Quieter Christmas 2023

Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

A Quieter Christmas
December 17th, 2023. 6pm

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

Gathering Music

Welcome

We light Advent candles in silence

We Sing: He Came Down that We May Have Love

He came down
that we may have hope;
He came down
that we may have peace;
He came down
that we may have joy;
hallelujah for evermore.

He came down
that we may have love;
He came down
that we may have love;
He came down
that we may have love;
hallelujah for evermore.

Church Hymnary 359. Traditional, from Cameroon. Transcribed and arranged John l Bell (b.1949). © 1990, WGRG, Iona Community. All rights reserved. ONE LICENSE. License #A‑604444.

Prayer

Psalm 13:1-6

How much longer, Lord,
    will you forget about me?
Will it be forever?
    How long will you hide?
How long must I be confused
    and miserable all day?
How long will my enemies
    keep beating me down?

Please listen, Lord God,
    and answer my prayers.
Make my eyes sparkle again,
or else I will fall
    into the sleep of death.
My enemies will say,
    “Now we’ve won!”
They will be greatly pleased
    when I am defeated.

I trust your love,
and I feel like celebrating
    because you rescued me.
You have been good to me, Lord,
    and I will sing about you.

Time of silent contemplation

We Sing: O Come O Come Emmanuel #1

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
   and ransom captive Israel,
   that mourns in lonely exile here
   until the Son of God appear.
   
   Rejoice! rejoice!
   Emmanuel shall come to
   you, O Israel.

2. O come, O key of David, come,
   and open wide our heavenly home;
   make safe the way that leads on high
   and close the path to misery.
   
   Rejoice! rejoice!
   Emmanuel shall come to
   you, O Israel.

3. O come, O dayspring, come and cheer
   our spirits by your advent here;
   disperse the gloomy clouds of night
   and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
   
   Rejoice! rejoice!
   Emmanuel shall come to
   you, O Israel.

Together in Song, 265. Anon., Latin, 18th cent. or earlier based on Antiphons from 9th cent. or earlier tr. John Mason Neale 1818-66 alt. Public Domain.

Psalm 61:1-4; 62:1-2

Please listen, God,
    and answer my prayer!
I feel hopeless,
and I cry out to you
    from a faraway land.
Lead me to the mighty rock
    high above me.
You are a strong tower,
where I am safe
    from my enemies.
Let me live with you forever
and find protection
    under your wings, my God.
Only God can save me,
    and I calmly wait for him.
God alone is the mighty rock
    that keeps me safe
and the fortress
    where I am secure.

Time of silent contemplation

We Sing: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

1. It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
   from angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold:
   “Peace on earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all gracious king,”
   The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.

2. Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled,
   and still their heavenly music floats o’er the weary world;
   above its sad and lowly plains, they bend on hovering wing,
   and ever o’er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing.

3. And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low,
   who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow,
   look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing.
   O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing!

4. For lo! The days are hastening on, by prophet seen of old,
   when with the ever circling years shall come the time foretold
   when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling,
   and the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.

Words: Edmund H Sears 1849, Music: Richard Storrs Willis, 1850. Public domain.

Psalm 139:7-12

Where could I go to escape
from your Spirit
    or from your sight?
If I were to climb up
to the highest heavens,
    you would be there.
If I were to dig down
to the world of the dead
    you would also be there.
Suppose I had wings
like the dawning day
    and flew across the ocean.
Even then your powerful arm
    would guide and protect me.
Or suppose I said, “I’ll hide
in the dark until night comes
    to cover me over.”
But you see in the dark
because daylight and dark
    are all the same to you.

Time of silent contemplation

Candle lighting

Choir

On this Still, Silent Night – Laura Farnell
(Combination of Still, Still, Still and Silent Night)

Psalm 23

You, Lord, are my shepherd.
    I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields
    of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
    and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name,
and you lead me
    along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
    but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me,
and your shepherd’s rod
    makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast,
    while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup
    until it overflows.
Your kindness and love
will always be with me
    each day of my life,
and I will live forever
    in your house, Lord.

Time of silent contemplation

We Sing: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel #2

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
   and fill our lives, all dark and fear dispel,
   as once an exiled Israel you found,
   redeemed, restored and set on holy ground.
   
   Rejoice! Rejoice!
   Emmanuel shall come to us and in our hearts will dwell.

2. O come, O light of Christ, so bright and clear
   and lift our spirits by your advent here.
   In all who gather, show us your face,
   that we may know the warmth of your embrace.
   
   Rejoice! Rejoice!
   Emmanuel shall come to us and in our hearts will dwell.

3. O come, O Wisdom, mind and heart divine,
   help us restore a world we’ve let decline.
   Enlighten us; your way we would know
   and show us where new seeds of hope to sow.
   
   Rejoice! Rejoice!
   Emmanuel shall come to us and in our hearts will dwell.

4. Advent God of hope, joy, love and peace,
   in you we pray our sad divisions cease.
   Bind us as one, a people of grace,
   for at your table each one has a place.
   
   Rejoice! Rejoice!
   Emmanuel shall come to us and in our hearts will dwell.

© 2010 Susan Wickham. Used with permission.

Matthew 11:28-30

If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.

Prayer

Blessing

Prepared with help from Feasting on the Word – Advent Companion Rev Ann Phillips, Woodville Uniting Church – Blue Christmas Service

Scripture Readings are from the Contemporary English Version

 www.bpuc.org