Order of Service – 29th October 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

October 29th, 2023. 10.00 am
Pentecost 22
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Worship Leader: Rev Dr Gillies Ambler
Liturgical colour: Green

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!

Introit and Lighting of the Candles – Bless O Lord, Us Your Servants

RSCM Choristers Prayer

Call to Worship

God, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,

before the earth and sky were formed,
God you were there and will be with us forever.

God, as we meet to worship this day,
gather us in, that we may experience your presence.

God, become one with us this day, we pray—
so that we can dwell in your grace and be gracious to others.

We come to love you with all our being, and empowered by your love,
to continue to love others and ourselves.

We Sing: Fresh as the Morning

God of the Bible, God in the Gospel,
hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come,
you are our center, daylight or darkness,
freedom or prison, you are our home.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
God in our struggles, God in our hunger,
suffering with us, taking our part,
still you empow’r us, mothering Spirit,
feeding, sustaining, from your own heart.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Those without status, those who are nothing,
you have made royal, gifted with rights,
chosen as partners, midwives of justice,
birthing new systems, lighting new lights.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Not by your finger, not by your anger
will our world order change in a day,
but by your people, fearless and faithful,
small paper lanterns, lighting the way.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Hope we must carry, shining and certain
through all our turmoil, terror and loss,
bonding us gladly one to the other,
till our world changes, facing the Cross.

Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray for open hearts …
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you and all our neighbours
and so worthily magnify your holy name,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Gregorian Sacramentary, 590AD, Uniting in Worship, 235; Uniting in Worship 2, 151)

Prayer of Confession

God of compassion we hear your command to love one another. Words easy to say yet so difficult to embody in action. If only loving could be as natural as breathing but it takes work, willpower and dedication. Even when we seek to follow you, God, it is easy to get distracted and overwhelmed— by the loud praise of the world rather than the quiet whispers of your blessing. We do the least-resistant and leave the difficult behind. Return us to your ways. Show us once more the power of divine-human love— sending us into the world to live love again. Amen.

Words of Assurance

When we lose our way, becoming confused and confounded, God waits patiently with compassion, Encouraging us to love, to grace, to God’s own face. Even before we ask for mercy— God you have already forgiven us. With love God welcomes us home.

Passing of the Peace

May the grace and peace of 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

Song: Getting to Know You

Choir Only – Sing once through.

As we learn, about you today
As you learn, about us today
As we learn, together on the way
God is here with us to-day.

Getting to know…EADVS and Linda

We Sing – Congregation sings once.

As we learn, about you today
As you learn, about us today
As we learn, together on the way
God is here with us to-day.

Tune from Love and Anger song 70. African American traditional. © . Wild Goose Resource Group. Words M Harris

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.

We Sing: The Steadfast Love of the Lord (Sing twice)

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end.
They are new ev’ry morning, new ev’ry morning
Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord
Great is Thy faithfulness.

Bible Readings

Deuteronomy 34:1—12 NRSVUE

Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the Lord showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain—that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees—as far as Zoar. The Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” Then Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, at the Lord’s command. He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired, and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended.

Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him, and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

Matthew 22:34—40 NRSVUE

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, ” ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

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

Prayer of Preparation

May the words of my mouth
and the meditations of our hearts
be acceptable in your sight, O God,
our strength and our Redeemer, Amen.

Message

Choral Anthem: – Make Me A Channel of Your Peace

Rosemary Nairn

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer

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 in 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:

Let us pray together
Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy one,
Give thanks because God’s given Jesus Christ, God’s beloved one.
And now let the weak say, ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say, ‘I am rich because of what God has done for all.’
Give thanks, give thanks, give thanks. Amen.

(Together in Song 727 adapted)

We Sing: A New Commandment I Give unto You (Sing twice)

A new commandment I give unto you
that you love one another as I have loved you,
that you love one another as I have loved you.
By this will others know that you are my disciples
if you have love one for another;
by this will others know that you are my disciples
if you have love one for another.

Together in Song 699. Words: John 13:34-35. Music: Source Unknown.

Word of Mission and Benediction

People of God, Go, into the world: Love God, Love your neighbours, Love yourselves. Go, as people of love.
In the name of Christ, we will go,
as people of love. Amen

Choral Blessing: – With Prayer and Supplication

Amy Beach

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 leading to the basement.

Some of the liturgy in this service has been adapted from:
The Abingdon Worship Annual 2023 (ed. Mary Scifres and B.J. Beu)
The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle: https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/canada-united-states-of-america
Seasons of the Spirit – Fusion Season of Creation/Pentecost2 2023