Order of Service – 6th April 2025

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

Sunday 6 April, 2025
Preacher: Pastor Trevor Phillips
Lent 5. Purple

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

As you wait for worship to begin, please turn your phone to silent.

Prelude

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

Naa marni?
(Are you all good?)
Marni Ai!
(Good I am)

Lighting of the Candles

We listen: “Breathe, Listen, and Notice”

You are invited to listen and then sing just the words in Bold.

Help us speak less,
slow judgement,
breathe,
listen,
and notice…
breathe,
listen,
and notice…
what is present in the dissonance, discomfort,
and the questions.
Help us rest well,
find balance,
breathe,
listen,
and notice…
breathe,
listen,
and notice…
what is present in simplicity, in slowness,
and in quiet.
Help us lean in,
seek wisdom,
breathe,
listen,
and notice…
breathe,
listen,
and notice…
what is present in the letting go, the learning,
and the struggle.
Help us love well,
walk humbly,
breathe,
listen,
and notice…
breathe,
listen,
and notice…
God is calling us to faithfulness, compassion,
and to courage.

Breathe,
listen,
and notice,
breathe,
listen,
and notice.

Call to Worship

We come to worship
because we long for mercy.
We long for community.
We long for God.

We come to worship
because we need a good word.
We need connection.
We need moral reminders.

We come to worship
because we are in between:
hope and grief,
faith and doubt,
joy and longing,
curiosity and conviction.

So we come to worship
and God meets us here.
Surely, we are not alone.
Thanks be to God for meeting us in the middle! Amen.

We sing: The Power of Your Love

Lord I come to you:
let my heart be changed, re-newed,
flowing from the grace that I found in you.
And, Lord, I’ve come to know
the weaknesses I see in me
will be stripped away by the power of your love.

    Hold me close, let your love surround me;
    bring me near, draw me to your side:
    and as I wait I’ll rise up like the eagle,
    and I will soar with you:
    your Spirit leads me on
    in the power of your love.
Lord, unveil my eyes,
let me see you face to face,
the knowledge of your love as you live in me.
Lord renew my mind
as your will unfolds in my life,
in living every day in the power of your love.

    Hold me close, let your love surround me;
    bring me near, draw me to your side:
    and as I wait I’ll rise up like the eagle,
    and I will soar with you:
    your Spirit leads me on
    in the power of your love.

Together in Song, 685. Geoffrey William Bullock 1955- Words from The songs of Geoff Bullock by permission Nightlight Music Group (Aust) Words used with permission under copyright CCLI Licence No 137219. Copyright cleared music for churches.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God,
When we fail to be righteous,
show us mercy.
When we fail to be merciful,
show us what is right.
Again and again,
bring us closer to you.
Again and again,
show us the way.
Amen.

Words of Assurance

When we fail to be righteous,
God is merciful.
When we fail to be merciful,
God invites us to try again.
Again and again,
God moves closer to us.
Again and again,
God shows us the way.
Thanks be to God for this unending love.
Amen.

Passing of the Peace

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

Community News and Notices

LentEvent

We stand with the poor and vulnerable on the frontlines of climate change through LentEvent: 40 days of faith-filled action for God’s Creation.

Pick up a brochure or go to: www.lentevent.com.au

Go to our website to view current or previous issues of BP E-news and to sign up to receive BP E-news by email.

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 listen: “Breathe Listen and Notice”

Instrumental.

Prayer for Illumination

Loving God,
Week after week we return to this space,
because we long to see you.
Like Zacchaeus who climbed a tree
to get a peek at you as you walked by,
we come to this sanctuary hoping to get a peek
of your goodness,
of your joy,
of your light.
So speak to us through these ancient words.
Let us get a peek of the love that lingers here.
Gratefully we pray,
Amen.

