Order of Service – Lessons and Carols 2023

The Order of Service follows below.

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Christmas Eve
Lessons and Carols

Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A light on the hill

Sunday December 24th 2023

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

Prelude

Jenny Symonds & Jacob Wilson

Opening Proclamation: Luke 2: 10-11

Rev Linda Driver

And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Opening Carol: Once in Royal David’s City

Soloist: Emma Dubrich

Solo: 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.

Please stand as you are able to join in singing:

All: 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, despised and lowly
lived on earth our Saviour holy.

And through all his wondrous childhood,
day by day like us he grew;
he was little, weak, and helpless,
tears and smiles like us he knew;
and he feels for all our sadness,
and he shares in all our gladness.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing by,
we shall see him: but in heaven,
set at God’s right hand on high,
when his children gather round
bright like stars, with glory crowned.

Together in Song #312 Cecil Francis Alexander 1818-95 Public Domain

Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country

Rev Linda Driver

Niina marni!
Marni’ ai!

Opening prayer

Rev Linda Driver

Music reflection

BPUC Choir – Candlelight Carol – John Rutter

Lighting the Advent Candle

Lucy Gill and Mae Hern

Carol: The First Nowell

The first Nowell the Angel did say
Was to certain poor Shepherds in fields as they lay.
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.
Born is the King of Israel.
When they looked up they saw a star
Shining in the East, beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued, both day and night.

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.
Born is the King of Israel.
This Star drew nigh to the North-West;
Over Bethlehem it took its rest.
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.
Born is the King of Israel.
Now let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
who has made heaven and earth from naught,
and with his blood salvation brought.

Nowell, nowell, nowell, nowell.
Born is the King of Israel.

Together in Song 301. Anon, English c. 17th cent.

First Lesson: Isaiah 9: 2-7

David Phillips

The Prophet Isaiah foretells the Birth of Christ

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
    on them light has shined.
You have multiplied exultation;
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden
    and the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
    and all the garments rolled in blood
    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders,
    and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Great will be his authority,
    and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
    He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Music reflection

Members of MiniM Ensemble. Pianist Jacob Wilson.

Turning Point of Time – Doug Simper and Neil Quintrell

Second Lesson: Luke 1: 26-38

Linda MacGillivray

The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Carol: 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.
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb:
veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate Deity,
pleased in human flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing
glory to the new-born King.
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings:
mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more need die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.

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

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

Third Lesson: Luke 2:1-7

Rev Dr Gillies Ambler

Jesus is born in Bethlehem

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.

Reflection – Migration

Emelia Haskey (Subtle Bricks)

Fourth Lesson: Luke 2: 8-18

Gwenda Kerley

The shepherds go to the manger

Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them

Music reflection

Illumina Chimes

Go tell it on the Mountain – Gospel song

Angels & Shepherds -Polish carol

Christmas Bowl

Rev Linda Driver

Prayers of the People

Rev Linda Driver

Music reflection

BPUC Choir

Waiting for Bethlehem’s Light – words and music by Dale Peterson

Fifth Lesson: John 1:1-5

Dr. Lawrie Palmer

The light shines in the darkness

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

During the singing of Silent Night, the lighting of candles shall begin from one single light being carried to the front pews from the Advent Candles. Please pass on to those beside you and behind you as we show how God’s light from a single flame can light the whole world.

Carol: Silent Night

Silent night, holy night:
all is calm, all is bright,
round the virgin mother and child,
holy infant so tender and mild,
sleep in heavenly peace,
sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night:
shepherds quake at the sight;
glories stream from heaven afar
heavenly hosts sing ‘Alleluia’
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the saviour is born.
Silent night, holy night:
wondrous star, lend your light;
with the angels let us sing
alleluia to our King;
Christ our saviour is born,
Christ our saviour is born.

Together in Song # 311 Franz Gruber and Joseph Mohr. tr John Freeman Young Public Domain

Prayers for Christmas

Rev Linda Driver

Carol: Joy to the World

Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
let earth receive its king;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns;
let us our songs employ;
while fields and streams, rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

Together in Song # 268 Isaac Watts, 1674-1748 alt Based on Psalm 98. Public Domain

Benediction

Rev Linda Driver

We have heard the Christmas story of love – love born in a manger. Like the shepherds, we found the Christ child. Like Mary, we hold this story deep in our hearts. Let us join the angels, telling this news of incredible joy.
And may God’s blessing of peace
be ours this night and forevermore.
Amen

Postlude

Piper: Lee Parker

In the Bleak Midwinter & See amid the Winter Snow

May you know God’s peace and hope, joy and love, this Christmas!

This service has been prepared with assistance from Rosemary Nairn and Brian Hern, The Abingdon Worship Annual 2023, Christmas Bowl. Bible Readings are taken 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.

With thanks to the following for their contribution to the service: (in alphabetical order)

Rev Dr Gillies Ambler
Helen Angove
Brougham Place Uniting Church Choir
Rev Linda Driver
Paul Driver
Emma Dubrich
Lucy Gill
Emelia Haskey (Subtle Bricks)
Brian Hern OAM
Mae Hern
Illumina Chimes
Gwenda Kerley
Linda MacGillivray OAM
Members of MiniM Choir
Rosemary Nairn OAM
Dr Lawrie Palmer
Lee Parker
David Phillips
Jenny Symonds
Jacob Wilson