November 28, 2021

WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE

PRELUDE                                                                                          The Heart of Peace

Mons Leidvin Takle (b 1942)

CALL TO WORSHIP

Today the ancient journey begins again,

taking us into the future.

Let us keep watch together,

for in the darkness light is growing

and into the darkness signs are pointing….

Advent is here, let us travel together

towards the new birth,

towards the new start,

following the signs which show us the way.

SILENCE

 

PROCESSIONAL HYMN COC 8 ‘Child of Christmas Story’
Words: © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray, Hope Publishing Company
Music © 1992 Richard Madden

1. Child of Christmas story,
stable straw and star,
small and sweet and gentle,
tell us who you are.

2. Child whose baby finger
round our own is curled,
come to melt our hearts,
and come to change the world.

3. Child of Jew and gentile,
child of white and black,
teach us how to love you,
teach us what we lack.

4. Child of Mary's courage,
birthed in human pain,
tell us what your name is,
be our hope again.

WELCOME

E te whānau a Te Karaiti
ngā mihi aroha ki a tātou katoa.
Kia ora tātou.
THE JESUS PRAYER 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

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LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES
Today is the First Sunday in Advent. Advent is a time of waiting and preparing to celebrate the bidth of Jesus. It is a time to hope for peace between people, and to walk in the light God gives us.
Each week between now and Christmas we will light a candle in our Advent Wreath. The wreath is a circle to remind us of God’s never-ending love.
The branches are green to remind us of new life. The candles remind us of the light which came into the world with Jesus: light to brighten all of earth’s dark places; light that grows stronger when we join in God’s work of building and rebuilding lives.
One way we can do this is by supporting the work of Christian World Service.

LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLE OF HOPE
On this first Sunday of Advent
we remember God’s gift of hope
and that we are called to be people of God’s hope.

PARTNER STORY:
The Pacific Ocean links us with many people and lands who are facing the immediate effects of rising global temperatures. Already people have had to move from their traditional whenua or land. Others are trying to cope with salty water and the lack of drinking water.
The Pacific Conference of Churches has been relentless in voicing the cry of their people for climate justice. Like a canary in a mine, they have warned all people of the dangerous level of global warming in an effort to protect our common home for the unborn and future generations.
We seek climate justice.
LIGHT THE CANDLE
PRAYER
God of hope and possibility:
may we be people who shine the light of hope in your world through our words and by our actions. Amen.
HYMN WOV 224 ‘Joy to the World’
Words: Isaac Watts (alt) Music G F Handel
1. Joy to the world! A new age dawns,
it comes shalom to bring.
Let ev’ry heart prepare a room,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.

2. Joy to the world! Let justice come,
to all who need release;
for prisoners held in chains,
the damaged and the strained,
let them find freedom now,
let them find freedom now,
let them, let them find freedom now.

3. Graceful and true, the Saviour brings
compassion all may share;
for poor and homeless, so may they find
their life becomes more fair,
their life becomes more fair,
their life, their life becomes more fair.
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE

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Rainbow Room Presentation

Welcome (Riah)

Carol ‘Away in a Manger’
Words adapted by© George Stuart: Music©William James Kirkpatrick
WOV 242 Cradle Song

1. Away in a manger, no pillow or a bed,
the baby boy Jesus is born in a shed;
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the baby boy Jesus asleep on the hay.

2. While cattle are standing, the baby’s asleep,
sought after by shepherds who leave all their sheep;
and wise men bring treasures; they’ve come from afar
to give gifts to Jesus; they followed a star.

3. Yes, Jesus is near me, I know he will stay
close by me for ever and love me each day;
he blesses all children; we know we will share
a wonderful friendship in his tender care.

