Order of Service – 8th December 2024

The Order of Service follows below.

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Advent 2:
Nativity Service

Emmanuel: God’s Holy Darkness

Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

December 8, 2024
Nativity Service
Advent 2. Purple

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

Niina marni!
Marni’ai!

(Please remain seated)

Welcome everybody, it’s good to see you here,
Welcome everybody, it’s good to see you here,
Welcome everybody, it’s good to see you here,
Gathered in this space.

Acknowledgment of Country

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.

Call to Worship

In this time of Advent,
in this time of waiting,
in this time of preparation,
may we listen for the signs,
may we be ready to hear the good news in surprising ways,
may we prepare our hearts with hope and love.

We Sing: Light One Candle

Light one candle for hope,
one bright candle for hope,
He brings hope to every heart.
He comes! He comes!
Light one candle for love
one bright candle for love.
He brings love to every heart.
He comes! He comes!

Lighting of the Candles

Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world’. We are waiting for the day when we will celebrate the Christ child born in the night.

As we light the first candle, we pray for the world to know hope.

As we light the second candle, we remember that God’s love surrounds us.
God of love, may we know your presence in the light and the holy darkness.

We Sing: He Came Down

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

Let us pray: In our gatherings and in our lives, show us your way, O God, prepare a path for us, encounter us with the Good News: that you are here, present with us, even now!

Prayer of Confession

There are times God, when we don’t want to follow in your ways, when we choose paths that lead us away from you.
God of grace, we are sorry

There are times God, when we say things or do things that hurt or upset other people.
God of grace, we are sorry.

Help us remember your ways of love and grace.
Help us to be loving and kind in all we say and do.

Prayer of Confession and Word of Grace

Thank you God, that you are a God of grace.
Thank you for forgiving us.

Amen

Passing of the Peace

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

Community News and Notices

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Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20 (Common English Bible)

In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom.

Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.”

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told.

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

An Introduction: “Australian Nativity” by Craig Mitchell

A Pop Up Nativity

Nativity – part 1

We Sing: Once in Royal David’s City

Once in royal David’s city
stood a lowly cattle-shed
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven
who is God and Lord of all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall
with the poor and meek and lowly
lived on earth our Saviour holy.

Together in Song 312. Cecil Frances Alexander 1818-95 alt. Public Domain

Nativity – part 2

We Sing: O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see you lie!
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by:
yet, in your dark streets shining
the everlasting light,
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in you tonight.
How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming;
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

Together in Song 316. Phillip Brooks 1835-93. Public Domain.

Nativity – part 3

Musical Offering

Peace, Peace / Silent Night

Nativity – part 4

We Sing: Hark! the herald angels sing

Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the new-born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all you nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem’.

Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Together in Song 303. Charles Wesley 1707-88 and others. Public Domain.

Nativity – part 5

We Sing: While Shepherds Watched

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
all seated on the ground,
the angel of the Lord came down
and glory shone around.
’To you in David’s town this day
is born of David’s line
a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
and this shall be the sign:
‘the heavenly babe you there shall find
to human view displayed,
all meanly wrapped in swaddling clothes
and in a manger laid.’
‘All glory be to God on high,
and to the world be peace;
goodwill henceforth from heaven to earth
begin and never cease.’

Together in Song 299. Nahum Tate 1652-1715 alt.

Nativity – part 6

We Sing: We Three Kings

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

    Refrain:
    O star of wonder, star of night,
    Star with royal beauty bright,
    Westward leading, still proceeding,
    Guide us to thy perfect light.
Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.

    Refrain:
    O star of wonder, star of night,
    Star with royal beauty bright,
    Westward leading, still proceeding,
    Guide us to thy perfect light.

Words: John Henry Hopkins Jr 1857. Public Domain.

Nativity – part 7

We Sing: Away in a Manger

Away in a manger, no crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing, the poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children in your tender care
And take us to heaven to live with you there.

Together in Song 318. vv. 1-2 Anon. ? 1885 v3, Anon. ? 1892

Nativity – part 8

Children’s Time

From: God’s Holy Darkness by Sherei Green, and Beckah Selnick and illustrated by Nikki Faison. Reproduced by Permission of Augsburg Fortress.

Commissioning of the Angels

The children may return to their seats

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 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 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 at the front of the church.

Offering Prayer

We sing: Angels We Have Heard on High

Angels we have heard on high
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their joyous strains.

    Refrain:
    Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
    Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?

    Refrain:
    Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
    Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

    Refrain:
    Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
    Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
See him in a manager laid,
whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
while our hearts in love we raise.

    Refrain:
    Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
    Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Sending Forth and Benediction

May we be blessed with messages of love, kindness, and truth.
May we find companions on the way to help navigate life’s changes.
And may the peace that passes understanding be ours, today and always.
In the name of the Holy Trinity, Amen.

Blessing Song: Deep Peace

Deep peace of the running wave to you,
deep peace of the flowing air to you,
deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
deep peace of the shining stars to you,
deep peace of the gentle night,
moon and stars pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace of Christ the light of the world to you. (repeat)

Extroit

The people may leave as the Extroit is played

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. You are welcome!

This service has been prepared with assistance from

Liturgy Learning & (Purposeful) Life (L3)

Craig Mitchell: Australian Nativity from “Deeper Water”

The Impromptu Nativity story is from a Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts resource: “Joy to the World: Nativity and All-age Resources for Advent and Christmas”. By Melissa Neumann and the South Australian Uniting Church Children and Family Ministry Team