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:1-10

He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

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

Creative Offering: Subtle Bricks

“Up the Tree”

Message

**Zacchaeus**
by Lauren Wright Pittman
Inspired by Luke 19:1-10
*Digital painting*

We sing: Righteous Mercy

Since our childhood you have taught us
What is wrong and what is right
Nurturing our sense of justice
Fueling us to work and fight
Keep that fire for justice burning
In the shadow of our fear
Even there your Spirit’s stirring
Lighting us a path so clear
Though there’s wideness in your mercy
Let us not abuse that grace
Called into this Christian journey
Let our lives reflect our faith
When we falter and fall short of
Our commitment to your will
Hold us, wrapping us in your love
As we work toward wholeness still
Far too often we hold onto
Anger dressed as righteousness
We forget we serve a God who
Calls us to relationship
So when those who caused us harm
Repent and choose a better way
Spirit move our vengeful hearts
To choose love instead of wrath

Tune: Together in Song 217(i) HYFRYDOL (“Love Divine”) ©Anna Strickland, 2024. Commissioned by A Sanctified Art, LLC. Free for congregational use.

Affirmation of Faith

In a world that loves to cast blame
and point fingers,
Jesus loved by different rules.

He offered mercy.
He invited people to dinner.
He told stories of love.
He chose to see the best in others.

We believe that small acts of mercy
and compassion have ripple effects in our lives.
We believe that small acts of righteousness
and justice are integral to a life of faith.

So like Christ, we believe in
offering mercy,
inviting people to dinner,
telling stories of love,
and choosing to see the best in others.

With God’s help, may it be so. Amen.

Prayers of the People

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 from 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

We sing: The Power of Your Love (Version 2)

Lord, you come to me,
and as my heart is changed, released,
this miracle of grace
gently sets me free.
And, Lord, I’ve come to know
the weaknesses I see in me
will be stripped away
by the power of your love.

    You hold me close,
    you’ve let your love surround me;
    for you’ve come near,
    to draw me to your side;
    and in your life
    I’m rising like the eagle,
    and I will soar with you:
    as your spirit leads me on
    in the power of your love.
Lord, unveil my eyes,
you let me see you face to face,
in the knowledge of your love
as you live, in me.
You renew my mind
as your will unfolds in my life,
in living every day
in the power of your love

    You hold me close,
    you’ve let your love surround me;
    for you’ve come near,
    to draw me to your side;
    and in your life
    I’m rising like the eagle,
    and I will soar with you:
    as your spirit leads me on
    in the power of your love.
Lord you’ve come to all,
with hope that shines to light the way
as mercy soothes our souls,
healing every heart.
Love that sees the tears
overcomes our darkest fears.
Grace that lifts us up
in the power of your love.

    You hold me close,
    you’ve let your love surround me;
    for you’ve come near,
    to draw me to your side;
    and in your life
    I’m rising like the eagle,
    and I will soar with you:
    as your spirit leads me on
    in the power of your love.

Sending Forth and Benediction

As you leave this place,
may you find God in every messy middle.
May you know that the world is bigger than two sides.
May you trust that you are made in the image of God,
and therefore, you contain multitudes.
So may you move through this world with an open heart,
with a curious mind, and with confidence that you do not go alone.
God is with you in the mountains, in the valleys,
and everywhere in between.
Believe that good news, and go in peace.
Amen

We sing: Thuma Mina

Thuma mina, thuma mina,
thuma mina Somandla.

Repeat
Send me, Jesus;
send me, Jesus;
send me, Jesus;
send me, Lord.

Repeat
Lead me, Jesus;
lead me, Jesus;
lead me, Jesus;
lead me, Lord.

Repeat
We will go, Lord;
we will go, Lord:
in your name, Lord,
we will go.

Repeat

Melody: Together in Song 749. Traditional South African. Words by permission Walton Music Corporation, Florida, USA.

Extroit

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. All are welcome!

This service has been prepared with assistance from

SANCTIFIED ART EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN WORDS FOR WORSHIP
@sanctifiedart | sanctifiedart.org | contact@sanctifiedart.org

The Bible Reading is from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE). Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

L3: Liturgy, Learning, and (purposeful) Life. Writer: Cathie Lambert

Offering Prayer adapted from one written by Jennifer Watts. Posted in United for Peace, on the United Church of Canada website. http://www.united-church.ca/files/planning/seasons/peace_u4p.pdf