A Light on the Hill
Order of Service – 21st June 2026
The Order of Service follows below.
For improved text clarity and easier reading, e.g. change text size, you can use ePub on iPhones, iPads and other devices with an ePub application. If you want to see it exactly as printed, or print your own there is a pdf. For the sparrow response a picture is located further down in the mobile version.
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
A Light on the Hill
June 21, 2026
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Pentecost 4. Green
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
For Kaurna Country on which we gather today,
we give thanks.
For the Elders and communities,
past, present, and future,
who walk these lands,
we pay our respects.
Come freedom and flourishing
to land, people, and culture.
Lighting of the Candles
We sing: Joyful, Joyful (v1)
Joyful, joyful, we adore you,
God of glory, God of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before you
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the dark of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.
Call to Worship
Please remain standing
To the God who sees and hears,
we bring our truth and our thirst.
To the Christ who calls and keeps,
we bring our fear and our yes.
To the Spirit who opens wells,
we come, ready to live the new life.
Opening Prayer
God of the wilderness and the well, hear our prayers.
Where we are unseen,
see us;
where we are afraid,
steady us;
where the path divides,
lead us in love’s way.
Through Jesus Christ,
our life.
Amen.
We sing: Sing a new world into being
Sing a new world into being.
Sound a bold and hopeful theme.
Find a tune for silent yearnings.
Lend your voice and dare to dream:
Dream a church where all who worship
Find their lives and loves belong.
Sing a new world into being.
Sing as Christ inspires your song!
Sing a new world into being.
Where each gender, class, and race.
Brings its rainbow gifts and colors
To God’s limitless embrace;
Where the lines that once divided
Form instead the ties that bind.
Sing a new world into being:
Risk transforming heart and mind!
Sing a new world into being
Where the homeless find a home,
Where no children ever hunger
But are filled with God’s shalom;
Where all people work for justice,
Where all hate and vengeance cease.
Sing a new world into being:
Raise the harmonies of peace.
Sing a new world into being.
Join the ancient prophets’ cry
For a time of health and plenty
When all tears have been wiped dry;
When compassion flows like waters,
Pouring balm for all who grieve.
Sing a new world into being.
Live the promise you believe!
Prayer: “Limitless Love”
Our God, our Maker,
The work of your hands displays your goodness and glory;
It is marvellous to behold.
From the path a rain drop makes
as it works its way down a window
to the rainbow in the mists of a waterfall after rains,
With each inbreaking of the sun’s rays
that paint the sky until day’s end,
Your limitless love creates it all.
As we gaze, then, upon your children,
the special co-creators you have made
to experience you and your beauty,
may we always appreciate the dignity of each person:
Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender.
May we witness your extravagant artistry of each beloved,
celebrate your Divine imprint upon each heart,
and recognize how You fashion each human being
with purpose and wonder.
Your limitless love creates us all.
Forgive us, Lord,
For the constraint of our eyes that fails to take in another’s beauty,
For choosing the comfort of our own apathy
instead of bearing one another’s burdens,
For not remaining silent to listen
and silent when we should have cried out,
Your limitless love forgives us all.
We pray, O God,
For the wounds the world inflicts,
In thought, word, and deed,
Against what your hands have made
and ultimately, against you.
Soothe and comfort, renew and redeem.
Your limitless love restores us all.
We pray for unity,
For tenderness,
For belonging and justice and freedom,
For solidarity and bountiful compassion
That the world may know who you are
By the way we love one another
And how willing we are to enter the splendor
of co-creating.
Your limitless love heals us all.
We give thanks,
For in Christ, we are seen, forgiven,
and set free to walk as beloved.
Thanks be to God.
Amen
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
Children’s Time (Exploring the Theme)
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.
We sing: Psalm 23
He makes me lie in pastures green
He leads me by the still still waters
His goodness restores my soul
Chorus
And I will trust in You alone
And I will trust in You alone
For Your endless mercy follows me
Your goodness will lead me home
He guides my ways in righteousness
And He anoints my head with oil
And my cup it overflows with joy
I feast on His pure delights
Chorus
And I will trust in You alone
And I will trust in You alone
For Your endless mercy follows me
Your goodness will lead me home
Descant
I will trust I will trust in You
I will trust I will trust in You
Endless mercy follows me
Goodness will lead me home
And though I walk the darkest path
I will not fear the evil one
For You are with me
And Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know
Chorus
And I will trust in You alone
And I will trust in You alone
For Your endless mercy follows me
Your goodness will lead me home
Descant
I will trust I will trust in You
I will trust I will trust in You
Endless mercy follows me
Goodness will lead me home
For Your endless mercy follows me
Your goodness will lead me home (x2)
Scripture Readings
Genesis 21:8–21
The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.” The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you. As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
May the Spirit of God open our eyes to see, our ears to hear,
and our hearts to understand.
