July 21, 2019
WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE
GATHERING
You never know who you might meet at the water cooler
When you are in the middle of your daily routine
Let us dip down deep into the heart of ourselves
And find what was always there, waiting for us to re-discover it
So may it be
Amen.
PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘The year is ever turning’
Words: © Susan Jones Music: Ewing WOV 346
The year is ever turning, Spring welcomes back the light.
The heat of summer fades, then in autumn birds take flight.
In winter, darkness closes and temp'ratures grow chill,
yet warmth will always be ours, for love is primary still.
Among New Zealand's foothills our hearts are overcome.
The stars and planets tell us creating's never done;
Aurora (the australis) streaks through the evening sky;
At this, like Spirit's myst'ry, we question "How?" and "Why"?
In bright sunlight we wander on hill and track and road;
Walking with one another we carry each one's load;
The tussocks brush our ankles the gradient tests our heart,
the journey takes us onward; of cosmos, we are part.
These days, we now can gather in café, candled halls,
churches not yet familiar or where we first were called;
Together now, we stumble t’wards love below, above,
beside us and behind us, surrounding, all is Love.
WELCOME
Kia ora tatou.
Kia ora.
PRAYER and the LORD’S PRAYER FROM THE ARAMAIC
This rendering of the Lord’s Prayer from the Aramaic is by Mark Hathaway and Neil Douglas-Klotz (www.taoofliberation.com and www.abwoon.com).
O Divine Womb,
birthing forth the river of blessing which runs through all,
Soften the ground of our being,
and hallow in us a space for the planting of thy presence.
In our depths,
sow thy seed with its greening-power
that we might be midwives to thy Reign.
Then, let each of our actions
bear fruit in accordance with thy desire.
Impart to us the wisdom to bring forth the gifts of the earth
and share them daily according to the needs of each being,
and restore that which has been usurped
by injustice to its rightful owners,
as we restore to others that which is not our own.
Do not let us be seduced
by that which would divert us from our purpose,
but make us sensitive to the moment at hand.
For from thy fertile soil is born the creativity,
the life-energy, and the dance,
from birthing to birthing. Ameyn.
LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Susan Jones
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 John Harper
Hebrew Bible Genesis 33: 18-20
Gospel John 4
Contemporary reading from “The Age of Spirit”
May 20, 2019, https://cac.org/the-age-of-spirit-2019-05-20/
The Spirit is like a homing device put inside of us, and all creation, too. For all of our ignorance and mistakes, there is in everything this deep, internal dignity convinced of its own value. This divine indwelling keeps insisting, “I am what I am seeking!”
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture, for the Word among us, for the Word within us,
we give thanks.
REFLECTION ‘Myth misunderstood at the well’ Susan Jones
HYMN ‘The woman came’
Music © 2019 Susan Jones Music: Repton WOV 519(ii)
The woman came along that day for water from the well
The other women had gone home, they didn’t want to know her well
She was left out, all alone, she was left out, alone.
She found a stranger sitting there, on her well’s stony rim.
He was a man, and she was not, she didn’t think she’d talk to him
He and her sort didn’t talk, he and her sort don’t talk.
But they discussed and argued long on water, life, and prayer.
He challenged her, she challenged him, they met, connected just right there;
Things would never be the same, they’d never be the same.
We do not know what encounters wait to meet us on our way.
How strangers can reset our lives, how we can learn anew each day
that the Spirit is within, the Spirit is within.
OFFERING PRAYER
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 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 Barrie Keenan
CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Puerto Rico and the Council of Churches of Puerto Rico . We remember the detainees on Manus and Nauru islands and yearn that their cases be resolved. In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Chlöe Swarbrick and Fletcher Tabuteau list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St Andrew's Central Hawkes Bay.
PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card
HYMN FFS 67‘We are many, we are one’
Words and Music: © 1998 Colin Gibson
We are many, we are one, and the work of Christ is done
when we learn to live in true community,
as the stars that fill the night, as a flock of birds in flight,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the branches of a tree, as the waves upon the sea,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.
All division is made whole when we honour every soul,
find the life of God in every you and me,
as the fingers of a hand, as the grains that form the sand,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the threads upon the loom, as a field of flowers in bloom,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.
We will join creation's song, make a world where all belong,
build as one in peace and loving harmony,
as the voices of a choir, as the flames within a fire,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the snowflakes in the snow, as the colours of a bow,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.
SPOKEN BLESSING
SUNG BLESSING FFS 49 ‘May the God of new beginnings’
Words © 2000 John Murray, Music © 2000 Colin Gibson
Reprinted with permission under One License A-623996. All rights reserved
May the God of new beginnings start with you and me
May the God of continuing story speak through you and me,
May the God of infinite wisdom shine in you and me
May the God of safe homecomings welcome you and me
SUNG AMEN
POSTLUDE “The Dam Busters March”
by Eric Coates (1886 – 1957)
THANK YOU 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 such 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.