January 17, 2021

WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE

GATHERING                                                            From: www. pilgrimwr.unitingchurch.org.au/

Let there be joy in our coming together this morning.
Let there be truth heard in the words we speak and the songs we sing.

Let there be help and healing for our disharmony and despair.

Let there be silence for the voice within us and beyond us.
Let there be joy in our coming together.

Let us be nurtured in the presence we name God.

Amen

 

PROCESSIONAL HYMN AA 155 ‘Where Mountains Rise’
Words © 1971, Shirley Erena Murray
Music by Vernon Griffiths © 1971 Faber Music Ltd. 5 verses

1. Where mountains rise to open skies
your name, O God, is echoed far,
from island beach to kauri’s reach,
in water’s light, in lake and star.

2. Your people’s heart, your people’s part
be in our caring for this land,
for faith to flower, for aroha
to let each other’s mana stand.

3. From broken word, from conflict stirred,
from lack of vision, set us free
to see the line of your design,
to feel creation’s energy.

 
4. Your love be known, compassion shown,
that every child have equal scope:
in justice done, in trust begun
shall be our heritage and hope.

5. Where mountains rise to open skies
your way of peace distil the air,
your spirit bind all humankind,
one covenant of life to share!
WELCOME
Nau mai haere mai, tēnā koutou katoa.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
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 ROOM CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Frank Cook
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We give thanks for the life and energy you bring to our community.
May your time with us bring you joy and connection to the Jesus way.
We bless you. Amen.
PASSING THE PEACE
HYMN ‘Here I Am Lord’
Words based on Isaiah 6: Dan Schutte. Music Dan Schutte
Words & music © 1981, 2000, OCP
Reprinted with permission under One License A-623996. All rights reserved

1. I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and pain,
My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

[Refrain]
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

2. I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people's pain.
I have wept for love of them;
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone;
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?

[Refrain]

 
3. I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame;
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
till their hearts be satisfied;
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

[Refrain]
THE WORD IN TEXTS John Harper
Hebrew Bible 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Gospel John 1: 43-51
Contemporary reading Excerpts From “Are You Listening to Your Life?”
By Parker J. Palmer

“I ran across the old Quaker saying "Let your life speak." I found the words encouraging, and I thought I understood what they meant: "Let the loftiest truths and values guide you. Live up to those demanding standards in everything you do." I believed I was being exhorted to live a life of high purpose, as did Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Mahatma Gandhi.

I've come to understand vocation not as a goal to be achieved but as a gift to be received—the treasure of true self I already possess. Vocation doesn't come from a voice "out there" calling me to become something I'm not. It comes from a voice "in here" calling me to be the person I was born to be.

The soul speaks only under quiet, inviting, and safe conditions. If we take some time to sit silently listening, the soul will tell us the truth about ourselves—the full, messy truth. An often ignored dimension of the quest for wholeness is the need to embrace what we dislike about ourselves as well as what we're proud of, our liabilities as well as our strengths.”
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks
REFLECTION “Is it I?” Sandra & Tony Kirby
MUSIC FOR CONTEMPLATION 'Tahu Pōtiki'
Marlon Williams
THE AFFIRMATION
Adapted from St. John’s-Grace Episcopal Church, May 2005

We are a community of faith.
followers of that Way shown by Jesus:

We strive to:
Love God with our whole being;
Love our neighbours as ourselves;
Treat others as we would have them treat us;
Strive for justice and peace;
Have respect and compassion for every person
and for the whole of creation;
Forgive those who do us harm; and
Love one another as Jesus showed us.

We journey together on this Way
towards reconciliation with the whole creation.
We reach out to one another
for strength beyond our own.

This is our community.
This is our faith.
OFFERING & OFFERING PRAYER
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.
Ana Gobledale
Gracious God,
you have blessed us with so many good things.
May these gifts from us,
be used to open doors of welcome for all people,
so they, too may experience the joy of abundance, and unity.
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 Ken Irwin
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Croatia and Slovenia and the organisations working for reconciliation in Croatia and Slovenia. 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 Erica Stanford (East Coast Bays electorate) and Jamie Strange (Hamilton East electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Napier North Presbyterian Church.
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 WOV 669 ‘I am the Light of the World’
Words & Music © 1969 Jim Strathdee. Music (Admin. by Desert Flower Music)
[Refrain]
I am the Light of the World
You people come and follow me.
If you follow and love, you'll learn the mystery
Of what you were meant to do and be.

1. When the song of the angels is stilled.
when the star in the sky is gone.
when the kings and the shepherds have found their way home,
the work of Christmas is begun!
[Refrain]

2. To find the lost and lonely one,
to heal that broken soul with love,
to feed the hungry children with warmth and good food,
to feel the earth below, the sky above!
[Refrain]

3. To free the prisoner from their chains,
to make the powerful care,
to rebuild the nations with strength and goodwill,
to be at one with people everywhere.
[Refrain]

4. To bring hope to every task you do,
to dance at a baby's new birth,
to make music in an old man's heart,
and sing to the colours of the earth!
[Refrain]
THE BENEDICTION
Adapted From Benedictus The Strawbs

Bless the daytime, bless the night
Bless the sun which gives us light
Bless the thunder, bless the rain
Bless all those who cause us pain
As we strive to follow the voices and the paths to authenticity
May love be our companion
Until we meet again
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE