Advent 4

Remembering 200 years of the

Gospel in New Zealand

and The Holy Spirit

The Gathering of the Community

E te whānau a te Karaiti, welcome to this holy table; welcome to you, for we are Christ's body, Christ's work in the world.Welcome to you whose baptism makes you salt of the earth and light to the world. Rejoice and be glad. Praise God who gives us forgiveness and hope.Amen. Christ is our light, the joy of our salvation.

Praise and glory to Christ,God’s new beginning for humanity making ritual water gospel wine, cleansing all our worship.Love and loyalty to Christ, who gives us the gospel. Praise to Christ who calls us to holiness.

Advent Wreath

God the Holy Spiritwho lets us know that God loves usso much that he came to earth as Jesus.so that we may have life in all its abundance.

We want this love,we like the shepherds come to see what is happeningand what it will mean for us.

We are thankful that your Holy Spiritencouraged the many people who, together brought the good news about Jesus love to this country.The Good News of Jesus loveis for all people.Holy Spirit continue to work in our livesso we pay our part in sharing this love with others.

The fourth candle is for Love.We remember the people of the past who hoped for Jesus’ love and trusted that he would come.We light the fourth candle facing the future. We know God loves us.We pray others will come to share this joy with us.

Song of Praise

Christ is the living watercleansing, refreshing, making all things new.

Jesus Christ is the Good News;

who through the Holy Spiritsets us free to love,encouraging us to share our good news with others.

Song of Praise

So now we offer our thanksfor the gift of the Holy Spirit;who empowers and energises,our work for your Gospel.

We offer thanks and praise to God;for the work of the Spirit,in bringing the Good News to this land, working in the hearts and minds of many people.

Song of Praise

Our thanks for those who are still energised by the Spirits power;

who continue to be andto proclaim the amazing Good News,that God loves each one of us.

Forgiveness

We come seeking forgiveness for all we have failed to be and do as members of Christ's body.

Silence

In God there is forgiveness

Loving and all-seeing God, forgive us where we have failed to support one another and to be what we claim to be. Forgive us where we have failed to serve you;and where our thoughts and actions have been contrary to yours we ask your pardon.

God forgives us; be at peace.Silence

Rejoice and be glad, for Christ is resurrection, reconciliation for all the human race.  We shall all be one in Christ, one in our life together. Praise to God who has created us, praise to God who has accepted us, praise to God who sends us into the world.

Ka nui tēnei tamaiti, ka kīia hoki ko te Tama a te Runga Rawa.Hei kīngi hoki ia mō te whare o Hākopa ake ake; e kore anō e mutu tōna rangatiratanga. Rūka 1:32-33

This child will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Luke 1:32-33

Sentence of the Day

God of all hope and joy,open our hearts in welcome,that your Son Jesus Christ at his comingmay find in us a dwelling prepared for himself;through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

A Collect of the Day

Almighty God it was your Holy Spiritthat filled the people of this landwith joy and boldness to preach the gospel;send us out in the same Spiritto witness to your redeeming loveand draw all people to you;through Jesus Christ our Lord,who lives and reigns with youand the Holy Spirit,one God now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for The Holy Spirit

There were many people involved in the process of the Gospel being preached at Oihi on Christmas Day 1814. Te Pahi, who started clearing the way for the Gospel. Ruatara, who made straight the path for the Good News to come to his land. Samuel Marsden, who felt called to bring the Gospel to this land. Working through all these people and situations was the Spirt of God. The Spirit “blows like the wind in a thousand paddocks, inside and outside the fences, you blow where you wish to blow.1”

The Proclamation the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit worked through many needs and desires in individuals to obtain the goal of the Gospel reaching these shores. The work of the Holy Spirit still continues in our day to encourage the work of the Gospel in this land.

The Proclamation

“Lord Holy Spirityou are the kind fire who does not cease to burn,consuming us with flames of love and peace,driving us out like sparks to set the world on fire.1” 1 Extracts from “Song to the Holy Spirit” by James K Baxter from page 157 of A New Zealand Prayer Book He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa

The Proclamation

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Silence for reflection

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.Thanks be to God.

First Testament Reading

Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26

Psalm of the Day

Romans 16:25-17

Silence for reflection

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading

Song or Hymn

Gospel

The Holy Gospel according to Luke Chapter 1 beginning at verse 26Praise and glory to God

After the reading, Silence for reflection

This is the Gospel of ChristPraise to Christ, the Word

The Sermon

The Spirit empowers us to be the Gospel in the World

The Affirmation of Faith

You, O God, are supreme and holy. You create our world and give us life. Your purpose overarches everything we do. You have always been with us. You are God. You, O God, are infinitely generous, good beyond all measure.

