Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
5 September 2010. Season of Creation1/Pentecost 15C. (Green).
Celebrating community: Sacrament of Holy Communion
Theme: Ocean Sunday
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
Silence
The gong is sounded three times
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
This flame is warm as the companionship of friends is warm.
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life
in the presentness of God.
Entry into celebration
v2 Fountain of life...
Pulse of life...
Breath of life...
All Earth is filled with the presentness of God.
v1 Holy! Holy! Holy!
The oceans are filled with the presentness of God.
All Holy! Holy! Holy!
Earth is filled with the presentness of God.
v2 Together this day, let us sense
the face of God in all creativity. (NHabel/soc)
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Song of the waters” (Tune: “Praise my soul”, 87 87 87, 134 TiS) 4 (v1-3) HH
Watch once more the windswept storm clouds;
Suddenly the sky has wings!
God has come to rain among us,
Giving hope to all dry things.
Sing a song of splashing waters,
Pulsing through the veins of Earth.
Taste the moisture of the morning,
Smoother than the best red wine;
Toast the lifeblood of the planet:
Here's to God's wild wet design!
Sing a song of flowing waters,
Pulsing through the veins of Earth.
View anew the dark blue ocean,
Whales cavorting, spraying foam;
God at play with deep sea monsters,
Feeling very much at home.
Sing a song of laughing waters,
Pulsing through the veins of Earth.
Remain standing
Opening sentences
The Spirit of God has hovered over the waters…
We invite the oceans to worship with us:
All The deep sea currents and coral reefs,
the mountain peaks on the ocean floor.
We call the swirling seas to celebrate with us:
All The icebergs that break off from the South Pole,
the calm waters that caress the Equator.
We join all ocean life in songs of praise:
All Whales and dolphins dancing on the surface,
and choirs of angel fish assembled below.
We summon the seashore kissed by the breath of God:
All The pelican, the stingray, the silver gull,
the white caps and waves that splash in praise.
Oceans, seas and watery deeps,
All Celebrate, with all that lives within you,
and roar in praise with us today.
Roar, ocean, roar!
All Roar, roar in praise! (NHabel)
Prayer of awareness
We pray:
As we reflect on the mysteries of the ocean depths,
we celebrate the wondrous seas that surround us.
May we empathise with the groaning of creation beneath us.
May we sense the presentness of God in the tides and currents.
May we care for the oceans and all our waterways.
Amen.
Hymn (Cont.) “Song of the waters” (Tune: “Praise my soul”, 87 87 87, 134 TiS) 4 (v4) HH
Feel the breath of God move softly,
Gentle mists that brush the skin;
Earth is breathing God's own spirit,
Life renewed from deep within.
Sing a song of living waters,
Pulsing through the veins of Earth. (NHabel)
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.
Remembering
This morning we begin the Season of Creation.
And the commencement theme is Ocean Sunday.
Some bowls/files of salt water are being passed among you.
Dip your fingers in the water, taste it,
and share with the person next to you
a memory of times at the seashore or in the ocean
that stirred your sense of wonder.
Conversation
Silence
We remember our excitement when waves washed on our feet,
and sand oozed between our toes.
All We remember and rejoice.
Now away from the busyness of life
and in the silence of this sacred place,
let us give thanks for the gift of water,
and the mystery of an endless horizon
stretching out across the ocean.
(Silence)
Roar, ocean, roar!
All We give thanks for living waters so much
a part of who we are!
Music of celebration
EXPLORING
Reading from our biblical tradition
A story from our biblical tradition will be told by (NN).
May we open ourselves to the seeds of wisdom
that lies dormant in this reading.
All And may our minds be fertile soil
in which it may grow strong and true (GVosper/ab)
Gospel:
Luke 14:25-33 (Inclusive Text)
Great crowds accompanied Jesus on the way and turning,
Jesus spoke to them.
‘If any of you come to me without turning your back
on your father, mother, wife, husband, children,
brothers, sister, yes, and your own life too,
you cannot be my disciple.’
‘And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower,
would not first sit down and work out the cost
to see if there was enough to complete it?
