June 6, 2021

WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE

GATHERING

In this season as autumn becomes winter we come together this morning

We give thanks for our own life, and our family

For those who gave us birth for those who nurtured us

For the experiences we have had, for the people we have met

For the challenges we have addressed and overcome

For both the down times and for the times of exhilaration

For the love we have received and the love we have given

And so we gather now to reflect and give thanks

We gather here as a community of faith, conscious of our heritage

Living now in the present and awaiting the future.

PROCESSIONAL HYMN                                             AA 113 ‘Our life has its seasons’

Words: © 1992 Shirley Erena MurrayMusic by Colin Gibson © 1992 Hope Publishing Co.

 

1. Our life has its seasons, and God has the reasons

why spring follows winter, and new leaves grow,

for there’s a connection with our resurrection

that flowers will bud after frost and snow,

 

so there’s never a time to stop believing,

there’s never a time for hope to die,

there’s never a time to stop loving,

these things go on.

 

2. But there’s a time to be planting, a time to be plucking,

a time to be laughing, a time to weep,

a time to be building, a time to be breaking,

a time to be waking, a time to sleep,

 

But there’s never a time……

 

3. There’s a time to be hurting, a time to be healing,

a time to be saving, a time to spend,

a time to be grieving, a time to be dancing,

a time for beginning, a time to end.

 

But there’s never a time…

WELCOME

Kia ora tatou.

Kia ora.

PRAYER

Holy One, we thank you for our individuality, our different understandings, interests, skills, and attributes,

And for our diversity as a faith community and our openness to welcoming all irrespective of where they are on their faith journey.

Help us in our lives to see and then do that which is going to be most important and useful for others.

Strengthen us to address the hard tasks, to recognise needs,

to share what we have, to strive for justice for all,

and let us say together the Abba prayer

God, lover of us all, most holy one.

Help us to respond to you.
To create what you want for us here on earth.

Give us today enough for our needs.
Forgive our weak and deliberate offences,
just as we must forgive others when they hurt us.

Help us to resist evil and to do what is good.
For we are yours, endowed with your power
to make our world whole. Amen.

 

LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Ellen Murray
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
It being a Holiday weekend there are activities at the back of the church – and we say.
We bless you. Amen.
PASSING THE PEACE
Traditionally we shake hands to pass the peace and say “peace be with you”. Now that COVID-19 is here we ask that you pass the peace without shaking hands.
HYMN ‘Now Be Aware’
Words © 1965 Iris McCoy, Tune: Mit Freuden Zart, public domain WOV 27

1. Now be aware, and glory in
this fellowship with others.
That learns to give and take with grace:
where there is life it gathers.
It deepens joy, it eases strain,
it heartens those who live with pain.
Each strengthens each, together.

2. The wordless touch where sorrow is.
The sharing of a vict’ry:
the flash of mind when insight leaps
to truth, provoked by query.
The freedom of our fellowship
accepts us as we are, and this
is God’s own gift of liberty.

3. Now be aware that hearts and hands
and minds are rich when sharing:
for here within this fellowship
the strength of God is growing.
Now life has reason, love has powers
beyond our own, for into ours
the love of God is flowing.

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THE WORD IN TEXTS Valerie Rhodes
Gospel Mark 3: 31-35
Contemporary reading AA 158 ‘Who is my mother?’
Words © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray
Music © 1993 Ian Render
For our Contemporary reading this morning let us stay seated and sing Shirley Murray’s hymn “Who is my mother?”

1. Who is my mother?
Who is my brother?
All those who gather around Jesus Christ:
Spirit blown people
born from the Gospel
sit at the table, round Jesus Christ.

2. Differently abled,
differently labelled
widen the circle round Jesus Christ,
crutches and stigmas,
cultures’ enigmas
all come together round Jesus Christ

3. Love will relate us
colour or status
can’t segregate us round Jesus Christ:
family failings,
human derailings,
all are accepted, round Jesus Christ.

4. 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, round Jesus Christ
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
REFLECTION ‘What makes these relationships special?’ Rev. Barrie Keenan

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OFFERTORY MUSIC
OFFERING HYMN Tune: Duke Street WOV 24
Willing hands, to lead the blind,
heal the wounded, feed the poor.
Love embracing all our kind,
charity with liberal store.

