November 21, 2021
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
CALL TO WORSHIP
We come to be opened by visions
that can enlist us in larger causes
and more caring actions.
We come to hear stories
that might take us into a deeper kind of integrity,
and reconnect us with our better selves,
We come seeking a warmer fullness
that will fill our hearts, our minds and our spirits.
SILENCE
PROCESSIONAL HYMN WOV 310 ‘Come down, O Love Divine’
Words: Bianco da Sienna tr, Richard Littledale
Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams
- Come down, O Love Divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardour glowing.
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
- O let it freely burn, till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes, in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
- Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part
and o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
- And so the yearning strong
with which the soul will long
shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can tell its grace
till he becomes the place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.
WELCOME
E te whanau a Te Karaiti
nga mihi aroha ki a tatou katoa
Kia ora tātou.
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 CANDLE
TIME WITH CHILDREN Cameron Smart
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.
HYMN FFS 75 ‘Where are the voices for the earth?’
Words: Shirley Erena Murray; Music: Jillian Bray
Where are the voices for the earth?
Where are the eyes to see her pain,
wasted by our consuming path,
weeping the tears of poisoned rain?
Sacred the soil that hugs the seed,
sacred the silent fall of snow,
sacred the world that God decreed,
water and sun and river flow.
Where shall we run who break this code,
where shall tomorrow’s children be,
left with the ruined gifts of God,
death for the creatures, land and sea.
We are the voices for the earth,
we who will care enough to cry,
cherish her beauty, clear her breath,
live that our planet may not die.
THE WORD IN TEXTS John Harper
Hebrew Bible Daniel 7: 1-2, 13-14
“A king like a son of man”
Gospel/New Testament John 18: 33b-37
“Are you the king?”
Contemporary reading ‘Faith’
By Wilfred Cantwell Smith
“At most times and in most places humankind has been effectively aware that one lives in a world whose greatness transcends one’s grasp but does not totally elude one, that Truth, Beauty, Justice, Love beckon one imperiously yet graciously, that awareness we see crystallised in poetry, and art, and philosophy or theology, and ritual, and social structure, and political aspiration.
It comprises, in varying degrees, an appreciation of the transcendent quality of this world as it is, and a countervailing drive to change it into this world as it ought to be; a recognition of personal transcendence both in oneself and in one’s neighbour; a sense of being somehow enabled to realise this in fumbling or in fuller richness. Such awareness has been part, at least, of faith, and it has created most of what has been worthwhile in human history.”
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
REFLECTION “Living Presence” Ian Harris
HYMN WOV 163 ‘Crown him with many crowns’
Words: Matthew Bridges; Music: George Elvey
1. Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon the throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music, but its own;
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy chosen
king through all eternity.
2. Crown him the Lord of Love,
behold his hands and side;
those wounds yet visible above
in beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky
can fully bear that sight,
but downward bends his burning eye
at mysteries so bright.
3. Crown him, the Lord of Peace,
whose power a sceptre sways
from pole to pole, that wars may cease
absorbed in prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end,
and round his pierced feet
fair flowers of paradise extend
their fragrance ever sweet.
4. Crown him the Son of God
before the world began,
and ye who tread where he hath trod
crown him the Son of Man;
all hail, Christ Jesus, hail!
for thou shalt live in me:
thy praise shall never, never fail
throughout eternity.
OFFERTORY MUSIC
OFFERING HYMN AA 127 ‘Take my gifts...’
Words © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray, (Admin. by Hope Publishing Company)
Music: ©1992 Colin Gibson Hope Publishing Co.
Take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me,
gave me light and food and shelter,
gave me life and set me free.
Now because your love has touched me,
I have love to give away;
now the bread of love is rising,
loaves of love to multiply.
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.
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 Lynne Dovey
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Laos and the Buddhist people in Laos and throughout the world. 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 Hon Todd McClay (Rotorua) and Ian McKelvie (Rangitīkei). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Cook Islands Presbyterian Church (Wgtn Region), Porirua.
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
CALL TO SERVICE (standing)
Spirit of God, brooding over the waters of our chaos,
inspire us to generous living.
Wind of God dancing over the desert of our reluctance,
lead us to the oasis of celebration.
Breath of God inspiring communication among strangers,
make us channels of your peace.
HYMN CoC 52 ‘You are born in us again’
Words & Music © 1996 Mark Wilson
Music arr. © Shona Murray. Descant © Colin Gibson
Reprinted with permission under One License A-623996. All rights reserved
1. You are born in us again.
Like the warmth of the summer wind you come,
to melt away the icicles of vanity and pride;
you come to blow the very doors of loving open wide.
Like the warmth of the summer wind you come, (repeat last line)
2. You are born in us again.
Like the scent of the summer rain you come.
You come to quench the thirsty and to freshen up the land;
you come to clean away the dust that’s settled in our hand.
Like the scent of summer rain you come, (repeat last line)
3. You are born in us again.
Like the light of the summer sun you come,
to give light to the places that have never seen the Son:
you come now to embrace us, you’re the holy, holy one.
Like the light of the summer sun you come, (repeat last line)
BLESSING
May the Spirit which flows through all creation,
that speaks through the prophets and the poets,
and which acts through those who care,
go with you today, and awaken you
to the unconquerable power of love.
And ...........
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE RAF March Past
by Sir Henry Walford Davies KCVO OBE (1869 – 1941)
THANK YOU
THANK YOU Peter Franklin
our musician today