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

“We are thoroughly nature. To claim otherwise is to attempt to place human beings and everything we do
in some rare unimaginable realm beyond the universe,
thus rendering the power of our origins lost and our obligations vague”

31 March 2024.  Easter Day B. (White)
Celebrating Community the Tradition of the Meal

We need a new configuration of liturgy and climate to celebrate Easter in Australia.
In the southern hemisphere we cannot exploit the theme of Spring’s new life. 
Perhaps the theme of refreshing coolness would be an excellent substitute to enrich our appreciation of the Easter event.
April in Australia is a pleasant, refreshing month.
Its arrival brings a sense of relief from the thick blanket of summer
as we are rejuvenated by a touch of coolness. 
For us, this is Eastertime...

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 is called “Uluru Statement from the Heart”
A Response from Common Dreams5 Conference of Religious Progressives,Australia/South Pacific 2019
Both 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 gather 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)

Gathering Music

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/Videos

Entry into the Celebration
The gong is sounded three times

v1 Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.
(Silence)

Life is a gift for which we are grateful.
All  We gather in community to celebrate
the glories and mysteries of this great gift.  MMontgomery/slt

v2  Today we celebrate:
new life,
new joy,
new possibilities.
All  We give thanks for the Spirit of Life
visible in Jesus,
visible in us,
visible in people in all walks of life.

Lighting of the Community Candle
The Community Candle is lit

We light this flame and give praise for
the gifts that lift and inspire our living:
   music, art, creativity and all beauty.

Words  of Awareness
The world is always radiant.
Whether at night under the dimmest starlight,
or at noon under the brightest sun,
the world is giving forth a vast legend.

It only awaits the involvement of the eye,
the engagement of the ear.

So let us live this moment in all its fullness,
for in it is all realisation, all time.  (Adapt.Kenneth Patton/sscl)

OR

We pray:
God of terror and joy, you arise to shake the earth.

Open our graves and give us back the past;
so that all that has been buried
may be freed and forgiven,
and our lives may return to you.
May it be so.

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  People stand as they are able, to sing
“All People That On Earth Do Dwell” (Tune: ‘Old 100th, 88.88)                                          59 TiS
All people that on earth do dwell.
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice:
him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell;
come ye before him and rejoice.

Know that the Lord is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make:
we are his folk, he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.

O enter then his gates with praise,
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud and bess his name always,
for it is seemly so to do.

For why the Lord our God is good;
his mercy is for ever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure. (Wm Kethe, 16th century)

OR

“Where Are You Going?” (Tune: ‘Pilgrim Tune’, 97.66.7)                                                 86 RP
Where are you going?  God only knows.
Walk on pilgrim, pilgrim sing.
It's not where you're going.
It's how you are changing.
Come on pilgrim!  Pilgrim sing!

Walk with another, walk on as one.
Come on pilgrim, pilgrim sing.
Your friends will walk with you,
and others will join you. 
Walk on pilgrims!  Pilgrims sing!

Walk midst the water, walk through the fire.
Walk on pilgrims, pilgrims sing.
Your God will walk with you,
your God will protect you.
Come on pilgrims!  Pilgrims sing! 

Climb up the mountain, follow the sun.
Come on pilgrims, pilgrims sing.
The leaves turn to auburn
to welcome the autumn.
Walk on pilgrims!  Pilgrims sing!

God is behind you, God is ahead.
Walk on pilgrims, pilgrims sing.
The winter may chill you,
the spring will enchant you.
Come on pilgrims!  Pilgrims sing!

Summer is coming, spirit of joy.
Come on pilgrims, pilgrims sing.
Then dance as you travel,
sing 'hail resurrection'.
Walk on pilgrims!  Pilgrims sing!  (Andrew Pratt)

OR

If in Northern Hemisphere
“Lo, the Earth Awakes Again”  (Tune: ‘Easter Hymn’, 77.77 with alleluias)                      318 HCL
Lo, the earth awakes again
Alleluia!
From the winter’s bond and pain.
Alleluia!
Bring we leaf and flower and spray
Alleluia!
To adorn this happy day.
Alleluia!

Once again the world comes true,
Alleluia! 
All the earth shall be made new.
Alleluia!
Now the dark cold days are o’er,
Alleluia!
Light and gladness are before.
Alleluia!

Change, then, mourning into praise,
Alleluia!
And, for dirges, anthems raise.
Alleluia!
How our spirits soar and sing,
Alleluia!
How our hearts leap with the spring!
Alleluia!   (Samuel Longfellow, 1887)

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

v1  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

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

v2  How good it is to be alive!
Yes, we feel the beat of our own hearts,
the pulsing of life in our veins,
the rhythm of our breathing.

We come into the silence of this time with gratitude for this day.
(Silence)

We come with our needs.
And we come because we have gifts to share.

In our coming and in our going
may we be strengthened
in our bonds of love and peace.
Silence

Hymn/Song People stand as they are able, to sing
"We Are An Easter People" (Tune: Irregular)                                                                         146 AA
We are an Easter people,
ours is an Easter faith,
the yeast is rising in our hearts,
our wine has vintage taste.
Refrain:
Christ is risen,
Christ is risen,
risen in our lives.

We are an Easter people,
ours is an Easter faith,
our tears are freed to flow and heal
our shattered hopes and hearts.
Refrain:

We are an Easter people,
ours is an Easter faith,
our fears have died, we rise to dream,
to love, to dance, to live.  (William L Wallace)
Refrain:

RECOLLECTION OF BAPTISM (Optional)
v1   In the very early Christianities,
when the people gathered to worship on Easter morning,
they would be reminded of their baptism
as they witnessed the baptism of others.

This morning we, more than 20 centuries later, follow in that tradition.
New water is poured into the font

Come, Spirit of Life, Beyond all Names,
enfold us, impel us, refresh us
As water is sprinkled over the congregation...

Always remember you are baptised and be thankful...

v2   Baptised into a new way of being,
a new humanity,
fit for the glory and dignity
of this one Earth community…

And raised up,
a new creation grasping for life,
that we might grasp the full extent
of the mystery of being –
Alive! Creative! Compassionate! (Adapted from Bruce Sanguin/idp)

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)

• "Easter Morning"
By Bruce Prewer. More Australian Psalms/151. 

Black light transforms
the clouds in the east,
the swamphens wake
at this new dawning.

Against the sky
sacred ibis wend
like angel forms,
to hopeless mourning.

The sun comes up
and the magpies sing.

God is alive
in everything this Easter morning.

OR

• “Thank God for Bursting Life!”
By Shirley Erena Murray. A Place at the Table/37

Thank God for bursting life, for greening leaf, for sign of Spring’s sowing!
The Easter sunrise brings the light that can illumine all our knowing!
What crucifixion failed to kill, is well alive this Day:
   a peace-determined Way,
   God’s realm of hope and promise,
   of peace lived in promise,
as Jesus lived this promise.

Thank God for courage raised to roll away the stones of dead traditions,
to crack the codes of death, to give the fearful powers no free permission!
What crucifixion failed to kill, is well alive this Day:
   a fairer, kinder Way,
   a signatory to justice,
   commitment to justice,
as  Jesus lives this justice.

Thank God for feisty souls who let no weight of history deter them!
Who liberate the faith, who let the Easter air revive and stir them!
What crucifixion failed to kill, is well alive this Day:
   non-violent, this Way,
   a charter for compassion,
   the power of compassion,
as Jesus lived compassion.

Thank God for fresh-baked bread, the loaf we share,
the yeasty fragrance rising.
The bubbling up of hope, the wine outpoured in joy of God’s devising!
What crucifixion failed to kill, is well alive this Day:
   the Gospel-driven Way;
   the human spirit’s freedom,
   the risen life’s freedom,
as Jesus lived this freedom.

• John 20: 1-18  (NRSV)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, 
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone 
had been removed from the tomb.

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, 
the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 
“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, 
and we do not know where they have laid him.”

Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.
The two were running together, 
but the other disciple outran Peter 
and reached the tomb first.

He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, 
but he did not go in.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. 
He saw the linen wrappings lying there,
and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, 
not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, 
also went in, and he saw and believed;
for as yet they did not understand the scripture, 
that he must rise from the dead.

Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. 
As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb;
and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, 
one at the head and the other at the feet.

They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” 
She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, 
and I do not know where they have laid him.”

When she had said this, 
she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, 
but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” 

Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him,
“Sir, if you have carried him away, 
tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” 
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 

Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, 
because I have not yet ascended to the Father. 
But go to my brothers and say to them, 
I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 
“I have seen the Lord”; and she told them 
that he had said these things to her.

OR

• Mark 16: 1-8. (Inclusive Text/NRSV)

When the sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome,
bought spices with which to go and anoint Jesus.

And very early in the morning on the first day of the week
they went to the tomb, just as the sun was rising.
They had been saying to one another,
'Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?'

But when they looked they could see that the stone - which was very big -
had already been rolled back.

On entering the tomb they saw a youth in a white robe
seated on the right-hand side,
and they were struck with amazement.

But the youth said to them:
'There is no need for alarm.
You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: 
Jesus has risen, and is not here.

'See, here is the place where they laid him.

'But you must go and tell the disciples and Peter:
Jesus is going before you to Galilee;
it is there you will see him, just as he told you.'

So they went out and fled from the tomb,
for both terror and amazement had seized them.

And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Contemporary Exploration

Silence for Personal Reflection

AFFIRMING

Easter Litany: ‘Out of the Depths'  (Optional)
The people stand as they are able

When we are all despairing;
when the world is full of grief;
when we see no way ahead,
    and hope has gone away:
All   Roll back the stone.

Although we fear change;
although we are not ready;
although we’d rather weep
    and run away:
All  Roll back the stone.

Because we’re coming with the women;
because we hope where hope is vain;
because you call us from the grave
    and show the way:
All  Roll back the stone.  (Janet Morley/cw)

OR

An Affirmation of Faith  (Optional)
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand
and share an affirmation of faith.
The people stand as they are able

v2  Beckoning Christ, you call us
out of our comfortable ghetto of 'us' and 'them'
to risk discipleship without walls.
All  You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where God is worshipped above all other.

Wn  You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where prayer is offered day and night.
All  You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where we can share what we are
with others who love you.

Mn  You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where each person has something to give to the whole.
All  You call us into a world-wide fellowship
where compassion and respect
shape missionary endeavour.

v1  Keep on beckoning us out of our safe havens
into your rich fellowship of challenge and reconciliation,
faith and hope.  (Kate Compston/sco)

OR

A Litany: “Life in All its Fullness” (Optional)
The people stand as they are able

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.
Silence

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)

Sharing 'The Peace'
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.

In the Northern hemisphere
Hymn/Song  People stand as they are able, to sing 
“The Changes” (Tune: ‘Christus Urunknak’, 11.11.11.5)                                                         303 HCL
Bells in the high tower, Ringing o’er the white hills,
Mocking the winter, Singing like the spring rills;
Bells in the high tower, In the cold fore-telling.
The spring’s up-welling.

Bells in the old tower, Like the summer chatter
From darting bright birds, As the grapes turn redder;
Bells in the old tower, Now the wine is brimming,
New life beginning.

Bells in the stone tower, Echoing the soft sound
Of autumn’s mill wheel, As the wheat is spun round;
Bells in the stone tower, See, the bread is yeasting
For time of feasting.

Bells in the cold tower, ‘Midst the snow of winter
Sound out the spring song, That all may remember;
Bells in the cold tower, After the long snowing
Come months of growing. (Howard Box)

OR

“Easter Song: Christ is Alive”                                                                                               15 AA
Christ is alive, and the universe must celebrate,
and the stars and the suns shout on this Easter Day!
Christ is alive, and his family must celebrate
in a great alleluia,
a great alleluia
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

Here is our hope: in the mystery of suffering
is the heartbeat of Love, Love that will not let go,
here is our hope, that in God we are not separate,
and we sing alleluia,
we sing alleluia
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

Christ Spirit, dance through the dullness of humanity
to the music of God, God who has set us free!
You are the pulse of the new creations energy;
with a great alleluia,
a great alleluia
we praise the power that made the stone roll away.  Shirley Erena Murray

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 the light and beauty of day
All  We give thanks in awe and wonder.
In the dark and stillness of night
All  We dream of healing and hope.  (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 the Abba/Lord's Prayer, and in your original language, as appropriate

All  Breath of our every fibre,
Flowing in and beyond the stars,
May we rejoice in your ever-renewing life.

May your love flourish,
May your peace be known,
        in all beings and becomings.

Sustain us in what we need.
Transform the suffering we inflict,
        as we transform the suffering we endure.
Free us from all that crushes joy,
        and keep us from unbearable pain.

Let your way be our journey,
        your truth our story,
        and you life our coming home,
        now and always. (Josephine McDonnell Inkpin/fb)

OR

A version put to music and sung to a traditional tune…
“Earth-Maker, Source of the World and our Wisdom” (Tune: 11.10.11.10. ‘Stewardship’ or Was Lebet’)        105 RP
Earth-maker, source of the world and our wisdom,
lover and carer, forever the same.
Bread for our sustenance, all we have needed,
you offer freely, we worship your name.

Pain-bearer, holding the fragile and faulted,
loving the broken and tending the frail;
bringing forgiveness and grace for our mending,
you are the heaven where love will not fail.

Life-giver, offering justice and mercy,
needing your presence we come at your call;
hallow your name through the whole of creation,
you reign in glory for ever and all! (Andrew Pratt. © Copyright 2006 Stainer & Bell)
Note: Jim Cotter’s version of the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ published in ‘Prayer at Night’ (Cairns Publications,) inspired this Hymn

CELEBRATING

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY IN THE TRADITION OF THE MEAL
Offerings

Presentation
In praise and gladness lift your voices.
In praise and gladness lift your eyes.
In praise and gladness lift your hearts.
Worship God, Ground and Source of Life, in thankfulness (APowell/cnc)

OR

Invitation
(Late March to June)

In faith and love, gathered in this place,
we celebrate the brightness of community
and the season of Autumn called 'Gwangal Moronn’ (Season of Honey Bees)
by the Djab Wurrung and Jardwidjarli People.

Thanksgiving
God is the heart of life.
All  And we are the heartbeat.
May our hearts be filled
with thanks and praise and songs of joy.
All  We rejoice in the miracle of life
and delight in our participation.  (Sherri Weinberg)

We give thanks for the invitation to be at this table,
for here we are shown our lives...

The daily bread of our work and care,
the wine of delight, pressed from the fruits of our creativity
and our brokenness, with all its pain and self-knowledge.

We celebrate the life that is ours
for we know we are precious in God’s sight.

We celebrate the life on the one called Jesus,
pattern of reality for us:
life that is love revealed
love given and received
love in action.

Therefore, with all your lovers throughout the ages we praise you saying:
All  Holy, holy, holy, resurrecting God,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
All  Hosanna in the highest.

Bread and White Wine
We give thanks for the Spirit of New Life active in our lives
as it was in the life of Jesus.

At this gathering in this sacred place
we take bread as Jesus took bread,
and we remember as Jesus remembered,
the constant presence
of the Spirit of Life and Love.

We break and share this bread
as Jesus broke and shared it.
(Break bread)

All  We share it as our pledge of openness to the Spirit in our midst,
and in acknowledgement of our eternal connectedness 
with the Spirit of Life.

We take wine and pour it as Jesus poured it.
(White wine poured)

We drink as Jesus invited his friends to drink,
mindful of a relationship of love and trust
between ourselves and the Spirit of Life,
All  believing as Jesus believed, 
that beyond pain and darkness and death,
life in the Spirit continues in ways beyond our imaginging. (Adapt. Michael Morwood).

Silence

Communion
The gifts of God for the people of God.
The Bread and white Wine are served as people gather in one large circle around the worship space

SCATTERING

Hymn/Song  People stand as they are able, to sing
"We Shall Go Out With Hope Of Resurrection" ( #809 Meth. Hymn Book)
We shall go out with hope of resurrection.
We shall go out from strength to strength go on.
We shall go out and tell our stories boldly,
Tales of love that will not let us go.
We'll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted.
We'll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed.
We'll weave a cloth of all the world united
Within the vision of a Christ who sets us free.

OR

“In the Sprouting of the Seed”  (Tune: ‘Vitality’)                                                               31(v1-6) BL
In the sprout of the seed,
In the fruiting of the flow’r
We celebrate new life,
And live the Easter faith.

In our nurture of the earth,
In our love of sea and sky
We celebrate new life,
And live the Easter faith.

In the wonder of a birth,
In the laughter of a child,
We celebrate new life,
And live the Easter faith.

In the richness of the poor,
In the freedom of the bound,
We celebrate new life 
And live the Easter faith. 

In the dawning of new hope,
In the empow’rment for the weak,
We celebrate new life 
And live the Easter faith. 

In the owning of our worth,
In the caring of ourselves,
We celebrate new life 
And live the Easter faith.  

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

And now may we go forth
in the certainty of faith,
in the knowledge of love,
and in the vision of hope.
All  And in our going, may we be blessed.

Words of Blessing
Go out from this place to your daily journey through life.

Fashion relationships of inclusion and reconciliation,
and a life-style that loves and treats people
and the earth gently.

Remember always we are members of the body of Christ.
And may the Holy One surprise you on the way.
All  Amen. May it be so!

Hymn/Song  (Cont). "We Shall Go Out With Hope Of Resurrection" (Tune: #809 Meth. Hymn Book)
We'll give a voice to those who have not spoken.
We'll find a word for those whose lips are sealed.
We'll make the tunes for those who sing no longer,
Vibrating love alive in every heart.
We'll share our joy with those who still are weeping.
Chant hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
We'll leap and dance the resurrection story
Including all within the circles of our love.  June Boyce-Tillman
The people sit

OR

“In the Sprouting of the Seed”  (Tune: ‘Vitality’)                                                            31(v7-11) BL
Through the weeping that brings health, 
Through the vision that inspires, 
We celebrate new life 
And live the Easter faith. 

In the linking with the past, 
In the presence of the dead, 
We celebrate new life 
And live the Easter faith. 

In our joining life's great dance, 
With God's lightness and God's fun, 
We celebrate new life 
And live the Easter faith.

In the passion of Christ's love, 
In the stillness of Christ's peace, 
We celebrate new life 
And live the Easter faith.  

In Christ's rising from the dead, 
In his bursting from the tomb, 
We celebrate new life 
And live the Easter faith.   (William L Wallace/Boundless Life) 
From the author: Please choose which verses are appropriate for the occasion; but usually including verse 11 

'This Week' at (NN)
Notices
Birthdays and anniversaries
Significant events
Journey candles

Music

Fellowship
Morning tea is now served.
You are invited to share in this time of fellowship

You are invited to keep this copy of the liturgy and take it home with you
to share with another member of your family, or with a friend

Please include any reproduction of hymns/songs for local church use
on your Music Licence returns, as appropriate

Some of the Resources used in Shaping this Liturgy:
(AA) Alleluia Aotearoa. Hymns and Songs for all Churches. Palmerston North. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust.
Duncan, G. (ed). Seeing Christ in Others. An Anthology for Worship, Mediation and Mission. Norwich. The Canterbury Press, 1998.
Duncan, G. (ed). Entertaining Angels. A Worship Anthology on Sharing Christ’s Hospitality. Norwich. The Canterbury Press, 2005.
Holy Bible. NRSV. Nashville. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. 
(HCL) Hymns for the Celebration of Life. Boston: Beacon Press, 1964.
Inclusive Readings. Year B. Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation, 2005.
Morwood, M. Praying a New Story. Richmond. Spectrum Publications, 2003.
Murray, S. E. A Place at the Table. New Hymns written between 2009 and 2013. Carol Stream: Hope Publishing, 2013.
McCracken, J. (ed). Celebrating the New Church. Liturgical Resources for Today. Blackburn. HarperCollins, 1998.
Patton, K. Services and Songs for the Celebration of Life. Boston: Beacon Press, 1967.
(RP) Pratt, A. Reclaiming Praise. Hymns from a Spiritual Journey. London. Stainer & Bell Ltd, 2006.
Prewer, B. D. More Australian Psalms. Adelaide. OpenBook Publishers, 1996
Sanguin, B. If Darwin Prayer. Prayers for Evolutionary Mystics. Canada: Vancouver. ESC/Bruce Sanguin, 2010.
(TiS) Together in Song. Australian Hymn Book 2. Sydney. HarperCollins Religious, 1999.
Vosper, G. With or Without God. Why the Way we Live is more important that What we Believe. Canada: Toronto. HarperCollins, 2008.

Web sites/Other:
"We Shall Go Out With Hope...". Stainer & Bell Ltd. Web site: hymns.uk.com
Sherri Weinberg. 2005. St Paul's Presbyterian Church. NZ: Devonport.
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.