Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
Web site: www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
17 October 2010. Pentecost 21C. (Green).
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 sounded three times
Come into this place, where the ordinary is sanctified,
the human is celebrated,
the compassionate is expected.
Come into this place.
Together we make it a holy place
with our every act of worship.
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
"Bring many names" (Tune: Westchase, 9 10 11 9) 182 (v1-3) TiS
Bring many names, beautiful and good,
celebrate in parable and story,
holiness in glory, living, loving God
Hail and Hosanna!
Bring many names.
Strong mother God, working night and day,
planning all the wonders of creation,
setting each equation, genius at play:
Hail and Hosanna,
strong mother God!
Warm father God, hugging every child,
feeling all the strain of human living
caring and forgiving, till we're reconciled:
Hail and Hosanna,
warm father God!
Remain standing
Opening sentences
In our gathering together let us ponder God,
recognise God's wonders and signs.
All The blowing wind, the rising and setting sun,
the fruiting trees and drying grasses.
In the beginning, in their ending,
they give God their praise.
All God's word is in all creation,
visible and invisible. (PPinsent/adapted-ml)
Prayer of awareness
We pray:
Source of Life, inspire in us a true longing for holiness,
so we can sense you
in the depths of our being.
Amen.
Hymn "Bring many names" (Tune: Westchase, 9 10 11 9) 182 (v4-6) TiS
Old, aching God, grey with endless care,
calmly piercing evil's new disguises,
glad of good surprises, wiser than despair:
Hail and Hosanna,
old, aching God!
Young, growing God, eager, on the move,
seeing all, and fretting at our blindness,
crying out for justice, giving all you have:
Hail and Hosanna,
young, growing God!
Great, living God, never fully known,
joyful darkness far beyond our seeing,
closer yet than breathing, everlasting home:
Hail and Hosanna,
great, living God! BWren
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
“God”
By John Hebenton.
Quiet vibration agitating the cosmos
superstring on which all has its being
embracing vast energy fields that
span universes
remembers all that has been
eternal anamnesis
Infinite possibility
In all that is known
all that can be known
Beyond all that is known
all that can be known
Is God
Discovered in daily life
divine background print
opening eyes
opening minds
opening hearts
inviting the journey deeper
into life
into life in God
Gentle still point
Silent place of knowing
In all that is imagined
all that might be imagined
Beyond all that is imagined
all that might be imagined
Is God
In my imagination
God dreams a world
full of justice
overflowing in peace
where self consuming anger and hate
is buried beneath ringing laughter
children at play
bellies full
safely cocooned in love
given a place now
and for the future
In all that is fervently hoped for
all that might be hoped for
Beyond all that is desperately hoped for
all that might be hoped for
Is God
Music of celebration
Silence
In this time of silence may we move from busy-ness to quietness...
(Silence)
God of life
God of peace
God of wonders that will not cease...
Present with us now.
(Silence)
EXPLORING
Reading from our biblical tradition
A story from our biblical tradition shall be read by (NN).
Gospel:
Luke 18:1-8 (Inclusive Text)
Jesus told the disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.
'There was a judge in a certain town,' Jesus said,
'who had neither fear of God nor respect for persons.
‘In the same town there was a widow
who kept coming to the judge and saying,
"I want justice from you against my enemy!"
‘For a long time the judge refused, but at last said,
"Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for persons,
but since she keeps pestering me
I must give this widow her just rights,
or she will persist in coming and worry me to death."
And Jesus said,
'You notice what the unjust judge has to say?
Now will not God see justice done to the chosen who cry out
day and night even when God delays to help them?
‘I promise you, God will see justice done to them, and done speedily.
But when the Promised One comes,
will any faith be found on earth?'
Silence for personal reflection
A celebration of faith
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand and join together in a celebration of faith.
The people stand
God is with us. This we celebrate.
For we have seen the signs of grace
in every place,
in every generation.
All The beauty of the creation, in all its pristine wonder,
is not the only dwelling place of Creativity.
This, our God, is born again in cities
as well as country stables.
All Is found in holy places and the supermarket,
sits with us in coffee shops,
and by the one who hopefully sings a song
on the streets of this day.
The spirit dances on concrete
All and holds in comfort those who
walk with briefcase or shopping bag.
The God who is more than we can ever name or know
All is beside us in every work place and
every hidden home of our body, mind and soul. (D McRae-McMahon/ith-Adapted)
The peace
Let us take a moment to celebrate each other.
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
"How can we confine?" (Tune: 'Wentworth', 55 55) 69 WNC
How can we confine
God within our mind,
held within a creed,
humanly designed.
How can we be sure
that the way we know
is the only path
that this God might show?
Surely such a joy
cannot be contained
by a simple plan,
humanly explained.
People of all faiths
let us all conspire;
source and ground of life
answer our desire.
As we long to know
answers to our plight,
take us, lead our quest,
dancing to the light. (APratt)
AFFIRMING
Reflections and prayers
Care candle:
We are people of all ages who enter this space bringing our joys and concerns.
Joys and concerns shared.
In joy and in sorrow
All We do not walk alone (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
Pastoral 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 Most compassionate Life-giver,
may we honour and praise you:
may we work with you to establish
your new order of justice, peace and love.
Give us what we need for growth,
and help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgiveness.
Strengthen us in the time of testing,
that we may resist all evil.
For all the tenderness, strength and love are yours,
now and forever. Amen. (WWallace)
Children gather on the conversation mat
"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
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Offerings
Our offerings and gifts of bread and wine, shall now be received.
