Sunday Thoughts
Sunday Service 9:15 am every Sunday morning
A reflective liturgy reciting psalms and prayers and readings from the Bible. Lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Morning Mon - Sat 6.30am
Midday Prayer Mon - Fri
Evening Prayer Mon - Fri 6.30pm
Fellowship of Contemplative Prayer
Lectionary
Other Resources
Textweek The Text This Week - Revised Common Lectionary, Scripture Study and Worship Links
Online Revised Common Lectionary Vanderbilt Divinity Library
The Symbolism of the Anglican Liturgy
The season of Advent is an auspicious time to “Prepare” and to “Be Aware” and so it can be helpful for us to question and attend to the actual rituals of the Church so that we can more fully understand the liturgy that we all participate in.
Following the ‘Confession and Absolution’, an intentional preparation for ‘Communion’, we claim ourselves as ‘the Body of Christ’.
We then receive from the priest the ‘Peace of the Lord’; and ‘exchange a sign of peace’ with those alongside us. This ‘sign’ is then immediately followed by the bringing of ‘the gifts of the people’ to the altar; first the ‘Bread, Wine and Water’ the elements for communion; and then our ‘offerings’, our giving into the community of St Paul’s.
These ritual movements are all linked and serve to give meaning to our common celebration of communion.
What’s the significance of the tree symbol?
We’ve used the icon of a tree throughout the year and especially at Christmas as it gives us a grounded, or earthed, image for contemplation, and thereby encourages us to look at ourselves. Although not readily seen as a classic “Christian” image or symbol, it also serves to remind us of ‘the one who dies on a tree’ and the many references to trees throughout the Scriptures.
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Come Holy Spirit
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Honour Your MOTHER and your Father so that your days may be long….. (Exodus 20:12)
A mother’s love is iconic of inclusive and unconditional love - it is an obvious analogy or better still a glimpse of the reality of God. Jesus uses language that could so easily be on the lips of any mother: ‘Little children, I am with you only a little longer…..I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.’ Maternal advice for those growing up in a household of love…
Before entering the sanctuary or the vestry…
Please allow the Choir to complete the ‘postlude’ and any additional songs that are part of our offering in worship – Our holding the sacred space is part of our common union - our being together in communion
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Grace, mercy, and peace from God
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The Elm Dance
After the choir sings the postlude on Sunday morning, those who wish to join in “The Elm Dance” gather in the circle dance area outside the church before going up to coffee in the hall. The Elm Dance
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The Divine Gift of Life, Light and Love
Our offering - a reflection of the gifts we have received
and an orientation of our giving to the life of this community.
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There is nothing in all the Universe so much like God as silence.
Meister Eckhart
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Sacred Space, Liturgy & our Community @ Worship
As we seek to offer our best in worship these guidelines may be helpful.
1. Silence before worship enables us to be ‘gathered’ into the introit sung by the choir
2. Conversations with others are often our way of avoiding those more divine words that search for us.
3. The sanctuary ‘space’ is ‘held’ by those who lead our worship, please keep to a minimum any movement in this ‘space’ and, at the end of our service, please wait until the choir have finished singing before entering.
4. NOTICES are an important part of our community story… however please use the service sheet to convey notices so that we can minimise the number that have to be given in church.
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Peace
Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi
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May creatures all abound in wealth and peace;
May all be blessed with peace always;
All creatures weak or strong,
All creatures great and small;
Creatures seen or unseen,
Dwelling afar or near.
born or awaiting birth,
May all be blessed with peace!
