WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Readings and Carols for Advent and Christmas
GATHERING
We gather to announce that love is about to be born.
We hear the ancient word
looking forward to this announcement.
We proclaim that light is about to overcome darkness.
Peace and justice shall be possible for all humanity.
The heralding is for us.
We prepare so we can participate in this rebirth of Love.
Our worship together separates the wilderness from the wasteland.
We affirm the hand of God in the movement of life
Let us celebrate life in the presence we name God.
PROCESSIONAL CAROL COC 16 ‘Come to this Christmas singing!’
Words: © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray
Music: Colin Gibson
Come to this Christmas singing!
Come to a birthday bringing
gifts from our country’s treasure,
beauty of shell and stone:
wisdom the old have taught us,
laughter the young have brought us,
love to surround a manger,
making this child our own.
Wealth of our land and water,
riches of race and culture –
these are our gold and incense
offered for Christmas day:
where we make peace, declare it,
where we have much, let’s share it,
aroha warm our hearts, and
aroha be our way.
Here where the sheep are grazing,
where summer sun is blazing
harvests for others ripen –
food for the world can grow:
Christ of a cold December,
quicken us to remember
poverty in a stable,
need, like the sting of snow.
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou
Kia ora
PRAYER
Source of Life - who called the rich to travel toward poverty,
and the powerful to know their own frailty;
who gave to strangers a sense of homecoming in an alien land
and to stargazers’ true light and vision as they bowed to earth –
We lay ourselves open to your signs for us.
Stir us with holy discontent
over a world which gives its gifts to those
who have plenty already,
whose talents are obvious,
whose power is recognized;
And help us both to share our resources
with those who have little,
and to receive with humility
the gifts they bring to us.
(Silence)
Rise within us, like a star,
and make us restless
till we journey forth to seek our rest in you.
JESUS PRAYER on card
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
MEETING A CWS PARTNER
Partner Story from Nicaragua: Recycle Water, Give Life.
Miguel is proud of his garden, which now sustains his family in Nicaragua. He has lost many crops to drought and the family had one meal a day. “We had to ration food,” he says.
He is glad to be part of an agricultural programme run by CEPAD, the Council of Protestant Churches. Installing a new irrigation system means he can grow more food and save the time it took to walk to the river. He has learned to use compost, mulch and all the grey water he can. The seeds and plants provide new vegetables and fruit. Always a very kind man, he is eager to share what he learns with others.
Years of poor harvests have left small farmers with no buffer against drought. They want to learn new farming skills and drink safe water.
Recycle water, give life.
LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE OF JOY
Gracious God
For foundations of joy and delight in the Lord
We give you thanks and praise
For situations where it is painful to rejoice
We ask for your wisdom
For the relentless pursuit of your joy
We light this candle.
Amen.
With your help, Nicaraguan families will have good food and better health. Please support the 2019 Christmas Appeal, so CEPAD can help them meet their daily need for water.
Give Water for Christmas, the essence of survival.
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!
READINGS AND CAROLS FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
INTRODUCTION
READING: Marilyn Wallace
Isaiah: 9: 2-7 A Great Light (Lloyd Geering translation)
ST ANDREW’S SINGERS: English Advent Carol
Come, O come, Emmanuel,
come to ransom Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here,
until the Son of God appear
Come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
cheer our souls by your advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel!
READING: Frances Porter
Luke 2: 1-7 The Birth (James Veitch translation)
POEM: Tony Kirby
‘St Joseph’ by Eileen Duggan
We could not love you better had you lived here,
and had a quarter acre in the north,
doing piecework with saw and nails and hammer
till Caesar bade you forth.
You might have come from Tokomaru for the counting,
along the hot, dust-deep December road,
sighing for Mary in the saddle near you,
short-breathing with her load.
A tall, grave, country workman in the city,
answering questions with an absent nod,
and puzzled by some power, some dignity about him –
protector of a God.
You might have made your way out to Karori,
and stumbled on some open cattle shed,
half-thankful, half-ashamed, to lead her to it,
to rest her weary head.
We could not love you better had we seen you
in your own province, planing on a board,
and droning tender lullabies at twilight
unto a sleepy Lord.
CAROL: COC 8 ‘Child of Christmas story’
Words © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray
Music © 1992 Richard Madden
Child of Christmas story, stable straw and star,
small and sweet and gentle: tell us who you are.
Child whose baby finger round our own is curled,
come and melt our hearts, and come to change the world.
Child of Jew and Gentile, child of white and black –
teach us how to love you, teach us what we lack.
