Details on the availability of my books, supporting progressive religious thought, HERE
Suggestion: ’Refresh’ each page before reading to make sure to get my latest edition
‘The Other Lectionary’ - a suggested ‘southern hemisphere’ Lectionary (with a few Resources added) offered in parallel to,
or even replacement of, the RCL which is in standard use by many.
A GATHERING LITURGY FOR THE
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
“Landscape is an incredible, mystical teacher, and when you begin to tune into its sacred presence,
something shifts inside you”
4 December 2022. Advent 2A. (Blue).
Acknowledgement of Country/First Peoples
(An act towards reconciliation)
For thousands of years Indigenous people have walked
in this land, on their own country.
Their relationship with the land is at the centre of their lives.
We acknowledge the (NN) People of the (NN) Nation, past, present, and emerging leaders,
and their stewardship of this land throughout the ages.
First Peoples Statement to the Nation 2017 called “Uluru Statement from the Heart” HERE
A Response from Common Dreams5 Conference of Religious Progressives,
Australia/South Pacific 2019 HERE
And we recognise and give thanks that we humans
are creatures of the Earth living in the ecosystem
—flowers, trees and insects; land, waters and mountain range—
that is unique to (NN).
May we honour one another and honour life itself.
(NN) is a safe place for all people to worship regardless of
race, creed, age, cultural background or sexual orientation
GATHERING
Rich and Striking Visuals
“The function of beauty… is to make us aware of a reality which is richer and deeper
and more marvellous than anything we can dream or conceive.” (Henry N. Wieman)
Artwork OR Floral/Symbols display (cloths, candles, stones, wood, leaves, flowers, earth, water) OR projection of Film/Video
Gathering Music
Entry into the Celebration
The gong is sounded three times
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.
Lighting of the Community Candle
The Community Candle is lit
Advent Wreath – ‘Source of Light’
Advent 2
v1 Mysterious moon
silver crescent, milky sphere
reflecting, changing
Light second candle
v2 Mother God
we give thanks for the moon
for its waxing and waning that never fails.
We pray for all people in the night-time,
be with those who sleep
be with those who are awake,
may we be refreshed by the hours of darkness. Adapt.HJohnston/ssb
All May it be so.
OR
Advent 2: “Air”
v1 Today, we remember the air and light
with this candle of peace.
All Without the air around us,
creation has no breath and no life.
v1 Yet we humans fill the air with
toxic gases and threaten all of life with our quest
for more acquisitions, more things to own and control.
(Silence)
v2 We light this second advent candle…
The candle is lit
All And as we do we renew our commitment
to live gently and peacefully,
respecting the air around us.
v1 May it be so.
Presentation of the Christmas Bowl
v5 Without peace, people struggle to find their way.
The bowl, made by the children previously, is placed near the Advent wreath
Note: (i) A suggested process for introducing new hymns, called Hymn of the Month, can be found HERE
(ii) Additional Special Purpose Hymns that cover major international events or themes can be found HERE They include these categories: 1. Bush (Brush) Fire, 2. Tsunami, Storms/Cyclones, 3. Earthquakes, 4. War/Remembrance, 5. Caregiving, 6. God as Mother, 7. Human Trafficking, 8. Disabled, 9. Migration/Refugees, 10. Terrorist Attacks, 11. Science/Cosmology
(iii) Specific resources on Terrorism HERE
(iv) On Wonder, Awe, and Nature HERE
Hymn/Song The people stand as they are able, to sing. Children move to Sunday Club.
"Carol our Christmas" (Tune: Reversi) 9(v1-2) AA
Carol our Christmas,
an upside down Christmas;
snow is not falling and
trees are not bare.
Carol the summer, and
welcome the Christ Child,
warm in our sunshine and
sweetness of air.
Sing of the gold and the
green and the sparkle,
water and river and lure
of the beach.
Sing in the happiness
of open spaces,
sing a nativity summer
can reach!
Remain standing
Opening Sentences
v1 The time has come to enter and celebrate.
All Here we proclaim the fellowship of life.
v1 Here we rejoice in the beauty of the season.
All Come one, come all, come together
to join in the spirit and mystery of Advent.
Words of Awareness
As the sun rises each day in perfect newness,
so may we break upon each new day
with splendour and expectation:
renewed creatures content with reflected radiance
and dirty fingernails. (Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer/wsj)
OR
v1 We pray:
Now is the moment of magic, when the whole,
round earth celebrates the sun.
So here's a blessing:
the universe is ablaze with lights
and the whole world is glad with Christmas singing.
v2 And here’s another blessing:
we already possess all the gifts we need,
we've already received our presents:
ears to hear music,
eyes to behold lights,
hands to build true peace on earth
and to hold each other tight in love. (VSafford/adapted)
Amen.
Hymn/Song “Advent Song” 281 GA
Refrain:
Gather in hope, people of God.
Sing the Advent song!
Song of faith, song of trust,
a song to welcome the Christ.
Let the warmth of our love,
like the long summer days,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord.
Let our will for justice,
as strong as the sun,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord.
Refrain:
Let our thirst for the truth,
like the dry, parched earth,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord.
Let our dream for peace,
as bright as the sky,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord.
Refrain:
Let the prophet be heard,
like the blaze of fire,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord.
Let the poor and the rich,
as the lamb and the lion,
prepare the way of the Lord,
prepare the way of the Lord. (Dedrie Browne).
Refrain:
OR
"God is Surroundly Inherent" (Tune: "Wunderbarer Konig", 668D.33. 66) 14 SNS2
All the cosmos beaming;
All creation gleaming;
So we stand in awe and silence.
Galaxies are dancing;
Stars, the night enhancing;
Constellations claim our reverence.
God's own heart
Seen in part,
Shines in all the brilliance;
Shows forth God's transcendence.
Microscopic sources
Hold such mighty forces
In the atom's sacred magic.
Germs can be our masters;
Makers of disasters;
So minute, yet cause 'the tragic'.
Smaller still
Genes, with skill,
Breed God's inborn presence
In our human essence.
God is all, surrounding;
Source of life abounding;
Ground of being, spirit swelling.
Inmost at our centre,
There we all encounter
God as love and grace indwelling.
We adore
Evermore
Worshipped down through history,
God the wondrous mystery. (George Stuart)
The people sit after the hymn/song
Welcome
In your own words
A warm welcome is extended to all.
Especially those who are gathering at (NN) for the first time
or who have returned after an absence.
Your presence both enriches us and this time of celebration together.
Refer to printed liturgy.
Fellowship hour following the Gathering
Those visiting, please sign our Visitors book.
Reflection
“Awe” #163
By Dennis McCarty. Thoughts from a Gentle Atheist/99
The blazing stars,
The eyes of lovers,
The smiles of children,
Melodies that fill the soul.
Creatures too small even to see,
Particles knowable only through calculation.
Miracles range before us, singing the mystery
That lies at the core of the plainest things.
May our eyes be wide and our vision clear,
To absorb the simplicity of the wonderful
OR
“Holy Waiting”
By Liz Dyer. Grace Rules blog site.
Waiting
Watching
Together
For the dawn
Of light full blown
To grow inside us.
A rebirth of love
Beginning again and again
Life anew
With a promise in our heart
Of coming celebration.
Centering Silence
Centering silence has its roots in the earliest of monastic traditions of the ‘desert Fathers (abbas)/Mothers (ammas)’ and the Christian mystic tradition… Relaxing into ‘quietness’ creates the space for deep listening and draws you into yourself
Let us now take a moment to settle into the silence.
May we become conscious in this moment
and in every moment of our gathering,
that the Holy One, Creativity G-o-d,
is the life giving energy pulsing through us...
EXPLORING
Wisdom from the World/ Religious Traditions
“Wisdom is not just special knowledge about something. Wisdom is a way of being, a way of inhabiting the world. The beauty of wisdom is harmony, belonging and illumination of thought, action, heart and mind.” (John O’Donohue)
Reader: May we be struck by the wisdom of these words
and marked by hearing them.
All For within story lies meaning, and
within meaning, the wisdom for which we seek. (Gretta Vosper/ab)
• Isaiah 11:1-2 (Inclusive Text)
A shoot springs from the tree of Jesse,
from Jesse’s roots a branch will blosson:
the spirit of God will rest there,
a spirit of wisdom and insight,
a spirit of counsel and power,
a spirit of knowledge and reverence for God.
OR
• The Infancy Gospel of James 1:1-10
In the histories of the twelve tribes of Israel,
Joachim was an extremely rich man.
He always brought a double offering to the Lord, telling himself,
‘My offering for all the people is from my surplus
and my own offering to the Lord God is for forgiveness,
to atone for my sins’.
As the great day of the Lord was drawing near
and the children of Israel were bringing their offerings,
however, Reubel stood in his way, saying,
‘You cannot offer your gifts first because you have not conceived a child in Israel.’
And Joachim became extremely frustrated
and went away to the history of the twelve tribes of his people, saying to himself,
‘I will look in the history of the twelve tribes of Israel
and see whether I am the only one
who has not conceived a child in Israel’.
And he searched and found that all the righteous people
had raised children in Israel.
And he reminded himself about the patriarch Abraham
and that the Lord God gave his son Isaac to him in his last days.
Then, Joachim was extremely frustrated and did not appear to his wife,
but gave himself to the desert and pitched his tent there.
He fasted forty days and forty nights.
All the while, Joachim was saying to himself,
‘I will not go down for food or drink until the Lord my visits me;
prayer will be my food and drink’.
Hymn/Song People stand as they are able, to sing
"God Given Energy, Flaring and Fiery" (Tune: ‘Spean’, 11.10.11.10)
God given energy, flaring and fiery,
stella collisions of fury and pace;
shafts of the light from the cosmic conception
searing to earth from infinity's space.
Stars from eternity, driven by forces
formed at the birthing of matter and time;
mystical sinews restraining the planets,
elegant science and God's hidden rhyme;
These are the visions of wonder and rapture,
signs of significance, pointers to place,
drawing us out from our narrow discernment,
windows to love and God's infinite grace. © Andrew Pratt
OR
“This is the Man…” (Tune: ‘Stewardship’, 11.10.11.10)
This is the Baptist, unkempt and yet ready,
calling the people to listen and act;
calling them down to the water for washing,
talking of holiness, Godliness, fact.
This is the man who will call to repentance
fisherman, Pharisee, zealot and priest;
here in the river the sinners will gather,
taking God's blessing and sharing God's peace.
This is the prophet announcing the crisis,
moment for turning for challenge and choice;
quenching of hatred, demanding repentance,
giving a reason to praise and rejoice.
This is the man, in humility pointing
others to one who would soon take his place.
Jesus is coming, the Spirit confirming,
this is my Son who will channel my grace.
Up from the waters the Christ is arising,
up from our slumbering we will rise too;
waking to love and to work every dawning,
each a disciple with Christ's work to do (© Andrew Pratt 1/12/2009)
• Matthew 3:1-8, 10-11 (Inclusive Text)
In due course John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea and saying:
'Repent, for the reign of heaven is close at hand.'
This was the one the prophet Isaiah spoke of saying:
A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for our God, make straight God's paths.
John wore a garment made of camel-hair
with a leather belt round his waist,
and his food was locusts with wild honey.
Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district
made their way to John, and as they were baptised in the River Jordan
they confessed their sins.
But when John saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism
he said to them,
'Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming?
‘But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit…
‘Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees,
so that any tree which fails to produce good fruit
will be cut down and thrown on the fire.
‘I baptise you in water for repentance,
but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am,
and whose sandals I am not fit to carry;
this one will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire…’
(For those interested...
You can purchase a copy of the Inclusive Texts/Readings (AU$50) from:
Inclusive Language Project
PO Box 1303
Toombul QLD 4012 Australia)
Contemporary Exploration
If you still wish to talk about Advent, the late Prof Marcus Borg had an excellent article... http://www.patheos.com/blogs/marcusborg/2013/11/thinking-about-advent/
Silence for Personal Reflection
AFFIRMING
An Affirmation of Faith (Optional)
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand
and share an affirmation of faith…
The people stand as they are able
May our time together renew our hope.
All May the stories we share refresh our courage,
and the songs we sing, lift our spirits.
May the touch of hands, the sound of laughter,
and the sight of faces new and familiar,
All restore us in faith. (C O Dame)
Sharing 'The Peace'
Let us take a moment to celebrate each other.
May a heart of peace rest with you.
All And also with you. (David Galston/q)
You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours
OR
Namaste
Facing the person with right hand on your heart and a slight bow of the head…
The Divine in me honours the Divine in you.
OR
The Light in me recognises the Light in you.
OR
The spirit within me sees the spirit within you.
Hymn/Song People stand as they are able, to sing
“We Walk The Way That Has No End” (Tune: ‘New Winchester’, 88.88)
We walk in silence while the earth
Quivers and cracks beneath our feet
Swallows our dreams and shatters worth
Solemn, we trudge to hearts’ dull beat.
We walk while singing, motley choir
of traitors, lovers, meek and proud
Small sparks of apostolic fire
light up the path, lighten the shroud.
We walk in solidarity
and sing of hope that never dies
We march to end disparity
graves open as our spirits rise.
We walk the way that has no end
Free to evolve, transform our creed
Hearts, torn like curtains, start to mend
Love rising now in word, in deed.
(optional verse)
There are no strangers on the way
Just travellers who will soon be friends
And destination—there is none:
A spiral path that never ends. © Bronwyn Angela White (2012)—Wellington, New Zealand
OR
In Southern hemisphere
“God of the Northerlies” (Tune: ‘Matangi’ 10.10.6.10) 45 HoS
God of the northerlies, giver of grace;
warm and enveloping, fill every place.
Nurture the earth, water the seeds.
God of the northerlies, fulfil our needs.
Christ of the easterlies, life-giving Son;
earthly, renewing, in you we are one.
Hope is reborn, changing our hearts.
Christ of the easterlies, your peace impart.
Spirit of westerlies, gust through our lives;
shaking, disturbing the scheme we devise.
Teach us your truth, gift us your word,
God of the westerlies, faithfulness stirred.
God of the southerlies, polar defined,
crisply and sharply reshaping our minds.
Challenge our ways, strengthen our wills.
God of the southerlies, your love fulfils.
God of the north and the east, south and west,
Creative Process, by whom we are blest,
breeze through our lives, earnest and strong;
Spirit, keep blowing and lure us along. (Bill Bennett/Last verse adapted, RAEH)
Offerings
Presentation
The riches of God's gracious love have been entrusted to us.
May we share the beauty of God
with all who walk with us, in caring service. (Francis Macnab/h).
In Solidarity
Care Candle:
We are people of all ages who enter this space
bringing our joys and concerns.
Joys and Concerns shared.
Focused Thoughts:
Listening Response:
In sheltering one another
All May we be strong.
In holding one another
All May we be tender.
In the expectations we have of one another
All May we be realistic. (Gretta Vosper/ab).
And so we take a flame and light our special Care Candle…
The Care Candle is lit
For ourselves, for those named or remembered, and in solidarity with those
who have not the freedom to express their concern or celebration
for fear of discrimination or condemnation.
In all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful
of the presentness of the sacred among us,
and to see the new possibilities of the now.
The 'Abba' Prayer: (Optional)
You are invited to pray in the spirit of the Abba/Lord's Prayer, and in your original language, as that is appropriate
All Father, may your name be holy.
May your rule take place.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Pardon our debts, for we ourselves pardon
everyone in debt to us.
And do not bring us to trial
into a trying situation. (Burton Mack/Q)
PARTING
Hymn/Song The people stand as they are able, to sing
“God on Earth” (Tune: ‘O Waly Waly’) 70 (v1-4) HSNW
When God Almighty came to earth
He took the pain of Jesus’ birth,
He took the flight of refugee,
And whispered, “Humbly follow me.”
