Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 1 December 2013

Gather

 

Advent Prologue

In this prologue we were asked to "Listen" for the many indicators of the coming event.

"Listen! Listen to the stirring of the heavens. The stars are gathering, the light shifts, and there is a steady beat, beat, beat across the universe...Listen! Come with me and pick up the beat of God for God is beating out the rhythm of something new."

A very compelling exhortation to be ready for the anniversary of the event that changed the world.

Hymn TIS 272 "Come, thou long - expected Jesus." A prayer that He who is able to free us will do just that.

Opening Prayer

Chris prayed that we would prepare ourselves at this time to 'create a place' to hear God's word of renewal.

Prayer of Confession

Chris prayed on our behalf, acknowledging that despite our knowing fully God's intentions for us, we charge through life doing the very opposite, hurting everyone else and ourselves in the process.

Assurance of Pardon

We were assured that God knows us through and through and not only called us as we are but also pardons us and reshapes us through His love.

Hymn TIS 236 "Jesus' hands were kind hands" A declaration of the good Jesus did and a plea that our hands will be used to work such good too.

Engage

Scripture Readings Isaiah 2:1 - 5; Matthew 24:36 - 44 brought to us by Malcolm.

The Isaiah reading is a prophecy that the time will come when God's presence will be known and many will turn to him, rounding off with a plea that we will "walk in the light of the Lord!"

The Matthew reading echoed this prediction but says it will be a time of judgement and that there will be no warning, so that we should be prepared at all times.

Even without such a dire warning it seems to me that we should always be ready to account for ourselves. Our lives should always be such that we will not be crushed with regret at some time in the future or put in everyday language, that we should always be able to look at ourselves in the mirror each morning.

Proclaiming the Word Chris provided the background for the Isaiah reading at 700 years before the birth of Jesus when the Assyrians were rampaging through the world around them destroying nations. Israel had succumbed and Judah was next. For all who could see what was happening there was nothing to be optimistic about but Isaiah, despite being in the middle of it all, and powerless to do anything about it, saw a vision of hope.

Around us today there are natural disasters, corruption, and crime but it is up to us, the people of God to hold onto hope.

Jesus always was able to bring forth hope in hopeless situations. He healed the sick but more important, gave people spiritual freedom.

The Matthew reading is a reference to the rapture. Chris did not see it as a time of judgement but as something we can hope for.

God is calling us to hope - for Him to bring the world to its fullness. Isaiah's vision was of a world where everything has pulled together.

Think of Jesus' start - his poor beginning - who would have thought that such a child would be the light of the world. Jesus shows us hope and possibility because God is with us. Advent is an opportunity for renewed focus on the hope Jesus would have us have for the world and its people.

Respond

Hymn TIS 323 "Born in the night" Jesus' is born, the one to show us the way.

Commissioning of Elder

A responsive declaration that there are many ways we can serve the community of the church was followed by the

Presentation

An explanation that the Uniting Church provides for the exercise of gifts given by the Holy Spirit and a presentation of those people elected to the ministry of Elder: Ruth Henderson, Beth Howard and Carolyn Baker. This was followed by the minister addressing the newly elected Elders, telling them that the priority of the church is building the congregation in faith and love, leading the congregation to fuller participation in Christ's mission. Then the duties were explained. This was then followed by

The Vows

These encompassed the elders' personal belief and sense of calling; their intention to work within the church and to rely on God's grace in carrying out their duties. To which each answered in the affirmative.

The congregation were then asked for their vow of acceptance and support.

The elders were then commissioned - God of grace, through the Holy Spirit empower your servant for the ministry of elder. Amen. Then at the end of this service:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I declare you to be elders and church councillors of  the Uniting Church in Australia in the Marsden Road Congregation.

Prayers of the people and Offering

Ruth reminded us: "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you." She then prayed for help for us to open any door keeping us from God: help to find a new way forward: help to realise that prayers are not always answered as we expect and it may be that the situation will not change - we may - we may be given strength we did not realise we had. She held up before God all those suffering in any way and those trying to relieve that suffering. She prayed for Chris and Helen at their new church and for those responsible for choosing our new minister as well as the Elders commissioned in the service.

Celebrating Community

Holy Communion

Hymn TIS 514 "Be known to us in breaking bread" A prayer that God will not only be with us during the breaking of bread, but stay with us, our immortal food.

Setting we acknowledged that we were gathered in God's presence.

Thanksgiving A statement of our belief that God has always been and is the creator of all;  still present with us now as we seek to discern His presentness.

Bread and Wine

We were reminded of the institution of this meal at the last supper followed with, "May this gathering of your community of faith be comforted and challenged during this Advent season."

Communion followed after which:

We are one with the mystery and Source and Sustainer of all that exists. We rejoice in our human capacity to wonder and marvel, to appreciate, to rejoice, and to give thanks.

 

Communion Liturgy by Rev Rex Hunt

Some of the resources used in shaping this liturgy:

Iona Community. 2001. Iona abbey worship book.Scotland: Glasgow. Wild Goose Publications.

Lee,B.J. (ed) . 1987 Alternative futures for worship. Vol 3 The eucharist. MIN:Collegeville. The Liturgical press.

Morely,J.1992. All desires known. Expanded edition. Gt.Britain :London.SPCK.

Morwood, M.2003. Praying a new story. VIC: Richmaond. Spectrum Publications.

Seaburg,C. (ed).1993 The communion book. MA:Boston.UUMA

Uniting in Worship. Leader’s Book. 1998. VIC: Melbourne. Uniting Church press.

Withrow, L. 1995. Seasons of prayer. Resources for worship. Gt. Britain:London.SPCK.

 

Go Forth

Hymn TIS 276 "There's a light upon the mountain" a celebration of all that can be.

Blessing Into the waiting time we go, open and ready for the days ahead. Into the listening time we go, attuned and attentive for voices of hope. And into the seeing time we go, alert to the unfolding presence of love.

Now may the grace of the Promised One, the love of God who calls all things into being and abiding friendship of the Holy Spirit, lead, uphold, and strengthen us, now as always.

Hymn TIS 779 "May the feet of God walk with you"  Aubrey Podlich