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Come to church Sunday

Opening drama:

Person One: What is this place?

Person Two: It’s  a tribute  to  the  human  desire  to  create  places  of  sacred  significance.  (Trying to sound knowledgeable) The architecture is a little ambivalent, but I’d say it’s a blend of post modern and art deco styles.

Person One: (Looking very confused) What on earth are you talking about? What’s going on here?

Person Two: (Now  speaking  as  if  explaining  something  obvious  to  a  child)  Well,  it’s  a  large building with lots of chairs, which are now partly filled with people.

Person One: (A tad frustrated) I can see that. But what is it?

Person Two: (Smugly) It’s a church.

Person One: (Gasps) Where God lives? (In a whisper) Shouldn’t we be kneeling or whispering or something?

Person Two: God doesn’t live here – at least not only here.

Person One: (Looking impressed, but uncertain) What? God has a bunch of houses? Like holiday homes and stuff?

Person Two: (Shaking  head  and trying  to  sound  like  a  preacher)  The  Lord  dwelleth  not  in habitations fashioned by the hands of humans.

Person One: Huh?

Person Two: God doesn’t “live” in buildings. God’s presence fills every part of the universe.

Person One: Then, why do you have a church? And why is it called “the house of the Lord”?

Welcome and introduction

Creator of the world, eternal God,

we have come from many places,

and are made welcome,

Jesus, the liberator, who rescues the world from evil, God-with-us,

we have come as we are,

with all our differences,

seeking common ground.

Spirit of unity, go-between God,

we have come on journeys of our own,

to a place where journeys meet.

So here in this place,

let us take time together.

For when paths cross and people gather,

there is much to share and celebrate.

In your name, three-in-one God,

pattern of community. Amen

Song JPHuber  tune Leone 131 bpw

1 O God of earth and space,
of sea and fire and air,
Your providence surrounds us here
and everywhere.

In fruit and grain and tree,
in shelter from the cold,
In cooling breezes, flowing wells,
now as of old

2 Where faithfulness is shown,
where love and truth abound,
Where beauty graces human life,
there you are found.

Inspirer of all thought!
Creative force of art!
The melody on every tongue,
in every heart!

3 Wherever freedom reigns,
where sin is overthrown,
Where justice fused with mercy rules,
there you are known.

Give us the courage clear,
to make the earth a home,
For all to live in harmony,
in Christ’s shalom.

Saying Sorry

God our Father,

we come to you in sorrow for our sins.

For turning away from you,

and ignoring your will for our lives;

Father, forgive us:

Save us and help us

For letting ourselves be drawn away from you

by temptations in the world about us;

Father, forgive us:

Save us and help us

For behaving just as we wish,

without thinking of you;

Father, forgive us:

Save us and help us

For failing you by what we do,

and think and say;

Father, forgive us:

Save us and help us

For living as if we were ashamed

to belong to your Son;

Father, forgive us:

Save us and help us

Forgiveness

My God, our heavenly Father,

who has promised to forgive

all those who sincerely turn to him:

have mercy on us.

May he deliver us from all our sins,

and strengthen us for his service,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Children’s talk

Childrens song © David MacGregor 1995

1 Children, old folk and in-between

Come, come, come as you are

No matter who you are

No matter where you’ve been

Come, come, come as you are.

Jesus, you’re the one we follow

Jesus, you’re the one who forgives

Come and wrap your love around us

You died so we could live

Come, come, come as you are

2. Friends with Jesus in all kinds of weather

Come, come, come as you are

Jesus, we want to know you better

Come, come, come as you are

3. Jesus, you love us like no other

Come, come, come as you are

Accept us like a sister ... brother

Come, come, come as you are

Reading Luke 19 1-10

Talk

song  (based on Lennon McCartney)

1 He’s a most unusual man:                                    

he came to give the blind their sight

and put all evil powers to flight, make darkness light;

He makes the stormy days turn fine

and changes water into wine,

he gives his body as a sign,  he’s Jesus.

Son of Man, Lord Jesus,  died and lives to save us,

he’s the one to follow if  we but dare,

2 He’s a most unusual man:

who makes the crowds all stop and stare,                                   

he teaches people how to care and how to share. 

as rich and poor as they can be,

he came to set the prisoners free,

to give them all their liberty, he’s Jesus.

Son of Man, Lord Jesus,  died and lives to save us,

he’s the one to follow, if we but can,

3 He’s a most unusual man:

Though crucified he rose again;

He calls us all to die to self and live again.

Listen Jesus as we pray:

We will follow in your way,

give our lives to you today, Lord Jesus.

Son of man, Lord Jesus, died and lives to save us,

you’re the one to follow, so now we say:

4 Lord we’ll share your point of view,

leaving all to follow you:

most unusual Lord of all, we love you;

most unusual Lord of all, we love you.

Affirmation of faith

In the patchwork farmland and rolling hills, in the woodlands tinged with red and gold, in tumbling streams and languid meandering rivers,
we see the signs that God is with us.

In our cities of concrete and brick,
In towering architecture and in the homely familiarity of our streets

we see the signs that God is with us.

In the faces of the people we meet,

whom God loves,
The rich and the poor,

the young and the old,

Of every colour and every group

we see the signs that God is with us.

In our brokenness,
there is the hope of wholeness.

In our emptiness, 

there is the hope of fullness.

In our deaths,
 lies the hope of resurrection life.

This is the Word in Christ to us.
The warmth and freshness of the Holy Spirit lives in this place and travels with us. Amen. 

(Adapted/ D McRae-McMahon/eoj)

Solo

1 I dream of a church that
Joins in with God’s laughing
As she rocks in her rapture
Enjoying her art.
She’s glad of her world
In its risking and growing
‘tis the child she has borne
And holds close to her heart.

2 I dream of a church that
Joins in with God’s weeping
As she crouches, weighed
Down by the sorrow she sees.
She cries for the hostile
the cold and no-hoping
For she bears in herself
Our despair and disease.

3 I dream of a church that
Joins in with God’s dancing
As she moves like the wind
And the wave and the fire.
A church that can pick up
Its skirts, pirouetting
With the steps that can signal
God’s deepest desire.

4 I dream of a church that can
Join in God’s loving
As she bends to embrace
the unlovely and lost.
A church that can free
By its sharing and daring
The imprisoned and poor
And then shoulder the cost

5 God, make us a church that
Joins in with your living
As you cherish and challenge
Rein in and release.
A church that is winsome
Impassioned, inspiring
Lioness of your justice
And lamb of your peace.  Kate Compston/altd sung to the tune spanish ladies

Prayers

Offering

Song copyright Bernadette Farrell

1 Longing for light we wait in darkness,

longing for truth, we turn to you.

Make us your own, your holy people,

light for the world to see.

Christ be our light! Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness,

Christ be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

2 Longing for peace, our world is troubled.

Longing for hope, many despair.

Your word alone has power to save us.

Make us your living voice.

Christ be our light! Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness,

Christ be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

3 Longing for food, many are hungry.

Longing for water many still thirst.

Make us your bread, broken for others,

shared until all are fed.

 Christ be our light! Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness,

Christ be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

4 Longing for shelter, many are homeless.

Longing for warmth many are cold.

Make us your building, sheltering others,

walls of living stone.

Christ be our light! Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness,

Christ be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

5 Many the gifts, many the people,

many the hearts that yearn to belong.

Let us be servants to one another,

making your kingdom come.

Christ be our light! Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness,

Christ be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today

Dismissal

God of wonder
 Send us out with hearts full of praise.
God of wilderness
 Send us out with lives full of courage.
God of the rainbow covenant
 Send us out to live at one with all people.
God of the cross and resurrection
 Send us out in joyful service. 

Blessing

May the everlasting God shield you,

East and West and wherever you go.

And the blessing of God be upon you.

The blessing of the God of life.

The blessing of Christ be upon you,

The blessing of the Christ of love.

The blessing of the Spirit be upon you,

The blessing of the Spirit of Grace.

The blessing of the Trinity be upon you.

Now and for evermore.

Amen.