Service for the Millennium Year 2000 AD

Service composed by Christopher Campling, and revised by PUC
Original: ©1998/99 The Royal School of Church Music, UK

Notes

1. The readings from the Bible - numerous but all short - are organised
into clusters around the themes of the service. As far as possible, the
readings should be done by different people, possibly from different parts
of the building, without introduction or conclusion.
2. In several sections a short litany has been suggested in the original.
The versicle and response (or Kyrie) was intended to be sung (or said)
during the litany after each sentence or at the end of the litany. The
music for the responses is simple and intended for congregational use, and
we do have the music. It leads directly to the hymn which follows. If you
choose an alternative hymn the music for the responses may need to be
re-pitched to suit the key of that hymn tune. I'm inclined not to use the
versicle and response in most cases or to use it at the end of each litany
by saying words.

Entrance of Bible, leaders and the light.

Minister: In this service we will affirm with joy the founding of the
Christian faith and its continuation and growth throughout the last two
thousand years. We will give thanks for the benefits that the world has
derived from it; show sorrow and penitence for what Christians throughout
the centuries have done to spoil it; and resolve individually and
corporately - to be true to the faith, for the glory of God and the service
of the world.

Hymn TIS 106 - Now thank we all our God

The Congregation sits.

GOD THE CREATOR

Readings: John 1: 1-3; Genesis 1: 1-5, 26-28

The Congregation stands.

Minister: We praise the God of Trinity, the Creator of all things, who
holds the universe together in the harmony of love.
We give thanks for the universe, the world, and all that is beautiful
within it.
We give thanks for human life, created in the image of God; for freedom of
choice; for creative ability and responsibility.
We give thanks for the gift of love and our capacity for enjoyment.
We give particular thanks for the ability to pray and for the privilege of
worship.

Cantor Praise the Lord, O my soul
All And forget not all his benefits

Hymn TIS 315 - Mine eyes have seen the glory - 4 verses and refrain

The Congregation sits.

JESUS OF NAZARETH

Minister About two thousand years ago Jesus of Nazareth, the Word of God
incarnate, was living in Palestine. We believe him to be the perfect human
expression of the creative love of God. He is our Saviour. He extended
God's love to people by his touch, his teaching, his words of forgiveness
and healing; by all he said and did and suffered - even to the extent of
his death on the cross.

Readings John 1: 14; Mark 1: 14-15; Mark 1: 21-22; Mark 1: 40-42; Mark 7:
37; Mark 8: 31; John 19: 16-18; John 19: 29-30

Music for reflection (instrumental, organ, vocal or choral)

The Congregation stands.

Minister We give thanks for the life of Jesus, born in Bethlehem, reared
in Nazareth.
We thank God for the blessedness, the prayers, the way of life he taught
and showed us.
We thank Christ for his works of compassion;
his courage, his steadfast purpose, his defiance of evil, his resistance to
temptation.
We remember his trial, his suffering, his death by crucifixion.

Cantor Give thanks to the Lord for he is gracious
All And his mercy endures for ever

Hymn TIS 293 - Unto us a boy is born - 5 verses

The Congregation sits.

THE RISEN SAVIOUR

Minister Two days after his crucifixion Jesus appeared alive several times
to his disciples, both men and women, and after a short period of time left
them. God then sent his Holy Spirit which inspired his disciples to preach
and teach in the name of Jesus and to establish a church which spread all
over the earth.

Readings Mark 16: 5-6; Luke 24: 28-31; 1 Corinthians 15: 3-6; 2
Corinthians 5: 3-6; Romans 8: 38-39; Philippians 2: 8-11

The Congregation stands and the Christ Candle is lit.

Minister We give thanks for the victory and the resurrection of our Lord
Jesus Christ, for his triumph over sin and hatred and death.
We give thanks for the Holy Spirit of God who through the life and
resurrection of Jesus has been at large in the world in the lives of people
throughout the generations of history.
We give thanks to the Lord who is alive and with us in this Millennium Year.

Cantor The Lord is risen
All He is risen indeed, Alleluia

Easter Hymn TIS 392 - At the dawning of salvation - 3 verses

The Congregation sits.

THE TIME OF THE CHURCH

Readings Mark 6: 7-13; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26

The Congregation stands.

Minister We give thanks for the 'means of grace'; the holy mysteries of
prayer and sacrament by which our faith is nourished and sustained.
We give thanks for the sacrament of the Lord's Supper by which we remember
Christ's sacrifice and renew his risen life within ourselves.
We give thanks for the written word in the books of the Bible; for the
history and poetry, vision and prophecy; the wisdom, law, sermons and
letters; the searching for and the revelation of truth.
We give thanks for the traditions of our faith, handed down and developed
through two thousand years of Jewish history; fulfilled in Christ; and
handed on again through the two thousand years of the Church's history.
We give thanks for the women and men who have been filled with the Holy
Spirit and have lived Christ-like lives in their generations; for saints
and martyrs and heroes of the faith; for moderators, ministers, chaplains,
deacons, youth workers, theologians and all the men and women who have
exercised ministry and leadership within the Church.
We thank you, too, for those who have served the world as statesmen and
reformers; through healing, administration, learning and teaching, research
and discovery; on the stage of global and national events; or humbly in
their homes, at work and in their neighbourhood.
We give particular thanks for our country; its history, its indigenous
peoples and more recent immigrants; for the growth of parliament and the
development of democracy; for the good things Christians have done in its
service; for the quality of life and the freedoms we enjoy today.
We also give thanks for: (particular local blessings).

Cantor Bless the Lord, the God of our father
All Sing his praise and exalt him forever

Hymn TIS 456 - Thy hand, O God, has guided - omit verse 3

During the singing of the hymn the light of the Christ Candle is passed to
candles held by members of the congregation. These remain lit for the
remainder of the service.

The Congregation sits.

REPENTANCE AND RENEWAL

Readings Nehemiah 1: 4-7; Luke 15: 20-24; Mark 11: 25-26

The Congregation prays.

Minister Lord God we are sorry for the sins by which we have degraded
ourselves, hurt one another, and marred the life of your Church. *
We confess our failures of yesterday and today, individual and corporate,
by which we have rejected your love, divided your Church and spoilt your
work on earth. *
We repent of the acts of cruelty and oppression and neglect by which we
have disgraced your name and exploited your creation, both human and
non-human. *
We ask your forgiveness for the lies and sins against the truth by which we
have blasphemed your Holy Spirit and betrayed your trust. *

At each * these words are aid:
Leader Lord have mercy upon us
All Christ have mercy upon us
leader Lord have mercy upon us

The Congregation Sits.

Reading: Ephesians 6: 13-17 or Joshua 1: 6-9; Romans 12: 1-2; Matthew 28:
19-20

Hymn TIS 305 - What does the Lord require - 4 verses

The Congregation stands and is led into the renewal of baptism vows.

The Lord's Prayer

Hymn TIS 314 - As with gladness - 5 verses

Blessing and Dismissal




_______________________________________________________________
The Dunn Family, Rev Mark, Mrs Jan, Elissa, Wendy & Megan
Pilgrim Uniting Church Parish <"}}}}><
Snailmail: 26 Westfield Drive DONCASTER Victoria Australia 3108
Phone/Fax 03 9848 3599 Mobile 0409 009 443
Email markdunn@melbpc.org.au Web Site: www.pilgrimuca.org.au
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