Order of Service – 10th December 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

December 10th, 2023. 10.00am
Nativity Service
Advent Two
Liturgical colour: Purple

Prelude

Welcome

Niina marni!
Marni’ai!

Welcome everybody, it’s good to see you here,
Welcome everybody, it’s good to see you here,
Welcome everybody, it’s good to see you here,
Gathered in this space.

Acknowledgment of Country

We care for Kaurna land,
We care for Kaurna sky.
We care for Kaurna waters,
We touch our hearts and say,
thank you Kaurna people.

Lighting of the Candles and Introit

Noel time – Wheeler / James

Call to Worship

Lighting of the Advent Wreath

God says: comfort my people.
Speak words of peace.

Prepare the way for God.
Speak words of peace.

Every valley shall be lifted,
Every mountain made low.

Rough roads will be smoothed out.
God will make a way.

God says: speak tenderly to my people.
We will speak to the world
words of peace.

God has come among us, speaking peace. God is coming again.

We Sing: He Came Down that We May Have Peace

He came down
that we may have peace;

He came down
that we may have peace;

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

(Sing song twice)

Opening Prayer

Prayer of Confession

“God of Grace and Mercy”….
“Help us be people of peace”.

Words of Grace

Thank you God, that you forgive us when we are sorry and invite us to be part of your family. Amen.

Passing of the Peace

The peace of our God be with you.
And also with you.

We Sing: O Come, All Ye Faithful

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

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!
Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
fain we embrace thee with love and awe;
who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?

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

Together in Song 304. Words by William Thomas Brooke 1848-1917. V 1, 5, 6. Public Domain.

Community News and Notices

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Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20 (Common English Bible)

In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrolment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.

Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.

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

Nativity: Jesus’ Christmas Party

We Sing: Baby Lying in a Manger

Chorus

Baby lying in a manger
No room in the inn
His father watches over
The new born king.

The shepherds come to see him (echo)

Baby lying in a manger
No room in the inn
His father watches over
The new born king.
The shepherds come to see him (echo)
The wise men kneel and worship him (echo)

Baby lying in a manger
No room in the inn
His father watches over
The new born king.
The shepherds come to see him (echo)
The wise men kneel and worship him (echo)
The angel watches over (echo)

Baby lying in a manger
No room in the inn
His father watches over
The new born king.
The shepherds come to see him (echo)
The wise men kneel and worship him (echo)
The angel watches over (echo)
Mary rocks him (echo)

Baby lying in a manger
No room in the inn
His father watches over
The new born king.
The shepherds come to see him (echo)
The wise men kneel and worship him (echo)
The angel watches over (echo)
Mary rocks him (echo)
The innkeeper loves him (echo)

Baby lying in a manger
No room in the inn
His father watches over
The new born king.

A night in the life of a Bethlehem Inn-Keeper

(A poem by Rev Dr Sarah Agnew)

We Sing: Away in a Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
the stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love you, Lord Jesus; look down from on high,
and stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay
close by me for ever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in your tender care,
and fit us for heaven to live with you there.

Arr © LF Bartlett/ vv. 1-2 Anon. ? 1885 v3, Anon. ? 1892. Public Domain.

Prayers of the People

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

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

We Sing: Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive its King;
let ev’ry heart prepare him 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 earth, the Saviour reigns;
let us our songs employ,
while fields and stream, rocks, hills, and plains,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

Isaac Watts, 1674 – 1748 alt. based on Psalm 98. Public Domain.

Sending Forth and Benediction

Blessing Song: ‘May the Feet of God Walk with You’

May the feet of God walk with you,
and his hand hold you tight.
May the eye of God rest on you,
and his ear hear your cry.
May the smile of God be for you,
and his breath give you life.
May the Child of God grow in you,
and his love bring you home.

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!

Compiled with the assistance of: L3 Liturgical Resource, Engage Together Resource, “Jesus’ Christmas Party” by Nicholas Allan. (Red Fox Books, 1991)