Order of Service – 15th December 2024

The Order of Service follows below.

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Advent 3:
What is revealed in the darkness?

Emmanuel: God’s Holy Darkness

Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

December 15, 2024
Advent 4. Purple

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

Welcome! As you wait for worship to begin, please turn your phone to silent.

Prelude

“The People that Walked in Darkness” from The Messiah.

G.F. Handel.

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

Naa marni?
(Are you all good?)
Marni Ai!
(Good I am)

Call to Worship

In this time of Advent,
in this time of waiting,
in this time of preparation,
may we listen for the signs,
may we be ready to hear words passed on
from generation to generation,
may we prepare our hearts with hope and love.
Amen.

Introit

O What a Gift.

Pat Uhl (Howard). Together in Song 278. Vs.1.

Lighting of the Candles

Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world’. We are waiting for the day when we will celebrate the Christ child born in the night.

The first candle reminds us to pray for the world to know Hope. The second candle reminds us that God’s Love surrounds us. This week we add the third candle – the pink candle. As it is lit, we remember times of Joy and happiness and give thanks.
God of Joy, may we know your presence in the light and the holy darkness.

We Sing: Light One Candle

Please remain seated

Light one candle for joy
one bright candle for joy.
He brings joy to every heart.
He comes! He comes!

Prayer of Praise

Inspired by Isaiah 12:2-6

We give our thanks and praises to God who is the one who saves us.
We can trust in God and not be afraid.

It is with great joy that we can give thanks to our God.
We can call on God’s name.

We can share all the good things that God has done so that everyone knows why we have this joy inside of us.
Let us sing our praises to God.
Let us shout aloud and sing for joy.
For our God is good!

We Sing: Lord of All Hopefulness

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
be there at our waking and give us, we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
be there at our labours and give us, we pray,
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
be there at our homing and give us, we pray,
your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
be there at our sleeping and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

Prayer of Confession

Word of Grace

Gracious God,
thank you for making us who we are.
Thank you for loving us as we are.
Thank you for this opportunity to trust in your forgiveness.
Amen.

Passing of the Peace

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

Community News and Notices

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Creative Offering: Subtle Bricks

Children’s Time

From: God’s Holy Darkness by Sherei Green, and Beckah Selnick and illustrated by Nikki Faison. Reproduced by Permission of Augsburg Fortress.

Children are invited to go downstairs for Sunday School and the Happy Birthday Jesus Party. Parents, you are welcome to join your child in Sunday School if you feel your child may need your assistance.

Anthem

Blessed Night, Blessed Light.

Craig Mitchell. Allan Hoare.

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 1:10

Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Ei and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

May the Spirit of God open our eyes to see, our ears to hear,
and our hearts to understand.

Reflection: “The Night is Not Silent”

Message

We sing: Star Child

Star-Child, earth-child,
go-between of God,
love Child, Christ Child,
heaven’s lightning rod:

   This year, this year,
   let the day arrive
   when Christmas comes for everyone,
   everyone alive.
Street child, beat child,
no place left to go,
hurt child, used child
no-one wants to know:

   This year, this year,
   let the day arrive
   when Christmas comes for everyone,
   everyone alive.
Grown child, old child,
memory full of years,
sad child, lost child,
story told in tears.

   This year, this year,
   let the day arrive
   when Christmas comes for everyone,
   everyone alive.
Spared child, spoiled child,
having, wanting more,
wise child, faith child
knowing joy in store:

   This year, this year,
   let the day arrive
   when Christmas comes for everyone,
   everyone alive.
Hope-for-peace Child,
God’s stupendous sign,
down-to-earth Child,
Star of stars that shine:

   This year, this year,
   let the day arrive
   when Christmas comes for everyone,
   everyone alive.

Shirley E Murray, Carlton R Young © Hope Publishing Co. Administered by Copycare Pacific PTY LTD/Lizard Tunes, PO Box 314, Ourimbah NSW 2258 Australia Words used with permission under copyright CCLI Licence No 137219. Copyright cleared music for churches.

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 towards the ministry of Brougham Place, please go to bpuc.org/give

Alternatively, there is an offering bowl near the lectern on the left-hand side at the front of the church.

Offering Prayer

We sing: Tell Out My Soul

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of God’s word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of God’s name!
Make known God’s might, the deeds God’s arm has done;
God’s mercy sure, from age to age the same;
God’s holy name – the Lord, the Mighty One.
Tell out, my soul, the glories of God’s word!
Firm is God’s promise, and God’s mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and for evermore!

Together in Song 161. Words © 1962 Timothy Dudley-Smith 1926- Based on Luke 1:46-55 in The New English Bible., renewal 1990 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL60188. All rights reserved. ONE LICENSE, License #A‑604444.

Sending Forth and Benediction

May the peace of God be with you and may you know God’s presence with you in the light of this day and the darkness of this night.
We will go,
knowing God is with us,
and sharing God’s love with one another.
Amen

Choral Blessing

With Prayer and Supplication.

Amy Beach.

Extroit

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!

This service has been prepared with assistance from

Liturgy Learning & (Purposeful) Life (L3) (Michelle Eastwood)

Words for Worship (Mediacom)

The Scripture Reading is from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition