September 18, 2022
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Today’s service is led by Rev Dr Fei Taule’ale’ausumai
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather
in the name of the Spirit of God
who hovered over the primal waters;
in the name of the Word of God
who parted the waters for Earth to appear;
in the name of the Wisdom of God,
who filled the depths with amazing designs.
Holy! Holy! Holy!
The oceans are filled with God’s presence.
Planet Earth is filled with God’s presence.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN Watch once more the windswept storm clouds
Words: Norman Habel Tune: Praise my Soul the King of Heaven
1. Watch once more the windswept storm clouds;
suddenly the sky has wings!
God has come to rain among us,
giving hope to all dry things.
Sing a song of splashing waters,
pulsing through the veins of Earth.
2. Taste the moisture of the morning,
smoother than the best red wine;
toast the lifeblood of the planet:
here’s to God’s wild wet design!
Sing a song of flowing waters,
pulsing through the veins of Earth.
3. View anew the dark blue ocean,
whales cavorting, spraying foam;
God at play with deep sea monsters,
feeling very much at home.
Sing a song of laughing waters,
pulsing through the veins of Earth.
4. Feel the breath of God move softly,
gentle mists that brush the skin;
Earth is breathing God’s own spirit,
life renewed from deep within.
Sing a song of living waters,
pulsing through the veins of Earth.
OPENING RESPONSES
From the deep sea currents and coral reefs,
to the mountain peaks on the ocean floor.
We invite the oceans to worship with us.
From the icebergs that break off from the South Pole,
to the calm waters that caress the equator.
We call the surging seas to celebrate with us.
With whales and dolphins dancing on the surface,
and choirs of angel fish assembled below.
We join all ocean life in songs of praise,
we celebrate the sounds of the ocean!
SILENCE
WELCOME
E te whānau a te Karaiti,
ngā mihi aroha ki a tātou katoa.
Kia ora tātou.
Talofa lava.
Talofa.
PRAYER
God of all the earth, the seas, the sky and the whole oikumene,
we pray that as your spirit hovered over the waters, that your spirit will hover
over our worship this morning as we celebrate the Moana Pasifika and all its
created order. We remember those who are unwell and unable to worship with
us this morning. We pray for the recently bereaved and ask that your peace be
upon them all. We pray for those who are destitute and struggling for those
who have no hope. Gracious God enable us and empower us to be the Christ
figure in the lives of others. Amen.
JESUS’ PRAYER Henry Horton (adapted)
Our Mother, whose body is the Earth,
sacred is your being. Your gardens grow,
your will be done in our cities, as it is in nature.
Thanks be this day for food. and air, and water.
Forgive us our sins against Earth, as we are learning to
forgive one another.
And surrender us not unto extinction, but deliver us from our
folly.
For the beauty and the power, and all life, from birth to death,
is yours,
from beginning to end. Amen.
So be it forever.
Blessed be.
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
We light the rainbow candle to show that we are an inclusive community and also
for our children.
TIME WITH CHILDREN 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
Traditionally we shake hands to pass the peace and say “peace be with you.” Now that COVID-19 is
here we ask that you pass the peace without shaking hands.
THE WORD IN TEXTS Anna Smith
Hebrew Bible God’s Promise to Noah Genesis 9:12-17
Contemporary reading ‘The End Of Tuvalu’ by Michael Benkhen
To the bottom of the ocean,
where the fish can only dream,
to the bottom of the ocean,
to build our graves – among the sea.
Tuvalu, Tuvalu – our home and friend,
our birthplace – and end; we love you.
To the bottom of the ocean,
clutching sand with grasping nails,
to the bottom of the ocean,
our pleas for help – have sadly failed.
Tuvalu, Tuvalu – our home and friend,
our birthplace – and end; we love you.
To the bottom of the ocean,
to the bottom of the coral reef,
where our homes have been neglected –
to rot in silence beneath the sea.