When God Almighty went to work
Carpenter’s sweat he didn’t shirk,
Profit and loss he didn’t flee,
And whispered, “Humbly follow me.”
When God Almighty walked the street,
The critic’s curse he had to meet,
The cynic’s smile he had to see
And whispered, “Humbly follow me.”
When God Almighty met his folk,
Of peace and truth he boldly spoke
To set the slave and tyrant free,
And whispered, “Humbly follow me.”
Remain standing
Parting Words
Let us take on this week’s life with renewed hope and imagination...
The Community Candle is extinguished
And now may the rhythms of our coming together:
the melodies of our celebration,
and the harmonies of our farewells,
All make musical our living, soothing our spirits,
and uplifting our souls this day,
and into the beckoning future.
Words of Blessing
Go in peace.
Live simply, at home in yourself.
Be just in your word, just in deed.
Remember the depth of your own compassion.
Crave peace for all peoples in this world, beginning with yourselves.
And as you go, go with the dream of that peace
set firm in your heart. (MBelletini/adapted)
All Amen! May it be so!
Hymn/Song (Cont) “God on Earth” (Tune: ‘O Waly Waly’,) 70(v5-6) HSNW
When God Almighty took his place
To save the sometimes human race,
He took it boldly on a tree
And whispered, “Humbly follow me.”
When God Almighty comes again,
He’ll meet us incognito as then;
And though no words may voice his plea,
He’ll whisper, “Are you following me?” Iona Community
The people sit after the hymn
'This Week' at (NN)
Notices
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Significant Events
Journey Candles
Music
Fellowship
Morning tea is now served.
You are invited to share in this time of fellowship.
You are invited to keep this copy of the liturgy and take it home with you
to share with another member of your family, or with a friend
Please include any reproduction of hymns/songs for local church use
on your Music Licence returns, as appropriate
Some of the Resources Used in Shaping this Liturgy:
(AA) Alleluia Aotearoa. Hymns and Songs for all Churches. Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, 1993.
Bell, J. & G. Maule. Heaven Shall Not Wait. Wild Goose Songs Vol. 1. Revised edition. Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications, 1989.
Duncan, G. (ed). Shine On, Star of Bethlehem. A Worship Resource for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Norwich. The Canterbury Press, 2001.
(FFS) Faith Forever Singing. Songs for a new day. Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, 2000.
(GA) Gather Australia. Ashburton. NLMC Publications, 1995.
(HoS) Hope is Our Song. New hymns and songs from Aotearoa New Zealand. Palmerston North. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, 2009.
Inclusive Readings. Year A. 2004. Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation.
Iona Community. Iona Abbey Worship Book. Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications, 2001.
Nelson-Pallmeyer, J. & B. Hesle. Worship in the Spirit of Jesus. Theology, Liturgy, and Songs without Violence. Cleveland. The Pilgrim Press, 2005.
Mack, B. L. The Lost Gospel. The book of Q and christian origins. New York. HarperSanFrancisco, 1993.
Macnab, F. Hope: The deeper longings of the mind and heart. Richmond. Spectrum Publications, 1996.
(SNS2) Stuart, G. Singing a New Song. Traditional Hymn Tunes with New Century Lyrics. Volume 2. Toronto: G Stuart, 2009.
Vosper, G. 2009/2010. Another Breath. Prayers for Celebration and Reflection. Brisbane. The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought, Brisbane.
Web sites/Other:
Safford, Dame, Belletini. UUA Worship Web. Boston. < www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
Andrew Pratt "This is the Man". Hymns & books blog site. UK. <http://hymnsandbooks.blogspot.com/>
Early Christian Writings. http://www.gospels.net/translations/infancyjamestranslation.html
Bronwyn Angela White. “We Walk the Way…” Direct from the author. Used with permission.Advent 2: Air. Adapted from ‘The Four Elements’ by Dean Salter, UCC. 2006