Order of Service – 19th May 2024

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

Sunday 19 May, 2024
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Liturgical colour: Red

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

Prelude

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

Niina marni!
Marni’ai!

In this space you, God, are present,
just as you are present in all spaces.

In this time you, God, are here,
just as you are in all times.

We are your people from many places and many times. As we gather here and online, we acknowledge the important threads of love which our First Peoples bring to the tapestry of the story of our land. We acknowledge the wonder, beauty and spirit of Country and the place it has in the identity and spirituality of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains. I invite those joining us online to name the First Peoples of place where you are. We pay our respect to elders past and present.
May we journey in harmony and togetherness
into a better future for all.

Lighting of the Candles

Today we celebrate Pentecost, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. We light the candles and invite God’s Spirit to be upon us during this time of worship.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people;
and kindle in us the fire of your love.

We sing: Wa Emimimo

Wa wa wa Emimimo,
Wa wa wa Alagbara,
Wa-o, wa-o, wa-o.

Come, O Holy Spirit, come.
Come, Almighty Spirit, come.
Come, come, come.

Opening Prayer

God, in your name, we claim that this day is a day of celebration. We celebrate that we are alive on your good earth, that we are all created in your image, to be like you, that we are a part of your continually unfolding creation, and that we are a part of your great community that stretches throughout the world and across all time.
We live in your goodness, God,
and we rejoice! Amen.

We Sing: Life to the Brim

Life to the Brim, Life overflowing
Life pouring out in compassion and grace
Spirit of God, Well up within us
Bring us to life in this time and this place.
Life to the brim, Life overflowing
Life flooding in from below and above
Spirit of God, Pour out upon us
Bring us to faith and to hope and to love.

Come Holy Spirit
Lord and giver of life
Make us your people
Make us the body of Christ
Life to the brim, Life overflowing
Foretaste and sign of the healing to come
Spirit of God, Strengthen and guide us
Take us and use us ’til your kingdom’s come.

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Words of Grace

Friends of God, for that is who we are, be assured of this:
God is present by the Spirit in all the world, in this place now and in your very being. There is no distance for you to travel. You are here. God is here. You are loved. You are forgiven. Give thanks to God.
We give thanks 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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Introduction to reading

Scripture Reading #1: Acts 2:1-8, 11, 12

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native… languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.

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

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 #2: Acts 2: 13-21

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days,’ God says,
    ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
    Your young men will see visions,
    and your old men will dream dreams.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
    even on my servants—men and women alike—
    and they will prophesy.
And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below—
    blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
The sun will become dark,
    and the moon will turn blood red
    before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives.
But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD
    will be saved.’

From this shines forth the Word of God.
Thanks be to God.

Message

We sing: She Sits like a Bird

She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters,
hovering on the chaos of the world’s first day;
she sighs and she sings, mothering creation,
waiting to give birth to all the Word will say.
She wings over earth, resting where she wishes,
lighting close at hand or soaring through the skies;
she nests in the womb, welcoming each wonder,
nourishing potential hidden to our eyes.
She dances in fire, startling her spectators,
waking tongues of ecstasy where dumbness reigned;
she weans and inspires all whose hearts are open,
nor can she be captured, silenced or restrained.
For she is the Spirit, one with God in essence,
gifted by the Saviour in eternal love;
she is the key opening the scriptures,
enemy of apathy and heavenly dove.

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer

In our own heart language, 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 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: Filled with the Spirit’s Power

Filled with the Spirit’s power, with one accord
the infant church confessed its risen Lord:
O Holy Spirit, in the church today
no less your power of fellowship display.
Now with the mind of Christ set us on fire,
that unity may be our great desire:
give joy and peace; give faith to hear your call,
and readiness in each to work for all.
Widen our love, good Spirit, to embrace
in your strong care all those of every race:
like wind and fire with life among us move
till we are known as Christ’s, and Christians prove.

Sending Forth and Benediction

Go out into the world, sent as Christ Jesus was sent, gifted and empowered for the common good. Dream dreams, pursue visions and speak of God’s goodness in the words of those who would hear.

And may the God who breathed life into creation
be your delight. May Christ Jesus give hope to your dreaming, and may the Holy Spirit, your advocate and supporter, set your hearts ablaze with a passion for peace.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
In the name of Christ. Amen.

We sing: Aaronic Blessing

May the Lord bless and protect you.
May the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you.
May he be gracious to you,
show you his favour,
and give you his peace,
give you his peace.

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. All are welcome!

This service has been prepared with assistance from
Cheryl Wilson: Worship at Home resource
Uniting Church Assembly: Uniting in Prayer resource
Paul Turley: L3 resource (Mediacom Education)
Roddy Hamilton: Spill the Beans
Nathan Nettleton: from Laughing Bird.net

The Bible Readings are from the New Living Translation

Cover Photo by Tony C Mathew shared on ABC Adelaide Instagram page 25 June 2019