Order of Service – 18th August 2024

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

18 August 2024
Preacher: Rev Leanne Davis
13^th Sunday after Pentecost
Liturgical colour: Green

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)

Lighting of the Candles

We sing: Here in this Place New Light is Streaming

Here in this place new light is streaming,
now is the darkness vanished away,
see, in this space, our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken;
gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken,
we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery;
we are the old, who yearn for your face;
we have been sung throughout all of history,
called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty;
gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage to enter the song.
Not in the dark of buildings confining,
not in some heaven light years away,
but here in this space, the new light is shining,
now is the kingdom, now is the day.

Gather us in, and hold us forever;
gather us in, and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together,
fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

Call to Worship

Gracious and merciful is the bread maker.
Mindful of the covenant, God provides food.
Holy, awesome is God’s name.
This is the beginning of wisdom;
all who practice will have good understanding.
Give thanks with your whole heart.
Come, let us worship.

Opening Prayer

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God,
our limited minds find it hard to grasp the fullness of your nature. Your wisdom is beyond all fathoming. Your creativity generates all the beauty that surrounds us. We pray that you will forgive us that, so often, we take all of your goodness and providential care for granted. When you come to us, we so often ignore you. Caught up in the routine of every day, we crowd you out and are deaf to your voice. When you invite us into moments of mystery and wonder, we are blind and deaf to all you are and what you want for us.
Forgive us, we pray.

Help us to offer our time and energy more fully to your mission. Equip us for the tasks before us and urge us into your service. When we find it hard to understand all your ways, reveal your will and the deep truths of Christ’s gospel.
In and through your mercy, we offer our prayer. Amen.

Words of Assurance/Grace

Christ is the foundation of our life.
In him is the gift of eternal life.
Know this – by grace, through faith, we are forgiven.
There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.
Thanks be to God. 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.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 111

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
    in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
    studied by all who delight in them.
Full of honour and majesty is his work,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
    the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
    he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
    in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
    all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are established forever and ever,
    to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
    he has commanded his covenant forever.
    Holy and awesome is his name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

We sing: Shout to the Lord

My Jesus, my Saviour Lord, there is none like you;
all of my days I want to praise
the wonders of your mighty love.
My comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength,
let every breath, all that I am,
never cease to worship you.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth
let us sing, power and majesty,
praise to the King.
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
at the sound of your name.
I sing for joy at the work of your hands;
for ever I’ll love you, for ever I’ll stand.
Nothing compares to the promise I have in you!

Together in Song 738. Darlene Zschech (1993). Words and Music © D. Zschech/Hillsong Music, Australia. Words used with permission under copyright CCLI Licence No 137219. Copyright cleared music for churches.

Scripture Reading: John 6:51–58

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which the ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

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

Message

We sing: I the Lord of Sea and Sky

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night;
I will go, Lord, if you lead me;
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain;
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night;
I will go, Lord, if you lead me;
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame;
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts are satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night;
I will go, Lord, if you lead me;
I will hold your people in my heart.

Prayers of the People

Let us pray in the silence of our hearts for the needs of our world.

For those who are hungry, dispossessed, living in poverty.

Silence

You are the living bread.
Whoever eats this bread will live.

For the dying, those who grieve, the sick,

Silence

You are the living bread.
Whoever eats this bread will live.

For those who are marginalised, anguished, disturbed,

Silence

You are the living bread.
Whoever eats this bread will live.

For those who lonely, unloved, unseen,

Silence

You are the living bread.
Whoever eats this bread will live.

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

We sing: Guide Me O thou Great Redeemer

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand:
bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.
Open now the crystal fountain
whence the living waters flow:
let the fiery, cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through:
strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield.
be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side:
songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee,
I will ever give to thee.

Together in Song 569. William Williams 1717-91. tr. Peter Williams 1722-96 and William Williams alt. Public Domain.

Sending Forth and Benediction

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. All are welcome!

This service has been prepared with assistance from:

L3 (MediaCom)

Words for Worship (MediaCom)

Cover Photo by Karan Hudson