Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
7 June 2009. Trinity B/All Heretics Day. (White).
Celebrating community: Sacrament of Holy Communion
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
Blessed is our God always, now and for ever
and to the ages of ages.
All Amen.
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of this God.
(Silence)
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
Hymn “Lithe spirit you’re bounding and leaping” (Tune: 9 8 11 8) 85 WNC
Lithe spirit you’re bounding and leaping,
stars shimmer and flash from your heels,
until the whole world burns with pardon and praise,
until the lost know how love feels.
O harlequin dazzle by dancing,
let joy spring like sparks from a flame,
until every person consumed by your love
comes blithely to join in your game.
Come juggler, spinning and turning
our chances and dreams like a top,
until all our values are turned upside down
whirl on through the world, never stop. APratt
Opening sentences
God beyond all names and images,
All we worship you in faith.
God in the Christ with human face
All we worship you in truth.
God who moves, draws, forms and enlightens our life,
All we worship you in Spirit.
God in relationship.
God the beginning and God the end,
you are our God. (Adapt/Pitt St. Uniting/eoj)
Prayer of awareness
We pray:
Source of Life and Love we name God
in you we live and move and have our being.
Jesus, Companion and Liberator,
with you we walk the way of love.
Empowering and Imaginative Spirit,
through you we are made one.
God, trinity of love, we seek you in the dance of life.
We embrace your love.
We would dance.
This is the meaning of the resurrection, that we can dance.
Alleluia. (Adapt.KGalloway/cw)
Amen.
Hymn “O threefold God” (Tune: Unity) 110 AA
O threefold God of tender unity,
life’s great unknown that binds and sets us free:
felt in our loving, greater than our thought,
you are the mystery found, the mystery sought.
O blaze of radiance, source of light that blinds,
the fiery splendour of prophetic minds,
you live in mystery, yet within us dwell;
life springs from you as from a living well.
Most loving Parent, Child of joys and pains,
creative Spirit, life-force that sustains,
in bone and flesh, in blood we touch your hand,
your face we see in water, air and land.
In every making, each creative dream
and in the flowing of life’s healing stream,
when love is born or people reconciled,
we share your life, O Parent, Spirit, Child.
O threefold God of tender unity,
life’s great unknown that binds and sets us free:
felt in our loving, greater than our thought,
you are the mystery found, the mystery sought. WWallace
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
Meditation
"Welcome stranger!"
By Susan Hardwick. Entertaining angels/3.
Welcome, Stranger!
Place your palm
against my own.
Let us interlace
our fingers.
Then together
we will weave
the threads of our lives
into a wondrous vision;
a bright new
tapestry of dreams,
of times to come.
Silence
In this quiet hour may our spirits be renewed.
In this gathering of old and new friends
may we be ready to extend ourselves to those in need,
and with trust, to receive the hand that is offered.
In this time of worship and celebration,
may our minds be open to new truth,
and our hearts be receptive to love,
as we give thanks for this life we are blessed to share. GKowalski
(Silence)
Music
EXPLORING
Readings from broad religious tradition
Two readings from our broad religious tradition shall now be offered.
They will be read by (NN).
The world around us:
"Perspective"
By Bruce Prewer. Seeing Christ in others/247-48.
The Spirit knitted
my frayed hopes
and in a moment
set me on a high
but lowly place.
I saw the whole majesty
of the human story
unfolding before me,
from the first wanderings
to Mother Teresa's smile.
Abraham and Sarah passed by,
Nefertiti flowered and died,
Homer recited his verse,
Rome marched triumphant,
and Light exploded in Bethlehem.
John wrote his gospel,
Francis and Clare led the poor,
Leonardo painted Mona Lisa,
Mozart eavesdropped on heaven,
Einstein deciphered a mystery.
In one moment of sight
I beheld your glory,
the unlikely splendour
shining wondrously
from one small planet’s dust.
Yet it was all contained
easily in one drop of dew
on one needle of one sheoak,
caught briefly in the light
of the rising sun.
Gospel:
John 3:1-9: (NRSV)
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
He came to Jesus by night and said,
'Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God;
for no one can do these signs that you do
apart from the presence of God.'
Jesus answered,
'Truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God
without being born from above.'
'But how can anyone be born after having grown old?' Nicodemus said...
'Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?'
Jesus answered,
'Truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God
without being born of water and Spirit.
What is born of the flesh is flesh,
and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
'Do not be astonished that I said to you,
You must be born from above.
'The wind blows where it chooses,
and you hear the sound of it,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.
'So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.'
Nicodemus said to Jesus,
'How can these things be...?'
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
Litany in praise of the Trinity
The people stand as they are able
Worthy of praise from every mouth,
All worthy of confession from every tongue,
worthy of worship from every creature,
All is your glorious name, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
For you created the world in your grace,
All and by your compassion you saved the world.
To your majesty, O God,
ten thousand times ten thousand bow down and adore,
All singing and praising without ceasing, and saying:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts;
All heaven and earth are full of your praises.
Hosanna in the highest. Nestorian Liturgy, 5th Century/UIW
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
“Colour and fragrance” (Tune: ‘O Barvy Vune’, 55, 55, 11, 11) 78 SLT
Colour and fragrance, magical rhythm,
sweet changing music will change us with them:
life within life, inner light gently glowing,
surely you seem to be God’s vision growing.
O starry heavens, worlds of all splendour,
suns without number, new life engender:
wheel in a wheel with the light brightly glowing,
moving in harmony, God’s vision growing.
Handful of pebbles, high mountain passes,
depths of the ocean, dew on the grasses:
great things and small, with the light gently glowing,
word of the wordless song, God’s vision growing.
