Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
28 March 2010. Palm Sunday C/Earth Day. (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
Silence
LITURGY OF THE BRANCHES
Introduction
For the past five weeks of the Season of Lent
we have been on a journey
remembering the story of Jesus' journey.
Now we’re one week from the season called Easter!
Today is what has traditionally been called 'Palm Sunday'.
But you won’t hear about ’palms’ in this story from Luke.
That’s in the story as told by John.
And Mark and Matthew mention only ‘leafy branches'.
Anyway… This is the day on which, our tradition tells us,
Jesus entered Jerusalem, and just days before his death.
So I invite you to reflect on some of the feelings
associated with Holy Week.
(Pause)
Hymn In solidarity with those for whom standing is not easy or possible we will remain seated to sing...
“Palm Sunday” (Tune: “Ellacombe 2’, 86 86D. 453 TiS)
The day of palms is come again,
day of triumphant praise,
when crowds excited ran to sing
the song the psalmist raised.
‘Blessed the one who comes,’ they cry,
‘to set his people free.’
Gladly we join our song with theirs
who yearn for liberty.
How soon the gladness disappears
and darkness stalks the streets!
The king who rides a donkey’s foal
with coats beneath its feet
will soon a crown of thorns endure,
a throne of rough-hewn wood.
A day of agony draws near
when evil strikes at good.
‘Hosanna!’ turns to ‘Crucify!’;
rejoicing turns to scorn.
If this were all there were to tell,
how deeply we should mourn.
Yet death is not the final step
that Christ our Saviour trod.
Onward he marches, leading home
the world he won for God. © PSheppy 2007
Let’s imagine we to have come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
The gospel
Luke 19:28-40 (NRSV/adapted)
Jesus went on ahead of the disciples, heading towards Jerusalem.
As they were approaching Bethphage and Bethany,
at the place called the Mount of Olives,
Jesus sent two of the disciples on ahead, saying,
‘Go into the village ahead of you,
and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt
that has never been ridden.
‘Untie it and bring it here.
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say,
‘The Lord needs it.’
So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them.
As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them,
‘Why are you untying the colt?’
‘The Lord needs it’, they replied.
Then the disciples brought the colt to Jesus;
and after throwing their cloaks on the colt’s back,
they set Jesus on it.
As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.
As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives,
all the disciples began to praise God enthusiastically
for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus,
‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’
Jesus answered,
‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’
Silence
The gong is sounded
Reflection 1
Jesus dared to live God’s way
in the midst of all the 'ups' and 'downs' of life.
We too are called to proclaim our faith faithfully
by the way we live, and treat one another.
Silence
The gong is sounded a second time
Reflection 2
Jesus wanted his disciples to live passionate,
justice seeking, God centred lives.
Silence
The gong is sounded a third time
Reflection 3
Jesus, as human face of God, shared his life
that others might sense the new signs of hope
in their everyday lives.
Silence
The gong is sounded a fourth time
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
The light waits –
Who will keep the light burning in our day?
Who will take the light into the world?
Who will carry the light into a new year?
All Who will carry the light in this our city,
if we do not?
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 The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Here in the busy city” (Tune: 76 76) 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
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
Letting go meditation
Take some deep slow breaths and relax.
Begin to let go of the tensions in your body.
Feel the pressure and busyness slipping away.
As you draw breath think of how your body is using oxygen:
It is being carried to every part of your body…
Feel the life it brings.
As you exhale, you breathe out carbon dioxide
which you don’t need.
Trees and plants take this is.
They then produce oxygen which sustains you.
You are an integral part of God’s creation. (JBaker/aw)
(Silence)
Music of reflection for Earth Day
“God of the galaxies” 54 AA
Two verses will be played softly during the silence.
Following the chord, the congregation will then sing the following verse.
Life is a holy thing, life is a whole,
linking each creature and blessing us all,
making connections of body and soul.
Let us care for your garden
and honour the earth. SMurray
EXPLORING
Readings from our religious tradition
Let us continue to listen to some Palm Sunday readings
from our broad religious tradition.
The world around us:
Option (i) “Donkey day”
By Janet Lees. Let justice roll down/129.
Cross-marked beast
bearing cross-burdened Christ,
what is your message today
as you travel the palm-strewn way?
Stumbling on a stony track,
people's coats on your back,
you were chosen for faithfulness.
This is a calling we share,
as the cross-marked hill
comes closer still.
Your job is to carry him today,
yesterday's weight forgotten;
tomorrow's burden still uncertain.
May we, his cross-marked people
bear him just as faithfully.
Option (ii) "Tough faith"
By Bruce Prewer. More Australian psalms/86.
It was never easy!
This life of faith,
lived freely and lovingly
despite contemporary pride
and age-old enigmas,
has always been tough,
for Abraham, Sarah, Job,
Thomas, Mary, Augustine,
Luther, McKillop, Flynn.
Lord, we believe; save us from unbelief!
Pity the overt arrogance
of modern culture,
drunk on small achievements,
thinking that our era
has put paid to faith,
throwing away God
as a superstition
clutched by the ignorant.
It was never easy!
Choice, commitment,
whether to gamble one's all
on current self-adulation,
or to plunge into the Under-Swell
of hope and faith, spirit and truth,
flowing with creative love,
rampant with celebration
and the glory of Christ.
Lord, we believe; save us from unbelief.
Option (iii) "Waving the palms"
By David O Rankin. UUA Worship web
Palm Sunday is found:
whenever we are serving a noble and unpopular cause with selfless devotion,
holding to the ideals of truth and justice;
whenever we are seeking to uplift the fallen, to comfort the brokenhearted,
to strengthen and encourage the weak and hopeless;
whenever we are working bravely and persistently in the face of abuse and criticism
to establish more equitable relations in the world;
whenever we are sacrificing our lives in behalf of what we believe
to be the service of love for all humanity.
That is Palm Sunday!
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A Palm Sunday reflection: Twenty centuries past
The people stand as they are able
Twenty centuries past, what city has not heard of your coming?
From Beijing to Berlin, from Jerusalem to Johannesburg,
from New York to New Delhi
surely the word has spread that you've come in peace,
not violence
to enrich, renew, transform our lives and bring us to shalom?
All Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
Hosanna in the highest.
Twenty centuries past, what city has not heard of your church?
From Catholic, Orthodox, Uniting or Anglican,
Evangelical, Progressive or Pentecostal
surely the message of acceptance, healing, confidence
in your royal advent, has been passed on through
faithful living?
All Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
Hosanna in the highest.
Twenty centuries past, what city has not rejected you?
From penthouse to tenement, from factory to leisure centre,
from theme park to concert hall,
surely the news is that this life is for taking, not giving
and what stands in the way of this lifestyle
must now be removed?
All Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
Hosanna in the highest.
Twenty centuries past, what city does the Christ seek to enter?
From leafy suburb to shanty town, from housing estate
to West-End flat, from salon to slum,
surely the sign of the church free from pride, united in deed,
must be the welcome the Christ longs for
as he enters our city?
All Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
Hosanna in the highest. (JYoung/adapted/ljrd)
The peace
We enter as strangers. We leave as friends.
The peace of God is here... to stay.
All Thanks be to God.
You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours.
Palm Sunday hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“When our heart is in a holy place” 1008 STJ
Refrain:
When our heart is in a holy place,
When our heart is in a holy place,
We are blessed with love
And amazing grace,
When our heart is in a holy place.
When we trust the wisdom in each of us,
Ev’ry colour every creed and kind,
And we see our faces in each other’s eyes,
Then our heart is in a holy place.
Refrain:
When we tell our story from deep inside,
And we listen with a loving mind,
And we hear our voices in each other’s words,
Then our heart is in a holy place.
Refrain:
When we share the silence of sacred space,
And the God of our Heart stirs with in,
And we feel the power of each other’s faith,
Then our heart is in a holy place.
Refrain:
When our heart is in a holy place,
When our heart is in a holy place,
We are blessed with love
And amazing grace,
When our heart is in a holy place.
When our heart is in a holy place.
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.
Listening response
In this abundant blessing
All We share the joy.
In this, our time of need,
All May love abound (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)
CELEBRATING
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)
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
The offering Offerings/bread and wine are presented
Let us now bring our offerings, symbols 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 gather here, and we go from here,
as those who have received,
and as those who have given.
May the spirit that surrounds
every good thing we give
be expanded and enhanced.
Offerings/bread and wine placed on the table.
Thanksgiving
May God be with you.
All And also with you.
Open your hearts.
All We open them to God and to one another.
Let us give thanks to God.
All It is right to give God thanks and praise.