Presentation The people stand, as they are able as the gifts are presented
May we find a meaning in life, a purpose, a belonging.
And thus find pleasure in receiving from life
and satisfaction in enriching life.
People sit
Welcome to the Table
Friends, we are about to share in the sacred story
and celebrate the feast of the resurrection.
But we have also been reminded by the tradition 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 prepare ourselves for the giving.
Let us then pray that a clean heart be found in us.
(Pause)
Discernment
Loving and caring God,
you have searched us out and known us,
all that we are is open to you.
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 back-of-Bourke paddock,
and our spirits like spinifex
All Drench us with a downpour of mercy!
When life's abrasive pressures fray us,
loosening our hold on life around us
All Tell us again about kookaburras,
mountain minnows, Mallee wheat fields
and a God who loves and seeks after us.
When our selfishness begrudges love
and we become obsessed with our own needs,
when we walk away from neighbours in need
and share in the world's
prejudice, warfare and greed
All Lure us on to be faithful,
for if one suffers, we all suffer;
if one flourishes, we all rejoice.
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
God of yesterday, today and tomorrow,
God of our parents and children, we name you.
Truly you are the dwelling place of every generation.
All Holy, holy, holy, God of compassionate grace,
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.
We remember our heritage…
Jesus born at Bethlehem,
teaching in Galilee and Jerusalem,
crucified and risen.
We remember the apostles, martyrs and heretics of the early churches
and the countless number of unnamed
who have proclaimed through the centuries
the love of God for the world.
All As those of past ages were empowered,
so may we today be nourished and strengthened
by our being in community in this sacred place.
Bread and wine
We remember our tradition…
Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it:
This bread is broken, as my body will be.
And he handed it to his friends, inviting them to eat:
v2 Remember all that I have been to you.
Long ago, that same tradition says,
Jesus poured a cup of wine, offered thanks for it,
and 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.
Communion
And they recognised him in the breaking of the bread.
The bread and wine is served
After communion
Blessed be God who has raised us and shaped us from the dust.
All Blessed be God who has brought us to this table.
Blessed be God who has given us the bread of life.
All Blessed be God who has fed us with the food of love.
Our hands and our hearts were empty.
All Blessed be God who has filled us with hope.
Let us go out risking the reality of the gospel.
All We go in the spirit of Jesus the Companion.
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“We laugh, we cry” (Tune: ‘Credo’, Irreg.) 354 (v1-3) SLT
We laugh, we cry, we live, we die;
we dance, we sing our song.
We need to feel there’s something here
to which we can belong.
We need to feel the freedom
just to have some time alone.
But most of all we need close friends
we can call our very own.
And we believe in life,
and in the strength of love;
and we have found a need to be together.
We have our hearts to give,
we have our thoughts to receive;
and we believe that sharing is an answer.
A child is born among us and
we feel a special glow.
We see time’s endless journey
as we watch the baby grow.
We thrill to hear
imagination freely running wild.
We dedicate our minds and hearts
To the spirit of this child.
And we believe in life,
and in the strength of love;
and we have found a time to be together.
And with the grace of age,
we share the wonder of youth;
and we believe that growing is an answer.
Our lives are full of wonder and
our time is vey brief.
The death of one among us
fills us all with pain and grief.
But as we live, so shall we die
and when our lives are done
the memories we shared with friends,
they will linger on and on.
And we believe in life,
and in the strength of love;
and we have found a place to be together.
We have the right to grow,
we have the gift to believe;
that peace within our living is an answer.
Remain standing
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 community candle is extinguished
For all that God can do within us,
for all that God can do without us,
All Thanks be to God.
For all in whom Christ lived before us,
for all in whom Christ lives beside us,
All Thanks be to God.
For all the Spirit wants to bring us,
for where the Spirit wants to send us,
All Thanks be to God.
Blessing words
May the God who shakes heaven and earth,
whom death could not contain,
who lives to disturb and heal us,
bless you with power to go forth and proclaim the gospel.
All Amen!
Hymn (Cont) “We laugh, we cry” (Tune: ‘Credo’, Irreg.) 354 (v4) SLT
We seek elusive answers to
the questions of this life.
We seek to put an end to
all the waste of human strife.
We search for truth,
equality, and blessed peace of mind.
And, then we come together here,
to make sense of what we find.
And we believe in life,
and in the strength of love;
and we have found a joy being together.
And in our search for peace,
maybe we’ll finally see;
even to question, truly, is an answer. (SJDenham)
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:
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.
Holmes, R. H. 1972. The Bob Holmes worship materials. Vol 1. NY: Little Falls. Self published.
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.
Lee, B. J. (ed). 1987. Alternative futures for worship. Vol 3. The eucharist. MIN: Collegeville. The Liturgical press.
McEwan, D. et al. (ed). 2001. Making liturgy. Creating rituals for worship and life. GtB: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
McRae-McMahon, D. 2001. In this hour. Liturgies for pausing. VIC: Thornbury. DesBooks.
Prewer, B. D. 1983. Australian prayers. SA: Adelaide. OpenBook Publishers.
Seaburg, C. (ed). 1993. The communion book. MA: Boston. UUMA.
(SLT) Singing the living tradition. (1993). MA: Boston. UUA.
(TiS) Together in song. Australian hymn book 2. 1999. NSW: Sydney. HarperCollins Religious.
Withrow, L. 1995. Seasons of prayer. Resources for worship. GtB: London. SPCK.
Web sites:
Hebenton, UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA. <www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>