Order of Service – 8th January 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

The First Sunday after Epiphany
January 8, 2023

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

Prelude

Welcome

Lighting of Candles and Introit:

Instrumental – Lennon/Morris Family: Amazing Grace

Call to Worship

Thanks be to you, O God, that we have risen this day,
To the rising of this life itself
Be the purpose of God between us and each hand
The hand of God between us and each hand
The pain of Christ between us and each pain,
The love of Christ between us and each love
O God, who brought us to the bright light of this new day
Bring us to the guiding light of eternity.

Opening Prayer

We Sing: Gather Us In

Here in this place new light is streaming,
now is the darkness vanished away,
see, in this space, our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken;
gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken,
we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery;
we are the old, who yearn for your face;
we have been sung throughout all of history,
called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty;
gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage to enter the song.
Not in the dark of buildings confining,
not in some heaven light years away,
but here in this space, the new light is shining,
now is the kingdom, now is the day.

Gather us in, and hold us forever;
gather us in, and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together,
fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

Prayer

Welcome and Introduction to Rev Robyn Caldicott, Supply Minister

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 Activities. Parents, you are welcome to join your child in Activities 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.

We Sing: In the Lord I’ll be Ever Thankful

(Sung twice)

In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful,
in the Lord I will rejoice!
Look to God, do not be afraid.
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.

Taize. Words: Ps 145:10, 18. Music: Jacques Berthier. © 1986, 1991 Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, Taizé Community, France; GIA Publications Inc., exclusive North American agent. All rights reserved. ONE LICENSE, License #A‑604444

Scripture Reading – Isaiah 42: 1- 9

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

Scripture Reading – Matthew 3: 13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

From this shines forth the word of God.
Thanks be to God.

We Sing: In the Lord I’ll be Ever Thankful

(Sung twice)

In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful,
in the Lord I will rejoice!
Look to God, do not be afraid.
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.

Taize Words: Ps 145:10, 18. Music: Jacques Berthier. © 1986, 1991 Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, Taizé Community, France; GIA Publications Inc., exclusive North American agent. All rights reserved. ONE LICENSE, License #A‑604444

Sermon

We Sing: O, let the Son of God Enfold You

let the Son of God enfold you
with his Spirit and his love;
let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul;
O, let him have the things that hold you
and his Spirit, like a dove,
will descend upon your life and make you whole.

Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill our lives;
Jesus, o Jesus, come and fill our lives.
O come and sing this song with gladness
as your hearts are filled with joy;
lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name;
O, give him all your tears and sadness,
give him all your years of pain,
and you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name.

Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill our lives;
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill our lives.

Offering

Now is the time for our offering, offerings can be made electronically, or left in the wooden box as you leave the service. All that we have and all that we are, are gifts from God.

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: We Sing a Love that Sets All People Free

We sing a love that sets all people free,
that blows like wind, that burns like scorching flame,
enfolds like earth, springs up like water clear:
come, living love, live in our hearts today.
We sing a love that seeks another’s good,
that longs to serve, and not to count the cost,
a love that, yielding, finds itself made new:
come, caring love, live in our hearts today.
We sing a love, unflinching, unafraid
to be itself, despite another’s wrath,
a love that stands alone and undismayed:
come, strengthening love, live in our hearts today.
We sing a love, that, wandering, will not rest
until it finds its way, its home, its source,
through joy and sadness pressing on refreshed:
come, pilgrim love, live in our hearts today.
We sing a burning, fiery, Holy Ghost
that seeks out shades of ancient bitterness,
transfiguring these, as Christ in every heart:
come joyful love, live in our hearts today.

Sending Forth and Benediction

Blessing: Father, Bless Us as We Go

(Sung 3 times)

Father, bless us as we go,
Jesus, walk beside us.
Holy spirit, guide us.

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.