Join us in person or live-streamed at 10AM or find our recorded service at your convenience. Details on our Worship page. Service words are below.
Prelude: Instrumental
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Song: 414 CP God of the Sparrow
God of the sparrow God of the whale God of the swirling stars How does the creature say Awe How does the creature say Praise God of the earthquake God of the storm God of the trumpet blast How does the creature cry Woe How does the creature cry Save God of the rainbow God of the cross God of the empty grave How does the creature say Grace How does the creature say Thanks God of the hungry God of the sick God of the prodigal How does the creature say Care How does the creature say Life God of the neighbour God of the foe God of the pruning hook How does the creature say Love How does the creature say Peace God of the ages God near at hand God of the loving heart How do your children say Joy How do your children say Home
Gathering Sentences (Rex Hunt Liturgies)
God beyond all names and all images
we worship you in faith
God in the Christ with a human face
we worship you in truth
God who moves, draws, forms and enlightens our life
we worship you in spirit
God in relationship
God the beginning and God the end, you are our God
As we gather in our spaces made sacred by our shared lives and yearnings, may we find new courage, new generosity of spirit, forgiveness given and received and rededication to the higher purposes of our lives. Amen
Collect of the Day
Loving God, we praise you: through your Word and Holy Spirit you created all things. You reveal your salvation in all the world by sending to us Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Through your Holy Spirit you give us a share in your life and love. Fill us with the vision of your glory, that we may always serve and praise you, In the name of the Great Connector—Love itself, Amen.
Children’s Ministry Time
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the book of Genesis 1.1—2.4a
Voice 1
In the beginning when Creator fashioned the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a Holy wind swept over the face of the waters. Then Creator said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And the light was good; and Creator separated the light from the darkness and called the light Day, and the darkness, Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Voice 2
And God said, ‘Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.’ So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
Voice 3
And Yahweh said, ‘Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so. Yahweh called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together, Seas. And it was very, very good. Then Yahweh said, ‘Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.’ And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And the Holy One saw it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
Voice 1
And Creator said, ‘Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.’ And it was so. Creator made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness.
Voice 2
And Yahweh saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
And Yahweh said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.’ So Creator fashioned the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And it was good. Yahweh blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’ And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
Voice 3
And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.’ And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
Voice 1
Then Creator said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ So humankind was born in Creator’s image, in the image of our Creator, we were created; rainbows of colours, women and men.
Voice 2 Yahweh blessed them, and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and nurture it; and have responsibility over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ Yahweh said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so.
Voice 3
God saw all that was created, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished this great work and rested on the seventh day from all the work. Thus the seventh day was blessed and hallowed, because on it God rested from all the work done in fashioning creation and loving it into being.
Living word of God live in our lives today
A Reading from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians 13.11–13
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Living word of God live in our lives today
Gradual Hymn: 560 CP God, Whose Almighty Word
God, whose almighty Word chaos and darkness heard,
and took their flight: hear us, we humbly pray,
and where the gospel-day sheds not its glorious ray, let there be light!
Saviour, who came to bring on your redeeming wing
healing and sight, health to the sick in mind, sight to the inly blind:
now for all human-kind let there be light!
Spirit of truth and love, life-giving, holy Dove, speed on your flight!
Move on the water’s face bearing the lamp of grace,
and in earth’s darkest place let there be light!
Gracious and holy Three, glorious Trinity, wisdom, love, might,
boundless as ocean’s tide rolling in fullest pride:
through the world far and wide let there be light!
The Lord be with you And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew 28.16–20
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Homily: “Your Commonwealth of Peace and Freedom sustain our Hope and come on earth…”
Affirmation of Faith: We Are Not Alone (Uniting in Worship 2)
We are not alone; we live in God's world.
We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus,
the word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God. We are called to be the church: to celebrate God's presence,
to love with respect in Creation.
to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.
We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen
Prayers of Intercession (Dancers and Wayfarers, C. Thorpe)
For all who have not known love, for children who have been neglected, for all who have been abandoned, for all who live with a sense of being unwanted: the certain and the curious.
Silence for prayer
know yourself, held in the heart of God's love
For all who have been taught to feel shame, all who live with a sense of being unworthy, blemished, dirty. for those who have been abused or raped, for those who have been rejected because of their sexuality.
Silence for prayer
know yourself, held in the heart of God's love
For all who feel lonely, isolated or cut off from others, for those living with depression or other mental illness, for all who are becoming housebound through disability or aging.
Silence for prayer
know yourself, held in the heart of God's love
For all who are struggling with illness, and those who care for others, for all who are in chronic pain, or waiting for treatment, for all who are facing the end of their life.
Silence for prayer
know yourself, held in the heart of God's love
For all who have died, all whom we have loved, for those who seemed to have no one to mourn their death, for those who die alone.
Silence for prayer
know yourself, held in the heart of God's love
God of grace, may we all know that we are held in the heart of your love. May we realize that we are cherished and belong, that there is nothing that we need to do to earn our place, but simply to open our eyes, to see the new perspectives and possibilities before us. Give us your deep confidence now, to live from that place of grace and peace, in Christ and through Christ. Amen
The Peace
Offering Hymn: 417 CP Let’s Sing unto the Lord
Let’s sing unto the Lord a hymn of glad rejoicing.
Let’s sing a hymn of love, joining hearts and happy voices.
God made the sky above, the stars, the sun, the oceans.
Their goodness does proclaim the glory of God’s name.
Alleluia, alleluia! Let’s sing unto the Lord. Alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia! Let’s sing unto the Lord. Alleluia!
Let’s sing unto the Lord a hymn of adoration,
express unto the Lord our songs of faith and hope.
Creation’s broad display proclaims the work of grandeur,
the boundless love of one who blesses us with beauty.
Alleluia, alleluia! Let’s sing unto the Lord. Alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia! Let’s sing unto the Lord. Alleluia!
Let’s sing unto the Lord. Alleluia!
Prayer over the Gifts
Living God, receive all we offer you this day. Grant that hearing your word and responding to your Spirit, we may share in your divine life. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
Eucharistic Prayer (Iona Abbey Worship Book, Prayer A page 47 -50 and Page 31ff)
The Invitation
We are here because Jesus has called us–strangers and friends, locals and visitors, believers and doubters.
It is always a mixed company that Jesus gathers and invites to his table where, in bread and wine, he meets us and through him we, who are different, are joined to each other.
So come, not because you understand, but because you are understood.
Come, not because of how you feel, but because God has food for you.
Come, not because you deserve a place, But because Jesus invites you, just as you are.
And so, as one with your people on earth, north and south, east and west,
we join our praise, singing the song of your eternal blessing.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth of your glory are full.
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth of your glory are full.
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.
The Story
This sacrament began on the night of Jesus’ arrest,
when he and his disciples gathered round a table.
Celebrant: During their meal, Jesus took bread and when he had blessed it, he broke it and said,
“This is my body. It is given for you. Do this to remember me.”
Later he took a cup of wine, and when he had blessed it he said, “This cup is the new relationship with God made possible because of my death. Drink it, all of you, to remember me. I shall not share this with you again until I do so in God’s coming kingdom.”
So now we do as Jesus did and commanded us to do. We take this bread and wine, the ordinary things of the world which Christ, in his own way, will make special, and as he said a prayer before sharing we do so too.
So, now send your Spirit among us and upon this bread and wine, that we may taste and see your goodness, be embraced by your love, and be engaged in your service. Amen
Māori Lord’s Prayer
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven,
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe;
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world;
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings;
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trial too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen
The Breaking of the Bread
As Jesus did, so we do. We break this bread. We share this wine.
We believe that he who lived, died and rose again for us will meet us here.
Graciously nourish us, O Christ, so that we who try to follow you may receive food for the journey and be bound in solidarity with all who walk in your way. Amen
Take this bread, share this wine. In this food Christ comes to us with love from God.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God
The Communion
Hymns during Communion: This is My Father’s World The Play of the Godhead
Prayer after Communion
Give thanks for all of God’s goodness: God’s love shall last forever. Generous and faithful God, you have fed us at your table. May the nourishment we have received enable us to enrich the lives of others wherever we may go from here.
Whether the future be dark or bright, the road be smooth or rough, whether our cares be light or heavy, our song be strong or weak, keep our hearts warm and our hands open, our lives ever embraced by your love. Amen
A Franciscan Blessing
May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships,
so that we may live deep within our hearts.
May God bless us with anger against the injustice, oppression and exploitation of people,
so that we may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war
so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them in empowering ways and so turn their pain to joy.
And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world
so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.
Announcements
Closing Hymn: 37 CP We’ll Sing in the Morning
We’ll sing in the morning a song of creation,
of your breath that stirs up the waters to birth;
and here at the fount of Christ’s mercy we join you,
co-heirs of heaven and stewards of your gracious earth.
We’ll sing in the noon-time a song of redemption;
how Naaman was cleansed in the flow of your grace;
how, when we were sick, in our sin you released us
to laugh in health and dance in love before your face.
We’ll sing in the evening a song of your pastures,
of rivers that gladden the city of God;
and when we arrive on the bank of our Jordan,
you’ll help us through its cold by fords your saints have trod.
Words of Dismissal
As we draw this time of worship together to a close having worshiped together in our own places may we feel enlivened and renewed,
and may the wisdom of the spirit that we have received this day show itself in deeds of compassion and acts of love and understanding,
may the fruits of the spirit be apparent in our lives
as we convert them into loving and responsible action and only then will this time be what we want it to be—worship in Spirit, truth and action. Thanks be to God. Alleluia
Postlude: Let There Be Light