Taranaki Cathedral Church of St MarySunday 8th October 2017, 10am

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The 

B L E S S I N G of the

A N I M A L S

A celebration of the life of St Francis of Assisi (1182­126AD)

Welcome and introduction from Dean Peter Beck

Our service begins with this hymn

All creatures of our God and Light, lift up your voice with all your might, Alleluia, Alleluia!Thou burning sun with golden beam,thou silver moon with softer gleam.

O praise God, O praise God,Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

You rushing wind with voice so strong,you clouds that sail in heaven along, O praise God, Alleluia!You rising morn in praise rejoice,you lights of evening find a voice.

You flowing water, pure and clear,make music for your God to hear, Alleluia, Alleluia!You fire so powerful and bright,wonderful source of warmth and light.

And all forgiven tender hearts,forgiving others, take your part. Sing praises, Alleluia!You, who long pain and sorrow bearpraise God who knows your every care.

Gathering prayers ending with this prayer together:

All Heavenly Father, your Holy Spirit gives breath to all living things; renew us by this same Spirit, that we may learn to respect what you have given, and care for what you have made, through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord.  Amen.

Please be seated for the Readings / Nga Karaipiture – E noho

Reader A Reading from the book of Genesis (chapter 1:1­2,24­31)

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth wasa formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 

And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.’ And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. 

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And God saw that it was good. 

Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind inour image, according to our likeness; and letthem have dominion over the fish of the sea,and over the birds of the air, and over thecattle, and over all the wild animals of theearth, and over every creeping thing thatcreeps upon the earth.’ So God created humankind in his image, inthe image of God he created them; male andfemale he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and overthe birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.’ And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. 

[Pause]Liturgist The whole universe is a gift of God. Everyone and all creatures are

a gift of God.All We are the gifts of God to each other. To love and care for the 

well­being of all God’s creation.

We sing this hymn

1. If I were a butterfly, I’d thank you, Lord, for giving me wings,and If I were a robin in a tree, I’d thank you, Lord, that I could sing,and If I were a fish in the sea, I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee,but I just thank you, Father, for making me ‘me’.

For you gave me a heart, and you gave me a smile,you gave me Jesus and you made me your child,and I just thank you, Father, for making me, ‘me’.

[continued overleaf]

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2. If I were an elephant, I’d thank you, Lord, by raising my trunk,and If I were a kangaroo, you know I’d hop right up to you,and If I were an octopus, I’d thank you, Lord, for my fine looks,but I just thank you, Father, for making me ‘me’.

3. If I were a wiggly worm, I’d thank you, Lord, that I could squirm,and If I were a billy goat, I’d thank you, Lord, for my strong throat,and If I were a fuzzy wuzzy bear, I’d thank you, Lord, for my fuzzy wuzzy hairbut I just thank you, Father, for making me ‘me’.

A Reading on the Life of St Francis by Celano

St Francis took pleasure in all God’s works and saw behind the veil of all  things the reason they were created.   In beautiful things he saw Beauty itself; everything was good to him. “He who made us the best!”, they cried out to him. Through every created thing he made for himself a ladder by which to approach the throne room of God. He embraced all things with unheard­of devotion, speaking to them of the God and admonishing them to praise him. He forbade the brothers to cut down the whole tree when they cut wood, so that it might sprout again. He commanded the gardener to leave the border around the garden un­dug, so that in their riper times the greenness of the grass and the beauty of the flowers might announce the wild glory of God. He removed from the road the little worms, so that they would not be crushed under foot and he ordered that honey and the best wines be set out for the bees, so they would not die of hunger in the cold winter. He called all animals by the name ‘brother’, though among the animals he preferred always those who were gentle. Who could possibly tell everything he did? For the goodness was evident in this saint that will one day be revealed in the whole world. 

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Hymn

O Lord, my God! When I in awesome wonderconsider all the works thy hands hath made;I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my saviour God, to thee,how great thou art, how great thou art!Then sings my soul, my saviour God, to thee,how great thou art, how great thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander,and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation,and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart;then I shall bow, with humble adoration,and there proclaim my God, how great thou art.

The Address given by Alex Hicks of Vets4Pets

The Prayers, led by Dean Peter and friends

Leader To you our God be praise and glory, and honour! To you alone do all things belong. Be praised, Creator God, for the wonderful diversity of life with which you fill our world, for all the animals, the birds, the fish andall living things.Protect them from cruelty and exploitation by human beings and be with them in their struggles for survival 

All Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.Leader Creator God, look upon the animals that share our homes and 

which show us devotion and loyalty. Bless them for the pleasure and companionship they give. 

All Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.Leader Creator God, look upon farm animals and all those which we rely 

upon for our daily food and clothes.

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May they always be treated humanely and never be exploited for human greed.

All Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.Leader Creator God, we pray for farming families, for vets and all those 

responsible for the welfare of animals.All Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.Leader We pray for ourselves and all your children. Open our eyes to the 

wonder of your creation. Forgive our selfishness, increase our respect for all that you have created, and lead us in your ways of love. Transform our hearts until they reflect more faithfully the love of Jesus,  who gave Himself without limit, for us and for the whole of creation.

All Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

We pray together :All Eternal Spirit, Life­giver, Pain­bearer,Love­maker,

Source of all that is that shall be, Father and Mother of us all,Loving God in whom is heaven:The hallowing of your name echothrough the universe!The way of your justice be followed  bythe peoples of the world!Your heavenly will be done by allcreated beings!Your commonwealth of peace andfreedom sustain our hope and come on earth.With the bread we need for today, feed us.In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.From trials too great to endure, spare us.From the grip of all that is evil, free us.For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen

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The offertory today will be given to assist in the Cathedral’s ministry and the NorthTaranaki SPCA to benefit animals in need. Thank you for your gift.

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.

1. Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,he made their glowing colours, he made their tiny wings.

2. The purple­headed mountain, the river running by,the sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky.

3. The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun,the ripe fruits in the garden, he made them every one.

4. He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tellhow great is God Almighty, who has made all things well.

The Blessing of the Animals [and maybe a bird or two or even a gold fish!]

Dean We pray together the prayer of St Francis:All Lord, make us instruments of your peace, 

Where there is hatred, let us sow love;where there is injury, pardon; where thereis doubt, faith; where there is despair,hope; where there is darkness, light; wherethere is sadness, joy; and all for love ofyou. Amen

Dean Now we welcome all animals attending theservice to come forward down the centre aisleto the front of the Cathedral to be blessedand then to leave the Cathedral via the sideaisles. And may the God who loves us and all the wonders of his Creation, bless us all now and forever

All Amen. 

Please bring your animals forward via the central aisle, and depart viathe sides. Thank you

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Diary for the week... with Bible Readings.Every weekday, you are invited to our brief daily prayer services at 8.30am, noon and 3.45pm

Sunday 8th October8am Holy Communion ~ 10am Pet Blessing Service

Monday 9th October Jonah 1:1-2:2,10. Ps 69:1-6. Luke 10:25-37.11am Rhapsody Rest-home Service

Tuesday 10th October Jonah 3. Ps 130. Luke 10:38-end.7am Bishop's Eucharist ~ 7:30am Community Café ~ 10am Crafty Connections 11am Telford Rest Home Service ~ 7pm OA meeting

Wednesday 11th October Jonah 4. Ps 86:1-9. Luke 11:1-4.10am BCP Communion ~ 11am Rhapsody Resthome Service

Thursday 12th October Malachi 3:13-4:2a. Ps 1. Luke 11:5-13.8:30am Cathedral Staff Meeting ~ 10am Food 4 Thought ~ 1:30pm Stitching Group 7pm Home Group with Jen Pearce ~ 7:30pm Ars Nova Choir Rehearsal

Friday 13th October Joel 1:13-15,2:1-2. Ps 9:1-7. Luke 11:15-26.9:30am OA meeting ~ 12pm Litany of the Cross of Nails

Saturday 14th October Joel 3:12-21. Ps 97:1,8-end. Luke 11:27-28.8.30am Morning Prayer

Sunday 15th October Isa 21:1-9. Phil 4:1-9. Matt 22:15-22.8am Holy Communion ~ 10am Parish Eucharist

“If you notice something evil in yourself, correct it; if something good, take care of it; if something beautiful, cherish it; something sound, preserve it; if something unhealthy, heal it. Do not weary of reading the commandments of God, and you will be adequately instructed by them so as to know what to avoid and what to go after.” [Bernard of Clairvaux 1091-1153]

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For your prayersOur Province: DIOCESE OF POLYNESIA: Archbishop Winston Halapua, Bishops Api Qiliho, Gabriel Sharma and Afa Vaka.Our Diocese: Morrinsville : Val Riches. Ngaruawahia: Ivan Smith. Our Community: Waikeria & Other Penal Institutions. The Community of the Cross of Nails.  Kuching, Our Partner Diocese: Church Schools in Sarawak & Brunei.  Taranaki Cathedral: May we deepen links with the Ministry Units of our Diocese and with churches in Tikanga Maori and Tikanga Pasifika.  NZCMS: Anne & Anthony McCormick; Community Ministry, Cambodia. Anglican Missions: PNG: Theological education.

The weekly letter is from Dean PeterA warm welcome to all those two and four-legged creatures who have broughttheir human care givers to the Animal Blessing service today as wecommemorate and give thanks for the life of St Francis.

Dear friendsA few snippets from the many things that are going on around our cathedral:

Last week we had a surprise visit from the Governor General, Dame Patsy Reddy.

She was in town for the meeting of the Maori Women's Welfare League Annual gathering and found time to pop in the day before the 171st anniversary of the first service in St Mary's. She had a look inside the cathedral and heard about our hopes and plans. She was very keen and supportive of our vision for the future of our cathedral, and it was a pleasure to welcome her here.

And on Sunday more than 50 people came to the first session of 'Sharing our Story'. Rob Green told us about the early days of European migration to Taranaki,where the migrants came from and why, and how in many ways they too, like thelocal iwi, were victims of the greed of avaricious property developers. There were more than a few present who traced their ancestry to those on the first ships. On 12 November the second in this series looks at the establishment of St Mary's. As well as Rob's input, John Pickering will share some of his great knowledge of St Mary's graveyard and what this tells us of our story and of those who came beforeus. If I were you, I'd diary it – a fascinating and very important contribution as weseek to grow in understanding of our heritage, the good and the not so good, as we seek to forge a true partnership with all the people of Taranaki.

The Community Café has for the last few months been supporting the Christian Care Centre in the Solomon Islands, the only residential centre for women and girls who have been victims of sexual abuse. Thanks to the generosity of our customers, the fantastic team of volunteers who week by week run the café, and those who support us through their donations of food and other necessaries, we have been able to send $13,000 to the centre in the last few months. In fact since the café began nearly three years ago over $61,000 has been sent to projects in NZ and overseas which support people suffering from abuse and alienation as well asthose recovering from natural disasters. This last week we have begun supportingthe World Vision Appeal for the Rohingya refugees who are flooding into Bangladesh from Myanmar. Thank you, thank you to all those who support the café. God is blessing you!

'Food Together' is a church based initiative where a group of volunteers buy the freshest of produce, box it up into lots for different size family units and arranges 

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for them to be delivered at a price much lower than the big supermarkets. This voluntary initiative is helping many many people around the country. On Thursdays, the Hatherly Hall is the hub for our local 'Food Together' and members of several parishes and other churches are pitching in to help. I believe there are now over 100 boxes of fruit and vegetables put together  and distributed each week. Fantastic!

May God continue to inspire us 'to be as Christ to our community'

Blessings, Peter

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From the Archives – Sharing our Story

This rather time-worn image is the oldest-known photograph of St Mary's, the original being in the care of the Kinder Library at St John's College. It dates from some time in 1860 while the first extension to the church, commenced in 1859 was under construction. The original west wall has been dismantled and boarded up, with the stone being re-used in the extension. The new walls hadn't yet reached windowsill height when war broke out, delaying work – you will notice grass growing from the top of the walls. As one of very few stone buildings, St Mary's was considered a strong place of refuge, and according to one report, rifle loopholes were made in the wooden wall. There appear to be bullocks (belonging to the army) grazing on the slope behind the church, and this was a point of contention with parishioners. The extension was finally completed and dedicated in 1862.

Come and hear and share the story of St Mary's – 12th November, 3-5pm

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Do get in touch... We would love to hear from you…Office: 06 758 3111 or email admin@taranakicathedral.org.nzDean Peter : 021 654 445. Canon Pastor Bill : 027 306 4567Pastoral Minister Ailsa : 021 758 247 Mele Prescott: 021 0284 1156: 021 0284 1156

If you are interested in getting more involved with our parish, please fill out a yellow card

Applications for the position of Office Manager at the cathedral close on 10thOctober. Information and application packs are available from the Cathedral Office [admin@taranakicathedral.org.nz 7583111]

Lost from Hatherly Hall, Tuesday 26th after the café - three small blue check table cloths that are used at the Community Café drink station. if you have taken them home and washed them - please can they be returned to us. Many thanks.

Fare well to Lesa YOU are warmly invited to Morning Tea in the Hatherly Hall onTomorrow at 10.30. Lesa has been fabulous and we want to wish her every blessing as she moves on to pastures new.

Hospice Taranaki Fundraiser – Every Kitchen Tells a Story – a tour of 10 Interesting kitchens, including Plas Mawr, home of June & Simon Moseley. Sunday October 15th, 10am – 4pm. Tickets available ($20) from Hospice shops.

This coming weekend is the Diocesan Synod when representatives from all the ministry units in Taranaki and Waikato meet for this annual gathering to share and make decisions for our future ministry and mission. It is being held in Stratford this year. Our lay Synod representatives are Anne and Ross Smith. Dean Peter, Ailsa and Mele and others of our clergy at St Mary's will be attending. Please pray for this important gathering and for Bishops Philip and Helen-Anne as they lead us.

If you have an Internet account with Vodafone or one of the many companies they have bought out over the years (Ihug, Paradise etc.) you will have received notice that they are discontinuing email service as of November 30th, but will forward mail to your new email provider. If you are in need of assistance with setting up or using an account with Gmail, Yahoo etc, please contact Richard Grevers, our communications and IT coordinator – on 028 401 7393 or richard@taranakicathedral.org.nz

Cathedral Gala Raffle WinnersEager's furniture – $225 worth of vouchers J. JohnsNovotel – luncheon for 2 R. HandleyDevon Hotel – vouchers worth $100.00 P. JefferiesNice Hotel – B & B voucher A. StevensTimeless beauty – voucher worth $40 B. AndersonMitre 10 Mega – vouchers worth $60 J. PavellA Good Home – vouchers worth $40 D. Whitehead

Stop In Grocery Raffle Winners1st List 140 No 3 David Harrop2nd List 106 No 2 Margaret Wright3rd List 132 No 6 Moses Low

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Noticeboard - take me home, keep me handy, stick me to the fridge!