Time With the Adults

Read Christmas Story + Quiz (Taryn) (Quiz: Kezia)

What does Christmas mean to you? (Taryn, Tessa, Kezia)

By: Taryn Murray

To me, Christmas is about family. Every other year, my family meets up with our New Zealand family. It is something that is really special because these people are very special. Christmas is when I take the time to look around and say, “I am so grateful that all these wonderful people are in my life. I am so glad that I am able to come all the way from America to spend time with these people. I love them so much.” Overall, Christmas is a fun time of year to spend time with, and appreciate family.
oooooooooo
By Tessa Murray

To me Christmas is a time where I get to spend quality time with family I don’t get to see very often and show my appreciation to people by getting them gifts. It is also a special time for Christians to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I enjoy Christmas time because I get to spend time with family, eat nice food, and open presents. Christmas also comes with a fun tradition, carolling. I think Christmas carols are a very important part of Christmas because it shows the Christmas spirit and anyone can sing them. People like to decorate their houses for Christmas and while it is fun to see Santa on someone's roof, carolling seems like a better option to me because you don’t have to go on ladders to hang stuff from the roof and you don’t have to buy all the overpriced decorations, it’s a win win situation. I enjoy walking through the main areas of our community and seeing all the decorations that people have put up too. All the effort that people put in for celebrating Christmas has a real way of showing community spirit. Christmas is an important time for a lot of people and means different things for different people. To me Christmas is a time for festivities and celebration.
Ooooooo

By Kezia Ross

To me Christmas is about spending time with family and friends. It’s about relaxing and having fun. My family always goes to Waikanae where our go to spot is the beach. Another fun thing about Christmas is giving and receiving gifts. I think that just adds an element of excitement to it all. A lot of people, like us, also celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Overall to me Christmas is a fun and relaxing 6 weeks off!

Prayer (Tessa)

Dear God. Dear stars, dear trees, dear sky,
dear peoples, dear everything.
Today is the day that we celebrate when Jesus was born,
with him came hope.
Hope for a better today and tomorrow.
That hope gave the people before us
joy, faith, community, and the strength to survive.
Because of that, we are here today in celebration.
Today, we celebrate that hope that was born into the world hundreds of years ago.
We give thanks to God for creating the world that we live in today.
We give thanks.
We give thanks for what Jesus did
to shape the world we live in today.
We give thanks.
We give thanks for the hope
that has brightened our lives
We give thanks.
We give thanks for being able to be here today
We give thanks.
Amen

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Dance: All I want for Christmas is you (Mariah Carey)
Song: The Twelve Days Of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree.

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OFFERTORY MUSIC
HYMN OF DEDICATION COC 48 ‘Where is the room?’
Music: © 1993 David Dell. Words: ©1992 Shirley Murray

1. Where is the room,
where is the house of Christmas?
Where shall we welcome Jesus,
where are the signs of home?

2. Let Christ have space,
place at the heart of living,
centre for birth’s new breathing,
cradle for hope and peace.

3. Let there be room,
room for the friend and stranger,
room without hurt or anger,
room for whoever come.

4. Let love be here,
love for the Christmas stable,
love at our open table,
love to be shared all year.
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.

CELEBRATING ST ANDREW’S DAY
We have gathered to celebrate the one whose name our church bears.
Andrew, small town fisherman who left his livelihood to follow a compelling itinerant preacher.
We follow in his name on a Terrace far away from Galilee’s nets and in a world far removed from first century Palestine.
Yet still following that same teacher all these millennia later.
Also today we begin the journey to Bethlehem, anticipating advent of light and life into a darkened world.
We begin this journey in Wellington in a world that still needs light and life as much as life did then.
Let us walk in Andrew’s footsteps,
let us walk with Jesus, as he did.
Let us walk together.

HYMN WOV 505 ‘Jesus calls us’
Words: Cecil F Alexander, Music: Edward John Hopkins, Public domain

Jesus calls us o’er the tumult
of our life’s wild restless sea,
day by day his voice still sounds here,
saying, “Christian, follow me.”

As of old St Andrew heard it
by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and work and kindred,
leaving all for Jesus’ sake.

Jesus calls us from the worship
of the world’s false golden store,
from distractions that would keep us,
saying, “Christian, love me more.”

Jesus calls us: by your mercies,
may it be we hear your call,
give our hearts to meet your challenge,
serve and love you best of all.

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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Lebanon and the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon. 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 Dr Tracey McLellan (Banks Peninsula) and Hon Mark Mitchell (Whangaparāoa). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St Ronan's Presbyterian Church, Eastbourne.
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