Order of Service – 22nd October 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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October 22nd, 2023. 10.00am
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Pentecost 21
Featuring: Subtle Bricks
Liturgical colour: Green

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

Prelude

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

Niina marni!
Marni’ai!

We acknowledge the Kaurna people, the first inhabitants of this place.
We honour them for their custodianship of the land, on which we gather today.

Introit and Lighting of the Candles – Author of Faith

Wesley/Harrison Together in Song 565

Call to Worship

Almighty and everlasting God, you are a merciful and forgiving God.
You are worthy to be praised.

You are a kind and loving God.
You are worthy to be praised.

You are a righteous and just God.
You are worthy to be praised.

Almighty God, all glory and honour are yours because,
You are worthy to be praised.

We Sing: Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty,
early in the morning to you our praise shall be;
holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessèd Trinity.
Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore you,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before you,
God everlasting through eternity.
Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide you,
though the sinful human eye your glory may not see,
you alone are holy, there is none beside you
perfect in power, in love and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty,
all your works shall praise your name in earth and sky and sea;
holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessèd Trinity.

Together in Song 132 Reginald Heber 1783-1826 alt. Public Domain.

Opening Prayer

O Living God of past and future, we praise you for this present moment. Fill us with your joy and empower us with your Holy Spirit, that our strength may be renewed to sing a new song of your glory in a world which longs for your justice and peace. We ask this in the name of Jesus, in whom we become your new creation.

Prayer of Confession

God of justice and truth, we confess that there are times when we get confused about what is most important for us. We are sorry for the times when we forget to keep you at the centre of our lives. Help us to refocus our lives on you, so that we may live as your followers in all we say and do.

(a time of silence is held)

Words of Grace

Hear then this good news: In Christ, your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

Passing of the Peace

May the grace and peace of God be with you.
And also with you.

Community News and Notices

Current or previous BP E-news and to sign up to receive BP E-news

Song: Getting to Know You

Choir Only – Sing once through.

As we learn, about you today
As you learn, about us today
As we learn, together on the way
God is here with us to-day.

Getting to know…Subtle Bricks and Linda

We Sing – Congregation sings once.

As we learn, about you today
As you learn, about us today
As we learn, together on the way
God is here with us to-day.

Tune from Love and Anger song 70. African American traditional. © . Wild Goose Resource Group. Words M Harris

Children’s Time

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.

We Sing: Icon of Grace

Choir to sing through once, then Congregation join in 3 times through.

May we see Christ’s loving face
May we be an icon of His grace

Whose Image is that? (part 1)

Subtle Bricks

Bible Reading

Matthew 22:15-22 NRSVUE

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one, for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this and whose title?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed, and they left him and went away.

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

Whose Image is that? (part 2)

Subtle Bricks

Message

Choral Anthem: – I Will Talk With My Heart

Barry Brinson (Hope 69)

Prayers of the People

Response:

In your love,
hear our prayer.

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 in 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:

…Receive us and the gifts we bring, that the world might know you and the gifts you offer.
Amen.

We Sing: Take My Life and Let it Be

Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold,
nothing, Lord, would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.|
Take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love: my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.

Together in Song 599. Frances Ridley Havergal 1836 – 79 alt. Public Domain.

Word of Mission and Benediction

With Christ as our centre,
we are renewed in hope.

With Christ as our centre,
we are called to serve.

With Christ as our centre,
we are sent forth in love.

May God bless you and keep you. May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May God look upon you with kindness and give you peace.

Choral Blessing: — Shalom, my friends

Gillies Ambler

Postlude

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.

* We join in solidarity with Christians around the world this week, praying for countries in the Caribbean, including: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, Saba, St. Eustatia, Cayman Islands, St Barts, Martinque, Guadeloupe, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Anguilla, Turks & Caicos, Puerto Rico.

Thank you to Subtle Bricks Theatre Company for joining us this morning!

Some of the liturgy in this service has been adapted from: The Abingdon Worship Annual 2023 (ed. Mary Scifres and B.J. Beu) The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle: https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/the-caribbean re:Worship Scripturally-based resources for worship planners and leaders https://re-worship.blogspot.com/