December 2, 2018
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
GATHERING AND THE LIGHTING OF THE FIRST ADVENT CANDLE
Today we begin the advent journey to Bethlehem
We find travelling with us, parents-to-be, shepherds and wise ones
Energised by Hope, we know something momentous is happening
Let hearts be open and minds alert, ears listening
Let Hope have its advent into the world again and again and again
PROCESSIONAL HYMN
COC 30 (i) Look towards Christmas
͛Words © 1996 Shirley Erena Murray, Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream IL 60188
Music © Jillian Bray
Look toward Christmas! Advent is here:
welcome December, changing the year,
whistle up, shepherds! saddle up, kings!
chorus up, angels, flexing your wings,
Refrain:
sing, sing alleluia! sing, sing alleluia!
sing, sing out the Story, sing about hope and peace!
Set the world singing, make the world glad!
Now is good reason not to feel sad,
hear John the Baptist shout to prepare:
Good News is coming, earth, be aware.
Refrain:
Mary and Joseph soon is the day,
ready the donkey, start on your way:
you are the chosen, willing to trust,
joyful your burden carrying Christ,
Refrain:
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
THAT STARRY NIGHT
a play by Craig, Laura and Sara Norris alt Susan Jones
presented by Jules Collinson and the Rainbow Room children
THE WISE MEN SET THE SCENE
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see you lie
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in your dark streets shines out
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in you tonight
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
Praises sing, O let them ring
And Peace to all on earth
MARY AND JOSEPH ENTER
AWAY IN A MANGER
Away in the manger, no pillow or bed
,
The baby boy Jesus is born in a shed
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay
The baby boy Jesus asleep on the hay
While cattle stand quietly, the baby
ǯ
s asleep
Sought after by shepherds who leave all their sheep;
And wise ones bring treasure; they
ǯ
ve
come from afar
To give gifts to Jesus; they followed a star
THE SHEPHERDS GET INVOLVED
THAT STARRY NIGHT
O the shepherds were gathered in the field one night
They were watching their flocks under the pale moonlight
When the angels descended in a glorious sight
Proclaiming the birth of the Lord
So they hurried
to
Bethlehem to see the birth of the Son
Who was sent to bring us peace on earth
Then the wise men arrived with gifts of priceless worth
To honour the birth of the Lord
On that starry night so long ago
Lay a newborn baby on the straw below
Born in Bethlehem a gift from God
To show how to love and bring peace to the world.
THE WISE MEN ENTER THE STORY
SILENT NIGHT
Silent night, holy night: all is calm, all is bright
round the loving mother and child,
holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace
FINAL THOUGHTS AND APPLAUSE
OFFERING PRAYER
(said together)
The wise men brought gifts we are told, so long ago
We bring gifts of food and money
May they do their work as we hope they will
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 yourse
lf before you begin.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Patricia Booth
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Kiribati and Nauru. In
New Zealand, we
remember those in Parliament, and today we name Sarah D
owie
(Invercargill electorate) and Ruth Dyson (Port Hills electora
te). Here in
the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people o
f Knox
Presbyterian Church, Dannevirke.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW
͛
S
on card
REFLECTION
͚
Outward signs of inward grace
͛
Susan Jones
ORDINATION OF AN ELDER AND COMMISSIONING OF PARISH COUNCILLORS
ORDINATION AS ELDER
Lois Robertson
COMMISSIONING
Parish Council Convenor: Lynne Dovey
Elders: Catriona Cairns, Pam Fuller, Tony Kirby, Rosemary Lawrence, A
ndrew
Matthews, Margaret Rushbrook, Lois Robertson.
Councillors: Gillian Brookes,
Sue Hirst, Laura van Echten.
PROLOGUE
(based on 1 Corinthians 12:4-
11)
There are many gifts,
but it is the same Spirit who gives them.
There are different ways of serving,
but it is the same Spirit who is served.
Faith works through different people in different ways,
Each one is given a gift by the Spirit,
to
use it for the common good
...
..
RENEWAL OF COMMITMENT
Christ calls us all to share in his ministry.
Let us, then, dedicate ourselves anew. Please stand.
Whanau, members and elders of this congregation:
putting your trust where it will not be betrayed,
do you commit yourselves to love and serve this Church
and the Commonwealth of God?
We do.
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 wi
sh!
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 com
e from and wherever
you are going to, whatever you believe, whatever you do no
t believe, you are welcome
to join in the communion. This is God
’
s meal for all people.
COMMUNION HYMN COC 52
͚
You are born in us again
͛
Words © 1996 Mark Wilson
Music © Mark Wilson arr Shona Murray descant Colin Gibson
You are born in us again
like the warmth of the summer wind you come
To melt away the icicles of vanity and pride,
You come to blow the very doors of loving open wide,
like the warmth of the summer wind you come
Like the warmth of the summer wind you come
You are born in us again
like the scent of the summer rain you come
You come to quench the thirsty and to freshen up the land
You come to clean away the dust that
ǯ
s settled in our hand.
like the scent of the summer rain you come
Like the scent of the summer rain you come
You are born in us again
like the light of the summer sun you come
to give light to the places that have never seen the So
n
you come now to embrace us you
ǯ
re the holy, holy one,
like the light of the summer sun you come
Like the warmth of the summer wind you come
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
COC 52
͚
A
donkey walks his burden
͛
Words © 2018 Susan Jones
Music Old Welsh melody ca 1700s. Tune as for
͚
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
͛
A donkey walks his burden onward
Telling us that Advent
ǯ
s on the way
Bearing Mary, bearing Jesus,
Under his load, the donkey sways.
We rejoice to see this journey
For it offers hope and joy
We rejoice to hear this story
For it means much more than
Dz
It
ǯ
s a Boy
dz
!
Worldwide, donkeys bear great burdens
Whether in Israel or Haiti
Bearing people, bearing cargo
working all the day on tired feet.
They are transport for the poor
Always being asked for more.
They are key to family business
They are animals worth giving for.
Mary and her stalwart Joseph
Ride the road to Bethlehem
They are trusting in the story
which was shocking news to them.
They are travelling, so we
ǯ
re told, to
Joseph
ǯ
s family
ǯ
s ancient place
They are trusting in the future
What are all the dangers they will face?
When the baby Jesus grew
He taught compassion was the way
He believed we should give water,
feed the hungry, love each day,
Dignity is paramount
For humankind and donkeys too
Every advent, let
ǯ
s all shout out
To all those who carry burdens new.
VOW TO SERVE
FOR ADVENT SUNDAY, THE SUNDAY OF HOPE
For those whose dreams are squashed,
For those whose life is very hard,
For those who despair for the future,
We go out to light candles of hope in their darkness
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE
͚
Slei
͛
by Leroy Anderson (1908
–
1975)
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 af
firmation 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 wit
hout seeking permission. Please acknowledge
the source.