Revd Rex A E Hunt
eMail: rexae@optusnet.com.au
www.rexaehuntprogressive.com
LITURGY FOR THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE
30 May 2010. Trinity C. (White).
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
Music
Entry into celebration
The gong is sounded three times
v2 'Today is a day the Lord has made', says an old religious writer,
'let us therefore rejoice and be glad in it'.
v1 It is indeed! It is also good to be together again!
For it is a sacred time, this.
And a sacred place, this.
So let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life in the presentness of God.
Lighting of community candle
The candle is lit
We light this flame to honour our past.
We light this flame to endorse our present.
We light this flame to symbolise our future.
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“The silent stars” (Tune: ‘Surrey’, 88 88 88, 426 TiS) 7 RP
The silent stars, the turning globe,
the rivers rushing to the sea;
the certain rising of the sun,
all witness to God's sovereignty;
yet human values shift and drift.
God's wisdom is the greater gift.
Our human toil is wearisome,
while those who die are lost to mind.
Our great endeavours turn to dust,
there's nothing new for us to find.
We chase for rainbows through the rain
and own a deeper loss than gain.
Then what remains for us to do,
what satisfying task or scheme
will fill this endless stream of days,
will help us sound a greater theme?
God give us wisdom, knowledge, joy.
Plant hope that nothing can destroy. APratt
Remain standing
Opening sentences
We live at mystery's edge
watching for a startling luminescence
or a word to guide us.
All In fragile occurrence the Holy One presents oneself
and we must pause...
Daily, there are glimmers, reflections of a seamless mercy
revealed in common intricacies.
All These circles of grace spill out around us
and announce that we are part of this mystery. KWehlander
Prayer
We pray:
Holy One of many names,
whose presence we most often recognise only in retrospect,
bless us this day.
Amen.
Hymn "Celebrate a new day dawning" (Tune: ‘Joyful joyful’, 152 TiS)
Celebrate a new day dawning,
sunrise of a golden morn;
Christ Sophia dwells among us,
glorious visions now are born,
Equal partners 'round the table,
we make dreams reality;
Calling out our gifts we nurture
hope beyond all we can see.
Christ Sophia lights the pathway
to a world of harmony;
Sister Brother love surrounds us,
nourishing our synergy.
Earth joins in our rich communion,
grateful for our healing care;
Leaping deer and soaring eagles,
all earth's fullness now can share.
Sing a song of jubilation,
dance with joyous revelry,
Clapping trees and laughing rivers
join our call to liberty.
Free at last to blossom fully,
flow'ring forth in beauty bright.
We become a new creation,
bursting open into light. JAldredge-Clanton/ctl
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.
Meditation
“The one who brings life out of barrenness”
By John & Norma Brown Images of God/22.
Sarah, Rachel, Ruth, Elizabeth,
carried within them - nothing.
Women of worth,
women of faith,
empty, hopeful, hopeless.
Then God spoke, and barren wombs swelled with life.
Out of darkness new life sprang into the light of day.
Moans of lament became shouts of joy to God
who brings life out of death.
It is ever so.
God's promises of life come to us
in our barrenness
and our deaths,
calling us to a faith that waits in hope
that acts on God's promises
that empowers with love for the world…
faith in the one who rolled away the stone
and released into the world eternal life.
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)
Music of reflection
EXPLORING
Readings from our religious tradition
Let us now listen to some ‘wisdom’ reflections from our religious tradition.
Hebrew scriptures:
Proverbs 8:22-23, 27-31 (Inclusive Text)
The Wisdom of God cries aloud:
You, my God, created me when your purpose first unfolded,
before the oldest of your works.
From everlasting I was firmly set,
from the beginning,
before earth came into being…
When you fixed the heavens firm, I was there;
when you drew a ring on the surface of the deep;
when you thickened the clouds above;
when you assigned the sea its boundaries… and
when you laid down the foundations of the earth,
I was by your side,
a unique craftswoman,
delighting you day after day…
delighting to be among the human family.
Gospel:
John 16: 12-15 (Inclusive Text)
Jesus said to the disciples:
'I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now.
‘But when the Spirit of truth comes
she will lead you to the complete truth,
since the Spirit will not be speaking as from herself
but will say only what has been learnt;
and she will tell you of the things to come.
‘She will glorify me since all she tells you will be taken from what is mine.
‘Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said:
All she tells you will be taken from what is mine.'
Silence for personal reflection
AFFIRMING
A celebration of faith
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand
and share a celebration of faith.
The people stand
We celebrate that where people
are gathered together in love
All God is present and good things happen and life is full.
We celebrate that we are immersed in mystery
that our lives are more than they seem
All that we belong to each other
and to a universe of great creative energies,
whose source and destiny is God.
We celebrate that the spirit of God
beat in the heart of Jesus of Nazareth
All and God's good news was heard
by the broken and wounded.
We are glad that the spirit of peace
is present with us, the church,
All as we gather to celebrate our common existence,
and the fidelity of God.
And most deeply we believe
that in our struggle to love,
All we incarnate God in the world.
And so aware of mystery and wonder,
caught in friendship and laughter,
All we become speechless before the joy in our hearts
as we celebrate the sacredness of life. (Adapt.JShea/thu)
The peace
Let us then greet another as a sign of God's peace.
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
“Further still”
Further still than hill or mountain peak,
further still abides the help we seek.
Further than the heavens
where the planets roll
abides the love that lives to make us whole.
Closer still than eyes alert can see,
closer still than reason's trusted key.
Closer that the psyche,
closer than the soul,
abides the love that works to make us whole.
Deeper still than deepest therapy,
stronger still than medicine can be.
Bolder still than passion
bursting from control
abides the love that dies to make us whole. (©2004, Wm Flanders)
CELEBRATING
Offerings
Our offerings for the work of ministry in this place and beyond,
shall now be received.
Presentation The people stand, as they are able as the gifts are presented
May the eternal presence of God expand and enhance our lives.
Our gratitude for life be expressed in our generosity.
Our faith be expressed in good causes.
And our belief in the future find full expression
in our daily attitude of mind. FMacnab/fwb-adapt.
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)
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 prayers Sung responses
“Yahweh, breathe the
breath of God” (Tune: ‘Te Rahui’. By Colin
Gibson) 158 HoS
1. Yahweh, Yahweh, breathe
the breath of God.
Yahweh, Yahweh, draw the
breath of God.
Fill me, empty me, catch
the pulse of God.
Yahweh, Yahweh, breathe
the breath of God.
2. Yahweh, Yahweh, breathe
the life of God.
Yahweh, Yahweh, draw the
life of God.
Fill me, empty me, catch
the pulse of God.
Yahweh, Yahweh, breathe
the life of God.
3. Yahweh, Yahweh, breathe
the love of God.
Yahweh, Yahweh, draw the
love of God.
Fill me, empty me, catch
the pulse of God.
Yahweh, Yahweh, breathe
the love of God.
(CGibson)
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 God, you love us like a good parent,
and are present in every aspect of our existence.
May your nature become known and respected by all.
May your joy, peace, wholeness and justice
be the reality for everyone
as we live by the Jesus Way.
Give us all that we really need to live every day for you.
And forgive us our failures as we forgive others for their failures.
Keep us from doing those things which are not of you,
and cause us always to be centred on your love
For you are the true reality in this our now,
and in all our future.
In the Jesus Way we pray. Amen. DSorrill
SCATTERING
Hymn The people stand as they are able, to sing
“O threefold God” (Tune: ‘Unity’) 110 AA
O threefold God of tender unity,
life’s great unknown that binds and sets us free:
felt in our loving, greater than our thought,
you are the mystery found, the mystery sought.
O blaze of radiance, source of light that blinds,
the fiery splendour of prophetic minds,
you live in mystery, yet within us dwell;
life springs from you as from a living well.
Most loving Parent, Child of joys and pains,
creative Spirit, life-force that sustains,
in bone and flesh, in blood we touch your hand,
your face we see in water, air and land.
Remain standing
Words of mission
The God we worship is never confined to this holy place.
So go and travel with the God who is found
in ordinary and surprising places.
The community candle is extinguished
Go in faith, for there is God riding in the light on the water,
singing in the songs of the birds,
sitting in the midst of the feasts of life.
All We go in faith to live in joyous freedom,
to play in the creation, and to drink deeply
of the gracious cup of life. DMcRae-McMahon
Blessing words
May the mystery of God be found along the road.
The wonder of the costly love of Jesus embrace you.
And the Spirit bless and keep you, always.
All Amen.
Hymn (Cont.) “O threefold God” (Tune: ‘Unity’) 110 AA
In every making, each creative dream
and in the flowing of life’s healing stream,
when love is born or people reconciled,
we share your life, O Parent, Spirit, Child.
O threefold God of tender unity,
life’s great unknown that binds and sets us free:
felt in our loving, greater than our thought,
you are the mystery found, the mystery sought. WWallace
The people sit after the hymn
'This week' at (NN)
Notices
Birthdays and anniversaries
Significant events
Journey candles
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.
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). 2002. Courage to love. An anthology of inclusive worship material. GtB: Norwich. The Canterbury Press.
Hope is our song. New hymns and songs from Aotearoa
New Zealand. 2009. NZ: Palmerston North. New Zealand Hymnbook
Trust.
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.
Macnab, F. 2006. A fine wind is blowing: Psalms of the bible in words that blow you away. VIC: Richmond. Spectrum Publications.
Mission Prayer Handbook: Images of God. 1991. NSW: Sydney. National Assembly, Uniting Church in Australia.
Pratt, A. 2006. Reclaiming praise. Hymns from a spiritual journey. GtB: London. Stainer & Bell Ltd.
Shea, J. 1977. The hour of the unexpected. TX: Allen. Argus Communications.
Vosper, G. 2008. With or
without God. Why the way we live is more important that what we believe. Canada: Toronto. HarperCollins.
Wallace, W. L. 2001. The mystery telling. Hymns and songs for the new millennium. NY: Kingston. Selah Publishing.
Web sites:
Sorrill Wehlander. UUA Worship Web. MA: Boston. UUA. http://uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/index.php
William Flanders. "Skeptics hymns" web site. <www.williamflandersmusic.com/>