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
24 October 2010. Pentecost 22C. (Green).

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 of celebration.
Come in bringing all of who you are.

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
“People are God’s language” (Tune: ‘Ellers’, 10 10 10 10. 301 RCH)      71 SNS2
People are language through whom God can speak;
Heard by the list'ners, found by those who seek;
Heard in a whisper, never in a roar;
Heard in compassion, not through formal law.

People are language through whom God can care
With words of comfort when we see despair;
Spoken in kindness, yet with certainty;
Heard with delight when calming misery.

People are language through whom God can plead
For peace and mercy, for the ones in need;
Spoken in strength, with poise and dignity,
Calling for justice and for liberty.

Sharing of love with acts of gentleness,
Sharing the load with deeds of thoughtfulness,
We can ensure the message can be heard;
For we are language of God's living word (GStuart).
Remain standing

Opening sentences
Let us come together in the presence of God
and in the presence of each other.

God is here.  We are here, so let us celebrate!
All Praise God who calls us into being!
Praise Jesus who calls us into living!
Praise Spirit who calls us into loving!  (Adapt/ ETapia)

Prayer of awareness
We pray:
Steadfast God, you visit us in our aloneness
but we express you best in our togetherness.

Empower us to the upbuilding of that quality of fellowship
which is a true expression of your presentness.
Amen.

Hymn “We are many”  (Tune: ‘Hamilton’.)   67 FFS
We are many, we are one,
and the work of Christ is done
when we learn to live in true community,
as the stars that fill the night,
as a flock of birds in flight,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the branches of a tree,
as the waves upon the sea,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.

All division is made whole
when we honour every soul,
find the life of God in every you and me,
as the fingers of a hand,
as the grains that form the sand,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the threads upon a loom,
as a field of flowers in bloom,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.

We will join creation's song,
make a world where all belong,
build as one in peace and loving harmony,
as the voices of a choir,
as the flames within a fire,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the snowflakes in the snow,
as the colours of a bow,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.  CGibson
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
“We are a void”
By Kenneth Patton. Service & Songs for the celebration of life/103.

Are you afraid of the void, the empty future, your own undefined face?
Do you want it spelled out, written in prose?
Do you want tomorrow filled in, neat and chinked, no crevice
for the unannounced wind to blow in?

We are sorry, but that is not the way things are.
None of us has answers, certainties, definitions for ourselves.
How can we give them to you?

The question is not whether you want the void,
the unfulfilled,
the gap of time and becoming
that founts before you.
You will get it whether you want it or not.

The question is, what are you to do with it…?

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)

May the colours, flowers, stars, breezes,
warm days and glimmering nights
be your spring-time gift this day.

EXPLORING

Reading from our biblical tradition
A story from our biblical tradition shall be read by (NN).

Gospel:
Luke 18:9-14  (Inclusive Text)

Jesus told the following parable to some people
who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else.

Two people went up to the temple to pray,
one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer,
'I thank you, God, that I am not grasping,
unjust, adulterous, like the rest of humankind,
and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here.

'I fast twice a week. I pay tithes on all I get.'

The tax collector stood some distance away,
not daring even to look up to heaven, but in humility said,
'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'

This one, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not.
For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, 
but those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Contemporary word

Silence for personal reflection

CELEBRATING

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 of all living, we have seen your presence
in the rhythm and surprises of our years.
All You have accompanied us through all that is past.
We are thankful.

We recognise your closeness in this day.
All You challenge and encourage us
in each act and decision.
We seek to be courageous.

Now we look to you in the promises
which stretch before us.
All You meet us with hope and call us to freedom
to live as your new people.
We commit ourselves again, to live as people of faith.  MDurber-adapted/sco

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)