Order of Service 19 April 2020 Easter 2

April 19, 2020

WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE

This Service is conducted by Rev. Dr. Niki Francis

 Introduction: Catriona Cairns

 

GATHERING
We gather here as people connected with one another
through our humanity,
interwoven threads in life’s web.

We come to hear stories that might help us navigate
the challenges before us
and encourage us to be kind
to each other and ourselves
as we travel in the shadow of Covid-19.

As we gather, we remember that we are not alone:
we are part of this community
founded on the stories of the man Jesus,
the one who told us to love one another.
Let us walk together now for this little while
and remember the love and support our community offers.
Amen

PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘Simple Gifts
Words and Music: Simple Gifts . Joseph Brackett Jr. (Public domain)
played by Mark Stamper

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and
Delight. When true simplicity is gain'd,
To bow and to bend we will not be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.

WELCOME AND OPENING
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.

PRAYER
Spirit of love, we gather today in our different places,
apart physically, but together in spirit.
In the spirit of love we meet in community
to support and nurture each other
that we may seek justice, hope and truth.
We are thankful
for the times we share with each other in this way
for our sense of belonging
for this community
that enables us to reach out
and share love and kindness with others around us.
Amen

JESUS’ PRAYER

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

PASSING THE PEACE
(We invite you to take this moment to greet those who are with you today, or to hold in your mind others from St Andrew’s, or your own loved ones)

THE WORD IN TEXTS Jennifer Bush

Gospel John 20: 19-31

Contemporary reading “Wild Geese”
by Mary Oliver
From: New and Selected Poems, Beacon Press, Boston, 1992.

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting–
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.

REFLECTION Niki Francis

HYMN Deep truths to find
Words ©2018 Fiona McDougal (from the St Andrew’s collection)
Music: Tallis’ Canon played by Peter Franklin (public domain) WOV 468

The gospel writers tell the tale
of Jesus’ suffering and death,
each with a diff’rent emphasis
enhancing meaning, truth and depth.

For Matthew Jesus is Messiah,
fulfilment of the scriptures, come.
For Mark, he is self-giving way,
the path he walks and leads us on.

In Luke he dies to end oppress’n,
unjustly killed, a martyrs’ woe
and John sees Jesus lifted up,
his death a seed, new fruit to grow.

We’ve deconstructed, questioned, raged,
but theories mystery can’t define.
So now we move beyond that place
with open hearts deep truths to find.

OFFERING PRAYER
In the spirit of love, compassion and justice
we ponder our gifts
whatever they be
and however small,
and we commit to sharing what we can
in love, kindness and generosity.
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.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Catriona Cairns

CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Afghanistan and all those working towards peace in Afghanistan. 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 Agnes Loheni and Marja Lubeck list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Bulls/Turakina 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 those of all faiths,
and a new spirit of love
towards all people.

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

MUSIC ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’
Words and music: 1970 Simon and Garfunkel
Arranged: Håkan Sund

We hope you enjoy this recording of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” recorded by the Wellington College Chorale, Wellington College, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.

BLESSING
May you be filled with the spirit of hope
Challenged by the spirit of justice
Strengthened by the spirit of community
Opened by the spirit of generosity
Wrapped in the spirit of love.
I wish you peace.
Kia tau te rangimarie ki a koe.
Amen

TIME FOR A CUPPA

The end of our Sunday service is normally a time for catching up, meeting people and sharing what is happening in our lives. Perhaps you would like to phone a St Andrew’s person today.