‘Otherwise, if the foundation was laid
and then the work could not be finished, the onlookers
would all start making fun saying,
“Here is a builder who started to build and was unable to finish.”
‘Or again, if a nation is about to engage another battle,
will they not sit down first and consider whether
with ten thousand soldiers they could stand up to the enemy
coming with twenty thousand?
‘If not, then while the enemy was still a long way off,
they would send envoys to sue for peace.
‘So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple
unless you give up all your possessions.’
Contemporary word (Season of Creation)
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
An affirmation of faith
In response to the word reflected on, and in solidarity
with the Oceans of the world, let us stand and share together
an affirmation of faith.
The people stand
All We affirm that the oceans and their resources
are a necessary element of life on this planet.
We believe that the health of the oceans,
and the wise, safe and sustainable use of the ocean resources,
should be protected for the long term benefit
and existence of all peoples.
We support the acquisition of the knowledge necessary
for the understanding and stewardship of the oceans;
that such knowledge should be used
for the adoption of policies, standards and regulations
to protect the ocean environment and resources.
We stand in solidarity with all who recognise
the wisdom of acting in unison to protect the oceans. (Author/source unknown)
The peace
God makes peace within us. Let us claim it.
God makes peace between us. Let us share it. (nwi)
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 May be sung more than once
“Spirit of Life” (Tune: ‘Spirit of life’, 8 12 8 12 8 10) 123 SLT
Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of life, come to me, come to me. (CMcDade)
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)
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.
The Care candle is lit
And let us recommit ourselves to the inclusive ways of Jesus.
Prayers:
Lord's Prayer:
You are invited to pray in the spirit of the Lord's Prayer, and in your original language, as that is appropriate
All O presence and pow’r within us,
Being and Life of all.
How we are filled, how we o’erflow
with infinite love and gladness!
We shall this day sow grace and peace,
and show mercy to all,
and gentle loving-kindness.
And we shall be not so self-serving,
but a constant source of giving.
For ours is the essence,
and the wholeness,
and the fullness forever. (PALaughlin/4r)
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
Offerings
Our offerings for the work of ministry in this place and beyond,
and our gifts of bread and wine, shall now be received.
Presentation The people stand, as they are able as the gifts are presented
May our hearts be opened, our hands unclenched,
and our ears unclogged, that we may
feel and touch and taste and see
the breath and play of Creativity God around us.
The people sit
Centering words
The earth has gone the round of seasons:
from the vibrant green of spring's new life
to the lush richness of warm summer,
to the brilliant fulfillment of riotous autumn,
to the generosity and self-giving of winter.
Now we stand again, touched by the promise
of new life in early spring.
Discernment and welcome to Table
Thus it is fitting that as we celebrate the renewal of life and hope,
we also celebrate the presentness
of the Spirit of Life and Hope and Creativity,
everywhere around and within us.
(pause)
Spirit of Life we name God, how fertile your genius!
Your continuing creativity shapes everything.
It fills the world with what you do.
It searches us out and knows us.
All that we are is open to your creativity.
Look not upon our shortcomings but upon our evolving 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 can come glad to this celebration.
When our days become over-busy
and our spirits are bleached like spinifex...
All Flood 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,
loosing our hold on the Still Centre...
All Tell us again about sparrows and nesting magpies,
about daffodils and prunis blossom,
and the Parent who knows our every need.
Silence
No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey,
you are welcome at this table
with it's symbols of God's Creative Presence.
All In company with all who seek nourishment at this table,
we come to celebrate community,
and to share these life-giving symbols. (JStinson/adapted)
Thanksgiving
It is right and our joy to give thanks
world-gazing, hope-cheering God, our cherisher.
We celebrate the changing mood of nature:
for sunshine and showers of an early spring day.
for the nesting and cheerfulness of birds,
and the flowers of bush and garden...
wattle, heath, and bottle brush.
We who hold all such good things in trust,
in the company of each other,
and in company with people throughout the world
declare as generations before us have declared:
All Holy, holy, holy, hope-breathing 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.
And we celebrate our knowledge of the one called Jesus,
who taught all to care for the birds of the air,
and the grass of the paddock;
living expressions of the Spirit of Life in our midst.
