Order of Service – 26th February 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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Lent – Plot twists…

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

The first Sunday of Lent
February 26, 2023
Preacher: Rev Robyn Caldicott

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

Prelude

Welcome

Lighting of the Candles and Introit

On Eagle’s wings – Michael Jonas (TiS 48)

Call to Worship

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad
A parched desert suddenly blooms with wildflowers
Truly, God is our hiding place.
We shall not fear when waters rise.
Wise counsel is offered to those who pray:
The word that comes from the mouth of God brings life.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad.

Opening Prayer of Praise and Adoration

Creator of all that we can see and all that we can’t, who are we that you would invite us to fill this home and make it fruitful? Who are we that you would give us the responsibility to partner with you in caring for this world?

Though we court disaster, still you lavish us in grace.
Happy are those who get a fresh start, whose slate is wiped clean!

Merciful God, you are our safe place, our refuge – You keep us from trouble and surround us with glad cries of deliverance. We celebrate you, gracious God, and rejoice in your wisdom and guidance.
Let your hearts be happy, O righteous.
Shout for joy, all you with upstanding hearts!
Amen.

We Sing: Shout to the Lord

My Jesus, my Saviour Lord, there is none like you;
all of my days I want to praise
the wonders of your mighty love.
My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength,
let every breath, all that I am,
never cease to worship you.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth
let us sing, power and majesty,
praise to the King.
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
at the sound of your name.
I sing for joy at the work of your hands;
for ever I’ll love you, for ever I’ll stand.
Nothing compares to the promise I have in you!

Together in Song 738, ATOK 369 Darlene Zschech. Words and Music © D. Zschech 1993,Hillsong Music, Australia. Words used with permission under copyright CCLI Licence No 137219. Copyright cleared music for churches.

Prayer of Intercession

…
Forgive us O God.
Call us away from this temptation.

If we hold endlessly onto grappling with our questions Because we do not want to hear the answers: Forgive us, O God.

Sound your truth strongly into our hearts
In the voice of one who knows us so well.
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

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.

Choral Anthem

I will talk with my heart – Barry Brinson (Hope 69)

Scripture Reading: Old Testament – Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.’

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.”’ But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Scripture Readings: New Testament – Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you”,
and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”’
Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”’
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

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

Sermon

We Sing: God Beyond All Names

God, beyond our dreams,
you have stirred in us a mem’ry;
you have placed your pow’rful spirit
in the hearts of human kind.

All around us we have known you,
all creation lives to hold you.
In our living and our dying
we are bringing you to birth.
God, beyond all names,
you have made us in your image;
we are like you, we reflect you;
we are woman, we are man.

All around us we have known you,
all creation lives to hold you.
In our living and our dying
we are bringing you to birth.
God, beyond all words,
all creation tells your story;
you have shaken with our laughter,
you have trembled with our tears.

All around us we have known you,
all creation lives to hold you.
In our living and our dying
we are bringing you to birth.
God, beyond all time,
you are laboring within us;
we are moving, we are changing
in your spirit ever new.

All around us we have known you,
all creation lives to hold you.
In our living and our dying
we are bringing you to birth.
God of tender care,
you have cradled us in goodness;
you have mothered us in wholeness,
you have loved us into birth.

All around us we have known you,
all creation lives to hold you.
In our living and our dying
we are bringing you to birth.

Offering

To give electronically please go to bpuc.org/give

Offering Prayer

Prayers of the People

Remind us, O Christ, of your true way.

Go with us along the path of humility, In the spreading of good and justice and compassion into the world,
In offering love which is not founded on our own gain
And in finding peace which is beyond describing.
This we pray in trembling faith. 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: 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.

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

AGM Announcement and Musical Interlude

Today we are having our Annual General Meeting. If you prefer not to stay, please leave via the front entrance during the Musical Interlude.

After the AGM we continue in worship

We Sing: Amazing Grace

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.

Sending Forth and Benediction

Choral Blessing:

A Blessing – Gillies Ambler / 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, Words for Worship, both published by MediaCom Education Inc. – mediacomeducation.org.au and resources published by Moira Laidlaw (B.A., Dip.Theol., D.Min.)