February 20, 2022

WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE

PRELUDE                                                                               Played by Hamish Dick (bagpipes)

CALL TO WORSHIP

We come today from the challenges and anxieties of life with COVID-19

to find a place of calm and safety,

to remind ourselves that we belong and to be reminded of what it is we belong to, to sing and celebrate the past with hope for the future.

SILENCE

PROCESSIONAL HYMN                          WOV 10 ‘All people that on Earth do dwell’

Words: William Kethe

Music: The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune arr. by Ralph Vaughan Williams

 

1. All people that on earth do dwell,

sing to the Lord with cheerful voice:

him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell;

come ye before him and rejoice.

 

2. Know that the Lord is God indeed;

without our aid he did us make:

we are his folk, he doth us feed,

and for his sheep he doth us take.

 

3. O enter then his gates with praise,

approach with joy his courts unto;

praise, laud and bless his name always,

for it is seemly so to do.

 

 

4. For why the Lord our God is good;

his mercy is for ever sure;

his truth at all times firmly stood,

and shall from age to age endure.

Amen

WELCOME 

Kia ora tātou.

Kia ora.

 

PRAYER
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.

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LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
TIME WITH CHILDREN Cameron Smart
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 Lois Robertson
Hebrew Bible Leviticus 27: 30 - 34
Contemporary reading Extract from paper presented to
the Iwi – Christianity : Tauiwi Conference
By the Rev. Dr. Wayne Te Kaawa in 2012 Waitangi

“John Macfarlane’s humanitarian concerns continued when he took up the cause of advocating for and promoting a hospital for Wellington in 1841. In spite of his public appeals the hospital did not eventuate until another six years. His attention soon turned to advocating for a medical dispensary for Māori who were left vulnerable to new diseases, from which they had no immunity, caused mainly from contact with European settlers. To offset the financial cost of the medical dispensary he spoke in favour of treatment at a rate that people using the service could afford.

A vital source of financial support lay in the Wellington Tenths (Tithes) - one of the conditions of the leases was that rental money derived from the leases could be used to support a medical dispensary. Unfortunately the money from the Tenths was diverted into administration costs for the Crown and some money was paid to European settlers in Taranaki, neither of which was authorised. Unable to raise any financial support from outside and with the mismanagement of the Wellington Tenths, the plans for the dispensary lapsed.”
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
HYMN WOV 467 ‘Who would true valour see’
Words: © John Bunyan 1628-88
Music: WOV 467 Monk’s Gate

1. Who would true valour see,
let him come hither;
one here will constant be,
come wind, come weather.
There’s no discouragement
shall make him once relent
his first avowed intent
to be a pilgrim.
2. Whoso beset him round
with dismal stories
do but themselves confound;
his strength the more is.
No lion can him fright,
he’ll with a giant fight,
but he will have a right
to be a pilgrim.

3. Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
can daunt his spirit:
he knows he at the end
shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
he’ll fear not what men say;
he’ll labour night and day
to be a pilgrim.

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REFLECTION Rosemary Lawrence
Do not turn a deaf ear to the cry of these islands
HYMN WOV 492 ‘Lead us heavenly Father lead us’
Words: James Edmeston 1791 1867
Tune: Mannheim

1. Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
o’er the word’s tempestous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
for we have no help but thee:
Yet possessing every blessing,
if our God our Father be.

2. Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us
All our weakness thou dost know;
thou didst tread this earth before us,
thou didst feel its keenest woe;
lone and dreary, fain and weary,
through the desert thou didst go.

3. Spirit of our God, descending,
fill our hearts with heavenly joy,
love with every passion blending,
pleasure that can never cloy:
thus provided, pardoned, guided,
nothing can our peace destroy.

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OFFERTORY MUSIC Psalm 23
Words: Scottish Psalter 1650
Tune: Crimond by Jessie Irvine 1836 – 1887
OFFERING HYMN WOV 573 ‘Praise God from whom all blessings flow’
Tune: Old Hundreth from Genevan Psalter 1551
Words: Thomas Ken 1637 – 1711

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
praise him, all creatures here below,
praise him above, ye heavenly host,
praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
OFFERING PRAYER

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 Ellen Murray
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Namibia and the Council of Churches in Namibia. 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 the Hon David Bennett and Chris Bishop, list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St Mark's Presbyterian Church, Hastings.
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 AA 155 ‘Where Mountains Rise’
Words © 1971, Shirley Erena Murray
Music by Vernon Griffiths © 1971 Faber Music Ltd. 5 verses

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Your love be known, compassion shown,
that every child have equal scope:
in justice done, in trust begun
shall be our heritage and hope.

5. Where mountains rise to open skies
your way of peace distil the air,
your spirit bind all humankind,
one covenant of life to share!

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BLESSING Traditional Celtic
May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow,
may the soft winds freshen your spirit,
may the sunshine brighten your heart,
may the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you,
and may God enfold you in the mantle of His love.
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE