Order of Service – 28th January 2024

The Order of Service follows below.

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Artwork by Karan Hudson

Brougham Place Uniting Church

A light on the hill
Kardlayirdi Karnungga

Epiphany 4 January 28^th, 2024. 10.00 am
Preacher: Rev Leanne Davis
Liturgical colour: Green

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

Prelude

Welcome

Niina marni!
Marni’ai!

Acknowledgment of Country

Lighting of the Candles

Call to Worship

Listen.
Listen to the Stories.

All are speaking to us. The psalms, the Gospel, The Hebrew Scriptures. This country. All are speaking to us.
Are we listening?

They speak with authority.
We will listen.

Do we have ears to hear? Space in our mind to quieten the business of life? A desire for the Holy Spirit to dwell within, afresh today.
Living God: Open our ears to hear, our eyes to see and our hearts to understand.
Amen.

Prayer

We Sing: Glory

Chorus:
Glory to the King of kings:
majesty, power and strength to the Lord of lords. (repeat)

Holy one, all creation crowns
you King of kings,
holy one, King of kings, Lord of lords, holy one!

Glory to the King of kings:
majesty, power and strength to the Lord of lords. (repeat)
Jesus, Lord, with eyes unveiled
we will see your throne,
Jesus, Prince of Peace, Son of God, Immanuel!

Glory to the King of kings,
Majesty, power and strength to the Lord of lords.
Power and strength to the Lord of lords,
power and strength to the Lord of lords.

Geoffrey William Bullock 1955- Words and music from The Songs of Geoff bullock by permission Nightlight Music Group.

Prayer of Confession

Our Response

Lord our God.
You never take a break from noticing and caring. All your works are faithful and just. Your ways are trustworthy. To you belongs eternal praise. We turn to you.
Amen.

Passing of the Peace

May the peace of 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 for God’s Wonderful Works

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 honor 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;
    all those who practice it have a good understanding.
    His praise endures forever.

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: Mark 1: 21-28

The Man with an Unclean Spirit

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

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

Sermon

We Sing: Be Thou My Vision

Be thou my vision, O lord of my heart,
naught be all else to me, save that thou art
thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou my great Father, thy child let me be;
thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.
Be thou my armour, my sword for the fight,
be thou my dignity, thou my delight;
thou my soul’s shelter and thou my high tower:
raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I scorn and the world’s empty praise,
thou my inheritance, now and always:
Thou and thou only the first in my heart;
high King of heaven, my treasure thou art.
High King of heaven, after victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Together in Song 547. Gaelic c.8^th cent. Tr. Mary Elizabeth Byrne 1880-1931. Verified by Eleanor Henrietta Hull 1860-1935 alt. Public Domain.

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

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.

We Sing: Christ Be Our Light

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
Make us your living voice.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others
walls made of living stone.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.

Sending Forth and Benediction

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.

Postlude

Come and share morning tea together, downstairs in the basement. There are stairs behind the organ and a ramp between the church and the car park leading to the basement.

The Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.