Order of Service – 20th October 2024

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

20 October 2024
Preacher: Moderator Rev Peter Morel
165^th Anniversary Service

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

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

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

Introit and Lighting of the Candles

MiniM Choir sings: Show Us How to Love

Gathering Words

We gather today, celebrating our life together
with gratitude to those who have gone before.

We gather today, looking ahead to our life together
with anticipation as we step into the future.

We gather, to worship and to serve the living God:
the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Call to Worship

This is the day that our God has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Come, let us raise our voices in praise,
let us make a joyful noise together.
We will join all of creation in song.

We know that God is our Creator,
God made us and we belong to God.
We are God’s people, a light to the world.

Let us come together and worship!

We sing: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You

Joyful, joyful, we adore you,
God of glory, God of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before you
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the dark of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.
All your works with joy surround you,
earth and heav’n reflect your rays,
stars and angels sing around you,
centre of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
singing bird and flowing fountain
call to praise you joyfully.
You are giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living,
ocean-depth of happy rest.
You our Father, Christ our brother,
all are yours who live in love;
teach us how to love each other,
lift us to your joy above.

Together in Song 152 Henry Van Dyke 1852-1933 alt. Public Domain.

Opening Words and Prayer

God who calls us to be the church in this place and time, we come together to celebrate your presence among us. As we sing and pray and listen, may you awaken in us a hope for the future. Give us a fresh vision for this community and how we can make a difference as your people: a light on the hill.
Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God of yesterday, today and tomorrow,
we give thanks for …

God of yesterday,
we give our thanks and praise.

God of yesterday, today and tomorrow,
we give thanks for …

God of today,
we give our thanks and praise.

God of yesterday, today and tomorrow,
we give thanks for …

God of tomorrow,
we give our thanks and praise.

God of yesterday, today and tomorrow Continue to journey with us, your pilgrim people, as we seek to honour the past and move into the future.
Amen

Prayer of Confession

May we move forward as your people, united through the love of Christ, marked by your grace; truly a light on the hill.
Amen

Words of Assurance/Grace

…In Christ, through Christ and because of Christ, our sins are forgiven.
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

Go to our website to view current or previous issues of BP E-news and to sign up to receive BP E-news by email.

Anthem

The combined Choirs sing: Under the Canopy of Grace (J. Hughes)
Choirs: Brougham Place Uniting Church (BPUC) Choir, MiniM Choir, Illumina Voices

Children’s Time: Meet the Moderator!

Youth are invited to stay for the rest of the service.

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: Luke 24:13-35 NRSVUE

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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

Message

We sing: In A Church That’s Moving Forward

In a church that’s moving forward,
this is where we long to be.
in a church with gifts abounding
and the grace to set them free.
in a church of many cultures,
in a church both old and young,
in a church of many accents
when the song of Christ is sung.
With a Lord who leads the mission
for a people on the way,
with a Lord who’s healing blindness,
lets the voiceless have their say.
with a Lord of every nation,
with a Lord of every place,
with a Lord who shines compassion
on to every tribe and race.
On a road that leads to wholeness
When we’re broken or unsure,
On a road to understanding
Where division finds a cure;
On a road where all may travel,
On a road where many roam,
On a road we walk together,
As we make our journey home.

Prayers of the People

Response at the end of the prayer:

God, in your love and mercy
Hear the prayer of your people. Amen.

Musical Offering

Illumina Voices sing: Baba Yetu (The Lord’s Prayer in Swahili)

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

Like the disciples at Emmaus, we offer what we have. They offered their company, their table, their bread. God, we offer you our love, our devotion, these gifts, our service.
May our eyes be opened
to your holy presence among us,
now and always. Amen.

We sing: Called Together

Called together, we’ve taken the dare,
to commit – to a destiny shared,
diff-’rent, diverse we may be,
but we see God’s plan for history:
a world reconciled and renewed!

    This is God’s call,
    this is God’s way,
    that we might show the light of God’s day,
    divided world, uniting grace,
    we live the signs of Christ in this place.
Called together, this journey we’re on
is the way – of the Crucified One.
Justice and love are our song,
with those on the edge, we belong,
declaring God’s love is for all!

    This is God’s call,
    this is God’s way,
    that we might show the light of God’s day,
    divided world, uniting grace,
    we live the signs of Christ in this place.
Pilgrim people, the road is our call,
Spirit led, trav-’ling light, risking all.
Paths of the past keep us true,
while fresh words and deeds – spring anew
in worship and witness and care!

    This is God’s call,
    this is God’s way,
    that we might show the light of God’s day.
    Divided world, uniting grace,
    we live the signs of Christ in this place. (continues)

    And in God’s hands
    our future rests,
    our hope is there in God’s faithfulness.
    We live this gift, this blessed road,
    this unity: the household of God!

Cutting The Cake

Sending Forth and Benediction

We go back out into the world to love and serve the world around us,
just as this church fellowship has done for 165 years.

We go out, held in the loving arms of God who creates, redeems, supports, and sustains us.
We go, scaffolded with love.
Thanks be to God! Amen.

Choral Blessing

The BPUC Choir sings: May the Lord Bless You and Keep You
(R. Nairn)

Postlude

Please stay and share in a light morning tea together. All are welcome!

Special Thanks to:

Moderator, Reverend Peter Morel
MiniM Choir
Illumina Voices
BPUC Choir
Helen Angove
Rosemary Nairn OAM
Kaye Johnson
Bronwyn Hern

Some of the liturgy in this service is adapted from prayers by:

Carol Penner, from Leading in Worship
Ana Gobledale from Opening words for a Church Anniversary
Gord Waldie from Worship Offerings
Roddy Hamilton: A Litany for a Church Anniversary or Milestone
Uniting in Worship 2
The Bible Reading is from New Revised Standard Version (Updated Edition)