December 17, 2017
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Write your welcome here
GATHERING
We hear words ancient, modern, postmodern and progressive
And sing words old and new, rhyme and free, in minor and major key
Today we celebrate the advent again of new life
We celebrate new beginnings in the most unexpected of places
Today we celebrate another brand new start for the world
On this day the candle for joy is lit anew
Our prayer is that joy may abound in our world
PROCESSIONAL HYMN WOV 238 ‘Good Christians all rejoice’
Words: © John Mason Neale (181-1866) (alt) v 3 © 2017 Susan Jones Music: In Dulci Jubilo
Good people, all rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
now give heed to what we say: as southern sheep come to be shorn
Jesus now comes to be born, he comes to the manger now.
Christ comes to be born; Christ comes to be born.
Good people, all rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
now you hear of hope alive: Jesus Christ has life to give.
He has opened every door, peace and joy can be restored.
Christ makes all alight; Christ makes all alight.
Good people, all rejoice with heart and soul and voice;
in this southern hemisphere where light and sun bring us good cheer
We are called, yes called we all, to spread compassion, break down walls
Christ is born right here; Christ is born right here.
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH CANDLE HOPE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Susan Jones
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We hope you enjoy the last Rainbow Room for the year
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!
WORD IN TEXTS Maxine Cunningham, Wendy Matthews,
Kieran Taylor, Graham Howell
Excerpts from John 3: 1-21 read by Kieran Taylor
Luke 2: 8-14 read by Graham Howell
ST ANDREWS SINGERS ‘Angel Carol’
Music and Words © John Rutter
POEM ‘Nativity’ by Joy Cowley read by Wendy Matthews
ST ANDREWS SINGERS ‘From pastures green’
Words © (1996) PHC Lucas (alt) Music © (1996) A J Duncan
CONTEMPORARY READING ‘Marcus Borg unwraps the nativity narratives’
http://lucychumbley.com/understanding-the-nativity-narratives/
read by Maxine Cunningham
Borg believes the nativity stories should be seen as metaphorical narratives.
Nowadays, “metaphor is often seen as less than factual… as if the symbolic meaning is somehow less than the factual,” he said. “Pretty much every story in the Bible is there because it has a more than factual meaning, and this is why our ancestors told these stories. These stories are parabolic overtures to the Gospels.
“In general, parables are about meaning. The meaning and truth of a parable is not dependent on its factuality. … it doesn’t matter if there really was a Good Samaritan, a Prodigal Son – and to get into an argument about whether there was would be to miss the point. The point of parables is their meaning.
Parables can be truth-filled – truthful – whether they happened or not. Jesus told parables about God; his followers told parables about him. In short, the birth stories are about meaning. Believe whatever you want about them – now let’s talk about what they mean.”
Just as an overture to a symphony or opera sounds the central themes of a longer work that follows, “Matthew and Luke wrote their overtures after they knew what was in the rest of their Gospels,” Borg said. “These are not Christmas pageants for children. They are the Gospels in miniature.”
REFLECTION ‘The miracle of being born human’ Susan Jones
OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER
We give because we first were given to.
This Advent we bring food for others and money for this church with an extra consciousness of the importance of the season.
Many will be without what they need to live a good life.
May these gifts aid their well being.
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 not already in the order of service, please move to the front row, ready to speak briefly from the lectern.
For the benefit of newcomers, please introduce yourself before you begin.
A POLISH INTERLUDE Tekla Klebetnica
Tekla Klebetnica means “country gossip” (name taken from the local Silesian Cieszyn dialect). Folk trio (Anna - violin/vocals, Zygmunt - accordion, Staszek - double bass) performed last night in our church native folk music mainly from the Carpathian mountain range with an addition of a few Balkan melodies, creating fusion of traditional folklore with elements of gypsy, classical and jazz music (called folk-crossover).
Folklore is of great importance for each of them. Their tracks are arranged in an unusual way combining colour, joy, sadness and happiness with a huge dose of energy and virtuosity.
The group came together completely at random through the love of music. However, this may not have been such a random circumstance because they always believed their fate was to meet and create music together. Each member of Tekla Klebetnica ensemble represents a different folklore region. They complement each other as they create one of a kind musical sound. They will play three carols for us and we are welcome to sing along.
‘Silent Night’
Joseph Mohr tr John Young (alt) Music Silent Night Franz Gruber
Silent night, holy night: all is calm, all is bright
round the loving mother and child; holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night: shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing ‘Alleluia’;
The Transformer is born, the Transformer is born.
Silent night, holy night: wondrous star, lend your light;
with the angels let us sing ‘Alleluia’, let it ring;
The great Lover is born, the great Lover is born.
‘Angels we have heard’
Words: James Montgomery (alt) Music: Iris Fr Trad melody
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria, in excelsis Deo,
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly, sweetly through the night
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their great delight
Gloria, in excelsis Deo,
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo,
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
One whose birth the angels sing,
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Child, let praises ring.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo,
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
‘What Child is this?’
Words © William C. Dix Music © Greensleeves (1642)
What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the king, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud, The babe, the son of Mary!
Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good people, all; for sinners here, The silent word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through, the cross he’ll bear from love that’s true;
Hail, hail, the word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary!
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; come, peasant, king, to own him.
The one who transformation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high, the mother sings her lullaby;
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, The babe, the son of Mary!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Colma Froggatt
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Canada. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Anahila Kanongata’a Suisuiki and Iain Lees-Galloway Labour Party MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Patea - St Luke's Co-operating Church.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
CAROL ‘Joy to the World!’
Words Isaac Watts (alt.) Music ‘Antioch’ G F Handel WOV 224
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.
Joy to the world! Let justice come,
To all who need release; For prisoners held in chains,
the damaged and the anxious,
let them find freedom now, let them find freedom now
let them, let them find freedom now.
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.
BLESSING
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE
THANK YOU Peter Franklin and Vivien Chiu our organist and conductor today
THANK YOU
Write the Thank You here