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 June 2023. Trinity A (White).
Celebrating Community in the Tradition of the Meal
All Heretics Day

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, 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)
          Multi-sensory artwork OR Floral/Symbols display (cloths, candles, stones, wood, leaves, flowers, earth, water) OR projection of Film/Slides 

Refreshment Station/Water Basins
Pottery basins are set on stands near the entrance to the sanctuary. 
Attendees are invited to dip their hands in the cool water in the basins as they arrive. 
Or to rinse each other’s hands. 
That we may relax, be refreshed, and prepare for this time together.

(Note: A small sign is placed above the basin explaining that as they dip their hands in the water, they are invited to relax and try to mindfully set aside or release for a time anything that might be preventing them from being fully present—each traveler rinsing the “dust from the road”).

OR

(A suggestion of other words)
We come together from our separate lives,
each of us bringing our concerns, our preoccupations,
our hopes, and our dreams.

We are not yet fully present.
The traffic, the last-minute cooking, the final details still cling to us.
        Our bodies hold the rush of the past few hours.

It is now time to let go of these pressures
and really arrive…   

When you are ready, repeat silently to yourself: ‘Hineini’ or ‘Here I am’.
Hineini is used in the Torah to signify being present
in body, mind, and spirit.
        It means settling into where we are and simply being “here”. (Adapted/Nan Fink Gene)

Gathering Music

Entry into the Celebration
The gong is sounded three times

Each new day is a gift.
Each new phase of life brings generous possibilities.
Each new question brings learning and growth.  (Francis Macnab/h).

Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.

Lighting of the Community Candle
The Community Candle is lit

We light this flame as a symbol
of the creativity of our faith:
the creativity to explore new avenues of religious insight;
the creativity to develop a caring community;
the creativity to envision a world of peace and freedom.  (Adapted/Wm J. Gardiner)

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) Some 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 the Beauty…”  (Tune: ‘Danby’, LM)                                                                                326 SLT
Let all 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 McLean Greeley)

OR

“Praise From Depth and Height”  (Tune: ‘Farley Castle’, 10.10.10.10.10)                          3 HCL
Praise, O my heart, with praise from depth and height.
To you, O Source of Life, how very great
The glories are that beat upon my sight,
So robed are you with honour and with light.

You laid the deep foundations of the earth
Not to be moved for ages from their place.
You raised the sea to cover all its girth;
The waters lay abroad its gleaming face.

The cloud you made your carrier as it streams
Upon the wings of winds; at your desire
Life woke and made the darkness glorious,
And [we] rose upward from the atom fire.   (Ridgely Torrence, 1941. Adapted)
Remain standing after the hymn

Opening Sentences

In the beginning was diversity:
All  puddle and creek, mountain and paddock,
dandelion and daisy, kookaburra and sparrow,
fox and cow, you and me.

And it was good!
All  From the beginning, diversity confused us.
We created categories:
race, rank and religion;
colour, class and creed;
language, looks and learning.
All  And divisions came to be!

We gather to honour diversity:
All  To love creation, to celebrate difference,
to embrace all within the sacred's
unending circle of love.  (Adapt/Nancy L Steeves:St Stephen’s Project)

Words of Awareness
It is good to be alive!
To share life with each other
in this wonder-filled and evolving universe.
We are most grateful.

May wisdom dawn in us
so we may see all things in clarity.

OR

We pray:
God of mystery,
whose silent depths arise encompassing us;
whose unknown, unknowable face hides from us;
clothe us in your darkest chasm ...tenderly. (RNichol)
May it be so.

Hymn/Song  “Maker of Mystery”                                                                                           47 FFS
Maker of mystery,
dreamer of what will be,
well-spring and fertile ground of all our growing:
tending the buried seed,
foreseeing every need,
you draw us into life beyond our knowing.

Christ, strong and living vine,
spreading through space and time,
deep rooted in the love of God our mother:
dying, you live and share
your strength with us, to bear
ripe fruit in season for the life of others.

Wild Spirit, springing green,
coiled in the depths unseen,
promise of fruit within the seed maturing:
new life, you grow and swell,
burst from the outgrown shell,
hundredfold yield in every age ensuring.

Living and loving God,
sing in the pulse of our blood,
help us to know you in your own creation,
love you, the life of all,
serve you and hear your call
from our first forming to our full salvation.  Marnie Barrell
The people sit

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

Presentation of Water Basins
Words which acknowledge that the dust of many roads and many life experiences has been rinsed into the basins, and calls for the contents of the basins and the gathering to be transformed, renewed, and more fully alive

The dust of many roads and may life experiences
has been washed in this refreshing water.
For this place is a sacred place.

May we
greet one another with open hearts and minds;
inspire each other to consider new questions
and seek deeper meaning;
and cultivate both wisdom and compassion.

And may this time together empower us to take some new steps
so all our living is transforming and the
yearning of our hearts become reality.
Bowls of water removed from the Gathering space to an outside garden

Meditation
Let us remember within us
The ancient clay,
Holding the memory of seasons,

The passion of the wind,
The fluency of water,
The warmth of fire,
The quiver-touch of the sun
And shadowed sureness of the moon.

That we may awaken,
To live to the full
The dream of the Earth
Who chose us to emerge
And incarnate its hidden night
In mind, spirit, and light.
—from “In Praise of the Earth” by John O’Donohue

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

As we gather let us claim
some stillness,
some silence.
(Silence)

God calls us to renew ourselves and our life's purpose
as we gather with others who are searching.

Let us continue to be in silence together.
(Silence)

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)

• Genesis 1:26-28, 30b-31  (NRSV)

God said,
'Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness;
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the birds of the air,
and over the cattle,
and over all the wild animals of the earth,
and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.'

So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

God blessed them, and God said to them,
'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it;
and have dominion over the fish of the sea 
and over the birds of the air
and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.'
And it was so.

God saw everything that he had made,
and indeed, it was very good.
And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

OR

• 'Moment of Connection'
By M. Maureen Killoran

Here is where it all begins.  It cannot be otherwise.
Here we have come to listen,
we have come to hear.

An old woman sat here yesterday on a park bench,
a brown bag at her side, her eyes sparkling
as children frolicked on a carousel.

"Nice day," I said.
"You're right," she said, and smiled.
We built a bridge and sat there silently.

And a policeman came, took the brown bag,
led the woman away.
I said nothing; there was nothing to say.
And the world moved on,
and pain and joy were strangers once again.

And yet here in the moment of connection
is where it all begins,
it cannot be otherwise.

The city's named and nameless stories are what we are to hear.
Someone's child is hungry.
Someone has lost a job.
Someone's marriage hurts so much there are no words.
Someone needs a friend.

The stories come - oh, pray that we may hear,
and we may tell.
Pray that we may bridge city streets, with caring,
that we may give and receive the blessing of love.

• Matthew 28:16-20.  (Inclusive Text)

The eleven disciples set out for Galilee,
to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them.
When they saw Jesus they worshiped him, though some hesitated.

Jesus came up and spoke to them,
'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

'Go therefore, make disciples of all the nations;
baptise them in the name of the One who sent me,
and of the Incarnate Word
and of the Holy Spirit,
and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you.

'And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time."

Contemporary Exploration  And on ‘Heretics’ HERE

Silence for Personal Reflection

AFFIRMING

A Traditional Litany for Trinity Sunday (Optional)
The people stand as they are able, to say.

Worthy of praise from every mouth,
All   worthy of confession from every tongue,
worthy of worship from every creature,
All   is your glorious name, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

For you created the world in your grace,
All   and by your compassion you saved the world.

To your majesty, O God,
ten thousand times ten thousand bow down and adore,
All   singing and praising without ceasing, and saying:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts;
All   heaven and earth are full of your praises.
Hosanna in the highest.  Nestorian Liturgy, 5th Century – UIW

OR

“It Matters What We Believe”  (Optional)
v1  Some beliefs are like walled gardens.
They encourage exclusiveness,
and the feeling of being especially privileged.
Wm   Other beliefs are expansive and lead the way
into wider and deeper sympathies.

v2  Some beliefs are like shadows,
clouding children's days and fears of unknown calamities.
Mn   Other beliefs are like sunshine,
blessing children with the warmth of happiness.

v1  Some beliefs are divisive, separating
saved from unsaved, friends from enemies.
All   Other beliefs are bonds in a world community,
where sincere differences beautify the pattern.

v2  Some beliefs are like blinders, shutting off the power
to choose one's own direction.
Mn   Other beliefs are like gateways
opening wide vistas for exploration.

v1  Some beliefs weaken a person's selfhood.
They blight the growth of resourcefulness.
Wn   Other beliefs nurture self-confidence 
and enrich the feeling of personal worth.

v2  Some beliefs are rigid, like the body of death,
impotent in a changing world.
All   Other beliefs are pliable, like the young sapling,
ever growing with the upward thrust of life.  (Sophia Lyon Fahs/slt#657)

Sharing 'The Peace'
Let us take some time to celebrate each other.

May a heart of peace rest with 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 to remain seated, to sing
(To be sung several times...)
“Blow Through Me Breath of God”
Blow through me breath of God
Blo-----w through me
Like a pipe, like a flute, like a reed, making melody
The cosmic song in me, breath of God. (Miriam T Winter)

In Solidarity
Care Candle:
We are people of all ages who enter this safe space
bringing our joys and concerns.
Joys and Celebrations; Griefs and Concerns shared

Focused Thoughts:

Listening Response:
In caring for one another
All  May we be untiring.
In sheltering one another

All  May we be strong.

In holding one another

All  May we be tender.  (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  Our Mother, whose body is the Earth,
Sacred is thy being. Thy gardens grow.
Thy will be done in our cities,
as it is in nature.

Thanks be this day
for food, and air, and water.

Forgive us our sins against Earth,
as we are learning to forgive one another.
And surrender us not unto extinction,
but deliver us from our folly.

For thine is the beauty, and the power,
and all life, from birth to death,
from beginning to end. Amen.
So be it.
All  Forever.
Blessed be.  (Henry Horton/lp)

With the Children
Children gather on the conversation mat

Conversation:
"Somewhere someone:"

The kingdom of love is coming because:
All  somewhere someone is kind when others are unkind,
somewhere someone shares with another in need,
somewhere someone refuses to hate, while others hate,
somewhere someone is patient - and waits in love,
somewhere someone returns good for evil,
somewhere someone serves another, in love,
somewhere someone is calm in a storm,
somewhere someone is loving everybody.
Is that someone you?  (Binkley & McKeel/jke)

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY IN THE TRADITION OF THE MEAL
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.

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…

Thanksgiving
May it be well with you.
All   And also with you.
Life is a gift and we its celebration.
All   May we rejoice in the beauty that we are.  Gretta Vosper/wwg

We give thanks and praise for all that is good in the world.
For that mystery we name Creativity God…
For the sage we name Jesus…
For the renewing strength and freedom of the Spirit…
For the nurturing given in Nature...
(Silence)

God of winter, the unpopular, slandered season;
God of lightning, wind and storm;
God of brisk winter mornings, frosted back lawns and stark hillsides;
of warm socks, coats and gloves,
raincoats, umbrellas and warm fires,
we open ourselves to all the possibilities life offers us.

So we join our celebration to all people, saying:
All  Holy! Holy! Holy!
Heaven and earth are holy and good.

Bread and Wine
We remember the times when the sage Jesus faced difficult decisions and destructive forces:
- in the days and nights of his searching,
- in finding ways to free others from images and ideas
that kept them captive and dependent and fearful of God,
- in breaking down social and religious barriers,
- in facing failure,
- in facing death  (Michael Morwood/pns. Adapted).

When we too experience the winter of our lives
may we find the courage to let go
and trust in your guiding, warming light.
(Silence)

As we eat together at this table
we remember 
the importance and the words
and the actions of all meals
 in the tradition of the Jesus Movements…

He took bread, gave thanks, broke it,
and gave it to his friends.
Bread

He poured a cup of wine, offered thanks for it,
and gave it also to his friends.
White wine

Response
Everyone is welcome to be here.
All   In this way, we lift up a world of inclusion,
where all people live with respect and dignity.
Everyone present will receive a share.
All   In this way, we lift up a world of generosity,
where, as in the examples of Jesus,
abundance overcomes scarcity so all are fed.
Everyone is invited now to take a portion,
and to see others also receive.
All   In this way, we lift up a world of sufficiency,
where entrenched systems of privilege are challenged,
wealth is shared equally, and all are satisfied with enough.  (Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer/wsj)

Communion
So in the meal tradition of Jesus we break and share bread and drink wine,
pledging ourselves to allow the spirit
that moved in Jesus
to move freely in our lives.
Bread broken and White Wine served in the pews

PARTING

Hymn/Song  People stand as they are able, to sing
“We Are The Earth…” (Tune: ‘Ein’ Feste Burg’, 87.87.66.66.7)                                              30(v1) 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.

OR

“Playful God”  (Tune: ‘Joyful God’. 77.87)                                                                               75(v1-2) RP
Playful God, you laugh and dance
at every indication
that we have caught a glimpse, a glance
of magic in creation.

Tearful God, you weep and mourn,
you share our desolation;
in every doubt, in pain and grief,
we need your consolation.
Remain standing

Parting Words
Time has now come for us to leave this sacred place.
As we do, may we embrace the challenges
of our lives and our world...
The Community Candle is extinguished

Blessed be God
All  Blessed be the earth
Blessed be those who compost and nurture the earth
All  Blessed be the petals, leaves and stems
that become compost for the seeds of the plant
Blessed be the life cycle that sustains and nurtures
All  Blessed be God who creates and co-creates
Blessed be those who walk on the earth with respect.
All  Blessed be all who care for the earth
Blessed be all!  Maggie Abbott/sotc

Words of Blessing
Go into this week, 
held together by the love of God
clothed with the nature of Jesus the Christ
reinforced by the strength of the Holy Spirit.
All  Amen.  May it be so.

Hymn/Song  (Cont) “We Are The Earth…” (Tune: ‘Ein’ Feste Burg’, 87.87.66.66.7)                  30(v2) SLT
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)

OR

“Playful God”  (Tune: ‘Joyful God’. 77.87)                                                                                      75(v3-4) RP
Joyful God, we praise your name
in every situation.
Your love will even live through death,
you promise resurrection.

Mighty God, creative heart
and source of our elation,
accept our praise, our lives, our all,
our ceaseless adoration.  Andrew Pratt
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:
Abbott, M.  Sparks of the Cosmos. Rituals for Seasonal Use. Unley. MediaCom Education, 2001.
Binkley, C. G. & J. M. McKeel.  Jesus and his Kingdom of Equals. An International Curriculum on the Life and Teaching of Jesus. Santa Rosa. Polebridge Press, 2001.
(FFS)  Faith Forever Singing. Songs for a New Day. Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, 2000. 
Holy Bible. NRSV. Nashville. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989.
(HCL) Hymns for the Celebration of Life. Boston. Beacon Press, 1964.
(HoS)  Hope is Our Song. New Hymns and Songs from Aotearoa New Zealand.  Palmerston North. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, 2009.
Inclusive Readings. Year A. Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation, 2004.
Macnab, F.  Hope: The Deeper Longings of the Mind and Heart. Richmond: Spectrum Publications, 1996.
Morwood, M. Praying a New Story. Richmond. Spectrum Publications, 2003.
Nelson-Pallmeyer, J & B. Hesle. Worship in the Spirit of Jesus. Theology, Liturgy, and Songs without Violence. Cleveland. The Pilgrim Press, 2005.
(RP) Pratt, A. Reclaiming Praise. Hymns from a Spiritual Journey. London. Stainer & Bell Ltd, 2006.
Roberts, E. & E. Amidon. Life Prayers from Around the World. 365 Prayers, Blessings, and Affirmations to Celebrate the Human Journey. New York. HarperCollins, 1996.
(SLT)  Singing The Living Tradition. Boston. UUA, 1993.
Uniting in Worship. Leader’s Book. Melbourne. Uniting Church Press, 1988.
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. Canada: Toronto. HarperCollins, 2008.
Winter, Miriam T.  Women Prayer. Women Song. Resources for Ritual. Hartford. Meyer Stone Books, 1987.

Web sites/Other:
Gardiner, Killoran, Nichol, UUA Worship Web. Boston. <http://www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
Nancy L Steeves. One of several non-theistic resources found at: https://cloudfront.ualberta.ca/-/media/ststephens/publication-photos/ssc-ntlr-winter-2018.pdf
Words by Nan Fink Gefen, taken from an Evolutionary Passover Haggadah by Tree Bressen.
David Galston. Quest Learning Centre for Religious Literacy. http://www.questcentre.ca/