January 26, 2020
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Arise, Shine!
GREETING AND INTRODUCTION
CALL TO WORSHIP (All stand)
People of the world, it is time to celebrate new beginnings.
We step into the new year with faith!
People of faith, it is time to look ahead in hope.
We step into the unknown with hope!
People of hope, it is time to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.
We step forward together as God’s family!
PROCESSIONAL MUSIC (please remain standing) ‘Gaudete’ —Rejoice ye!
—a medieval song of praise, performed by The Mediaeval Baebes
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
GATHERING (said together) —Rex Hunt
We gather grateful for the companionship of hearts and minds
seeking to speak the truth in love.
We gather grateful for our heritage,
for the women and men before us
whose imagination, dedication and prophetic words and deeds
make possible our dreams and our insight.
And we gather grateful for the gift of life itself,
mindful that to respect life means both to celebrate what life is
and to insist on what it can become.
May we always rejoice in life,
and work to cultivate a sense of its giftedness.
May it be so.
TAIZÉ HYMN (remain seated) ‘Within our darkest night’
Words and Music: Jacques Berthier (Taizé Community) © 1984 Dans nos obscurités
Reprinted with permission under One License A-623996. All rights reserved
PRAYER
THE “ABBA” PRAYER (said together) —Matthew Fox &
Murshid Saadi Shakur Chisht
O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos
you create all that moves in light.
Hear the one Sound that created all others,
in this way the Name is hallowed in silence.
Your rule springs into existence
as our arms reach out to embrace all creation.
Let all wills move together in your vortex
as stars and planets swirl through the sky.
Grant what we need each day in bread and insight:
subsistence for the call of growing life.
Lighten our load of secret debts as we relieve others of their need to repay.
Keep us from hoarding false wealth,
and from the inner shame of help not given in time.
Truly—power to these statements;
may they be the ground from which all our actions grow. Amen
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
TIME WITH CHILDREN How High is the Sky?
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.
SONG (adults sit & children leave during verse 5) ‘This little light of mine’
Traditional (adapted)
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.
THE WORD IN TEXTS Gillian Feist
Hebrew Bible Isaiah 9:1-4 Contemporary English Version
Gospel Matthew 4: 12-23 International Standard Version
HYMN ‘As the Sun Beats Down’
Words © Bill Bennett. Tune ‘Columbus’ © 1992 Colin Gibson AA156
Contemporary reading It’s Time for an Epiphany—Rev Dr Durrell Watkins
RESPONSE
For the wisdom we’ve known in our hearts
For the wisdom that’s new to us this day
For the wisdom we treasure and share
we give thanks.
REFLECTION: ‘Arise, Shine!’ Bronwyn White
HYMN CC52 ‘You are born in us again’
Words © 1996 Mark Wilson. Music arr. Shona Murray, descant Colin Gibson
OFFERING (Please stand as the offering is brought forward)
We recognise and bless the gifts brought to the table, and those paid online into the church’s bank account.
OFFERING PRAYER
From the dark earth, seedlings sprout and flourish
and produce the ingredients for our daily bread.
From the depths of our gratitude, we bring what we can
of the bounty we share, in money and food and actions.
From the dark places in their lives,
may others be helped to find their place in the light.
May our offerings for the support of this church and our community multiply and grow, like the loaves and fishes, like the widow’s oil, like the mustard seeds of mountain-moving faith.
For these gifts represent our commitment to the Beloved Community
and show what we’re prepared to risk for the sake of the Gospel.
Amen
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Sonia Gröes-Petrie
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Uganda and the Christian World Service partner the Church of Uganda and their work focussing on infrastructure development, small scale enterprise, environmental protection, human rights, civic education, and community-based health care. 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 Joanne Hayes and Brett Hudson list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St Ninian's Uniting Parish, Karori.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
HYMN WOV 669 ‘I am the light of the world’
Words & Music © 1969 Jim Strathdee. Music (Admin. by Desert Flower Music)
CHARGE & BLESSING
SUNG THREEFOLD AMEN
THANK YOU
THANK YOU Judy Dumbleton
Our Musician today