Snow covering the peaks, the park and the bandstand, all wrapped up warm in many layers – meeting outside that’s what it’s all about.

The view that greeted us this morning.

Worship for a snowy day.

Sisters and brothers God’s presence is here and we are gathered to offer him thanks and praise.

Thank you, Lord that we are unique and irreplaceable, loved and wanted, known and treasured by you.

Thank you, Lord, for the ever changing seasons. For the beauty that always surrounds us here. For snow and ice and dazzling white as nature rests and sleeps until the time is right.

So Lord we seek you in the snowy beauty of this morning and in the company of friends. May each one of us be awakened to your presence among us. Amen.

Micah 4: 2-4.

Who can resist making footprints in the snow?

Casting a Caim or encircling prayer

Casting a Caim or encircling prayer is a technique that was used by the early Celtic Church. Traditionally you can draw an invisible circle around yourself with your right index finger by extending your arm towards the ground and turning clockwise with the sun. We did it by making circles in the snow with our footprints. As we did this we became aware that we were safe and encompassed by the love of God: that we were encircled, enfolded and protected.

Interconnecting circles made by footprints in the snow

     Standing in the circles we heard this prayer

Encircling Prayer

Circle us Lord,Keep protection near, And danger afar.

Circle us Lord, Keep light near, And darkness afar.

Circle us Lord, Keep peace within, Keep evil out.

Circle us Lord, Keep hope within, Keep doubt without.

Maori paraphrase of the Lord’s Prayer.

Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, source of all that is and shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven. May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by all people! Your heavenly will be done by all created things! Your commonwealth of peace and joy sustain our hope and come on Earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. So we may feed others. In the hurts we absorb from one another forgive us. In times of temptation, 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.

Sharing Bread and Wine.

For this place and this time, we thank you.

For the beauty and wonder of creation, we thank you.

For snow and ice and dazzling white, we thank you.

For daily food, for home and family, we thank you.

For minds to think, hearts to love and hands to create, we thank you.

For all who pursue peace and justice and truth, we thank you.

For Jesus, his life, his death, his resurrection, we thank you.

For bread broken and wine poured out, we thank you.

For your extravagant generosity, we thank you.

Final blessing

May You be a bright flame before us,
May You be a guiding star above us,
May You be a smooth path below us,
And a loving Guide behind us,
Today, tonight, and forever.

How can you top meeting in a place like this?