The Affirmation of Faith

You came to us before we came to you. You have revealed and proved your love for us in Jesus Christ, who lived and died and rose again. You are with us now. You are God.

The Affirmation of Faith

You, O God, are Holy Spirit. You empower us to be your gospel in the world. You reconcile and heal; you overcome death. You are our God. We worship you.

The Prayers of the People

Let us pray for the Church and the world, giving thanks for God’s goodness.

The Lord’s Prayer

As Christ teaches us we pray Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.

The Lord’s Prayer

Save us from the time of trialand deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yoursnow and for ever. Amen.

Children’s Work and Participation

The children are welcomed back to the service and invited to share their workDecorations are added to the Christmas Tree.

The Peace

Kia whakapainga a te Karaiti, te Ariki o te rongomau.

Blessed be Christ the Prince of PeaceE turaki nei I nga tau-arai o te wehe.

who breaks down the walls that divide.

Kia tau te rangimarie o te Atua ki a koutou.

The peace of God be always with you.Kia whakapainga te Karaiti e tuitui nei I a tatou I roto I te rongomau.

Praise to Christ who unites us in peace.

The Preparation of the Gifts

To you, Lord, belongs the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory and the majesty.All that is in the heavens and the earth is yours, and of your own we give you.

The Great Thanksgiving

Christ is risen!He is risen indeed.

Lift your hearts to heavenwhere Christ in glory reigns.

Let us give thanks to God.It is right to offer thanks and praise.

It is the joy of our salvation, God of the universe, to give you thanks through Jesus Christ. You called the world into being and your creation has never ceased. In your great love you send us to bring Good News Revealing your age long purpose.

You sent your Son to show us the way of love and to be the truth we need to know.You sent your Son to give his life to release us from our sin and guilt. We give you thanks for the many people who have had a part in bringing your Gospel to this Land.

Each in their own waywere willing to accept your invitation and say let it be with me according to your word. You Spirit continues to call us and invite us to accept your invitation into your work for this land.

Holy God, holy and merciful, holy and just, glory and goodness come from you. Glory to you most high and gracious God.

Blessed are you, most holy, in your Son, who washed his disciples' feet. 'I am among you,' he said, 'as one who serves.‘

On that night before he died he took bread and gave you thanks. He broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said:

Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you; do this to remember me.

After supper, he took the cup, and gave you thanks. He gave it to them and said: Drink this.It is my blood of the new covenant, shed for you, shed for all, to forgive sin; do this to remember me. Therefore with this bread and wine we recall your goodness to us.

God of the past and present, we your people remember your Son. We thank you for his cross and rising again, we take courage from his ascension; we look for his coming in glory and in him we give ourselves to you.

Send your Holy Spirit, that we who receive Christ's body may indeed be the body of Christ, and we who share his cup draw strength from the one true vine. Called to follow Christ, help us to reconcile and unite. Called to suffer, give us hope in our calling.

For you, the heavenly one, make all things new; you are the beginning and the end, the last and the first. Praise, glory and love be yours, this and every day, from us and all people, here and everywhere. Amen.

Silence

The Communion Te tinana o te Karaiti I whatiia mo tatou.

Christ's body was broken for us on the cross.Ko I ate taro o te ora.

Christ is the bread of life. I maringi ona toto hei murunga hara.

His blood was shed for our forgiveness.Kua ara mai te Karaiti I te mate.

Christ is risen from the dead.

The Invitation Haere mai e te kahui a te Atua,tangohia enei kai rangatira a te Karaiti. Come God's people, come to receive Christ's heavenly food.

Communion All are welcome at the Lord’s table

Prayer After Communion Blessed be God who calls us together.Praise to God who makes us one people.

Blessed be God who has forgiven our sin.Praise to God who gives hope and freedom.

Blessed be God whose Word is proclaimed.Praise to God who is revealed as love by the work of the Spirit.

Blessed be the Spirit of God who consumes us with flames of love and peace.Praise to God who drives us out like sparksto set the world on fire.

Blessed be God the Spirit who blows where you willPraise to God, who blows through our livesEmpowering us to share the Good News of God.

Blessing May God’s Holy Spiritsurprise and support youas you spread the news of God’s love to the world

and the blessing of God our Creator,Redeemer and Giver of lifebe with you always. Amen.

Dismissal

Go now to share God’s Good News in the world. Amen. We go in the Spirits power to live as your people.