Please don’t forget us.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
CHOIR: All things bright and beautiful
REFLECTION Moana Theology Rev Dr Fei Taule’ale’ausumai
HYMN Fa’afetai i le Atua, WOV 629
Words: © Traditional Samoan, Music: © Public Domain, 3 verses
1. Fa’afetai i le Atua,
Thanks to God
Le na tatou tupu ai,
who has given us life
ina ua na alofa fua
when he freely loved
ia te i tatou uma nei.
all of us.
Refrain
Ia pepese, ia pepese
Sing, sing
Allelui, fa’afetai
Alleluia,give thanks
Ia pepese,ia pepese
Sing sing
Alleluia faafetai
Alleluia,give thanks
2. Fa’afetai i ona Alo,
Thanks to his Son
le na afio mai luga
who came from above,
le ua fai ma faapaolo
who protects you
mai le puapuaga.
from all suffering.
Refrain
Ia pepese, ia pepese
Sing, sing
Allelui, fa’afetai
Alleluia,give thanks
Ia pepese,ia pepese
Sing sing
Alleluia fa’afetai
Alleluia,give thanks
3. Fa’afetai i le Agaga,
Thanks to the Spirit
le fesoasoani mai,
who helps
emanuia ai talosafa,
to bless our prayers
atoa uma mea e fai.
and whatever we do.
Refrain
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in God
who is present in the vastness of the ocean
and in the tiniest grain of sand,
who speaks to us the wild waves
that lash against the south coast,
in the gifts of driftwood and seashells
that wash up on the beach,
in the vibrancy of life under the ocean,
the wonder of creatures beyond our imagining.
We believe in Jesus
who broke bread with fishermen,
who withdrew in a boat to a deserted place
but answered the call to return to shore
to feed the poor and heal the sick.
We believe in Christ
who speaks calm into the waves and storms
of our lives;
who calls us to cast our nets wide
and welcome all into our hearts.
We believe in the Spirit
who hovered over the waters,
who rages like storms at sea
and whispers like a seashell pressed to an ear,
who stretches over this planet like the ocean,
joining us to peoples everywhere.
We believe in the church,
being and becoming,
chosen as God’s presence in the world,
called to cherish the gifts of salt and spray,
to care for all creation
from sand dunes to deep sea vents.
OFFERTORY MUSIC
OFFERTORY HYMN Here we bring small or great, AA 62
Words Shirley Murray: Music © Colin Gibson
Here we bring small or great
gifts to offer on this plate.
What we’ve earned, what we own
tithe or token, bread, or stone.
REFRAIN
Jesus said “have a care Jesus said, “Have a care – your hearts will always be,
where your riches are where your riches are.”
OFFERING PRAYER
We bring these gifts and we bring our lives. May we be open
and generous, caring and compassionate. May these gifts be
used to make justice and peace for people, for creatures and
for planet earth, our only home. 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.
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 Swaziland and the Council of Swaziland
Churches. 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 the Hon Kieran McAnulty (Wairarapa) and
Todd McClay (Rotorua). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the
leaders and people of the Otaki Waikanae Presbyterian Parish.
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 These hills where the hawk flies lonely, FFS63
Words: © Colin Gibson, Music © Hope Publishing Co., 4 verses
1. 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.
2. Forests where the tree ferns tower,
rivers running strong and clear,
oceans where the great whales wander,
these are our care.
Race meeting race as equals,
justice for age-old wrong,
worth for every man and woman,
these are our prayer.
3. 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.
4. All that the old world gave us,
all that the new world brings,
language, ideas and 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.
Benediction:
Kia hora te marino,
kia whakapapa pounamu te moana,
kia tere te kārohirohi i mua i tōu huarahi
May peace be widespread,
may the sea glisten like greenstone, and
may the shimmer of light guide you on your way. Amen.
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE
Add each part of the service. click the "add new" button to add the next hymn, prayer, blessing etc...
THANK YOU
Thank you Mark Stamper, our musician today.