The Uniting Church of St James
Curtin, ACT
Minister-in-Placement: Revd Rex A E Hunt, MSc(Hons), GradDipCommMgt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
4 March 2007. Lent 2. (Purple).
10.30am. Contemporary liturgical worship
Celebrating community: Sacrament of Holy Communion
Acknowledgement of land
(An act towards reconciliation by the Church of St James, Curtin.)
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 Ngunnawal People and their stewardship
of this land throughout the ages.
St James 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 SNS2
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. George Stuart
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 solidarity with those who struggle
All We're glad to come together.
In resistance to those who dominate
All We're glad to come together.
In memory of Jesus, who lived with compassion
All We're glad to come together.
In assurance that we belong here
All We're glad to come together
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. Shirley Murray.
People sit after the hymn
Welcome
In your own words
A warm welcome is extended to all.
Especially those who are worshipping at St James
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.
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 religious tradition
Some readings from our broad religious tradition
shall now be offered.
Our reader is Alison Lapidge.
Contemporary world:
"Torn shirt"
By Linda Jones. Let justice roll down/75.
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 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.
© Dorothy McRae-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
Hymn of the Month 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. Joy Cowley
The people sit
The offering Offerings are presented
Let us bring our offerings as a symbol of our ministry
in this place and beyond, and our gifts of bread and wine.
The presentation The people stand as the gifts are brought forward
We pray:
Compassionate God,
may we serve you night and day,
wherever we are, in all we do.
Amen.
Offerings/bread and wine 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)
Care candle
Joys and concerns
The Care candle is lit
Prayers
Pastoral
Lord's Prayer
You are invited to pray the Lord's Prayer in your original language, as that is 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 echoes 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)
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Invitation
Friends
we are about to share in the sacred story
and celebrate the feast of the resurrection.
But we have also been reminded
that when we gather around the Table
if our sister or brother has anything against us,
we must leave our gifts of bread and wine
and first cleanse our hands for the giving.
Let us then pray that a clean heart be created in us.
Discernment
Loving and caring God,
you have searched us out and known us,
all that we are is open to you.
(Pause)
Look not upon our sin but upon our faith.
Break down all barriers which we erect against your love.
Cover us with the blanket of your peace.
And let your justice reach to the ends of the earth.
All So that we come glad to this celebration.
When our prayers are as dry as a concrete block,
and our spirits like spinifex
All Drench us with a downpour of mercy!
When we take things for granted and gratitude goes to sleep
All Put a new song on our tongues.
When life's abrasive pressures fray us,
loosening our hold on life around us
All Tell us again about the changing colours of late Summer,
and cockatoos, and a God
who loves and seeks after us.
Silence
O God...
All O God, bring new life,
where we are worn and tired;
new love, where we have turned hard hearted;
forgiveness, where we have wounded,
and the joy and freedom of your holy spirit,
where we are the prisoners of our selves.
Thanksgiving
In time beyond our dreaming
you hovered over the water
revealing yourself in fire and storm and precious law.
You created humanity in your likeness,
and placed us on this earth,
with its minerals and waters,
flowers and fruits,
living creatures of grace and beauty!
You showed Noah a rainbow;
you gave strength to Moses to free his people,
and taught Miriam to sing;
you gave courage to Esther
and loyalty to Ruth.
We praise you, O God.
All We praise you, O God.
In the 40 days of Lent,
we remember the love you made manifest in the
birth, life, and death of Jesus of Nazareth.
In his healing acts and radical teachings
we recall the words he spoke
to call forth love, care and respect
for one another.
And so, with Elizabeth who prophesied your birth,
Martha who confessed you as the Promised One,
and James and John who sought to follow in your way,
we offer our praise and thanks:
All Holy, holy, holy, vulnerable 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 our tradition says, Jesus took bread,
and after offering a blessing, broke it:
v2 'This bread is broken, as my body will be'.
He handed it to his friends,
and invited them to eat:
v2 'Remember all that I have been to you'.
Long ago our tradition also says,
Jesus poured a cup of wine,
and after offering a blessing, gave it to his friends,
v2 'This wine is poured out, as my life will be.
As you drink give thanks for all I have given'.
Bread... the very stuff of life, in which is gathered up
warm sun, rich Australian earth, gentle rain,
human labour and knowledge and skill.
Wine... fruit of the vine,
nurtured, tended, harvested,
and pressed out for us to drink.
Communion
Let us share this bread and wine in community,
knowing that our lives are forever changed
by this and every breaking of bread.
Bread/juice served in small groups around the Table
After communion
Life affirming God,
may the feast shared together,
strengthen us
in our witness to the world.
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Praise the God…” (Tune: Boe, 85 85 + Refrain) 178 (v1-2) TiS
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. Gary Kowalski
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. (Dorothy McRae-McMahon/ith)
Hymn (Cont.) “Praise the God…” (Tune: Boe, 85 85 + Refrain) 178 (3-4) TiS
The people sit after the hymn
'This week' at St James
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.
The contemporary hymns used in this liturgy,
in addition to those from Together in Song,
are reproduced with permission under license #A1197.
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.
Burgess, R. 2001. A book of blessings. Scotland: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
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. Ten: Nashville. Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book. Scotland: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Lee, B. J. (ed). 1987. Alternative futures for worship. Vol 3. The eucharist. MIN: Collegeville. The Liturgical press.
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.
Morely, J. 1992. All desires known. Expanded edition. Gt. Britain: London. SPCK.
Nelson-Pallmeyer, J; B. Hesle. 2005. Worship in the spirit of Jesus. Theology, liturgy, and songs without violence. OH: Cleveland. The Pilgrim Press.
Prewer, B. D. 1983. Australian prayers. SA: Adelaide. OpenBook Publishers.
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. 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. Gt. Britain: London. SPCK.
Together in song. Australian hymn book 2. 1999. NSW: Sydney. HarperCollins Religious.
Uniting in Worship 2. Leader’s Book. 2006. VIC: Melbourne. HarperCollins.
Withrow, L. 1995. Seasons of prayer. Resources for worship. Gt. Britain: London. SPCK.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA.
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