Rex A E Hunt

Revd Rex A E Hunt

eMail:  rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site:  www.rexaehuntprogressive.com

LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE

6 December 2009. Advent 2C. (Blue).
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 celebration
The gong is rung three times

v1 The season of Advent challenges us
to see God's vision of what is yet to be,
to hear God's voice calling anew,
to smell the scent of God in our world.

v2 Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.

Music of celebration

THE ADVENT WREATH WITH THE CHILDREN

Advent 2
The winds are scented
with every growing thing;
the jacaranda blossoms,
clothes fit for royalty.
All Come, companion Jesus, walk with us.

v1 Let us prepare a manger in our hearts
for the birth of the sacred.

v3 Why do we light a second candle?

v2 This second candle reminds us of peace.
A second candle is lit.

v4 peace
is the absence of conflict;
or
peace
is a spiritual connection;
or better still
peace is a way of living,
a commitment to something important;

but peace as a wild eyed radical
screaming its way to revolution
isn’t quite the peace
we had in mind...

Is it?

This is why we light a candle for peace.   KHawker

Hymn   “Anna’s Song”   55 IST
Lift this child to the sun,
Raise this child to the sky;
God has come from above,
Come to earth from on high.
Lift this child, lift this child to the sun.

Lay this child on the ground,
One with us, one with earth;
Let God know in his son,
Human clay, human birth.
Lay this child, lay this child on the ground.   © NHabel.
Remain standing. The children depart for Sunday Club.

Opening sentences
Let us acknowledge the
awesome mystery embodied in every person.
All Through us God comes to unique and personal expression.

Let us give thanks
for the abundance of life on this earth.
All Through it we and all people may be nourished.  (MMorwood/adapt)

Prayer of awareness
We pray:
God of time and eternity,
help us realise the significance of these moments together,
that they may open our eyes
to the blessings of the past
and the promise of the future.

Grant us courage for today and tomorrow.
Amen.

Hymn “God of dawn”  (Tune: 'Ivinghoe’, 87 87D.  631 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.  MDobson/mcm

Alternate hymn
“This is the man” (Tune: ‘Stewardship’, 11 10 11 10)
This is the Baptist, unkempt and yet ready,
calling the people to listen and act;
calling them down to the water for washing,
talking of holiness, Godliness, fact.

This is the man who will call to 
fisherman, Pharisee, zealot and priest;
here in the river the sinners will gather,
taking God's blessing and sharing God's peace.

This is the prophet announcing the crisis,
moment for turning for challenge and choice;
quenching of hatred, demanding repentance,
giving a reason to praise and rejoice.

This is the man, in humility pointing
others to one who would soon take his place.
Jesus is coming, the Spirit confirming,
this is my Son who will channel my grace.

Up from the waters the Christ is arising,
up from our slumbering we will rise too;
waking to love and to work every dawning,
each a disciple with Christ's work to do. © Andrew Pratt 1/12/2009
The people sit after the hymn

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.

Reflection

"The Advent spirit"
By Donna Morrison-Reed (Adapted)

Fill your heart like a vessel with the Advent spirit.
Take the time to let your vision clear and your concern deepen.
Allow your heart to overflow with all the authentic gifts
this season of preparation has to offer.

The blessings of Advent preparation
can overflow from each of our hearts,
if we take the time to fill our hearts first...

Let us stop the rush
and allow the spirit of the season to enter our being.

Let us clear our vision and deepen our concern.

Let it move us away from an
isolating concern for self, to a relationship of
love and care and wonder and joy
with all of life around us.

CENTERING

Silence
Let there be a quiet time among us.
(Silence

Here in this time and in this place
is our chance to live like we wish the world would live.

May we find within ourselves
the courage to be who we are.
May we trust one another and know
there are many ways to go through life.

Together we can make possible justice and love.
We are all connected.
We are one body.
(Silence)

EXPLORING

Readings from our religious tradition
Some readings and a reflection from our broad religious tradition shall now be read.
The reader is (NN).

From the mystics:

"Longing for God"
By Mother Teresa. The essential mystics/214.

We all long for heaven where God is,
but we have it in our power to be in heaven with Him
at this very moment.

But being happy with Him now means
Loving as He loves,
Helping as He helps,
Giving as He gives,
Serving as He serves,
Rescuing as He rescues,
Being with Him twenty-four hours,
Touching Him in his distressing disguise.

Hebrew scriptures:

Malachi 1:1a, 3:1-2  (NRSV)

The word of the Lord to Israel...
I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me,
and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple.

The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight - indeed,
he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.

But who can endure the day of his coming,
and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;
he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver...

Gospel:

Luke 3:1-6  (Inclusive Text)

In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar's reign, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea,
Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the lands of Ituraea and Trachonitis,
Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas,
the word of God came to John, son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.

John went through the whole Jordan district
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Isaiah,
'A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for our God,
make straight the paths.
Every valley will be filled in,
every mountain and hill be laid low,
winding ways will be straightened,
and rough roads made smooth.

And all shall see the salvation of God.’

Contemporary word

Contemporary word 2

Silence for personal reflection

AFFIRMING

Clear the way.  An Advent litany
The people stand as they are able

God of surprises you call us
from the narrowness of our traditions
to new ways of being church,
from the captivities of our culture
to creative witness for justice,
from the smallness of our horizons
to the bigness of your vision.
All Clear the way in us, your people,
that we might call others to freedom and renewed faith.

Jesus, wounded healer you call us
from preoccupation with our own histories
and hurts to daily tasks of peacemaking,
from privilege to pilgrimage,
from insularity to inclusive community.
All Clear the way in us, your people,
that we might call others to wholeness and integrity.

Holy, transforming, Spirit you call us
from fear to faithfulness,
from clutter to clarity,
from a desire to control to deeper trust,
from the refusal to love to a readiness to risk.
All Clear the way in us, your people,
that we might all know the beauty and power
and danger of the gospel. JPuls, GCashmore/cw

Hymn of the month
“All over creation” (Tune: ‘Elizabeth’)   3COC
All over creation
joy spills into light,
stars, candles ablaze this Christmas night;
where Jesus is sleeping,
peace kisses the earth,
O that we could know who Mary has brought to birth!

This child will bring freedom,
this child will release
wellsprings of compassion, ways to peace,
this child will bring healing,
this child will inspire
love answering love, and spirit to Spirit's fire.

This child will befriend us,
this child will invite
all children to share his world's delight:
this Christ will confront us
when, children no more,
we plunder our planet, crying from want and war.

Let there be a moment
held, as in one breath,
when all the earth turns away from death,
peace nursing creation,
peace spreading her wing,
O that we could know what Christmas is meant to bring! (SMurray)
The people sit

Reflections and prayers
Care candle
We are people of all ages who enter this space bringing our joys and concerns
Joys and concerns shared

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 the new possibilities of the now

Pastoral
Lord's Prayer
You are invited to pray the Lord's Prayer in your original language,  as that is 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. (B Mack/Q)
Amen.

Presentation  People stand as they are able
The generosity of life is around us.
Even in difficult times
we can discover the spirit of generosity.

May we receive this generosity for our growing enrichment,
and may we give to this generosity
for the world's growing compassion. FMacnab/adapt
People sit

Thanksgiving
Source and Sustainer of life we name God,
present and active from the beginning of time,
we are gathered in your ever presentness.
All And it is right that we give thanks and praise,
and tell our stories of celebration and connectedness.

In time beyond our dreaming
Creativity God hovered over the water
and was revealed in fire and storm and precious law.

Likewise, humanity in this creative likeness evolved on this earth,
along with earth’s minerals and waters,
flowers and fruits,
living creatures of grace and beauty!
All  We offer this our thanks and praise.

Our stories go on to say:
Noah was shown a rainbow,
Moses gained courage to free his people,
in the face of danger Miriam would sing,
Esther found new strength, and
Ruth stayed loyal.
All  We give thanks for women and men
in many different cultures and times who spoke about
our connectedness with each other,
and with all of creation.

In this age and season,
with its TV and shopping and summer sun,
we wait again with expectant hearts
and hopeful spirits,
as we seek your presentness among us.

