Order of Service – 3rd December 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

December 3rd, 2023. 10.00am
Advent One A light on the hill
Preacher: Rev Dr Ian Price
Liturgical colour: Purple

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

Prelude

Welcome

Niina marni!
Marni’ai!

Welcome to this time of worship!

Acknowledgment of Country

Lighting of the Candles and Introit – People Look East (Carol of the Advent)

Eleanor Farjeon – Oxford Carol Book

Call to Worship – Advent 1 Candle Liturgy: Hope

O, that you would tear open the heavens and come down.
We wait for you, O God.

O, that you would make known your justice among all peoples.
We wait for you, O God.

O, that we would see your wonders in our midst.
We wait for you, O God.

We wait in hope. We give thanks for your coming to us in times past. We yearn for you to come again. God has come among us. God is coming again. And so, as we wait, we light the candle of hope.

The first Advent candle is lit.

We Sing: He Came Down that We May Have Hope

He came down
that we may have hope;

He came down
that we may have hope;

He came down
that we may have hope,
hallelujah for evermore.

(Sing song twice)

Opening Prayer

Prayer of Confession

God, remember us in this Advent time of watching and waiting.

Forgive us when we forget the stories of the past. Forgive us when we do not notice you in our midst. Help us to bear hope for the future.

Restore us, O God, shine your face upon us, that we might be made new. Amen

Words of Grace

Friends, as we watch and wait for God, the Spirit interrupts us with hope. In Christ’s name, you are forgiven and made new.
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

Current or previous BP E-news and to sign up to receive BP E-news

Children’s Time

Children may go downstairs for Sunday School. Parents, 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.

Choral Anthem – Hark the Glad Sound

David Thorne (Fl A #22 P99)

Scripture Reading: Mark 13:24-37 (NRSVue)

The Coming of the Son of Man

“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.”Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels and gather the elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The Necessity for Watchfulness

“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

For the Word of God in scripture,
For the Word of God among us,
for the Word of God within us,
Thanks be to God.

Message

We Sing: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

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.
O come, O come, great Lord of might
who to the tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to
you, O Israel.
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.
O come, O branch of Jesse, free
your own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell your people save
and give them victory o’er the grave.

Rejoice! rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to
you, O Israel.
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.

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

Prayers of the People

Let us bring our prayers to God, who is present and surprises us.

… Christ come among us,
renew your world.

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

We Sing: Come and Find the Quiet Centre

Come and find the quiet centre
in the crowded life we lead.
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter,
clear our eyes that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace, and simply be.
Silence is a friend who claims us,
cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us,
knows our being, touches base,
making space within our thinking,
lifting shades to show the sun,
raising courage when we’re shrinking,
finding scope for faith begun.
In the Spirit let us travel,
open to each other’s pain,
let our loves and fears unravel,
celebrate the space we gain:
There’s a place for deepest dreaming,
there’s a time for heart to care,
in the Spirit’s lively scheming
there is always room to spare.

Sending forth and Benediction

Choral Blessing – We Face East

Brougham Place Worship Team

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 leading to the basement. You are welcome!

Some of the liturgy in this service is adapted from L3 Liturgical Resource