September 2, 2018
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Write your welcome here
GATHERING
Everyone on this earth is covered by the sky
All humankind lives their life covered by the same canopy
The rain falls on just and unjust
The sun shines on all colours and shades of people
We are sisters and brothers and kin living together
on this sky-surrounded home
We are family, we are one.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN FFS 67 ‘We are many, we are one’
Words and Music © 1998 Colin Gibson
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 the 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.
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER adapted from the Season of Creation website
We look into the skies
and celebrate the wonders of the world which surround us.
We see anew the evening sky,
May we hear the Spirit in the wind,
May we see mercy in falling rain.
May we learn to hear the good news from the sky
As it celebrates the glory of the power that is Love.
May we rejoice as the dawn reveals
mysteries of the skies above and Earth below.
So may it be.
Amen.
JESUS’ PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase on card
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Susan Jones
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We send you to the Rainbow Room programme to hear stories, ask questions and have fun together.
We bless you. Amen.
PASSING THE PEACE
Feel free to pass the peace with those nearby or move to greet others further away. Passing the peace consists of shaking hands and saying “Peace be with you.” The response is “Peace be with you” or just “And with you.” Or, simply saying ‘Hello” is a good idea. Also feel free to simply observe if you wish!
PIANO SOLO ‘Clair de Lune’
composed by Claude Debussy played by Peter Franklin
THE WORD IN TEXTS Roger Jones
Hebrew Bible Psalm 19.1-6
Gospel Mark 15.33-39
Contemporary reading Spiritual Touchstones
by Alexander Garoutte on 5 Sep 2016
from a series of blogs on Journeying on the Camino de Santiago
I slipped out of the top bunk of the creaky bed...carefully navigated my way to the bathroom through the maze of other pilgrims sleeping on mattresses on the floor of this attic... they would not enjoy being awoken at 3am....I noticed that the skylight window was open. As I looked out, I saw, for the first time in my life, the Milky Way streaking across the night sky. It was more glorious than any picture I had ever seen. More beautiful than anything I could have imagined.
For many years I have dreamed of seeing the Milky Way.... But I have always lived in bigger cities where the Milky Way is imperceptible because of ambient light. The night sky filled with stars has always represented to me my own smallness, my own dependence on God, and my own connection to the universe. These are all things I had felt I was losing in the last couple of years before walking the Camino. And here I was, visiting the bathroom in a small albergue in Foncebadón, reminded of all that I was searching for.
For me, the night sky is a source of real spiritual connection. I have many memories of looking up at the dark sky... In those moments, more than in any other, I was sure ... that there was something more to this world than what we could see with our own eyes. ....
Somewhere along the way, living in all these different urban environments, I had forgotten how much the spirituality of the night sky meant to me. I forgot that when I looked up at a black sky filled with light cast off from stars trillions of miles away that I could remember who I am in a way that is both profound and unique.
The irony of this mystical experience in the attic bathroom in the tiniest of mountain towns in Spain was that I never really needed to walk the Camino to see the Milky Way, or even to remember my connection to the stars of the night sky. I can drive out of Boston a bit to find this source of deep connection. And I’m left asking, “Why don’t I do that? Why don’t I take care of my spiritual self by going and finding the ways and places that connect me to my God?” .... I haven’t looked up at the sky or sat along the open ocean shore enough in recent months at home in Boston. But if I’m committed to spiritual health (and I should be), then I really must incorporate these “spiritual touchstones” into my life with greater intentionality. These are things I can always go back to, which have meaning and remind me of my own spiritual journey...
What are those “spiritual touchstones” for you? What are the places, interactions, and environments that remind you of God’s love and care for you? Who are the people that bring out your belovedness? How well do you integrate those individuals, spaces, and experiences into your spiritual life? How might you bring your own “Camino mountaintop” experience into your daily life?
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture, for the Word among us,
for the Word within us, we give thanks
REFLECTION ON IMAGES OF THE SKY IN MANY MOODS
pictures supplied by members of the congregation
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
For all who live below the skies
For all who feel defeated and worn, hungry and homeless
For all who need to hear good news with fresh meaning
We ask justice, compassion and peace
as we dedicate these gifts to alleviate want in this world.
So may it be
Amen
We recognise and bless the gifts brought to the table, and those which wing
their way electronically from our banks to the church’s account.
LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY OF ST ANDREW’S
People share notices and visitors are welcomed. If you have a notice, please move to the front row, ready to speak briefly from the lectern.
For the benefit of newcomers, please introduce yourself before you begin.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Jenny Simpson
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Lawrence Yule (Tukituki electorate) and Amy Adams (Selwyn electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Tawa Union Church.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
St Andrew’s is an open community and all are invited to Christ’s table.
Wherever you are on your faith journey, wherever you have come from and wherever you are going to, whatever you believe, whatever you do not believe, you are welcome to participate in the communion. This is God’s meal for all people.
COMMUNION HYMN FFS 17 ‘For everyone born a place at the table’
Music: Colin Gibson, Words: © 1998 Shirley Erena Murray © 1998 Hope Publishing
For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For young and for old, a place at the table,
a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
for young and for old, the right to belong,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For just and unjust, a place at the table,
abuser, abused, with need to forgive,
in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy,
for just and unjust, a new way to live,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For gay and for straight, a place at the table,
a covenant shared, a welcoming space,
a rainbow of race and gender and colour,
for gay and for straight, the chalice of grace,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
COMMUNION LITURGY on card
Communion is served by intinction. You are invited to come to the front of the church and receive the bread, or a gluten-free cracker, taking a piece large enough to dip into the wine (silver cup) or grape juice (pottery cup). Eat the bread dipped in wine or juice.
Or, remain in your seat to be served if mobility is difficult. If you don't wish to receive communion, please remain in your seat – we’re glad you are here with us.
HYMN ‘In our world we find delight’
Music: ©2016 Vivien Chiu, Words: © 2016-2018 Susan Jones
In our world we find delight
For creation, day and night
Brings us solace, joy;
Spirit grows, refreshes, gleams
as the earth fuels richer dreams
just by being here;
May this beauty never end
May this solace always be here
May the human race take notice
And show divine compassion.
Skies stretch over all our lives,
Prides of lion to bees in hives
All bask in the sun
Clouds race through as gale winds blow
Cirrus high and stratus low
Skies are bright or glum
May the air be always fragrant
And its clarity untainted;
May the human race take notice
And show divine compassion
Looking into starry skies
Galaxies defeat our eyes
Distant stardust glows;
Spinning planets circle suns
Stars are born, supernovae stun
Cosmos is our ‘hood;
May this beauty never end
May this universe remain here
May the human race take notice
And show divine compassion
It’s a mystery who made this -
evolution, hand-made care -
multiple ideas.
But it’s not a mystery who
Needs to care for green and blue -
We have all been charged
To make sure this never ends
That this beauty does remain here
That the human race takes notice
And shows divine compassion
BLESSING
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE Grand March from “Aida”
by Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)
THANK YOU Thank you to Peter Franklin
our musician today
Unless otherwise specified all our music is used by permission CCLI Licence 341550
Words/music to new hymns and gathering statement, prayers and affirmation are original unless acknowledged. If Susan Jones is the worship leader any liturgy will have been written by her. These words can be used in other worship and small group situations without seeking permission. Please acknowledge the source.
THANK YOU
Write the Thank You here