Order of Service – 17th December 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

December 17th, 2023. 10.00am
Advent 3
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Liturgical colour: Purple

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

Prelude

Welcome

Niina marni!
Marni’ai!

Acknowledgment of Country

Call to Worship

Joy will be felt around the world,
when the oppressed receive the Good News.

Joy will break out around the world,
when the broken-hearted are given support.

Joy will be celebrated around the world,
when those held captive know freedom.

Joy will be experienced around the world,
when the everlasting joy of God is lived out by all God’s people.

Lighting of the Candles and Introit – When God Almighty

Robert Keith Boughen (Together in Song 281)

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

God is at work to bring forth joy!
Speak good news to the poor!

God is at work to bring forth joy!
Bind up broken hearts!

God is at work to bring forth joy!
Set the captives free!

God turns the world upside down. God’s reign of justice and renewal is near.
Our hearts rejoice in God’s Good News!

God has come among us with joy. God is coming again. And so, as we wait, we light the candle of joy.

We Sing: He Came Down that We May Have Joy

He came down
that we may have joy;

He came down
that we may have joy;

He came down
that we may have joy;
hallelujah for evermore.

(Sing song twice)

Opening Prayer

Prayer of Confession

Words of Grace

My sisters, my brothers, my siblings in Christ, God who calls you is faithful and will never let you go. In Christ, your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God! Amen.

Passing of the Peace

The peace of our God be with you.
And also with you.

We Sing: Joy to the World

Joy to the world! The promised one
Has come shalom to bring;
let every heart prepare a room,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the world! The Saviour reigns;
let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
Graceful and true, the Saviour rules,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of the ways of peace
and wonders of God’s love,
and wonders of God’s love,
and wonders, and wonders of God’s love.

Together in Song 268. Isaac Watts 1674-1748 based on Psalm 98(97) Adaptation by Ruth Duck Used by permission.

Communion

Setting of the Table

Words of Institution

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May God be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to our God.

Let us give thanks to God our Creator.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

God of love…

…We join together with the voices, of heaven and earth, and all of creation, saying:
Holy, holy, holy God, of all creation and life,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory,
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
Hosanna in the highest!

And so …

…that we may know Christ’s presence, through this visible sign of your grace and be his faithful followers, showing your love for all.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory is yours God of Love,
for ever, 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

The Communion

Prayer After Communion

Let’s pray:
We thank you for this meal, God of love,
and for welcoming us to this table.
May our lives be strengthened to follow the example of Jesus,
who called us to share love and to serve others.
May God’s Spirit draw us closer
so that we may be found
centred in God’s grace, enfolded in God’s love,
and reflecting God’s light into the world. Amen

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.

Choral Anthem

Sing Gloria – Wheeler / James

Scripture Reading: John 1:6-8, 19-28

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but he confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said,

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’”

as the prophet Isaiah said.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why, then, are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

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

Message

We Sing: The First Nowell

The first Nowell the Angel did say
Was to certain poor Shepherds in fields as they lay.
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.
Born is the King of Israel.
When they looked up they saw a star
Shining in the East, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued, both day and night.

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.
Born is the King of Israel.
This Star drew nigh to the North-West;
Over Bethlehem it took its rest.
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.
Born is the King of Israel.

Together in Song 301. Anon, English c. 17th cent.

Community News and Notices

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Commissioning of the Christmas Angels

Prayers of the People

Response:

God in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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.

“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”

Offering Prayer

We sing: Christ Be Our Light

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
Make us your living voice.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for joy, many are weeping.
Memories haunt, troubles press in.
Walk in our sorrow, lead us to laughter –
joy welling up from within.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.

Sending Forth and Benediction

Choral Blessing

A Clare Benediction – John Rutter (Fl A #9 P 41)

Postlude

Ave Maria

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 leading to the basement. You are welcome!

Compiled with the assistance of: L3 Liturgical Resource A Liturgy for Communion by Roddy Hamilton