Suggestion: ’Refresh’ each page before reading to make sure to get my latest edition
The Other Lectionary is 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
“...in the end the universe can only be explained in terms of celebration.
It is all an exuberant expression of existence itself”
5 January 2025. Christmas 2C (White).
Celebrating Community in the tradition of the Meal
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 (N) Nation, past, present, and emerging,
and their stewardship of this land throughout the ages.
First Peoples Statement to the Nation 2017 is called “Uluru Statement from the Heart”
A Response from Common Dreams5 Conference of Religious Progressives,
Australia/South Pacific 2019
Both can be found in Affirmations/Manifestoes
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
Seek not in some far away place for beauty.
It glows in dew-wet grasses all about our feet;
In birds, in sunshine, in a flower blooming…
In life’s common deeds and earth’s common things
God stands revealed. (Adapt.MJSavage/owos)
So let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.
Lighting of Community Candle
A Community Candle is lit
Divine spark from sacred dark
Symbol of our holy intent
illuminate this hour. (Kathy Huff)
Note: (i) A suggested process for introducing new hymns is called Hymn of the Month
(ii) Additional Special Purpose Hymns cover major international events or themes. 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
(iv) On Wonder, Awe, and Nature
Hymn/Song The people stand, as they are able to sing
“There Shone a Star…” (Tune: ‘Epiphany Hymn’, 11.10.11.10) 40 RP
There shone a star at the start of creation,
beaming so brightly through time and through space;
sign of God’s presence, divine conflagration,
opening the way for each child of our race.
That star would shine when the prophets were speaking,
shining to show what was false, what was true.
Still that light shine when God’s people are seeking
lives that are frail to build up and renew.
Then a new star marked the birthplace of Jesus,
herald of hope at the (shaping) of God.
We hear again, now the story has caught us,
follow the footsteps that shepherds once trod.
This was the star that shone all through that Christmas
leading the Magi to love and to grace;
leading us still, to the God who has sought us,
looking with longing from every child’s face. (Adapted. Andrew Pratt)
OR
“’Til All, In Truth, Are Free” (Tune: ’Aurelia’ 76.76D)
If truth still guides our journey,
where does it lead from here?
Our world lies there before us
but nothing seems that clear.
We used to think we knew things,
that all had been revealed,
but now all truths we question,
and much is yet concealed.
Our faith in higher powers,
our confidence in love,
our hope for bright tomorrows
our trust in things above –
each must be proved and tested:
what’s fantasy, what’s truth?
It’s while we’re on this journey,
we one another soothe.
If we would share with others
the way we choose to live;
if justice and compassion
inspired us all to give,
we would not need to worry
that truths do not agree
for all could live together
in love and harmony.
So walk with me in courage
across truth’s great divides.
We’ll listen to each other
until the hate subsides.
Together we’ll speak boldly
of what the world still needs
and speak a truth to power
‘til all, in truth, are free. (Gretta Vosper. <http://www.grettavosper.ca/>)
Remain standing
Opening Sentences
God of all creation -
Be with each one of us,
All as growth, creativity and healing,
as light and wisdom.
Spirit of the living God -
Live within our community,
All giving courage to dispel fear,
and resolve conflict,
giving fire to inflame with love.
Spirit of Peace -
Dwell with us so that we may
All know your presence in silences and stillness,
know your vision for your people.
Spirit of Love and Power -
Open our living to your power, so we may
All open ourselves to the joy and pain of others
open ourselves to justice truth and freedom.
(Pause)
All God of all creation
Come into our bodies,
and your body, the church
making us your new creation.
Words of Awareness
Before us each day are challenges.
The choices we make craft us into who we are becoming.
May we ever open our eyes to the newness of our days.
May we sense the surge of wonder
just beneath the surface of the ordinary.
May we find purpose in each breaking moment. (Adapt.Gretta Vosper/ab).
OR
We pray:
Illuminating God, each sunrise and sunset
reminds us of your constant presence.
Awaken in each of us
the possibility for new life, new vision
and renewed energy. (Trisha Watts/s)
May it be so.
Hymn/Song “Epiphany Hymn” (Tune: ‘Highwood’, 11.10.11.10)
Deep in the darkness a starlight is gleaming,
Calling us out from the safety of home.
God of the questions, the mystery of dreaming,
Lighten our journey into the unknown.
