March 6, 2022

WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE

PRELUDE                                               Гімн України (National Anthem of Ukraine)

 

OUR GATHERING WORDS

On this the first Sunday in Lent we come together this morning

We give thanks for our own journey and history

For the experiences we have had, for the people we have met,

for the different stages of our life,

and how we have moved on from one stage to the next.

There are things we carry on and those we leave behind.

So, we gather here as a community of faith

conscious of our heritage,

living now in the present and awaiting the future.

SILENCE

 

We are doing things differently today.

Now that the Covid pandemic has reached Wellington and because we care for one another, our worship today will be different. Parish Council on Thursday night decided that we should not sing the hymns. Peter will play the music and so this is an opportunity, rather than us focusing on getting the right note when singing the words, to actually ponder what the words mean in the context of our service today – as we read them on the screen or in the Order of Service. So instead of singing the Processional Hymn today we will start by following “The Light” and “The Word.”

 

WORDS FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR                            AA113 ‘Our Life has its seasons’

Words: © 1992 Shirley Erena MurrayMusic by Colin Gibson © 1992 Hope Publishing Co.

1. Our life has its seasons, and God has the reasons

why spring follows winter, and new leaves grow,

for there’s a connection with our resurrection

that flowers will bud after frost and snow,

 

so there’s never a time to stop believing,

there’s never a time for hope to die,

there’s never a time to stop loving,

these things go on.

 

2. But there’s a time to be planting, a time to be plucking,

a time to be laughing, a time to weep,

a time to be building, a time to be breaking,

a time to be waking, a time to sleep,

 

but there’s never a time……

 

3. There’s a time to be hurting, a time to be healing,

a time to be saving, a time to spend,

a time to be grieving, a time to be dancing,

a time for beginning, a time to end.

 

But there’s never a time…

WELCOME

Kia ora tātou.

Kia ora.

 

PRAYER
In our prayer this morning we reflect on some of the significant features of this, the Season of Lent, and then let us say together the Abba prayer
God, lover of us all, most holy one.
Help us to respond to you.
To create what you want for us here on earth.
Give us today enough for our needs.
Forgive our weak and deliberate offences,
just as we must forgive others when they hurt us.
Help us to resist evil and to do what is good.
For we are yours, endowed with your power
to make our world whole. Amen.
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
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.

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THE WORD IN TEXTS Margaret Rushbrook
First, we listen to what others thought long ago
Hebrew Bible Deuteronomy 26: 1 -2 and 8- 11
Gospel Luke 4:1- 13
WE CHALLENGE OURSELVES ‘Now Be Aware’
Words © 1965 Iris McCoy, Tune: Mit Freuden Zart, public domain , Sing a New Song 27

1. Now be aware, and glory in
this fellowship with others.
That learns to give and take with grace:
where there is life it gathers.
It deepens joy, it eases strain,
it heartens those who live with pain.
Each strengthens each, together.

2. The wordless touch where sorrow is.
The sharing of a vict’ry:
the flash of mind when insight leaps
to truth, provoked by query.
The freedom of our fellowship
accepts us as we are, and this
is God’s own gift of liberty.

3. Now be aware that hearts and hands
and minds are rich when sharing:
for here within this fellowship
the strength of God is growing.
Now life has reason, love has powers
beyond our own, for into ours
the love of God is flowing.

Contemporary reading “Spirit” from “New World New God”
by Ian Harris

“What have the breath of life, the tyres of your car, a scorching desert wind and religious faith got to do with one another? Quite a lot, actually, and the link tells us something about an aspect of human experience that lies beyond the reach of science. It’s that elusive, unpindownable quality known as “spirit”, a word at home in both secular and religious parlance. In the Greek the “breath” was “pneuma”, and that is so the wind that inflates your pneumatic tyres. The New Testament was written in Greek and “pneuma”, is also spirit, and especially the Holy Spirit. But before that in Hebrew the word “ruach” , is the searing wind of the desert, but also the breath of life. The wind metaphor is apt: no one knows where the wind comes from and where it goes, but everyone feels its power. Ruach has supernatural associations when used of God and natural ones when used of human breathing. Either way it points to vitality, life force, creativity, and wholeness. Individuals sense it as a power within, but also in engagement with other people and the natural world.”
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
REFLECTION ‘How do we cope with the wind?’ Barrie Keenan

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OFFERING
We bring our gifts – of money and of food and we pray.
Our prayer at this time:
Lord God we bring these gifts of money, food and our time and talents.
We acknowledge the earth does not belong to us.
We belong to the earth.
All things are connected and interdependent.
Like the blood that unites our families.
We did not weave the web of life.
We are however important strands in it.
Whatever we do to that web, which is our community,
We do to ourselves and those who travel with us at this time.

