A Light on the Hill

Order of Service – 1st March 2026

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

March 1, 2026
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Lent 2. Purple.

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

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

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

Jesus Christ is the Light of the World.
Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God

Bringing Forward the Word, Lighting the Candles

We sing: Jesus Calls Us Here to Meet Him

  1. Jesus calls us here to meet him
    as, through word and song and prayer,
    we affirm God’s promised presence
    where his people live and care.
    Praise the God who keeps his promise;
    praise the Son who calls us friends;
    praise the Spirit who, among us,
    to our hopes and fears attends.

  2. Jesus calls us to confess him
    Word of Life and Lord of All,
    sharer of our flesh and frailness
    saving all who fail or fall.
    Tell his holy human story;
    tell his tales that all may hear;
    tell the world that Christ in glory
    came to earth to meet us here.

  3. Jesus calls us to each other:
    found in him are no divides.
    Race and class and sex and language
    such are barriers he derides.
    Join the hand of friend and stranger;
    join the hands of age and youth;
    join the faithful and the doubter
    in their common search for truth.

Opening Prayer

God of the long road,
you call us to walk by faith, not by sight.
You beckon us from the familiar
toward a future known only to you.
In our weariness, lift us.
In our fear, steady us.
In our grief, remind us that every step is held in grace.
As Abram heard your promise under foreign stars,
as Nicodemus heard your truth in the quiet of night,
so may we hear your voice today,
calling us into life that cannot be contained or controlled,
only trusted, only lived.
Amen.

Prayer of Confession

God of promise and patience,
we confess that we cling to certainty more than to you.
We resist the unknown,
we shrink from risk,
we forget your faithfulness behind and before us.
Forgive us for mistaking comfort for peace
and hesitation for wisdom.
Forgive the smallness of our hope.

Silent reflection

Words of Assurance

Hear this truth:
the One who calls you also keeps you.
Even when faith falters, grace remains.
God’s love goes before you, behind you, beside you, always.
In Christ, you are forgiven and free to journey on.
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

LentEvent

We sing: Jesus’ Hands were Kind Hands

  1. Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all,
    healing pain and sickness, blessing children small;
    washing tired feet, and saving those who fall;
    Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all.

  2. Take my hands, Lord Jesus, let them work for you,
    make them strong and gentle, kind in all I do;
    let me watch you, Jesus, till I’m gentle too,
    till my hands are kind hands, quick to work for you.

Children’s Time (Exploring the Theme)

Children to sit with their families in readiness for Communion

We sing: Give Thanks

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks because He’s given, Jesus Christ his Son.
(repeat)

And now let the weak say, ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say, ‘I am rich’
because of what the Lord has done for us.
(repeat)

…Give thanks,
give thanks,
give thanks.

Communion

Invitation

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to our God.
Let us give thanks to God our Creator.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Source of all life, …

… and so we raise our voices,
together with heaven and earth,
your people throughout all time and in all places,
saying:
Holy, holy, holy, God of all creation and life,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory,
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
Hosanna in the highest!

Words of Institution

The Lord’s Prayer (Inclusive Version)

O Life-Giver at the heart of all Being,
holy is your presence.
May your Culture of grace replace our own,
and your delight be fulfilled,
as this world becomes heaven.
Give us our sustenance, one breath at a time,
and make us completely forgiving of ourselves and others.
Save us from the weakness of our will,
and deliver us from the power of evil.
For all Being is yours; all power is yours; all glory is yours,
in this moment, in eternity. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread and take this cup
so that we can all share in the life of Christ.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

The Communion

Prayer After Communion

Children may go downstairs for Sunday School. Youth will stay in the service on Communion Sundays this year. Parents of young children, 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.

Scripture Reading: John 3:1-17

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.

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

Message

We sing: Faith Will Not Grow..

  1. Faith will not grow from words alone,
    from proofs provided, scripture known;
    our faith must feel its way about,
    and live with question-marks and doubt.

  2. The pattern Jesus showed, we share:
    life comes through death, hope through despair.
    God is made known in brokenness,
    and faith feeds on God’s emptiness.

  3. The church still tells how Jesus came
    through death to glorious life again
    the strangest story! Yet, maybe,
    our faith will thrive on mystery.

  4. Faith takes the little that we know,
    and calls for hope, and tells us: Go!
    Love and take courage, come what may;
    Christ will be with us on the way.

Prayers of the People

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

God of every journey,
we place before you what we have,
tokens of gratitude, symbols of trust.
May these gifts become sustenance for others,
hope for the weary, and signposts of your love along the road.

We sing: God who sets us on a Journey

  1. God who sets us on a journey
    To discover dream and grow
    Lead us as You led Your people
    In the desert long ago
    Journey inward journey outward
    Stir the spirit stretch the mind
    Love for God and self and neighbour
    Marks the way that Christ defined

  2. Exploration brings new insights
    Changes choices we must face
    Give us wisdom in deciding
    Mindful always of Your grace
    Should we stumble lose our bearings
    Find it hard to know what's right
    We regain our true direction
    Focused on the Jesus light

  3. End our longing for the old days
    Grant the vision that we lack
    Once we've started on this journey
    There can be no turning back
    Let us travel light discarding
    Excess baggage from our past
    Cherish only what's essential
    Choosing treasure that will last

  4. When we set up camp and settle
    To avoid love's risk and pain
    You disturb complacent comfort
    Pull the tent pegs up again
    Keep us travelling in the knowledge
    You are always at our side
    Give us courage for the journey
    Christ our goal and Christ our guide

Sending Forth and Benediction

Doxology

Praise God, the Source of life and birth;
praise God, the Word, who came to earth;
praise God the spirit, holy flame:
All glory, honour to God’s name.

Postlude

The Candles are Extinguished

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)
John Carr
© 2025, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia

The Bible Reading is from New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Cover Photo by Rev Leanne Davis, used with permission

Congregation Hymns/Songs:


Jesus calls us here to meet him
Together in Song 477.
John L. Bell and Graham Maule © 1989, WGRG, Iona Community. Administered in Australia and New Zealand by Willow Publishin2g Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands
Words: Margaret Beatrice Cropper
Music: Old French Melody (Au Clair De La Lune)
arranged Compilers of Church Hymnary, 3rd edition, 1973

Give Thanks
Together in Song 717
Henry Smith 1952- Words and music permission Integrity Music, administered by Scripture in Song.

Faith will not grow from words alone
Together In Song 691
Elizabeth J. Smith Words © E.J. Smith. Music permission Faber Music, London.

God Who Sets Us on a Journey
Tune: Ode to Joy (Together in Song 152)
Words: Dine, Joy; Music: Bray, Jillian Margaret
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved.

Doxology
Tune: Together in Song 768(i)
Words by Ruth C. Duck © GIA Publications.
All rights reserved.

www.bpuc.org