June 21, 2020
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
The Service is conducted by the Rev. Dr Niki Francis
GATHERING
Haere mai
Welcome to this Sunday gathering
on this new morning
in our ever-changing world
where we face uncertainty
insecurity and discomfort
more so these days than usual.
We come to be together,
to enjoy community
in solidarity and support of one another,
to open our minds and hearts
in the warm familiarity
of this place
and the shape of this liturgy
in which we reflect, sing, pray
and enjoy friendship.
Amen.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN WOV 91 ‘Morning has broken’
Words by Eleanor Farjeon & Yusuf Islam
Music: Bunessan Trad Gaelic
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise ev'ry morning
God's recreation of the new day
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
Loving spirit,
we bring our curiosity
about life and nature,
about stories
and how they grow and change
with retellings over time.
We come to hear about how we might live love
in the way of Jesus of Nazareth,
who bravely challenged injustice
as he walked in this world with radical compassion.
We come with open hearts,
willing to question assumptions
and to learn,
no matter how uncomfortable we feel.
We look to each other
in both comfort and discomfort
grateful for acceptance,
knowing we are all welcome here.
We value the unity and oneness of life
and we check our thinking about binaries
as we seek to live with compassion
peace and humanity.
Silence
We give thanks for this day
for our community of St Andrews
and all the people who have enriched our lives.
We give thanks for love,
which created us, restores us,
and connects us with others in struggle and in joy.
We give thanks for the spirit of curiosity
that inspires and encourages us
to seek knowledge and understanding.
We give thanks for the courage
that enables us to stand tall
look at what we see around us
and to take risks as we seek understanding.
We give thanks
for difference and diversity
that enriches our world
and for story which help us understand others.
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
TIME WITH CHILDREN Graham Howell
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”. The response is “peace be with you, or “and with you.” You can also simply say hello. Now that COVID-19 has arrived in the country, we are all asked to take precautions again transmission. We invite you all therefore to try different methods of acknowledging and greeting each other. For example, placing both hands together in the prayer position and bending the head towards the other person. This is a greeting practiced in many countries. A hand on the upper chest and bowing slightly to acknowledge the other person is also an option. Feel free to simply observe if you wish.
THE WORD IN TEXTS Pat Booth
Gospel Luke 10:38-42
John 12:1-11
Contemporary reading “What I Have Learned So Far”
by Mary Oliver
Meditation is old and honourable, so why should I
not sit, every morning of my life, on the hillside,
looking into the shining world? Because, properly
attended to, delight, as well as havoc, is suggestion.
Can one be passionate about the just, the
ideal, the sublime, and the holy, and yet commit
to no labour in its cause? I don’t think so.
All summations have a beginning, all effect has a
story, all kindness begins with the sown seed.
Thought buds toward radiance. The gospel of
light is the crossroads of — indolence, or action.
Be ignited, or be gone.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
REFLECTION ‘Martha and Mary: Niki Francis
supple stories
beyond binaries
HYMN ‘Ancient words ring through the aeons’
Words © 2018 Susan Jones Tune: Hyfrydol WOV 148 (ii)
Urging, chiding, giving praise;
Prophets all, both men and women
led the people through life’s maze;
They were those who lived the message
of the true life, spirit-filled;
They were leaders through life’s passage
They showed strong, courageous will.
Living simply, prophets focus
on the truth and how to live;
They read well the heart of the people,
marching to the Word, they give
warnings, guidelines for true living,
bravely they speak truth to power;
they see through pretence and posture,
they see when our leaders cower.
Knowing truth requires right action,
speaking out, and staying true
to those principles so ancient,
knowing me and knowing you.
May we too, like them, imagine
worlds where true compassion reigns,
where love shows its many faces
where rights, justice, are sustained.
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
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.
Amen
LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY OF ST ANDREW’S
People share notices and visitors are welcomed. If you have a notice not already in the order of service, 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 Fiona McDougal
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Austria and the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria. 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 Nanaia Mahuta (Hauraki-Waikato electorate) and Todd McClay (Rotorua electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St Paul's Presbyterian Church, Feilding and from the worldwide church for the Harris Mission - the Church of Christ.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREWS
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
HYMN AA 126: Spirit Who Broods
Words: © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray, Music: © 1992 Nigel Eastgate
Spirit who broods,
Spirit who sings,
mothering bird,
peace in your wings --
Come from within,
come, make us one,
come and renew the face of the earth.
Spirit of truth,
laser and light,
searching the path,
seeking the right --
Spirit of love,
larger than law,
quick to forgive,
keeping no score --
Spirit of hope,
never subdued,
Spirit of God,
Spirit of Good,
BLESSING
We go now into the world living love,
nurturing curiosity and embracing difference.
E aroha me tūmanako me te rangimārie tātou tātou e
May love, hope and peace be with us all.
SUNG AMEN