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
“...in the end the universe can only be explained in terms of celebration.
It is all an exuberant expression of existence itself”
9 October 2022. Pentecost 18C. (Green).
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 leaders,
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).
(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
Come into this place, where the ordinary is sanctified,
the human is celebrated,
the compassionate is expected.
Come into this place.
Together we make it a holy place
with our every act of worship.
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.
Lighting of the Community Candle
The Community Candle is lit
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
"Bring Many Names" (Tune: ‘Westchase', 9.10.11.9) 182(v1-3) TiS
Bring many names, beautiful and good,
celebrate in parable and story,
holiness in glory, living, loving God
Hail and Hosanna!
Bring many names.
Strong mother God, working night and day,
planning all the wonders of creation,
setting each equation, genius at play:
Hail and Hosanna,
strong mother God!
Warm father God, hugging every child,
feeling all the strain of human living
caring and forgiving, till we're reconciled:
Hail and Hosanna,
warm father God!
OR
“Small Majesties” (Tune: ‘Devotion’, LM) 67 SSCL
Their vesture is the song we sing,
Of ant and worm, of [folk] and flower,
The splendor of each living thing,
Rich in life’s symmetry and power.
A twig and leaf, a stone and bird,
Small majesties of all our days.
A face, a song, a hand. a word,
These are the meaning of our praise.
The universe has majesty
That bears no wherewithal to size —
The spiral of a galaxy
Or single atom can apprize.
For wonder is the mother’s dress,
And miracle her native form,
Our senses founts of happiness,
And suns of beauty keep us warm. (Kenneth Patton)
Remain standing
Opening Sentences
In our gathering together let us ponder God,
recognise God's wonders and signs.
All The blowing wind, the rising and setting sun,
the fruiting trees and drying grasses.
In the beginning, in their ending,
they give God their praise.
All God's word is in all creation,
visible and invisible. (PPinsent/adapted-ml)
Words of Awareness
In the centre of the whirlwind lies an eye.
Still.
Open.
Calm.
Before we come into the world,
it is though we live in that centre -
no worries,
no storms,
only peace.
As we find our way in life,
even in the midst of chaos,
may we remember that centre
and, as the need arises,
and it must,
may we hold
to the calm, open, stillness,
knowing it is home.
As those who walk the winds, we journey on (Gretta Vosper/wab).
OR
We pray:
Source of Life, inspire in us a true longing for holiness,
so we can sense you
in the depths of our being.
May it be so.
Hymn/Song "Bring Many Names" (Tune: Westchase, 9.10.11.9) 182 (v4-6) TiS
Old, aching God, grey with endless care,
calmly piercing evil's new disguises,
glad of good surprises, wiser than despair:
Hail and Hosanna,
old, aching God!
Young, growing God, eager, on the move,
seeing all, and fretting at our blindness,
crying out for justice, giving all you have:
Hail and Hosanna,
young, growing God!
Great, living God, never fully known,
joyful darkness far beyond our seeing,
closer yet than breathing, everlasting home:
Hail and Hosanna,
great, living God! (Brian Wren)
OR
“The Earth is Our Cradle” 14 OHV
The earth is our cradle, our ground and our home.
The sky is our blanket, protective and warm.
The stars are our ancestors, ancient and bright,
their glow is a glimpse of our life’s burning light.
The creatures of land, the swimmers of sea,
the birds of the air, the green plants and trees:
They’re all of our siblings with equal share
in Earth as our home and duty to care.
Our ancient atoms arranged and reformed,
connect us and bind us with the stuff of the stars,
When all is over, our substance returned
to our elements birth-place, our atom’s next turn. (Christopher New)
The people sit after the hymn
Welcome
In your own words
A warm welcome is extended to all.
Especially those who may be joining us for a first time.
Your presence enriches this gathering and contributes to
the creative evolution of community.
Thanks for the gift of you! (Central United, Moncton, Canada)
Refer to printed liturgy.
Fellowship hour following the Gathering
Those visiting, please sign our Visitors book.
Reflection
“God”
By John Hebenton.
Quiet vibration agitating the cosmos
superstring on which all has its being
embracing vast energy fields that
span universes
remembers all that has been
eternal anamnesis
Infinite possibility
In all that is known
all that can be known
Beyond all that is known
all that can be known
Is God
Discovered in daily life
divine background print
opening eyes
opening minds
opening hearts
inviting the journey deeper
into life
into life in God
Gentle still point
Silent place of knowing
In all that is imagined
all that might be imagined
Beyond all that is imagined
all that might be imagined
Is God
In my imagination
God dreams a world
full of justice
overflowing in peace
where self consuming anger and hate
is buried beneath ringing laughter
children at play
bellies full
safely cocooned in love
given a place now
and for the future
In all that is fervently hoped for
all that might be hoped for
Beyond all that is desperately hoped for
all that might be hoped for
Is God
Music of Celebration
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 this time of silence may we move from busy-ness to quietness...
(Silence)
Music of Meditation
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)
• “Beatitudes of a Still-Seeking Christian”
By Kate Compston. A World of Blessing/75-75
Blessed are those who ask difficult questions:
they are honouring their God-given brains.
Blessed are those who don’t have glib answers:
they offer a refreshing change.
Blessed are those who are not afraid to say
‘I do not know for sure’ or ‘I could be wrong’:
their integrity will be rewarded.
Blessed are those who do not judge others
by their sexual orientation, gender or beliefs:
God will cherish their compassion.
Blessed are those who respect different ways of praising God:
gifts will be given to them.
Blessed are those whose coming to faith was gentle
and unspectacular:
they are good to be with.
Blessed are those who listen quietly to others’ hurts:
they will be known as sensitive friends.
Blessed are you when you are awed by the Mystery of God,
can find few words to describe your highest experiences,
and so love your neighbour that you can be supportively alongside others
while they take different paths from yours.
Some may tell you that you are not a proper Christian,
but you will be on the way to wholeness as a human being.
• Luke 17:11-19 (Inclusive Text)
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
As Jesus entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him.
They stood some way off and called,
'Jesus! Take pity on us.'
When Jesus saw them he said,
'Go and show yourselves to the priests.'
Now as they were going away they were cleansed.
One of them, realising what had happened,
came back praising God in a loud voice.
The healed person fell down at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
This one was a Samaritan.
This made Jesus say,
'Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they?
It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God,
except this foreigner.'
And Jesus said,
'Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.'
Contemporary Exploration
Silence for Personal Reflection
An Affirmation of Faith (Optional)
In response to the word reflected on,
let us stand and join together in an affirmation of faith.
The people stand as they are able
“The Womb of Stars”
v1 The womb of stars embraces us;
remnants of their fiery furnaces
pulse through our veins.
All We are of the stars,
the dust of explosions
cast across space.
v2 We are of the earth:
we breathe and live in the breath
of ancient plants and beasts.
All Their cells nourish the soil;
we build our communities
on their harvest of gifts.
v1 Our fingers trace the curves carved
in clay and stone
by forebears unknown to us.
All We are a part
of the great circle of humanity
gathered around the fire, the
hearth, the altar.
v2 We gather anew this day
to celebrate our common heritage.
All May we recall in gratitude
all that has given us birth. (Joy Atkinson. No. 445, SLT)
Sharing 'The Peace'
Let us take a moment to celebrate each other.
May a heart of peace rest with you.
All And also with you. (David Galston/q)
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
“Love is a Verb” (Music: www.williamflandersmusic.com/)
Don’t count on love to come flying in your window.
Don’t count on love to mysteriously appear,
Born from above as an answer to your troubles,
Filling your heart with intentions most sincere.
Refrain:
Love isn’t there, some possession bought or found.
Love is no thing, nothing good to have around.
Yet people, at times, can be loving in their actions.
Love is a verb, not a noun.
Love as a noun may be kind and may be patient,
But love as a noun always tends to be unreal.
When love becomes loving, then real things start to happen,
And love is received as a fact, not an ideal.
Refrain:
Not boastful nor rude, never selfish, slow to anger,
Is love the abstraction, a virtue some would praise.
But living here and now calls for down to earth expression,
And love can’t expect to be approved in all its ways. (William Flanders).
Refrain:
AFFIRMING
Offerings
Presentation
May we find a meaning in life, a purpose, a belonging.
And thus find pleasure in receiving from life
and satisfaction in enriching life.
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)
Reflections and Prayers
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:
We receive the world that is.
All Its presence is our abundance.
We welcome our companions of life.
All Their fellowship is our sustenance
and our delight. (Kenneth Patton/sscl)
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:
You are invited to pray in the spirit of the Abba/Lord's Prayer, and in your original language, as that is appropriate
All Most compassionate Life-giver,
may we honour and praise you:
may we work with you to establish
your new order of justice, peace and love.
Give us what we need for growth,
and help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgiveness.
Strengthen us in the time of testing,
that we may resist all evil.
For all the tenderness, strength and love are yours,
now and forever. Amen. (William L Wallace)
PARTING
Hymn/Song The people stand as they are able, to sing
“We Laugh, We Cry” (Tune: ‘Credo’, Irreg.) 354(v1-3) SLT
We laugh, we cry, we live, we die;
we dance, we sing our song.
We need to feel there’s something here
to which we can belong.
We need to feel the freedom
just to have some time alone.
But most of all we need close friends
we can call our very own.
And we believe in life,
and in the strength of love;
and we have found a need to be together.
We have our hearts to give,
we have our thoughts to receive;
and we believe that sharing is an answer.
A child is born among us and
we feel a special glow.
We see time’s endless journey
as we watch the baby grow.
We thrill to hear
imagination freely running wild.
We dedicate our minds and hearts
To the spirit of this child.
And we believe in life,
and in the strength of love;
and we have found a time to be together.
And with the grace of age,
we share the wonder of youth;
and we believe that growing is an answer.
Our lives are full of wonder and
our time is vey brief.
The death of one among us
fills us all with pain and grief.
But as we live, so shall we die
and when our lives are done
the memories we shared with friends,
they will linger on and on.
And we believe in life,
and in the strength of love;
and we have found a place to be together.
We have the right to grow,
we have the gift to believe;
that peace within our living is an answer.
Remain standing
Parting Words
As we prepare to leave this sacred space where we have worshipped together,
let us return to our work enlivened and renewed...
The Community Candle is extinguished
In our lives, may we know the holy meaning,
the mystery that breaks into it every moment.
All May we live at peace with our world
and at peace with ourselves.
Words of Blessing
We leave blessed by our connections
to one another, to the spirit of life.
Walk lightly that you see the life that is below your feet.
Spread your arms as if you had wings
and could dance through the air.
Feel the joy of the breath in your lungs
and the fire in your heart.
Live to love and be a blessing on this earth. (Susan Karlson)
All Amen! May it be so!
Hymn/Song (Cont) “We Laugh, We Cry” (Tune: ‘Credo’, Irreg.) 354(v4) SLT
We seek elusive answers to
the questions of this life.
We seek to put an end to
all the waste of human strife.
We search for truth,
equality, and blessed peace of mind.
And, then we come together here,
to make sense of what we find.
And we believe in life,
and in the strength of love;
and we have found a joy being together.
And in our search for peace,
maybe we’ll finally see;
even to question, truly, is an answer. (Shelly J Denham)
The people sit after the hymn
'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:
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.
Burgess, R. A Book of Blessings. Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications, 2001.
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, 2013.
McEwan, D. et al. (ed). Making Liturgy. Creating Rituals for Worship and Life. Norwich. The Canterbury Press, 2001.
McRae-McMahon, D. In This Hour. Liturgies for Pausing. Thornbury. DesBooks, 2001.
(OHV) New, C. Our Highest Values: A Collection of Songs for an Expansive Spirituality. Edmonton. Southminster-Steinhauer United Church, 2015. (chris@smsuc.com)
(SSCL) Patton, K. Services and Songs for the Celebration of Life. Boston. Beacon Press, 1967.
(SLT) Singing the Living Tradition. Boston. UUA, 1993.
(TiS) Together in Song. Australian Hymn Book 2. Sydney. HarperCollins Religious, 1999.
Vosper, G. We All Breathe. Poems and Prayers. Toronto. PostLurgical Resources, 2012.
Web sites/Other:
Hebenton, Karlson. UUA Worship Web. Boston. UUA. <www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
William Flanders. "Love is a Verb"