Order of Service – 10th August 2025

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

August 10, 2025
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Pentecost 9. Green

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)

We care for Kaurna land,
We care for Kaurna sky.
We care for Kaurna waters,
We touch our hearts and say:
Thank you, Kaurna people.

Introit and Lighting of the Candles

Have Faith in God My Heart (Rees) TiS 619

Call to Worship

The God of grace,
the God of love,
the God of justice calls us in.
We are called to love one another
We are called to help the oppressed.
We are called to defend the orphan and the neglected.
We are called to plead for those who are alone and vulnerable.
In this way, God’s love will be known to all.

Opening Prayer

Loving God,
help us to hear your call.
Help us to know the steps to take.
Help us to be active in bringing justice where-ever we can.
Amen

We sing: All Are Welcome

Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where prophets speak,
and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:

All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where love is found
in water, wine and wheat:
a banquet hall on holy ground
where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus,
is revealed in time and space;
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:

All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
bear the image of God’s face:
let us bring an end to fear and danger:

All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where all are named,
their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed
as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter,
prayers of faith and songs of grace,
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:

All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Creator God,
you have made all things good.
You have made the waters flow,
shaped the mountains and the plains,
created all the creatures of the earth, sea, and sky.
You have made each and every one of us in your image.
Help us to value every aspect of your creation,
in your goodness and grace.

Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Gracious God,
we confess that we have hurt one another and ourselves.
Forgive us for the times we have not listened to your words,
and have not followed in your ways.
Amen.

Words of Assurance

God is gracious and full of goodness,
God has heard our prayers and forgives everyone who turns toward God in faith.
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

You can sign up to receive BP E-news by email and read past issues on our website: www.bpuc.org

We sing: Faith is like a Muscle

Faith is like a muscle,
Use it and it will grow.
Faith is like a muscle,
Use it and it will show
When a mountain comes up,
Face it square and strong.
Tell that mountain to move,
Get it hoppin’ along.
F – A – I – T – H
Use it and it will grow.

Children’s Time

Children and Young People may go downstairs for Sunday School and Youth. 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

The Voice of God Goes Out to All The World (Watson/Connaughton) TIS 282.

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 1:1, 10–20 and Hebrews 11:29-12:2

Isaiah 1:1, 10–20

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Hear the word of the Lord,
    you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
    you people of Gomorrah!
What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
    says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
    and the fat of fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls
    or of lambs or of goats.
When you come to appear before me,
    who asked this from your hand?
    Trample my courts no more!
Bringing offerings is futile;
    incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and calling of convocation—
    I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
Your new moons and your appointed festivals
    my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
    I am weary of bearing them.
When you stretch out your hands,
    I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
    I will not listen;
    your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
    remove your evil deeds
    from before my eyes;
cease to do evil;
    learn to do good;
seek justice;
    rescue the oppressed;
defend the orphan;
    plead for the widow.
Come now, let us argue it out,
    says the. Lord:
If your sins are like scarlet,
    will they become like snow?
If they are red like crimson,
    will they become like wool?
If you are willing and obedient,
    you shall eat the good of the land,
but if you refuse and rebel,
    you shall be devoured by the sword,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Hebrews 11:29-12:2

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground.

Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

From this shines forth the Word of God.
Thanks be to God.

Message

Fresco underneath the cupola of the
Padua Baptistery painted 1376-78 by Giusto de’ Menabuoi (1320-1391),
Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

We sing: Community of Christ

Together in Song TIS473

Community of Christ,
who make the Cross your own,
live out your creed and risk your life
for God alone:
the God who wears your face,
to whom all worlds belong,
whose children are of every race
and every song.
Community of Christ,
look past the Church’s door
and see the refugee, the hungry,
and the poor.
Take hands with the oppressed,
the jobless in your street,
take towel and water, that you wash
your neighbour’s feet.
Community of Christ,
through whom the word must sound –
cry out for justice and for peace
the whole world round:
disarm the powers that war
and all that can destroy,
turn bombs to bread, and tears of
anguish into joy.
When menace melts away,
so shall God’s will be done,
the climate of the world be peace
and Christ its Sun;
our currency be love
and kindliness our law,
our food and faith be shared as one
for evermore.

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.

Offering Prayer

We sing: I the Lord of Sea and Sky

Together in Song 658

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.

Sending Forth and Benediction

As we leave today,
may you be blessed with a heart
for listening to the cries of the stranger,
to the weeping of your neighbour,
to the aching of the world.
May you take the cries,
weeping and aching that you hear
and move them into action,
to support the movement of justice,
for each and every person around the world.
Amen.

Choral Blessing

God Be With You Till We Meet Again. (Rankin/Nairn.)

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!

Thank you for joining us for worship! If you would like to get in touch or request a prayer, please make use of the Contact Cards in the pews and next to the Offering Bowl. Alternately, you can email our Minister, Rev Linda Driver: lindad@bpuc.org

This service has been prepared with assistance from

Dr Michelle Eastwood: Liturgy, Learning, & (Purposeful) Life © 2025, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia

Words for Worship © 2025, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia

“Gaza” by Steve Garnaas-Holmes Unfolding Light www.unfoldinglight.net

Bible Readings from 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: Rev Linda Driver

Congregation Songs/Hymns:

All Are Welcome
Marty Haugen b.1950. © 1994 GIA Publications Inc. All rights reserved.

Faith is Like a Muscle
Words and music by Mandy Dyson 1985. Words used with permission.

Community of Christ
Shirley Erena Murray 1931- Words © 1992 by Hope Publishing Co. Carol Stream, IL60188. All right reserved. Words used with permission.

I the Lord of Sea and Sky
Daniel L. Schutte 1947 – Suggested by Isaiah 6. Words by permission Oregon Catholic Press. All rights reserved.