November 5, 2017
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
GATHERING
Today we review the year and all goodness and grace shown
We give thanks and praise
Today we review contributions of all who make this place ‘work’
We give thanks and praise
Today we come to renew our commitment
Asking for a spirit of generosity and grace
PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘For all the saints’
Words © Susan Jones. Tune: Sine Nomine WOV 384
For all the saints of every age and day,
who bravely seek to follow Jesus’ way;
sharing Good News by what they do and say, Alleluia! Alleluia!
For those who gave themselves to good each day
Giving their talents, money, time away;
More, gave their lives to open up the Way, Alleluia! Alleluia!
For Jesus, who exploded people’s view,
Of who was ‘out’ or ‘in’ the chosen few
Who died for freedom out of love for you, Alleluia, Alleluia.
And so we meet to celebrate the might
of this community of grace and light;
praying Love’s flame will always burn out bright, Alleluia! Alleluia!
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
JESUS’ PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase on card
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
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.
‘Choosing to give’ Lynne Dovey
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!
‘Giving money in the spirit of justice & love’ Paul Barber
THE WORD IN TEXTS Colma Froggatt
Hebrew Bible Deuteronomy 26:1-12
Gospel Matthew 25:14-25
Contemporary reading Editor Rebecca Laird in The Heart of Henri Nouwen quotes from this
Catholic contemplative's book Sabbatical Journey:
... generosity has many levels. We have to think generously, speak
generously, and act generously. Thinking well of others and speaking
well of others is the basis for generous giving. It means that we relate to
others as part of our 'gen' or 'kin' and treat them as family. Generosity
cannot come from guilt or pity. It has to come from hearts that are
fearless and free and are willing to share abundantly all that is given to
us.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks
GIVING TIME TO WELCOMING AND THE COUNCIL
Welcoming at the door Lyn Burrell
Being a Parish Councillor Andrew Matthews
HYMN ‘More than we know’
Words © 2000 Shirley Murray. Music © Vivien Chiu
St Andrew’s Singers will sing the first verse and then everyone is invited to stand and sing
the rest of the hymn
More than we know, God works within us,
more than we trust, mustard seeds grow,
more than we dream, God's possibility,
this is the Gospel of love:
for Christ has come, bringing us life,
life in its fullness and joy! (repeat both lines)
He is God's eye, changing our focus,
he is the light, flooding our mind,
he is the fire, Spirit and energy
sparking our spirit to shine,
for Christ has come, bringing us life,
life in its fullness and joy! (repeat)
He is God's face, smile of the rainbow,
colours of peace, blending us all,
he is the coin, God's new economy,
spending to feed and to save,
for Christ has come, bringing us life,
life in its fullness and joy! (repeat)
He is God's heart, tuned to our heartbeat,
he is the air, lifting our wings,
his are the arms stretched out to challenge us,
he is our courage to fly,
for Christ has come, bringing us life,
life in its fullness and joy! (repeat)
GIVING TIME TO CHILDREN AND ORGANISING GROUPS
Taking time with the children Cameron Smart
Organising groups (SATRS and Spirited Conversations) Pam Fuller
FAREWELL TO KARYN Susan Jones
THOUGHTS ON GENEROSITY Susan Jones
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Wendy Matthews
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
OFFERING AND COMMUNION HYMN AA62 ‘Here we bring small or great’
Music: © Colin Gibson. Words © 1992 Shirley Murray
Here we bring, small or great,
gifts to offer on this plate,
what we’ve earned, what we own,
tithe or token, bread or stone,
REFRAIN: Jesus said, “Have a care – your heart will always be
where your riches are, where your riches are.”
Food and drink, things obsess,
drug us to false happiness;
what we keep, what we give,
tells the truth of how we live. REFRAIN
Moth and rust breed decay,
thieves break in and steal away;
love and trust need no hoard,
richest treasure can’t be stored, REFRAIN
Wild flowers grow, birds find seed,
God attends to each one’s need;
as we share, all can live,
as we love, we learn to give, REFRAIN
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
We have been given much;
out of that plenty we bring what we owe in gratitude,
in thankfulness for the journey travelled thus far
and in anticipation of the journey to come;
we give in order to make our journey and other’s journeys possible.
So may it be 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.
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.
THANKSGIVING PRAYER
O Eternal Spirit, we give thanks,
because with fire and wind you came among us.
You burst forth
and our lives have never been the same.
You continue to reveal yourself to women and men
offering a new way of living, new energy for the journey.
Therefore, with the energy and powerful love
which we can now find deep within us,
with creative people
who delight us, transforming darkness and despair,
with those who are artistic
and visualise for us another way,
with those who are damaged
and bring new perspective to life’s stage,
with those who are rich in enthusiasm
who inspire others to do good and do well,
we give thanks, saying
Holy, holy, holy, loving Spirit God
heaven and earth are full of your glory
-the glory of the power that is lovehosanna
in the highest
blessed are they who come in the name of God
hosanna in the highest
Blessed is our brother Jesus
who, after a meal with his friends, people much like us,
took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said words like:
This is the bread of the new covenant which is for you.
Do this to remember me
In the same also the cup, after supper saying words like
This cup is the wine of the new covenant,
Drink this to remember me.
Come now, spirit of all times and places
be the wind which blows between us
be the fire that kindles our hearts
be the language which draws us together
And may these elements from grain and grape
nourish the spirit within us; be our Source and beginning,
staying with us until our ending, So may it be AMEN
THE DISTRIBUTION
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 AA127 ‘Take my gifts’
Words © 1992 Shirley Murray. Music ©1992 Colin Gibson. Hope Publishing Company
Take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me,
gave me light and food and shelter,
gave me life and set me free,
now because your love has touched me,
I have love to give away;
now the bread of love is rising,
loaves of love to multiply!
Take the fruit that I have gathered
from the tree your Spirit sowed,
harvest of your own compassion,
juice that makes the wine of God;
spiced with humour, laced with laughter--
flavour of the Jesus life,
tang of risk and new adventure,
taste and zest beyond belief.
Take whatever I can offer--
gifts that I have yet to find,
skills that I am slow to sharpen,
talents of the hand and mind,
things made beautiful for others
in the place where I must be:
take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me.
BLESSING
We have listened and heard
We have spoken and sung
We have prayed and reflected
We have witnessed and given
Now we go from here to live out what we have learned
To spread the generosity we have seen
To help this world become a better place for all people
In all places and at all times
May all people everywhere know
Love surrounds them every moment of every day
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE R.A.F. March Past
by Sir H. Walford Davis (1869 – 1941)
THANK YOU Thank you to Peter Franklin
Our musician today