Suggestion: ‘Refresh’ each page before reading to make sure to get my latest edition
‘The Other Lectionary’ is a suggested ‘southern hemisphere’ Lectionary (with a few Resources added) offered in parallel to,
or even replacement of, the RCL which is in standard use by many.
Check out my two books still available...
Seasons and Self. Discourses on Being ‘at home’ in Nature
Bayswater. Australia. Coventry Press, 2018
And the recent one...
Dancing with Dandelions. Awe. Wonder, and a ‘wild’ Mystical Naturalism
Bayswater. Australia. Coventry Press, 2025
A GATHERING LITURGY FOR THE
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
“...in the end the universe can only be explained in terms of celebration.
It is all an exuberant expression of existence itself”
3 August 2025. Pentecost 8C. (Green).
Acknowledgement of Country/First Peoples
(An act towards reconciliation)
For thousands of years Indigenous people have walked
in this land, on their own country.
Their relationship with the land is at the centre of their lives.
We acknowledge the (NN) People of the (NN) Nation, past, present, and emerging leaders,
and their stewardship of this land throughout the ages.
First Peoples Statement to the Nation 2017 is called “Uluru Statement from the Heart”
A Response from Common Dreams5 Conference of Religious Progressives,
Australia/South Pacific 2019
Both available in Affirmations/Manifestoes
And we recognise and give thanks that we humans
are creatures of the Earth living in the ecosystem
—flowers, trees and insects; land, waters and mountain range—
that is unique to (NN).
May we honour one another and honour life itself.
(NN) is a safe place for all people to worship regardless of race, creed, age,
cultural background or sexual orientation
GATHERING
Rich and Striking Visuals
“The function of beauty… is to make us aware of a reality which is richer and deeper
and more marvellous than anything we can dream or conceive.” (Henry N. Wieman)
Artwork OR Floral/Symbols display (cloths, candles, stones, wood, leaves, flowers, earth, water) OR projection of Film/Video
Gathering Music
Entry into the Celebration
The gong is sounded three times
v2 Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.
Lighting of Community Candle
The Community Candle is lit
v1 For gathering today in this sacred space, we light the flame.
For the opportunity to be together as a community,
to remember the past,
to claim our future,
to be alive in our present,
we light the flame. (Adapt/DSorrells)
Note: Check out 'Special Liturgies’ (this site) for the following:
(i) A suggested process for introducing new hymns is called Hymn of the Month
(ii) Additional Special Purpose Hymns cover major international events or themes. They include the categories: 1. Bush (Brush) Fire, 2. Tsunami, Storms/Cyclones, 3. Earthquakes, 4. War/Remembrance, 5. Caregiving, 6. God as Mother, 7. Human Trafficking, 8. Disabled, 9. Migration/Refugees, 10. Terrorist Attacks, 11. Science/Cosmology
(iii) Some specific resources on Terrorism
(iv) On Wonder, Awe, and Nature
Hymn/Song The people stand as they are able, to sing
“A Firemist and a Planet” (Tune: 'Aurelia', 76.76D) 343 SLT
A firemist and a planet,
a crystal and a cell,
a starfish and a saurian,
and caves where ancients dwelt;
the sense of law and beauty,
a face turned from the sod
- some call it evolution,
and others call it God.
Haze on the far horizon,
the infinite tender sky,
the ripe, rich tints of [wheat]fields,
and wild geese sailing high;
and over high and low-land,
the charm of golden rod
- some people call it autumn,
and others call it God.
Like tides on crescent sea-beach,
when moon's so new and thin,
into our hearts high yearnings
come welling, surging in,
come from the mystic ocean
whose rim not foot has trod
- some people call it longing,
and others call it God.
A sentry lone and frozen,
a mother starved for her brood,
and Socrates' dread hemlock,
and Jesus on the rood;
and millions, who, though nameless,
the straight, hard pathway trod,
- some call it consecration,
and others call it God. (William H Garruth)
Remain standing
Opening Sentences
v1 On a winter morning it is a good morning to be together!
All Drawn by the warmth of faces familiar and new,
to the welcoming space of this sacred place.
v1 In this safe place let us open ourselves to
new understanding,
reassurance,
and hope
All For this is a place where truth, love, and challenge meet.
v1 It is a good morning to be together. (Barbara Cheatham/adapted)
Words of Awareness
Inspired by the hands of hope
working, healing, holding, sustaining,
we gather this day to embrace
the task that is ours.
May our hearts be strong for the work we find.
May our minds be open to the challenges it will provide us.
May our bodies be ready when the call comes so that no one is ever left behind.
On this promise we stand
as those who see this world too clearly
and yet would see it
no other way (Gretta Vosper/wab)
OR
We pray: Creating God, extend our vision to perceive
that this is your world.
You are in it.You pervade it.You enfold it.It is immersed in you.
Amen. May it be so.
Hymn/Song
“How do we Imagine Beauty - Against a Bleak Backdrop”
Metre: 87.87D Tune: CALON LAN
How do we imagine beauty,
wonder, words cannot express?
Something felt, beyond our vision,
love incarnate, nothing less?
Here and now all life is timeless,
here we're lifted out of self,
now beyond all expectation,
human sense, or worldly wealth.
Can eternity be fathomed?
Glimpse the feeling, sense the sound,
breathe the spirit of creation,
ground of being, sought and found.
Here a mystery unravels,
yet withheld from human sight:
simply trust, with faith the given,
God is beauty, love and light. (Andrew Pratt written 22/6/2025)
Words 2025 © Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk .
The people sit after the hymn
Welcome
Or in your own words
A warm welcome is extended to all.
Especially those who are gatherping at (NN) for the first time
or who have returned after an absence.
Your presence both enriches us and this time of celebration together.
Refer to printed liturgy.
Fellowship hour following the Gathering
Those visiting, please sign our Visitors book.
Centering Silence
Centering silence has its roots in the earliest of monastic traditions of the ‘desert Fathers (abbas)/Mothers (ammas)’ and the Christian mystic tradition… Relaxing into ‘quietness’ creates the space for deep listening and draws you into yourself
Now let silence gently enfold us.
(Silence)
In this day made fresh,
In the chorus of birds,
In the scent of wild flowers,
We embrace this day in hope.
(Silence)
Music of Reflection
EXPLORING
Wisdom from the World/Religious Traditions
“Wisdom is not just special knowledge about something. Wisdom is a way of being, a way of inhabiting the world.
The beauty of wisdom is harmony, belonging and illumination of thought, action, heart and mind.” (John O’Donohue)
Reader: Into the silence of our hopes and dreams,
words work upon us to break, crack, open us
to new understanding.
All May we experience, in these words,
a seeking after truth, that we may lift ourselves
to this same desire. (Gretta Vosper/ab)
“At the Margin”
By Stephen M Shick. Consider the Lilies
At the margin of a newly cut field,
where every blade still stands secure,
where every bud is fearless now,
a lily
turns to the dawn
and opens.
Here, in the kingdom of the living,
danger has passed,
and clustered buds,
moist and swollen,
choose their day.
We too grow at the margins,
where our fear of cutting is faced,
where we accept our lowly place,
where we explode in the dawn,
with the brilliance
of a flower.
• Luke 12:13-21 (Inclusive Text)
A man in the crowd said to Jesus,
'Teacher, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.'
'My friend,' Jesus replied 'who appointed me your judge,
or the arbitrator of your claims?'
Then Jesus said to them,
'Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind,
for people's lives are not made secure by what they own,
even when they have more than they need.'
Then Jesus told them a parable:
'There was once a rich man who,
having a good harvest from his land, thought to himself,
"What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops."
Then that man said,
"This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns
and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them,
and I will say to my soul:
My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come;
take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time."
But God said to him,
"Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul;
and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?"
So it is when people store up treasure for themselves
in place of making themselves rich in the sight of God.
ContemporaryExploration
Silence for Personal Reflection
AFFIRMING
A Celebration of Faith (Optional)
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand
and share together a Celebration of faith.
The people stand as they are able
“Maritime Circle of Progressive Christians”
v1 We are grounded in a deep awareness
of the holy within and around.
All We are challenged and committed
to living the way of Jesus.
v1 We recognise the sacred interconnected
and interdependent nature of all life.
All We are open to the wisdom
of prophetic voices ancient and new.
v1 We seek to embody and proclaim
that which is life affirming
within our faith tradition.
All We are responding to the present global calling
of all creation for love, respect and justice
by evoking positive change collectively.
Sharing 'The Peace'
Let us take a moment to celebrate each other.
May a heart of peace rest with you (David Galston/q).
All And also with you.
You are invited to share the peace with your neighbours
OR
Namaste
Facing the person with right hand on your heart and a slight bow of the head…
The Divine in me honours the Divine in you.
OR
The Light in me recognises the Light in you.
OR
The spirit within me sees the spirit within you.
Hymn/Song People stand as they are able, to sing
“Creative Love, Our Thanks We Give” (Tune: ‘Truth from Above'. LM) 289 SLT
Creative love, our thanks we give
that, this our world, is incomplete,
that struggle greets our will to live,
that work awaits our hands and feet;
That we are not yet fully wise,
that we are in the making still -
as friends who share on enterprise
and strive to blend with nature's will.
What though the future long delay,
and still with faults we daily cope?
It gives us that for which we pray,
a field for toil and faith and hope.
Since what we choose is what we are,
and what we love we yet shall be,
the goal may ever shine afar -
the will to reach it makes us free. (Wde W Hyde)
CELEBRATING
Offerings
Presentation
We are called to make real
the sharing of the gifts God has given to us.
We offer what we have for the good of all.
With the Children
Children gather on the conversation mat
Conversation:
"Somewhere someone:"
The kingdom of love is coming because:
All somewhere someone is kind when others are unkind,
somewhere someone shares with another in need,
somewhere someone refuses to hate, while others hate,
somewhere someone is patient - and waits in love,
somewhere someone returns good for evil,
somewhere someone serves another, in love,
somewhere someone is calm in a storm,
somewhere someone is loving everybody.
Is that someone you? (Binkley & McKeel/jke)
In Solidarity
Care Candle:
We are people of all ages who enter this space
bringing our joys and concerns.
Joys and Celebrations; Griefs and Concerns shared
Focused Thoughts:
Listening Response:
v1 We turn to Life, to that vast creativity
All that empowers the universe
as the ocean animates the wave,
v1 seeking to let go of that which blocks our healing.
All May we open ourselves even now
to the wonder of Life.
And so we take this flame and light our special care candle…
The Care Candle is lit
For ourselves, for those named or remembered, and in solidarity with those
who have not the freedom to express their concern or celebration
for fear of discrimination or condemnation.
In all our joys and in all our concerns, may we be ever mindful
of the presentness of the sacred among us,
and see the new possibilities of the now.
The 'Abba’ Prayer: (Optional)
You are invited to pray in the spirit of the Abba/Lord's Prayer, and in your original language, as that is appropriate
All O presence and pow’r within us,
Being and Life of all.
How we are filled, how we o’erflow
with infinite love and gladness!
We shall this day sow grace and peace,
and show mercy to all,
and gentle loving-kindness.
And we shall be not so self-serving,
but a constant source of giving.
For ours is the essence,
and the wholeness,
and the fullness forever. (Paul Alan Laughlin/4r)
Amen.
PARTING
Hymn/Song The people stand as they are able, to sing
"Celebrating God's Goodness" (Tune: ‘Kremser’, 12.11.12.12)
Great God of all faithfulness, mercy and wisdom
who chose us, a people, and made us your own,
you called us to serve as a light to the nations,
to stand firm for justice and make your truth known.
From honoured traditions and cultures we gather
to share life together and learn of your ways.
For visions and leaders you send to inspire us,
in covenant joining, we offer our praise.
Remain standing
Parting Words
Let us take on this week’s life with renewed hope and imagination...
The Community Candle is extinguished
From all corners of the world:
All God has called a pilgrim people.
From all walks and ways of life:
All God has called a pilgrim people.
Black and white, male and female
All We are signs of our world's division
Black and white, male and female
All We are signs of God's new creation
joined together by the love of Christ.
So let us not journey alone with God.
All Let us not journey only with our friends.
Let us be a place and a people of welcome,
signs of God's all embracing love. PCruchley-Jones/wob
Words of Blessing
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.
All May it be so. Amen.
Hymn/Song (Cont) "Celebrating God's Goodness" (Tune: ‘Kremser’, 12.11.12.12)
Confessing our sins and our failure to serve you,
we ask your forgiveness with strength to reform.
May Christ live within us, his Spirit empowering.
Take all that we offer. Take, use and transform.
In humble devotion we bring our thanksgivingfor mercy and guidance in days that are past.Give courage and faithfulness, God of the future:Beginning and Ending, the First and the Last. © Keith Pearson., Melbourne Vic.
The people sit after the hymn/song
'This Week' at (NN)
Notices
Birthdays and Anniversaries
Significant Events
Journey Candles
Recessional Music
Fellowship
Morning tea is now served.
You are invited to share in this time of fellowship.
You are invited to keep this copy of the liturgy and take it home with you
to share with another member of your family, or with a friend
Please include any reproduction of hymns/songs for local church use
on your Music Licence returns, as appropriate
Some of the Resources used in Shaping this Liturgy:
Binkley, C. G. & J. M. McKeel. Jesus and his Kingdom of Equals. An International Curriculum on the Life and Teaching of Jesus. Santa Rosa: Polebridge Press, 2002. Duncan, G. (ed). A World of Blessing. Benedictions from Every Continent and Many Cultures. Norwich. The Canterbury Press, 2000.
Inclusive Readings. Year C Brisbane. Inclusive Language Project. In private circulation, 2006 Laughlin, P. A. “Pray Without Seeking. Toward a Truly Mystical Lord’s Prayer” in The Fourth R 22, 6, 20-24, 2009.
Shick, S. M. Consider The Lilies. Meditations. Boston. Skinner House Books, 2004.
(SLT) Singing the Living Tradition. Boston. UUA, 1993.
Vosper, G. We All Breathe. Poems and Prayers. Toronto: PostPurgical Resources, 2012.
Vosper, G. Another Breath. Prayers for Celebration and Reflection. Brisbane. The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought Brisbane, 2009/2010.
Web sites/Other:
Sorrells. UUA Worship Web. Boston. UUA. http://uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/index.php
David Galston. Quest Learning Centre for Religious Literacy. <http://www.questcentre.ca