For this week... Parish Contacts Lectionary readings Acts 4: 32-35 Psalm 133 1 Jn 1: 1 to 2: 2 Email: secretary@ngaiounion.org.nz John 20 : 19-31 Liturgical colour: White Web site ngaio.methodist.org.nz Your prayers: That a resurrection experience will lift us to a fresh experience of life. For encouragement for young musicians to stick with it in their practise. 479-6329 Ngaio Union Church Cnr Crofton Rd and Kenya St, PO Box 29-057, Ngaio, WELLINGTON 6443 for this week. Church Queries to Barbara at barbara.abwalker@gmail.com Youth Ministry Worker Brett Reid 027-238-1074 Parish Secretary Anne Cuthbert 971-0291 or 021-2322-281 For endurance for tertiary students who have to work part-time to pay their way Chairman Parish Council Alister McKay For empathy for those who are looking for, but cannot find, a flat to live in. For courage for those who are approaching death to talk about what a good death will be for them. 479-6926 Pastoral Care Sally Gray 476-9873 Treasurer Geoff Brown 562-8557 Bookings Margaret Pitt 479-2026 Easter Communion Service Rosters 7 April Tony Warrington Alyson Howell 12 1 April 2018 1
Easter Communion Service You are invited to join in the responses in bold italic Prelude Eclipsed? Tuesday 10 April, 6:00 Refreshments, 6:30 Lecture The St. John's Centre, corner of Willis and Dixon Diana Nunns Alister McKay Welcome and Notices Welcome to our service which is being led by Rev John Howell. If you are visiting or here for the first time please make yourself known to the person next to you, the person at the door, or to John. An activity table for younger children is available near the front of the church. Please join with us for a cuppa after the service. THE PREPARATION Call to Worship Modern telescopes enable breathtaking discoveries scarcely imaginable by earlier generations, including black holes, dark matter, and thousands of planets beyond our Solar System. This sheds light on a universe apparently has been growing more mature, complex, and hospitable for life for nearly 14 billion years. But these discoveries also cast doubts on traditional biblical and theological understandings of human uniqueness. What is our sense of human identity and significance in a universe that may be teeming with life? How do new images of the heavens inspire renewed philosophical, theological, and artistic reflection on the meaning of human life in the cosmos? Join Dr. Jennifer Wiseman as she reflects on the relationship between religion and science through the lens of her research with the Hubble Space Telescope. HYMN Jesus Christ is risen today Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once, upon the Cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia! Hymns of praise, then, let us sing Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Who endured the cross and grave, Sinners to redeem and save. But the anguish he endured Our salvation hath procured; Now above the sky he s King, Where the angels ever sing 2 Dr Wiseman is an astronomer, and a Fellow and former President of the American Scientific Affiliation. Dr Wiseman discovered periodic comet 114P/ Wiseman-Skiff while working as a research assistant in 1987. After research fellowships at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Johns Hopkins University, she joined NASA in 2003. She is currently a senior astrophysicist at the Goddard Space Flight Center, where she previously headed the Laboratory for Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics. For more information contact ctpi-wellington@otago.ac.nz 11
Our New Lay Minister At the Special General Meeting held after church last Sunday our congregation unanimously approved the appointment of Sue Brown to the position of Lay Minister at Ngaio Union Church. We are hoping that Sue will be able to take up this role in May. There is however some paperwork still to be completed before we can confirm that date. Sue's ministry would initially be at a half time level for a few months, while she completes her existing work commitments, rising thereafter to a three-quarter level for a five year appointment term. Her appointment is also supported by the Methodist Church of New Zealand, as our Church of Oversight, and, by the Parish Council with the continued Parish Superintendency of the Rev Motekiai Fakatou. Sing we to our God above Praise eternal as his love; Praise him all ye heavenly host, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Amen. Lyra Davidica, 1708 Prayer of Thanksgiving and Confession A prayer for Easter Sunday As the sun rises to warm us after the cold darkness of night, As the stone rolls to open the tomb s prison, As the joy of new life replaces my grief, Transform me, living God, to find my true humanity in the divine image of the chosen One, Amen. THE WORD Hymn Something s dead inside me (HIOS 123) Something s dead inside me, some yesterday is slain. My heart is hung upon a cross, my thoughts are filled with pain and yet there is within me a hope I can t explain, for in the darkness I can see God dancing in the rain, God dancing in the rain. 10 3