Through his sayings and parables,
he broke down existing biases and opened a way
for more humane ways of living.
Jesus at supper is a demonstration of this teaching.
He urged his followers to include a wide variety of folks
in what he called the realm of God,
and he encouraged them to be open
to the insights and understandings
that come from honest and respectful dialogue among
those who seek a worthy way of life.
We are here to carry on this tradition
of seeking for truth and recognizing goodness
wherever they may be found.
Bread and Wine
Bread is broken, wine poured out
So we take and break this bread, and pour out this wine
mindful of the Spirit at work in our lives,
making our living a source of renewal and hope.
Communion
Bread and wine served in small groups around the Table
After communion
We give thanks that we have
gathered together in this sacred place,
and been refreshed at this table.
We rejoice in the giftedness of each person here.
We are grateful for who we are for each other.
May we go forth into the world in courage and peace.
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“God who carved... landscape” (Tune: ‘Dansey’). 31 (v1-2) FFS
God who carved this timeless landscape,
snow-clad ridge to valley plain,
power of surging race and river,
limestone crag and scarred terrain;
maker still of earth, fire, water,
artistry of sight and sound,
Southern lights and sunset splendour,
raise our eyes and you are found.
Calendar of nature's balance,
rhythms of the farming year,
shearing, milking, ploughing, pruning,
manger setting ever near!
lonely struggle in the byways,
nor'west dust or snow and flood,
fellowship of tears and laughter:
Lord, with you, we're understood.
Remain standing
Words of mission
Time has now come for us to leave this sacred place.
As we do, may we embrace the challenges
of our lives and our world...
The community candle is extinguished
Remembering again the smell and the caress of the Ocean…
Will you care for Planet Earth?
All We will empathise with the Oceans.
We will be sensitive to the cries of creation
and the songs of our kin.
We will celebrate life!
Blessing words
As the sun in its shining brings glory
As the stars in the night scatter dark
As the moon gives us hope in its radiance
So may the light of Creativity God
fill your heart and your mind and your life.
All Amen!
Hymn (Cont) “God who carved... landscape” (Tune: ‘Dansey’). 31 (v3) FFS
Giving thanks for those before us,
village life and tussock track,
as we turn to face the future,
history's wind upon our back;
scattered are our congregations,
each now shares in ministry,
bonding strength of work together:
spirit of community. DGrierson
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:
Abbott, M. 2001. Sparks of the cosmos. Rituals for seasonal use. SA: Unley. MediaCom Education.
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. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Duncan, G. (ed). 2002. Courage to love. An anthology of inclusive worship material. GtB: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
Faith forever singing. Songs for a new day. 2000. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Habel, Norman. 2004. Habel hymns 1. Songs to celebrate with creation. SA: Adelaide. Flinders Press.
Inclusive readings. Year C. 2006. QLD: Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation.
Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book. GtB: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Jones, Robert V. 2005. Liturgy: The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. In private circulation from the author. L & L Seminar.
Laughlin, P. A. 2009. “Pray without seeking. Toward a truly mystical Lord’s Prayer” in The Fourth R 22, 6, 20-24.
Lee, B. J. (ed). 1987. Alternative futures for worship. Vol 3. The eucharist. MIN: Collegeville. The Liturgical press.
Prewer, B. D. 1983. Australian prayers. SA: Adelaide. OpenBook Publishers.
Seaburg, C. (ed). 1993. The communion book. MA: Boston. UUMA.
Singing the living tradition. 1993. MA: Boston. UUA.
Stinson, J. 2006. “The encounter of progressive christian theology with the language of prayer and ritual on Sunday morning”. Westar Institute/Westar Leaders Seminar. March 2006.
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.
Vosper, G. 2004/2010. Holy Breath. Prayers for worship and reflection. New & Revised edition. QLD: Brisbane. The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought Brisbane.
Ward, H.; J. Wild, J Morley. (ed). 1995. Celebrating women. New edition. GtB: London. SPCK.
Withrow, L. 1995. Seasons of prayer. Resources for worship. GtB: London. SPCK.
Web sites:
Norman Habel. Season of Creation. <www.seasonofcreation.com>