Order of Service - Christmas Day 2022

Brougham Place Uniting Church

2022-12-25

Order of Service - Christmas Day 2022

Brougham Place Uniting Church - December 25th 2022

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional carers of the land on which our church is built.

Welcome

Introit and Candle Lighting

In the bleak midwinter - Christina Rossetti - Tune: Gustav Holst

Call to Worship

Jesus is born! Let everyone gather and join in the song, make a joyful noise to God,
for our waiting is over and Christ has been born.

Jesus is born! Shout from the rooftops and join with the shepherds, tell the Good News to everyone everywhere,
for our waiting is over and Christ is born.

Jesus is born! Announce freedom to captives, proclaim that peace is here today for all people.
For Christ will be born. Christ will always be born.

Opening Prayer

We Sing: O Come All Ye Faithful

1. O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
come and behold him
born the king of angels:

Refrain:
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

2. 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.

3. See how the shepherds
summoned to his cradle,
leaving their flocks, draw nigh with holy fear;
we too will thither
bend our joyful footsteps:

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

As we prepare to light the Christ candle of the Advent Wreath, let us remain seated as we sing: Christ Be Our Light.

Christ, the light of the world is born.
Not in a grand, high and powerful place,
but in a lowly manger, surrounded by love,
and cradled in hope.
All creation sings: Joy to the world!
All creation shares: peace and goodwill for all the earth!
The light shines in the darkness,
even in the deepest darkness,
and the darkness did not overcome it –
Never has and it never will!
Thanks be to God!
Amen.

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

All Together OK, 313. Words and music: Bernadette Farrell. © 1993 Bernadette Farrell. Published by OCP Publications. All rights reserved. ONE LICENSE. License #A-‑04444.

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 52:7–10

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

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

We Sing: Good Christians All, Rejoice

1. Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
listen well to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today,
ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now!
Christ is born today,
Christ is born today.

2. Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now you hear of endless bliss,
Jesus Christ was born for this;
he has opened heaven’s door
and you are blest for evermore,
Christ was born for this,
Christ was born for this.

3. Good Christians all, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now you need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save,
calls you one and calls you all,
to gain his everlasting hall;
Christ was born to save,
Christ was born to save.

Together in Song 313 - Jason Mason Neale 1818-16 alt. PD.

Scripture Reading: 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.

Musical Item

My Lord has Come – Will Todd, arr Rosie O’Reilly

Scripture Reading: 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, God with Us.
Thanks be to God.

Children’s Time

Passing of the Peace

The peace of the Christ Child be with you.
And also with you.

We Sing: Star Child

1. Star-Child, earth-child, go-between of God,
love Child, Christ Child, heaven’s lightening rod:

Refrain:
This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone,
everyone alive.

2. Street child, beat child, no place left to go,
hurt child, used child no-one wants to know:

This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone,
everyone alive.

3. Grown child, old child, memory full of years,
sad child, lost child, story told in tears.

This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone,
everyone alive.

4. Spared child, spoiled child, having, wanting more,
wise child, faith child knowing joy in store:

This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone,
everyone alive.

5. Hope-for-peace Child, God’s stupendous sign,
down-to-earth Child, Star of stars that shine:

This year, this year, let the day arrive
when Christmas comes for everyone,
everyone alive.

All Together for Good 520. Shirley E Murray, Carlton R Young. © Hope Publishing Co. Words used with permission under copyright CCLI Licence No 137219. Copyright cleared music for churches.

Choral Anthem

Love from Below - Wild Goose/Gillies Ambler

Reflection

Offering

To give electronically please go to bpuc.org/give

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: Angels from the Realms of Glory

1. Angels, from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o'er all the earth:
heralds of creation's story,
now proclaim Messiah's birth:

Refrain:
come and worship Christ, the new-born King,
come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King.

2. Shepherds, in the field abiding,
watching over flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
yonder shines the infant Light:

come and worship Christ, the new-born King,
come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King.

3. Wise men, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations,
you have seen his natal star:

come and worship Christ, the new-born King,
come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King.

4. Though an infant now we view him,
he shall fill his Father’s throne,
gather all the nations to him:
every knee shall then bow down:

come and worship Christ, the new-born King,
come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King.

Together in Song 309. James Montgomery 1771-1857 alt. PD.

Sending Forth and Benediction

Sung Blessing

Merry Christmas Wheeler/James Anne Till

Postlude

Merry Christmas

Compiled with the assistance of A Sanctified Art, Spill the Beans and Words for Worship.