Delicate beings, lace-wing and sparrow
in field and forest, clover and yarrow:
life greeting life with the light brightly glowing,
none are too small to be God’s vision growing.
In human eyes burns the soul of living,
illumines altars of loving giving:
greeting, we meet, seeing light brightly glowing,
share in a greater life, God’s vision growing.
Shaper of all things, to us you’ve given
our chance to keep here on earth, a heaven.
Moving in harmony, light gently glowing,
may we be, gratefully, God’s vision growing. (NFCapek/GUlp)
CELEBRATING
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
As one heart is lifted
All May we share its celebration
As one heart is burdened
All May we share the pain it knows (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)
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)
Offerings
Our offerings for the celebration of life in this place and beyond,
and our gifts of bread and wine, shall now be received.
Presentation
Eternal Presence of God
expand and enhance our lives.
Let our gratitude for life be expressed in our generosity.
Let our faith be expressed in good causes.
Let our belief in the future find full expression
in our daily attitude of mind. FMacnab/fwb-adapt
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Welcome to the Table
At this table we give thanks for
justice, love, peace and freedom.
Mn At this table we give thanks for friends and strangers
together in community in this safe place.
Wm At this table we welcome old and young.
v2 A place at the table. And all are invited.
Thanksgiving
We give thanks for the unfolding of matter,
mind,
intelligence,
and life
that has brought us to this moment in time.
All We celebrate our common origin with everything that exists.
v1 We celebrate the mystery we experience and address as ‘God’.
ground and sustainer of everything that exists,
in whom we live and move and have our being.
v2 And we acknowledge this mystery embodied
in every human person,
aware that each one of us gives God
unique and personal expression.
All God is everywhere present.
In grace-filled moments of sharing.
In carefully created communities of loving solidarity.
We are one with everything, living and nonliving, on this planet.
Connected.
Interrelated.
Interdependent.
The story
We remember the stories from our tradition...
How on many occasions Jesus would share a meal with friends.
Bread and wine shared in community.
v2 For everyone born, a place at the table...
How the bread would be taken,
a blessing offered, and then shared between them.
And all of them ate.
How some wine would be poured out,
a blessing offered, and then passed between them.
And all of them drank.
v2 May the passion for life as seen in Jesus,
and in the lives and struggles of many other
committed and faithful people then and now,
enable us to dare and to dream and to risk...
All Together may we re-imagine the world.
Together may we work to make all things new.
All Together may we celebrate the possibilities and hope
we each have and are called to share.
v1 For everyone born, a place at the table...
Bread and Wine
Bread is broken several times
We break the bread for the broken earth,
ravaged and plundered for greed.
All May there be healing of our beautiful blue and green planet.
We break this bread for our broken humanity,
for the powerful and the powerless
trapped by exploitation and oppression.
All May there be the healing of humanity.
We break this bread for those who follow other paths:
for those who follow the noble path of the Buddha,
the yogic path of the Hindus;
the way of the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs;
and for the children of Abraham and Sarah,
the Jews, and the Muslims.
All May there be healing where there is pain and woundedness.
We break this bread
for the unhealed hurts and wounds
that lie within us all.
All May we be healed.
Wine is poured into the cup.
This is the cup of peace and of new life for all.
A sign of love for the community of hope.
All A reminder of the call to live fully,
to love wastefully, and
to be all that we can be.
Communion
To eat and drink together reminds us
of the deeper aspects of human fellowship,
for from time immemorial
the sharing of bread and wine
has been the most universal of all symbols of community.
The bread and wine will be served
After Communion
Divine Presence in all of life,
we give thanks that we have gathered together
in this sacred place.
All We rejoice in the giftedness of each person here.
We are grateful for who we are for each other.
May we continue to be truly thankful
in all we do and in all we become.
SCATTERING
Hymn “God of unexplored tomorrows” (Tune: ‘Marching’, 87 87. 165 TiS) 27 FFS
God of unexplored tomorrows,
of today and yesterday,
God of rock and flowing river,
be our refuge, be our way.
Guardian rock above, before us,
strong foundation where we build,
landmark through the haze of doubting,
shelter where our fears are stilled,
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
Now may our wisdom show itself in deeds of compassion
and in acts of understanding.
All May the fruits of the spirit
be apparent in our lives (Adapt.PR Giles)
Blessing words
The blessing of the God of Sarah
and Hagar, as of Abraham…
The blessing of the Son,
born of the woman Mary…
The blessing of the Holy Spirit
who broods over us
as a mother, her children,
be with you all. LWilson/cw
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont). “God of unexplored tomorrows” (Tune: 165 TiS) 27 FFS
Be the cleansing, quenching water,
irrigate, disturb and move,
stir us from our easy shallows,
current of refreshing love.
God of rock and flowing river
now and ever with us stand,
to transform our land of promise
into each one's promised land. BJones
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). 2005. Entertaining angels. A worship anthology on sharing Christ’s hospitality. GtB: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
Duncan, G. (ed). 1998. Seeing christ in others. An anthology for worship, mediation and mission. GtB: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
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.
Macnab, F. 2006. A fine wind is blowing: Psalms of the bible in words that blow you away. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
McRae-McMahon, D. 1993. Echoes of our journey. Liturgies of the people. VIC: Melbourne. JBCE.
Pratt, A. 2002. Whatever name or creed. Hymns and songs. GtB: London. Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Singing the living tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
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.
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/>
The Communion liturgy:
Shaped from resources created by and adapted from: Carter Heyward, L Bruce Miller, Michael Morwood, Shirley Murray, David Bumbaugh, John S Spong, Rex Hunt, the Iona Community.