WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
GATHERING
We gather around the table
Seeking a community based on love
We welcome whanau to this place
They seek a community based on love
We will leave today and go out of these doors
Seeking to create and recreate communities of love
PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘The church needs a foundation’
Words © 2015 & 2019 Susan Jones Music Aurelia WOV 385
The church needs a foundation though not of brick or stone
For buildings are but shelter from rain or hailstorm.
They symbolise commitment they resonate with praise
But humans form the true church in these postmodern days.
Through Christendom’s great worship the rafters have been wrung,
We’ve gazed at stained glass windows, made sure the brass has shone.
We’ve consecrated, maintained, we’ve renovated but
Religion’s modern rituals are those postmoderns cut.
God’s commonwealth of spirit is not built out of wood
But by our follow’ng Jesus with praxis that is good.
Postmodern ‘church’ emerges in fresh expressions, new,
With talk and acts of justice, compassion which is true.
In our time we now follow Jesus upon the Way,
On terms for us authentic, and honest for this day.
We see our ‘church’ re-forming, the Spirit helps it grow;
We see again a future where faith will always flow.
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER and JESUS’ PRAYER
O creative Breath, ebbing and flowing through all forms,
Free us from all constrictions,
so that the current of thy life may move in us without hinderance.
Empower us with thy creativity, and clothe us with royal dignity,
So that, fully at one with the vortex of thy desire,
sacred actions pour forth from us with each breath we release.
Renew in us this day our lifebreath, vigour, and passion,
And untie the tangled threads of destiny which bind us,
as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes.
Do not let us lose ourselves in distraction,
but by the way of the breath, lead us into mindfulness.
For from thy depths pour forth
the Way, the Life, and the Splendour, from age to age, it is so. Ameyn.
Used with permission of Mark Hathaway. Mark Hathaway and Neil Douglas-Klotz’s work can be found at: www.taoofliberation.com and www.abwoon.com
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Susan Jones
RECEPTION OF WHANAU MEMBERS
Alan Rhodes
I was born in Wellington spending the first twelve years living in Kent Terrace. I was schooled at Clyde Quay, then Wellington College. Teenage years saw me enjoying life on the water’s edge at Lyall Bay. As an only child, I revelled in suburban friends and teenage activities. I married Valerie in 1955, settling in Upper Hutt. I choose Optometry as a vocation and practised in that rather quiet dormitory town. We had two children (now around 60!) and left in 1993 to build in Kelburn. Six years ago, we shifted to Herbert Gardens on the Terrace. My interests have been, and mostly still are, photography (with my own darkroom), playing the piano (still playing light heartedly), table tennis, croquet with Valerie, volunteering for twenty odd years at Zealandia in the maintenance workshop, video editing and playing both social and club bridge
Michael Parker
I was the first born (1946) to Dad a returning service man and Mum who had worked as a nurse. I grew up on the rugged South Coast Wellington and attended Wellington College. I left school in 1962 to work as a clerk in the cement business at Francis Holmes Ltd, then did some University papers at Victoria.
In 1972 I bought 50% interest in Parker Ferguson Furniture. After marriage in 1973 to Judy, by 1979 we had 2 daughters and a son. By 1986 we were able to build overlooking Browns Bay, Whitby. Life was always demanding but in truth I delighted in all the challenges and children.
In 2007, our family experienced the life changing trauma of our son Nicholas’ death in a truck/train accident in Australia. My health disintegrated. We sold the business and retired 31st March 2007. I slowly recovered over the next 5 years. We remain married today thanks to Judy’s staunch character. Since 2018 we have lived near Pauatahanui.
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!
SOLO 'Then shall the righteous shine forth’
sung by Jamie Young
from Elijah by Mendelssohn.
accompanied by Peter Franklin
THE WORD IN TEXTS Frances Porter
Hebrew Bible 2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm Psalm 30: 11-12
Contemporary reading from “Heresy, holiness, and Oprah: Rob Bell interviewed” by Ed Thornton in Church Times 14 June 2018
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2018/15-june/features/features/heresy-holiness-and-oprah-rob-bell-interviewed
Away from the demands of preaching weekly to a congregation of thousands, [Rob Bell] he has done more or less as he pleases: hosting a weekly podcast (“The RobCast”); the comedy-club residency; writing books and a play; going on speaking tours; and surfing. He even had a slot on the Oprah Winfrey Network, in which he mixed motivational life-coaching — “You have more power to create your life than you realise” — with exposition of the Hebrew scriptures.
Unshackled from the expectations of a congregation, he has also voiced support for same-sex marriage. “Whoever you are, gay or straight, it is totally normal, natural, and healthy to want someone to go through life with,” he told Oprah… “The past few years have been. . . shall I use the word ‘fun’?” Bell says. “It’s just been absolutely amazing. . . The environment here in Los Angeles is . . . like being home.”
Bell’s job and location might have changed, but his fundamental sense of calling has not: he believes the sermon is “an art form” which needs reclaiming as “somewhere between guerrilla theatre and performance art”. “I’ve been trying to reclaim the sermon for everybody, not for a group of religious people over here, but for everybody, about what it means to be human.”
This desire to open the sermon up to people outside Christian subcultures has always animated him, he says: it led to his starting Mars Hill, in a disused shopping mall; to his touring clubs and theatres with shows such as Everything is Spiritual and The Gods aren’t Angry, and his hugely popular Nooma DVDs; and, ultimately, to where he is today, talking about Ecclesiastes in a sweaty comedy club.
People outside the churches are hungry for depth, he says. Western culture is consumed by “treble notes”, the “of-the-moment, pressing concerns, what hit the internet 17 minutes ago”. People increasingly crave “the bass notes”, he says: the deeper matters that human beings have talked about for thousands of years. “And when somebody can tell you a story, can quote a text, they can help you see that the thing that you are facing, that you are struggling with, that you are confronted by — oh yeah, people have been wrestling with that for thousands of years. And here’s some of the truths, some of the insights, some of the wisdom in the shared human experience. It’s amazing how much we’re craving this. And especially as people leave what you think of as conventional religion — they’re desperate for bass notes.”
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture, for the Word among us, for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
HYMN ‘Let us reach down deep inside us.’
Words © 2015 Susan Jones Tune Gaelic Traditional Melody. Arr © John Bell. FFS 10(i)
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.
Wind and fire and earthquake pass but Spirit is not found in them;
Still, small voice is hardly heard, but brings Love which does not condemn.
In lives buffeted by windstorms, rocked by quakes and scorched by fire,
stillness brings surprising solace as we find there, hearts’ desire.
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
REFLECTION ‘Bible – Literal or Symbolic: Bass Notes’ Susan Jones
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
We bring what we can to support the work done by this church here and beyond these walls. We bring food for those who need it. May both money and food be used well so they achieve the purposes which they can effect in this world. 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 Sandra Kirby
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Poland and the Polish Catholic Church. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name James Shaw and Jamie Strange list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Stratford.
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 ‘She sits like a bird’
on card
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). You are invited then to 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 WOV 478 ‘Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer’
Words: William Williams (1717-1791) tr. Peter Williams
& Williams Williams. Music: Cwm Rhondda WOV 478
Guide me, O thou great redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand;
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer;
Be thou still my strength and shield;
Be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's destruction
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.
BLESSING
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE Toccata (IV) from Opus 25 “Suite Gothique”
by Boëllmann (1862 – 1897)
THANK YOU Thank you to Peter Franklin and Jamie Young
our musicians 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