Child of Mary’s courage, birthed in human pain,
tell us what your name is – be our hope again.
READING: Vivien Chiu
Luke 2: 8-14 -The Angels (James Veitch translation)
ST ANDREW’S SINGERS: O COME, HOLY SAVIOUR
(Trad German Carol)
O come, Holy Saviour, O come Holy Son;
O come to the manger in Bethlehem, come
We wait here in darkness and pray for Your light;
We seek Your salvation, Your glory and might.
This advent of glory, the coming of peace,
the dawning of hope in a baby so meek;
A baby so humble, a child yet a king,
Messiah, Emmanuel, Prince of Peace.
O come, all ye nations of Israel come;
O come to the manger in Bethlehem, come.
We wait here in darkness and pray for His light;
We seek His salvation, His glory and might.
We seek His salvation, His glory and might.
POEM: Vhari McWha
‘Christmas’ by Janet Frame
READING: John and Margaret Harper
Luke 2: 15- 20 The Shepherds (James Veitch translation)
CAROL: WOV 236 ‘Silent Night’
Words: Franz Gruber; Music: Joseph Mohr
Silent night, holy night: all is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child,
holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night: shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing ‘Alleluia’;
Christ the Saviour is born, Christ the Saviour is born.
Silent night, holy night: wondrous star, lend your light;
with the angel’s let us sing
Alleluia to our King;
Christ our Saviour is born, Christ our Saviour is born.
POEM: Pam Fuller
‘Advent’ by Joy Cowley
Look now! It is happening again!
Love like a high spring tide
is swelling to fullness
and overflowing the banks
of our small concerns.
And here again is the star,
that white flame of truth
blazing the way for us
through a desert of tired words.
Once more comes the music,
angel song that lifts our hearts
and tunes our ears
to the harmony of the universe,
making us wonder
how we ever could have forgotten.
And now the magi within us
gathers up gifts of gold and myrrh,
while that other part of ourselves,
the impulsive, reckless shepherd,
runs helter skelter with arms outstretched
to embrace the wonder of it all.
We have no words to contain our praise.
We ache with awe,
we tremble with miracle,
as once again,
in the small rough stable of our lives,
Christ is born.
READING: Barrie and Jenn Keenan
Matthew 2: 1-12 The Wise Men (James Veitch translation)
POEM: Pat Booth
Nativity by Peter Cape
They were set for home,
but the horse went lame
and the rain came pelting out of the sky.
He saw the hut and he went to look
and he said, ‘She’s old, but she’ll keep you dry.’
So her kid was born in that roadman’s shack
by the light of a lamp that’d hardly burn.
She wrapped him up in her hubby’s coat
and put him down on a bed of fern.
Then they came riding out of the night
(and this is the thing that she’ll always swear),
As they took off their hats
and came into the light,
they knew they were going to find her there.
Three old jokers in oilskin coats
stood by the bunk in that leaking shack.
One had a beard like a billygoat’s
and one was frail and one was black.
She sat at the foot of the fernstalk bed
and she watched, but she didn’t understand,
while they put these bundles at the baby’s head,
and this river nugget into his hand.
Gold is the power of a man with a man
and incense the power of a man with God.
But myrrh is the bitter taste of death
And the sour-sweet smell of the upturned sod
Then they went, while she watched through the open door,
weary as men who had ridden too far.
And the rain eased off and the low cloud broke
and through the gap shone a single star.
CAROL: WOV 235 ‘Angels from the realms of glory’
James Montgomery, French trad.
Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship Christ, the newborn King
Come and worship ,Worship Christ, the newborn King!
To the weary comes refreshment,
To the grieving, strength and peace;
To the anxious, sweet contentment,
To the captive soul, release:
Come and worship……….
Wise folk, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations,
you have seen his natal star:
Come and worship………
POEM: Linda Wilkins
‘24 December’ Joy Cowley
The machines shudder into silence.
The last sheep slides down the chute
and staggers out of the shed,
giddy with sudden weight loss.
The shearers, glossed with sweat,
take the lid of the chilly bin.
They sit with hands wrapped around cans,
sweet coldness against cracked fingers,
while outside a tui gargles the heat
and spits it out in two long clear notes.
The shed hand rolls a can across his brow, and says,
“It’s beginning to feel like Christmas.”
On the back lawn, near the potato patch,
the woman creaks the revolving line
as she unpegs clothes stiff with sunlight.
