June 24, 2018
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
This Sunday sees the end of the four-reflection series on the Charter for Compassion, inspired by Karen Armstrong
GATHERING
Compassion isn’t just between you and me,
Compassion needs to spread throughout our nation,
Compassion needs to reach out around the world.
Compassion and kindness breed unity and peace.
Can we play the game with kindness and mercy?
Can we play the compassion card wherever we are?
PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘Celebrate the Works of Wisdom’
Words by Jann Aldredge-Clanton © 2009 Eakin Press
Music: Ode to Joy Ludwig van Beethoven
Celebrate the works of Wisdom,
Shining forth in all that’s fair;
Wisdom shows us peaceful pathways,
calling us to dream and dare.
Like a vision bright and gold,
Wisdom comes to light our way,
bringing us Her gifts most precious,
leading to a better day.
Wisdom works in every nation,
guiding us to live in peace;
teaching healing care and kindness,
She will help all violence cease.
Wisdom works through men and women,
prophets bold throughout the years,
speaking up for truth and justice,
crying out for all to hear.
Works of Wisdom bring abundance,
lovely works beyond compare;
Wisdom opens doors of freedom,
calling everyone to share.
Like a tree of life She blossoms,
spreading beauty through the earth.
We can join the work of Wisdom,
new creation now to birth.
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
JESUS PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase on card
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
TIME WITH CHILDREN Dawn Cowdry
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We send you to the Rainbow Room programme to hear stories, ask questions
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 Anne Barrie
Hebrew Bible selected verses from 2 Kings 5: 1-14
Gospel Luke 10: 25-37
Contemporary reading ‘4th stanza of the Charter of Compassion’
Inspired by Karen Armstrong
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks
LIFE MOMENT ‘Eating like a refugee’ Sonia Groes Petrie
REFLECTION ‘Compassion – Force for Good’ Susan Jones
Global Unity Games: There are many ways that individuals and teams can play, from organizing creative service projects to give back to one’s community to performing acts of kindness to promote unity of the human family. All players will receive an Agent of Compassion mission to use each day of the Global Unity Games, offering meaningful, tangible ideas and inspiration for activities as a way to play. Players then report on their activities on the Compassion Report Map. The reports of Registered Teams are reflected on the Global Unity Games Scoreboard, displaying the number of volunteers, number of hours served, number of people served, and the monies raised for local or global causes.
OFFERING HYMN (sung seated as offering is received)
AA 74 ‘Is this the end of the world?’
Music and Words: © 1993 Cecily Sheehy. Music arr. Douglas Mews & Jillian Bray
Is this the end of the world? What do we do?
Fighting and war in each land – fighting for who?
Silently Planet Earth dies, used and abused.
Where is the Christ who was battered and died, that we might live?
Is this the end of my world? What do I do?
Fighting the war of my power – fighting for who?
Silently part of me dies, used and abused.
Where is the Christ who is hidden in me? Come now, arise.
Now is the chance for our world. What do we do?
Look to the war in ourselves – fighting for who?
Welcome and honour the dark, look to the light,
Nations and cultures, the rich and the poor, now must unite.
Who is now left in our world? What can we do?
Fighting is part of us all – fighting for who?
Silently walk in the dark, holding each hand.
Earth will recover if hand stays in hand, heart bound to heart.
AFFIRMATION (said together as our offering prayer)
We affirm that compassion needs to be
a clear, luminous and dynamic force
in our polarized world.
We affirm that compassion is
rooted in a principled determination
to transcend selfishness.
We affirm that compassion can
break down political, dogmatic,
ideological and religious boundaries.
We affirm that compassion is
essential to human relationships
and to a fulfilled humanity.
We affirm that compassion is
indispensable to the creation of
a just economy and a peaceful global community.
We affirm that we seek to be people of compassion.
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 Patricia Booth
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Gabon and the Evangelical Church of Gabon. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Nick Smith (Nelson electorate) and Stuart Smith (Kaikōura electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Miramar Uniting Church.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
HYMN AA 160 ‘Will you offer me compassion?’
Words © 1993 John Weir
Music © 1993 Douglas News
Will you offer me compassion?
Will you walk the road with me?
Brother, sister will you feed me
Ripe fruit from the Mercy Tree?
Will you utter words of comfort?
Will you bless me with your peace?
Mercy is the gift I long for:
mercy from the Mercy Tree
I do not deserve your loving,
Brother, sister, yet I plead -
I am human, I have need of
mercy from the Mercy Tree
If you offer me your friendship,
if you make your peace with me,
mercy will most surely touch you:
mercy from the Mercy Tree
SPOKEN BLESSING followed by SUNG BLESSING AA 99 ‘Now as we go’
Words © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray
Music Colin Gibson, © 1992 Hope Publishing Company
Now as we go, kind Spirit keep us,
in all we see, Christ be our focus,
in all we do, his story shape us,
that we may grow
to God’s good purpose.
Now as we go, sister and brother,
give us good care one of the other,
more hope to share,
more strength to gather,
more life to know in faith together.
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.