Out of the darkness the voices are crying,
Terror and fear screaming loud in the night.
God of the hurting, of innocence dying,
Fire us with anger to struggle for right.
Still in the darkness we search for your healing,
Hoping for meaning to comfort our fear.
God of the silence, of unspoken feeling,
Teach us the wisdom to make your truth clear.
On through the darkness we follow your leading,
Searching for joy and a refuge to stay.
God of our longing, the bliss we are seeking,
journey with us to the brightness of day. Jan Berry/ssb
OR
“When All the Good…” (Tune: ‘Killibegs’, William Davies) 43 PaT
When all the good is gathered up,
when all the pain is gathered, too,
then will an energy be born
to spark a world alight and new!
When all the spirit of the good
absorbs our sufferings and fears,
then will an energy arrive
that grows creation out of tears.
Within a chemistry of change,
within the heart of all that beats
will be the energy of love
that nothing quenches or defeats.
Where all the elements combine
to fire new truth, to foster joy,
set loose that energy of love
to be in us God’s strong alloy!
When goodness takes the place of gold,
when pain of war, of word and fist
becomes the energy of hope,
then peace and justice will have kissed. (Shirley Erena Murray)
OR
“Watch and Wonder”
The hand that carves exquisite birds;
the mind that writes astounding words;
the child who smiles a thousand joys;
the day which Love and Life employs.
The wrinkles lining wisdom’s face;
All those who give in simple grace;
the changing leadership of geese;
the dusky night that brings sweet peace.
Refrain:
Worship now the Holy One!
Unknown Source of moon and sun;
peace and chaos, space and time;
All of us evolving, born Divine!
To wonder then with heart and mind;
is worship of the truest kind.
To watch from depths within one’s soul
enables Love to make us whole.
’Tis time to voice our deep content.
’Tis time to give our strong assent.
The Spirit thrives in all that lives.
The Spirit loves, the Spirit gives!
Refrain: (Emily Kierstead/es)
The people sit
Welcome
Or 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
during this festive season.
Your presence both enriches us
and this time of celebration together.
Refer to printed liturgy.
Those visiting, please sign our Visitors book
OR
A warm welcome is extended to all.
Especially those who may be joining us for a first time.
Your presence enriches this gathering and contributes to
the creative evolution of community.
Thanks for the gift of you! (Central United, Moncton, Canada)
CENTERING
Recognising the Sacred
On this first Sunday of the year,
let us recognise that we gather as people of the Earth…
Hosanna! Right here. Now!
People stand and face North
We turn to the North the direction of heat and warmth,
of bushfire and drought, for a blessing.
We call on the energy of the season of summer, to sustain us.
The gift of the North is fortitude,
for it speaks of great endurance.
The Spirit of Fortitude teaches us the power of strength
in adversity.
All Spirit of Fortitude teach us
the gentle power of strength in adversity.
Silence
People turn right and face the East
We turn to the East where the sun rises, for a blessing.
We call on the energy of new beginnings and new life.
The gift of the east is truth,
for it speaks of the breath of new life on earth.
The Spirit of Truth teaches us to see clearly.
All Spirit of Truth teach us
to see new possibilities more clearly.
Silence
People turn right and face the South
We turn to the South, for a blessing.
We call on the energy of winter, the place of deep silence.
The gift of the South is mystery,
for it speaks of the unknown, the unseen.
The Spirit of Mystery teach us to be silent and listen
All Spirit of Mystery teach us
the gift of silence, and to listen.
Silence
The people turn right and face West
We turn to the West for a blessing.
We call on the energy of the place of the setting sun.
The gift of the West is beauty,
for it speaks of peace and serenity.
The Spirit of Beauty surrounds us at all times.
All Spirit of Beauty you surround us at all times,
at our beginnings and at our endings.
People face the Table
May we be blessed with a sharpened awareness of this Presence.
All With open minds and hearts…
May we be blessed with a desire to praise in song and poetry.
All With ways beyond our imagining…
May we be blessed with deep compassion.
All With dreams of a better humanity...
People sit
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
Now let silence gently enfold us.
(Silence)
In this day made fresh,
In the chorus of birds,
In the scent of garden flowers,
We embrace this day in hope.
