Advent 3

Remembering 200 years of the

Gospel in New Zealand

and Ruatara

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

Creator of all peoplewe thank you for the Joy of knowing Jesus. Jesus thank you that you love usso that while we continue to get ready for your comingwe can already know your joy.

This Christmas we remember Chief Ruatarawho made it possible for the Good Newsto be brought to Aotearoa, New Zealand.Ruatara prepared the way for Jesusmay we also have a partin ensuring that others can have the joy of knowing you as a friend.

The third candle reminds us of Joy, the joy that comes from knowing we are lovednot for what we have done or might dobut because God has decided to love us.As we light the third candle, we give thanks for the things that bring Joy to our life and pray that, together with Jesus, we work so others can have joy also.

Song of Praise

Christ is the living watercleansing, refreshing, making all things new.Jesus Christ is the Good News;

setting us free to love,encouraging us to share our good news with others.

Song of Praise

So now we offer our thanksfor the history of these islands;for the people who lived here before us,for the respect and care they have shown for the land.

Song of Praise

So now we offer our thanksfor the Maori people;who settled this land,and welcomed all those who have followed andsought to make this land their home.

Song of Praise

We offer thanks and praise to God for this good land;

for the many people who live here,for those who brought the light of the Gospel to these shores and those who continue to share it.

Song of Praise

Our thanks for those who first invited the Gospel to this land;

for Ruatara who gave the Gospel a place to be planted,who sheltered and protected it,while it found its roots in this land.

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.

Takaia te hunga ngākau marū, kauwhau ki ngā whakarau kia haere noa,ki ngā herehere, kua tuwhera te whare herehere;

Karangatia te tau manako mai o Ihowā, te rā rapu utu o tō tātou Atua; Ihāia 61:1-2

Bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, the day of vengeance of our God. Isaiah 61:1-2

Sentence of the Day

Almighty God,you sent your servant John the Baptistto prepare the way for the coming of your Son;grant that those who proclaim your wordmay so guide our feet into the way of peace,that we may stand with confidence before himwhen he comes in his glorious kingdom;through Jesus Christ our Judge and our Redeemer. Amen.

A Collect of the Day

Creator of all the peoples of the world,you chose Ruatara to prepare for and welcome the Christian missionaries to Aotearoa;may the gateway that he opened for the gospelencourage us to look for every meansby which your word may be proclaimed;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect for Ruatara

Ruatara, a chief of the Nga Puhi people, became friendly with Marsden in Australia. Ruatara was a significant figure in the introduction of Christianity to New Zealand, for it was through him that Marsden found an opening for the establishment of a mission. Ruatara travelled widely, including to England, Australia and Norfolk Island. During these travels he was badly treated by many sea captains. Samuel Marsden discovered Ruatara on one voyage and had to nurse him back to health. He then taught Ruatara European farming skills in Australia. When Ruatara arrived back in the Bay of Islands he discovered he was now heir to Te Pahi’s mana.

The Proclamation Ruatara

Ruatara made possible the voyage which culminated in the first official Christian service in New Zealand at Oihi Bay in the Bay of Islands on Christmas Day 1814. Following the first Church service, Ruatara was determined to protect his Pakeha friends. He took great risk in introducing them to neighbouring tribes, helped them build houses at Oihi and warned them of dangers.

The Proclamation

On 13 February 1815, Ruatara fell ill. His condition worsened quickly and he was placed in a state of tapu with food and water prohibited. Missionaires were restricted access and in fact were blamed by Maori for his condition. Marsden was able to visit him after serious debate with Maori and gave him a few sips of wine and water, some rice and tea. After Marsden left him, the tapu was reinstated. Marsden reluctantly set sail for Sydney on the 26th. On 3 March 1815, Ruatara died.

The Proclamation

Ruatara hoped that the mission would bring technological and other resources for the community to develop. Marsden hoped that Ruatara’s hospitality and protection would pave the way for the seeding of a Christian mission. Ruatara then is “Te Ara mo te Rongopai”, “The Gateway for the Gospel”.

The Proclamation

Isaiah 61:1-4; 8-11

Silence for reflection

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

First Testament Reading

Psalm 126

Psalm of the Day

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

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 John Chapter 1 beginning at verse 6Praise and glory to God

After the reading, Silence for reflection

This is the Gospel of ChristPraise to Christ, the Word

The Sermon

Light 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 to the oppressed and disheartened.

You have created us in your own image.When you were creating the worldyou looked and saw that the creation was good.Help us to hold fast to all that is goodand all that is true love.

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 those who havemade straight the way of your Gospel.You gave Ruatara a desire to have the Good Newsin Aotearoa, New Zealand,and a willingness to protect itwhile it grew in this new soil. You continue to call us to make straight the way of the Lordso all may come to know of your love for them.

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.

Blessed be God who above all else continues to love usPraise to God who continues to invites us to “make straight the way of the Lord.”

Blessed be God who has called us and sends us out.Praise to God who calls us to continue to shed the Light of Christ in the world.

Blessing May the God of Creationwho calls us into relationshipempower you for our work of bringing good news to the oppressed

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

Dismissal

Go now to be God’s light in a waiting world. Go in peace.

Amen. We go to share the Good News of God’s love in the power of the Spirit.