I surrender to the mystery of loss that turns to gain. The little seed of wheat must die to become a field of grain, and I know it s in this time of grief that Christ is risen again, for in the darkness I can see God dancing in the rain, God dancing in the rain. Joy Cowley The Readings: Isaiah 25: 6-8 page 568 Mark 16:1-8 page 829 Sermon 4 Cathy & Partson Mutambudzi Roll Away Your Stone lyrics - Mumford & Sons Roll away your stone, I ll roll away mine Together we can see what we can find Don t leave me alone at this time, For I am afraid of what I will discover inside You told me that I would find a home, Within the fragile substance of my soul And I have filled this void with things unreal, And all the while my character it steals The darkness is a harsh term don t you think? And yet it dominates the things I seek It seems as if all my bridges have been burned, You say that s exactly how this grace thing works It s not the long walk home that will change this heart, But the welcome I receive at the restart The darkness is a harsh term don t you think? And yet it dominates the things I seek The darkness is a harsh term don t you think? And yet it dominates the things I seek Ngaio Union Services 8 April 10 am Led by the Worship & Education Committee 15 April 10 am Led by Sue Brown 22 April 10am Led by Graham Millar 29 April 10am Led by Neil Johnstone Please note that the usual 30 minute meditation at 9am each Sunday is not being held at the moment. 9 Pastoral Needs During our ministerial vacancy please contact the Parish Secretary Anne Cuthbert or Pastoral Care Convenor Sally Gray for all parish or pastoral needs. Please see back page for contact details. Merge Youth Programme Merge Youth meets each Friday evening during school terms. Please contact Brett Reid, Youth Ministry Worker, for programme details, telephone 027 238 1074. Pot Luck Luncheon You are invited to the home of Graham and Enid Millar, 8 Downing St, on Wednesday 11 April from 11.30 to 1pm for a pot luck luncheon.
THE DISMiSSAL Prayer Hymn Because you live, O Christ Because you live, O Christ, the garden of the world has come to flower, the darkness of the tomb is flooded with your resurrection power The stone has rolled away And death cannot imprison! O sing this Easter day, For Jesus Christ has risen, has risen, has risen, has risen! Because you live, O Christ, the spirit bird of hope is freed for flying, our cages of despair no longer keep us closed and life-denying Because you live, O Christ, the rainbow of your peace will span creation, the colours of your love will draw all humankind to adoration Shirley Murray Stars hide your fires, And these here are my desires And I will give them up to you this time around And so, I ll be found with my stake stuck in this ground Marking its territory of this newly impassioned soul But you, you ve come too far this time You have neither reason nor rhyme With which to take this soul that is so rightfully mine An Easter Communion Prayer...Together As bread is broken and changed in the eating so may our broken world feed at your table and nourish us to grow into people of love and grace. As the wine is drunk may it ferment in us and create the elements of a new order where heaven and earth are one through your self giving love, Amen. John Howell THE COMMUNION The Peace Benediction Postlude The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. Hymn We are an Easter people (The offering is taken, and the elements brought to the table) Diana Nunns We sit quietly and reflect on our time here before sharing tea and coffee 8 We are an Easter people, ours is an Easter faith, the yeast is rising in our hearts, our wine has vintage taste. Christ is risen, Christ is risen,5 risen in our lives.
We are an Easter people, ours is an Easter faith, our tears are freed to flow and heal our shattered hopes and hearts. Christ is risen, Christ is risen, risen in our lives. We are an Easter people, ours is an Easter faith, our fears have died, we rise to dream, to love, to dance, to live. Christ is risen, Christ is risen, risen in our lives. Prayer acknowledging the gifts Loving God, through your goodness We have this bread and wine to offer, Which earth has given and human hands have made. May we find you in the sharing of this bread, That we may see your touch in all bread, all matter. We celebrate the life that Jesus has shared among his community through the centuries, and shares with us now. Made one in Christ and one with each other, We offer these gifts and with them ourselves, A single, holy, living sacrifice. Amen. The Invitation.. Prayer of Thanksgiving The Lord is risen! We have seen the Lord! Lift up your hearts, people of God. We lift them to the Risen Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. We offer our thanks and praise to the One who gives us new life. 6.. Therefore, we lift our glad cries to you: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Holy are you, God of Easter, and blessed is Jesus Christ. He releases us from the darkness of death, he leads us into the kingdom's light. Christ has died, but death does not have the final word; Christ is risen, and Easter begins for us when Christ calls us by name. Christ will come and lead us into God's glory...we sing The Lord s Prayer Our Father in heaven, holy be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Do not put us to the test, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the Glory, are yours now and for ever, Amen x 8 The breaking of the Bread: The Bread and Wine are shared (The music during communion is Handel s I know that my Redeemer liveth ) 7