Message
Response: “Sparrow worth”
In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus reminds the disciples that not even a sparrow falls without God noticing. Every life is seen and held in God’s care. God sees and values every person.
Write your name (or someone else’s) on a bird. At the end of the service, place near the font.
We sing: Lord Jesus, we belong to you
Lord Jesus, we belong to you,
you live in us, we live in you;
we live and work for you –
because we bear your name.
Help us receive each other, Lord,
for you receive the least of us
and come to us in them –
because we bear your name.
Bless those who give us any gift
because they know that we are yours;
reward them with your grace –
because we bear your name.
Let us acknowledge those as friends
who use your name to right a wrong,
but have not joined us yet –
because we bear your name.
Keep us from missing out on life;
give hands that help; and single sight,
and feet that walk your way –
because we bear your name.
You are the salt that cleanses us,
so clean us out, and make us fit
for common life with you –
because we bear your name.
Prayers of the People
The Prayers of the People include prayers for The Uniting Church, Pride Month and Refugee Week.
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.
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.
As the end of the financial year approaches, please also consider a donation to our Building Fund: https://www.bpuc.org/end-of-financial-year-appeal/
Offering Prayer
We sing: Be Thou My Vision
Be Thou my vision O Lord of my heart.
Not be all else to me save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping my treasure Thou art.
Be Thou my wisdom and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord
Thou my redeemer my love Thou hast won
Thou in my dwelling and I with Thee one.
Riches I heed not nor vain empty praise
Thou mine inheritance now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
Great God of heaven my treasure Thou art
Great God of heaven my victory won
Now I reach heaven’s joys O bright heaven’s sun
Heart of my own heart whatever be fall
Still be my vision O ruler of all.
Benediction
go.
go from this place where we declare:
“all are loved.”
“all are made in the image of God.”
into world that does not agree.
go.
go to be Christ’s body
which means:
go to be safety.
go to be affirmation.
go to embody the welcome
that Christ has extended to you
your whole life long.
gird yourself with the truth
of your belovedness.
armor yourself with the knowledge
of a God whose love is beyond all of our imaginings.
walk surrounded by the peace
that can match hatred and death.
We will go,
to be ambassadors
of the God who is Love.
Blessing
May the God of Creation
warm your hearts,
like the campfires of old
bring wisdom and peace,
as shown to the first peoples of this land
shake off the dust from the desert plains
by the refreshing rains,
followed by the glow and warmth of the sun.
Let the light of God show us the right path
so that we may stand tall like the big River gums
drawing life from the ever-flowing waters.
We sing: Amen
Postlude
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
© 2026, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia
“Limitless Love – A Prayer for Pride Month” (adapted)
Catholic Health Association of the United Stated
https://www.chausa.org/prayers/prayer-library/prayer/limitless-love—a-prayer-for-pride-month
“Prayers for Your People” and “Benediction”
by Slats Toole
from LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Prayers
The Covenant Network of Presbyterians
https://www.covnetpres.org/resource-library/lgbtqia-inclusive-prayers-for-pride-month
“The Weaving of Your Grace” (adapted)
by Rev Sandy Boyce for Uniting in Prayer
“A Prayer for Refugee Week 2026”
by Charles Louwrens, with thanks to Common Grace:
https://www.commongrace.org.au/refugee_week_2026_prayer
Blessing
Uncle Vince Ross
from Common Grace
Bible Readings are from New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition.
Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United
States of America.
Photo by Rev Linda Driver.
Rosella in Brougham Place Uniting Church carpark
Congregation
Hymns/Songs:
Joyful, Joyful, we adore you
Together in Song 152
Henry Van Dyke 1852-1933 alt. Public Domain.
tune: Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven
Sing a New World into Being
Text: Mary Louise Bringle © 2006, GIA Publications, Inc.
tune: Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven (TiS152)
Psalm 23
Stuart Townend
© 1996 Thankyou Music Ltd
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights
reserved.
Because We Bear Your Name
Together in Song 686
Words © J. W. Kleinig. John Wilfred Kleinig 1942-
All rights reserved.
Be Thou My Vision
Melody: Together in Song 547
Gaelic c.8th cent.
Words from Chalice Hymnal, hymn 595, Eleanor Hull.
