September 1, 2019
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
OPENING SILENCE
Let us be still
in this moment
allowing us to become more aware of the sacred at home within us.
Silence
GATHERING
We enter the month of Creation Sundays
celebrating oceans and storms, cosmos and creatures;
We ponder in awe the complexity of this planet
and wonder with grief at the destruction being wrought upon it.
May we not stop at simple admiration
but act to reverse damage already done.
May we not stop at our use of the earth’s resources
but act to ensure no more wounding of this living planet.
May this bright blue teardrop, hanging in vast heavens
always pulse freely with life and love.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘In our word we find delight’
Words© 2017-2019 Susan Jones, Music Vivien Chiu Used with permission
In our world we find delight
For creation, day and night
Brings us solace, joy;
Spirit grows, refreshes, gleams
as the earth fuels richer dreams
just by being here;
May this beauty never end
May this solace always be here
May the human race take notice
And show divine compassion.
Water trickles, rushes, spouts
Deep calm lake drains to river mouth
Power wrested from snow;
Humans, animals and plants
need hydration, need the chance
to refresh and grow;
May this beauty never end
May this water last for everyone
May the human race take notice
And show divine compassion
Oceans stretch before our eyes
needing rescue before they die;
Plastic flotsam kills
We want oceans to be well,
fresh and clean, not a living hell
for defenceless fish
May their beauty be restored
Poor practice not ignored
May the oceans be clear blue again
As we show them compassion
It’s a mystery who made this,
evolution, hand-made care;
multiple ideas.
But it’s not a mystery who
needs to care for green and blue,
we have all been charged
To make sure this never ends
That this beauty does remain here
That the human race takes notice
And shows divine compassion
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER
JESUS’ PRAYER Jim Cotter paraphrase on card
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Jennifer Bush
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 Gavin Watson
Hebrew Bible Genesis 1: 1-10
The Beginning
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Now the earth was formless and empty,
darkness was over the surface of the deep,
and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,”
and there was light.
God saw that the light was good,
and separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light “day,” and the darkness “night.”
and there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters
to separate water from water.”
So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault
from the water above it.
And it was so.
God called the vault “sky.”
And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place,
and let dry ground appear.”
And it was so.
God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters “seas.”
And God saw that it was good.
Contemporary reading “I brought”
by@wildcaughtword
I brought what burdened me to the ocean
Placed it down
Stepped back
And allowed the tide to take it
SILENCE
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
SILENCE
REFLECTION ‘Oceans of Tears, Sweat and Salt Water’ Susan Jones
OFFERING PRAYER
Wide wide as the ocean, high as the heavens above
Deep, deep as the deepest Sea is my Saviour’s love
I though so unworthy still am a child of God’s care
for the Word teaches me that God’s love reaches me everywhere
The simple children’s song carries a profound truth:
Love can reach everywhere.
May our gifts today of food and money help to let others know
This profound truth:
That love is theirs today whoever they are and wherever they may be
May the work of this church which we help fund today
ensure people know they are worthy of love
and welcome here whatever they believe;
May these gifts of food help feed bodies and nourish souls
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.
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 Catriona Cairns
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Senegal and the Muslim people in Senegal and throughout the world. We remember the detainees on Manus and Nauru Islands yearning for their cases to be resolved. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Stuart Smith (Kaikoura electorate) and Erica Stanford (East Coast Bays electorate). Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of Waikohu Cooperating Church.
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 LITURGY on 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.
Order of distribution:
Please note that the order of serving used in this communion follows the concept of us all needing to be spiritually nourished before we serve others. The minister and servers therefore take communion first. This order is intended to symbolise the preparation which all those who serve others need to make in order for their serving to be sustainable and authentic. This order of serving – minister, servers, people - is not intended as elitist or hierarchical.
All of us follow Jesus our leader, who took time to refresh and renew himself so he could minister well to the people who flocked to hear him.
COMMUNION HYMN CH4 593 ‘She sits like a bird’
on card
HYMN ‘Song of the Waters’
Words: © 2001 Norman Habel. Tune (CH4 160): Praise, my soul
Reprinted with permission under One License A-623996. All rights reserved
View anew the dark blue ocean,
Whales cavorting, spraying foam;
God at play with deep sea monsters,
feeling very much at home.
Sing a song of laughing waters,
pulsing through the veins of Earth.
Watch once more the windswept storm clouds;
Suddenly the sky has wings!
God has come to rain among us,
giving hope to all dry things.
Sing a song of splashing waters,
pulsing through the veins of Earth.
Taste the moisture of the morning,
smoother than the best red wine;
toast the lifeblood of the planet:
Here’s to God’s wild wet design!
Sing a song of flowing waters,
pulsing through the veins of Earth.
Feel the breath of God move softly,
gentle mists that brush the skin;
Earth is breathing God’s own spirit,
life renewed from deep within.
Sing a song of living waters,
pulsing through the veins of Earth
BLESSING
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE Prelude in C BWV 553
by J.S Bach (1685-1750)
THANK YOU Thank you to Peter Franklin
our musician today
Unless otherwise specified all our music is 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.
AUDIO REFLECTIONS
Sunday reflections are usually available on our website.
http://www.standrews.org.nz/category/sunday-gathering