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”
3 November 2024. Pentecost 24B. (Green/White).
All Saint’s Day
OR
Grand Parents Day
Celebrating Community: Flower Communion
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 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
Let there be joy in our coming together this morning.
Let there be silence for the voice within us and beyond us.
Let there be joy in our coming together. (Adapt.Carl Seaburg)
Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.
Lighting of the Community Candle
The 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
“Nature’s Moods” (Tune: ‘Moscow’, 664.6664) 99 SNS
Nature won’t be subdued.
Has more than just one mood;
Can cause us fear.
Earthquakes and violent storms,
Tempest in all its forms,
Tornado that deforms,
There’re so severe.
Fire and floods destroy;
Treat buildings like a toy.
Such is their force.
They always devastate;
Leave people desolate;
They can annihilate
All in their course.
Why should these things be so?
Has nature turned to foe?
We’re in despair.
We ask the question, “Why?”
No answers satisfy;
We stagger and we cry;
“It’s just not fair!”
Some blame catastrophe
On God’s activity,
As if it’s planned.
But nature’s frantic deeds
Do not serve human needs;
Amoral nature heeds
No such demand.
Standing by those on pain,
Trying to ease the strain,
Gloom is reversed.
Our spirits still survives.
And human hope revives.
When love’s support arrives,
God is immersed. (George Stuart)
OR
A Hymn suitable for the Southern Hemisphere
"The Spring Has Come" 140 AA
The spring has come,
let all the church be part of it!
The world has changed,
and God is at the heart of it!
New light, new day,
new colour after winter grey.
New light, new day,
the spring has come,
let all the church be part of it!
The sun is warm,
let all God's children play in it!
The world expands,
let's spread the gospel way in it!
New leaf, new thrust,
new greening for the love of Christ.
New leaf, new thrust,
the sun is warm,
let all God's children play in it!
The spring has come,
new people are the flowers of it!
Through wind and rain,
new life is in the showers of it!
New bud, new shoot,
new hope will bear the Spirit's fruit.
New bud, new shoot,
the spring has come,
new people are the flowers of it! Shirley Erena Murray
Remain standing
Opening Sentences
Through this celebration and worship,
we leave for a time the daily sequence of events,
to examine life in its eternal dimensions and consequences:
All asking questions about our values
our directions
our goals, and
our relationships.
Let us spend this time in the presentness
of the Sacred One - God.
All Praise be for this gathered community
in this sacred place, for all people.
Words of Awareness
It is good to be alive!
To share life with each other
in this wonder-filled and evolving universe.
We are most grateful.
May wisdom dawn in us
so we may see all things in clarity.
OR
We pray:
Creating God, extend our vision to perceive
that this is your world.
You are in it.
You pervade it.
You enfold it.
It is immersed in you.
Open our eyes to see in the depth of reality,
your grace
your goodness
your glory.
To see that we dwell in you.
May it be so.
If celebrating All Saints Day
Hymn/Song “For All The Ways” (Tune: ‘Sine Nomine’ 10.10.10.A)
For all the ways we help each other grow
As we share stories, moments high and low
The face of Christ among us now will show
We sing allelujia, allelujia.
For all the people that our church holds dear
For every precious memory made here
For those we serve in love, both far and near
We sing allelujia, allelujia.
For times when silence is the truest word
Or when the prophet's thund'ring voice is heard
For tears and laughter that our church has stirred
We sing allelujia, allelujia.
In all our struggles, God will lead us through
And give us strength to do what we must do
To gain the peace and justice we pursue
We sing allelujia, allelujia. (Jim Burklo)
OR
“World Without End” (Tune: ‘Slane1’, Irreg.)
Praise to the Lord for the joys of the earth:
Cycles of seasons and reason and birth,
Contrasts in outlook and landscape and need,
Challenge of famine, pollution and greed.
Praise to the Lord for the progress of life:
Cradle and grave, bond of husband and wife,
Pain of youth growing and wrinkling of age,
Questions in step with experience and stage.
Praise to the Lord for this care of our kind:
Faith for the faithless and sight for the blind,
Healing, acceptance, disturbance and change,
All the emotions through which our lives range.
Praise to the Lord for the people we meet,
Safe in our homes or at risk in the street:
Kiss of a lover and friendship’s embrace,
Smile of a stranger and words full of grace.
Praise to the Lord for the carpenter’s son,
Dovetailing worship and work into one:
Tradesman and teacher and vagrant and friend,
Source of all life in this world without end. © Iona Community
The people sit
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
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
Come apart from the busyness of family and work,
and dwell in the presence of Creativity God
who is our source of being.
(Silence)
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: Even as we seek understanding, our minds,
too often, shelter us from the realities we might uncover.
All May we have the courage to hear and hold truths
found within these words. (Gretta Vosper/ab)
“Songbird”
(For Robin)
By Robert Charles Howard. Unity Tree/81
Robin hums as she tends her garden
while birds perch all around
waiting for rustling seeds
to fill the slender columns.
Humming birds hover
to sip sweet nectar mixed for them alone.
On concert nights her voice takes flight.
and fills the hall with her radiant soul.
On quiet mornings
graphite joins with paper
and a flower's form and meaning
are captured by her vision.
A friend fallen ill or reeling from loss
receives her gift of comfort words
and a card or meal soon follows.
Grandchildren rush to greet her
and happily fill her arms.
At night they cloak themselves
in love quilts sewn by Grandma's hands.
If you want to learn how love abides
or long to know its fullness
follow my Robin for a day
Her gift is in the gifting,
• Mark 12:28-34 (Inclusive Text)
One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question,
'Which is the first of all the commandments?'
Jesus replied,
'This is the first:
Listen Israel, Our God is the One God,
and you must love your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind
and with all your strength.
'The second is this:
You must love your neighbour as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.
The scribe said to Jesus,
'Well spoken, teacher; what you have said is true:
that God is one and there is no other.
'To love with all your heart, with all your understanding
and strength and to love your neighbour as yourself,
this is far more important than any
holocaust or sacrifice.'
Jesus, seeing how wisely the scribe had spoken, said,
'You are not far from the reign of God.'
And after that no one dared to question Jesus any more.
Contemporary Exploration
Silence for Personal Reflection
AFFIRMING
Litany: For All the Saints… (Optional)
The people stand as they are able
Through the ages and in many places,
saints of God have witnessed in God's name;
All through the ages, prophets, poets, martyrs, sages,
have witnessed in God's name.
We come together in the cloud of witnesses
as one communion;
All we raise our voices to God, the Source of Life.
We bless the earthly memories
of those who now shine in God's glory
All and join the whole company on earth and in heaven
singing unending praise...
“Doxology” (Tune: ‘Tallis’ Canon’, LM) 381 SLT
From all that dwell below the skies;
let songs of hope and faith arise;
Let peace, good will on earth be sung
through every land, by every tongue. (Composite)
We celebrate the presence of the church in (NN) in our lives,
All which is real when it stands open
to the life of the city,
and bears witness to the love and justice of God.
OR
“Let Us Now Praise Noble Women”
By Janet Crawford. Celebrating Women/64-66
Let jus now praise noble women
and our mothers who lived before us,
Through whom God’s glory as been shown,
in each successive generation.
v2 Some ruled nations with authority
and were renowned as queens;
others gave counsel by their wisdom
and spoke with prophetic power;
v1 a few were leaders of the people
because of their deep understanding;
their custody of tradition.
v3 Some composed musical tunes
and set forth verses in writing;
v1 others were rich and respected
peacefully keeping their homes.
v2 All these were honoured in their lifetime
and were a glory of their day.
Such women have left a name which is remembered
so that their praises are still sung.
v3 But others have left no memory,
have vanished as though they had never lived.
These are the nameless women of the ages;
the work of their hands is not remembered.
v4 These women planted, picked,
preserved, baked, boiled and brewed;
they washed, cooked, cleaned,
fed, clothed and nursed the world.
v5 A few were barren but most bore
children, children and more children
To carry on the father's name
so his posterity continues forever.
v2 All these were different in their lives,
different and yet the same;
and they died in different ways,
in childbirth, sickness,
fever, madness, ripe old age;
all died.
They are now as though they had never been
and so too are their daughters who followed them.
v1 There are numerous men whose good works have not
been forgotten
whose descendants remember their names
and recall their forefathers with pride,
rejoicing in their heritage.
Their bodies were buried with honour
and their names live on
so that their glory lasts for ever.
v2 Few of our foremothers are so remembered;
most lie forgotten in their graves
until their daughters shall claim their inheritance,
recollecting them with joy and pride.
v5 Now their glory is not blotted out
as we declare their wisdom and proclaim their
praise;
Noble women and nameless ones,
our mothers who lived before us.
(Silence)
Sharing 'The Peace’
Let us take some time to celebrate each other.
May a heart of peace be with you. (David Galston/q)
All And also with you.
You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours
OR
Namaste
Facing the person with right hand on your heart and a slight bow of the head…
The Divine in me honours the Divine in you.
OR
The Light in me recognises the Light in you.
OR
The spirit within me sees the spirit within you.
Hymn/Song The people stand, as they are able, to sing
“Peace Is Generosity” (Tune: ‘Trial’, Swee Hong Lim) 32 PaT
Peace is generosity,
peace is right and duty,
not diminishment of life
but its zest and beauty,
not the silence of the dead
nor the tears of grieving
but dynamic of the word
rich beyond believing.
