Order of Service – 31st December 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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Christmas 1

Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

December 31st, 2023. 10.00am
Christmas 1
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Liturgical colour: White

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

Prelude

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

Niina marni!
Marni’ai!

Lighting of the Candles and Introit

Consecration – Words: FR Havergal, Music: R Nairn

Call to Worship

With mighty mountains and crashing seas
Praise the name of the Lord

With rolling valleys and lush forests
Praise the name of our God

With tiny ants and towering gums
Praise the name of the Holy One

With wondering children and wise elders
Praise the name of Love

Opening Prayer

We sing: Joy to the World

Joy to the world! The promised one
Has come shalom to bring;
let every heart prepare a room,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the world! The Saviour reigns;
let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
Graceful and true, the Saviour rules,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of the ways of peace
and wonders of God’s love,
and wonders of God’s love,
and wonders, and wonders of God’s love.

Together in Song 268. Isaac Watts 1674-1748 based on Psalm 98(97) Adaptation by Ruth Duck. Used by permission.

Prayer of Confession

God of the incarnation, flesh of our flesh, gentle God in the humble manger: If we have forgotten what it means to celebrate your coming, in the face of so many absences of love and goodwill,
Forgive us, O God.

If we have lost our hope in your sounds of joy abroad in the world, reinforcing our lack of faith with cynicism and apathy,
Forgive us, O God.

If we have given over Christmas to children, as though adults are past the wonder and mystery of surprises,
Forgive us, O God.

Carry us to the place of your birth that we may see your face and believe.
Amen.

Words of Grace

Hear then Christ’s word of grace to us: ‘Our sins are forgiven.’
Thanks be to God.

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

Magnificat – Arrangement: R Nairn

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:22-40

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,

according to your word,

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the gentiles

and for glory to your people Israel.”

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

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

Message

We sing: Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising

Come, your hearts and voices raising,
Christ the Lord with gladness praising;
loudly sing his love amazing,
Christian people, one and all.
See how God, for us providing
gave his Son and life abiding;
he our pilgrim steps is guiding
from earth’s pain to heavenly joy.
O the joy, beyond expressing,
when by faith we grasp this blessing,
and with thanks we come confessing
you, O Jesus, as our Lord.
Dearest child, in mercy hear us,
from your lowly manger cheer us,
gently lead us and be near us
till we join the angel choir.

Making a Difference

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.

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

Giving thanks for Rosemary’s ministry with us

Response: We know that God goes with you.

We sing: Christ Be Our Light

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
Make us your living voice.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others
walls made of living stone.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.

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

Sending Forth and Benediction

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the Kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among the people,
To make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman: The Work of Christmas

Go and join in the work of Christmas,
Be a bright light wherever you go.
In the name of Christ.
Amen

Choral Blessing

Aaronic Blessing – Arrangement: R Nairn

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.

This service has been prepared with assistance from L3 Liturgical Resource. Writer: Michelle Eastwood, The Abingdon Worship Annual 2023, D. Macrae McMahon: Prayers for Life’s Particular Moments, J. Rupp: Praying Our Goodbyes