The smell of summer is mixed with noise,
pungent cicadas, loud brass marigolds,
the grass beneath her bare feet is as warm as cat’s fur.
She looks over her shoulder and reminds herself
to dig some new potatoes for tomorrow,
and she thinks with sudden pleasure,
It’s beginning to feel like Christmas.
The children and the dog have been in the pool
but the dog in the excitement, bit the plastic
and now the pool is collapsing,
pouring water over hot concrete.
The children run through the flood
making footprints that dry in seconds.
“Happy Birthday to you,” they sing.
Happy birthday, dear Jesus.”
Their granddad at the kitchen window,
remembers his own childhood.
He thinks of the small footprints
that have stamped the earth
since that little fellow in the stable,
and he smiles as he dries the dishes.
It sure feels like Christmas.
HYMN: COC 45 ‘There’s a straw in the manager’
Words and Music © 1998 Colin Gibson
Reprinted with permission under One License A-623996. All rights reserved
There’s straw in the manger
and babies in danger,
some shepherds possessed by the folly of love.
The register’s ringing
and shop choirs are singing;
it’s bargains galore in the folly of love.
It’s midsummer madness,
and everyday badness:
the usual scene for the coming of Christ.
It’s parcels and wrapping,
it’s father caught napping,
and children awake in the folly of love.
It’s suntan and lotion,
it’s surf and commotion,
it’s sand in the sandwiches: folly of love.
It’s crackers and candles,
it’s shorts and it’s sandals,
plum pudding in summer: the folly of love.
It’s friends and relations,
it’s neighbours and nations,
enjoying a moment of peace and good will.
it’s crowds at the local,
old aunties gone vocal,
and “house full” signs out: O the folly of love.
It’s families united,
it’s grandmas delighted,
it’s long distance calls, in the folly of love.
It’s caravans, camels,
and fellows in flannels;
three kings chasing stars for the folly of love.
It’s postcard madonnas
receiving full honours,
Saint Nicholas wearing a cotton wool beard.
It’s trees hung with baubles,
angelical warbles,
and God comes to earth in the folly of love!
THE OFFERINGS ARE GATHERED
HYMN OF DEDICATION AA154 ‘Where is the Room’
Words: © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray, Music: © 1993 David Dell COC 48
Where is the room,
where is the house of Christmas?
Where shall we welcome Jesus,
where are the signs of home?
Let Christ have space,
place at the heart of living,
center for birth’s new breathing,
cradle for hope and peace.
Let there be room,
room for the friend and stranger,
room without hurt or anger,
room for whoever come.
Let love be here,
love for the Christmas stable,
love at our open table,
love to be shared all year.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Ellen Murray
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Thailand and the Church of Christ in Thailand. 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 Christopher Finlayson and Julie Anne Genter, list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Otaki Waikanae Presbyterian Parish.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREWS
THE SENDING OUT (standing) (Poem by Joy Cowley)
This year, this year, who comes
in form of God’s befriending?
What voice to cry for peace?
A child with human face will plead compassions case,
entreat our conflicts’ ending –
Bless this child, O bless this child!
Make way, make way for signs of angel visitation!
What daughter or what son may be the coming One,
new Christ, in love begun, new light of revelation?
Bless this child, O bless this child.
Make room, make room!
The time is near to be awaking,
for in creation’s womb the Word has made a home –
the seed for summer bloom within the earth is breaking.
Bless this child, O bless this child.
HYMN ‘Christmas in the summer’
Words: Bill Wallace: Music “Cranham” Gustav Holst
Reprinted with permission under One License A-623996. All rights reserved
Christmas in the summer?
Heat instead of cold?
Flowers instead of freezing?
Skies that shine like gold?
This is Southern Christmas,
Seasons in reverse!
Can the Northern pictures
Speak in Southern verse?
Inner space is timeless
God is everywhere
Cries of newborn infants
Reach for Mary's care.
When we nurture wonder
'Till its grace abounds
We create new pictures
Outside Northern bounds.
Sing the Christmas story
Carol South and North
Sing of pregnant seasons,
Nature’s songs of birth.
Raise the Christ child’s praises
Lift both joy and pain
Touch the realms of oneness
Live the birth again.
BLESSING AND SUNG AMEN
Go safely towards Christmas Day
trusting that love is moving towards you.
And may the God of love go with you
the child of Bethlehem touch your life
and gifts of grace lie around you as you journey on.
POSTLUDE ‘I saw three ships’
by Richard Proulx (1937 – 2010)
THANK YOU
THANK YOU Peter Franklin
our musician today