Peace is not the child of fear
nor what terror reaches,
peace is quick to give and serve
where compassion reaches;
not oppression in return,
grudges unforgiven,
but the good of all for all
and the gift of heaven. (Shirley Erena Murray)
OR
“For Flowers that Bloom About our Feet” (Tune: 'Was Gott Thut’, 88.88.7) 76 SLT
For flowers that bloom about our feet,
for tender grass so fresh and sweet,
for song of bird and hum of bee,
for all things fair we hear or see:
Giver of all, we thank thee.
For blue of stream and blue of sky,
for pleasant shade of branches high,
for fragrant ait and cooling breeze,
for beauty of the blooming trees:
Giver of all, we thank thee.
For this new morning with its light,
for rest and shelter of the night,
for health and food, for love and friends,
for everything your goodness sends:
Giver of all, we thank thee. (Anonymous, 1904)
The people sit
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 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 O God, you love us like a good parent,
and are present in every aspect of our existence
May your nature become known and respected by all
May your joy, peace, wholeness and justice
be the reality for everyone
as we live by the Jesus Way
Give us all that we really need to live every day for you
And forgive us our failures as we forgive others for their failures
Keep us from doing those things which are not of you,
and cause us always to be centred on your love
For you are the true reality in this our now,
and in all our future.
In the Jesus Way we pray. (DSorril)
CELEBRATING
Conversation with the Children
Children gather on the conversation mat
Conversation:
"Somewhere someone:"
The kingdom of love is coming because:
All somewhere someone is kind when others are unkind,
somewhere someone shares with another in need,
somewhere someone refuses to hate, while others hate,
somewhere someone is patient - and waits in love,
somewhere someone returns good for evil,
somewhere someone serves another, in love,
somewhere someone is calm in a storm,
somewhere someone is loving everybody.
Is that someone you? (Binkley & McKeel/jke)
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY: FLOWER COMMUNION
The Flower Communion service had its origins in 1923 when Dr Norbert Capek, a former Baptist and founder of the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia, introduced it to his congregation. This liturgy is shaped by sections of two other modern liturgies, written by Dr David Bumbaugh
Offerings
Presentation
Creating God, the landscape of life and your presence is near:
a daffodil in bloom,
a single green leaf,
the red and green flash of a parrot.
May we too be a people of adventure and life,
grace-filled companions, offering
courage and hope in unexpected places.
Welcome
v1 Enter into this sacred time.
Enter with joyful hearts.
Enter with reverent thoughts.
v2 It has taken long months beneath cold ground
for flowers to prepare their blooming.
It has taken each of us long times of growth,
through sorrow and joy,
to prepare for our living now.
v1 The blooming season is short.
Flowers stay only a brief time.
We are travellers upon the earth:
travellers through all too brief life times.
v2 Therefore let our moments together be bountiful.
And let us rejoice in our unique colours, aromas, and sounds. (Elizabeth Strong/adapted)
Thanksgiving
Have you considered the flowers, the lilies of the fields?
All They spin not, neither do they sew,
yet Solomon, in all his glory
All was not arrayed as one of these.
Say what you will about the economy of life,
flowers are irrefutable proof
of nature’s extravagance.
Flowers do not bloom for us.
They do not care whether or not we see them.
They grow and bloom
because they are full of life.
They are a gift of grace.
They invite us to seek the beauty in each moment.
They encourage us to find fulfilment in life
and the living of it.
As you came into this gathering this morning,
you brought with you a flower,
from your yard,
from along your street,
from a florist,
from your neighbour’s flower bed,
from the basket in the entrance.
From many different sources
these many different flowers have come.
Together on this table they symbolise
the extravagance of nature,
for as various as these flowers are,
they do not begin to exhaust
nature's inventiveness
in creating forms
and colours
and beauty.
And what nature has done for flowers,
nature has done for us.
Bread and White Wine
v1 In all the colours and scents and tastes and sounds
of the world, we see the beauty of the universe.
v2 In this season of spring it is fitting we should celebrate
the renewal of life and hope using
the symbols of bread and wine and flowers.
Time out of mind we have watched
grain buried in the dark soil.
Time out of mind we have watched sprouting seeds
break through the soil, reaching towards the warm sun.
Time out of mind we have watched grain broken,
ground into dust-like flour.
Yet mixed with water and leavening,
it stirs, rises, becomes bread,
the sustainer of our lives.
v1 For longer than we can remember
the fruit of the vine has been our companion.
It’s clustered fruit is harvested
and crushed, and juice is stored and fermented
saved for festive occasions.
We have shared the fruit of the vine
in moments of joy and sorrow,
and to mark momentous turnings. (David Bumbaugh)
Communion
Remembering the tradition surrounding Jesus…
we break this bread and fill this cup.
Bread broken. White Wine poured out
We give thanks
All And seek to live in harmony with all about us.
We give thanks
All And take our place in the human story,
struggling for the unity of humankind.
We give thanks
All And join with all in a quest for justice.
We give thanks
All For all that Jesus, human like us, means to us.
Bread and White Wine served
After Communion
And now we prepare to leave this place.
As you do, you are invited to take one of the flowers.
Take a different one than the flower you brought.
Take it not to keep forever and forever.
Nothing is forever.
Take a flower as a symbol of gratitude
for beauty we did not create,
for joys which come when unexpected.
Take a flower as a symbol of your participation
in the community of this congregation,
in the community of human kind,
in the community of all living things,
in the universal community.
Take a flower as a symbol, that
beauty and grace and joy and love
are not matters of reciprocity.
In this world we cannot earn or deserve
that which is most important.
It comes to us as a gift. (David Bumbaugh/hc))
PARTING
Hymn/Song The people stand, as they are able, to sing
“Blue Planet, Rising, Soaring through the Cosmos” (Tune: ‘Londonderry Air’, 11.10.11.10.11.10.11.12)
Blue planet, rising, soaring through the cosmos,
was lent in trust for us to tend and care
while children, young in wisdom, call in anguish,
for all they see now fills them with despair.
The wonder of the sky has drawn us upwards,
our eyes diverted by the moon and stars,
and as we dream we lose our moral compass,
and in our greed we grasp creation, call it ours.
Time runs away, our life on earth is finite,
young prophets calling, needing us to act
are crying out, lamenting for our planet,
while ‘adults’ sleep, denying fear and fact.
Still others stand, immune, ignore the future,
absolved from fault for all that comes to pass.
When will we grasp the need for urgent action,
see clearly, not net curtained, or through frosted glass?
Remain standing
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
v1 Go in peace.
Live simply, at home in yourself.
Be just in your word, just in deed.
Remember the depth of your own compassion.
v2 Do not forget your power
in the days of your powerlessness.
v3 Do not desire to be wealthier than your peers,
and never stint your hand of charity.
v1 Practice forbearance in all you do.
v2 Speak the truth or speak not.
v3 Take care of your body,
be good to it, it is a good gift.
v4 Crave peace for all peoples in this world,
beginning with yourselves,
All and go as you go with the dream of that peace
set firm in your heart. (Adapt.Michael Belletini)
Words of Blessing
v1 May we be blessed
with saints to tell us stories
with angels to surprise us
with friends along the way.
v2 May we be blessed
with strength and joy and courage
all the length and breadth
of our nights and days.
All Amen! May it be so!
Hymn/Song (Cont).“Blue Planet, Rising, Soaring through the Cosmos” (Tune: ‘Londonderry Air’, 11.10.11.10.11.10.11.12)
While sands of time run down, are gone and finished,
in fear of change we hanker for the past,
but life on earth is threatened by inaction,
as lethargy and greed resist and last.
Good God forgive us for each fault and faction,
unwillingness to change to save this earth.
God give us ears to hear the words of wisdom
that we might save this planet, cradle of our birth.
(Andrew Pratt 29/10/2021 – Responding to Greta Thunberg ahead of and following COP 26)
Words © 2021 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England, http://www.stainer.co.uk.
The people sit
'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. 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.
Howard, R. C. Unity Tree: Collected Poems. Createspace Independent Publishing, 2015
Inclusive Readings. Year B. Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation, 2005.
(PaT) Murray, S. E. A Place at the Table. New Hymns written between 2009 and 2013. Carol Stream: Hope Publishing, 2013.
Seaburg, C. (ed). The Communion Book. Boston. UUMA, 1993.
(SLT) Singing the Living Tradition. Boston. UUA, 1993.
(SNS) Stuart, G. Singing a New Song. Traditional Hymn Tunes with New Century Lyrics. Sydney. CPRT Sydney, 2006.
Vosper, G. With or Without God. Why the Way we Live is More important than What we Believe. Toronto. HarperCollins, 2008.
Vosper, G. Another Breath. Prayers for Celebration and Reflection. Brisbane. The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought Brisbane, 2009/2010.
Ward, H.; J. Wild, & J Morley. (ed). Celebrating Women. New edition. London. SPCK, 1995.
Web sites/Other:
Seaburg, Sorril, Strong, Belletini. UUA Worship Web. Boston. UUA. www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/>
David Galston. Quest Learning Centre for Religious Literacy. http://www.questcentre.ca/
Jim Burklo “For All The Ways” Direct from author
Andrew Pratt. “Blue Planet Rising”. Direct from the author