March 11, 2018
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Today Sandra and Tony Kirby led the Gathering
GATHERING
We continue our journey of life and growth as individuals and as community
bringing our unique and diverse personalities.
We acknowledge who we are in our fragile humanity,
we recognise our needs, motivations and responses;
we come with our past, we look to the future.
Let is celebrate the journey together in the presence we name God.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN AA 156 ‘Where the road runs out’
Words and Music: © 1992 Colin Gibson
Where the road runs out and the signposts end,
where we come to the edge of today,
be the God of Abraham for us,
send us out upon our way.
Chorus:
Lord, you were our beginning,
the faith that gave us birth.
We look to you, our ending,
our hope for heaven and earth.
When the coast is left and we journey on
to the rim of the sky and the sea,
be the sailor’s friend, be the dolphin Christ
lead us in to eternity. Chorus
When the clouds are low and the wind is strong,
when tomorrow’s storm draws near,
be the spirit bird hovering overhead
who will take away our fear. Chorus
OPENING RESPONSES (please remain standing)
Universal Spirit, who leads us to growth
in whatever circumstances we find ourselves
When we don’t notice our daily blessings
Remind us of your tender care
When we serve others out of duty
Remind us we are free to love and be loved
When we waste the earth’s resources
Remind us that your Spirit renews us
When we lose our self respect
Remind us of our inherent value
When we are envious or dissatisfied
Remind us of the joy of awareness and contentment
We celebrate together the journey of our life in this place.
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER and LORD’S PRAYER (4 of 6 possible renderings of the Aramaic Lord’s Prayer)
O Source of the Radiance,
dancing in and about all-that-is,
Shine forth into the depths of our beings,
and enkindle there the flame of thy essence.
Grant that it may blaze forth
and fill us with its searing creativity,
Until, fully united with thy fiery desire,
light pours out from us, taking form.
May we be revitalised each day
with nourishment for body and spirit,
And be liberated from all that oppresses us,
as we struggle to mend the fabric of our world.
Let us not be enmeshed in the nets of illusion,
but illuminate the opportunities of the present moment.
For from thee shine forth
the precepts, the sustenance, and the generative fire,
from centring to centring. Ameyn. http://visioncraft.org/aramaic/index.htm
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
TIME WITH CHILDREN Ellen Murray
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!
A LENTEN MOMENT Cameron Smart
HYMN AA59 ‘He came singing love’
Words and music: Colin Gibson © 1994 Hope Publishing Company
He came singing love,
and he lived singing love:
he died singing love.
He arose in silence.
For the love to go on
we must make it our song:
you and I be the singers.
He came singing faith
and he lived singing faith:
he died singing faith.
He arose in silence.
For the faith to go on
we must make it our song:
you and I be the singers
He came singing hope
and he lived singing hope:
he died singing hope.
He arose in silence.
For the hope to go on
We must make it our song:
you and I be the singers.
He came singing peace
and he lived singing peace:
he died singing peace.
He arose in silence.
For the peace to go on
We must make it our song:
you and I be the singers.
THE WORD IN TEXTS Colma Froggatt
Hebrew Bible Numbers 21: 4-9
Gospel John 3: 14-21
Contemporary reading A Winter Dream
By Richard Paul Evans
“My Dear Son,
I am so very proud of you. Now, as you embark on a new journey, I'd like to share this one piece of advice. Always, always remember that - adversity is not a detour. It is part of the path.
You will encounter obstacles. You will make mistakes. Be grateful for both. Your obstacles and mistakes will be your greatest teachers. And the only way to not make mistakes in this life is to do nothing, which is the biggest mistake of all.
Your challenges, if you let them, will become your greatest allies. Mountains can crush or raise you, depending on which side of the mountain you choose to stand on. All history bears out that the great, those who have changed the world, have all suffered great challenges. And, more times than not it's precisely those challenges that, in God's time, lead to triumph.
Abhor victimhood. Denounce entitlement. Neither are gifts, rather cages to damn the soul. Everyone who has walked this earth is a victim of injustice. Everyone.
Most of all, do not be too quick to denounce your sufferings. The difficult road you are called to walk may, in fact be your only path to success.”
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks
REFLECTION
‘Watching out for signposts on the journey’ Tony & Sandra Kirby
MUSIC FOR REFLECTION
Joan Baez; Poor Wayfaring Stranger
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in God,
who trusts us with the whole creation,
who calls us to honour that trust
by living in fairness, justice
generosity and grace.
We believe in Jesus Christ,
who walked the way of the cross
to honour God’s love for us,
who shared all our struggles
and lived our deepest fears.
We believe in the Holy Spirit
who is present in our inner longings,
stirring us into new things,
calling us to the risks of faith.
Dorothy McRae-McMahon
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
May these offerings and our lives,
bring hope to those who have little,
and may these gifts be a symbol of our commitment
to justice in our 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 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.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Lois Robertson
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Cyprus and the Church of Cyprus. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name MPs Stuart Nash (Napier electorate) and Damien O’Connor, (West Coast-Tasman electorate. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Wanganui, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and St James’ Presbyterian Church.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
HYMN Go Now in Peace
Music: © Words: Don Besig and Nancy Price
© 1988 Harold Flammer Music (adapted)
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.
Know love will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above.
Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.
BLESSING
Go as far as your courage takes you,
for we cannot go beyond the reach of God.
Give as extravagantly as you may,
for we cannot spend all the riches of God.
Care as lavishly as you are able,
for we cannot exhaust the love of God.
Keep journeying and searching
for God travels with you and blesses you.
SUNG AMEN
THANK YOU Judy Dumbleton
Our musician today