September 17, 2017

WELCOME TO ST ANDREW’S ON THE TERRACE

This Sunday we celebrate the Forest.  Guest Speaker Kevin Hackwell of NZ Forest and Bird

 

GATHERING
We gather in the name of the Creator, the fountain of life,
the name of Christ, the pulse of life,
and the name of the Spirit, the breath of life.
Holy! Holy! Holy!
Earth is filled with divine presence.
We gather within the sanctuary called Earth,
A planet filled with presence,
quivering in the forests, vibrating in the land,
pulsating in the wilderness, shimmering in the rivers.

We invite the forests to worship with us:
Mountain beech and rimu,
quivering ferns and glistening moss!
We quiver with the trees as they shake when
tempests and tornadoes hit and
raging winds invade the forest.
We invite tall trees to celebrate life:
Kauri and Kahikitea,
tall timber where epiphytes and lichen find their home!
We invite the forest night-life to sing:
Green tree frogs and timid moths,
ancient owls and swirling bats!
We join with the fauna of the forest in praising God:
Tuis and bellbirds,
Kereru and kiwi, piwakawaka and butterflies!
We celebrate the song of the forest!
Sing, forest, sing!
We celebrate the song of the forest!
Sing, forest, sing!
We remember the first garden,
when there was planted a forest of trees.
We remember the gardens
and the forests of our childhood,
the bush where we played in the past,
when we felt close to Earth and to trees.
We remember and rejoice.
We give thanks for trees,
for forests filled with mysteries!
Adapted from Season of Creation worship resources www.seasonofcreation.com

PROCESSIONAL HYMN ‘O when I see’
Words: Susan Jones © 2017 Music How Great Thou Art CH 4 #154
O when I see the awesome world around me,
and think of all the worlds which lie beyond;
I see bright stars, I see the circling planets,
Aurora’s shimmer, north and south’s display.
Then sings my soul, in gratitude and praise,
How great this world, the expanse of space.
Then sings my soul, in gratitude and praise,
How great this world, the expanse of space!

When I walk through the bush so green, so luscious
Ferns layered under tall tree canopies;
And see the birds, each in its niche for living
And hear the sounds of birdsongs, rustling leaves.
Then sings my soul, in gratitude and praise,
How great this world, this green life here.
Then sings my soul, in gratitude and praise,
How great this world, this green life here!

This precious earth, our nest in which we flourish
Is crucial to our happiness and health;
Can we co-operate with one another
To make it truly all our common wealth?
So sings my soul, let’s act now on our praise
How great this world, let’s save it now,
Then sings my soul, our energy to raise
How great this world, let’s save it now!

WELCOME
Kia ora tatou. Kia ora.
CONFESSION/LAMENT and PRAYER
We remember and confess
that we have become alienated from Earth
and have violated the forests in our garden planet.
We are sorry.
We have been thoughtless and greedy.
We have ignored the destruction of our forests,
the death of old-growth giants
and species breathing their last.
We are sorry.
We are sorry. We are sorry.
Your confession is heard. Your sins against the forest have been forgiven.
May we learn to love Earth and return to Earth as our home.
You are freed to come to Earth by rejoicing in the forest.
Shalom! Shalom! We are coming home!

The glory of Love fills our planet.
May we discern Love’s vibrant presence among us, especially in the
mysteries of the forest.
Help us empathise with all forest creatures who are suffering.
Lift our spirits to rejoice with the forest and all
the creatures of the forest.
May we, along with all creation, be reconciled and renewed.
So may it be, Amen.
Adapted from Season of Creation worship resources www.seasonofcreation.com

JESUS PRAYER on card Paraphrase by Jim Cotter

LIGHTING THE RAINBOW ROOM CANDLE

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Jennifer Bush-Daumec

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 Sandra Kirby

Hebrew Bible Genesis 2: 8, 9 and 15-17

Psalm 29

Gospel Luke 13: 18, 19

Contemporary Reading (Sung Solo) ‘Worship’
Jess Brownell, soprano. Vivien Chiu, piano
Words © 1996 Joy Cowley from Psalms Down-Under
Music © 2017 Vivien Chiu. Words used by permission
We step out of our everyday selves
and into this cathedral
of sky and earth and sea
where all the parables of life
are played out in their seasons
and all the seasons held as one
in the love of God.

Everything here is holy in its being.
Every fern, tree, rock, drop of sea,
exists as a prayer of thanksgiving,
and together they speak a chapter
in the gospel of wonder
which is laid upon our lives.

Eagerly our hearts lean forward,
to listen to the praise of tree ferns
echoing in the still water,
and to see the shimmering of the divine
behind the surface of each leaf.

Look! It is everywhere!
The love of the creator glowing
in mountains and in ocean,
in pebble and stem, fish and bird,
and us! Yes, yes! The light of God in us!

For we too, are sacred.
We too, are named holy.
And the meaning of our lives
is thanksgiving.
RESPONSE
For the Word in scripture, for the Word sung to us,
for the Word within us, we give thanks

REFLECTION ‘Our forests – from plenty, to loss, to recovery’ Kevin Hackwell

HYMN ‘In our world we find delight’
Music: ©2016 Vivien Chiu Words: © 2016 Susan Jones

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.

Kauri reaches to the light
Strong and powerful, full of might
Giant of the trees;
Delicate, the orchid climbs
Over branches, green moss-lined
Swaying in the breeze;
May this beauty never end
May this greenness always be here
May the human race take notice
And show divine compassion?

Tui, iridescent coat,
Singing from a trembling throat
Crowns New Zealand’s bush;
Kereru with mighty wings,
Blue and purple plumage brings
To New Zealand’s bush;
May this beauty never end
May this iridescence stay here
May the human race take notice
And show divine 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 show divine compassion

OFFERING PRAYER
Response: 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 Cameron Smart

CIRCLE OF PRAYER
We think today of the people of Cameroon and the Council of Protestant Churches in Cameroon. In New Zealand, we remember those who work this election season as candidates, members of all political parties and all voters. Here in the Central Presbytery, we pray for the leaders and people of St David’s Presbyterian Church and St Mark’s & St Andrew’s Parish, Palmerston North.

PRAYER FOR ST ANDREW’S on card

HYMN FFS 63 ‘These hills where the hawk flies’ Music and words © Colin Gibson
1998 Hope Publishing Company
These hills where the hawk flies lonely,
beaches where the long surf rolls,
mountains where the snows reach 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.

Forests where the tree ferns tower,
rivers running strong and clear,
oceans where the great whales wander,
these are our care.
Race meeting race as equals,
justice for age-old wrong,
worth for every man and woman,
these are our prayer.

Cities where the 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.

BLESSING
We are called to be followers of the Jesus Way,
to serve with love and compassion
and to serve Earth by caring for creation.
We will remember the forest.
We will groan with creation.
We will sing with the trees.
Will you care for creation?
We will care for creation.
We will nurture the forests.
We will celebrate life.

And remember as you do that Love
surrounds you every moment of every day

SUNG AMEN

POSTLUDE

THANK YOU Peter Franklin
our musician today

Unless otherwise specified all our music is used by permission CCLI Licence 3341550

There is a 2-hour parking limit on the street in the Wellington CBD on Sundays.
If you are staying for an after-church activity, you can to move your car into the car park, or move to a new space on the street.

THANK YOU


Glad you joined us for Forest Sunday

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