Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
25 October 2009. Pentecost 21B. (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 the celebration
The gong is sounded three times
Morning has come.
Night is away.
Rise with the sun and welcome the day.
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life
in the presentness of God.
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
Hymn The people stand, as they are able, to sing
“We look in wonder” (Tune: ‘Lasst uns erfreuen’, 88 88+. 3 AHB) 5 SNS
When we, in wonder, look beyond;
And with the cosmos feel a bond;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
When we, in wonder, sleep and dream;
Imagine virtue is supreme;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
When we, in wonder, look around;
Entranced with every sight and sound;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
When we, in wonder, catch a smile;
Ponder on thoughts that are worthwhile;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
When we, in wonder, look below;
Watch tiny ants run to and fro;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
When we, in wonder, greet the dawn,
Enchanted as each day is born;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
When we, in wonder, meet the night;
Then rest in God 'till morning light;
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
When we, in wonder, look about;
Know God is here. We wish to shout
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! (GStuart)
Remain standing
Opening sentences
God of all time, God of eternity
All our years belong to you.
Our endings are often your beginnings.
All Our dreamings are often your realities.
You affirm our past
All and give life to our future.
Prayer of awareness
We pray:
This day let us give thanks for the signs of Creativity God
that surround us and bless us.
Amen.
Hymn "Whispers rippled through the cosmos" (Tune: 'Nettleton', 87 87. 372 TiS)
Whispers rippled through the cosmos,
pan-galactic breath of God;
marking paths of whirling planets,
stellar strings where stars first trod.
Major chords of constellations
ringing on the staves of time,
soften to a sombre minor,
echoes of an ancient rhyme.
God is in this wild confusion
bringing order, giving grace;
author, ground of all creation,
fount of being, Lord of space.
All transcendent power and glory
now distilled, condensed, confined;
shaped while shaping rich resources
cradling waiting humankind. © APratt
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
Reflection
"When life is messy"
By Richard S Gilbert/edited.
It is easy to pray when the sun shines
and we are grateful for another glorious day of being.
It is hard to pray when wind and rain and thunder
plague our every step and spoil our every plan.
It is easy to be virtuous when life goes well
and our existence is a journey from bliss to beauty and back.
It is hard to be virtuous when life assaults us
and our very being is a pilgrimage from bad to worse to worst.
It is easy to be cheerful when health bursts in us
so that we can feel the very pulse of life.
It is hard to be happy when pain and fatigue beset us
and we wonder if we can go on...
God of order and neatness, we give thanks for all that is good.
We are grateful for manifold blessings bestowed upon us.
God of chaos and disorder, be with us also when life is messy.
Bless our coming in and our going out from this day forth.
Silence
In these quieter moments, may optimism's glow
creep in and pervade our spirits.
May hope and new possibilities begin to grow.
(Silence)
Spring flourishes with abundance and warmth.
The litany of flowers take center stage, blooming,
as nature continues to emerge from Winter sleep.
May we too celebrate the now and who we are.
And whom we are yet becoming.
(Silence)
In honour of life itself and with this people
we gather together in this sacred place
(Silence)
Music of reflection
EXPLORING
Readings from our religious tradition
Some readings from our broad religious tradition
shall now be offered.
Responsive psalm:
Psalm 34.
A 21st century exploration by Francis Macnab. A fine wind is blowing/16-17.
• The psalmist's psychology is starkly stated: What we believe about life makes a huge difference to us. He highlights the importance of having a meaning and purpose.
Above all, he says, keep looking for signs of God's presence.
We all want to embrace the great delights of life.
We all want to have a long life and enjoy all good things.
But we are constantly aware of how easily
our best endeavours can be undermined,
and our spirits can be swept into misery.
My experience has shown me there are ways to survive things
and get through our anxieties
and find a worthwhile joy.
What we believe about life makes a huge difference to us.
We know that if we believe in a presence
that is good and supportive,
in a God who leads us to be positive,
then we can be in touch with a strength that helps us
through our misfortunes
and gives us hope
despite the inevitabilities of our mortality.
We know that life can leave many people feeling
there is no meaning and there is no purpose in it all.
But we are able to find meaning and purpose
as we seek peace and pursue it;
as we consider how we will speak to each other,
and how we will put controls on our destructiveness...
I commend this to you:
Find the freedom to turn your thoughts
to searching for signs of God's presence.
When you see those signs, be glad.
Look to that eternal goodness and let it permeate
your whole being,
your whole life.
Yes - 'Taste and see the goodness of God'.
You will be much happier as you learn
what these words can mean.
Though we cannot fully understand the mystery of life
and the mystery of God,
just a taste will show us the high value of goodness
which is at the heart of everything.
Gospel:
Mark 10:46-52 (Inclusive Text)
As Jesus left Jericho with the disciples and a large crowd,
Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus),
a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road.
When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to shout out and to say,
'Descendant of David, Jesus, have pity on me.'
And many of them scolded him and told him to be quiet,
but Bartimaeus only shouted all the louder,
'Descendant of David, have pity on me!'
'Courage,' they said, get up; Jesus is calling you.'
So throwing off his cloak, Bartimaeus jumped up
and went to Jesus.
Then Jesus spoke,
'What do you want me to do for you?'
'Rabbuni,' the blind man said, 'Let me see again.'
Jesus said, 'Go; your faith has saved you.'
And immediately his sight returned
and Bartimaeus followed him along the road.
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
Litany: Spirit of life...
The people stand as they are able
Out of the ordinariness of the bare earth,
you brought the extra ordinariness of human life
All Your spirit lives within us, O God.
In the ordinariness of the bare earth
we plant grain from last year's harvest
All Your spirit lives within us, O God.
Out of the ordinariness of water
comes the life of the seed
All Your spirit lives within the water, O God.
In human life and in the life of the seed
lies the life of this community
All Your spirit lives within this community, O God.
From the life of God
comes creation and recreation
All Your spirit lives within creation, O God.
Out of the heart of God
comes peace and hope
All Your spirit lives within us, O God. (PWyley/grpe)
The peace
God makes peace within us. Let us claim it.
God makes peace between us. Let us share it.
Let us greet another as a sign of God's 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 The people stand, as they are able, to sing
“Christ is our peace” (Tune: ‘Suantrai’) 16 AA
Christ is our peace, Christ is our health,
he the true Word, his the true wealth –
gifts to be shared by the simple and poor:
peace in your land, peace at your door.
Peace in your mouth, peace in the hands
open to truth, to love's demands;
those who would go with Christ also must bleed -
bright is the flower, burst is the seed.
Who work for peace find the true wealth,
who heal the hurt find their own health
peace will flow on through the hearts that believe:
this may we know, thus may we live (SMurray).
The people sit
CELEBRATING
Offerings
Our offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond,
shall now be received.
Presentation People stand, as they are able, as the gifts are presented
We give thanks for all we have, for all we are.
And we give thanks for the privilege we have
of responding generosity to others
with these gifts and with our lives.
The 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
In this abundant blessing
All We share the joy.
In this, our time of need,
All May love abound (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 O God, you love us like a good parent,
and are present in every aspect of our existence
May your nature become known and respected by all
May your joy, peace, wholeness and justice
be the reality for everyone
as we live by the Jesus Way
Give us all that we really need to live every day for you
And forgive us our failures as we forgive others for their failures
Keep us from doing those things which are not of you,
and cause us always to be centred on your love
For you are the true reality in this our now,
and in all our future.
In the Jesus Way we pray. (DSorril)
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand, as they are able, to sing
“God of dawn” (Tune: ‘Abbot’s Leigh, 87 87D, 153 TiS)
God of dawn, each day’s renewal
brings the world into your light.
As your sun defeats the shadows,
drives away the darkest night:
we would greet this new beginning
as your call to start again,
lead us on with hope and courage,
make your will and purpose plain.
Christ, you walked the world as we do,
knew its human pain and loss.
As your love broke through the barriers
by your death upon the cross;
we still speak your gospel message,
though two thousand years have gone.
Help us now translate its meaning
in this present world of wrong.
Holy Spirit, inspiration,
light and truth and root of prayer,
as your challenge moves us forward
taking us we know not where:
we will follow your direction,
though the way may not be clear.
Shape us, change, recreate us,
so the future holds no fear.
Remain standing
Words of mission
Time has now come for us to leave this sacred place.
As we do, may we embrace the challenges
of our lives and our world...
The candle is extinguished
Flame-dancing spirit, come
All sweep us off our feet and
dance us through our days.
Surprise us with your rhythms,
All dare us to try new steps, explore new patterns
and new adventures.
And in the intervals, rest us
All in your still centre ALewin-adapted/wb.
Blessing words
May the love that gives to life its beauty
The reverence that gives to life its sacredness
And the purposes that give to life its deep significance,
be strong within each of us and lead us
into ever deepening relationships with all of life GGBrooks.
All Amen!
Hymn (Cont). “God of dawn” (Tune: ‘Abbot’s Leigh, 87 87D, 153 TiS)
Praise to God, who spoke creation,
giving life to time and space.
Praise to Christ, whose living presence
showed the world your human face.
Praise the Spirit, daily witness
to you ever-loving way.
Take us now and reawake us,
challenge us to use this day. MDobson/mcm
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:
Alleluia Aotearoa. Hymns and songs for all churches. 1993. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
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.
Dobson, M. 2004. Multi-coloured maze. Drama, hymns, prayers and poems for worship and everyday living. GtB: London. Stainer & Bell.
Duncan, G. (ed). 2000. A world of blessing. Benedictions from every continent and many cultures. GtB: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
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.
Liebelt, P; N. Nicholls. (ed). 1996. Gentle rain on parched earth. Worship resources for rural situations. VIC: Melbourne. JBCE.
Macnab, F. 2006. A fine wind is blowing: Psalms of the bible in words that blow you away. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
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.
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/>
Andrew Pratt eMail distribution. UK.