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”

16 October 2022.  Pentecost 19C. (Green)
Celebrating Community in the Tradition of the Meal

Acknowledgement of Country/First Peoples
(An act towards reconciliation)

For thousands of years Indigenous people have walked
in this land, on their own country.
Their relationship with the land is at the centre of their lives.

We acknowledge the (NN) People of the (NN) Nation, past, present, and emerging 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).

May we honour one another and honour life itself.

(NN) is a safe place for all people to worship regardless of
race, creed, age, cultural background or sexual orientation

GATHERING

Rich and Striking Visuals
          “The function of beauty… is to make us aware of a reality which is richer and deeper
          and more marvellous than anything we can dream or conceive.” (Henry N. Wieman)
          Artwork OR Floral/Symbols display (cloths, candles, stones, wood, leaves, flowers, earth, water) OR projection of Film/Video 

Gathering Music

Entry into the Celebration
The gong is sounded three times

Come into this place of celebration.
Come in bringing all of who you are.

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
“People are God’s language” (Tune: ‘Ellers’, 10.10.10.10. 301 RCH)                                    71 SNS2
People are language through whom God can speak;
Heard by the list'ners, found by those who seek;
Heard in a whisper, never in a roar;
Heard in compassion, not through formal law.

People are language through whom God can care
With words of comfort when we see despair;
Spoken in kindness, yet with certainty;
Heard with delight when calming misery.

People are language through whom God can plead
For peace and mercy, for the ones in need;
Spoken in strength, with poise and dignity,
Calling for justice and for liberty.

Sharing of love with acts of gentleness,
Sharing the load with deeds of thoughtfulness,
We can ensure the message can be heard;
For we are language of God's living word.  (George Stuart)
Remain standing

Opening Sentences
Let us come together in the presence of God
and in the presence of each other.

All God is here.  We are here, so let us celebrate!

Words of Awareness
It used to be that when I would wake in the morning
I could with confidence say, 'What am 'I' going to do?’
That was before the seed cracked open.

Now I am certain:
there are two of us housed in this body,
doing the shopping together in the market
and tickling each other
while fixing the evening's food.

Now when I awake
all the internal instruments play the same music:
'God, what love-mischief can 'we’ do
for the world today!'  (Hafiz/ormw)

OR

We pray:
Steadfast God, you visit us in our aloneness
but we express you best in our togetherness.

Empower us to the upbuilding of that quality of fellowship
which is a true expression of your presentness.
May it be so.

Hymn/Song  “We Are Many”  (Tune: ‘Hamilton’)                                                          67 FFS
We are many, we are one,
and the work of Christ is done
when we learn to live in true community,
as the stars that fill the night,
as a flock of birds in flight,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the branches of a tree,
as the waves upon the sea,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.

All division is made whole
when we honour every soul,
find the life of God in every you and me,
as the fingers of a hand,
as the grains that form the sand,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the threads upon a loom,
as a field of flowers in bloom,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.

We will join creation's song,
make a world where all belong,
build as one in peace and loving harmony,
as the voices of a choir,
as the flames within a fire,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the snowflakes in the snow,
as the colours of a bow,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.  Colin Gibson
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
“We are a Void”
By Kenneth Patton. Service & Songs for the Celebration of Life/103.

Are you afraid of the void, the empty future, your own undefined face?
Do you want it spelled out, written in prose?
Do you want tomorrow filled in, neat and chinked, no crevice
for the unannounced wind to blow in?

We are sorry, but that is not the way things are.
None of us has answers, certainties, definitions for ourselves.
How can we give them to you?

The question is not whether you want the void,
the unfulfilled,
the gap of time and becoming
that founts before you.
You will get it whether you want it or not.
The question is, what are you to do with it…?

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)

May the colours, flowers, stars, breezes,
warm days and glimmering nights
be our spring-time gift this day

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 open ourselves to the seeds of wisdom

that lies dormant in this/these reading/s.
All And may our minds be fertile soil

in which it/they may grow strong and true.  (Gretta Vosper/ab)

• “Science and Mystery”  No. 55
By Dennis McCarty. Thoughts from a Gentle Atheist/36

We are not separate from the wild things of the earth,
Nor from natural patterns that drive all.
We are part of an immense interchange:
Predator-prey, cause-and-effect,
At once wonderful, terrible, and profound.
Yet human beings, from the Book of Genesis on,
Have adopted an attitude of arrogance
Toward the earth.
This costs us dearly,
More with each cycle around the sun.
What we do not yet know can be learned,
And what has been done can yet be undone.
It is upon us to make a beginning.

OR

• ‘Hope Appears’
By Merilyn Tandukar

In the midst of winter, 
When all the world seems grey, 
The trees have lost their leaves, 
The grass is brown and dry, 
Hope appears ...

A small bud encased in its furry envelope, 
A crocus thrusting up in a frosty garden bed,
A nest crazily perched in the high limbs of a tree.
A plover keening as it returns home, 
The warble of a magpie.
Hope appears ...

In the most difficult of times 
Despite the direst predictions 
Against the call of prophets.
The life force continues.
And hope appears again and again, 
True cause for much rejoicing.

• Luke 18:1-8  (Inclusive Text)

Jesus told the disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.
'There was a judge in a certain town,' Jesus said,
'who had neither fear of God nor respect for persons.

‘In the same town there was a widow
who kept coming to the judge and saying,
"I want justice from you against my enemy!"

‘For a long time the judge refused, but at last said,
"Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for persons,
but since she keeps pestering me
I must give this widow her just rights, 
or she will persist in coming and worry me to death."

And Jesus said,
'You notice what the unjust judge has to say?
Now will not God see justice done to the chosen who cry out
day and night even when God delays to help them?

‘I promise you, God will see justice done to them, and done speedily.
But when the Promised One comes,
will any faith be found on earth?'

Contemporary Exploration

Silence for Personal Reflection

CELEBRATING

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

God of all living, we have seen your presence
in the rhythm and surprises of our years.
All  You have accompanied us through all that is past.
We are thankful.

We recognise your closeness in this day.
All  You challenge and encourage us
in each act and decision.
We seek to be courageous.

Now we look to you in the promises
which stretch before us.
All  You meet us with hope and call us to freedom
to live as your new people.
We commit ourselves again, to live as people of faith.  MDurber-adapted/sco

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
“God Who Fills the Universe” (Tune: ‘Francis David’. 77.66.7)                                         37 SLT
God who fills the universe
from the atom to the stars,
make firm my changeful heart
so I may do my part
and bring joy to all the earth.

God who webs the universe
with amazing mysteries,
make glad my fragile soul
so I can see life whole
and bring hope to all the earth.

God who keeps the universe
by the truths of living love,
make strong that love in me
so I can set it free
and bring peace to all the earth.  (Carl G Seaburg)

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:
In this abundant blessing
All  We share the joy.
In this, our time of need,
All  May love abound.  (Gretta Vosper/wwg)

And so we take a flame and light our special Care Candle…
The Care Candle is lit

For ourselves, for those named or remembered, and in solidarity with those
who have not the freedom to express their concern or celebration
for fear of discrimination or condemnation.

In all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful
of the presentness of the sacred among us,
and to see the new possibilities of the now.

The 'Abba' Prayer: (Optional)
You are invited to pray in the spirit of the Abba/Lord's Prayer, and in your original language, as that is appropriate

All  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)

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY IN THE TRADITION OF THE MEAL
Offerings

Presentation
For all the saints and sages who went before us
who have spoken to our hearts
All  We express our thanks.

For all the saints and sages who live beside us
All  We offer our gratitude.

For all the saints and sages who live beyond us
who challenge us to change the world with them
All  We pledge our courage.

Welcome
Welcome to this banqueting table.
This is a table of hospitality, of sharing, and of celebration.

We break bread and pour wine
because these are the gifts that strengthen
our journey together.

Remembering our Common Humanity…
v1  We remember and honour the justice imperative that is the biblical heritage:
justice is not belief but action,
not silence but voice,
not tolerance but compassion.

v2  A banquet reminds us of our common humanity
and our common need for just relationships.
All  Jesus said, “If you love those who love you,
what merit is there in that?
An outlaw can do the same thing.

And if you give only to those who give back to you,
do you really expect congratulations?
Rather, love your enemies, do good,
and lend without expecting anything in return.”

Bread and White Wine
v1  The call to follow justice is easy to issue,
but the resolve to follow justice is difficult to muster.
Together, let us be a community that not only issues the word
but follows the dictate.

v2  May our community be one that holds
the strength of compassion and the resolve to act.
May we be a people who unites our words with our deeds.
All  For the dignity of life and the hope of humanity,
may it be so.

v1  We break bread as an act of solidarity.
We pour wine as an act of sharing.

Welcome to this banquet celebration.
You are invited to participate.  (David Galston/q).
People gather in small groups as the Bread and Wine is shared

PARTING

Hymn/Song  The people stand as they are able, to sing
"Our World is One World" (Tune: 'Chernobyl', 58.86.4)                                             134(v1-2) SLT
Our world is one world
what touches one affects us all:
the seas that wash us round about,
the clouds that cover us,
the rains that fall.

Our world is one world
the thoughts we think affects us all:
the way we build our attitudes,
with love or hate, we make,
a bridge or wall.
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

We receive fragments of holiness, glimpses of eternity,
brief moments of insight.
All  Let us gather them up
for the precious gifts that they are and,
renewed by their grace,
move boldly into the unknown.  Sara Campbell/slt

Words of Blessing
So go now in peace, and celebrate
the presentness of God in your lives.
All  Amen! May it be so!

Hymn/Song  (Cont) “Our World is One World”  (Tune: ‘Chernobyl’, 58.86.4)                          134(v3-4) SLT
Our world is one world
it’s ways of wealth affects us all:
the way we spend, the way we share,
who are the rich or poor,
who stand or fall.

Our world is one world
just like a ship that bears us all:
where fear and greed make many holes,
but where our hearts can hear,
a different call.  (Cecily Taylor)
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.
Duncan, G. (ed). Seeing Christ in Others. An Anthology for Worship, Mediation and Mission. Norwich. The Canterbury Press, 1998.
(FFS) Faith Forever Singing. Songs for a New Day. Raumati. New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, 2000.
Fox, M. One River, Many Wells. Wisdom Springing From Global Faiths. New York. Tarcher/Penguin Publishing, 2000. 
Inclusive Readings. Year C. Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation, 2013.
Iona Community. Iona Abbey Worship Book. Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications, 2001.
McCarty, D. Thoughts from a Gentle Atheist. Religious Readings for the Skeptical. USA. Dennis McCarty, 2019
Patton, K. Services and Songs for the Celebration of Life. Boston. Beacon Press, 1967.
(SLT) Singing the Living Tradition. Boston. UUA, 1993.
(SNS2) Stuart, G. Singing a New Song. Traditional Hymn Tunes with New Century Lyrics. Volume 2. NSW. Toronto. George Stuart, 2009.

Web sites/Other:
UUA Worship Web. Boston. UUA.  <www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
David Galston. Quest Learning Centre for Religious Literacy. <http://www.questcentre.ca/>
The Abba Prayer. William L Wallace. Direct from the author.
’Hope Appears’. Merilyn Tandukar. Used with permission of the author.