Welcome to the Canberra Hospital Chaplaincy Uniting Church Service. Liturgy. 1 November Jean Shannon presiding Organ Helen Guy

Transcription

1 Soul Breathing Julian of Norwich saw God as the ground the natural substance from which we grow. But it can t be a simple as that. SMH columnist, Richard Glover, told a story about his garden. He said, he bought a couple of those massive pots to sit either side of his door. He filled them with potting soil, fertiliser and all the stuff that makes things grow and he planted gardenia seedlings in both. Now on one side of the door, there is a thriving, sparking gardenia and on the other side of the door, nuclear winter: a few twigs and suffering leaves. It seems that not everything is equal. The sun under the veranda and eaves provided slightly different conditions and the outcome was dramatic. Glover related being in the sunlight to Australia s convict ancestors. When the dregs of society were repositioned in the sunlight, with good food and opportunities, they flourished. He saw this as proving the soil is more important than the seed. Ever noticed that you behave differently according to who is in the room? You can feel in shadow of some, made tongue-tied by others or with others, feel quite aglow, full of life and energy. With one friend, you might feel quite intelligent and in the presence of others, can t think of a thing to say. Glover got to talking to his friends about the notion of best self. Best self is the self that is open, interested, entertaining, compassionate, caring the person who reflects your own sense of who you want to be. The question was asked, with which people are you your best self? Was or is there a person you remember that brings out the best in you? For Julian of Norwich, prayer was a kind of soul breathing. A soul dwells in God, its very existence a form of prayer. She saw it as being, simply, reverently and honestly. Prayer becomes a witness that the will of the soul and God are one and in being that way, a person could be comforted and find peace. In other words, she would expect that you would know, love and forgive yourself as God would. Her best self was when she was aware of God in her soul. Which brings me back to the seed, the soil and the sunlight. We are a product of our genes, yes, but that means the soil and the position of the pot makes all the difference. Shouldn t we strive harder to move into the sun? Why don t we spend more time with those who bring out our best selves and less time with those who do not? Welcome to the Canberra Hospital Chaplaincy Uniting Church Service Liturgy 1 November 2012 Jean Shannon presiding Organ Helen Guy The Uniting Church of Australia Presbytery of the Canberra Region The Uniting Church offers an inclusive chapel at 9:30 on Thursdays. Everyone is welcome no matter what your faith background or engagement might be or have been. Please join us for a small moment in community. Please feel free to take this liturgy with you.

2 GATHERNG Amazing, omnipresent God of all ages And all seasons How you grace our moment of small community In your wonder. Hold us. As we pay respect; Share our doubts and admiration; Exclaim our love; Renew our compassion And remember you as the source, the love and the reason. Give us grace to worship together Knowing you are always in our presence. We have come together to celebrate the glory of God Present in this, and every community. We sup at the well, giving sustaining love to each other and humbly receiving Your grace. HYMN Hymn Amazing Love (Tune: 'Amazing Grace', 129 TiS) Amazing Love that Jesus told, Two thousand years ago, A story new, a story old, A love we all can know. He spoke to crowds in Palestine, He speaks to us today, 2 7 With memories etched into our hearts Memories of radiant beauty Your indelible love The vastness of your grace The gentleness of your perfections Draw us in and send us out. Amen From Life Overflowing 13 th Assembly meeting UCA Scattering Hymn TIS 152 Joyful, joyful (Tune: Ode to Joy) SCATTERING No cheap word No cheap word is needed here. We need a great word, a worthy word, a holy word A word that can wipe away all tears, all regret, all guilt. That words can be found in the Jesus teachings That word is grace. All is forgiven, ever and always. Go in peace. Adapted from Life Overflowing 13 th Assembly meeting UCA Blessing May God give you strength to hold on and the strength to let go. May the Blessing of all light your path Keep you warm Throw a shadow To shelter those that follow. Thank you!

