Order of Service – 15th March 2026

The Order of Service follows below.

For improved text clarity and easier reading, e.g. change text size, you can use ePub on iPhones, iPads and other devices with an ePub application. If you want to see it exactly as printed, or print your own there is a pdf.

Please join us in saying the words printed in bold text. Items in red text are for information and explanation and are not spoken.

Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

March 15, 2026
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Lent 4. 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)

Jesus Christ is the Light of the World.
Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God

Bringing Forward the Word, Lighting the Candles

We sing: Shalom

Shalom to you now, shalom, my friends.
May God’s full mercies bless you, my friends.
In all your living and through your loving,
Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.

(Sing twice)

Call to Worship

As we come to worship you, O God,
you ask how we see ourselves.
The economic world sees us as consumers in constant need.
We see that your encompassing love brings us deep peace.
When we see the gloom on our paths;
you see us and keep us company.
While others may see us as an enemy,
you see us as your guests.
We can see the future only one day at a time;
you see us in the view of the eternal.
As we come to worship you,
help us to see ourselves as you see us.

Opening Prayer

Holy One, shine your love and wisdom into our lives
as we continue on this Lenten journey.
Help us to follow in the way of Jesus,
who put your loving plan and purpose first in all his decision-making.
Amen.

We sing: 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

Holy One,
you are here with us, surrounding us and filling us with life and love.
As the sun shows up every detail hidden in shadow,
so your Spirit reveals every part of our lives.
You know what is in our hearts
and we are thankful that we do not have to hide from you.
Often, we do not like what we see in ourselves;
sometimes we think we are doing well but are closed to our weaknesses;
sometimes we feel like failures and close ourselves off to our God-given gifts and strengths.
Open our hearts and minds to your grace and forgiving love
toward us and toward each other.

Words of Grace

Friends,
God is with you in the depths of night’s shadows and in the brightness of the day.
God’s loving presence will keep you company throughout life’s journey and beyond.
We place our trust and our hope in our God, Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (A Primary’s School’s Version)

Our Father in heaven, you are awesome!
Show us who you are and how you want us to be.
Make earth more like heaven.
Please give us what we need to keep going each day.
Help us when we are wrong and clean us up on the inside.
Help us to let other people off and move on.
Keep us from bad stuff.
You’re in charge!
You’re strong and powerful and always there.
Forever!
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

LentEvent

Musical Offering

In Good Hands by Carolyn Arends

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.

Scripture Reading: John 9:1-41

As he walked along, [Jesus] saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am he.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

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

Message

We sing: Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my vision O Lord of my heart.
Not be all else to me save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping my treasure Thou art.
Be Thou my wisdom and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord
Thou my redeemer my love Thou hast won
Thou in my dwelling and I with Thee one.
Riches I heed not nor vain empty praise
Thou mine inheritance now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
Great God of heaven my treasure Thou art
Great God of heaven my victory won
Now I reach heaven’s joys O bright heaven’s sun
Heart of my own heart whatever be fall
Still be my vision O ruler of all.

Prayers of the People

(from Psalm 23)

Gracious God, you care for me; I need nothing more.
Hear the cry of those who are hungry;
hungry for justice, and dignity, hungry for freedom, and love.

You lead me into a haven of peace and rest.
Hear the cry of those who are alone;
those who grieve a relationship broken by death or human failing,
those who live in the isolation of a hospital room, a prison cell,
a frail body, a confused mind.

You breathe new life into me and lead me in new ways.
God whose breath is life itself,
we pray for a just and caring use of your creation;
a fair sharing of its abundance, an ethical searching of its mysteries.

You are with me, and comfort me,
even when the darkness of the world looms large.
We pray for those who seek the truth;
those who cannot speak, and those who cannot be heard,
that the light of your Word
may shine in the darkness which overshadows their lives.

In the face of those who trouble me
you provide for me, and pour out your blessings.
Hear the cry of those trampled by racial or religious intolerance,
disoriented by homelessness, defeated by unemployment, terrified by the sound of warfare.

God of justice and compassion you are with me always
and have promised to sustain me all my life.
Enlarge our vision of life, and make us bold in our hope.

In the name of Christ, we pray,
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

Loving God, you have given us so much with overflowing generosity. We bring you these gifts willingly, some from our abundance, some conscious of the cost.
Use them to bring faith, hope and love where they are most needed, we pray. Amen.

We sing: Amazing Grace

Amazing grace (how sweet the sound)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.
As grace first taught my heart to fear
so grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
God’s grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

Blessing: May God Bless Your Eyes

May God,
who comes to us in the things of this world,
bless your eyes and be in your seeing.

May Christ,
who looks upon you with deepest love,
bless your eyes and widen your gaze.

May the Spirit,
who perceives what is and what may yet be,
bless your eyes and sharpen your vision.

May the Sacred Three
bless your eyes and cause you to see.
We go in peace, Amen.

We sing: Shalom

Shalom to you now, shalom, my friends.
May God’s full mercies bless you, my friends.
In all your living and through your loving,
Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.

(Sing twice)

The Candles are Extinguished

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

Liturgy, Learning, & (Purposeful) Life (L3)
Viv Whimster
© 2025, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia

A Primary School’s version of The Lord’s Prayer
from: “Versions of the Lord’s Prayer” Diocese of Winchester, Church of England

Prayers of the People
© Jeff Shrowder (https://thebillabong.info) Used with permission.

Blessing: May God Bless Your Eyes
from Jan Richardson’s the painted prayerbook website.
https://paintedprayerbook.com/

The Bible Reading is from New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Photo by Rev Linda Driver

Congregation Hymns/Songs:

Shalom
Together in Song 778
Elise Shoemaker Eslinger 1942- Words and music from the United Methodist Hymnal USA by permission United Methodist Publishing House.
All rights reserved.

Gather Us In
Together in Song 474.
Marty Haugen.© 1982 GIA Publications.

Be Thou My Vision
Melody: Together in Song 547
Gaelic c.8th cent.
Words from Chalice Hymnal, hymn 595, Eleanor Hull.

Amazing Grace
Together in Song, 129.
John Newton 1725-1807. Public Domain.