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
25 November 2007. Reign of Christ C. (White).
10.30am. Contemporary liturgical worship.
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 the celebration
The gong is sounded three times
In the name of our God who shares divinity with us
In the name of our God who shares humanity with us
In the name of our God who unsettles and inspires us… (Janet Schaffran)
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life
in the presentness of this God.
Lighting of the community candle
The candle is lit
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Hymn to Christ the companion” 1 FTS
Where two or three are gathered
in the name of Christ,
there will we know his presence,
share in a love unpriced.
He will be with us always,
even to journey's end;
found in our humblest neighbour,
present in foe and friend.
Forward our path together,
through a mysterious land,
darkened by our unknowing,
desert of rock and sand.
Spirit of Christ before us,
lead us through storm and night;
beacon of hope unfailing,
draw us towards your light.
Spur us to seek each other,
following the pilgrim way,
and, if our footsteps falter,
feed and sustain, we pray.
Broken the bread you offer,
shared is the cup you pour,
calling to true communion
now and for ever more.
O loving Christ-companion,
bond us, that we may be
one in our common purpose,
one in our loyalty;
strong for the weak and powerless,
open to truth, and pain,
daring to stand for justice,
working to bring your reign. Colin Gibson.
Remain standing
Opening sentences
Deep within us, creeping past the facts
that stand before us, is hope:
All And we lift up our hearts to God.
We walk towards the barriers to change,
believing they will fall to your power:
All And we lift up our hearts to God.
We gather up the remnants of our energy
and wait for the extra we pray will come:
All And we lift up our hearts to God.
In the moments of our lowness,
in the doubts which rise among us,
in the depths of weakness and failing,
All God’s hand is discovered beneath our wavering,
and we are called again to hope. (mph 1993)
Prayer of awareness
We pray:
Spirit of God, you are the breath of life within us.
You call us to be one with you.
You breathe among us in all of creation.
Give us the strength and courage to live in your love.
Amen.
Hymn “Hymn for the church” 19 AA
Church of the living Christ,
people of Easter faith -
speak to the Man who walks
free from the dark of death!
The Christ who burst the tomb apart
comes questioning the Church’s heart.
No use old wineskins now -
new wine is here to stay:
no patching up old schemes -
new patches tear away,
old gear, old concepts have no place
where Christ’s own presence sets the pace.
Women and men of God,
come, as one Church to serve,
bring all the skills we have,
sharpen our every nerve:
to save a world in bitter need
the rule of love must come in deed.
We are the Body now -
our feet must mark the Way,
our speech declare the Word
and live it day by day,
the resurrection story ours,
disciples gifted with new powers! Shirley Murray
The 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.
Reflection
“Time”
By Marjorie Dobson. Multi-coloured maze/178
Time is measured and regulated and passes
at the same speed each minute, hour and day.
Our perception of time is a different matter altogether.
If we are waiting for something to happen,
time can appear to pass very slowly.
If we are particularly busy, or enjoying a special occasion,
time seems to fly.
Young people are eager to grow up:
older people find it difficult to believe
how many years have passed.
Historians look back and point at significant lessons that we should learn:
scientists predict a future that sometimes
does not seem to offer a great deal of hope…
Time runs in circles and cycles.
Day follows night; weeks turn into months, then months into years.
One generation follows another.
Our lives are locked and linked by time.
Silence
Let silence be placed around us now, like a mantle.
Let us enter into it, as through a small secret door…
(Silence)
O God, may the mantle of silence
become a cloak of understanding
to warm our hearts this day. (Adapted/Kate McIlhagga/ghs)
(Silence)
EXPLORING
Readings from our religious tradition
Two readings from our biblical tradition shall be read by (NN).
Hebrew scriptures:
Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NRSV)
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord.
Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel,
concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people:
It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away,
and you have not attended to them.
So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord.
Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock
out of all the lands where I have driven them,
and I will bring them back to their fold,
and they shall be fruitful and multiply.
I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them,
and they shall not fear any longer,
or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.
The days are surely coming, says the Lord,
when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
and he shall reign as king and deal wisely,
and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.
And this is the name by which he will be called:
“The Lord is our righteousness.”
Gospel:
Matthew 5:1-12 (Inclusive Text)
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill.
There he sat down and was joined by the disciples.
Then Jesus began to speak. This is what he taught them:
How happy are the poor in spirit:
theirs is the unfolding of the divine dream.
How happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers: they shall be called beloved of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the unfolding of the divine dream.
