Order of Service – 11th May 2025

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

Sunday 11 May, 2025
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Easter 4. White

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

As you wait for worship to begin, please turn your phone to silent.

Prelude

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

Naa marni?
(Are you all good?)
Marni Ai!
(Good I am)

Introit and Lighting of the Candles

Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep (J Smith)

Call to Worship

We sing: O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of our God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
such music in the sinner’s ears
is life, and health, and peace.

He speaks, and listening to his voice
new life the dead receive,
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honours of your name.

Together in Song 210. Charles Wesley 1707-88 alt. Public Domain.

Prayer of Invocation

O Community of God, Community of Love,
help us to find our way into love,
into relationship, into life.
Embrace and enfold us
in your being and joy. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Words of Assurance/Grace

God is compassionate and gracious.
Whether we are lost or confused, wandering or waiting,
we are held in God’s faithful, restorative love.
Thanks be to God. Amen

Passing of the Peace

The peace of our 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.

Anthem

Brother James Air (Arr. G. Jacob)

Scripture Readings: Psalm 23 and Rev 7:9-17

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd.
     I lack nothing.
He lets me rest in grassy meadows;
     he leads me to restful waters;
          he keeps me alive.
He guides me in proper paths
     for the sake of his good name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
     I fear no danger because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff—
     they protect me.

You set a table for me
     right in front of my enemies.
You bathe my head in oil;
     my cup is so full it spills over!
Yes, goodness and faithful love
     will pursue me all the days of my life,
     and I will live in the Lord’s house
     as long as I live.

Revelation 7:9–17

After this I looked, and there was a great crowd that no one could number. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands. They cried out with a loud voice:

“Victory belongs to our God
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

All the angels stood in a circle around the throne, and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell facedown before the throne and worshipped God, saying,

“Amen! Blessing and glory
     and wisdom and thanksgiving
     and honor and power and might
          be to our God forever and always. Amen.”

Then one of the elders said to me, “Who are these people wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”

I said to him, “Sir, you know.”

Then he said to me, “These people have come out of great hardship. They have washed their robes and made them white in the Lamb’s blood. This is the reason they are before God’s throne. They worship him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them. They won’t hunger or thirst anymore. No sun or scorching heat will beat down on them, because the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

May the Spirit of God open our eyes to see, our ears to hear,
and our hearts to understand.

Message

We sing: In God Alone

In God alone my soul can find rest and peace,
in God my peace and joy.
Only in God my soul can find its rest,
find its rest and peace. (x3)

Prayers of the People

Loving God, we pray…

…May you be with them,
and may we be instruments of love for them.

Merciful God, we pray…

… May you be with them,
and may we be instruments of peace for them.

Gracious God, we pray…

…May you be with them,
and may we be instruments of comfort for them.

Shepherding God, we pray…

…May you be with them,
and may we be instruments of encouragement for them.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

And now let us pray together a version of The Lord’s Prayer from The New Zealand Prayer Book:

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!

Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
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 testing, 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 for ever. 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.

Offering Prayer

We sing: Psalm 23 (The Lord’s My Shepherd)

The Lord’s my Shepherd I’ll not want
He makes me lie in pastures green
He leads me by the still still waters
His goodness restores my soul

     Chorus
     And I will trust in You alone
     And I will trust in You alone
     For Your endless mercy follows me
     Your goodness will lead me home

     Descant
     I will trust I will trust in you
     I will trust I will trust in you
     Endless mercy follows me
     Goodness will lead me home
He guides my ways in righteousness
And He anoints my head with oil
And my cup it overflows with joy
I feast on His pure delights

     Chorus
     And I will trust in You alone
     And I will trust in You alone
     For Your endless mercy follows me
     Your goodness will lead me home

     Descant
     I will trust I will trust in you
     I will trust I will trust in you
     Endless mercy follows me
     Goodness will lead me home
And though I walk the darkest path
I will not fear the evil one
For You are with me
And Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know

     And I will trust in You alone
     And I will trust in You alone
     For Your endless mercy follows me
     Your goodness will lead me home (repeat)

     For Your endless mercy follows me
     Your goodness will lead me home

Sending Forth and Benediction

Today, may you feel as if you lack nothing.
May you find rest and comfort.
May you know the assurance that even when you walk on dangerous paths,
God is still with you.

Today, may your cup be so full it spills over,
may goodness and faithful love follow you,
and may all the days of your life be blessed with peace. Amen.

Choral Blessing

May the Road Rise Up (Quem Pastores)

Extroit

It is appropriate to depart during the Extroit if you wish

Come and share morning tea together, in the basement. There are stairs behind the organ and a ramp between the church and the car park. All are welcome!

This service has been prepared with assistance from

Words for Worship

L3: Michelle Eastwood

Scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible Copyright 2012 by Common English Bible and/or its suppliers. All rights reserved.