Order of Service – 27th November 2022

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. For your Kindle use mobi. If you want to see it exactly as printed, or print your own there is a pdf.

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

Advent 1
November 27^th, 2022

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

Welcome

Introit

Come O God of all the Earth – Marty Haugen

Call to Worship

One: What can’t wait?
All: Hope for a better day.
One: What can’t wait?
All: Peace and repentance, among and within us.
One: What can’t wait?
All: Joy and delight! Our cup runs over.
One: What can’t wait
All: Love for self, love for neighbour, love for Creator, and love for creation.
One: God is waiting, and God is ready.
All: Starting here and now – let us worship Holy God. Amen.

Opening Prayer

We Sing: We Are Marching in the Light of God

We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, marching, we are marching, Oo
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, marching, we are marching, Oo
we are marching in the light of God.
We are loving in the light of God
We are living in the love of God
We are moving in the power of God

Together in Song 666. South African traditional tr. Anders Nyberg 1955- Words by permission Walton Music Corp., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Words used with permission under copyright CCLI Licence No 137219. Copyright cleared music for churches.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

As we prepare to light the first candle of the Advent Wreath for Hope, let us remain seated as 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.

Advent is a time of hope; not passive, easy hope;
but brave and courageous hope.
The kind of hope that sees what is
and believes instead in what could be.
The kind of hope that speaks truth to power,
and amplifies the whispers that bring change.

God of hopefulness, in this time of longing, plant in us a vision of a world regenerated through loving kindness; open our ears to hear words of truth in our midst and our mouths to proclaim a promising future for our children and our children’s children.
May we be bearers of your hope in a world longing for light.
Amen.

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

Passing of the Peace

The peace of our 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

Children’s Time – Introducing the Advent Calendar

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. A small collection of toys is available at the back of the church for your use.

Advent Monologue Karan Hudson

I am November 27 in your advent calendar. And today I am waiting for peace.
Can this wait?
I have heard it said that in the days to come He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
This waiting is not passive, oh no. Don’t for one minute imagine a gentle reclining lounge space with piped music and canapes. No, this space is filled with the cries of the people who have been enduring wars and conflict, terror and oppression. It’s a hard place to exist.
Think of villagers in Ukraine whose homes have been shelled or who have had to flee to safer parts of their own country in that conflict. No peace there.
Think of the teens who have run away from home because of domestic violence in their homes, where hands and voices not children are raised. Not such a peaceful life.
Or maybe a woman refugee in Uganda who has escaped Sudan where her family have mostly been killed and houses burned. Not much peace here either.
Or maybe think about a child whose parents have been blown up by a car bomb in Kabul in a seemingly endless cycle of violence. Does this seem like peace to you?
I am anticipating peace here because I am working toward it, one conversation, one day, one action at a time. I anticipate peace with my prayers, words and actions every day. If we speak and listen to one another with kindness and work for justice, then will we unlearn war in so doing? And I wait for the one who was promised. What about you?

Choral Anthem

Bread of the World – arr Alan Bullard

Scripture Readings:

Isaiah 2:1-5

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Psalm 122

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem built as a city that is bound firmly together. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.” For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.

The life-giving word of God.
Thanks be to God.

Sermon

We Sing: Beauty for Brokenness

Beauty for brokenness,
hope for despair,
Lord, in the suffering,
this is our prayer.
Bread for the children,
justice, joy, peace,
sunrise to sunset
your kingdom increase.
Shelter for fragile lives,
cures for their ills,
work for the craftsmen,
trade for their skills;
land for the dispossessed,
rights for the weak;
voices to plead the cause
of those who can’t speak.

God of the poor,
friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray;
melt our cold hearts,
let tears fall like rain.
Come change our love
from a spark to a flame.
Refuge from cruel wars,
havens from fear,
cities for sanctuary,
freedoms to share,
peace to the killing-fields,
scorched earth to green;
Christ for the bitterness,
his cross for the pain.
Rest for the ravaged earth,
oceans and streams,
plundered and poisoned,
our future, our dreams.
Lord, end our madness,
carelessness, greed;
make us content with
the things that we need.

God of the poor,
friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray;
melt our cold hearts,
let tears fall like rain.
Come change our love
from a spark to a flame.
Lighten our darkness,
breathe on this flame
until your justice burns
brightly again;
until the nations
learn of your ways,
seek your salvation
and bring you their praise.

God of the poor,
friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray;
melt our cold hearts,
let tears fall like rain.
Come change our love
from a spark to a flame.

Graham Kendrick. Words and music by permission Make Way Music, administered by Integrity Music. Words with permission under copyright CCLI Licence No. 137219. Copyright cleared music for churches.

Offering

To give electronically please go to bpuc.org/give

Prayers of the People

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: ‘I have a Dream’, a Man Once Said…

‘I have a dream’, a man once said,
‘where all is perfect peace;
Where men and women, black and white,
Stand hand in hand, and all unite
In freedom and in love.’
In freedom and in love.
But in this world of bitter strife
The dream can often fade;
Reality seems dark as night,
We catch but glimpses of the light
Christ sheds on human kind.
Christ sheds on human kind.
Fierce persecution, war, and hate
Are raging everywhere;
God calls us now to pay the price
Through struggles and through sacrifice
Of standing for the right.
Of standing for the right.
So dream the dreams and sing the songs,
But never be content;
For thoughts and words don’t ease the pain:
Unless there’s action, all is vain;
Faith proves itself in deeds.
Faith proves itself in deeds.
Lord, give us vision, make us strong,
Help us to do your will;
Don’t let us rest until we see
Your love throughout humanity
Uniting us in peace.
Uniting us in peace.

Church Hymnary 4 – 710. Pamela J Pettitt (b 1954)

Sending Forth and Benediction

Choral Blessing

Peace I Leave With You – Amy Beach

Postlude:

Please come and share morning tea in the basement. There are stairs behind the organ and a ramp between the church and the car park leading to the basement.

Compiled with the assistance of A Sanctified Art, Spill the Beans and Words for Worship.