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”

30 March 2025 Lent 4. (Purple).

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) of the (NN) Nation, past and present,
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 available 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

Refreshment Station/Water Basins
Pottery basins are set on stands near the entrance to the Gathering space. 
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 traveller 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)

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 struck three times

As we gather together on this day, at this time, in this 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 celebration and justice.

Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.

Lighting of the Community Candle
A Community Candle is lit

Note: Check out 'Special Liturgies’ (this site) for the following:

(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
"God of All Time"  (Tune: ‘Infinite')                                                                                        49 (1-2) AA
God of all time,
all seasons of our living,
source of our spark,
protector of our flame,
blazing before our birth,
beyond our dying,
God of all time,
we come to sing your name.

Here in this place
where others have been building,
we come to claim
the legacy of faith,
take, in our turn
the telling of your story,
and though we tremble,
speak your hope, your truth.  Shirley Erena Murray
Remain standing

Opening Sentences
In hope, in longing
All  We're glad to come together.
In trust, in community
All  We're glad to come together.
In many moods, in many shapes and sizes
All  We're glad to come together.
In peace, in joy
All  We're glad to come together.
In solidarity with those who struggle
All  We're glad to come together.
In resistance to those who dominate
All  We're glad to come together in this Lenten season. (Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer/wsj)

Words of Awareness
For all that is our life we offer thanks and praise.
For all life is a gift which we are called to use,
to build the store of common good.

May we know once again that we are not isolated beings
but connected, in mystery and miracle,
to the universe,
to this community, and
to each other.

OR

We pray:
Remind us, O Spirit, that life is worth living.
Remind us, O Creator, that the struggle for justice is worth undertaking.
Remind us, O Mercy, that love and action are one.
May it be so.  (Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer/wsj)

Hymn/Song  "When Love is Taught in Parables" (Tune: 'McKee', 86.86)
When love is taught is parables,
and hope in history,
we thank you, God, for trusting us
with Jesus' memory.

When broken people speak their need
and pray to be made whole,
we thank you, God, for Christ, who heals
our body, mind, and soul.

When hearts are lifted, wine is poured,
and common bread is blessed,
we thank you, God, that in this meal
we share in heaven's feast.

When Christians claim the Spirit's power,
and faith, now fed, can grow,
we thank you, God, and go in peace,
to share the peace we know.  © Elizabeth J Smith

OR

"The Way Ahead"  (Tune: 87.87)
When life juggles with our learning,
with the things we thought secure,
then it seems the artist’s palette
spins and faith becomes obscure.

In the wash of different colours, 
as we seek for shape and form, 
others paint their faith by numbers 
forcing God to fit some norm.

But when life has torn the canvas, 
when the numbers twist and slip; 
then we need to find an image 
that will help our hope to grip:

holding us, when we're past holding,
grounding when we're insecure,
till we find a faith, not drifting,
still dynamic, free, yet sure.  © Andrew Pratt 28/5/2010
People sit after the hymn

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.

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.
The bowls of water are removed from the Gathering space and placed on an outside garden

Meditation
"Seeing the Rainbow in our Faces"
Rabbi Arthur Waskow. Life Prayers/105.

We are the generation that stands between the fires:
behind us the flame and smoke
that rose from Auschwitz and from Hiroshima;
before us the nightmare of a Flood of Fire,
the flame and smoke that consume all Earth.

It is our task to make from fire not an all-consuming blaze
but the light in which we see each other fully.

All of us different,
all of us bearing One Spark.

We light these fires to see more clearly
that the Earth and all who live as part of it
are not for burning.

We light these fires to see more clearly
the rainbow in our many-colored faces.

Blessed is the One within the many.
Blessed are the Many who make one.

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

In the silence which we now claim, let us be gentle with ourselves.

For a few moments, let us release ourselves
from a world that is too noisy, too busy, too demanding.
For a few moments, let us release ourselves
into the calm, still world that waits to receive us…

where the quiet is broken only by sounds
of our own making.
(The charka is sounded)

Silence

Within this welcoming quiet, let us befriend ourselves.
Let us rest in the gentleness of this moment.  BCheatham/adapted

Music of Reflection

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 open to the possibilities
we hear in these stories,
All  And the possibilities that lie within each of us.

• (i) Luke 15:1-3, 12-24 32 (Inclusive Text)

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking
the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say…
So he spoke this parable:

A man had two sons.
The younger said to his father,
‘Father, let me have a share of the estate that would come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.

A few days later the younger son got together
everything he had and left for a distant country
where he squandered his money on a life of loose living.

When he had spent it all, that country experienced
a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch,
so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants
who put him on his farm to feed the pigs.

And he would willingly have filled his belly
with the husks the pigs were eating,
but no one offered him anything.

Then he came to his senses and said,
‘How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want,
and here I am dying of hunger!

‘I will leave this place and go to my father and say:
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as one of your paid servants.

So he left the place and went back to his father.

While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity.
He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly.

Then the son said,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants,
‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

‘Bring the calf we have been fattening and kill it;
we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because
this son of mine was dead and has come back to life,
he was lost and is found!’

And they began to celebrate...

Hymn/Song   “Great God of All Creation”  (Tune: ‘King Lynn’ 76.76D)
Great God of all creation,
bright as the morning sun,
our dawning praise is rising,
our daily work begun.
A quiet blade is growing,
up from the rich, dark earth,
the life that once was hidden
is springing into birth.

The land is always changing,
it bears our human mark,
idyllic scenes are hiding
a life that's hard and stark.
A lack of understanding
of all we do and share,
obscures the deprivation
that's hardly hidden there.

We work within the compass
that nature will allow,
we follow through the seasons,
we harrow, seed or plough.
O holy one of heaven,
as stewards, give us grace,
to care for your creation,
to value country space.  © Andrew Pratt

OR

“Spirit of Life” (Tune: ‘Spirit of Life’, 8.12.8.12.8.10)                                                         123 SLT
Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me. (Carolyn McDade)

• (ii)  Luke 15:25- 32 (Inclusive Text)
Now the elder son was out in the fields,
and on his way back, as he drew near the house,
he could hear music and dancing.

Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about.
‘Your brother has come’, replied the servant,
‘and your father has killed the calf we had fattened, 
because he has got him back safe and sound.’

He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father
came out to plead with him, but he answered his father,
‘Look, all these years I have slaved for you,
and never once disobeyed your orders,
yet you never offered me so much as a kid
for me to celebrate with my friends.

‘But, for this son of yours, when he comes back
after swallowing up your property – on loose living - you kill the calf we had been fattening!’

The father said,
‘My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours.

But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother here was dead and has come to life;
he was lost and is found.’

Contemporary Exploration

Silence for Personal Reflection

AFFIRMING

Celebration of Faith (Optional)
In response to the word reflected on let us stand 
and share together a celebration of faith.
The people stand as they are able

We celebrate a God
All  who lives and speaks in sunsets,
in love-wrapped gifts, and fleeting butterflies.

We celebrate a Christ
All  who honoured our humanness,
who climbed trees, skinned knees;
who laughed and cried,
loved and wept, bled and died.

We celebrate a Spirit,
All  who mystically joins us to people everywhere,
and incorporates us into Christ.

We celebrate a church,
All  seeking, however imperfectly,
to act justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with our God.  (Adapt.Dorothy McRae-McMahon/eoj)

Sharing 'The Peace'
Let us take a moment 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.

CELEBRATING

Hymn/Song  The people stand as they are able, to sing
“May the Mystery of God Enfold Us” (Tune: 'Marleborough Sounds')                               95 AA
May the mystery of God enfold us,
may the wisdom of God uphold us,
may the fragrance of God be around us,
may the brightness of God surround us,
may the wonder of God renew us,
may the loving of God flow through us,
may the peace of God deeply move us,
may the moving of God bring us peace.  Joy Cowley

OR

“God of Unexplored Tomorrows”  (Tune: ‘Marching’, 87.87)                                                  27 FFS
God of unexplored tomorrows,
of today and yesterday,
God of rock and flowing river,
be our refuge, be our way.

Guardian rock above, before us,
strong foundation where we build,
landmark through the haze of doubting,
shelter where our fears are stilled,

Be the cleansing, quenching water,
irrigate, disturb and move,
stir us from our easy shallows,
current of refreshing love.

God of rock and flowing river
now and ever with us stand,
to transform our land of promise
into each one's promised land.  Beverley Jones
The people sit

The Offering

The Presentation
Let our gratitude for life be expressed in our generosity.
Let our faith be expressed in good causes.
Let our belief in the future find full expression
in our daily attitude of mind.  (Francis Macnab/fwb)

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)

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
As one heart is lifted
All  May we share its celebration
As one heart is burdened
All  May we share the pain it knows.  (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 presentness 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  Eternal Spirit
Source of all that is and ever shall be,
Loving Parent in whom we discern heaven,
May knowledge of your holiness inspire all peoples.

And may your commonwealth of peace and freedom
flourish on earth, until all of humankind
heed your call to justice and compassion.

May we find the bread that we need for today.
And for the hurts we cause one another
may we be forgiven in the same measure
that we forgive.

In times of trial and temptation,
help us to be strong;
When life seems overwhelming,
Help us to endure;
And thus from the yoke of sin deliver us.

May you reign in the power of human love,
Now and forever. (Tom Hall)

PARTING

Hymn/Song  The people stand as they are able, to sing
“Go-Between God”  (Tune: ‘Clover Place’, D C Gamon)                                                            9(v1-3) PaT
Go-between God, in the Spirit of Jesus,
reaching and welcoming, crossing divides,
let me be part of your bridge-building people,
making connections where prejudice rides.

Let me see value in colours and cultures
new to my landscape of habit or thought;
let me find treasures in other traditions,
gifts of new insight that strangers have brought.

Let me find truths in another faith’s scripture,
let me share wisdom wherever it shines,
lighting our differing pathways to worship,
seeking the scope of your stunning designs.

Let me accept revelation in science,
all that enhances the life of the earth,
let me reject all that threatens her nature,
testing technology’s status and worth.

Let me be part of a new evolution
honouring others who honour the good,
artists in living out love without labels,
standing in places where Jesus has stood.  (Shirley Erena Murray)

OR

“The Bible – The Canberra Affirmation” (Tune: ‘Regent Square’, 87.87.47 extend.)         29(v1-2) SNS2
We receive the Hebrew Scriptures
And the Christian Scriptures too
As collections, human writings
Rich in mem'ry and review;
These describe attempts, responding
To the 'sacred', sensed as true.

Indispensable, this Bible
Is part of our heritage,
In tradition, pers'nal journeys
It finds us at every stage;
Reading, list'ning and debating,
Finding wisdom for each age.

Parting Words
Let us take on this week’s life with renewed hope and imagination…
The Community Candle is extinguished

As the spirit teaches inwardly,
may we involve ourselves in the grander issues of life:
All  those issues which make a compelling difference,
which create the good life for all humanity.  Bob Holmes/rhw

Words of Blessing
And may the holy mystery of God be found along the road.
The wonder of the costly love of Jesus embrace you.
And the Spirit bless and keep you, always.
All  Amen. May it be so.

Hymn (Cont.) “Go-Between God” (Tune: ‘Clover Place’, D C Gamon)                               9(4-5) PaT
Let me accept revelation in science,
all that enhances the life of the earth,
let me reject all that threatens her nature,
testing technology’s status and worth.

Let me be part of a new evolution
honouring others who honour the good,
artists in living out love without labels,
standing in places where Jesus has stood.  (Shirley Erena Murray)

OR

“The Bible – The Canberra Affirmation” (Tune: ‘Regent Square’, 87.87.47 extend.)           29(v3-4) SNS2
Yet we claim the right to question;
Take responsibility
To interpret texts and stories,
Searching each quite critically;
Then empowered with life's schooling
Wrest its wisdom honestly.

We accept that other sources –
Stories, poems, many a song,
And imagination pictures
Of our life, both weak and strong,
Join the process of our searching
For the 'sacred'; all belong.  George Stuart
The people sit after the hymn

'This Week' at (NN)
Notices
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Significant events
Journey Candles

Recessional 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.
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. 2000. Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, 2000.
Holmes, R. H. The Bob Holmes Worship Materials. Vol 1.  Little Falls. Self published, 1972.
Inclusive Readings. Year C. Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation, 2006.
McRae-McMahon, D. Echoes of Our Journey. Liturgies of the People. Melbourne. JBCE, 1993.
Macnab, F. A Fine Wind is Blowing: Psalms of the Bible in words that blow you away. Richmond. Spectrum Publications, 2006.
(PaT) Murray, S. E. A Place at the Table. New Hymns written between 2009 and 2013. Carol Stream: Hope Publishing, 2013.
Nelson-Pallmeyer, J. & B. Hesle. Worship in the Spirit of Jesus. Theology, Liturgy, and Songs without Violence. Cleveland. The Pilgrin Press, 2005.
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.
(SNS2) Stuart, G. Singing a New Song. Traditional Hymn Tunes with New Century Lyrics. Volume 2. Toronto. George Stuart, 2009.
Vosper, G. With or Without God. Why the Way we Live is more Important than What we Believe. Toronto. HarperCollins, 2008.

Web sites/Other:
"The Way Ahead" and "Great God...". Andrew Pratt. UK. eMail hymn service originally direct from the author.
David Galston. Quest Learning Centre for Religious Literacy. <http://www.questcentre.ca/>
Refreshment Station. Words by Nan Fink Gefen, taken from an Evolutionary Passover Haggadah by Tree Bressen.