January 5, 2020
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Welcome to St Andrew’s on The Terrace
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 here.
Please join in the congregational responses printed in bold italics.
Please stand if you are able, for the hymns and the offering prayer.
We usually sing the hymns without announcement.
To use the loop system in the church, turn your hearing aids on to the appropriate setting.
Printed copies of the reflection are available at the back of the church for people with extreme hearing loss. For others they can be picked up at the end of the Gathering.
Please note your nearest fire exit.
The church and hall have been earthquake strengthened. In an earthquake: drop, cover and hold.
CALL TO WORSHIP Luke 2:14
he kororia ki te Atua
Salute to God
he maungarongo ki te whenua
Peacefulness be upon the Land
whakaaro pai ki te tangata
Goodwill to the People
PROCESSIONAL HYMN FFS 63 ‘These Hills’
Words and music by Colin Gibson
Words and music © 1998 Hope Publishing Company
1. These hills where the hawk flies lonely,
beaches where the long surf rolls,
mountain where the snows meet heaven,
these are our care.
Pastures where the sheep graze calmly,
orchards where the apples grow,
gardens where the roses cluster,
these are our prayer.
2. Cities where young roam restless,
lives brought to deep despair,
homeless and powerless people,
these are our care,
Places where the Word is spoken,
hands held in serving love,
faiths of our many cultures,
these are our prayer.
3. All that the old world gave us,
all that the new world brings,
language, ideas and customs,
these are our care,
Life finding joy and value,
faith seeking truth and light,
God heard and seen in all things,
this be our prayer.
WELCOME
Naumai haeremai, tena koutou katoa.
Kia ora.
PRAYER concluding… (said together)
And now, teach us to live our own lives gently and kindly
with each other, looking at ourselves and our world through
your eyes of respect and hope and light, Amen
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
BLOWING YOUR OWN TRUMPET
PASSING THE PEACE
HYMN WOV 551 ‘I sing a song of the saints of God’
Words: Lesbia Scott & Donald Feist Music: Grand Isle, © 2002 Choristers Guild
1. I sing a song of the saints of God,
patient and brave and true,
who toiled and fought and lived and died
for the Lord they loved and knew;
one was a doctor and one was a nurse,
one kept a shop and one drove a hearse:
they were all of them saints of God; and I mean,
God helping to be one too.
2. They loved their Lord and they followed him,
his love for them made them strong;
and they followed the right for Jesus’ sake
the whole of their good lives long;
and one was a teacher and one was a priest,
and one was a chef who served a big feast,
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least
why I shouldn’t be one too.
3. They lived not only in ages past,
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the happy saints
who love to do Jesus’ will;
you can meet them in school, on the street or at sea,
in church, on the bus, in shops, on TV,
for the saints of God began just like me,
AND I MEAN TO BE ONE TOO.
THE WORD IN TEXTS Heather Macfarlane
Hebrew Bible Isaiah 60:1-6
Gospel Matthew 2: 1-12
Contemporary reading “Gifting”
The concept of gifting was central in the lives of Maori. It was a guiding principle and helped maintain the mana of individuals, communities and tribes. Some of the most beautiful or significant carvings were gifts made to leaders for their strength and also for their spirituality. It was a high honour to receive a carved pounamu. Maori are strongly connected to the spiritual world and so very connected to te whenua - the land around them. Pounamu comes from the land: it’s held in high regard as taonga (treasure). It’s a strong and durable stone, so such carvings last for many generations. Alongside gifting within their tribes and families, pounamu was also historically used when tribal wars were over, signifying a gift that was to seal the peace treaty between the two iwi.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks
REFLECTION Epiphany : “aha” moments! Ken Irwin
SILENCE
THE MILENNIUM AFFIRMATION (we say together)
Let there be:
Respect for the earth
Peace for its people
Love in our lives
Delight in the good
Forgiveness for past wrongs
And from now on
A new start
OFFERING & 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 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 Lois Robertson
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Tunisia and the Muslim people in Tunisia and throughout the world. We remember the detainees of Manus and Nauru Islands, yearning that their cases be resolved. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Golriz Ghahraman and Paul Goldsmith list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Pacific Islanders’ Church of Christ The King, Porirua.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
HYMN AA127 ‘Take my Gifts’
Words © 1992 Shirley Murray. Music ©1992 Colin Gibson. Hope Publishing Company
1. Take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me,
gave me light and food and shelter,
gave me life and set me free.
Now, because your love has touched me,
I have love to give away;
now the bread of love is rising,
loaves of love to multiply!
2. Take the fruit that I have gathered
from the tree your Spirit sowed,
harvest of your own compassion,
juice that makes the wine of God;
Spiced with humour, laced with laughter
flavour of the Jesus life,
tang of risk and new adventure,
taste and zest beyond belief.
Verse 3 on next page…
3. Take whatever I can offer-
gifts that I have yet to find,
skills that I am slow to sharpen,
talents of the hand and mind,
things made beautiful for others
in the place where I must be:
take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me
THE BENEDICTION
We go now into God’s world, with our gifts
And we are sure the God of Love is already there!
E tumanako me te whakamanawa me te rangimarie ki te tangata tatou
May hopefulness blessing and peace be with our people
SUNG AMEN
THANK YOU
THANK YOU Judy Dumbleton
Our musician today