Order of Service – 25th May 2025

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

Sunday 25 May, 2025
Easter 6. White.
Baptism of Oliver Vreugdenhil
Confirmation of Alexis Harris, Eliza Harris, Skyla Hutchinson,
Stella Morris-Lennon and Oliver Vreugdenhil

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

O God, you are my God alone.

Call to Worship

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, you meet us where we are at.
You love us just the way you have made us.
You bless us on our journey.
Let us be open to your blessings today.
Amen.

We sing: Here I Am, Lord

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

    Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord?
    I have heard you calling in the night;
    I will go, Lord, if you lead me;
    I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain;
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?

    Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord?
    I have heard you calling in the night;
    I will go, Lord, if you lead me;
    I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame;
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts are satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

    Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord?
    I have heard you calling in the night;
    I will go, Lord, if you lead me;
    I will hold your people in my heart.

Psalm: Psalm 67

Let God grant us grace and bless us;
    let God make his face shine on us,             (Selah)
    so that your way becomes known on earth,
    so that your salvation becomes known among all the nations.

Let the people thank you, God!
    Let all the people thank you!
    Let the people celebrate
        and shout with joy
        because you judge the nations fairly
        and guide all nations on the earth.             (Selah)
    Let the people thank you, God!
    Let all the people thank you!

The earth has yielded its harvest.
God blesses us—our God blesses us!
Let God continue to bless us;
let the far ends of the earth honor him.

Prayer of Confession

Gracious God,
we are sorry for the times we have forgotten to be thankful.
We are sorry for the injustices we have ignored.
We are sorry for when we have spoken harsh words designed to wound others.
From deep in our hearts, we say,
“Sorry, God”.
Amen.

Words of Assurance/Grace

God is a God of forgiveness.
Be released from the things that burden you,
and know God’s love will guide you.
Let our hearts be filled with forgiveness and love.
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 and youth to stay for the baptism and confirmation.

We sing: Wa Emimimo

Wa wa wa Emimimo,
Wa wa wa Alagbara,
Wao, wao, wao.

Come, O Holy Spirit, come.
Come, Almighty Spirit, come.
Come, come, come.

Gospel Reading: John 14:23-29

Jesus answered, “Whoever loves me will keep my word. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word that you hear isn’t mine. It is the word of the Father who sent me.

“I have spoken these things to you while I am with you. The Companion, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you.

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. You have heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away and returning to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than me. I have told you before it happens so that when it happens you will believe.

Poem: If I Believe

Baptism and Confirmation

Introductory Words

Welcome

Questions

Scripture

The Meaning of Baptism

The Confession of Faith

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

‘catholic’ means ‘universal’

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Baptism

Confirmation

Recollection of Baptism

Statements of Faith (The Message for Today)

Responses

Congregational Response

Alexis, Eliza, Stella, Skyla and Oliver, we rejoice in your acknowledgment of the work of Christ in your life. He has opened your ears to receive God’s word and your mouth to proclaim God’s praise.

In the love of Christ we encourage you,
and pray that Christ will continue to bless you.
To God’s name be glory and praise.
Alleluia!

in Christ, will you promise to maintain a life of worship and teaching, witness and service so that these young people before you may grow to maturity in Christ?

With God’s help, we will live out our baptism as a loving community in Christ:
We will nurture one another in faith,
uphold one another in prayer,
and encourage one another in service. Amen.

Prayer

Presentations

Always remember your baptism.
May the light of Christ shine in you.
You belong to Christ, Light of the World.

We sing: May The Feet Of God Walk With You

May the feet of God walk with you,
and his hand hold you tight.
May the eye of God rest on you,
and his ear hear your cry.
May the smile of God be for you,
and his breath give you life.
May the Child of God grow in you,
and his love bring you home.

Children and Young People may now go downstairs for Sunday School and Youth. Parents of young children 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 rest of the service. Activity packs are available at the entrances.

Anthem

Alleluia

Prayers of the People

Faithful God,
thank you for the blessings of community.
Thank you for the relationships we have in the present, those we have been blessed with in the past, and those that are yet to come.
May we be generous members and contribute to its flourishing.
May we be part of its blessings.

Loving God,
thank you for the blessings of the natural world.
Thank you for the waterways and skies.
Thank you for the trees and fields.
Thank you for all the wildlife that inhabits this world.
May we be faithful custodians and work towards its restoration.

Gracious God, please be with all those who need healing, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Please help us to be instruments of your love and grace.

Help us to be sensitive to others’ needs and offer a blessing to each and every person in this place, and in our lives.
In Jesus’ name, we pray,

Amen.

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.

Offering Prayer

We sing: The Summons

Will you come and follow Me
If I but call your name
Will you go where you don’t know
And never be the same
Will you let My love be shown
Will you let My name be known
Will you let My life be grown
In you and you in Me
Will you leave yourself behind
If I but call your name
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same
Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare
Will you let Me answer prayer
In you and you in Me
Will you let the blinded see
If I but call your name
Will you set the prisoners free
And never be the same
Will you kiss the leper clean
And do such as this unseen
And admit to what I mean
In you and you in Me
Will you love the you you hide
If I but call your name
Will you quell the fear inside
And never be the same
Will you use the faith you’ve found
To reshape the world around
Through My sight and touch and sound
In you and you in Me
Lord Your summons echoes true
When You but call my name
Let me turn and follow You
And never be the same
In Your company I’ll go
Where Your love and footsteps show
Thus I’ll move and live and grow
In You and You in me

Together in Song 679. Graham Maule, John L. Bell Tune: (Kelvin Grove) Words: 1987 WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland Music: 1987 WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland

Sending Forth and Benediction

As we leave this place today,
may God shine God’s face upon you.
May you know blessings each and every day.
May you feel the peace that passes all understanding.
Amen.

Choral Blessing

Peace I leave with you (Amy Beach)

Postlude

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

This service has been prepared with assistance from

Michelle Eastwood: Learning, and (Purposeful) Life (L3) Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia Mission Resourcing

Poem: If I Believe by Craig Mitchell, from The Belonging Kit

Cover Photo by Cristian Palmer on Unsplash

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

Thank you for joining us for worship!

If you would like to get in touch or request a prayer, Email our Minister, Rev Linda Driver: lindad@bpuc.org