A Light on the Hill

Order of Service – 14th July 2024

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

14 July 2024
Pentecost 8
Preacher: Rev Andrea Prior
Liturgical colour: Green

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

Introit and Lighting of the Candles

Help us O God to Learn

Together in Song 428 Steggall/Reid

Call to Worship

We are called together to worship God
who reaches out to us in grace and love.

God calls us to live lives of justice
to show kindness and goodness.

As the Body of Christ, let us be centred in his truth;
to follow where he leads and not to count the cost.

Prayer

We Sing: Jesus Calls Us Here to Meet Him

  1. Jesus calls us here to meet him
    as, through word and song and prayer,
    we affirm God’s promised presence
    where his people live and care.
    Praise the God who keeps his promise;
    praise the Son who calls us friends;
    praise the Spirit who, among us,
    to our hopes and fears attends.

  2. Jesus calls us to confess him
    Word of Life and Lord of All,
    sharer of our flesh and frailness
    saving all who fail or fall.
    Tell his holy human story;
    tell his tales that all may hear;
    tell the world that Christ in glory
    came to earth to meet us here.

  3. Jesus calls us to each other:
    found in him are no divides.
    Race and class and sex and language
    such are barriers he derides.
    Join the hand of friend and stranger;
    join the hands of age and youth;
    join the faithful and the doubter
    in their common search for truth.

  4. Jesus calls us to his table
    rooted firm in time and space,
    where the Church in earth and heaven
    finds a common meeting place.
    Share the bread and wine, his body ;
    share the love of which we sing ;
    share the feast of saints and sinners
    hosted by our Lord and King.

Together in Song 477. John L. Bell and Graham Maule © 1989, WGRG, Iona Community. Administered in Australia and New Zealand by Willow Publishing Pty Ltd. Words used with permission under copyright CCLI Licence No 137219. Copyright cleared music for churches.

Prayer of Confession

Words of Assurance

God knows the intent of our hearts and longing to renew us is more willing to forgive us than we can imagine. As we have confessed and repented, let us be confident of the truth that our sin is forgiven.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

Psalm 24, a paraphrase

The whole earth, end everything on it, belongs to the Holy One.
All Creation and all people are God’s.
For God made it all—the deep mysteries,
all flowing life and beauty.

How can we draw near to God? How does one witness God’s presence?
By having gentle hands and pure hearts.
By honouring what is true,
and not harbouring the lies of fear.

In this way the Holy One blesses us; our saving God vindicates us.
This is the way of those who seek God,
the community who seek the God of love.

O gates of life, swing wide with welcome!
You doors to joy, open your arms:
let the Glorious One come in and be with us.

Who is the Glorious One?
The Beloved, gracious and loving,
whose mercy ends all battles.

O gates of this moment, open to grace!
You doors of attentiveness, open your arms:
let the Glorious One come in and be with us.

Who is the Glorious One?
The Beloved, gracious and loving.
The Beloved is the glory of life.

Passing of the Peace

May the peace of 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.

Anthem

Grow in Grace

Malcolm Archer

Introduction to Scripture Reading

Scripture Reading: Mark 6: 6b–30

Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’ 12So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

14King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ 15But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’ 17For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. 18For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ 19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. 21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ 23And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ 24She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’ 25Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ 26The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

30The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.

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

Address

This is a public domain image from Wikimedia Commons and is a part of the Codex Alexandrinus which dates from about 400CE. There are no gaps between the words, no headings as we recognise them, although paragraph breaks were being introduced; look for the spaces. It is from the Gospel of Mark beginning at what we now call chapter 6, verse 27

We Sing: We will Love – We Will Walk with You on The Edges

Chorus:
We will walk with you at the edges,
we will die with you on the crossroads,
we will live in your dangerous places,
we will love.
We will risk with you taking chances,
we will stand with you facing evil,
we will live in your dangerous places,
we will love.

  1. Come Lord Jesus Christ hear our prayer,
    come now living friend please draw near.
    Alone, we feel unsure and so afraid.
    Calling us to live by your grace,
    calling us to leave all that’s safe.
    Our lives we choose to lose
    so you may save.

    Chorus:
    We will walk with you at the edges,
    we will die with you on the crossroads,
    we will live in your dangerous places,
    we will love.
    We will risk with you taking chances,
    we will stand with you facing evil,
    we will live in your dangerous places,
    we will love.

  2. Stepping out we call on your name,
    knowing you have healed all our shame.
    Our God, your precious love has made us whole.
    Gifting us with power to set free,
    Holy Spirit, use even me.
    Renew all that I am
    so I may see.

    Chorus:
    We will walk with you at the edges,
    we will die with you on the crossroads,
    we will live in your dangerous places,
    we will love.
    We will risk with you taking chances,
    we will stand with you facing evil,
    we will live in your dangerous places,
    we will love.

All Together for Good, 586. Words and Music: Graeme Gardiner. © 1992 Graeme Gardiner, 25 Greens Road, Warrimoo NSW 2774. All rights reserved. ONE LICENSE. License #A‑604444.

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.

Offertory Prayer

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: God gives us a Future

  1. God gives us a future,
    daring us to go
    into dreams and dangers
    on a path unknown.
    We will face tomorrow
    in the Spirit’s power,
    we will let God change us,
    for new life starts now.

  2. We must leave behind us
    sins of yesterday,
    for God’s new beginning
    is a better way.
    Fear and doubt and habit
    must not hold us back:
    God gives hope, and insight,
    and the strength we lack.

  3. Holy Spirit, teach us
    how to read the signs,
    how to meet the challenge
    of our troubled times.
    Love us into action,
    stir us into prayer,
    till we choose God’s life, and
    find our future there.

Together in Song 687. Elizabeth J. Smith 1956- Words © E. J. Smith Music from 30 Twentieth Century Hymn Tunes © 1960 Josepf Weinberger Ltd. London. All rights reserved. ONE LICENSE, License#A‑604444.

Sending Forth and Benediction

Choral Blessing

Let Our Earth Be Peaceful

Gibson/Murray

Postlude

Chimes – Finlandia

Come and share morning tea together, downstairs in the basement. There are stairs behind the organ and a ramp between the church and the car park leading to the basement.

Some of the liturgy in this service is adapted from

Unfolding Light and Words for Worship

Bible Readings: New Revised Standard Version (Updated Edition)

www.bpuc.org