Ecumenical Evening Prayer Opening of the Legal Year The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 2 February 2020 • 6 pm

WELCOME

Welcome to St Paul’s Cathedral. Wominjeka means ‘Welcome’ in Woiwurrung, a language of the Kulin nation, on whose land this Cathedral stands. We acknowledge and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging and to Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders with us today.

St Paul’s is home to worshippers from more than two dozen nations, seat of the Anglican Primate of Australia, and home church for Anglicans in Melbourne and Victoria. We are delighted that you are with us today: come and worship with us again.

We are here today as people of faith from diverse traditions to give thanks for the liberty and protection we value and enjoy under the Common Law and the Rule of Law. We extend a particular welcome to Judges, Magistrates, Tribunal Members, Members of the Legal Profession and Academy and others associated with the Administration of Justice. Welcome to ecumenical representatives and other esteemed dignitaries. We are delighted you are with us this evening.

Whether you are Anglican, from another Christian Church or another faith tradition, you are warmly welcome to take part in the service. If you want to find out more about the Christian faith, please make yourself known to our clergy. Please join in the singing of the hymns, and in saying (or singing) the responses printed in bold type, to the extent you feel able to do so.

St Paul’s Cathedral

Together transforming our City and Diocese

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Please stand for the Processional Hymn

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word, be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord, be thou my great Father, thy child let me be, be thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee. Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight, be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might, be thou my soul’s shelter, be thou my strong tower, O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power. Riches I heed not, nor earthly vain praise, be thou my inheritance now and always, be thou and thou only the first in my heart, O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art. High King of heaven, thou heaven’s bright Sun, O grant me its joys after vict’ry is won, great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

Irish, 8th century, tr. Mary Byrne (1880-1931) Versified by Eleanor Hull (1860-1935) alt.

Tune: Slane New English Hymnal 339

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THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY, WELCOME AND BIDDING The Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe, Dean of Melbourne

Grace, mercy and peace, from God the Father, and Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Timothy 1.2

We meet on the traditional lands of the Kulin nation, and we pay our respects to their elders—past, present and emerging—and to First Nations People among us.

We meet as people from different Christian traditions with a shared hope: that through our work, justice would be promoted among the people we serve. We know that justice to be rooted in the righteousness and mercy of God, to whom we will ultimately give account for our lives and actions.

Therefore, we acknowledge before God the inequalities that remain as barriers to a just society. We commit ourselves afresh to the service of our Nation and State and of all people in the cause of justice. We give thanks for those who develop laws that help build up our community and secure individual freedoms. We pray for who administer the Law and ask that God would sustain them, grant them humility and sound judgment, forgive their errors and inspire them in their service. May we here on earth serve more faithfully that heavenly justice in which alone we can in the end trust.

As we pray that God would be our counsel, let us hear again from Scripture the vision of justice and peace that God sets before us. As we recommit ourselves in prayer to the service of one another and God, we pray in the words that Jesus Christ has commanded and taught us, each in our own language:

Notre Père..., Padre nuestro..., Vater unser..., 我們在天上的父 …,

ह हमार सवरगिक गिता…, Bapa kami..., E to matou Matua..., 天の父よ ...,

Ama namin…, Our Father who art …,

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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

Please be seated as the choir sings

PSALM 28

To you will I cry, O Lord my Rock, be not deaf to my prayer: lest, if you turn away silent, I become like those that go down to the grave. Hear the voice of my supplication when I cry to you for help: when I lift up my hands toward the holiest place of your sanctuary. Do not snatch me away with the ungodly, with the evildoers: who speak peace to their neighbours, but nourish malice in their hearts. Repay them according to their deeds: and according to the wickedness of

الذي أبانا…، باپ ہمارے اے…،

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their endeavours; requite them for the work of their hands: and give them their deserts. For they pay no heed to the Lord’s acts, nor to the operation of his hands: therefore shall he break them down and not build them up. Let the Lord’s name be praised: for he has heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my strength and my shield, in him my heart trusts and I am helped: therefore my heart dances for joy, and in my song will I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people: and a sure refuge for his anointed king. O save your people and give your blessing to your own: be their shepherd, and bear them up for ever.

Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit: as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.

Chants: Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924) and June Nixon

THE FIRST READING Mr Stewart Maiden QC, The Victorian Bar Council

A Reading from the prophecy of Micah:

Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock that belongs to you, which lives alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, show us marvellous things. The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; they shall lay their hands on their mouths; their ears shall be deaf; they shall lick dust like a snake, like the crawling things of the earth; they shall come trembling out of their fortresses; they shall turn in dread to the Lord our God, and they shall stand in fear of you. Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger for ever, because he delights in showing clemency. He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

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You will show faithfulness to Jacob and unswerving loyalty to Abraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors from the days of old.

Micah 7.14-20 Here ends the first lesson.

Please stand as the Choir sings

THE MAGNIFICAT The Song of Mary, St Luke 1.46-55

My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Music: Evening Service in D – George Dyson (1883-1964)

Please be seated

THE SECOND READING Dr Elizabeth Boros, The Victorian Bar, Adjunct Professor Sydney University

A Reading from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans:

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, ‘We know that God’s judgement on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.’ Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgement of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgement will be

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revealed. For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honour and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honour and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.

Romans 2.1-16 Here ends the second reading.

THE NUNC DIMITTIS Sung by the choir Please stand The Song of Simeon, St Luke 2.29-32

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation; Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Music: Evening Service in D – George Dyson

Remain standing for

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

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Sit or kneel, as you are able

THE PRAYERS

The Venerable Heather Patacca, Canon Precentor of St Paul’s, introduces the prayers:

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY

Almighty and everlasting God, whose word alone lights the paths of justice, send down upon your servants who are set to minister justice the healthful spirit of your grace; and that they may truly please you, pour upon them the continual dew of your blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our Advocate and Mediator, Jesus Christ. Amen.

INTERCESSIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS

The Very Revd Werner Utri, Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, prays

Let us bring to God our prayers for the world, for this country, for all involved in the upholding of the law, and for all who suffer as a result of crime and abuse, and let us pray for the peace of the world and places where there is current conflict:

God of the nations, whose sovereign rule brings justice and peace, have mercy on our broken and divided world. Shed abroad your peace in the hearts of all and banish from them the spirit that makes for war. Bless and empower those who work for an urgent solution to the climate emergency that imperils our planet. May all peoples may learn to live as members of one family in obedience to your law.

Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

The Revd Sara Bishop, Melbourne Welsh Church, prays

Let us pray for this country, its government and people:

God, ruler of us all, we pray for our country Australia, and for our Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth. Grant to our governments and all who serve in public life, wisdom and skill, vision and energy, and courage to uphold what is right. Protect them from corruption and the temptation of self-serving. We pray for Aboriginal People, Torres Strait Islanders and all those who have come to these shores, asking that all may enjoy equality of justice and opportunity. Make us all to be good stewards as we share the riches entrusted to us.

Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

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Mr Mark Robins QC, prays

Let us pray for all those who administer and uphold the law:

Great judge of all, grant understanding to our judges, magistrates and tribunal members. Give them wisdom so that they may discern the truth, and administer the law with impartiality as instruments of your purposes for your people. We pray for the police, and for corrections and probation officers, that they will be given courage under provocation, and wisdom and restraint in the use of their powers. May the desire for justice and the strengthening of community life rule over all.

Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer. Jessica Campbell – Senior Lawyer Legal Services, The Uniting Church in Australia, prays

We pray for all those who defend the victims of abuse and enable the work of safeguarding in our communities and churches:

God of compassion, we repent for the times when churches and communities failed to protect the vulnerable and turned a blind eye or actively colluded with abusers. We repent when we have not acted or acted too late in preventing abuse, did not believe the reports of abuse, or failed to respond to the pastoral needs of survivors and their families. We pray for all those who legislate, advocate and work to safeguard people from abuse. We pray for church lawyers, professional standards officers, victim liaison staff, victim support officers, counsellors and all those who care survivors. We pray for those who administer the national redress scheme to provide some restitution. Enable us to show true repentance by working for the safety of all in our community.

Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Mr Joel Phillips, Junior Barrister, prays

Lord, our God, your servants here assembled on this day, the commencement of a new legal year, pray for your guidance and help to give us all strength and courage to serve you, and our fellow women and men, in our profession, according to your holy commands and precepts.

Help us, O Lord, that we may deal justly, love mercy, and walk humbly in your ways: let your divine inspiration guide us, so that each of us may carry out our allotted tasks in doing justice according to law, in truth and love, for our neighbours, as commanded by you.

Implant in our hearts love and fear of you, and grant us wisdom and understanding. Grant us also steadfastness, O Lord, that we may use the knowledge and learning we have acquired in the practice of our profession, to serve our fellow women and men with sincerity and devotion, and to strive for the unity and vigour of your people: direct our minds so that we may bring joy

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and happiness, wherever it lies in our power to do so. Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, who have kept us in life, and have preserved us, and enabled us to reach this day. Amen.

Composed by the late Maurice Ashkanasy CMG QC

Dion Gooderham – Director Legal Services, Uniting Church, concludes

Almighty God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to you and promised that when two or three are gathered together in your name you will grant their requests: fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of your servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

A Prayer of St John Chrysostom (349-407)

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. Amen.

All sit. The Choir sings

THE ANTHEM

God in such love for us lent us this planet, gave it a purpose in time and in space: small as a spark from the fire of creation, cradle of life and the home of our race. Thanks be to God for its bounty and beauty, life that sustains us in body and mind: plenty for all, if we learn how to share it, riches undreamt of to fathom and find.

Long have our human wars ruined its harvest; long has earth bowed to the terror of force; long have we wasted what others have need of, poisoned the fountain of life at its source. Thanks be to God …

Earth is the Lord’s: it is ours to enjoy it, ours, as God’s stewards, to farm and defend. From its pollution, misuse, and destruction, good Lord deliver us, world without end. Thanks be to God …

Words: Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000) Music: Malcolm Archer (b.1952)

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THE SERMON The Reverend Denise Liersch Moderator of the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania

THE DISMISSAL HYMN

Please stand to sing the hymn. During the hymn a collection will be received for the Cathedral’s work and ministry. On average, our congregants contribute $20 each to ensure the outreach and upkeep of our Cathedral. ‘Tap and go’ donation facilities are incorporated into the plates – please tap rather than swipe your card.

