October 20, 2019
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
GATHERING
Faith simply residing in our heads doesn’t change much
Faith needs to have an outlet, to flow on into the world.
Faith expressed in poetic words only achieves so much
Faith needs to be acted out allowing compassion to be shown.
Faith enclosed in books is shut away from reality
May our lives be open books, our passion for justice and love for
others easy to read in how we speak, spend money, and act.
Amen.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN AA 55 ‘Great and deep the Spirit’s purpose’
Words: © 1989 Marnie Barrell. Music © 1989 Colin Gibson
Great and deep the Spirit's purpose,
hidden now in mystery;
Nature bursts with joyful promise,
ripe with what is yet to be.
In a wealth of rich invention,
still the work of art unfolds -
barely have we seen, and faintly,
what God's great salvation holds.
Great and deep the Spirit's purpose
making Jesus seen and heard.
Every age of God's creation
grasps new meanings from the Word.
Show us, Holy Spirit, show us
your new work begun today;
eyes and ears and hearts are open,
teach us what to do and say.
Great and deep the Spirit's purpose
all God's children brought to birth,
freed from hunger, fear and evil
every corner of the earth.
And a million million voices
speak with joy the Saviour's name;
every face reflects his image,
never any two the same.
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
LORD’S PRAYER
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
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 Barrie Keenan
Epistle James 2: 14-26
Contemporary reading From “Compassion not Sacrifice”
by Richard Rohr
https://cac.org/compassion-not-sacrifice-2019-07-10/
The spirit of goodness, rightness, beauty, and aliveness, Jesus said, is always moving. Like wind, like breath, like water, the Spirit is in motion, inviting us to enter the current and flow.
The problem is that we often stop moving. We resist the flow. We get stuck. The word institution itself means something that stands rather than moves. When our institutions lack movements to propel them forward, the Spirit, I believe, simply moves around them, like a current around a rock in a stream. But when the priestly/institutional and prophetic/movement impulses work together, institutions provide stability and continuity and movements provide direction and dynamism. Like skeleton and muscles, the two are meant to work together.
For that to happen, we need a common spirituality to infuse both our priestly/institutional- and our prophetic/movement-oriented wings. The spirituality will often be derived from the mystical/poetic/contemplative streams within our tradition. Without that shared spirituality, without that soul work that opens our deepest selves to God and grounds our souls in love, no movement will succeed and no institution will stand. . . . It’s the linking of action and contemplation, great work and deep spirituality, that keeps the goodness, rightness, beauty, and aliveness flowing.
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 © 2016 Susan Jones
Music: FFS 10(i) Gaelic Traditional 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.
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 ‘Faith, Action, Money and Property’ Susan Jones
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
We give out of duty and obligation. Love also impels us to support the work of this church and to give food for those who have not enough.
So with love these gifts are given in the hope they will be received
by those who need them and that Love will be spread further
abroad in the world
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.
AFFIRMATION OF OUR INTENTIONS TOWARDS THE ST ANDREW’S PILLARS
The Pillars stand tall and true,
six signposts for the way in which we intend to journey:
Gathering for worship,
Connecting Spirit and the Arts,
Creating Community and Place,
Exercising Faith in Action
Reflecting and Educating Theologically
and
Caring for Resources wisely and well
Around and among these pillars
we weave the colourful rainbow tapestry
of the Good News
that all are loved
all are welcomed
all are accepted.
The pillars stand tall and true
and we affirm
that our intention is that so will we.
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 Jim Cunningham
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Sri Lanka and the Maldives and the Christian World Service Partners in Sri Lanka focussing on training and income generation, home gardens, research into sustainable agricultural and campaigning on the rights of the poor. We remember the detainees on Manus and Mauru Islands, yearning that their cases be resolved.
In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Meka Whaitiri (Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate) and Poto Williams (Christchurch East electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Kapiti Uniting Parish.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
HYMN AA 59 ‘He came singing love’
Music and Words: © Colin Gibson© 1994 Hope Publishing
He came singing Love
and he lived singing love;
he died, singing love
He arose in silence.
For the love to go on
we must make it our song;
you and I be the singers.
He came singing faith
and he lived singing faith;
he died, singing faith.
He arose in silence.
For the faith to go on
we must make it our song;
you and I be the singers.
He came singing hope
and he lived singing hope;
he died, singing hope.
He arose in silence.
For the hope to go on
we must make it our song;
you and I be the singers.
He came singing peace
and he lived singing peace;
he died, singing peace.
He arose is silence.
For the peace to go on
we must make it our song;
you and I be the singers.
BLESSING
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE
THANK YOU Judy Dumbleton
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 affirmation are original unless acknowledged. If Susan Jones is the worship leader any such 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.
AUDIO REFLECTIONS
Sunday reflections are usually available on our website.
https://www.standrews.org.nz/category/sunday-gathering
THANK YOU
Write the Thank You here