Order of Service – Christmas Day 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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Christmas Day

Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

December 25th, 2023. 9.00am
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Liturgical colour: White

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!

Introit and Candle Lighting

One Star – Malcolm Archer

Call to Worship

In the beginning,
at the start of everything,
at the genesis of creation,
in the beginning,
God spoke.

In the beginning,
God made the universe.
In the beginning,
was the Word.

In the beginning,
was the Word with God.

In the beginning,
was God.

We sing: O Come, All Ye Faithful

O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
come and behold him
born the King of angels:

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!
True God of true God,
Light of Light eternal,
lo, he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father,
begotten, not created:

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing all ye citizens of heaven above,
‘Glory to God,
glory in the highest’:

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!
Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning,
Jesus to thee be glory given;
Word of the father
now in flesh appearing:

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!

Together in Song 304. Words by William Thomas Brooke 1848 – 1917. PD.

Opening Prayer

In the beginning was the Word – God with us.
In the beginning – was everything.
Thanks be to God.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

We sing: Christ, Be our Light!

Longing for hope, sign of your justice.
Darkness be gone, let there be light.
Hope born anew, Spirit among us,
guiding our heart and soul.

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

All Together OK, 313. Words and music: Bernadette Farrell. © 1993 Bernadette Farrell. Published by OCP Publications. All rights reserved. ONE LICENSE. License #A‑604444. Verse written by Rev Susan Wickham. Used with permission.

Passing of the Peace

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

Choral Anthem:

Anthem: The Christmas Tree – Wheeler / James

Scripture Reading 1: Luke 2: 1-7

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Gospel of Christ, God with Us.
Thanks be to God.

We Sing: O Little Town of Bethlehem #1

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see you lie!
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by:
yet, in your dark streets shining
the everlasting light,
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in you tonight.

Children’s Time

We Sing: O Little Town of Bethlehem #2

For Christ is born of Mary;
and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King
and peace to all on earth.

Scripture Reading 2: Luke 2: 8-18

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see–I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

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

We Sing: O Little Town of Bethlehem #3

O holy child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in,
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
their great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel.

Together in Song 316. Phillip Brooks 1835-93. Public Domain.

Scripture Reading 3: John 1:1-14 NRSVUE

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

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

Reflection

We Sing: Love Came Down at Christmas

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus:
but wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
love be yours and love be mine,
love to God and neighbours,
love for plea and gift and sign.

Together in Song. 317 Christina Georgina Rossetti, 1830-94 alt. Public Domain.

Christmas Bowl

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.

We sing: Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive its King;
let ev’ry heart prepare him room
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns;
let us our songs employ,
while fields and stream, rocks, hills, and plains,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

Isaac Watts, 1674 – 1748 alt. based on Psalm 98. Public Domain.

Sending Forth and Benediction

Sing a new song to God!
Go into this day singing in your hearts.
Go into this day full of the light and love of God.
Go remembering:
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness did not overtake it.
Amen.

Sung Blessing:

Southern Cross – Rosemary Nairn

Postlude

May you know God’s peace and hope, joy and love, this Christmas!

This service has been prepared with assistance from L3 Liturgical Resource, Writer: Paul Turley and Christmas Bowl