Thank you for your gift.

See, the streams of living waters, springing from eternal love, well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want remove: Who can faint, while such a river ever flows their thirst to assuage? Grace, which like the Lord the giver, never fails from age to age.

Saviour, if of Sion’s city I through grace a member am, let the world deride or pity, I will glory in thy name: Fading is the worldling’s pleasure, all his boasted pomp and show; solid joys and lasting treasure

none but Sion’s children know.

Words: John Newton (1725–1807) Tune: Michael, Herbert Howells (1893-1982)

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Remain standing. The Dean pronounces

THE BLESSING

May God guide you with his wisdom to understand what is pleasing in his sight, grant you insight to know what accords with his commandments, and give you grace to administer justice with an upright heart.

Wisdom 9.1-6

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen. Remain standing for the Procession.

ORGAN POSTLUDE

Festival Finale – Malcolm Archer (b.1952): Mr Siegfried Franke, Cathedral Organist

LEADING TONIGHT’S SERVICE: The Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe, Dean of Melbourne, The Venerable Heather Patacca, Archdeacon of Melbourne and Canon Precentor of St Paul’s (Officiants), The Revd Denise Liersch, Moderator of the Synod of the Uniting Church Victoria and Tasmania (Preacher). PERMISSIONS: Some materials in this publication are copyright © Liturgical Texts are taken from A Prayer Book for Australia © Broughton Publishing, 1995. Scriptures Passages are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible © 1989, 1993 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Hymns are from the hymnals indicated and used by permission. This compilation is copyright, © 2020, The Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral Melbourne. All rights reserved.

SAFEGUARDING AT ST PAUL’S: St Paul’s Cathedral strongly condemns any form of abuse and we are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable people, and to speaking out against violence against women. All our staff and volunteers complete training and relevant checks. If you would like to raise any concerns, please contact the independent Professional Standards Body, Kooyoora. Tel. 1800 135 246. For advice in the case of family violence, ring 1800 737 732.

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PLEASE PRAY WITH US FOR

THE WORLD Swift assistance for those affected by fire and drought in Australia, protection for those battling the blazes; aid for those who are affected by locust plagues in Somalia; an end to the fighting in Syria; peaceful and just resolution to the protests and upheaval in Hong Kong.

THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION Anglican Church of Burundi (Abp Martin Blaise Nyaboho).

THE AUSTRALIAN ANGLICAN CHURCH Theological Colleges, Church Schools & Church Kindergartens.

THE DIOCESE OF MELBOURNE St Michael's Grammar School (Terrie Jones, Principal, Kenyon McKie, Chaplain); St Michael & St Luke Dandenong (Santa Packianathan).

OUR CATHEDRAL Our Dean, the Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe; the Cathedral Chapter and Sub-committees; Our Canon Missioner, the Revd Canon Robert Vun, our Bible study Groups; the students and teachers of our English Conversation Classes; Theological Students, Lydia Thangadurai and Cleopas Zhang.

THOSE IN SICKNESS OR NEED Joan Woodhouse, Beryl Coombe, Robyn & David Forbes, Judy and Frank Clift, Andrew, Lucilia & Carlota Soares, David Blake, Janet Marsden, Pam Sullivan, Martin Devine, John, Evonne Paddison, Seila, Mark Rostoks, Henri-Felix Vinson, Sum Vita, Maria Vonn, Brian, Rose, Kathleen & Samuel Hodgson, Nancy Paterson.

REFUGEES IN DETENTION Balasupramanium Vigneshbuaran, Muththaya Chanchakumar, Varatha Rajah Thanukkody, Talib Shah Mohammadi, Valogerdizadeh Sabzikar Rahim.

YEAR’S MINDS 2 Cecil Henry Anderson (Congregation) 1981 3 First Christian Service in Australia at Sydney Cove 1788

Lisleen Dale Mason (Congregation) 2017 4 Gwendoline May Rose (Bellringer) 2001 6 Clements Langford (Lay Canon, Benefactor) 1930 8 Joan Green (Congregation) 2005

NOTICES

NEXT SUNDAY’S PREACHERS (9 FEB) 8am, 9am and 10.30am: The Ven. Ray McInnes; 6pm: Archbishop Philip Richardson, Bishop of Waikato and Taranaki and Archbishop of the New Zealand Dioceses.

STATE MEMORIAL SERVICE for former Premier John Cain will be held in the Cathedral on tomorrow (Mon 3 Feb) at 11am. Please note there will be no 12.15 Eucharist that day.

WEEKLY NOTICES AND EVENTS DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX Receive the weekly notices as well as details of Cathedral events, prayer points and weekly readings direct to your inbox each Friday. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/gkAJaX

Details of all our events and services are online at: www.cathedral.org.au