WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Sunday Gathering led by Fiona McDougal
Job prepares to fight with God 9th Century illumination St John Monastery Patmos.
GATHERING
We begin our week together,
honouring this life, with all its potentials and possibilities.
We begin our week with trust
knowing we are created for loving encounter.
We begin our week with hope,
knowing that it can hold
love, kindness,
forgiveness and justice.
We recall the week that has gone,
a pause…..
We ask
May we learn, may we love,
may we live on.
We make room for the unexpected,
May we find wisdom and life
in the unexpected.
Help us to embrace possibility,
respond graciously to disappointment
and hold tenderly those we encounter.
Help us be fully present to the week to come.
(Padraig O Tuama adapted)
PROCESSIONAL HYMN HIOS 42 ‘God comes to us as one unheard’
Words © 1996 Jocelyn Marshall Music: Tune Belmont
God comes to us as one unheard
in silences profound,
or marvels of a symphony,
sublimity of sound.
God comes to us as one unseen
in beauties of the earth:
a seagull’s flight, a sunset sky,
the miracle of birth.
God comes to us as one unknown
to share our joys, our pain:
that presence felt, the gift of grace
our peace and hope sustain.
God comes in unexpected ways,
surprising us with joy,
reminding that the light of love
no darkness can destroy.
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
JESUS PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase on card
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
TIME WITH CHILDREN Fiona McDougal
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We send you to the Rainbow Room programme. May you explore, play
and learn 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 Pat Booth
Hebrew Bible Job 38 1-11, 16-18 and 31-38
New International Version
Contemporary reading “Who is God? The soul’s journey home”
by Irma Zaleski
“The goal of religion is to call us out of our small, frightened self, to make us aware of our finiteness and the poverty of our ordinary thinking mind. Religion does not do away with our ordinary mind- or any aspect of our ordinary human reality. Rather, it stretches it, transforms it and opens it to the Divine Reality. It does not present us with a solution to the Mystery, but summons us to approach it….trembling in awe”.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
HYMN FFS 24 ‘God in the Darkness’
Words © 1997 Elizabeth J Smith Music Tune Christe Sanctorum
God in the darkness, God beyond our knowing
patient creator, seed in secret growing,
rock of the living water ever flowing,
come and renew us.
God in the darkness, God in all our grieving,
friend of our tears, companion never leaving,
drawing us past the limits of believing,
come and renew us.
God in the darkness, God of holy dreaming,
giver of hope, and pledge of our redeeming,
Spirit of truth, our memory and meaning,
come and renew us.
REFLECTION ‘The limits of believing’ Fiona McDougal
HYMN CH4 713 ‘Come all who look to God today.’
Words Richard G Jones Music Gonfalon Royal WOV 251(ii)
Come, all who look to God today,
stretch out your hands, enlarge your mind,
together share the living way
where all who humbly seek will find.
Come, young and old of every faith,
bring all your treasuries of prayer
and seek the living Spirit’s breath
to realise the truths we share.
Bring your tradition’s richest store
your hymns and rites and cherished creeds:
explore your visions, pray for more,
since God delights to meet fresh needs. Amen.
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
Aware of the richness and generosity
which permeate our lives,
we give freely and with glad hearts a portion in return.
May this food and money
nourish bodies, lift hearts and set spirits free,
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 not already in the order of service, 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 Linda Wilkins
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Portugal and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal. We think of the detainees on Manus and Nauru Islands, yearning that their cases may be resolved. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Jenny Salesa (Manukau East electorate) and Alastair Scott (Wairarapa electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St John's Co-operating Church, Waipawa.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
SENDING OUT
We go out from this place
to greet the world,
seeking signs of your presence,
embodying your compassion,
glowing in gratitude and
open to awe.
SUNG BLESSING AA 96 ‘Arohanui blessing’
Words © 1993 Joy Cowley Music © 1993 Ian Render
May the mystery of God enfold you,
may the wisdom of God uphold you,
may the fragrance of God be around you,
may the brightness of God surround you,
may the wonder of God renew you,
may the loving of God flow through you,
may the peace of God deeply move you,
may the moving of God bring you peace.
SUNG AMEN
THANK YOU Vivien Chiu
Our musician today
THANK YOU
Write the Thank You here