Order of Service Easter 4

April 22, 2018

WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE

Today’s service is being led by Fiona McDougal

 

GATHERING
Autumn comes bringing sharpness of early morning frost,
sadness of falling leaves and joy of clear bright days.
We come together bringing our struggles, our pains and our hopes.
Deep in the earth new planted bulbs rest,
gathering energy for spring flowering.
We make space for turning inward,
for quietness and reflection.
Then, sustained and renewed,
small shoots of new life will grow
as we reconnect with what holds deepest meaning within,
seeking strength to engage our world with love.

PROCESSIONAL HYMN AA 155 Where Mountains Rise to Open Skies
Words © 1971 Shirley Erena Murray. Music by Vernon Griffiths
Music © 1971 Faber Music Ltd (Admin. By Faber Music Ltd)
Where mountains rise to open skies
Your name, O God, is echoed far,
From island beach to kauri’s reach
In water’s light, in lake and star.

Your people’s heart, your people’s part
Be in our caring for this land,
For faith to flower, for aroha
To let each other’s mana stand.

From broken word, from conflict stirred
From lack of vision, set us free
To see the line of your design,
To feel creation’s energy.

Your love be known, compassion shown
That every child have equal scope:
In justice done, in trust begun
Shall be our heritage and hope.

Where mountains rise to open skies
Your way of peace distil the air,
Your spirit bind all humankind
One covenant of life to share!

WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.

PRAYER
We give thanks for this beautiful country we call home,
Our turangawaewae, the place where we stand.
We give thanks for our history, in all its multifaceted richness,
For adventurers and explorers who risked and struggled,
who followed their hopes and created new communities.
We acknowledge the harm and pain that was part of that process
We lament and grieve the destruction of the whenua,
species lost, people unjustly treated and cultures oppressed.
We look around us with hope, searching for a better way,
That we may work together as New Zealanders,
living harmoniously together in all

We spend some time in silence now, asking what it means for us to be kiwis, wondering what qualities make us who we are and what we love most about this country…?

May our dream of what we can be as a nation be strengthened by our faith and find expression in loving action.

LORD’S PRAYER on card

LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE

TIME WITH CHILDREN Sue McRae

BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
The children may return to sit with family or stay at the front of the church and use the activity bags.
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 Maxine Cunningham

Hebrew Scriptures 23rd Psalm from “Iona Abbey Worship Book”
read responsively.

Leader You, God, are my shepherd:
I need nothing more.

Left side You let me lie down in green pastures,
you lead me beside still waters,
there you revive my spirit.

Right side You guide me in the right paths
for you are true to your name.

Left side Were I to walk through the darkest valley
I should not be afraid:

Right side for you are at my side,
your staff and crook support me.

Left side You spread a table before me
in clear view of my enemies.

Right side You anoint my head with oil,
my cup is overflowing.

All Unfailing love and kindness
will follow me all my days.
My home shall be in God’s house
as long as my life shall last.

New Testament 1 John 3:16-24

16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Contemporary reading “I have no idea where I am going”
from Thomas Merton: “Thoughts in Solitude”
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks

HYMN AA 8 Servant Song
Words & Music by Richard Gillard
Words & Music © 1977 Universal Music – Brentwood Benson Publishing
(Admin by Crossroad Distributors Ptd Ltd)
Brother, sister, let me serve you;
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey,
and companions on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ light for you
in the night time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh I'll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow,
till we've seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven,
we shall find such harmony,
born of all we've known together
of Christ's love and agony.

Brother, sister, let me serve you;
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that l may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.

REFLECTION Living with integrity in a complex world Fiona McDougal
Intention˃ Reflection> Action

love

HYMN HIOS 151 Where shall be found?
Word and music © 2009 Colin Gibson
(Admin. by Colin Alexander Gibson)
Solo Verses 1 and 2 sung by Jess Brownell

Where shall be found that holy ground
where we may plant the tree of peace,
strong to survive through fire and storm,
where shall such peace be born?

Our common theme, our deepest dream,
to see the tree of peace outspread,
shelter for each and every one,
how shall such peace become?

All stand and join in….

Christ is our peace, Christ our release
from fear and hatred, lust for power:
Christ is that young and greening tree,
growing for you and me.

Here is the place where, by God’s grace
we in our time must plant Christ’s peace,
deep in our hearts and minds and souls,
making the dream come true.

SOME THOUGHTS Jenny Simpson and Paul Satherly

CANDLE LIGHTING
You are invited to light a candle for those who serve in the armed forces, or in memory of those who lost their lives in war, for those who protest for peace or as a commitment to work for peace…..whichever is deepest in your heart at this moment.

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.

OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
We give thanks for the rich blessings we have received and your many gifts to us. May these offerings of money and food be an expression of our gratitude and our care and concern for others.

Amen.

We recognise and bless the gifts brought to the table and those given
to support the mission of the church through automatic payment.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Lynne Dovey

CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Ecuador and organisations working towards trade justice in the Americas. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Grant Robertson (Wellington Central electorate) and Jami-Lee Ross (Botany electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Eastbourne - St Ronan's Presbyterian Church.

PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card

HYMN Ch 4 710 I have a dream a man once said
Words © Estate of Pamela J. Pettitt (1954 – 2005), reproduced with permission
Tune: WOV 519(ii) ‘Repton’ by CHH Parry
“I have a dream”, a man once said,
“where all is perfect peace;
where men and women, black and white,
stand hand in hand, and all unite
in freedom and in love.” (Repeat last line)

But in this world of bitter strife
the dream can often fade;
reality seems dark as night,
we catch but glimpses of the light
Christ sheds on humankind.

Fierce persecution, war, and hate
are raging everywhere;
God calls us now to pay the price
through struggles and through sacrifice
of standing for the right.

So dream the dreams and sing the songs,
but never be content:
for thoughts and words don’t ease the pain:
unless there’s action, all is vain;
faith proves itself in deeds.

Lord, give us vision, make us strong,
help us to do your will;
don’t let us rest until we see
your love throughout humanity
uniting us in peace.

BLESSING
God renews our vision and makes us strong,
We go with hope to dream and to sing.

Christ calls us on and shows the way
We go with determination, to struggle and to choose.

The Spirit accompanies us as we walk,
We go in peace to love and to serve.

SUNG AMEN

THANK YOU Vivien Chiu
Our Musician today

Unless otherwise stated all hymns are used by permission CCLI Licence 341550
Words/music to new hymns and gathering statement, prayers and affirmation are original unless acknowledged. If Susan Jones is the worship leader any liturgy will have been written by her. These words can be used in other worship and small group situations without seeking permission. Please acknowledge the source.