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”
2 February 2020. Epiphany 4A. (Green).
Fearless Sunday
Celebrating Community 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 (NN) Nation, past, present, and emerging,
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
As we gather together in this sacred place
may we recognise and affirm:
the pieces of possibility,
the bits of good, we bring,
allowing our individual gifts to weave a patchwork of peace.
So let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.
Lighting of the Community Candle
The Community Candle is lit
May this dancing flame inspire us to fill our lives with
the ideals of love, justice and truth (JLQuarles).
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
“Let All Beauty…” (Tune: ‘Danby’, (LM) 88.88) 46 SiF/326 SLT
Let all the beauty we have known
illuminate our hearts and minds.
Rejoice in wonders daily shown,
in faith and joy, and love that binds.
We celebrate with singing hearts
the loveliness of sky and earth,
the inspiration of the arts,
the miracle of ev’ry birth
Life’s music and its poetry
surround and bless us through our days.
For these we sing in harmony,
together giving thanks and praise. (Dana McL Greeley)
OR
"The Ceaseless Flow of Time" (Tune: ‘McKee’, 86.86) 350 SLT
The ceaseless flow of endless time
no one can check or stay;
we'll view the past with no regret,
nor future with dismay.
The present slips into the past,
and dream-like melts away;
the breaking of tomorrow's dawn
begins a new today.
The past and future ever meet
in the eternal now:
to make each day a thing complete
shall be our new year vow. John Storey
Remain standing
Opening Sentences
From the corners of this city,
from the confusion of life,
from the loneliness of our hearts
All Gather us, O God.
To feed our minds,
to fire our imagination,
to free our hearts
All Gather us, O God (Burgess & Polhill/e&a)
Words of Awareness
The sacred is everywhere,
At the heart of everything
That was, is, or to be...
It isn't what one says
But in what one does
That we discover where the sacred is
And is marked by peace and love. (Adapted. Robert Halsey)
OR
We pray:
God of surprises,
startle us with truth we do not see,
amaze us with your power and grace,
beckon us, and lead us
far above restricted hope and narrow faith.
May it be so.
Hymn/Song “Celebrate a New Day Dawning" (Tune: 'Joyful Joyful’)
Celebrate a new day dawning,
sunrise of a golden morn;
Christ Sophia dwells among us,
glorious visions now are born,
Equal partners 'round the table,
we make dreams reality;
Calling out our gifts we nurture
hope beyond all we can see.
Christ Sophia lights the pathway
to a world of harmony;
Sister Brother love surrounds us,
nourishing our synergy.
Earth joins in our rich communion,
grateful for our healing care;
Leaping deer and soaring eagles,
all earth's fullness now can share.
Sing a song of jubilation,
dance with joyous revelry,
Clapping trees and laughing rivers
join our call to liberty.
Free at last to blossom fully,
flow'ring forth in beauty bright.
We become a new creation,
bursting open into light. JAldredge-Clanton/ctl
OR
“We Are The Earth…” (Tune: ‘Ein’ Feste Burg’, 87.87.66.66.7) 30 SLT
We are the earth upright and proud;
in us the earth is knowing.
It’s winds are music in our mouths,
in us its rivers flowing.
The sun is our hearth-fire;
warm with the earth’s desire,
and with its purpose strong,
we sing earth’s pilgrim song;
in us the earth is growing.
We lift our voices, fill the skies
with our exultant singing.
We dedicate our minds and hearts,
to order, beauty bringing.
Our labor is our strength;
our love will win at length;
our minds will find the ways
to live in peace and praise.
Our day is just beginning. (Kenneth L Patton)
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.
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.
Hear and feel your quiet breathing.
Hear and feel the quiet of this place
and this community of people.
In this time of quiet may our spirits be renewed.
In this gathering of old and new friends
may we be ready to extend ourselves to those in need,
and with trust to receive the hand that is offered.
Silence
In this time of celebration, may our minds be open to new truth,
and our hearts be receptive to love,
as we give thanks for this life we are blessed to share. E-LBelcher
Music of Celebration
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: Into the silence of our hopes and dreams,
words work upon us to break, crack, open us
to new understanding.
All May we experience, in these words,
a seeking after truth, that we may lift ourselves
to this same desire. (Gretta Vosper/ab)
• “Exploring New Ways…” (An adapted title)
By Gretta Vosper. We All Breath
An attempt,
a fallible attempt
at witnessing to what cannot be seen,
speaking of what cannot be heard,
capturing what cannot be touched.
A measure of wisdom
and another of possibility,
woven together,
creating story
that succeeds,
fails,
succeeds again
to inspire,
enlighten,
lift us.
Some call it truth.
Some call it poetry.
Some call it words, just words.
May we, as we sift through those things handed to us,
have the wisdom to discern
truths appropriate to our time and our lives,
and in the glare of their light,
see one another.
Really see one another.
May it be so.
May it ever be so.
OR
• “Sermon on the Mount: A Theology of Resistance"
Lindsay Paris-Lopez. 9 February 2017, patheos.com
“How are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, the ones who hunger and thirst for justice, blessed? Jesus blessed the people on the margins of his culture by embracing them, showing solidarity with them, building a community in which those who had always been shunned were welcomed and loved.
“As the body of Christ, we are called to be that blessing. Of course, this means we must stand with the immigrants and refugees who seek opportunity or simply survival in our nation, but it also means we must stand with those who mourn their loved ones in the wake of our government’s drone attacks. Suffering far outlasts any administration, and our commitment to the needs of those suffering must transcend partisanship.
“One problem with connecting advocacy to partisan political outrage is that often the needs of the people get lost in the desire to “win.” Jesus’s vision of healing a world in pain begins with blessing, not blame, so that we may keep our focus on those in need of comfort. Where rivalry crushes victims, compassion recognizes them and enters into their pain.”
• Matthew 5:1-11 (Inclusive Text)
Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill.
There he sat down and was joined by the disciples.
Then Jesus began to speak. This is what he taught them:
How happy are the poor in spirit:
theirs is the unfolding of the divine dream.
How happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called beloved of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the unfolding of the divine dream.
OR
• "The Jesus Creed”
(A responsive reading based on the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-9)
By Lorraine Parkinson. The World According to Jesus...
All I believe in Jesus’ vision of the best kind of world
made known to us in his teaching.
v1 Jesus said:
Fortunate are the humble—minded;
All they will live in the best possible world.
v2 Fortunate are the mournful;
All they will face the future with strength.
v1 Fortunate are the non-violent;
All they will govern the earth.
v2 Fortunate are those whose passion is for justice;
All they will receive justice.
v1 Fortunate are the compassionate;
All they will receive compassion.
v2 Fortunate are the undivided in heart;
All they will commit to the way of Jesus.
v1 Fortunate are the peacemakers;
All they will forgive and reconcile humanity.
v2 Fortunate are those in danger for living Jesus’ way:
All they will be freed from fear to follow him…
And I believe that all who follow him will create a world according to Jesus.
OR
• “Beatitudes for the Weird”
Blessed are the weird people
- poets, misfits, writers, mystics heretics, painters troubadours—
for they teach us to see the world through different eyes.
Blessed are those who embrace the intensity of life’s pain and pleasure
for they shall be rewarded with uncommon ecstasy.
Blessed are you who see beauty in ugliness,
for you shall transform our vision of how the world might be.
Blessed are the bold and whimsical,
for their imagination shatters ancient boundaries of fear for us all.
Blessed are you who are mocked for unbridled expression
of love in all its forms,
because your kind of crazy is exactly that freedom
for which the world is unconsciously begging.
Blessed are those who have endured breaking by life,
for they are the resplendent cracks through which the light shines.
Salaam. Shalom. Peace. (Unknown)
Contemporary Exploration HERE and HERE
Silence for Personal Reflection
AFFIRMING
A Celebration of Faith (Optional)
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand
a share a celebration of faith.
