August 28, 2022
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Today’s service is led by Rev Dr Fei Taule’ale’ausumai
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP
We are called as a community of faith,
a supportive community,
in which we love into being
new possibilities for one another,
calling out of each other the best we have to offer.
In doing so we follow the pattern of our God,
who constantly accepts us as we are,
while drawing us on to realize what we can be.
In worship we build the community
where such fostering of new possibilities
can take birth and grow.
We will celebrate life,
past, present and future,
in the presence we name God
SILENCE
PROCESSIONAL HYMN O Love That Will Not Let Me Go, WOV525
Words/Music: © Public Domain, Tune: St. Margaret, 4 verses
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee:
I give thee back the life I owe,
that in thine ocean depths if glow
may richer fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to th.ee:
my heart restores its borrowed ray,
that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
may brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee:
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
and feel the promise is not vain,
the morn shall tearless be.
O cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee:
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
and from the ground there blossoms red
life that shall endless be.
GATHERING
Let there be joy in our coming together this morning.
Let there be compassion heard in the words we speak,
and love in the songs we sing.
Let there be silence for the voice within us and beyond us.
Let there be joy in our coming together.
May we awaken to the presence of God,
here in this ordinary place.
May we awaken to the power of love,
here in this ordinary crowd.
May we build a community of justice for all,
now in this ordinary time.
May we daily work to build a world at peace,
now with these ordinary hands.
WELCOME
E te whānau a te Karaiti,
ngā mihi aroha ki a tātou katoa.
Kia ora tātou.
Talofa lava.
Talofa.
PRAYER
Gracious God,
you are a God of hospitality
who invites us all to a banquet
where the last may be first,
and where the humble and the powerful switch seats.
In gratitude,
may we share your abundance without counting the cost.
In thankfulness,
may we host strangers as angels you have sent!
May your spirit rest upon us
so that we may find a place at Your table
and welcome others with radical hospitality.
In the name of Jesus,
a guest at all our tables, we pray.
Amen
(Church of Scotland weekly worship Rev. Jonathon Fleming)
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
We light this candle to show that we are an inclusive rainbow church and for our children.
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Ellen Murray
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.
THE WORD IN TEXTS Rosemary Lawrence
Hebrew Bible Proverbs 25:6-7
Gospel Luke 14:1, 7-14
Contemporary reading “Prayer” from the Prayer of the Frog by Anthony de Mello
When Brother Bruno was at prayer one night he was disturbed by the croaking of a bullfrog. All his attempts to disregard the sound were unsuccessful so he shouted from his window, “Quiet! I’m at my prayer.”
Now Brother Bruno was a saint so his command was instantly obeyed. Every living creature held its voice so as to create a silence that would be favourable to prayer.
But now another sound intruded on Bruno’s worship – an inner voice that said, “Maybe God is as pleased with the croaking of that frog as with the chanting of your psalms.” “What can please the ears of God in the croak of a frog?” was Bruno’s scornful rejoinder. But the voice refused to give up: “Why would you think God invented the sound?”
Bruno decided to find out why. He leaned out of his window and gave the order, “Sing” The bullfrog’s measured croaking filled the air to the ludicrous accompaniment of all the frogs in the vicinity. And as Bruno attended to the sound, their voices ceased to jar; for he discovered that, if he stopped resisting them, they actually enriched the silence of the night.
With that discovery Bruno’s heart became harmonious with the universe and, for the first time in his life he understood what it means to pray.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
HYMN I the Lord of sea and sky, CH251
Words based on Isaiah 6: Dan Schutte. Music Dan Schutte
Words & music © 1981, 2000, OCP
1. I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and pain
my hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness light.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
[Refrain]
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me,
I will hold your people in my heart
2. I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them;
they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone;
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?
[Refrain]
3. I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame;
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
till their hearts be satisfied;
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
[Refrain]
REFLECTION Better to be humble than embarrassed
Rev Dr Fei Taule’ale’ausumai
HYMN Give thanks for life, WOV384
Words: © 1987 Shirley Erena Murray, Tune: Sine Nomine
Give thanks for life,
the measure of our days,
mortal, we pass through
beauty that decays,
yet sing to God our hope,
our love, our praise,
Alleluia, Alleluia
Give thanks for those
who made their life a light
caught from the christ-flame,
bursting through the night.
who touched the truth, who
burned for what is right,
Alleluia, Alleluia
And for our own, our living
and our dead,
thanks for love by
which our life is fed,
a love not changed by time
or death or dread,
Alleluia, Alleluia
Give thanks for hope,
that like the wheat, the grain
lying in the darkness
does its life retain,
in resurrection
to grow green again.
Alleluia, Alleluia
OFFERING HYMN Here we bring small or great, AA62
Music © Colin Gibson Words © Shirley Murray © 1992 Hope Publishing Co
Here we bring, small or great,
gifts to offer on this plate,
what we’ve earned, what we own,
tithe or token, bread or stone.
[Refrain]
Jesus said: “Have a care – your hearts will always be,
where your riches are, where your riches are.
Faithful God, you ask us to be faithful people.
In this community, you ask us to be people of justice.
In this community, you ask us to be people of mercy.
In this community, you ask us to be people of peace.
Be with us as we try to be faithful
in large ways and in small ways
so your eternal community may come in every way. 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 Catriona Cairns
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Spain and the Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church. 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 Anna Lorck (Tukituki) and Marja Lubeck (List). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Pacific Islanders’ Presbyterian Church, Newtown.
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
HYMN Come and find the quiet centre, FFS10(i)
Words: © Shirley Murray, Traditional Gaelic Melody
Come and find the quiet centre
in the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter
clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace, and simple be.
Silence is a friend who claims,
cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us,
knows our being, touches base,
making space within our thinking,
lifting shades to show the sun,
raising courage when we’re shrinking,
finding scope for faith begun.
In the Spirit let us travel,
open to each other’s pain,
let our lives and fears unravel,
celebrate the space we gain:
there’s a place for deepest dreaming,
there’s a time for heart to care,
in the Spirit’s lively scheming,
there is always room to spare!
BLESSING
Kia tau ki a tātou katoa te atawhai o tō tatou Ariki a Ihu Karaiti, me te aroha o te Atua, me te whiwhinga tahitanga ki te Wairua Tapu, ake, ake, ake, Amine.
SUNG BLESSING May the God of new beginnings, FFS49
Music: Colin Gibson Words: John Murray
May the God of new beginnings start with you and me
may the God of continuing story, speak through you and me
may the God of infinite wisdom shine through you and me
may the God of safe homecomings, welcome you and me.
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE
THANK YOU Thank you to Bruce Corkill
our musician today
Unless otherwise specified all our music is used by permission CCLI Licence 341550
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THANK YOU
Thank you to Bruce Corkill our musician today