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

28 February 2010.  Lent 2. (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) 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 struck three times

It is God, in the dawning,
in the renewal,
in the arrival,
in the new day.
The whole earth is full of God's glory.

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

Lighting of the Community candle
A candle is lit

Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
"God is Constant Pursuing love" (Tune: ‘Hyfrydol’ 217 TiS)   14 SNS
As we worship with thanksgiving;
Sense God's presence in each one;
Feel the pulse of wholesome living,
Yes! the vict'ry can be won.
Cautiously we seek God's kingdom;
We approach God's open door;
Prized and precious we are welcome.
Peace in God we need, no more.

God is love and love gives freedom;
Freedom from all fear and guilt.
God is love and love will blossom;
Broken lives can be rebuilt.
Punishment for past wrongdoing
In God's dealings has no place.
Love is constant, keeps pursuing;
We are bound in God's embrace.

God is love and love is gentle;
Love can keep no scores of wrong.
God is love and love is central
When discipleship is strong.
If the kind and good and tender
Are to happen here today;
It will issue from surrender
Of our lives to Jesus' way.  GStuart
Remain standing

Opening sentences
In hope, in longing
All We're glad to come together.
In trust, in community
All We're glad to come together.
In many moods, in many shapes and sizes
All We're glad to come together.
In peace, in joy
All We're glad to come together in this Lenten season. (Nelson-Pallmeyer/wsj)

Prayer of awareness
We pray:
Remind us, O Spirit, that life is worth living.
Remind us, O Creator, that the struggle for justice is worth undertaking.
Remind us, O Mercy, that love and action are one.
Amen.   (Nelson-Pallmeyer/wsj)

Hymn  “Here in the busy city” 166 AOV2
Here in the busy city
now let the church be seen
where lesser gods are worshipped
in money and machine;
where news is but sensation,
the Good News hardly heard
now let the church take action
in living out the word!

In policies and planning
the church be there to speak
to moderate the powerful,
to argue for the weak:
where law must sit in judgement
and love is little known,
there at the crisis centre
the Christ concern be shown.

Where litter chokes the gutter
and people go to waste,
where joblessness is bitter
and living lost its taste
to underlevened people
be proof of rising yeast,
in lives devoid of flavour
be saltiness released!

Here in the busy city
God walks on every street
in generous or greedy,
the honest or the cheat,
and daily we must offer
the good that goes unpriced
with vigour and with vision
the lifestyle of the Christ.  SMurray.
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.

CENTERING

Meditation
"Our true home"
Thich Nhat Hanh. Life prayers/367.

Our true home is in the present moment.
To live in the present moment is a miracle.
The miracle is not to walk on water.
The miracle is to walk on the green Earth in the present moment,
to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.

Peace is all around us -
in the world and in nature –
and within us -
in our bodies and our spirits.

Once we learn to touch this peace,
we will be healed and transformed.
It is not a matter of faith;
it is a matter of practice.

Centering silence
Let us open ourselves to the sacred silence of this place.
(Silence)

In the silence may we be enfolded in the depths of love.
Renewed.
Refreshed.
Restored.

And may we be saturate with unending peace.
(Silence)

Music of reflection

EXPLORING

Readings from our broad religious tradition
Some readings from our broad religious tradition shall now be offered.

Contemporary world:

"Torn shirt"
By Linda Jones. Let justice roll down/75.

Torn shirt, no shoes,
My brother.
Hungry, he touches my heart
and I ache to understand, to see,
to feel, to reach,
to share his life,
his laugh, his dance.
I even drink the coffee that he grows,
And smell the flowers that he picks,
My brother,
Lord,
May his hunger change my heart.

God of compassion,
I see him now,
Torn shirt, no shoes,
My brother.

Our lives meet in the global market,
woven together in the web of trade.

But he's hungry,
he touches my heart
And I ache to understand,
To share his life,
his laugh, his dance.

God of compassion and justice,
May such hunger change my heart.

Gospel:

Luke 13:31-35 (NRSV/adapted)

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you’.

‘Go and tell that fox for me’, Jesus said,
Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I finish my work.

Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day
I must be on my way, because it is impossible
for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
the city that kills the prophets and stones those
who are sent to it!

How often have I desired to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
and you were not willing!

See, your house is left to you.

And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Holy God.’

Contemporary word

Silence for personal reflection

AFFIRMING

Celebration of faith
In response to the word reflected on let us stand
and share together a celebration of faith.
The people stand as they are able

We celebrate our God
All who is not afraid of our minds
with all their questions,
and all their doubting searchings for the truth.

We celebrate our God
All who knows and loves our deepest hearts,
whose compassion is always greater than ours
so that the measure of our kindness
is always less than that of God.

We celebrate our God
All who engages with our souls,
linking us with the mystery of the universe,
the endlessness of eternity,
yet is as close to us in our beings
as a parent with a child. © DMcRae-McMahon (plpm).

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.

CELEBRATING

Lenten hymn  The people stand as they are able, to sing
“May the mystery of God enfold us” (Tune: ‘Marlborough Sounds’)   95 AA
May the mystery of God enfold us,
may the wisdom of God uphold us,
may the fragrance of God be around us,
may the brightness of God surround us,
may the wonder of God renew us,
may the loving of God flow through us,
may the peace of God deeply move us,
may the moving of God bring us peace. JCowley
The people sit

The offerings  Offerings are presented
Let us bring our offerings as a symbol of our ministry in this place and beyond.

The presentation The people stand as the gifts are brought forward
Compassionate God,
may we serve you night and day,
wherever we are, in all we do.
Offerings placed on the table.

With the children
Children gather on the conversation mat

Conversation

"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
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  Eternal Spirit
Source of all that is and ever shall be,
Loving Parent in whom we discern heaven,
May knowledge of your holiness inspire all peoples.

And may your commonwealth of peace and freedom
flourish on earth, until all of humankind
heed your call to justice and compassion.

May we find the bread that we need for today.
And for the hurts we cause one another
may we be forgiven in the same measure
that we forgive.

In times of trial and temptation,
help us to be strong;
When life seems overwhelming,
Help us to endure;
And thus from the yoke of sin deliver us.

May you reign in the power of human love,
Now and forever. (THall)
Amen.

SCATTERING

We give this 'presentness'
Many names which do express
The faith of those with religious creed;
'God', 'Sacred' and 'Divine'
'Love' and 'The one true vine'
Can prompt the caring act and deed.

We recognize these names
Are but only passing frames
For all the pictures we have been taught;
Each image we attempt
Can never be exempt
From all prevailing views and thought.

Words of mission
Let us embrace the wonder of this week
with expectation and imagination...
The candle is extinguished

With faith to face our challenges,
With love that casts out fear,
With hope to trust tomorrow,
We accept this day as the gift it is:
a reason for rejoicing.  GKowalski

Blessing words
Go in courage and celebration!

And may all the faces of the Holy God
be turned towards you in love,
the earth itself speak to you of its creativity,
and who we are, each and all,
be honoured in our authentic journeys.
All Amen.  (DMcRae-McMahon/ith)

Hymn (Cont.)  “Presentness – The Canberra Affirmation” (Tune: ‘Ascalon’, 668D)   27 (v4) SNS2
To this grand mystery,
Our response can only be
Far and beyond what we understand;
For our ability
To search infinity
Can never match such high demand. GStuart
The people sit after the hymn

'This week' at (NN)
Notices
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Significant events
Journeys

Recessional 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.
As one voice2. Uniting God's people in song. NSW: Manly Vale. Willow Connection.
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.  Let justice roll down. A worship resource for lent, holy week & easter. OH: Cleveland. The Pilgrim Press.
Holy Bible. NRSV. 1989. TN: Nashville. Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
McRae-McMahon, D. 2001.  In this hour. Liturgies for pausing. VIC: Thornbury. DesBooks.
McRae-McMahon, D. 2001.  Prayers for life's particular moments. VIC: Thornbury. DesBooks.
Macnab, F. 1996. Hope: The deeper longings of the mind and heart. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Nelson-Pallmeyer, J; B. Hesle. 2005.  Worship in the spirit of Jesus. Theology, liturgy, and songs without violence. OH: Cleveland. The Pilgrim Press.
Roberts, E; E. Amidon. 1996. Life prayers from around the world. 365 prayers, blessings, and affirmations to celebrate the human journey. NY: New York. HarperCollins.
Stuart, G. 2009. Singing a new song. Traditional hymn tunes with new century lyrics. Volume 2. NSW: Toronto. G Stuart.
Stuart, G. 2006. Singing a new song. Traditional hymn tunes with new century lyrics. 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.