Order of Service – Christmas Eve 2025

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

December 24, 2025. 7.00pm

Welcome to Brougham Place Uniting Church.

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

Joy to the World, based on G.F. Handel arr. Norman Johnson

Opening Proclamation (Luke 2:10-11)

We sing: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Together in Song 303

Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the new-born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all you nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem’.

Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb:
veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate Deity,
pleased in human flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the new born King.

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings:
mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more need die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the new born King.

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

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

Call to Worship

On this holy night, we come,
dazzled and awe-struck,
ready to sing alongside the angels.
On this holy night, we come,
eager and hopeful,
ready to journey alongside the shepherds.
On this holy night, we come,
quietly and tenderly,
ready to worship alongside Mary.
On this holy night, we come,
singing, trusting, believing, proclaiming:
good news is louder than fear.
Let us worship our Good News, With-Us God.
Amen!

Introit: May We Hear the Angels Sing

Lighting the Christ Candle

In an anxious world, where do you see the presence of God?
We see God’s fingerprints all around us.
We see God in the beauty of the stars.
We see God in the love of this community.
We see God in the dreams we hold for a better world.

You are right. Even in an anxious world, God is here. God is all around us.

Through Advent we lit the candles of hope, peace, joy and love. On this holy night, we light the Christ Candle as a reminder of this good news that God is here! May this flicker of light help us remember that even in an anxious world, God’s love is all around us.

Thanks be to God for a love like that!
Amen.

Musical Offering: The Light, the Christmas Light

by Colin Gibson, arr. R. Nairn, words by Shirley Murray

Prayer of Illumination

God of yesterday, today and tomorrow,
we long to catch a glimpse of your Spirit.
We cup our ears to hear the sound of the angel chorus.
We turn our eyes toward the sky to see if we can find your star.
We lean forward in our seat to see if we can feel your presence in our midst.
We long to catch a glimpse of your Spirit, O God.

So on this quiet night,
on this holy night,
on this joyful night,
reveal yourself to us once more.

Speak to us through starlight and candlelight.
Speak to us through these ancient words once again.
We long to catch a glimpse of you.
Amen.

First Lesson: Isaiah 9:2,6-7

The Prophet Isaiah foretells the Birth of Christ

We sing: The Angel Gabriel

Together in Song 302

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
‘All hail,’ said he, ’thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
‘for known a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honour thee,
thy Son shall be Immanuel, by seers foretold;
most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
‘To me be as it pleaseth God,’ she said,
‘my soul shall laud and magnify his holy name’:
most highly favoured lady, Gloria!
of her, Immanuel, the Christ was born
in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say
‘most highly favoured lady’. Gloria!

Second Lesson: Luke 1:26-38

The Angel Gabriel Appears to Mary

We sing: Born in the Night

Together in Song 323

Born in the night,
Mary’s child,
a long way from your home;
coming in need,
Mary’s child,
born in a borrowed room.
Clear shining light,
Mary’s child,
your face lights up our way;
light of the world,
Mary’s child,
dawn on our darkened day.
Truth of our life,
Mary’s child,
you tell us God is good;
prove it is true,
Mary’s child,
go to your cross of wood.
Hope of the world,
Mary’s child,
you’re coming soon to reign;
King of the earth,
Mary’s child,
walk in our streets again.

Third Lesson: Luke 2:1-7

Jesus is born in Bethlehem

Preparing the Manger

Musical Offering: Glory to God on High

By Sharonne Price

Fourth Lesson: Luke 2:8-14

The angels visit the shepherds

Reflection: The Angels

Drama sketch by Rohan Hudson

Anthem: Angels Carol

Original fanfare written by Rosemary Nairn

Fifth Lesson: Luke 2:15-20

The shepherds go to the manger

Reflection: And did it happen?

From Cloth for the Cradle (Wild Goose Worship Group)

Offering and Christmas Bowl

To give electronically please go to bpuc.org/give

Musical Reflection: Sing with the Angels

By Dave MacGregor

Offering Prayer

Prayers of the People

Sixth Lesson: John 1:1-5

The light shines in the darkness

We light our candles

We sing: Silent Night

Together in Song 311

Silent night, holy night:
all is calm, all is bright
round the virgin mother and child,
holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night:
shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar,
heavenly hosts sing, ‘Alleluia!
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.’
Silent night, holy night:
wondrous star, lend your light;
with the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King;
Christ our Saviour is born,
Christ our Saviour is born.

Prayer for Christmas

We sing: Joy to the World

Together in Song 268

Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
let earth receive its king;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns;
let us our songs employ;
while fields and streams, 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.

Benediction

Postlude

Hallelujah Chorus: G.F. Handel

Thank you to all those who have participated in this evening’s service,
including you, for joining us!

May you know God’s peace and hope,
light and love, this Christmas.

If you would like to get in touch or request a prayer, please make use of the Contact Cards in the pews and next to the Offering Bowl. Alternately, you can email our Minister, Rev Linda Driver: lindad@bpuc.org

Congregation Hymns:

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Together in Song 303
Charles Wesley 1707-88 and other. Public Domain

The Angel Gabriel
Together in Song 302
Basque Carol paraphrased by Sabine Baring-Gould 1834‑1924. Public Domain.

Born in the Night
Together in Song 323
Words and music by permission Stainer & Bell, Geoffrey Ainger 1925-London. All rights reserved.

Silent Night
Together in Song 311
Franz Gruber 1787 – 1863. Joseph Mohr 1792-1848, tr John Freeman Young 1820-85 alt. Public Domain

Joy to the World
Together in Song 268
Isaac Watts, 1674-1748 alt Based on Psalm 98. Public Domain