November 13, 2022
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Today’s service is lead by Rev Dr Fei Taule’ale’ausumai
PRELUDE Concerto 3 in C major
(First movement) by J S Bach/Vivaldi BWV 594
CALL TO WORSHIP
The world weeps,
but somewhere beyond our sight there is a dancing.
The creation groans,
but deep within its life there is still a singing.
Our hearts are empty of God
but suddenly Christ sits at table between us
and invites us to a feast of life.
Let us worship God!
SILENCE
PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘CH738 ‘Glorious things of thee are spoken’
© Music: Franz Joseph Haydn, © Lyrics: John Newton
- Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
he whose word cannot be broken
formed thee for his own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
thou mayest smile at all thy foes.
- See! the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters,
and all fear of want removed.
Who can faint while such a river
ever will their thirst assuage –
grace which, like the One the Giver,
never fails from age to age?
- Saviour, since of Zion’s city
I, through grace, a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy name.
Fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
and all boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasure
none but Zion’s children know.
WELCOME
E te whānau a te Karaiti,
ngā mihi aroha ki a tātou katoa.
Kia ora tātou.
Talofa lava.
Talofa.
GATHERING
Let us pause to give thanks
for those things we appreciate,
hold in our hearts those who need our concern.
We give thanks for sacred spaces all around us.
We seek wisdom in our decision-making.
May our liturgy – the work of the people
be harmonious with our mission.
We who are privileged to meet
in this special place
reflect on our needs and the desires of our hearts.
PRAYER
Come and see the grace of God for us.
We are loved as we are, not as we believe we should be.
We are given forgiveness as a gift,
beyond anything we have deserved or earned.
Let us lift up our hearts and receive our freedom. Amen.
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.
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
We light the rainbow candle in celebration of our rainbow community and our children.
FAMILY TIME Rosemary Lawrence
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We send you to the Rainbow Room 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 Valerie Rhodes
Hebrew Bible Isaiah 65:17-25
Epistle 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Contemporary reading ‘My hope Is Me’ a work by Rose
I am homeless, I have no house, I have no bed.
But don’t think I am hopeless. They are two different words.
I may not have a kitchen or a TV but I still eat meals and seek entertainment.
I may not have a backyard, but this city is a playground bigger than any.
I may not have a dinner table surrounded by my loved ones; but I still share
my meals with my friends on the street.
I may not have fancy or clean clothes but I am warm and I know many of my
friends are not.
I may not bathe regularly but I appreciate every shower as if it’s my last. How
often do you value every minute of hot water?
I may smell bad as you walk past me but that really is the least of either of our
problems!
I may be an inconvenience or make you feel uncomfortable but your pity has
bought me lunch today so I am thankful regardless.
I may find comfort in the addictions that ease my boredom and dull my pain
but who are you to point the fingers wrapped around iPhones and another
coffee cup.
I may sleep with all my clothes on for warmth and my possessions as a hard
pillow but at least I know they will be there in the morning.
I may want for things I cannot have but that is the hope that keeps me going.
That hope is not something I can buy or drink, it doesn’t come with free
blankets or a shelter bed. It is not in hot food or my welfare cheque, nor
is it a person or place.
It’s just hope!
Just a simple belief that I am more than where I sleep or what I wear.
My hope comes from the schoolgirl who stops and sits with me while she
waits for the bus.
My hope is in the eyes of the stranger who smiles every morning.
My hope knows no racism, no hate, no judgement, no bias.
My hope is mine and you may take every THING – but my hope is ME!
As long as I breathe, I hope.
Homeless or not, I hope for more than you know!
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
HYMN ‘E Te Atua’
Words and Music: Traditional
Tune: KUM BA YA AA31
- E te Atua aroha mai [x3] O God love us
ake ake tonu e. forever and ever.
- E te Atua manaaki mai [x3] O God bless us
ake ake tonu e. forever and ever.
- E te Atua awhina mai [x3] O God help us
ake ake tonu e. forever and ever.
REFLECTION The promise of peace & idleness Rev Dr Fei Taule’ale’ausumai
HYMN FFS 63 ‘These hills where the hawk flies lonely’
Words and music by Colin Gibson
Words and music © 1998 Hope Publishing Company
- These hills where the hawk flies lonely,
beaches where the long surf rolls,
mountains 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.
- Cities where the 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.
- All that the old world gave us,
all that the new world brings,
language, ideas, 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.
OFFERING MUSIC Aria from Concerto Grosso No 12
by G F Handel (arr Trevor)
OFFERING HYMN AA 127 ‘Take my gifts’ v3
Words © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray, (Admin. by Hope Publishing Company)
Music: ©1992 Colin Gibson Hope Publishing Co.
Take whatever I can offer –
gifts that I have yet to find,
skills that I am slow to sharpen,
talents of the heart 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
Hold out your hands, God of grace, and receive all that we offer. Take our lives, our love and all that we bring in faith today and use us and our gifts for the well-being of the world. Amen.
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 Pat Booth
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of the Christian World Service partners ‘The Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga’ working for a more democratic form of government and good governance through awareness raising, advocacy and lobbying, and the Tonga Community Development Trust’s work focusing on development for women. We hold all refugees in our hearts. We pray for the 122 refuges still detained in 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 Sarah Pallett (Ilam) and The Hon David Parker (List). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Porirua – Pacific Islanders – Church of Christ The King.
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 Who Sets Us On A Journey’
Words: Joy Dine
Tune: Hyfrydol WOV148ii
- God who sets us on a journey
- to discover, dream and grow,
lead us as you led your people
in the desert long ago;
journey inward, journey outward,
stir the spirit, stretch the mind,
love for God and self and neighbour
marks the way that Christ defined. - Exploration brings new insights,
changes, choices we must face;
give us wisdom in deciding,
mindful always of your grace;
should we stumble, lose our bearings,
find it hard to know what’s right,
we regain our true direction
focused on the Jesus light.
- End our longing for the old days,
grant the vision that we lack –
once we’ve started on this journey
there can be no turning back;
let us travel light, discarding
excess baggage from our past,
cherish only what’s essential,
choosing treasure that will last.
- When we set up camp and settle
to avoid love’s risk and pain,
you disturb complacent comfort,
pull the tent pegs up again;
keep us travelling in the knowledge
you are always at our side;
give us courage for the journey,
Christ our goal and Christ our guide.
SUNG BLESSING FFS 49 ‘May the God of new beginnings’
Words © 2000 John Murray, Music © 2000 Colin Gibson
Reprinted under One License A-623996. All rights reserved
May the God of new beginnings start with you and me.
May the God of continuing story speak through you and me.
May the God of infinite wisdom shine in you and me.
May the God of safe homecomings welcome you and me.
Maori benediction:
Kia tau kia tatou katoa, te atawhai o to tatou Ariki a Ihu Karaiti,
Me te aroha o te Atua,
Me te whiwhinga tahitanga ki te wairua tapu.
Ake, ake, Amine.
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE A World Full of Possibilities by Mons Leidvin Takle
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THANK YOU
THANK YOU
Judy Dumbleton
our musician today