other faiths and spiritual leaders
We are a community of open mind and warm heart
All Striving for and living out greater unity and peace in the world
We seek expressions and experiences of God within,
between and beyond thought, word and action
All Together we continue the exciting
unity-filled adventure of humanity (C3CCC web site)
The peace
This is a house of God. A place of peace.
A place where we befriend one another. (Adapt.RMitchell/bb)
Let us greet one another as a sign of God's presence and peace.
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
“Imagination of the heart” (Tune: ’Imagination’, 88 86) 104 RP
Imagination of the heart
will rise on soaring wings of song;
will elevate our bland desires,
transcend our human wrong.
The spirit will inspire, define
the love that gives this passage worth,
the pain we gather on the way,
the trust of love's new birth.
We emulate that wild design,
the flaunting serenade to peace
that brought a saviour to his knees
that brought a thief release.
High-handed love, incarnate hope,
that freed our stony hearts by grace;
we offer praise, it is your due,
from all the human race. (APratt)
Offerings
Our offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond,
shall now be received.
Presentation People stand as gifts are presented
The riches of God's gracious love have been entrusted to us.
May we share the beauty of God
with all who walk with us, in caring service.
People sit
Conversation with the children
"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
Holy God, as you have touched us
All May we now touch others
with your love in us. (Adapt.KGalloway/cw)
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, who cares for us,
The wonder of whose presence fills us with awe.
Let kindness, justice and love shine in our world.
Let your secrets be known here as they are in heaven.
Give us the food and the hope we need for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing
as we forgive the wrongs done to us.
Protect us from pride and from despair
and from the fear and hate which can swallow us up.
In you is truth, meaning, glory and power,
while worlds come and go.
Amen. (MFurlong/nwi)
SCATTERING
Hymn “Proclaim Faith, Hope & Love” (Tune: ‘Carlisle’, 66 86. 234 TiS) 6 SNS
Proclaim the need for faith;
The trust we give to life –
In others and ourselves and God;
In triumph and in strife.
Proclaim the strength of hope;
Like stone foundations laid,
On which we build with confidence,
Continue unafraid.
Words of mission
Let us go in faith to ponder in our hearts
the mystery and the wonder of this season...
The candle is extinguished
If, here, you have found freedom,
All take it with you into the world.
If you have found comfort,
All go and share it with others.
If you have dreamed dreams,
All help one another, that they may come true.
If you have known love and unity,
All give some back to a bruised and hurting world. (LBellamy/C3CCC)
Blessing words
May the freshness of the dawn enliven your spirits
May the rising of the sun enlighten your minds
May the noon-tide of the day warm your hearts
May the sunset clothe us all with restfulness. (WWallace/wb)
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont). “Proclaim Faith, Hope & Love” (Tune: ‘Carlisle’, 66 86. 234 TiS) 6 SNS
Proclaim the gift of love;
Like soft refreshing rain;
It comes unbidden, gen'rously
In pleasure and in pain.
With faith and hope and love –
The three that never cease,
Our life is rich and beautiful;
In God we dwell in peace. (GStuart)
The people sit
'This week' at St James
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:
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.
Duncan, G. (ed). 2003. Harvest for the world. A worship anthology on sharing in the work of creation. GtB: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
Duncan, G. (ed). 2000. A world of blessing. Benedictions from every continent and many cultures. GtB: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
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.
Mitchell, R. C; G. A. Ricciuti. 1992. Birthings and blessings. Liberating worship services for the inclusive church. NY: New York. Crossroads.
Pratt, A. 2006. Reclaiming praise. Hymns from a spiritual journey. GtB: London. Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Prewer, B. D. 1983. Australian prayers. SA: Adelaide. OpenBook Publishers.
Singing the living tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
Stuart, G. 2006. Singing a new song. Traditional hymn tunes with new century lyrics. Second edition. NSW: Sydney. CPRT Sydney.
The St Hilda Community. 1996. The new women included. A book of services and prayers. GtB: London. SPCK.
Wallace, W. L. 2001. The mystery telling. Hymns and songs for the new millennium. NY: Kingston. Selah Publishing.
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/>
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake. MI. <www.christ-community.net/>