December 3, 2017
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Advent 1
Advent Arrival
We wait for the gate to open
urging us to step into the story and the mystery
that calms and troubles the world.
(Anne Powell “Firesong”)
HOPE
GATHERING
The season of Advent challenges us
to see God’s vision of what is yet to be,
to hear God’s voice calling anew,
to smell the scent of God in the world.
Let us celebrate life
in the presence of the one we name an Advent God.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN AA 113 ‘Our life has its seasons’
Words: © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray Music by Colin Gibson © 1992 Hope Publishing Co.
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.
Refrain: 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 three things go on.
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. Refrain
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. Refrain
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
JESUS’ PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase on card
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Margaret Megwyn
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH The Candle of Hope
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We send you to the Green Room to practice music 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 Heather Mackie and Pam Fuller
Hebrew Bible Hannah’s prayer 1 Samuel 2: 1-8
Gospel Two unexpected pregnancies Extracts from Luke Ch 1
Contemporary Reading: “Virgin Birth” Joy Cowley
in Carol our Christmas
We have within us a virgin place,
a holy space which belongs to God alone.
We know it by its hunger,
we name it by its need,
the space which will not be touched
by the people we love
or the things we gather
or the positions we hold.
We have within us a growing place,
an eternal space that exists for Truth,
where the love of God overcomes us,
where the life of God fills us,
the Emmanuel space where we conceive
and become pregnant of the Holy One
and day by day, give birth
to Christ in the world.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks
HEARD IN THE MARKET PLACE Margaret Megwyn
REFLECTION ‘Unexpected challenges’ Pat Booth
PRAYER written by Janet Morley, Christian Aid
God, our hope and our desire
we wait for your coming
as a woman longs for the birth,
the exile for her home,
the lover for the touch of her beloved
and the humble poor for justice.
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
May food and money do their work.
May the Advent candle spread the warmth of hope in the world. 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 Bronwyn White
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Cameroon. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Shane Jones and Steven Joyce, list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Palmerston North - St David's Presbyterian Church.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
St Andrew’s is an open community and all are invited to Christ’s table.
Wherever you are on your faith's 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.
COMMUNION HYMN AA 95 ‘May the mystery of God enfold us’
Words © 1993 Joy Cowley. Music © 1993 Ian Render
May the mystery of God enfold us, may the wisdom of God uphold us
May the fragrance of God be around us
May the brightness of God surround us
May the wonder of God renew us, may the loving of God flow through us
May the peace of God deeply move us
May the moving of God bring us peace
COMMUNION LITURGY on white card
Communion is served by intinction. You are invited to come to the front of the church and receive the bread, or a gluten-free cracker, taking a piece large enough to dip into the wine (silver cup) or grape juice (pottery cup). Eat the bread dipped in wine or juice.
Or, remain in your seat to be served if mobility is difficult. If you don't wish to receive communion, please remain in your seat – we’re glad you are here with us.
HYMN ‘To this quiet space’
Shirley Erena Murray © 2015 Tune Kumbaya
personal permission given for use at St Andrew’s
To this quiet space , kuhu mai,
to a deeper place, kuhu mai,
by God's gift and grace, kuhu mai,
let each of us come in....
These are open doors, kuhu mai,
where the soul explores, kuhu mai
given time to pause, kuhu mai
let each of us come in.....
Where fresh water springs, kuhu mai
where the Spirit sings, kuhu mai,
to the heart of things, kuhu mai,
let each of us come in.....
BLESSING written by Bronwyn Angela White
Go in peace
and may the courage of a teenage Mary
the loyalty of Joseph,
the grandmotherly delight of Anne,
and the fierce joy of Elizabeth
comfort and empower you;
the conception of angels,
the passion of spirit,
and the love we call God
be with you,
fulfil and liberate you
this day and always.
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE
THANK YOU Thank you to Bruce Cash our musician today