3 ...Accept our thanks and praise, good Father, with your Son, Redeemer & spirit, with whom and in whom, and by the Spirit who dwells in us, we worship you in joyful song: Holy God, we offer our thanks and praise. Communion is served Affirmation Creator, Word, Breath Communion of creative Life Draw us in. Lover, Beloved, Love Beholding one another in love And fully being known Draw us in. One in three dissolve our fears of being filled with joy eternal; of going under in your glorious presence; of drowning in eternal bliss Draw us in. Loosen our grip On staying high And grant us your joy In being low Draw us in and send us out 6 He tells us all of love divine, To us he shows the way. The realm of God is one of love, Of justice and of peace. It s not about a realm above - Through love this world release. What we want done to us, can be The rule by which we live; To follow it will make us free To share, to love, to give. The story comes to challenge us, It s not the easy road, For us to love, as Jesus loved, To bear another s load. The realm of God is here with us When love and peace we share, Although we fail, we know God s grace, It s love that helps us there. Amazing love that Jesus told, Two thousand years ago, A story new, a story old, A love for all to know. MRolfe Centring The grandeur of ourselves by Noel Davis from Together at the edge Trust me Gratitude abounds passion aroused life leaps and bounds as we acknowledge and love the gifts we have been given the modest and the marvellous and share them with each other. 3

4 HYMN - Bless the Lord my soul X 5 The people stand as they are able Bless the Lord my soul And bless God s Holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul Who leads me into life. EXPLORING Readings from our Biblical tradition Psalm 34:1-8,(19-22) Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV) Julian of Norwich Psalm 34 NRSV/CEB - To be read as cantor and congregation I will bless the LORD at all times; V1 his praise will always be in my mouth. V2 I will glory in the Lord; let the humble hear and rejoice. Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; V3 let us exalt his Name together V4 I sought the LORD and he answered me. and delivered me from all my terror. Look upon him and be radiant; their faces are never ashamed. V7 and he delivers them. Taste and see how good the LORD is! The one who takes refuge in him is truly happy! HYMN TIS 417 Loving spirit AFFIRMING & CELEBRATING A time for those not with us Response Taize Stay here and watch with me (Bliebet Hier) as a response after each contribution Stay here and watch with me Watch and pray Watch and pray The care candle is lit The Lord s prayer - In your own words Thanksgiving On the night in which Jesus gave himself up to death, he took bread, gave you thanks, broke it and said: This is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. 4 This suffering person cried out: the LORD listened and saved him from every trouble. V5 On every side, the LORD s messenger protects those who honour God; V6 and he delivers them. Taste and see how good the LORD is! The one who takes refuge in him is truly happy! When the meal was ended, he lifted the cup, and again giving you thanks, gave it to his friends and said: This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood. Do this, whenever you drink it, for the remembrance of me. Holy God, we offer our thanks and praise.... 5

5 Readings St James 28 October David s song Psalm 34 NRSV/CEB To be read as cantor and congregation I will bless the LORD at all times; Men his praise will always be in my mouth. Women I will glory in the Lord; let the humble hear and rejoice. Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; Men let us exalt his Name together Women I sought the LORD and he answered me. and delivered me from all my terror. Look upon him and be radiant; their faces are never ashamed. This suffering person cried out: the LORD listened and saved him from every trouble. Men On every side, the LORD s messenger protects those who honour God; Women and he delivers them. Taste and see how good the LORD is! The one who takes refuge in him is truly happy! Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV) They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus stood still and said, Call him here. And they called the blind man, saying to him, Take heart; get up, he is calling you. 1

6 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, What do you want me to do for you? The blind man said to him, My teacher, let me see again. Jesus said to him, Go; your faith has made you well. Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way. Thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way. Julian of Norwich from Manton and Muir, The Gift of Julian of Norwich Julian has a complex understanding of the make-up of humans and the Trinity. Her s is an organic spirituality, she does not separate soul and flesh, or what she calls, substance and sensuality all are connected and permeated with each other and God. Julian s term sensuality has a broader meaning than its modern use. It refers to our sensual nature our senses and flesh, plus the being and understanding that stems from this. Sensuality is loved, not despised by God. It is enclosed in God who made humans from matter, the silt of the earth. Julian sees God as the ground, the natural substance in which humans are immersed, despite their contrariness, woe, frailty or sense of isolation. As a plant s roots are in the ground, so is human life in God. Our soul is made to be the dwelling place of God, the city of Christ. Julian of Norwich May,