Morning Worship in the Ecumenical Centre, Monday, 11 August 2008
This service was put together by Faautu Talapusi for the week in the ecumenical prayer cycle when we pray for Aotearao New Zealand and Australia.

Welcome and Introduction
Call to Worship

God who walks on the water of our fears,
Stretching out a hand to hold us firm,
And telling us not to be afraid:
We come to worship you in faith.

God who speaks to us in story and word,
In each other, and in life itself:
We come to worship you in faith,
For you are our God and we are your people
Amen

Song

Benedicte Aotearoa a version of psalm 148 for New Zealand

O give thanks to our God who is good:
Whose love endures forever.
You sun and moon; you stars of the southern sky:
Give to our God your thanks and praise
Sunrise and sunset, night and day:
Give to our God your thanks and praise
All mountains and valleys, grassland and scree, glacier, avalanche, mist and snow
Give to our God your thanks and praise
You kauri and pine, rata and kowai, mosses and ferns:
Give to our God your thanks and praise
Dolphins and kahawai, sealion and crab, coral, anemone, pipi and shrimp:
Give to our God your thanks and praise
You Maori and Pakeha, women and men, all who inhabit the land of the long white cloud
Give to our God your thanks and praise
All you saints and martyrs of the South Pacific:
Give to our God your thanks and praise

Reading from Genesis
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over, the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters… And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let the dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Reading from Romans
The creation wails in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies

Reflection: I am the Whanua ~ by Faautu Talapusi
NB. Fanua in most Polynesian languages including Maori (whanua), signifies land or placenta

Song

Intercessions
Generous God, we thank you for the wonder of creation Australia and New Zealand. We thank you for those who already live in harmony with creation. Strengthen us as we commit ourselves to be better stewards of your creation.
God of love, hear our prayer.
Loving God, we pray for the people of Australia and Aotearoa. We pray that everyone may know the fullness of life you intend for them, and that your people may live together in justice and peace.
God of love, hear our prayer.
We pray for peace and reconciliation in our hearts, our families, communities and throughout the world. Help us to realize that you use us to bring about peace each time we ask and give forgiveness to one another.
God of love, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are experiencing despair and hopelessness through loss of identity and separation from family and place of belonging. Help them by your Holy Spirit to be strong and to find love, faith hope peace and happiness in you.
God of love, hear our prayer.
We pray for a better understanding and respect between all peoples of our countries. Help us as we grow to appreciate the diversity of cultures, languages, and backgrounds. Remind us that all people are created in your image, help us to accept and love each person as your creation.
God of love, hear our prayer.

Lord’s prayer (in own languages)

Song

Benediction
The God of love lead you out,
Christ Jesus walk beside you,
And the Spirit be a stream of healing power within and without.
Amen.