(Silence)
Music of Reflection
EXPLORING
Wisdom from the Religious/World 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 open ourselves to the seeds of wisdom
that lies dormant in this/these reading/s.
All And may our minds be fertile soil
in which it/they may grow strong and true. (Gretta Vosper/ab)
• “To a New Year”
By W. S. Merwin. Present Company/129
With what stillness at last
you appear in the valley
your first sunlight reaching down
to touch the tips of a few
high leaves that do not stir
as though they had not noticed
and did not know you at all
then the voice of a dove calls
from far away in itself
to the hush of the morning
so this is the sound of you
here and now whether or not
anyone hears it this is
where we have come with our age
our knowledge such as it is
and our hopes such as they are
invisible before us
untouched and still possible
OR
• “Beannacht: A Blessing for the New Year”
By John O’Donohue. January 2016
On the day when
The weight deadens
On your shoulders
And you stumble,
May the clay dance
To balance you.
And when your eyes
Freeze behind
The grey window
And the ghost of loss
Gets in to you,
May a flock of colours,
Indigo, red, green,
And azure blue,
Come to awaken in you
A meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays
In the currach of thought
And a stain of ocean
Blackens beneath you,
May there come across the waters
A path of yellow moonlight
To bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
May the clarity of light be yours,
May the fluency of the ocean be yours,
May the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
Wind work these words
Of love around you,
An invisible cloak
To mind your life.
[Note: "Beannacht" is the Gaelic word for "blessing." A "currach" is a large boat used on the west coast of Ireland.]
OR
• The Good 4: 5-18
(A. C. Grayling. The Good Book)
There is not one single kind of good that suits and fits everyone;
there are as many good lives as there are people to live them.
It is false that there is only one right way to live
and one right way to be,
And that to find it we must obey those who claim to have the secret
of a ‘one right way’ and a ‘one true good’.
If there are guides to the good, one must eventually leave them behind
and seek the good of one’s choice, and which suits one’s own talents.
This is the ultimate responsibility:
to choose, and to cultivate the talents for one’s choice.
But though there are many goods and many good kinds of life,
the latter will share two notable characteristics:
The first is that those seeking them will honour affection, beauty,
creativity, peace, patience, fortitude, courage;
Will honour self-mastery, wisdom, loyalty, justice,
sympathy and kindness;
Will honour knowledge, truth, probity and honour itself.
And the greatest of what they honour will be affection:
of a friend for a friend, a parent for a child,
between lovers, between comrades;
For affection calls out to the other virtues and teaches them,
and is the motive for the continuance of our kind.
The second is that lives in which these virtues are honoured
will be regarded by those living them, and
those touched by them, as good.
To seek the good life is an endeavour for a whole life.
One can improve, learn, encourage oneself, profit from failure;
and still be seeking it on the last day.
• Matthew 2:1-12 (Inclusive Text)
After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea
during the reign of Herod, some wise leaders came to Jerusalem
from the east.
'Where is the newborn ruler of the Jews?' they asked.
'We saw his star as it rose and have come to do homage.'
At this news Herod was greatly disturbed,
and all Jerusalem as well.
Herod called together all the chief priests and
the scribes of the people, and inquired of them
where the Christ was to be born.
‘In Bethlehem in Judaea,' they said, 'for this is what
the prophet wrote:
And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah
you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah,
for out of you will come a leader who will shepherd
my people Israel.'
Then Herod summoned the wise leaders privately,
and asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared,
and sent them to Bethlehem.
'Go and find out all about the child, and when you have found this child,
let me know, so that I too may go and pay homage.'
Having listened to what Herod had to say, they set out.
And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising;
it went forward and halted over the place where the child was.
The sight of the star filled them with delight,
and going into the house they saw the child
with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they paid homage.
Then, opening their treasures, they offered gifts
of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod,
and returned to their own country by a different way.
Contemporary Exploration
Silence for Personal Reflection
AFFIRMING
A Litany for the New Year
People stand as they are able
v1 A new year begs for change
even as we dig in our feet.
v2 What are we to make of new horizons
and lost opportunities?
All A generation comes and a generation goes,
but the earth remains forever.
v1 A new year is charged with renewal
even as our expectations wane.
v2 What are we to make of hope and despair?
All The sun rises and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
v1 A new year is full of resolutions and ambition.
v2 What are we to make of grand attempts
and arresting failures?
All The wind blows from the north
and goes round to the south.
The wind returns.
v1 A new year startles and seduces.
v2 What are we to make of the one in the mirror
and the one in the flesh?
All All rivers and creeks run to the sea,
but the sea is not full.
v1 A new year strains away from the familiar.
v2 What are we to make of nuance and nativity?
All What has been is what will be;
what has been done is what will be done.
There is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:4-9, Adapted by GLStewart. Further adapted RAEHunt)
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)
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
“God Present To All” (Tune: ‘Ombersley’, 88.88) 26 SNS
Creation sings amazing songs;
This is the place where God belongs
In movement, colour to behold
In past and future yet untold.
Source of all life's vitality
Enlivens love consistently;
We see God's presence in each face,
In kindly deeds and acts of grace.
Deep in our soul with vision clear
We see God's presence re-appear
Each time a human babe is born,
Each time we rise to greet the dawn.
Wonderful visions constantly
Express great beauty as we see
God's presence in humanity,
So vivid once in Galilee. (George Stuart)
OR
“Now The Star of Christmas" (Tune: 'Kupe', Colin Gibson OR 'Noel Nouvelet’) 105 HoS
Now the star of Christmas shines into our day,
points a new direction:
change is on the way -
there's another landscape
to be travelled through,
there's a new-born spirit
broadening our view.
When the Christ of Christmas
speaks to heart and mind,
clears the clouded vision
hurting humankind,
kindred spirits gather,
drawn toward the light,
sharing revelation,
joyful at the sight.
If we choose to follow,
we may yet be wise.
Where the three kings travel,
three great faiths arise:
Jesus Christ for Christians,
Jesus, Judah's son,
Prophet for the Muslim,
wisdom in each one.
Where the star enlightens,
light is shared around.
God has drawn no borders,
faith sees common ground:
Peace the hopeful journey,
justice without bar,
God's illumination
from a Christmas star. (Shirley Erena Murray)
OR
“New Year” (Tune: ‘Bishopgarth’. #964 in Methodist Hymnbook or #370 Presbyterian Hymnary)
The New Year brings another time
To practise some reflection,
To contemplate priorities;
What past ways need rejection;
The call of Jesus comes again
To strengthen our connection
To his inspiring way of life,
And maybe change direction.
The past is gone; cannot be changed;
The future is elusive;
We are tied to what we have been,
But we are not its captive;
The New Year points to hope we have
In love that is supportive;
In Jesus’ message we have learnt
This love is all-inclusive.
And so we forge ahead today
To meet God in the future;
Ignite in us the flame of love
To energise each venture;
And as we go God is within
To comfort and to nurture;
We follow Jesus, as he points
To life in all its wonder. (George Stuart)
The people sit
In Solidarity
Care Candle:
We are people of all ages who enter this space
bringing our joys and concerns.
Joys and celebrations; Griefs and Concerns shared
Focused Thoughts:
Listening Response:
In this abundant blessing
All We share the joy.
In this, our time of need,
All May love abound. (Gretta Vosper/wwg)
And so we take this 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 presence of the sacred among us,
and to see 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 appropriate
All Loving Presence, luminous in all creation,
hallowed be your name.
Thy kin-dom come.
May we reflect on earth
the yielding perfection of the heavens.
Help us to receive an illumined measure from the earth this day.
Forgive us when we trespass against others,
human and other than human,
as we forgive others who trespass against us.
Keep us on the path of wisdom
when we are tempted to take the selfish path.
May it be your rule we follow,
your power we exercise,
and your radiance that allures.
May this be the truth that guides our lives,
the ground from which our future will grow,
until we meet again. (Bruce Sanguin/dddc)
OR
Prayer for the New Year
By James Armstrong. Prayers of Via de Cristo/86
v1 We have just stepped over the threshold.
It’s a new dawn… a new day… in a brand new year.
The successes… and the shortfalls of the year past
have brought us thus far.
But now the lie behind us.
Ahead of us are all the unwritten pages of this new year…
so full of potential and opportunity.
And how remarkably gifted we are,
with abilities to transform these possibilities into fresh realities.
v2 So let us greet opportunity with anticipation and optimism,
and let our passions light the way
when the path grows faint or rough.
All May we never tire of the adventure of encountering your presence,
and of your way to live in the world.
