A Light on the Hill
Order of Service – 30th November 2025
The Order of Service follows below.
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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill
November 30, 2025
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Advent 1. Purple.
Welcome to Brougham Place Uniting Church.
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)
Call to Worship
On Sundays and Mondays,
on good days and bad days,
early in the morning and very late at night,
here in this room, and out in the world,
God, we long for you to break in.
Meet us in this space, right where we are.
Surprise us with your presence.
Fill this space with your good news.
With hope, we sing, we worship, we pray. Amen!
Lighting of the Advent Candle
We sing: Angels from God
- Angels bringing, Angels giving
hope to us from our God who cares.
Angels bringing, Angels giving
hope to us from our God who cares.
Angels are around us –
Let us be aware
Angels sent to comfort
from a God who cares.
- Angels bringing, Angels giving
hope to us from our God who cares.
Angels bringing, Angels giving
hope to us from our God who cares.
Prayer of Confession
Ever-present God,
we long to feel you close.
We long to feel your presence in our lives.
We long for you to break through the chaos and suffering of this
world.
However, if we’re honest, we rarely stand still long enough to feel you
in our midst.
Forgive our rushing and distractions.
Forgive our wandering hearts, and centre us in this space.
Remind us that even in the most challenging of times,
even on the longest nights,
you are always there. Amen.
Words of Grace
Even when we doubt God’s presence,
even when we fail to notice God’s fingerprints in this world,
God is always moving closer to us.
Hear and believe the good news this Advent season:
Nothing can keep God’s love away.
We are seen. We are forgiven. We are not alone.
Amen.
We sing: Nothing Can Trouble
Taizé Purple Book 50
Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.
Those who seek God shall never go wanting. God alone fills us.
Passing of the Peace
The peace and hope 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
UnitingWorld Everything in Common
Children’s Time (Exploring the Theme)
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.
We sing: Sing Praises
Taizé Purple Book 23
Sing praises, all you peoples, sing praises to the Lord.
Sing praises, all you peoples, sing praises to the Lord.
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:5-25
In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.
Once when he was serving as priest before God during his section’s turn of duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified, and fear overwhelmed him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that this will happen? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.” The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”
Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering at his delay in the sanctuary. When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. When his time of service was ended, he returned to his home.
After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, “This is what the Lord has done for me in this time, when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.”
We sing: Keep me O God
Taizé Purple Book 137
Keep me O God, for I trust in you.
You show me the path of life.
With you is fullness, fullness of joy.
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:57-66
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.
The Gospel of Christ, Light of the world.
Thanks be to God.
Message
We sing: In the Lord
Taizé Purple Book 17
In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful, in the Lord I will rejoice!
Look to God, do not be afraid.
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
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
God of peace and possibility,
we offer these gifts so that they may be transformed into your good
news
for the sake of the world. Amen.
We sing: In God Alone
Taizé Purple Book 32
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.
Congregation Meeting Announcement and Musical Interlude
#BPUC #CallingAllAngels #more hope
Congregation Meeting
We Sing: Doxology
Tune: O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all Spirit messengers below.
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Sending Forth and Final Benediction
As you go into this week, remember:
When you feel anxious or afraid,
may you look for God’s spirit,
may you reach for each other’s hands,
may you choose courage whenever you can.
And in all things, may you remember
that good news is louder than fear.
In the name of the one who calls,
the one who sends,
and the one who journeys with—
go in peace and
be not afraid.
Amen.
Postlude
The Kingdom of God is Justice and Peace (115)/Magnificat (19)
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
Liturgy, Learning, & (Purposeful) Life (L3)
Rev. Dr Cathie Lambert
© 2025, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia
Words for Worship
for advent–epiphany
Prayers by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC |
sanctifiedart.org
“Angels Among Us”
Worship Design Studio
Bible Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated
Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the
United States of America.
Congregation
Hymns/Songs:
Angels From God
Copyright words and music: Doris Henderson March 2004
Used with Permission.
Nothing Can Trouble
Taizé Purple Book 50
© Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, Communauté, 71250 Taizé, France.
Sing Praises
Taizé Purple Book 23
© Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, Communauté, 71250 Taizé, France.
Keep me O God
Taizé Purple Book 137
© Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, Communauté, 71250 Taizé, France.
In the Lord
Taizé Purple Book 17
© Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, Communauté, 71250 Taizé, France.
In God Alone
Taizé Purple Book 32
© Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, Communauté, 71250 Taizé, France.
Doxology
Words: Worship Design Studio. Angels Among Us resource
