May 5, 2019
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
GATHERING
We consider those who have gone before us on this path of life
Women who were brave pioneers, and led their people
over and along with their brother-leaders
Today let us consider Eve,
first among women, help meet and partner, mother of all living
Let us see her ability to think and act so we may think and act too
PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘Come celebrate the women’
Words © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray
Music: Ellacombe WOV 277
1. Come, celebrate the women
who brought the Church to birth!
the gentle revolution
that shall transform the earth:
whose faith was salt and leaven,
whose hearts and minds were free,
and this was their direction --
to peace and unity.
2. The teachers, saints and mothers
who lived and died unsung
kept safe the gospel story
and taught it to the young;
the Christ child Mary cradled,
the living Word to be,
was crucified for pleading
this peace and unity.
3. Daughters of the disciples,
you weave the story still,
the fabric of the future
with warmth and love and skill,
you make the bread of wholeness,
the wine of harmony --
and all shall share your feasting
in peace and unity!
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER and 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 Heather Macfarlane
Hebrew Bible Genesis 3: 1-13
Gospel Luke 24: 13-32
Contemporary reading from “WomanWisdom”
by Miriam Therese Winter
Sing, creation,
sing your praise
to the wonderful wonder-filled One always:
Maker of all
Mother of all
Lover of all the living
Sing, humanity, women, men, everyone,
the faith-filled and all who would have faith again;
all races, all ages, all cultures, all sizes:
from you the Spirit-filled harmony rises,
touching the stars, encircling the planet
and spiralling back to the One Who began it;
we sing in the name of all the living
a psalm of gratitude and thanksgiving.
Sing, creation,
sing your praise
to the wonderful, wonder-filled One always:
Maker of all
Mother of all
Lover of all the living
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
REFLECTION ‘Eve - sinner or seeker?’ Susan Jones
HYMN ‘Let us reach down deep’
Words © 2016 Susan Jones
Music: FFS 10(i) – Gaelic Trad Melody arr John Bell
Let us reach down deep inside us to the place where quiet reigns;
Find the Self who lives inside us, knows our joy and knows our pains:
Let our ego stand aside there, shadow sharing space with light.
Let our inner selves rejoice at how Love shines in darkest night. (Silence)
In the quiet we can face that which is in our shadow side
Fears and worries, hates, anxieties, all preventing making friends
of those people quite unlike us; colour, race, or gender too,
orientation, culture; bias lurks in us, in me and you. (Silence)
Sacred calm means minds can settle, hearts grow quiet, souls grow still;
Busy thinking slows its rhythm, gives compassion chance to fill.
Even long-forgotten scars heal as new balm brings a new way;
Every space and every crevice warms as Love arrives to stay. (Silence)
OFFERING PRAYER
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 Catriona Cairns
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Niger and all those working to end slavery in Niger and throughout the world. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Kieran McAnulty and Clayton Mitchell list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Milson Combined Church and St Alban's Presbyterian Church, Palmerston North.
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 AA 158 ‘Who is my mother?’
Words © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray
Music © 1993 Ian Render
Who is my mother,
who is my brother?
all those who gather round Jesus Christ:
Spirit-blown people
born from the Gospel
sit at the table, round Jesus Christ.
Differently abled,
differently labelled,
widen the circle round Jesus Christ,
crutches and stigmas,
culture's enigmas,
all come together round Jesus Christ.
Love will relate us --
colour or status
can't segregate us, round Jesus Christ:
family failings,
human de-railings --
all are accepted, round Jesus Christ.
Bound by one vision,
met for one mission
we claim each other, round Jesus Christ:
here is my mother,
here is my brother,
kindred in Spirit, through Jesus Christ.
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 AA 156 ‘Where the road runs out’
Music and Words: © 1992 Colin Gibson
Where the road runs out and the signposts end,
where we come to the edge of today,
be the God of Abraham for us;
send us out upon our way.
Lord, you were our beginning,
the faith that gave us birth.
We look to you, our ending,
our hope for heaven and earth.
When the coast is left and we journey on
to the rim of the sky and the sea,
be the sailor’s friend, be the dolphin Christ;
lead us on to eternity. Refrain
When the clouds are low and the wind is strong,
when tomorrow’s storm draws near,
be the spirit bird hov’ring overhead,
who will take away our fear Refrain
BLESSING
Just as Eve thought for herself and took the risk;
we go into a world, no longer a safe Paradise,
praying for strength to think for ourselves
to take the risks which lead to new life
and greater consciousness of our true selves;
Then might we and others know, deep within, that
Love surrounds us every moment of every day
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE “Arrival of The Queen of Sheba”
from Solomon by G.F. Handel (1685 -1759)
THANK YOU Thank you to Peter Franklin
our musician today
THANK YOU
Write the Thank You here