May we persist in doing good in a world capable as well of darkness,
drawing on deep-rooted determination
as we encounter adversity and discouragement.
May our successes be marked by generosity and humility,
as we seek new and meaningful ways
to touch people and change lives.
And may our own presence be transformed in the process
through love and grace…
The Offerings
The Presentation
God of splendour,
your goodness sustains us,
and your graciousness gives us hope.
May we and these gifts of bread, wine and money
be used to further your way of love, hope, and justice.
CELEBRATING
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY IN THE TRADITION OF THE MEAL
Introduction (Optional)
Members of the Jesus movements regularly ate a meal together
when they met as a community.
It was a characteristic that they had in common
with virtually every other social group in their world.
It was considered primary to the early developments
in the movements’ meal liturgy.
These meal traditions were not about personal salvation or payment for sin.
Instead, they were about actions and offering hospitality, social identity,
and being in solidarity with those around us.
The liturgical movements centred on celebration, presence, and joy.
I invite you into the spirit of those meals…
Invitation
In all the colours and scents and sounds of the world,
In all growing things,
In all creatures and people and their joy,
In the chorus of suns and planets and stars,
We would see God's signature
as the beauty of things. (Adapt. JTrapp)
Thanksgiving
v1 God of the summer’s day,
All Praise and wonder be.
God of the lingering sunset and early dawn,
All Praise and wonder be.
God of the hot north wind and the refreshing shower,
God of the shady tree and the cool water bag,
God of the ripening harvest and sparkling sea,
All Praise and wonder be.
We gather together
conscious that raising our hearts and minds
is a gift of the Spirit of Life at work
in the depths of our being.
All For the presence of that Spirit in us,
we give thanks.
We gather together
conscious that our prayers
gives the Spirit a way of breaking into word and song
unique in all the universe.
All For the words and songs within each of us,
we give thanks.
We gather together
mindful of men and women
throughout human history
who allowed the Spirit of Life
to work in them
for the betterment of our world and humanity.
All For their lives and their inspiration,
we give thanks...
v2 Jesus is the story we gather around and give thanks for.
Human like us, he discerned
where this Spirit of Life is found:
in the everyday,
in human interaction,
in caring,
in sharing,
in being neighbour.
He urged people to work together
to establish the 'reign of God’
by wholehearted generosity,
by eliminating boundaries between people,
by trust in the goodness of people,
and by working for peace and justice
in all human endeavours.
All We remember his total commitment
to living fully and loving totally
and his faith in a God to be trusted
whatever twists life could take
in this imperfect world. (Adapt.Michael Morwood/pns)
v1 We also remember the tradition…
On the night before Jesus was handed over
he again shared a meal with his friends.
Through grain and grape, bread and wine,
and in fellowship together,
Jesus spoke of his enduring love for each of them.
v2 So we take this bread and this wine
mindful of the Spirit at work in our lives,
in the ordinary,
in the everyday,
and in our desire to love as generously as Jesus loved.
Bread and White Wine
Bread is broken
We break this bread giving our Amen to God
living and loving in us.
White wine poured out
We fill this cup with the fruit of the vine,
reminding us of promises to love,
of love generously shared,
of Jesus who loved so totally,
and our call to love as courageously as Jesus loved.
Communion
And they recognised him in the breaking of the bread.
Bread and White wine served around the Table in small groups
After Communion (Optional)
We give thanks for the Spirit of Life
visible in Jesus,
visible in us,
visible in people in all walks of life.
We give thanks for faith
that recognises and names this presence
and this bonding of all people.
We pray that we will allow
the life and the teaching of Jesus
to motivate all that we do
so that what we profess to have seen in his life
and heard in his teaching
might be evident in our living and loving. (Michael Morwood)/pns)
OR
In these closing moments of our time together,
we say to all here that this table,
set in remembrance of Jesus,
remains open still.
May this presence… linger in our expressions
of compassion and sacrifice,
in our every offering of welcome and forgiveness.
And in our awareness and conversations,
may we daily be drawn deeper still
into Jesus’ teachings, and Jesus’ ways… (Jim Armstrong/pvc- Adapted)
PARTING
Hymn/Song The people stand as they are able, to sing
“You Are Born In Us Again” (Tune: ‘Dunstan’) 52(v1-2) COC
You are born in us again
Like the warmth of the summer wind you come,
to melt away the icicles of vanity and pride;
you come to blow the very doors of loving open wide.
