March 13, 2022

WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE

PRELUDE                                                    

INTRODUCTION                              FIONA

We are doing things differently again today due to the spread of COVID in Wellington. Please bear with us as we make this transition to ZOOM church and any technical difficulties or glitches in the service that may arise.  Many thanks to all the people who have worked so hard and been so flexible in order for this service to happen. Please join in the songs and responses. We won’t be able to hear you but you can still participate!

This service was put together by David Douglas, Laura Hurtado and myself, Fiona McDougal. Laura couldn’t make it today, but David and I have got together in my house in Upper Hutt to lead our worship. Welcome to my home.

We affirm the sustaining and enlivening effects of gathering together to worship, especially in difficult times. People in Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Tonga, Australia and the UK and many other countries round the world also gather to worship today. We unite in solidarity with all who long, as we do for justice, peace and compassion to flourish in our world.

CALL TO WORSHIP                           David

Let there be joy in our coming together in the LIGHT of this
new day.

Let truth be heard in the words we speak and the songs
we sing.

Let there be health and healing for the DARKNESS of disharmony and despair. Let there be silence for the
voice within us and beyond us.

SILENCE

With gratitude in our hearts that we can still worship together, even in these circumstances, we sing our first hymn.

HYMN                           ‘Give thanks for life’

Words © Shirley Murray (AA 45)

Music: SINE NOMINE, Ralph Vaughan Williams (CH4 736&WOV 384)

1. Give thanks for life,

the measure of our days,

mortal, we pass

through beauty that decays,

yet sing to God

our hope, our love, our praise,

Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. Give thanks for those

who made their life a light

caught from the Christ-flame,

bursting through the night,
who touched the truth,

who burned for what is right,  Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

3. And for our own,

our living and our dead,

thanks for the love

by which our life is fed,

a love not changed

by time or death or dread,   Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

4. Give thanks for hope,

that like the wheat, the grain

that lies in darkness

does its life retain

in resurrection

to grow green again,   Alleluia! Alleluia!

WELCOME                                          David

E te whānau a Te Karaiti
Ngā mihi aroha ki a tātou katoa.

Kia ora

 

GATHERING PRAYER
Here in this moment our broken world of violence and racism is not far from us.
We are clearly connected with those who continue to suffer
Here in the presence of our shared lives the broken parts of ourselves are made whole. We sense again our connection with all who celebrate the joy and goodness of life ----

JESUS’ PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase

Eternal Spirit
Life-Giver, Pain-Bearer, Love-Maker,
source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
loving God, in whom is heaven:
the hallowing of your name
echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed
by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done
by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test,
strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory
of the power that is love, now and for ever.
Amen.
HYMN ‘Song of faith that sings forever’
v FFS 57 s 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.

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LIGHTING THE MOSAIC CANDLE Fiona
PASSING THE PEACE
Traditionally we shake hands to pass the peace and say, “peace be with you.” Now that COVID-19 is here, and we are on ZOOM we suggest you greet those you are with at the moment. Or perhaps after the service ends get in touch with someone here today and check in with them to see how they are doing.

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THE WORD IN TEXTS Pat Booth
Hebrew Bible Isaiah 2: 4 – 5
Gospel/New Testament Luke 13: 29 - 35
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.

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REFLECTION Part 1 'Kings and Prophets' David Contemporary reading
The Perfect Mosaic Vanessa Micel
St Athanasius School 8th Grade
We are one people – under God's blue sky. We are one race --- the race of human beings. We are one mosaic – with many different pieces – all fitting together, perfectly. Yet some do not understand, --- that though we are very different, – we belong together, in harmony. Some people think that if people look different that it is a bad thing, but what would a mosaic be without different colours and coloured pieces. It would be nothing, it would not be interesting, but with many colours and shapes and sizes it becomes beautiful like us. Everyone is beautiful – no matter what the colour of their skin, no matter what their shape or size or belief. Because we are one people – under God's blue sky. We are one race, --- the race of human beings. We are one mosaic, with many different pieces, --- all fitting together, perfectly.”
Reflection Part 2 From darkness to light by Laura Hurtado read by Fiona
“Grief, kindness, hope. It has two sides, like day and night. The night part is dark. It is painful and sad. At the same time the night gives hope that soon it will be over and the sun is going to come out.”
Words of Fared Ahmed, whose wife was killed on 15th March 2019. Fared is a member of the NZ Order of Merit for services to interfaith communities.