So we join our celebration
to the adoration of all your people
in heaven and earth, saying:
All Holy, holy, holy, compassionate God,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
All Hosanna in the highest.

Breaking of bread/Pouring of wine
Long ago, Jesus came in the humble birth of a child,
a child of amazing and divine love,
a child of Mary's 'yes' to you,
a child of Joseph's acceptance,
a child of our humanity.
All We pledge ourselves to be embodiments
of the dream he dreamed.

Long ago, Jesus took bread,
gave thanks, broke it and said:
v2 'This bread is broken, as my body will be'.

And he handed it to his friends,
and invited them to eat, saying:
v2 'Remember all that I have been to you'.

Long ago, Jesus poured a cup of wine,
offered thanks for it,
gave it to his friends and said,
v2 'This wine is poured out as my life will be poured out.
As you drink give thanks for all I have given'.

Loving God, it is through your goodness
we have this bread and wine to offer...
bread, that was once scattered as grain in a paddock
and gathered together and baked into a loaf;
wine, that was once grapes grown on a hillside
and gathered together and pressed into juice.

May this gathering of your community of faith be comforted.
All May people see in us the courage and the generosity
that characterised Jesus' life.

Communion
Served at the front by intinction

Come, for all is now ready.

After communion
We are one with the mystery and Source and Sustainer of all that exists.

We rejoice in our human capacity
to wonder and marvel,
to appreciate,
to rejoice,
and to give thanks.

SCATTERING

Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing

"When the summer sun is shining" (Tune: 'All for Jesus', 87 87. 413 TiS)    66 SLT
When the summer sun is shining
over golden land and sea,
and the flowers in the hedge-row
welcome butterfly and bee,
then my open heart is glowing,
full of warmth for every one,
and I feel an inner beauty
which reflects the summer sun.

When the summer clouds of thunder
bring the long awaited rain,
and the thirsty soil is moistened
and the grass is green again;
then I long for summer sunshine,
but I know that clouds and tears
are a part of life's refreshment,
like the rainbow's hopes and fears.

Words of mission
May we go forth
in the certainty of faith,
in the knowledge of love,
and in the vision of hope.
All And in our going, may we be blessed
with all good things on this day and forever more.  HBabcock

Blessing words
Go into this week,
held together by the love of God
clothed with the nature of Jesus our Companion
reinforced by the strength of the Holy Spirit.
All Amen.

Hymn (Cont.)  "When the summer sun …”" (Tune: 'All for Jesus', 87 87. 413 TiS    66 SLT
In the cool of summer evening,
when the dancing insects play,
and in garden, street, and meadow
linger echoes of the day;
then my heart is full of yearning;
hopes and mem'ries flood the whole
of my being, reaching inwards
to the corners of my soul.  SHKnight
The people sit after the hymn

'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:
Carol our christmas. A book of New Zealand carols. 1996. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Dobson, M. 2004.  Multi-coloured maze. Drama, hymns, prayers and poems for worship and everyday living. GtB: London. Stainer & Bell.
Harvey, A. (ed). 1996. The essential mystics. NY: New York. HarperSanFrancisco.
Holy Bible. NRSV. 1989. TN: Nashville. Thomas Nelson Publishers.
In spirit and in truth. A worship book. 1991. Switzerland: Geneva. World Council of Churches. Seventh Assembly.
Inclusive readings. Year C. 2006. QLD: Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation.
Mack, B. L. 1993. The lost gospel. The book of Q and christian origins. NY: New York. HarperSanFrancisco.
Macnab, F. 1996. Hope: The deeper longings of the mind and heart. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Morwood, M. 2003. Praying a new story. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Singing the living tradition. 1993.  MA: Boston. UUA.
Ward, H.; J. Wild, J Morley. (ed). 1995. Celebrating women. New edition. GtB: London. SPCK.

Web sites:
Babcock. UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. http://uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/index.php
Kathy Hawker. Outside the box. <liturgyoutside.net/AdventCandleOutside.html>
Andrew Pratt UK. eMail distribution.