The people stand as they are able
A Litany
“Life in all its fullness”
v1 Bless you Wise and Holy One,
for your down-to-earth vision
of the best of what human life can be.
All Bless you Wise and Holy One,
for your call to life in all its fullness…
v1 when we honour who we are as easily
as we are enthralled by what others
want us to be;
v2 when we stop pursuing happiness
and let it embrace us;
v3 when we love
not in the hope of getting
but for the joy of giving;
v4 when love is not
what-you-can-do-for-me
but
what-we-can-be together;
v5 when we choose our leaders
not for their image
but for their imagination,
not for the politics they play
but for the principles they live;
v6 when our economy thrives
on our expressing who we are
not on our spending what we have;
v7 when the earth itself
is our communion table;
v8 when we bite into
theology's questions
as readily as we swallow technology’s answers;
v9 when we celebrate today as not just all we have
but all we need.
v1 Bless you Wise and Holy One
All for calling us to life in all its fullness,
not just hereafter, but here and now. (NSDEsdon.edited/ea)
OR
“Evolving Affirmation of Faith”
By Gretta Vosper
All I am human.
My ancestors were stars;
their atoms move in me yet.
v1. I am human.
My life is intertwined with your life,
with all that is animate in the world,
and with Earth itself.
So, too, is my future.
v2 I am human.
My understanding of reality is limited
to what my mind can comprehend,
my senses appreciate,
and my courage bear.
All I am human.
And I see, too,
that you are also.
Sharing 'The Peace’
Let us take some time to celebrate each other
May a heart of peace rest in you (David Galston/q).
All And also with you.
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
“Watch and Wonder” 4 ES
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)
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 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 O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos
you create all that moves in light.
Hear the one Sound that created all others,
in this way the Name is hallowed in silence.
Your rule springs into existence
as our arms reach out to embrace all creation.
Let all wills move together
in your vortex, as stars and planets
swirl through the sky.
Grant what we need each day in bread and insight:
subsistence for the call of growing life.
Lighten our load of secret debts as
we relieve others of their need to repay.
Keep us from hoarding false wealth,
and from the inner shame of
help not given in time. (Matthew Fox/ormw)
CELEBRATING
Offerings
Presentation
May what we give today be blessed.
May all that we receive today
enrich our lives
and the lives of others.
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY IN THE TRADITION OF THE MEAL
The Invitation
Jesus invited all to the feast of peace and new life.
Jesus risked everything in compassion.
Jesus promised to make himself known
in the breaking of the bread.
Thanksgiving
v1 We give thanks for the wonderful gift of reflective awareness
that allows us to recognise and name
the presence of a Creative Spirit
beyond all imagining, in our universe.
All And we give thanks.
v2 Everything we have
Everything we see
Everything we do
Everyone we love and everyone who loves us
reveals this sustaining Presence
and our total dependence on it.
v3 We marvel and wonder at the size
and complexity of our universe…
We marvel and wonder at the development
of life on this planet…
We give thanks for the creative Presence
that 'energises' this life and all that exists…
v4 We recognise that human life gives this Presence
a particular way of coming to expression,
and that in us the Presence can
sing and dance,
speak and write,
love and create.
v1 Conscious that we live, move, and have our being in this Presence,
we give thanks for people throughout history
who have affirmed this loving presence in all people.
All For those who have invited people to give witness to this
by lives characterised by
gratitude, compassion,
generosity and forgiveness.
v1 Especially we give thanks for the sage Jesus of Nazareth.
He loved so greatly and taught so clearly and courageously,
he was able to set people free from images
and ideas and religious practices
that bound them into fear
and a false sense of separation from the Spirit of all Life.
Through him we have learned how our loving
is a sharing in the life of this Spirit.
All In him we see this Presence urging all of us
to make its creativity on earth more visible. (Adapted. Michael Morwood/pns)
We also remember how Jesus shared meals with his friends.
Through grain and grape, bread and wine,
and in fellowship together,
he spoke of his enduring love for each of them.
So we take this bread and this wine
mindful of the Presence at work in our lives,
in the ordinary,
in the everyday.
Bread and White Wine
Bread is broken
Breaking this bread
we confess our dependence upon,
our participation in
the world of nature.
Breaking this loaf
we confess our dependence upon,
our responsibility for
the community of life
White Wine poured out
Pouring out this wine
we commemorate
men and women of all ages
who have poured themselves
into the search for beauty,
for truth, for goodness and love…
Who have brought us closer to each other,
who have brought us closer
to that Great Love
the generations have sometimes named
God. (Adapted. David & Beverley Bumbaugh/tcb)
Communion
The Bread and the White Wine will be served to all who wish to receive
PARTING
Hymn/Song The people stand as they are able, to sing
"Deep in the Heart of God" (Tune: 'Tyrolese', 86.86.86.86)
Deep in the heart of God there lurks
A mischief making note,
A gurgle of suppressed delight
A chuckle in the throat.
Deep in the heart of God there lies
A reservoir of pain,
A cross-marked agony of love
Filled and refilled again.
Remain standing
Parting Words
Let us take on this week’s life
with renewed hope and imagination...
The Community Candle is extinguished
May the quality of our lives be our benediction.
All And a blessing to all whom we touch. (P R Giles)
Words of Blessing
Go now, into the world God loves so much,
to bear the fruit of love.
Go in peace and with delight
for God the source of life and love goes with us.
In this is great blessing!
All Amen! May it be so in us!
Hymn/Song (Cont) "Deep in the Heart of God" (Tune: 'Tyrolese', 86.86.86.86)
God of our laughter and our tears,
Transcending human thought,
You share our fun in life, our fears,
By incarnation brought:
Father of Jesus Christ, the clown,
Whose Spirit gives us breath,
Hear us, who look to you to crown
Our merriment, our death. Ian Fraser/ea
The people sit after the hymn/song
'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:
Burgess, R. & C. Polhill. Eggs and Ashes. Practical and Liturgical Resources for Lent and Holy Week. Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications, 2004.
Duncan, G. (ed). Entertaining Angels. A Worship Anthology on Sharing Christ’s hospitality. Norwich. The Canterbury Press, 2005.
Duncan, G. (ed). Courage to Love. An Anthology of Inclusive Worship Material. Norwich. The Canterbury Press, 2002.
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.
Fox, M. One River, Many Wells. Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths. New York. Tarcher/Penguin Publishing, 2000.
Halsey, R. Voices from the Void. Singapore: Trafford Publishing, 2012.
Inclusive Readings. Year A. Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation, 2004.
(SiF) Kearns, S. (ed). Sing it Forward. Traditional Hymns Recast and Rewritten for Non-Exclusive Communities. In circulation from the author, 2009.
(ES) Kierstead, E. Eternal Spirit. Songs of the Cosmic Spirit. Brookfield. EmilyDon Creations, (No date).
Parkinson, L. The World According to Jesus: His Blueprint for the Best Possible World. Richmond. Spectrum Publications, 2011.
Seaburg, C. (ed). The Communion Book. Boston. UUMA, 1993
(SLT) Singing the Living Tradition. Boston. UUA, 1993.
(SNS2) Stuart, G. Singing a New Song. Traditional hymn tunes with new century lyrics. Volume 2. NSW: Toronto. G Stuart, 2009.
Vosper, G. We All Breathe. Poems and Prayers. Toronto. PostPurgical Resources, 2012.
Vosper, G. With or Without God. Why the way we Live is more Important than What we Believe. Canada: Toronto. HarperCollins, 2008.
Ward, H.; J. Wild, & J Morley. (ed). Celebrating Women. New edition. London. SPCK, 1995.
Web sites/Other:
Quarles, Giles, Belcher. UUA Worship Web. Boston. <www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
David Galston. Quest Learning Centre for Religious Literacy. <http://www.questcentre.ca/>