Like the warmth of the summer wind you come,
like the warmth of the summer wind you come.
You are born in us again
Like the scent of the summer rain you come,
You come to quench the thirsty and to freshen up the land;
you come to clean away the dust that settled in our hand.
Like the scent of the summer rain you come,
like the scent of the summer rain you come.
Parting Words
Let us go in faith to ponder in our hearts
the mystery and the wonder of this season…
The Community Candle is extinguished
Be assured that God’s presence goes with us.
All We face the world with renewed faith and hope;
God’s word abides with us.
Let your hearts burn within you
as you dare to trust.
All God’s love is real and alive in us.
Live in gratitude each and every day;
All We will love sincerely and live confidently.
Words of Blessing
May the God you see in all the colours of creation
arouse in you a sense of awe and wonder.
May the God who is a sacred presence be real to you.
May the God who is a source of inspiration and courage
keep calling you forward.
May your God go with you, and bless you. (Francis Macnab)
All Amen. May it be so!
Hymn/Song (Cont.) “You Are Born In Us Again” (Tune: ‘Dunstan’) 52(v3) COC
You are born in us again
Like the light of the summer sun you come,
to give light to the places that have never seen the Son;
you come now to embrace us, you’re the holy, holy one.
Like the light of the summer sun you come,
like the light of the summer sun you come. (MWilson)
The people sit after the hymn, then prepare to leave
Recessional Music
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:
Armstrong, J. B. Prayers of Via de Cristo. Calls to Worship for Progressive Christians. Phoenix. JimBooks, 2015.
(COC) Carol Our Christmas. A Book of New Zealand Carols. Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, 1996.
Duncan, G. (ed). Shine On, Star of Bethlehem. A Worship Resource for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Norwich: The Canterbury Press, 2001.
Grayling, A. C. The Good Book. A Secular Bible. London. Bloomsbury, 2011
Harrington, D. S. Outstretched Wings of the Spirit. On Being Intelligently and Devotedly Religious. Boston: UUA, 1980.
Inclusive Readings. Year C. Brisbane: Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation, 2006.
(ES) Kierstead, E. Eternal Spirit. Songs of the Cosmic Spirit. Brookfield. EmilyDon Creations, (No date).
Morwood, M. Praying a New Story. Richmond: Spectrum Publications, 2003.
(PaT) Murray, S. E. A Place at the Table. New Hymns written between 2009 & 2013. Carol Stream: Hope Publishing, 2008.
(RP) Pratt, A. Reclaiming Praise. Hymns from a Spiritual Journey. London: Stainer & Bell Ltd., 2006.
Sanguin, B. Darwin, Divinity, and the Dance of the Cosmos. An Ecological Christianity. Kelowna: CopperHouse, 2007.
(SNS2) Stuart, G. Singing a New Song. Traditional Hymn Tunes with New Century Lyrics. Volume 2. Toronto: George Stuart, 2009.
Vosper, G. Another Breath. Prayers for Celebration and Reflection. Brisbane: The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought Brisbane, 2009/2010.
Vosper, G. With or Without God. Why the Way we Live is More Important than What we Believe. Toronto: HarperCollins, 2008.
Watts, T. & G. Lord. Sanctuary. Where Heaven Touches Earth. A Group Resource for those Seeking Simplicity, Silence, and Nurture. Kelowna: Wood Lake Books, 2005.
Withrow, L. Seasons of Prayer. Resources for Worship. London: SPCK, 1995.
Web sites/Other:
Huff, Trapp. UUA Worship Web. Boston. http://uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/index.php
Francis Macnab. St Michael’s Uniting Church Web site. 2010. Melbourne.
George L. Stewart. UU Church of San Francisco. 2011.
David Galston. Quest Learning Centre for Religious Literacy. <http://www.questcentre.ca/>
John O’Donohue. “Beannacht”. <http://www.dailygood.org/story/1189/beannacht-a-blessing-for-the-new-year-john-o-donohue/
“New Year’ George Stuart. Published in Hunt, R. A. E. When Progressives Gather Together. Liturgy, Lectionary, Landscape… And Other Explorations. Northcote: Morning Star Publishing, 2016