December 31, 2017
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
GATHERING
Spirit of life, bring to us beauty.
The beauty of coloured wild flowers and ripened fruit.
Bring to us strength.
The strength of torrents of rain-filled rivers
and the quiet strength of a Pohutukawa’s roots,
holding on to shoreline cliffs.
Bring to us pleasure.
The pleasures of maple syrup on pancakes
and the wind grabbing a kite and taking it high.
Bring to us wisdom.
The knowledge that new life springs up without help.
In spite of everything we do or do not do.
Spirit of life, come to us
that all the energy and power of the seasons of the year
will make us tall and smiling and expectant.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN AA72 ‘In this familiar place’
Words & Music by Colin Gibson
Words & Music © 1994 Hope Publishing Co.
In this familiar place
I know the mystery of your grace.
Refrain:
For the love that I receive, for the truth that I believe,
I praise and thank you; for this here and now.
In halting song and word
the music of your voice is heard. Refrain
Among these friends of mine
I taste the company divine. Refrain
Within this narrow sphere
I learn that you are everywhere. Refrain
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
Please stand
RECOGNISING THE SACRED
As we gather together for the last time this year;
in these seasons of Christmas, New Year, and Summer,
may we give thanks for the past,
and celebrate the future, yet unknown,
which shall be woven out of our possibilities and realities,
our hopes and our fears.
People face the North
We turn to face the direction North
the season of Summer and the element of water,
and search it for a blessing we might carry into that future.
The gift of the North is love, for it speaks of great endurance.
Love offers us, above all else, the power of strength in adversity.
May we hold love in our hearts…
and bring to our future the gentle power
of strength in adversity.
We bring blue, colour of water,
stronger than any obstacle, and place love
in our circle, the world.
If you are wearing blue move to the North and stand
Silence
People turn right and face the East
We turn to face East, the direction of the rising sun,
the season of Spring and the element of air,
and search it for a blessing we might carry into that future.
The gift of the East is wisdom.
In the morning light we can see and know
and understand more clearly.
It speaks of the breath of new life on earth.
Wisdom offers us, above all else, the confidence
to know ourselves more fully.
May we hold wisdom before us and with it...
bring to our future the confidence to know
ourselves more fully.
We bring white, colour of air, wrapping all life,
and place wisdom in our circle, the world.
If you are wearing white move to the east.
Silence
People turn right and face the South
We turn to the South, the direction of Winter
and the element of earth,
and search it for a blessing we might carry into that future.
The gift of the South is mystery, for,
in the silent darkness of the earth, possibility
stretches toward its future light.
Mystery offers us, above all else, the courage to dream
and wait and dream again.
May we hold mystery in our depths of our being...
and bring to our future the courage to dream
and wait and dream again.
We bring green, colour of the earth,
fertile with possibility, and place mystery
in our circle, the world.
If you are wearing green move to the south
Silence
The people turn right and face West
We turn to the West the place of the setting sun,
the season of autumn and the element of fire,
and search it for a blessing we might carry into that future.
The gift of the West is beauty,
for it speaks of great peace and serenity.
Beauty offers us, above all else, the freedom to live
in wonder and gratitude.
May we carry beauty in our lives...
and bring to our future the freedom
to live in wonder and gratitude.
We bring red, colour of fire, dancing
and casting light, and place beauty
in our circle, the world.
If you are wearing Red move to the west
For the rest please find the gift of the colours you are wearing.
Silence
Look at this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course lie all the verities and realities of your existence:
the bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendour of beauty.
For yesterday is but a dream,
and tomorrow is only a vision,
but today, well lived, makes every yesterday
a dream of happiness
and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore, to this day. (Sanskrit/ep)
(MTWinter/wpws. Adapted by G Vosper & R Hunt for the Common Dreams 2 Conference, Melbourne 2010)
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!
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Sue McRae
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We hope you will enjoy worship working with the activity pages.
We bless you. Amen.
HYMN AA 113 ‘Our life has its seasons’
Words © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray. Music by Colin Gibson.
Music © 1992 Hope Publishing Company
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.
Refrain: 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 three things go on.
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. Refrain
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. Refrain
THE WORD IN TEXTS John Morgan
Epistle Colossians 3: 12-17
Gospel Luke 2: 22-40
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks
REFLECTION ‘My chat with Santa’ Ross Scott
Litany for the Past Year
Let us remember and celebrate the past year.
First candle is lit
We light this candle remembering the children
who were baptised/attended the Rainbow Room this past year.
This light beams so that all young people may be able
to grow up receiving affection and protection.
Silence
Second candle is lit
We light this second candle remembering all those
who have experienced grief and loss in our congregation:
the death of a loved one,
the ending of a significant relationship,
the loss of employment.
This light beams for their continuing comfort and support.
Silence
Third candle is lit
We light this third candle remembering all those who
have shared in ministry in this place:
Ministers, lay preachers, organists and singers,
those who offered pastoral care
or reminded us of our wider community,
those who visited hospitals, nursing homes,
cooked meals or offered transport.
This light beams with the acts of compassion
offered by/shared in our midst.
Silence
Fourth candle is lit
We light this fourth candle remembering all those who
have visited our congregation in recent times
and decided to call this place 'home'.
This light beams in order that we continue
to explore and enjoy everything we have received, as a gift.
Silence
Fifth candle is lit
We light this fifth candle mindful of those who
have called us to risk the way of Jesus:
to create inclusive and safe,
open, and honest communities for all.
This light beams as a symbol of hope
in the midst of both challenge and comfort.
Silence
Sixth candle is lit
We light this sixth candle having each and every one of us in mind,
bearing each other in strength and weaknesses,
anxieties and hopes.
This light beams on the pathways we have welcomed
and where we didn't want to go.
It will continue to shine for each of us
on the new pathways we will tread.
Silence
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
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Central African Republic and the Congo. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Tutehounuku Kaoako and Melissa Lee list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Stratford - St Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
OFFERING PRAYER
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.
HYMN AA 87 ‘Lift high the cross’
Words: George W Kitchin, Shirley Erena Murray (adp)
Music: Sydney H Nicholson
Words © 1992 Hope Publishing Co. Music © 1974 Hope Publishing Co.
Refrain: Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his glorious name!
Come, Christian people, sing your praises, shout!
if we are silent, even stones cry out. Refrain
Jesus, you wept to see our human strife,
teach us compassion for each human life. Refrain
Peace was your plea, and peace your loving theme,
let peace be our passport, peace a living dream. Refrain
Great is the cost of walking on this road,
to follow and suffer with the Son of God. Refrain
Worlds to be born and children yet to be
come, take up this song into eternity. Refrain
BLESSING
Our time in this sacred
place may have ended,
but our connection to each other
and our respective communities remain.
May our God……
SUNG AMEN
THANK YOU Vivien Chiu
Our Musician today
Unless otherwise stated all hymns are used by permission CCLI Licence 341550