October 27, 2019
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Please note the words to the hymns are to be found after the order of service as listed in the word document version.
GATHERING
Over half a millennium ago, reformers spoke up.
and both church and world changed.
Now in our time, we face a point of discernment;
We are the actors now, will we be reformers or resisters?
As for them, now for us, how do we discern the way forward?
We are the ones called to decide
when to be literal and when to embrace the mythical,
when to be logical and when to embrace the mystical.
This is the time of the Great Emergence;
may we act so that in this time, great things will emerge
PROCESSIONAL HYMN(screen) ‘A safe stronghold we may seek still’
Words: ©2017 Susan Jones Music:
Tune: WOV 8 ‘Ein Feste Burg Martin Luther 1527-29
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER and JESUS PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase on card
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Jennifer Bush
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.
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!
THE WORD IN TEXTS Lynette Burrell
Epistle 1 Peter 2:1-10
Gospel Luke 6:46-49
Contemporary reading “Formidable thinker and writer full of paradox”
by Peter Matheson, Otago Daily Times, 17 March 2017
The "tragic necessity of the Reformation" may be a useful mantra to chant. For Kiwis, though, tired of the worn-out language of much of Church life, the Reformation raises quite fascinating questions. For Luther as a wordsmith is up there with Rabelais and Shakespeare. As a thinker, he is truly formidable and continued to fascinate generations to come; a Kierkegaard, a Bonhoeffer. Yet, he is a hard nut to crack, a "difficult hero", as has recently been said. The anti-papal ravings at the end of his life are bizarre and shameful. His anti-Judaic polemic was to be eagerly snapped up by the Nazis. So to enter his world is to be up to one’s neck in paradox.
Yet, he opened up so much more than he closed down.
It was his lyrical devotional works that initially gained the ear of ordinary people. His 1520 treatise on freedom is quite ravishing. He could clown around like the best of us. He opened up the Bible to women as well as men. "I never knew Jesus could speak such good German," was an Augsburg artisan’s reaction to his translation of the New Testament...
No, we don’t find the historical Martin Luther a comfortable bedfellow. There is nothing of the blandness of much contemporary talk about spirituality. Yet, he addresses the God question in an unforgettable way, in hymns and prayers, in exegesis and polemic, in his whole life. He sought to remind the Church that it was more than an institution. That it was there to listen to God and serve humanity. If we are open to being surprised, we could do worse than bend an ear to him.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture, for the Word among us, for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
REFLECTION ‘What does being a Progressive Church mean?’ Susan Jones
HYMN (screen) ‘Letters written to the churches’
Words: ©2018 Susan Jones Music WOV 165(ii) Blaenwern
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
We stand in silence to offer these gifts of food and money.
So may it be
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.
AFFIRMATION BASED ON THE 8 POINTS OF PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY (Adapted from the 8 points by Susan Jones 2015)
Desiring greater consciousness through searching within for awareness
I believe questions are more helpful than absolutes
and diverse sources of wisdom are available to us,
Knowing the true expression of what I believe
is how I behave towards others;
I value community which includes
all types and styles of faith, belief and people;
Seeking the grace of progress in my spiritual walk,
I commit, as I am able, to a path of life-long learning,
compassion, and selfless love.
Seeking understanding and experience of
the Sacred and the Unity of all life
I will follow, as I am able,
the spiritual practices involved in following the Jesus Way
Seeking peace and justice among all people and the integrity of our Earth;
I will work, as I am able, where there is damage and brokenness, for restoration and reconciliation.
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 Maxine Cunningham
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Sudan and Christian World Service partner the Sudan Council of Churches. We remember detainees on Manus and Nauru Islands, yearning that their cases be resolved. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and Darroch Ball list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St Anselm's Union Church, Karori.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
HYMN screen ‘The church needs a foundation’
Words © Susan Jones Tune: WOV 385 Aurelia
BLESSING and SUNG AMEN
THANK YOU David Dobson
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.
AUDIO REFLECTIONS
Sunday reflections are usually available on our website.
https://www.standrews.org.nz/category/sunday-gathering
Hymns for Sunday 27 October
Reformers’ Sunday
Pentecost 20
PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘A safe stronghold we may seek still’
Words: ©2017 Susan Jones Music:
Tune: WOV 8 ‘Ein Feste Burg Martin Luther 1527-29
A safe stronghold we may seek still
Secure and safe, a loving embrace;
We look in different places, will
Career and fam’ly take God’s place?
We seek a grounded life
an anchor in the strife
a centre point of calm
hurts healed by holy balm;
warm welcome at the gate to home.
We unwrap layers from ourselves
the baggage, stress and woundings
to find the Self which lives within
where we can make deep soundings;
we find compassion, light,
creative, sweet delight
the heart which helps us thrive
where routine comes alive;
A stronghold sure, in our deepest soul.
The energy we draw from there
lights beacons which flame living hope
and fuels for all a warm, bright care
pushing back dark so all can cope;
So justice flows free too
Compassion flowers anew
For everyone is free
Loved always, you and me;
Our common wealth undisputed.
HYMN ‘Letters written to the churches’
Words: ©2018 Susan Jones Music © WOV 165(ii) Blaenwern
Letters written to the churches
give our earliest glimpses how
Jesus seemed to his generation,
who he was, both then and now;
They debated his role and stature
seeking how they should react;
How to meet and how to worship,
sorting anecdotes from the facts.
Paul and others travelled the circuit,
calming, urging, making things plain;
Nurturing those who followed Jesus
linking distant groups to the main;
Creed and doctrine so developed,
rites and rituals grew to be,
customs, practice, all were fashioned
through words written by such as he.
Writers then used ink and parchment
texting now is short and sharp;
Twitter shows the heat of the moment
limits thought, can exclude heart;
How will we in our generation,
let our wisdom have good space,
put our time to thinking through issues,
deal with others in love and grace?
Thanks be giv’n to those before us
who wrote words both living and true,
time spent hard in prison and travel
to ensure good news got through;
Thanks to those who carried those letters
for the dangerous work they did.
All combining to inform us
Love makes sure that of hate we’re rid.
HYMN ‘The church needs a foundation’
Words (c) Susan Jones Tune: WOV 385 Aurelia
The church needs a foundation
Though not of brick or stone
For buildings are but shelter
From rain or hailstorm.
They symbolise commitment
They resonate with praise
But humans form the true church
In these postmodern days.
Through Christendom’s great worship
The rafters have been wrung,
We’ve gazed at stained glass windows,
Made sure the brass has shone.
We’ve consecrated, maintained
We’ve renovated but
Religion’s modern rituals
Are those postmoderns cut.
God’s commonwealth of spirit
Is not built out of wood
But by our follow’ng Jesus
with praxis that is good.
Postmodern ‘church’ emerges
In fresh expressions, new,
With talk and acts of justice,
Compassion which is true.
In our time we now follow
Jesus upon the Way,
On terms for us authentic,
And honest for this day.
We see our ‘church’ re-forming,
the Spirit helps it grow;
We see again a future
Where faith will always flow.
THANK YOU
Write the Thank You here