So, we give thanks for the process of creation and all its opportunities,
We give thanks for the good things of the past, the present and the future. 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.
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 Lynne Dovey
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Netherlands and the Council of Churches in the Netherlands. 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 Rachel Brooking and Hon Gerry Brownlee list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Hawera Presbyterian Church.
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

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INVITATION TO COMMUNION
St Andrew’s is an open community and all are invited to Christ’s table.
Wherever you are on your faith journey, wherever you have come from and wherever you are going to, whatever you believe, whatever you do not believe, you are welcome to participate in the communion. This is God’s meal for all people.
WORDS TO REFLECT ON AS WE APPROACH COMMUNION
FFS 57 ‘Song of faith that sings forever’ vs 1-3
Words: Shirley Murray © Hope Publishing Co. 1999
Music: Abbeyfield Colin Gibson © Hope Publishing co. 1999
1. Song of faith that sings forever
through God's people, ages long,
Word that holds the world together
when our hearts take up the song,
always, always, somewhere sounding,
though the source we do not see,
counterpoint to all despairing,
it is hope that sets the key.

2. Song of faith in exaltation,
rising through the vaults of prayer,
tune of simple celebration
offered up in open air,
song in chapel and cathedral,
descant to our daily tone,
song from sickbed or in prison,
faith must often sing alone.

3. And when life would overwhelm us,
when there seems no song to sing,
hear the constant voice of courage
out of fear and suffering:
all who've loved and trusted Jesus,
all who lift us to be strong,
endless, endless are the voices
of the faith that makes the song.
COMMUNION TODAY

Communion today, because of Covid-19 will be served to you in your seat, firstly the bread which is gluten-free and then the wine (the grape juice is the darker colour and the wine the lighter colour) served in individual communion glasses – which later will be collected.
If you don't wish to receive communion, please remain in your seat – and pass the elements to the person beside you. We’re glad you are here with us.
OUR COMMUNION LITURGY
In our lives we have eaten, taken food and drink, in many different places. Sometimes on our own, but more often with others, different people, or groups of people, with our family, with friends and sometimes with strangers.
Jesus did this with those he associated with and who associated with him. Inside homes, outside by the lakeside as well as on the hilltop. And then there was that meal in the Upper Room, a special meal, a very special time.
After he was dead those who had known him, those who had followed him, remembered him, especially when they gathered and shared bread and drank wine together. Even though he was dead they realised that because of knowing him they had a different more vibrant attitude to life, more understanding, more compassion, a different sense of justice, a richer love, and a more meaningful faith.
We too strive to follow, to live as we seek The Way, to hold onto those things from the past that are meaningful for us, to be looking for more just, more compassionate, more loving ways to live in our community. We remember his life, his ministry, and his command to us – to love one another as I have loved you.
We take this bread as he took bread and break it as he broke it, and we hear the words.
This is my body broken for you – do this in remembering me.
And we take the cup as he took the wine, as we drink it, we hear the words
this is my blood, the new covenant, participate in this in remembering me.

These are the gifts he gave us for those he asked, and challenged, to follow “The Way.”

Come let us partake. The gifts of God for the people of God.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
On this our first Sunday in this the “Season of Lent” we give thanks for those in whom we saw the light, and those who have encouraged and supported us on “Our Way”. We go on our pilgrimage in new ways, sharing these values and this love with others. So, may it be. Amen.

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THIS WE CAN ASK OURSELVES AS WE GO OUR WAY
HIOS 129 ‘Who would walk cheerfully’
Words: © 2009 Shirley Erena Murray
Tune: Monk Gate WOV 467 “Who would true valour see!”

1. Who would walk cheerfully
through storm and shadow,
these hearts beat staunch and free,
wise to the rainbow:
no threat will cloud our sight,
we’ll work for what is right,
we’ll trust the Inner Light
to live as Christians.

2. Who lets the world look dark
is no companion,
we’ll let no dire remark
change our opinion,
we’ll walk the stony track,
strong hope within our pack,
we’ll counter gloom’s attack,
to live as Christians.

3. We’ll walk the world for peace,
makers and menders,
we’ll promote in every place
peaceful agendas:
hands-on to teach and tend,
to see all colours blend,
to meet each soul as friend,
to live as Christians!
OUR GOING OUT
Go from this place committed to recognising human need.
Remember that you are part of a community of people
whose lives are made meaningful by loving service.
We go in the love of God.
We go with the grace of Christ.
We go in the powerful communion of the Holy Spirit,
for the God who is with each one of us is among us now and always.
And we say together AMEN

POSTLUDE Toccata from Suite Gothique, op.25,
by Léon Boëllmann (1862 – 1897).