Order of Service – 8th November 2026

The Order of Service follows below.

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Please join us in saying and singing the words printed in bold text. Items in red text are for information and explanation and are not spoken.

Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga

Preacher: Rev Linda Driver

Passionate Giving Week 1

Baptism: Alaska Vandenberg

Liturgical week: Pentecost 24 (Ordinary 32)

Colour: Green

Welcome to Brougham Place Uniting Church.

We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional carers of this land on which we gather today.

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

Prelude

Lighting of Christ Candle

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

A special welcome to the family and friends of Zoe and Brandon, who have come from near and far to celebrate the baptism of their daughter, Alaska, later in our service.

Naa marni?

(Are you all good?)

Marni Ai!

(Good I am)

Introit and Lighting of the Candles

This Little Light of Mine

Call to Worship

Family of God, rejoice!

The reign of God is all around us!

Let us keep awake: God is here among us.

Sometimes we grow weary in the waiting,

and we wonder if we are watching and working for nothing.

Let us keep awake: God is here among us.

Sometimes God surprises,

and we are overwhelmed by joy

and wonder at all God is doing among us.

Let us keep awake: God is here among us.

Family of God,

whether you are weary or energized,

worried or wonder-filled, rejoice!

The reign of God is all around us!

Let us keep awake: God is here among us.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

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.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.

Longing for hope, many despair.

Your word alone has power to save us.

Make us your living voice.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

Many the gifts, many the people,

many the hearts that yearn to belong.

Let us be servants to one another,

making your kingdom come.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

Psalm 78:1–7

Listen, my people, to my teaching,

and pay attention to what I say.

I am going to use wise sayings

and explain mysteries from the past,

things we have heard and known,

things that our ancestors told us.

We will not keep them from our children;

we will tell the next generation

about the Lord’s power and his great deeds

and the wonderful things he has done.

He gave laws to the people of Israel

and commandments to the descendants of Jacob.

He instructed our ancestors

to teach his laws to their children,

so that the next generation might learn them

and in turn should tell their children.

In this way they also will put their trust in God

and not forget what he has done,

but always obey his commandments.

Opening Prayer

God of holiness,

you long for us to know your dreams and hopes for us,

so you speak to us in parables,

that we might pay careful attention to your words.

You give us the stories of those who went before us,

so we might pass them on to the generations to come.

Fill us with the holy oil of generosity and grace,

make us ready to welcome Jesus Christ,

and open our hearts to those in need.

On this day, we choose to serve you,

God in Community, Holy in One.

Amen.

Prayer of Confession

God of patience,

we confess that we often live distracted.

We rush.

We delay.

We assume there will always be more time.

We neglect the small things

that form our lives,

attention, kindness, prayer, presence.

Forgive us.

Gently turn us back

to what matters.

Words of Grace

Hear this:

God is not waiting to catch you unprepared.

God is already with you,

in the slow work of your becoming.

Even now,

grace is forming something within you.

You are held.

You are not too late.

Thanks be to God.

Passing of the Peace

The peace of our God be with you.

And also with you.

Community News and Notices

You can sign up to receive BP E-news by email and read past issues on our website: www.bpuc.org

BPUC is now on WhatsApp! To join, tap the link.

Children’s Time (Exploring the Theme)

Baptism of Alaska

Welcome

Introduction

Scripture

The Meaning of Baptism

The Confession of Faith

Please join me in this Statement of Faith.

We are not alone; we live in God’s world.

We believe in God:

who has created and is creating;

who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,

to reconcile and make new;

who works in us and others by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:

to celebrate God’s presence;

to love and serve others;

to seek justice and resist evil;

to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

God is with us.

We are not alone.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Baptism

Responses

Friends in Christ, will you promise to maintain a life of worship and teaching, witness and service so that this child and all the children among us may grow in the grace of Jesus Christ and the knowledge and love of God?

With God’s help, we will live out our baptism

as a loving community in Christ:

we will nurture one another in faith,

uphold one another in prayer,

and encourage one another in service. Amen.

Prayers

Song of Blessing: May the feet of God walk with you

May the feet of God walk with you

And His hand hold you tight

May the eye of God rest on you

And His ear hear your cry

May the smile of God be for you

And His breath give you life

May the Child of God grow in you

And His love bring you home.

Presentation

Blessing

Children and Young People may go downstairs for Sunday School and Youth. Parents, you are welcome to join your young children in Sunday School if you feel they 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.

Choral Anthem

Keep Your Lamps (Trimmed and Burning)

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:1–13

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those young women got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. Later the other young women came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The Gospel of Christ, Light of the world.

Thanks be to God.

Homily: Keeping the Light Burning

Passionate Giving Story: A church that thinks out loud

(Rev John Minchin)

Offering

Offering: to give electronically please go to bpuc.org/give or scan the code below.

Alternatively, there is an offering bowl near the lectern on the left-hand side as you exit the church.

Passionate Giving: to respond online, go to give.bpuc.church or scan this code, on or before Sunday 29 November.

Offering Prayer

Wise God, you call us to keep our lamps alight through the long wait. Fill us with the oil of generous hearts, set aside before the night comes, that the light of Brougham Place may shine on the hill for all who walk in the dark.

Amen.

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: Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve You

Brother, sister, let me serve you,

let me be as Christ to you;

pray that I may have the grace to

let you be my servant too.

I will hold the Christ-light for you

in the night-time of your fear;

I will hold my hand out to you,

speak the peace you long to hear.

When we sing to God in heaven

we shall find such harmony,

born of all we’ve known together

of Christ’s love and agony.

Brother, sister, let me serve you,

let me be as Christ to you;

pray that I may have the grace to

let you be my servant too.

Sending Forth and Benediction

Go now,

in trust of what God is forming in you.

Go slowly.

Go attentively.

Go with courage.

And may the God who meets you in the waiting,

the Christ who calls you to stay awake,

and the Spirit who kindles your light

go with you,

now and always.

Amen.

Choral Blessing:

May Light Come Into Your Eyes (TiS 780)

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!

Thank you for joining us for worship!
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

This service has been prepared with assistance from

Liturgy, Learning, & (Purposeful) Life (L3).
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 78:1–7 is from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version, Second Edition. Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Call to Worship: Dr Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, August 2026. Used with acknowledgement.

Opening Prayer: adapted from Thom Shuman, Lectionary Liturgies; reposted on the re:Worship blog (re-worship.blogspot.com, October 2011).

Statement of Faith: A New Creed, The United Church of Canada (in Uniting in Worship 2). Used by permission.

The offering prayer is from the Passionate Giving preaching notes, Carolyn Kitto, 2026. Cover: Passionate Giving title, A church that thinks out loud.

Congregation Hymns/Songs:

Christ, Be Our Light.
All Together OK 313. Words and music: Bernadette Farrell. © 1993 Bernadette Farrell. Published by OCP Publications. All rights reserved.

May the Feet of God Walk with You.
Together in Song 779. Words: Aub Podlich. Music: Robin Mann. © 1983.

Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve You.
Together in Song 650. Words and music: Richard Gillard. By permission Integrity Music (Aust). All rights reserved.