December 1, 2019
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
Advent Sunday:
The season of waiting
GATHERING
In this season of watching, of mystery unfolding
We gather to wait
In this time of spacious silence
We gather to listen
In this place of community and belonging
We gather in faith
PROCESSIONAL HYMN AA 113 ‘Our life has its seasons’
Words: © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray
Music by Colin Gibson © 1992 Hope Publishing Co.
Our life has its seasons, and God has the reasons
why spring follows winter, and new leaves grow,
for there's a connection with our resurrection
that flowers will bud after frost and snow.
Refrain: So there's never a time to stop believing,
there's never a time for hope to die,
there's never a time to stop loving,
these three things go on.
There's a time to be planting, a time to be plucking,
a time to be laughing, a time to weep,
a time to be building, a time to be breaking,
a time to be waking, a time to sleep. Refrain
There's a time to be hurting, a time to be healing,
a time to be saving, a time to spend,
a time to be grieving, a time to be dancing,
a time for beginning, a time to end. Refrain
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
JESUS’ PRAYER
Jim Cotter paraphrase on card
LIGHTING THE FIRST ADVENT CANDLE – HOPE Lois Robertson
CWS Partner Story from Uganda: Give Water, Give Life
Great Grandmother Farazia is 78 years old and lives in the dry south of Uganda. She saves every coin she can for a new rainwater tank. Every month she takes her money to the village caregivers meeting where it is recorded in her account. She can see the difference a tank makes to other families affected by HIV and AIDS like hers.
With a tank, her grandchildren will not have to walk for hours to collect water that needs to be filtered when they get home.
With clean water, they will be healthy and go to school every day. They will have energy for their chores and can grow better food. She wants this for her grandchildren. It is her prayer.
Gracious God
For those, like Farazia, who dare to hope for a better way
We give you thanks
For those who are the bringers of light
We praise you
For the relentless pursuit of this hope
We light this candle. Amen.
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Practice for Children’s Service Dec 8th
BLESSING THE CHILDREN (All stand)
We send you to the Rainbow Room to practice for next Sunday’s Children’s Service.
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 Lynne Dovey
Hebrew Bible Psalm 122
Gospel Matthew 24:36-44
Contemporary reading From ‘Through the Advent Door’
by Jan Richardson
In her book The Vigil: Keeping Watch in the Season of Christ’s Coming, Wendy M. Wright relates words given to her by a Trappist retreat master, who said, “To be a Christian does not mean knowing all the answers; to be a Christian means being willing to live in the part of the self where the question is born.” With this opening lection, Advent reminds us of this in a fashion that may seem painfully direct but can also be tremendously freeing: it tells us that we do not know everything, cannot know everything, are not responsible for knowing everything. It tells us that, ultimately, we live in mystery.
www.janrichardson.com
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
REFLECTION ‘The season of waiting’ Catriona Cairns
OFFERING PRAYER (said together)
We bring these gifts today, expressions of our gratitude,
and we bring ourselves, not yet knowing how we might be used,
but watching and trusting in the signs of hope for 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, 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 Taiwan and the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. We remember the detainees of Manus and Nauru Islands, yearning that their cases be resolved. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Maggie Barry (North Shore electorate) and Andrew Bayly (Hunua electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the Pacific Islander leaders and people of Newtown.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
St Andrew’s is an open community and all are invited to Christ’s table.
Wherever you are on your faith 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.
COMMUNION HYMN AA154 ‘Where is the room?’
Words: © 1992 Shirley Erena Murray
Music: © 1993 David Dell COC 48
Where is the room,
where is the house of Christmas?
Where shall we welcome Jesus,
where are the signs of home?
Where are the signs of home?
Let Christ have space,
place at the heart of living,
centre for birth’s new breathing,
cradle for hope and peace,
cradle for hope and peace.
Let there be room,
room for the friend and stranger,
room without hurt or anger,
room for whoever come,
room for whoever come.
Let love be here,
love from the Christmas stable,
love at our open table,
love to be shared all year,
love to be shared all year.
COMMUNION LITURGY on blue card
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.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
HYMN AA89 ‘Light of lights beholden’
Words & Music © 1997 Jenny McLeod COC 29
Light of lights beholden
we from days of olden
sang this song,
for to understand
that peace upon this planet
was pledged to come.
Each to other, sister, brother,
Born for life and song.
Darkness all around us,
light has always found us,
light will come
where the dark is deepest,
greater light will keep us
safe from harm.
Troubled times will always find
A voice of troubled doom,
Chorus - look towards the light and carry on:
let the simple heart and hope among us
keep our family strong,
let the simple heart and hope among us
keep our family strong.
BLESSING
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE
THANK YOU Thank you to Bruce Corkill
our musician today
THANK YOU
Write the Thank You here