Order of Service – 15th September 2024

The Order of Service follows below.

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“The mountains and the hills before you will burst into song” Isa. 55.12

Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

15 September 2024
Preacher: Mark Waters
Season of Creation 3: Mountain Sunday
Liturgical colour: Green / Teal

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

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

Prelude

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

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

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

We sing: The Light of Christ has come into the World

(Refrain only)

(Please remain seated)

Soloist:
The light of Christ
Has come into the world
The light of Christ
Has come into the world

Congregation to join in:

The light of Christ
Has come into the world
The light of Christ
Has come into the world

Words and Music: Donald Fishel

Call to Worship

In the name of God, who creates mountains, the name of Jesus, who went up to the mountain to pray, and the name of the Spirit, deep in the mountains.
Amen.

Holy! Holy! Holy!

Earth is filled with God’s presence.
Holy! Holy! Holy!

The mountains are filled with your presence.
Holy! Holy! Holy!

This place is filled with your presence!

We sing: Highest Mountain – Deepest Sea

From the highest mountain to the deepest sea (echo)
From the biggest whale to the littlest flea (echo)
From the day it started to the end of time (echo)
We’re all a part of God’s design? (echo)

Remember …Remember … Remember

God is love, God is love
It’s as simple as a smile
It’s as fragile as a child
God is love, God is love
So let’s show it for the whole wide world.

(Repeat)

Last Time:

‘NOT JUST FOR A FEW”
So let’s show it for the whole wide world
‘NOT JUST ME ’N YOU”
So let’s show it for the whole wide world!

Responsive Psalm: Adapted from Psalm 48

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise,
In the city of our God, his holy mountain.

Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth,
We see Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.

God is in her citadels;
He has shown himself to be her fortress.

As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD
Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever.

Within your temple, O God,
we meditate on your unfailing love.

Like your name, O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.

Your right hand is filled with righteousness.
Mount Zion rejoices!

Opening Prayer

We invite the mountains to worship with us:
mighty boulders and deep forests,
sliding glaciers and swirling snow.

We invite the wild to join us in wonder:
gliding eagles and rock wallabies,
mysterious moths and mountain goats.

We join with the mountain creatures in praising God:
leaping trout and crawling creatures,
exotic orchids and honey bees.

We call the depths of the mountains to celebrate:
precious gems and sparkling stones,
volcanic lava and rich red ore.

We enter the mountain of God today:
and we worship in God’s presence,
a sacred place on our planet.

We celebrate the song of the mountain!
And we give thanks to Creator God!

Remembering

We remember the mountains where God chose to reveal a special presence, Mount Sinai and Mount Zion, a presence that also fills our planet.

We remember our excitement as a child climbing a peak and viewing creation, wonders that extended almost forever and fascinating creatures around us, the mysteries of God’s wild world.

We remember and rejoice.
Thank you, God, for mountains to remember,
wild worlds to make us wonder.

Prayer of Confession

We remember and confess…

We are sorry.
We are sorry.

Teach us to love Earth as our home
and mountains as gifts for wonder.

Words of Assurance

God’s love for us is without limit. God’s call to us is unending. Surrounded by God’s grace, we hear the call to help create a new day: a day where no one shall hurt or destroy in all this holy creation.
We will open our eyes to see, our hearts to care,
and our lives to shape this vision. 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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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.

Creative Reading

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:31-32, 37-39

New Revised Standard Version (Updated Edition)

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us, how will he not with him also give us everything else?

…in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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

Message

Stations

Choose a station:

Action: Fill out a postcard, expressing concern about use of fossil fuels.
Audit: What does your household do to care for creation?
Pray: Choose an image of creation and spend some quiet time in lament and hope for Creation.
Listen: Watch a short video providing First Nations perspectives (from the Pacific) on how to care for creation.
Create: Trace and cut out your hand to help make the Season of Creation Logo.
Write: Write a Prayer

We sing: Behold! The Mountain of the Lord

Behold! The mountain of the Lord
in latter days shall rise
on mountain tops above the hills
and draw the wondering eyes.
To this the joyful nations round,
all tribes and tongues, shall flow;
up to the hill of God, they’ll say,
and to his house we’ll go.
The beam that shines from Zion’s hill
shall lighten every land;
the King who reigns in Salem’s towers
shall all the world command.
Among the nations he shall judge
his judgments truth shall guide;
his sceptre shall protect the just,
and quell the sinner’s pride.

Together in Song 441. Scottish Paraphrases 1781 alt.

Prayers of the People

Like the steep face of a snowy peak, your mystery brings us to a place of wonder and stillness. As we quiet our hearts,
hear our prayers, God of all creation.

Like the beauty of sun and cloud, playing with rocky heights, your gifts fill us with grace. As our hearts respond with gratitude,
hear our prayers, God of all creation.

Like turbulent storms that dash against high ridges and cliffs, our days – or the days of those we know – can be chaotic and challenging. As our hearts hold these concerns,
hear our prayers, God of all creation.

Like the view from a summit, you remind us to hold on to visions and dreams larger than ourselves. As our hearts dream these possibilities,
hear our prayers, God of all creation.

In the silence, we lift our prayers before God
for people and situations close to our hearts.

A silence is kept

You, O God, are our holy mountain of strength. You reveal your love to us today; you receive every prayer that has been offered; you call us to live our lives with imagination and courage.
Our hearts have been touched by your presence. Amen.

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 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 as you exit the church.

Offering Prayer

God, our Creator, through your love you have given us these gifts to share. Accept our offerings as an expression of our deep thanks and our concern for those in need, including our fellow creatures on planet Earth.
With all creation, we praise our Creator.

We sing: All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord

All praise to our redeeming Lord,
who joins us by his grace,
and bids us, each to each restored,
together seek his face.
He bids us build each other up;
and gathered into one,
to our high calling’s glorious hope
and we hand in hand go on.
And if our fellowship below
in Jesus be so sweet,
what heights of rapture shall we know
when round his throne we meet.

Together in Song 442(i). Charles Wesley 1707-88 (PD).

Sending Forth and Benediction

Go as people of peace, stewards and healers of creation, consolers of the afflicted, and midwives of justice.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

We Sing: For You, Deep Stillness

For you, deep stillness of the silent inland;
for you, deep blue of the desert skies;
for you, flame red of the rocks and stones;
for you, sweet water from hidden springs.

From the edges, seek the heartlands,
and when you’re burnt by the journey,
may the cool winds of the hovering Spirit
soothe and replenish you.
In the name of Christ,
In the name of Christ.

Extroit

(During an Extroit, it is appropriate to leave the sanctuary if you wish.)

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. All are welcome!

This Service has been prepared by Rev Linda Driver and Mark Waters.

Some of the liturgy in this service is adapted from:

Seasons of the Spirit, Wood Lake Publishing

Liturgy: Mountain Sunday Season of Creation.com

Cover Photo: On the Stuart Highway North of Alice Springs – Devils Marbles near Wauchope Roadhouse Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons