June 23, 2019
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
GATHERING
This day we remember refugees,
those displaced and homeless, as Jesus’ story tells us he was.
A refugee baby, he fled with his parents to Egypt,
long-time refuge for Jews in trouble.
We think of families
displaced by war and famine and oppression of different kinds,
going where people do not want them,
living in exile where they do not want to be,
longing to return home.
May we learn this day what that is like
so we have empathy for those who are displaced.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN AA 85 ‘Let justice roll down like a river’
Words and Music © Colin Gibson 1994 Hope Publishing Company
Refrain:
Let justice roll down like a river,
let justice flow down to the sea;
let justice roll down like a river
let justice begin through me.
Justice for all who go hungry,
crying to God to be fed,
left in a world of abundance
to beg for a morsel of bread. Refrain
Justice for those who are homeless,
victims of war or of need,
trapped on the borders of nowhere,
lost in the canyons of greed. Refrain
Justice for all who are powerless,
yearning for freedom in vain,
plundered and robbed
of their birth-right,
silently bearing their pain. Refrain
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER and JESUS PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase on card
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
TIME WITH CHILDREN Pam Ormsby
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We send you to the Rainbow Room programme to hear stories, ask questions
and have fun together. We bless you. Amen.
HYMN ‘Away and in danger’
Words © Shirley Murray Tune: WOV 242 Cradle Song
Away and in danger, no hope of a bed,
the refugee children, no tears left to shed
look up at the night sky for someone to know
that refugee children have no place to go.
The babies are crying, their hunger awakes,
the boat is too loaded, it shudders and breaks;
humanity's wreckage is thrown out to die,
the refugee children will never know why.
Come close, little children, we hold out our hand
in rescue and welcome to shores of our land -
in aroha, touching your fear and your pain,
with dreams for your future when peace comes again.
THE WORD IN TEXTS John Morgan
Hebrew Bible Exodus 3: 7-14
Gospel Matthew 2: 13-23
Contemporary reading from ‘Christ the Lord: out of Egypt’ pp12-14
by Anne Rice
In this novel, Jesus and his family have lived in Egypt but Joseph announces they’re going back home.
Joseph glanced at her [Mary], and then looked at the Teacher. The Teacher went on.
“It’s always the same,” said the Teacher with a great drawn-out sigh. “In times of trouble, you come down to Egypt, yes, always to Egypt, she receives the dregs of Palestine…”
“The dregs!” Cleopas said. “You call our forefathers the dregs?”
“They didn’t speak, Greek either,” said Alphaeus.
Cleopas laughed. “And the Lord on Sinai didn’t speak Greek,” he said.
Uncle Simon said quietly, “And the High Priest now in Jerusalem, when he lays his hands on the goat, he probably forgets to tell all our sins in Greek.”
They were all laughing. The older boys laughed. Aunt Mary laughed. But my mother was still crying. I had to stay by her side.
Even Joseph smiled.
The Teacher was angry. He went on:
‘… if there’s a famine, come down to Europe, if there’s no work, come down to Egypt, if there’s a murderous rampage on the part of Herod, come down to Egypt, as if King Herod took the slightest care as to the fate of a handful of Galilean Jews such as you! A murderous rampage! As if‒.”
“Stop,” Joseph said.
The Teacher stopped.
All the men stared at the Teacher. No one said a word. No one moved.
What had happened? What had the Teacher said? Murderous rampage. What were these words?
Even James had the same look on his face as the men.
“Oh, you think people don’t talk about these things?” asked the Teacher. “As if I believe travellers’ tales.”
They said nothing.
Then in a soft voice Joseph spoke.
“The Lord made patience for this!” he said. “But don’t have it. We go home because it is our home,” he went on, staring at the Teacher, “and it is the Lord’s land. And because Herod is dead.”…
…“I want to send a word to Philo that Jesus is leaving,” said the Teacher, and with that he turned to go. But Joseph stopped him.
“We’ve done well in Egypt,” he said. He took money out of his purse. He pressed it into the hand of the Teacher. “I thank you for teaching our children.”
“Yes, yes, and you can take them back to‒where was it? Joseph, there are more Jews living in Alexandria than there are in Jerusalem.”
“There may be, Teacher,” said Cleopas, “but the Lord dwells in the Temple in Jerusalem, and his land is the Holy Land.”
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
HYMN FFS 34 ‘I am standing waiting’
Words: © 1992 Shirley Murray Music © Clair de Lune
I am standing waiting,
waiting at your door,
one of hunger's children
from a billion poor,
though you cannot see me,
though I am so small --
listen to my crying,
crying for us all.
I stand at your table
asking to be fed,
holding up my rice bowl,
begging for your bread,
I stand at your schoolroom
longing just to learn,
hoping that you'll teach me
ways to live and earn.
I stand at your clinic
begging for vaccine,
I stand at your wash place
where the water's clean,
I stand at your office,
beg the Heads of State,
I am just a child, so
I must hope and wait.
I stand in your churches,
listen to your prayers,
long to know a God who
understands and cares.
If there is a God,
a God who loves the poor,
I'm still standing waiting,
waiting at your door.
REFLECTION ‘Going to where you’re not wanted, really’ Susan Jones
PHOTO STORY ‘Returning Home — A Place to Stand’ by Mark Beehre
Returning Home — A Place to Stand is a story of discovery and reclamation. In 2017 Mark Beehre made a pilgrimage with his 78 year old mother Irena to Latvia, the country of her birth. She had left the small Baltic republic in 1944, a not-quite-six year-old girl with her mother and sister, fleeing the advancing Soviet army. They were among millions of other people across Europe displaced by events of the Second World War. Irena’s journey took her through refugee camps in Germany to resettlement in Australia and then marriage to a New Zealander. Ben and Alex, who come to Rainbow Room, are two of her eight grandchildren. More than seventy years later she was able to return to her homeland to rediscover a past she had never known and reclaim the story of the father she had lost. The exhibition Returning Home —A Place to Stand uses text and images to document that journey.
During the following hymn, Vivien will sing the verses while we sing the chorus. As we sing the chorus we will move around the church, circling the chairs. This will give just a brief time to see Mark’s photo-story and you will be able to return to it later after the Gathering is finished.
HYMN ‘Down the road run refugees’
Words & Music © 1992 WGRG, Iona Community.
Reprinted with permission under One License A-623996. All rights reserved.
1. Down the road run refugees,
a child and father and mother;
scared by what they’ve left behind
and what they fear to discover.
Refrain
Move and move and move along
in fair and foulest weather.
Stop a bit but don’t stay long;
you might be wand’ring for ever.
2. Hunted out like criminals
and kept at distance like lepers,
cursed and criticised by those
who look and laugh at their papers. Refrain
3. At their back run twenty more
and twenty thousand come later;
twenty million follow these:
each year the number gets greater. Refrain
5. Jesus and his parents fled
from Herod’s imminent danger;
still he wanders with the crowds,
a frightened, nationless stranger. Refrain
6. Who will help the refugees
to cease their endless walking,
while the ones who claim to care
continue endless talking?
Refrain
PASSING THE PEACE
Feel free to pass the peace with those nearby or move to greet others further away. Passing the peace consists of shaking hands and saying “Peace be with you.” The response is “Peace be with you” or just “And with you.” Or, simply saying “Hello” is a good idea. Also feel free to simply observe if you wish!
OFFERING and OFFERING PRAYER
CWS PRAYER FOR REFUGEE SUNDAY Kate Boardman, Decision maker
Today on Refugee Sunday, we pray for all people who through violence,
disaster or persecution have to leave their homes. We pray for people who are persecuted – because of race, religion, gender or political opinion.
May they find acceptance.
We pray for those fleeing from war, violence and human rights violations.
May they find peace.
We pray for people who are travelling, risking everything for a new future.
May they have safe travels.
We pray for people in camps – temporary places that can last for months,
years, even decades.
May they be in a place of safety.
We pray for the people and organisations providing care for those in need –
shelter, food, water, health, education, and safety.
May they be supported.
We pray for those waiting for decisions to be made about their future.
May they be treated with kindness
We pray for governments and the people who elect them.
May they legislate for compassion and inclusion, not hate and division.
We pray for communities who welcome refugees.
May we have open hearts, minds and arms.
Loving God, please ignite in us a passion for helping refugees, wherever they
are on their journey. 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 Jenny Simpson
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Peru and the Methodist Church of Peru. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Priyanca Radhakrishnan and Eugenie Sage list MPs. Here in Central Presbytery, we pray for leaders and people of Tamatea Community Church.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
HYMN ‘Light of lights beholden’
Words & Music © 1997 Jenny McLeod
Light of lights beholden
We from days of olden
Sang this song
For to understand
That peace upon this planet
Was pledged to come.
Each to other, sister, brother,
Born for life and song.
Look towards the light and carry on:
Let the simple heart
and hope among us
Keep our family strong,
(rep last 2 lines)
Darkness all around us
Light has always found us,
Light will come
Where the dark is deepest,
Greater light will keep us
safe from harm.
Troubled times will always find
A voice of troubled doom.
BLESSING
SUNG AMEN
THANK YOU Bruce Cash
Our Musician today
Unless otherwise stated all hymns are used by permission CCLI Licence 341550
Words/music to new hymns and gathering statement, prayers and affirmation are original unless acknowledged. If Susan Jones is the worship leader any liturgy will have been written by her. These words can be used in other worship and small group situations without seeking permission. Please acknowledge the source.
THANK YOU
Write the Thank You here