Contemporary word
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
An affirmation of faith
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand and share an affirmation of faith…
The people stand as they are able
Beckoning Christ,
you call us out of our comfortable ghetto of 'us' and 'them'
to risk discipleship without walls.
All You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where God is worshipped above all other.
Wn You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where prayer is offered day and night.
All You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where we can share what we are
with others who love you.
Mn You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where each person has something to give to the whole.
All You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where compassion and respect shape missionary endeavour.
Keep on beckoning us out of our safe havens
into your rich fellowship
of challenge and reconciliation, faith and hope. Kate Compston/sco
The peace
This is a house of God. A place of peace.
A place where we befriend one another.
Let us greet another as a sign of God's peace and of our shared friendship.
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
“Dream a Dream” 12 FFS
Dream a dream, a hopeful dream,
as children do on Christmas Eve,
imaginings,
surprising things
to hold and to believe.
Dream a time, this Christmas time,
when no one’s hungry or afraid;
that weapons go
and harvest grow,
that friends are met and made.
Dream a peace, our planet’s peace,
the greening of the earth at play,
the holy ground
where life is found,
where God has touched the clay.
Dream a gift, the Christmas gift
that changes everything we see:
the shimmering
of angel wing,
the Child, the Mystery. (Shirley Murray)
Offerings
Our offerings for the work of ministry in this place
and beyond, shall now be received.
Presentation
Valuing God, help us to find a meaning in life,
a purpose, a belonging.
Help us to find pleasure in receiving from life
and satisfaction in enriching life.
CELEBRATING
With the children
Children gather on the conversation mat
Conversation
Care candle
We are people of all ages who enter this space bringing our joys and concerns.
Joys and concerns shared.
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
Pastoral
Lord's Prayer
You are invited to pray this contemporary prayer in the spirit of the Lord's Prayer,
and 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 echo 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)
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Call to action” (Tune: ‘Wir Pflugen’, 76 76D. 130 TiS) 69 SNS
When bad laws are not questioned,
Good policies not tried,
Then God is kept in heaven
And God within denied.
For when we sit in silence
Much wrong can go unchecked;
We need to speak out loudly,
Make governments reflect.
We may voice opinions
Although with censored voice;
Let shouts be strong,
Against all wrong;
We really have no choice.
The Jesus we have heard of,
Was always strong to state
That he was for the weak ones,
The poor and not the great.
He challenged all the leaders;
Would not be overawed.
He saw injustice rampant;
And equity ignored.
We should voice opinions
To gain a listening ear;
Let shouts be strong,
Against all wrong;
We need to interfere.
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 candle is extinguished
In our lives, may we know the holy meaning,
the mystery that breaks into it every moment.
All May we live at peace with our world
and at peace with ourselves.
Blessing words
As the kookaburra gently settles on the tree,
receive the gift of peace.
As the flame rises with light and warmth,
receive the gift of life.
As the wind moves and dances round the earth,
receive the gracious gift of the Spirit. (Dorothy Stewart/wb)
All Amen!
Hymn (Cont) “Call to action” (Tune: ‘Wir Pflugen’, 76 76D. 130 TiS) 69 SNS
If we are Christ's disciples,
We cannot turn our backs
When called to face a conflict
And follow in his tracks.
For Jesus it was costly;
It lead to Calvary;
When power is oppressive
And causes misery –
We shall voice opinions;
We too shall not succumb.
Let shouts be strong,
Against all wrong;
And we shall overcome. George Stuart
The people sit after the hymn
'This week' at St James
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.
The hymns used in this liturgy
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.
Dobson, M. 2004. Multi-coloured maze. Drama, hymns, prayers and poems for worship and everyday living. GtB: London. Stainer & Bell.
Duncan, G. (ed). 2000. A world of blessing. Benedictions from every continent and many cultures. Gt. Britain: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
Duncan, G. (ed). 1998. Seeing christ in others. An anthology for worship, mediation and mission. Gt. Britain: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
Faith forever singing. Songs for a new day. 2000. NZ: Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Forward together songs. 1991. VIC: Melbourne. JBCE.
Holy Bible. NRSV. 1989. Ten: Nashville. Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Inclusive readings. Year C. 2006. Qld: Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation.
Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book. Scotland: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
McIlhagga, K. 2004. The green heart of the snowdrop. Gt.Britain: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.
Macnab, F. 1996. Hope: The deeper longings of the mind and heart. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Mission Prayer Handbook: And there is God. 1993. NSW: Sydney. National Assembly, Uniting Church in Australia.
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.
Uniting in Worship 2. 2005. NSW: Sydney. Uniting Church Press.
Web sites:
UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA.