Order of Service – 11th February 2024

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

11 February 2024. 10.00 am
Transfiguration
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Liturgical colour: White

We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional carers of the land on which our church is built.

Prelude

Welcome

Niina marni!
Marni’ai!

Acknowledgment of Country

Centring Words

Introit and Lighting of the Candles

All My Hope on God is Founded (Together in Song 560)

Call to Worship

The light of God is shining …
shining around and within.

the voice of God is calling …
calling from words written long ago,
and to us in this moment.

The love of God is with us …
flowing around and within us.

Opening Prayer

We Sing: Here in this Place, New Light is Streaming (Gather us in)

Here in this place new light is streaming,
now is the darkness vanished away,
see, in this space, our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken;
gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken,
we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery;
we are the old, who yearn for your face;
we have been sung throughout all of history,
called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty;
gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage to enter the song.
Not in the dark of buildings confining,
not in some heaven light years away,
but here in this space, the new light is shining,
now is the kingdom, now is the day.

Gather us in, and hold us forever;
gather us in, and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together,
fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

Prayer of Confession

We are going to pray. Please join in as we use our hand to express ourselves.

Make a fist – We are sorry for the times when we have got angry with other people and said or did things that caused harm.

Point away from yourself – We are sorry for the times when we have blamed others for inappropriate behaviour without recognising our own wrong doing.

Close your hand and hold it behind your back – We are sorry for the times when we have kept things for ourselves and not been willing to share what we have with others.

Put your hand over your eyes – We are sorry for the times when we have chosen not to see the good things we could have done to help other people.

Put your hand over one ear – We are sorry for the times when we have not listened to the cries of those who are in need.

Words of Assurance

Hold out your open hand with your palm facing up, as if you are ready to receive something.

God is love. Through Christ your sins are forgiven. Take hold of this forgiveness and be free.
We say,
Thanks be to God, Amen

Keep your hand open and with a finger from your other hand, trace the shape of a cross onto the palm of your hand.

Passing of the Peace

May the peace of God be with you.
And also with you.

Community News and Notices

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Children’s Time

Children may go downstairs for Sunday School. Parents, you are welcome to join your child in Sunday School if you feel your child may need your assistance. Alternatively, you may wish for your child to remain with you for the duration of worship. Activity packs are available at the entrances.

Choral Anthem

Christ Upon the Mountain Peak (Together in Song 243. Brian Wren)

Introduction to the Scripture Reading

Scripture Reading: Mark 9:2-9

The Gospel of Christ, Light of the world.
Thanks be to God.

Sermon

We Sing: Like A Candle

Like a candle burning wildly,
raging soft and against the night,
spark that leaps to clear the shadows,
sending warm disturbing light.
We are called to live the passion.
Hope stands strong against all pain.
For it’s only in the burning
that the candle shows its flame.
Like a river running freely,
rapids swirl beside our feet,
swiftly flowing from the highland,
comes to rest, still waters meet.
All our journeys rising, falling,
making turns we least expect,
when the Spirit churns within us,
know God’s power through the test.
Like an angel walking lightly
on this fragile earth of clay,
touching folk with raw compassion
laughing, playing on the way,
Freely living every moment
in the mystery of grace.
Giving, dying, living, rising
– see the beauty of God’s face.
See the hope that burns in darkness,
show compassion strong and kind,
bind the hurt and broken-hearted,
be God’s hands and voice and eyes.
Sing a new song ev’ry sunrise,
climb to places out of reach,
walk in freedom in God’s Spirit,
as we die so we shall live.

We are called to live the passion.
Hope stands strong against all pain.
For it’s only in the burning
that the candle shows its flame.

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer

…And now with the confidence of the children of God, let us pray the prayer Jesus taught us saying:

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 sins,

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours

now and forever. Amen.

Offering

To give electronically please go to bpuc.org/give

Alternatively, there is an offering bowl near the lectern on the left-hand side as you exit the church.

Chimes: Come Down O Love Divine

Offering Prayer

We Sing: May Our Lives and Our Prayers Be One

Refrain:
May our lives and prayers be one
as our hopes shape the roads we walk on.
And when our work and our dreaming’s done.
May our lives and our prayers be one.

Within the rhythm of our days
we take the time to muse and pray.
The fears we face, the tears we taste
we view in light of holy grace.

Refrain
May our lives and prayers be one
as our hopes shape the roads we walk on.
And when our work and our dreaming’s done.
May our lives and our prayers be one.
We name our deepest hopes and dreams
for those we love and all in need.
We picture how the world could be.
We live the change we want to see.

Refrain
May our lives and prayers be one
as our hopes shape the roads we walk on.
And when our work and our dreaming’s done.
May our lives and our prayers be one.*

Sending Forth and Benediction

Choral Blessing:

Go in Peace
R Nairn (with chimes)

Postlude

Chimes: To God Be the Glory

Come and share “Pancake Day” morning tea together, downstairs in the basement. There are stairs behind the organ and a ramp between the church and the car park leading to the basement.

Scripture Reading: Mark 9:2-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling bright, such as no one on earth could brighten them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Jump back to the middle of the order of service

Some of the liturgy in this service is adapted from
Leadership, Learning and Purposeful Life (L3) (Michelle Eastwood)
The Abingdon Worship Annual 2021.
The Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Cover photo by Hassan OUAJBIR on Unsplash