Order of Service – 5th March 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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Lent – Plot twists…

Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

The second Sunday of Lent
March 5, 2023
Preacher: Rev Dr Ian Price

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

Prelude

Welcome

Lighting of the Candles and Introit

Lift thine Eyes – Mendelssohn

Call to Worship

The Spirit blows where it will
Come Holy Spirit, breathe upon us here

The Spirit knows what it wills
Speak a Word of new life this day

The Spirit is here and now
Refresh, renew and restore us to the fullness of faith

Opening Prayer

We Sing: She Sits Like a Bird, Brooding on the Waters

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.

Prayer

God sees the motivation of our hearts. In drawing near to Christ we are set free to live creative and whole lives.
Thanks be to God.

Passing of the Peace

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

Community News and Notices

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Children’s Time – Drama “Lift Your Eyes” Subtle Bricks

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 from the entrances.

Scripture Reading: John 3:1-17

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.”

Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”

Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

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

Choral Anthem

God So Loved the World – John Stainer (from The Crucifixion)

Address

We Sing: Create in us a Clean Heart, O God (sung twice)

Create in us a clean heart, O God.
Renew within us a right spirit.
Cast us not away from your presence, O Lord,
and take not your Holy Spirit from us.
Restore to us fullness of joy,
the joy that springs from your salvation.
Lighten our minds, shelter our lives
with your Spirit free.

Offering

To give electronically please go to bpuc.org/give

Prayers of the People

Holy Communion

Setting of the Table

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May God be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to our God.

Let us give thanks to God our Creator.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

… And so we raise our voices, together with heaven and earth, your people throughout all time and in all places, saying:
Holy, holy, holy, God of all creation and life,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory,
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God.
Hosanna in the highest!

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.

Breaking of the Bread

(distribution of the elements)

Prayer After Communion

We Sing: Eternal Light Shine in My Heart

Eternal light, shine in my heart;
eternal hope, lift up my eyes;
eternal power, be my support;
eternal wisdom, make me wise.
Eternal life, raise me from death;
eternal brightness, help me see;
eternal Spirit, give me breath;
eternal Saviour, come to me;
until by your most costly grace,
invited by your holy word,
at last I come before your face
to know you, my eternal God.

Sending Forth and Benediction

Choral Blessing:

May the Majesty – Rosemary Nairn

Postlude

Come and share morning tea together, downstairs in the basement.