The people sit
In the beginning...
v1 In the beginning was God
v2 In the beginning, the source of all that is
v3 In the beginning, God yearning,
v4 God moaning,
v1 God labouring
v2 God giving birth
v3 God rejoicing
v4 And God loved what had been made
v1 And God said, "It is good".
v2 Then God, knowing all that is good, is shared
v3 Held the earth tenderly in embracing arms
v4 God yearned for relationship
v1 God longed to share the good earth
v2 And humanity was born in the yearning of God
v3 We were born to share the earth.
v4 In the earth was the seed
v1 In the seed was the grain
v2 In the grain was the harvest
v3 In the harvest was the bread
v4 In the bread was empowerment.
v1 And God said, All shall eat of the earth
v2 All shall eat of the seed
v3 All shall eat of the grain
v4 All shall eat of the harvest
v1 All shall eat of the bread
v2 All shall eat of the power.
v3 God said, You are my people
v4 My friends
v1 My lovers
v2 My sisters
v3 And brothers
v4 All of you shall eat
v1 Of the bread
v2 And the power
v3 All shall eat.
v4 Then God, gathering up courage in love, said
v1 Let there be bread!
v2 And God's people, God's friends and lovers,
knelt on the earth
v3 planted the seeds
v4 prayed for rain
v1 sang for the grain
v2 made the harvest
v3 cracked the wheat
v4 pounded the flour
v1 kneaded the dough
v2 kindled the fire
v3 filled the air with the smell of fresh bread
v4 And there was bread!
v1 And it was good!
v2 We, the people of God in this place, say today
v3 All shall eat of the bread
v4 And the power.
v1 We say today
v2 All shall have power
v3 And bread.
v4 Today we say
v1 Let there be bread.
v2 And let there be empowerment!
v3 Let us eat of the bread and the power!
v4 And all will be filled. (CHeyward/cw/adapted)
Bread and wine
We remember, at the end of a journey,
among friends, gathered round a table, our tradition says:
Jesus took bread...
said a blessing...
broke it and shared it with his friends…
Bread broken
Our tradition also says:
Jesus poured a cup of wine…
said a blessing…
shared it too with his friends…
Wine poured out
Communion
Let us share this bread and wine as we have been taught,
knowing that our lives are forever changed
by this and every breaking of bread.
The bread and the wine will be served in small circles around the Table
After communion
Loving God, you have welcomed us
You have fed us
You have empowered us.
Send us out to live and work to your glory.
Send us out to reveal your presence.
This day and always.
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Values – The Canberra Affirmation” (Tune: ‘Tallis Canon’, 88 88) 31 (v1-4) SNS2
Transforming is the path we take
With others, to community;
This path involves compassion bold,
Inclusion and integrity.
The values this path asks of us
Is to adopt, uphold, support
Equality, connectedness
In social action, noble thought.
This path entails a peaceful stance;
It seeks non-violence in its heart;
And with forgiveness at its core
Has harmony its counterpart.
This path invites a passion strong
In stewardship of all the earth,
For all life forms and nature's charm,
For us to recognize its worth.
Words of mission
As we prepare to leave this sacred space
where we have worshipped together,
let us return to our work
enlivened and renewed...
The candle is extinguished
And now may the rhythms of our coming together:
the melodies of our worship,
and the harmonies of our farewells,
All Make musical our living, soothing our spirits
and uplifting our souls
This day
All and into the beckoning future.
Blessing words
Go in peace.
And may the Holy God surprise you on the way,
Christ Jesus be your company
and the Spirit lift up your life.
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont.) “Values – The Canberra Affirmation” (Tune: ‘Tallis Canon’, 88 88) 31 (v5-6) SNS2
This path encourages and prompts
Good humour, challenge, deeds of grace;
With acts of generosity
To bring a smile to every face.
The centre of this path we find
A oneness, we can all rehearse,
With self, the 'sacred', others too;
A oneness with the universe. (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.
Baker, J. et al. 2003. Alternative worship. GtB: London. SPCK.
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.
Nelson-Pallmeyer, J; B. Hesle. 2005. Worship in the spirit of Jesus. Theology, liturgy, and songs without violence. OH: Cleveland. The Pilgrin Press.
Prewer, B. D. 1996. More Australian psalms. SA: Adelaide. OpenBook Publishers.
Singing the journey. 2005. MA: Boston. UUA.
Stuart, G. 2009. Singing a new song. Traditional hymn tunes with new century lyrics. Volume 2. NSW: Toronto. G Stuart.
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:
Rankin. UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. http://uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/index.php
Paul Sheppy. [w-rcl] Liturgy web site.