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.
OFFERING PRAYER
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 Greece and the Church of Greece. We hold all refugees in our hearts. We pray in particular for those detained for many years in Papua New Guinea & Nauru. We give thanks for progress that has been made and pray that their calls for justice might yet find a compassionate response. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Andrew Bayly (Port Waikato) and Glen Bennett (New Plymouth). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Stratford.

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PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S

Renew your people, God,
and renew our life in this place.
Give us a new spirit of unity
with all who follow the Way of Jesus
and new bonds of love
with people of other faiths.

Bless the city in which we live
that it may be a place
where honest dealing,
good government,
the desire for beauty,
and the care for others flourish.

Bless this church
that what we know of your will
may become what we do,
and what we believe
the strong impulse
of our worship and work.

Amen

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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 FFS 57 ‘Song of faith that sings forever’ vs 1-3
Words: Shirley Murray © Hope Publishing Co. 1999
Music: Abbeyfield Colin Gibson © Hope Publishing co. 1999

1. Song of faith that sings forever
through God's people, ages long,
Word that holds the world together
when our hearts take up the song,
always, always, somewhere sounding,
though the source we do not see,
counterpoint to all despairing,
it is hope that sets the key.

2. Song of faith in exaltation,
rising through the vaults of prayer,
tune of simple celebration
offered up in open air,
song in chapel and cathedral,
descant to our daily tone,
song from sickbed or in prison,
faith must often sing alone.

3. And when life would overwhelm us,
when there seems no song to sing,
hear the constant voice of courage
out of fear and suffering:
all who've loved and trusted Jesus,
all who lift us to be strong,
endless, endless are the voices
of the faith that makes the song.
COMMUNION TODAY

Communion today, because of Covid-19 is served by using individual communion glasses. You are invited to come to the front of the church and receive the bread, which is gluten-free, and then a communion glass, and having partaken of the elements, place the glass in the “basket” held by the “receiver” and then make you way back to your seat.
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.
OUR COMMUNION LITURGY
In our lives we have eaten, taken food and drink, in many different places. Sometimes on our own, but more often with others, different people or groups of people, with members of our family, possibly mother, sister and brother, with friends and sometimes with strangers.

Jesus did this with those he associated with and who associated with him. Inside homes, outside by the lakeside as well as on the hilltop. And then there was that meal in the Upper Room, a special meal, a very special time.

After he was dead those who had known him, those who had followed him, remembered him, especially when they gathered and shared bread and drank wine together. Even though he as dead they realised that because of knowing him they had a different more vibrant attitude to life, more understanding, more compassion, a different sense of justice, a richer love, and a more meaningful faith.

We too strive to follow, to live as we seek to follow “The Way”, to hold onto those things from the past that are meaningful for us, to leave behind those things which are no longer relevant, to be looking for more just, more compassionate, more loving ways to live in our community. As we remember his life, his ministry and his command to us – to love one another as I have loved you.

We take this bread as he took bread and break it as he broke it and we hear the words
This is my body broken for you – do this in remembering me.
And we take the cup as he took the wine, and as we drink it we hear the words
This is my blood, the new covenant participate in this in remembering me.
These are the gifts he gave us for those he asked, and challenged, to follow “The Way”

Come let us partake. The gifts of God for the people of God.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
On this our first Sunday in June, the beginning of the winter season we give thanks for those in whom we saw the light, and those who have encouraged and supported us on “Our Way”. We go on our pilgrimage in new ways, sharing these values and this love with others. So may it be. Amen.

HYMN HIOS 129 ‘Who would walk cheerfully’
Words: © 2009 Shirley Erena Murray
Tune: Monk Gate WOV 467 “Who would true valour see!”

1. Who would walk cheerfully
through storm and shadow,
these hearts beat staunch and free,
wise to the rainbow:
no threat will cloud our sight,
we’ll work for what is right,
we’ll trust the Inner Light
to live as Christians.

2. Who lets the world look dark
is no companion,
we’ll let no dire remark
change our opinion,
we’ll walk the stony track,
strong hope within our pack,
we’ll counter gloom’s attack,
to live as Christians.

3. We’ll walk the world for peace,
makers and menders,
we’ll promote in every place
peaceful agendas:
hands-on to teach and tend,
to see all colours blend,
to meet each soul as friend,
to live as Christians!

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BLESSING
Go from this place committed to recognising human need.
Remember that you are part of a community of people
whose lives are made meaningful by loving service.

We go in the love of God,
We go with the grace of Christ,
We go in the powerful communion of the Holy Spirit,
For the God who is with each one of us is among us now and always.
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE