Order of Service – 28th April 2024

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

April 28^th, 2024. 10.00am
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Easter 5. Liturgical colour: White

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!

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.

Introit and Lighting of the Candles

Love is Your Way (Murray/Harding)

Call to Worship

Give thanks to the Lord.
God is good.

God made us, and all that is.
God is good.

God made this day and this community.
God is good.

Let us come together to remember.
God is good.

Let us come together and sing out –
God is good.

We sing: He Came Down that We May Have Love

He came down
that we may have love;

He came down
that we may have love;

He came down
that we may have love;
hallelujah for evermore.

(Sing song twice)

Opening Prayer

God of love, we know that we can be honest and open with you in a way that we cannot be with others and even, sometimes, with ourselves.

Today, we come together to remember that we are loved, all of us, everywhere, for all time, in all situations. We are loved, and this is enough.
Thanks be to God! Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, You know the things that lay heavy on our hearts. We lay them before you now.

Words of Grace

Be with us, merciful God, and allow your grace and peace to be with us. Amen

Passing of the Peace

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

Community News and Notices

Current or previous BP E-news and to sign up to receive BP E-news

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.

Anthem

I Am the Vine (Ambler/Nairn)

Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:7-21

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

Gospel Reading: John 15:1–8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

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

Message

A Haiku for Life

Living in God means
God’s love is living in you.
So love God, live Love.

Living in God means
God’s love is living in us.
So love God, live Love.

We sing: Lord Jesus, we belong to you

Lord Jesus, we belong to you,
you live in us, we live in you;
we live and work for you –
because we bear your name.
Help us receive each other, Lord,
for you receive the least of us
and come to us in them –
because we bear your name.
Keep us from missing out on life;
give hands that help; and single sight,
and feet that walk your way –
because we bear your name.
You are the salt that cleanses us,
so clean us out, and make us fit
for common life with you –
because we bear your name.

Prayers of the People

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 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: Inspiring Love

Love divine, all love inspiring,
joy of heav’n on earth is known;
you, the heart of all that’s living,
you, the breath, the mind, the soul.
All creation sings your praises,
plains and mountains, sea and sky;
we will join the sacred chorus,
we will sing your love through time.
Jesus come to dwell among us,
Holy love personified.
Wisdom of the broad wide cosmos,
timeless star dust in your eyes.
With your touch you healed and welcomed,
with your words you showed us your way;
now we follow your path of justice,
spread your peace more day by day.
Breath of Life, breathe ever hopeful,
liberate from tyranny.
Blow, wind, blow, and carry onward
humans into unity.
Help us weave our threads together,
vibrant, strong, community;
we are one, one body in Spirit;
found in wonder, love, are we.

Words: Rev Dr Sarah Agnew, in loving memory of her father David). Used with permission Tune: ‘Love divine, all loves excelling’ – HYFRYDOL

Benediction

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God. Go and live with God’s love in your hearts. Beloved, let us abide in Christ’s love, for he is the Vine and we are the branches. Go and grow as Christ’s disciples in the world. Beloved, let us care for one another, for the Spirit unites us together in compassion.
We go in peace. We go in hope. We go in love. Amen.

Blessing

Bless Us Lord (Ray Quinn)

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. You are welcome.

This service has been prepared with assistance from
L3 Liturgical Resource. Writer: Michelle Eastwood
Mediacom: Words for Worship
Abingdon Worship Annual 2018
Bible Readings: New Revised Standard Version (Updated Edition)
Cover photo by Max Harlynking on Unsplash