Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
12 July 2009. Pentecost 6B. (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
We dare to dream.
We dare to hope…
In a new day – starting today.
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life
in the presentness of God.
(Silence)
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
Hymn "Celebrate a new day dawning" (Tune: 152 TiS, Joyful joyful))
Celebrate a new day dawning,
sunrise of a golden morn;
Christ Sophia dwells among us,
glorious visions now are born,
Equal partners 'round the table,
we make dreams reality;
Calling out our gifts we nurture
hope beyond all we can see.
Christ Sophia lights the pathway
to a world of harmony;
Sister Brother love surrounds us,
nourishing our synergy.
Earth joins in our rich communion,
grateful for our healing care;
Leaping deer and soaring eagles,
all earth's fullness now can share.
Sing a song of jubilation,
dance with joyous revelry,
Clapping trees and laughing rivers
join our call to liberty.
Free at last to blossom fully,
flow'ring forth in beauty bright.
We become a new creation,
bursting open into light. JAldredge-Clanton/ctl
Opening sentences
We have come to celebrate
the God of creation,
the God of justice,
All and the God of profound inspiration
and source of all creativity and living.
Prayer of awareness
We pray:
Creativity God
you have made us one with this earth,
to tend it and bring forth fruit;
may we share in the labour of all creation
to give birth to your hidden glory.
Amen.
Hymn ‘One in love, we meet together’ (Tune: ‘Hyfrydol’ 87 87D. 217(i) TiS)
One in love, we meet together,
one in time, and never apart.
We in flesh as brother, sister,
makes us one in mind and heart.
All incarnate, we would offer,
all we most sincerely prize,
Learning though traditions differ
how they join to make us wise.
One in outlook, always searching,
not to bind in common creed,
As a people, be more ready
to respond to other’s need.
Here we are so finely fashioned,
understanding, here to serve,
Never narrow in compassion,
empathy without reserve.
As in Christ, may we discover
that to give is to receive,
That in God the good is present,
ever, always we perceive.
Not by chance the world’s creation,
not by chance was life begun,
God is love and our vocation
is to love ‘til love has won. (Adapted by Betty Van Till/3C/CCC)
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
"A green heart"
By Kate McIlhagga. The green heart of the snowdrop/100.
Into a dark world
a snowdrop comes,
a benison
of hope and peace,
carrying within it
a green heart,
symbol of God's renewing love.
Come to inhabit our darkness
Lord Christ,
for dark and light
are alike to you.
May nature's white candles of hope
remind us of your birth
and light our journey
through these winter days and beyond.
Silence
In the moment of silence which we now share,
may each speak a personal prayer...
Whether to seek forgiveness
To renew strength to do rightly
To commend a loved one to God
Or to quest for a greater knowledge of the spirit.
Let us gather together in the silence of this place,
which now we make holy
by our every act of celebration. Bob Holmes/adapted
Music
EXPLORING
Readings from broad religious tradition
Two readings from our broad religious tradition shall now be offered.
The world around us:
"Earth praises"
By Mary de La Valette. Earth prayers/398.
I do not have to go
To Sacred Places
In far-off lands.
The ground I stand on
Is holy.
Here, in this little garden
I tend
My pilgrimage ends.
The wild honeybees
The hummingbird moths
The flickering fireflies at dusk
Are a microcosm
Of the Universe.
Each seed that grows
Each spade of soil
Is full of miracles.
And I toil and sweat
And watch and wonder
And am full of love.
Living in place
In this place.
For truth and beauty
Dwell here.
Gospel:
Mark 4: 1-9 (NRSV)
Jesus began to teach beside the sea.
Such a very large crowd gathered around him that
he got into a boat on the sea and sat there,
while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.
He began to teach them many things in parables,
and in his teaching he said to them:
'Listen! A sower went out to sow.
‘And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,
and the birds came and ate it up.
‘Other seed fell on rocky ground,
where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly,
since it had no depth of soil.
And when the sun rose, it was scorched;
and since it had no root, it withered away.
‘Other seed fell among thoms, and the thorns grew up
and choked it, and it yielded no grain.
‘Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain,
growing up and increasing and yielding
thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.’
And he said,
‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
Litany: ‘Web of life’
People stand as they are able
All We create a web of life.
This is finally the time to let go of that crazy notion
that we can live separate and aloof from one another.
All We create a web of life.
This is the time at last
that we can come home to each other,
to our mutual belonging.
All We create a web of life.
And we create a web of life
out of which every single one of us
can use everything our stories have given us.
All We create a web of life.
Every part of our lives... even the cruelty,
even the abuse, even the addictions,
even the loneliness, even the failures...
All We create a web of life.
A web of life is created within
which you can rest in that knowing.
Because out of that you can act.
Out of that, all power is yours.
Out of that, you travel light.
Out of that, you can step forward.
All We create a web of life.
Let every encounter be a homecoming
as we step forward now for the healing of our world.
The world is not going to be saved by good people or noble people.
The world is going to be healed by ordinary people,
like you and me,
who are not afraid of pain and who are not afraid
to love each other. SLammer
The peace
God makes peace within us. Let us claim it.
God makes peace between us. Let us share it (nwi).
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
“Where are the voices” (Tune: ‘Portent’) 75 FFS
Where are the voices for the earth?
Where are the eyes to see her pain,
wasted by our consuming path,
weeping the tears of poisoned rain?
Sacred the soil that hugs the seed,
sacred the silent fall of snow,
sacred the world that God decreed,
water and sun and river flow.
Where shall we run who break this code,
where shall tomorrow's children be,
left with the ruined gifts of God,
death for the creatures, land and sea?
We are the voices for the earth,
we who will care enough to cry,
cherish her beauty, clear her breath,
live that our planet may not die. (SMurray)
Offerings
Our offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond,
shall now be received.
Presentation
Valuing God, help us to find a meaning in life,
a purpose,
a belonging.
Help us to find pleasure in receiving from life
and satisfaction in enriching life (FMacnab/h).
CELEBRATING
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 joy and in sorrow
All We do not walk alone (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 Life-Giver, Pain-Bearer, Love-Maker.
Source of all that is and that shall be.
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo
through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed
by all peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done
by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and forever. Amen. (UIW2)
SCATTERING
Hymn "Let justice roll down" 85 (v1-2) AA
Refrain:
Let justice roll down like a river,
let justice roll down like a sea,
let justice roll down like a river,
let justice begin through me.
Justice for all who go hungry,
crying to God to be fed,
left in a world of abundance
to beg for a morsel of bread.
Justice for those who are homeless,
victims of warfare or need,
trapped on the borders of no-where,
lost in the canyons of greed.
Remain standing
Words of mission
As we prepare to leave this sacred space
where we have worshipped together, let us return to
our work and school enlivened and renewed...
The candle is extinguished
May God the source of all good things, bless us with
All the understanding of friends,
the lessons of experience,
the questionings of seekers,
the wisdom of thinkers, and
the service of helpers, now and always. (HRack/wob)
Blessing words
Let there be peace in your lives as you go from this place;
Let there be peace in the sky and in the atmosphere;
Let there be peace in the plant world and in the forests;
Let all the world be at peace and may we live as if we were one
All Amen! (ILawton.3C/ccc).
Hymn (Cont). "Let justice roll down" 85 (v3) AA
Refrain:
Let justice roll down like a river,
let justice roll down like a sea,
let justice roll down like a river,
let justice begin through me.
Justice for all who are powerless,
yearning for freedom in vain,
plundered, and robbed of their birth-right,
silently bearing their pain. CGibson
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.
Duncan, G. (ed). 2002. Courage to love. An anthology of inclusive worship material. 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.
Duncan, G. (ed). 1995. Dare to dream. A prayer and worship anthology from around the world. GtB: London. Fount/HarperCollins.
Faith forever singing. Songs for a new day. 2000. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Holy Bible. NRSV. 1989. Ten: Nashville. Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
McIlhagga, K. 2004. The green heart of the snowdrop. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Macnab, F. 1996. Hope: The deeper longings of the mind and heart. VIC: Richamond. Spectrum Publications
Roberts, E; E. Amidon. 1991. Earth prayers from around the world. 365 prayers, poems, and invocations for honoring the earth. NY: New York. HarperCollins.
The St Hilda Community. 1996. The new women included. A book of services and prayers. GtB: London. SPCK.
Uniting in Worship 2. 2005. NSW: Sydney. Uniting Church Press.
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/>
Christ Community Church, Spring Lake. MI. <www.christ-community.net/>