January 20, 2019

WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE

Jesus did – go and do likewise.  Service led by Ken Irwin

 

GATHERING
Today we think carefully about Jesus and how we can follow him
And God will be with us
We share stories of journey of challenge and of opportunity
And God will be with us
With every story and every question the Way of Jesus becomes clearer
And God is with us Amen

PROCESSIONAL HYMN FFS 63 ‘These Hills’
Words and music by Colin Gibson
Words and music © 1998 Hope Publishing Company

These hills where the hawk flies lonely,
beaches where the long surf rolls,
mountain where the snows meet heaven,
these are our care.
Pastures where the sheep graze calmly,
orchards where the apples grow,
gardens where the roses cluster,
these are our prayer.

Cities where young roam restless,
lives brought to deep despair,
homeless and powerless people,
these are our care,
Places where the Word is spoken,
hands held in serving love,
faiths of our many cultures,
these are our prayer.

All that the old world gave us,
all that the new world brings,
language, ideas and customs,
these are our care,
Life finding joy and value,
faith seeking truth and light,
God heard and seen in all things,
this be our prayer.

WELCOME
Naumai haeremai, tena koutou katoa.
Kia ora.

PRAYER concluding… [said together]
And now, teach us to live our own lives gently and kindly
with each other, looking at ourselves and our world through
your eyes of respect and hope and light AMEN

LORD’S PRAYER

LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE

A QUESTION & AN OLD OLD STORY

PASSING THE PEACE

HYMN One more step along the world I go
Words and Music by Sydney Carter,
Words and music: © 1971 Stainer & Bell Ltd
Tune: Southcote
One more step along the world I go,
one more step along the world I go;
from the old things to the new
keep me travelling along with you:

And it's from the old I travel to the new;
keep me travelling along with you.

Round the corner of the world I turn,
more and more about the world I learn;
all the new things that I see
you'll be looking at along with me
And it's from the old I travel to the new….

Give me courage when the world is rough,
keep me loving though the world is tough;
leap and sing in all I do,
keep me travelling along with you:
And it's from the old I travel to the new…..

You are older than the world can be,
you are younger than the life in me;
ever old and ever new,
keep me travelling along with you:
And it's from the old I travel to the new….

THE WORD IN TEXTS Heather Macfarlane

Hebrew Bible Psalm 36:5-9

Gospel John 2:1-11

Contemporary reading From “How to Spell Presbyterian”
by James W Angell

German Theologian Helmüt Thielecke says Christians are people who believe life is symphonic and that their encounter with Jesus helps them know the score. The symphony moves simultaneously on two levels.

One forms the bass accompaniment. On this lower register, the ebb and flow of history continues, of fortune and misfortune, of celebration and of pain. Ships put to sea. Governors govern. Young adults grow older, make chosen careers and have children who do the same thing. Seed is planted, harvested, planted again. Sunrise, sunset. Hellos and goodbyes. An eternal wash of years.

Joseph and Mary make the trip to Jerusalem for an enrolment. The innkeeper works out an overnight arrangement. The shepherds come, they look, marvel and leave. The baby cries. A star looks down. A donkey brays, and the sound is lost on a Bethlehem wind.

But there’s also a treble accompaniment. On this upper level, another faint melody can be heard. A divine purpose is unfolding. A counterpoint is at work, helping to form a harmony.

Life is symphonic. Encountering and following Jesus helps to know the score.

RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture,
for the Word among us,
for the Word within us,
we give thanks

REFLECTION “Doing likewise…” Ken Irwin

SILENCE

THE MILENNIUM AFFIRMATION

Let there be:
Respect for the earth
Peace for its people
Love in our lives
Delight in the good
Forgiveness for past wrongs
And from now on
A new start

OFFERING & OFFERING PRAYER
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 Bronwyn White

CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Libya and the All Africa Conference of Churches . In New Zealand, we remember those in Parliament, and today we name Brett Hudson and Garth Hughes, list MPs. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St John's Presbyterian Church and St Mark's Presbyterian Church, Hastings.

PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card

HYMN Great Creator God, You call us
Jane Parker Huber Tune: Cwm Rhondda
Great Creator god, you call us
Through the church to do your will.
Stewards of both past and promise,
May we each our work fulfil,
Building up in faith and nurture
Christ’s own mission lively still.

Out of all our varied stories
May we weave a single tale.
Here confessing sin and discord,
Times we stumble times we fail.
Yet, forgiven, cleansed, re-fashioned,
In Christ’s strength shall we prevail

Christ still calls to peace and justice,
Health and wholeness, love and grace.
We are partners in that mission
For this time and in this place.
O God grant us sense and courage
In the daily tasks we face.

Without vision, people perish,
Without challenge drift and die.
Give us then the tools of daring
And the clarity of eye
For creating in the present
Visions far and wide and high

THE BENEDICTION
We go now into God’s world, with love
And we are sure the God of Love is already there!
E aroha me tumanako me te rangimarie tatou tatou e
May love, hopefulness and peace be with us all

SUNG AMEN

POSTLUDE "Processional" from Music for the Royal Fireworks
G.F Handel (1685 - 1759)

THANK YOU Peter Franklin our musician today

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