Order of Service – 19th March 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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Lent – Plot twists…

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 19, 2023
Preacher: Rev John Minchin

Prelude

Welcome

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

Lighting of the Candles and Introit – There’s a Wideness

John Stainer (TIS 136)

Call to Worship

God is mystery and awe
God is grand Creator and Holy Christ.
And one thing we know:
In the moment of love,
In the gift of healing,
In the act of grace,
In the holding to hope
Our God is with us.

Opening Prayer

We Sing: The Steadfast Love of the Lord (sing through twice)

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end.
They are new ev’ry morning, new ev’ry morning
Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord
Great is Thy faithfulness.

Prayer of Confession

Come Holy Spirit come.
Remind us of your grace, loving Jesus.
And forgive us when we choose to live distant from you.

If we push away small gifts Which you offer to us as your company In a tough part of life, because we insist on a bigger miracle,
Forgive us.

Come Holy Spirit, come.
Remind us of your grace, loving Jesus,
And forgive us when we choose to live distant from you.
Return us to faith
And enlarge our hope, O God,
Amen

Words of Assurance

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 and Music

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 from the entrances.

Scripture Readings: New Testament – John 9:1-41

As he walked along, he 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 neighbours 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 the man.’ 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.’ But 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, and 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 worshipped him. Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.’ Some of the Pharisees near 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.

Choral Anthem – The Lord’s My Shepherd

Bob Chilcott (Fl A 57)

Sermon – The Miracle of Seeing

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.

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

Offering

To give electronically please go to bpuc.org/give

Offering Prayer

Prayers of the People

And now we pray for ourselves, O God.
Create in us many miracles, O God.

Heal us from apathy and indifference, And from cynicism and refusals to believe that we could be part of the bringing in of just changes.
Create in us many miracles, O God.

Raise up in us prophetic witnesses to your love, and those who bring testimonies to the grandeur of your gifts.
Create in us many miracles, O God,
That we ourselves may see and believe in the hope of your reign.

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.

We Sing: Lord of All Hopefulness

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever child-like, no cares could destroy:
be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe:
be there at our labours, and give us, we pray,
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace:
be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm:
be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

Sending Forth and Benediction

Choral Blessing – And Now May the Courage

Rosemary Nairn

Postlude

Come and share morning tea together, downstairs in the basement

Some of the liturgy in this service is adapted from ‘Liturgies for High Days’ by Dorothy McRae-McMahon and Words for Worship, both published by MediaCom Education Inc. – mediacomeducation.org.au.