SONG ‘We are connected’
by Chris Skinner
1. We are connected like branches to the tree.
We all walk the planet, let’s walk with dignity.
No matter our colour, no matter our creed,
all of us are gifted and all of us we need.

2. We are connected, one great family.
Let’s light the fire together and let it shine for all to see.
Shine, everybody standing in the light;
shine, everybody warmed by the fire.

3. Shine, no one left in the dark or in the cold;
shine, come together to embrace and to hold;
shine, forgive and heal the hurts that divide;
shine, standing with, along, beside.

4. Shine, Shine! We are connected, connected!
Breath and life, connected.
Earth, sea and sky, connected.
Hands and hearts, connected.

5. We are connected like branches to the tree.
We all walk the planet, let’s walk with dignity.
No matter our colour, no matter our creed,
all of us are gifted and all of us we need.

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LITANY David
A litany celebrating Hebrew insights and Islamic traditional verses from the Holy Quran.
The Talmud and the Rabbis teach:
“We share similar ethical and moral values and some key religious practices. We believe in one God with different names and worshipped in different ways. We can learn about each other's faith which encourages us to learn more and so deepen our own faith.
We recognise the divine in each person. “That since we are ‘made in the image of God’ this not only calls us to strive to be holy because God is holy but that every act of disrespect to another human being is an act of disrespect towards God himself.” that the righteous of all nations have a share in the world to come so we must be tolerant, understanding, and informed as to the various ways righteousness may be achieved.”
Islam also teaches the acceptance of human diversity:
“Had God so willed He could have made Mankind as one community that he may try you, but He made you as you are. So live with one another in good works.
To God you will return and then He will inform you in that which you differed.” (Sura V. v.111) “We believe in God and the revelation given to us and to Abraham and Ismail, Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to all the prophets from their Lord and we make no differences between one another of them as we bow to God.” (Sura 11. v. 136) “If the enemy incline toward peace, do also incline toward peace and trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things.” (Sura V111. v.61) “The servants of God Most Gracious are those who walk on earth with humility and when the ignorant address them, they say, 'Peace'.” (Sura XXV. v.53) “O Mankind we created you from a single pair of a male and female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other, not that ye may despise each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things.” (Sura XL1X, v.13)

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OFFERING Fiona
We can’t physically give our offering today, but some already give online. Another option might be to give to a charity online. Or as you listen to the offering music pause to think of someone you could offer a helping hand to this week.
OFFERTORY MUSIC

OFFERING HYMN AA 127 ‘Take my gifts’
Words©1992 Shirley Erena Murray Music 1992 ©Colin Gibson Hope Publishing Co vs 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.
OFFERING PRAYER Fiona
Glynn Cardy “A book of blessings”
Blessed is a world where the weak
are protected, none go hungry,
and the benefits of life are shared.
Blessed is a world where everyone
Is treated with dignity and respect,
And all know a safe place called home.
Blessed is a world where animals
and plants, the land and the oceans,
are respected and cherished.
Blessed is a world where peace is grounded
In justice, justice is guided by love,
And love is gifted unconditionally.
Blessed is a world where with courage,
kindness, and grace we stand together,
and create this vision of hope.

May our offering today fulfil that blessing
Amen

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NOTICES- please send any notices for the coming week to the office to be included in the next e-news.

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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Nicaragua. 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 Penny Simmonds (Invercargill) and Scott Simpson (Coromandel). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Hunterville.
 
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
HYMN ‘God make us agents
of joyful rebellion’
Words:©David Bjorlin 202 Gia Publications
Music: REBELLION ©Benjamin Brody 2017 Gia Publications

1. God, make us agents of joyful rebellion,
called to resist sullen empires of fear.
Fuelled not by hatred but love for all people,
we stand united, assured you are here.

2. Some will be Marys who sing down injustice,
others, like Moses will speak truth to power.
Few like brave midwives, will shield life from evil.
All must be prophets awake for this hour.

3. Laughing in answer to snarling derision,
we dance to counter oppression and pain.
Feasting together despite our divisions,
we pledge ourselves to Christ’s upside-down reign.

4. God, make us agents of joyful rebellion,
called to sing out till our faith is made sight.
Fuelled by the stories of saintly subversives,
we stand united, your justice our light.

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BLESSING Fiona
In times of turmoil and terror,
may your spirit of kindness and compassion be with us.
In change and chaos
May we find strength and groundedness
in the creator who shapes and sustains us.
As we look ahead to another week
May we walk the way of Jesus,
knowing that presence
All the moments of our lives.
SUNG AMEN