WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Sunday Gathering led by Norman Wilkins
GATHERING
Sisters and brothers, we gather as people of peace
We hate cruelty, oppression and injustice
But so do many people and still our world lacks true peace
It is not easy to bring true peace
Let us commit ourselves to never cease to strive to bring God’s Shalom
Amen so be it!
PROCESSIONAL HYMN AA 87 ‘Lift high the cross’
Words Shirley Erena Murray, adp. from G W Kitchin
Music by Sydney Hugo Nicholson
Lift high the cross,
The love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world
Adore his glorious name!
1. Come, Christian people,
sing your praises, shout!
If we are silent,
even stones cry out.
Lift high the cross..
2. Jesus, you wept
to see our human strife,
teach us compassion
for each human life.
Lift high the cross...
3. Peace was your plea
and peace your loving theme
let peace be our passport,
peace a living dream
Lift high the cross...
4. Great is the cost
of walking on this road,
to follow and suffer
with the Son of God
Lift high the cross...
5. Worlds to be born
and children yet to be
come, take up this song
into eternity
Lift high the cross...
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
JESUS’ PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase on card
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Dawn Cowdry
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!
THE WORD IN TEXTS Lois Robertson
Hebrew Bible Micah 6: 6-8
Gospel Mark 2: 23-28
Contemporary reading From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind"
by Yuval Noah Harari
The real difference between us and chimpanzees is the mythical glue that binds together large numbers of individuals, families and groups. This glue has made us the masters of creation.
Ever since the Cognitive Revolution, Sapiens have thus been living in a dual reality. On the one hand, the objective reality of rivers, trees and lions; and on the other hand, the imagined reality of gods, nations and corporations. As time went by, the imagined reality became ever more powerful, so that today the very survival of rivers, trees and lions depends on the grace of imagined entities such as the United States and Google.
Yet none of these things exists outside the stories that people invent and tell one another. There are no gods in the universe, no nations, no money, no human rights, no laws and no justice outside the common imagination of human beings.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks
REFLECTION ‘Conscientious Reformers’ Norman Wilkins
HYMN ‘Saving the world’
Words by Norman Wilkins with helpful advice from Bronwyn White
Tune: WOV 384 Sine nomine by R V Williams
1. Saving the world has been the Church’s aim
It shouted “Sin!” Its message stayed the same
But still there was war, winning earned our fame
The Church’s shame, The Church’s shame
2. In time of war peace they aimed to save
He fired the gun, she turned it on a lathe
But just like us, their willing efforts gave
They were our brave, They were our brave
3. Can we condemn those who served as they
Did what seemed right to save their hallowed way
Giving their all, serving come what may
They won’t betray, They won’t betray
4. But some good souls, people of their lands
Greeted the troops with peaceful open hands
Te Whiti was he who led their peaceful stands
Their peaceful plans, Their peaceful plans
5. So we must learn to question what seems right
Is it compassion? Does it value life?
Are we being humble in the others’ sight?
To see Your Light, To see Your Light.
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
These offerings are now given to achieve practical actions to bring Love in our world. These gifts of money are to enable this community here to enrich our lives and the lives of others. These gifts of food are given so that some will be fed who otherwise may go hungry.
We stand here offering our very lives to serve the way of Love and Peace
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 Lynne Dovey
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Japan and the National Christian Council in Japan. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Jonathan Coleman (Northcote electorate) and Judith Collins (Papakura electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Ahuriri/Putorino Presbyterian Church.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
COMMUNION HYMN AA 105 ‘O Christ who by a cross’
Words © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray
Music: Sursum Corda WOV 182
1. O Christ who by a cross made peace your sign,
you give your peace in water, bread and wine:
O Spirit Christ who is our spirit’s home,
teach us the secret of the true shalom.
2. We speak of peace when in our hearts we war
and, unforgiving, keep our grudges sore,
we promise peace while yet we strive to win,
and in our enemy see not our kin.
3. Two deaths now face the starving and the fed –
the blinding bomb, the simple lack of bread;
with riches of the earth at our command,
from weaponry to welcome, turn our hand.
4. The selfishness which is our human curse,
the arsenal of hatred which we nurse –
all are dispelled when in our hearts we say
“There is no way to peace: peace is the way.”
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 LITURGY
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.
In the centre one of the servers has a completely gluten-free option of crackers and juice and wine. Please only use this if you need to be gluten free.
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.
Our Communion Prayer:
God of Peace we know that you seek to bless us with all that is good. With you we live in Shalom. You nurture us with wholeness. Compared with many we live with abundance and in peace.
You give us the purpose to work for justice and peace; to share our blessings with all creation, to feed the hungry and to see that no one is left in need.
The life sustaining gifts of creation are to be shared by all living things, so the gifts on this table of your openness and generosity are to be shared with all in equality, justice and peace.
As this is your table God, it is a table where all are accepted.
As followers of Jesus we celebrate the open table, the table of Jesus our liberator and our example.
Jesus’ table is always one of abundant life, inclusive love and redemptive liberation.
In the power of the Your Spirit, Jesus lived life to the full,
We, too, are blessed in the power of your same Spirit,
May your creative, life giving, Spirit of Peace and Love now be here with and in all of us.
As we share this bread and wine, may they symbolise how you are transforming us, nourishing us to give our lives to work for your justice and peace in our world.
So we remember how Jesus took bread,
blessed it and broke it and gave it to his followers.
We give thanks for the bread of life.
We remember how Jesus took a cup of wine
and blessed it and offered it to his followers.
We give thanks for the cup of solidarity and empowerment.
May your creative Spirit who reaches our hearts with these gifts,
fire within us a hunger for justice that will make us reformers of our faith and bring sustenance and peace to all living things.
As we share in this your blessing, we are conscious that we are just part of a great swell of your people committed to love, goodness and wholeness of the whole creation and may we all be held together by that love which knows no bounds.
Amen.
The Bread and Wine are served.
Prayer after Communion
As we have received the hospitality of Shalom
so let us go to share it with others.
HYMN CH 4 710 ‘I have a dream a man once said’
Words © Est. of Pamela J. Pettitt (1954 – 2005), reproduced with permission
Tune: Repton WOV 519(ii)
1. “I have a dream”, a man once said,
“where all is perfect peace;
where men and women, black and white,
stand hand in hand, and all unite
in freedom and in love.” (Repeat last line)
2. But in this world of bitter strife
the dream can often fade;
reality seems dark as night,
we catch but glimpses of the light
Christ sheds on humankind.
3. Fierce persecution, war, and hate
are raging everywhere;
God calls us now to pay the price
through struggles and through sacrifice
of standing for the right.
4. So dream the dreams and sing the songs,
but never be content:
for thoughts and words don’t ease the pain:
unless there’s action, all is vain;
faith proves itself in deeds.
5. Lord, give us vision, make us strong,
help us to do your will;
don’t let us rest until we see
your love throughout humanity
uniting us in peace.
BLESSING From “Singing the Living Tradition” (the Unitarian Universalist Association)
If here, you have found freedom,
take it with you into the world.
If you have found comfort,
go and share it with others.
If you have dreamed dreams,
help one another, that they may become true!
If you have known love,
give some back to a bruised and hurting world.
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you
The Lord life up his countenance upon you
And give you peace
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE
THANK YOU Thank you to Judy Dumbleton
our musician today
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THANK YOU
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