A Light on the Hill
Order of Service – 21st December 2025
The Order of Service follows below.
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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill
December 21, 2025
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Advent 4. Purple
Welcome to Brougham Place Uniting Church.
We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional carers of the land
on which our church is built.
As you wait for worship to begin, please turn your phone to
silent.
Prelude
Candle of Remembrance
Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country
Naa marni? (Are you all
good?)
Marni Ai! (Good I
am)
Introit
Angel Voices Ever Singing (Pott/Monk) CH 498
Call to Worship
Here in worship—
we pray together,
we stand together,
we sing together,
we listen together.
Here in worship—
we are not alone.
So when life gives you reason to grieve, to fear, or to worry,
remember this moment.
We are not alone.
Let us worship our with-us God.
Lighting of the Advent Candle
The Advent candles decorating our Sanctuary are a sign that Christmas
is near. Each Sunday in Advent we have been lighting one more
candle.
We have already lit the candles of hope, peace and joy.
Today, we are going to light the candle of love.
In a world where fear and anxiety is present, where do you see the
presence of love?
We see love all around us.
We see love when people hold open the door. We see love in a warm
embrace, a plate of homemade biscuits, a phone call after a long day. We
see love in random acts of kindness and intentional acts of
empathy.
We see love all around us.
Yes! Love is all around us.
Today we light the candle of love as a reminder of this good news. May this flicker of light help us remember that even in a fearful world, love is here. Love is world-changing. Love is shining bright. We only have to look for it.
The candle is lit.
Thanks be to God for a love like that!
Amen.
We sing: Angels from God
- Angels bringing, Angels giving
love to us from our God who cares.
Angels bringing, Angels giving
love to us from our God who cares.
Angels are around us –
Let us be aware
Angels sent to comfort
from a God who cares.
- Angels bringing, Angels giving
love to us from our God who cares.
Angels bringing, Angels giving
love to us from our God who cares.
Prayer of Confession
God of grace,
for the times when we limit your compassion and grace
to the boundaries of our human imagination,
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
For the times when we feel your life and hope
are impossibly distant and unreachable,
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy.
For the times when we forget the breadth and depth of your love
and judge others with human eyes and hearts,
Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy.
Words of Grace
God is with us, Immanuel.
God’s love and grace
are before us, behind us,
within us and around us.
We are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
We sing: Joseph Heard the Troubling News
Joseph heard the troubling news: Mary was expecting!
What should he, a just man, do? He sought God’s directing.
Joseph thought to send her home — leave her, without blaming;
Then an angel in a dream spoke of joy, proclaiming:“Go, take Mary as your wife; Joseph, don’t you fear it —
God has formed a precious life by the Holy Spirit!
Mary soon will bear a son; you shall name him Jesus.
When the prophet spoke of him, he said,”God is with us!”God of love, we too may face times of doubt and trouble.
May we know your daily grace, even when we struggle.
Just as Joseph answered, “Yes!” with new dedication,
We rejoice, for we’ve been blessed by your incarnation.
Passing of the Peace
The peace of our God be with you.
And also with you.
Community News and Notices
You can sign up to receive BP E-news by email and read past issues on our website: www.bpuc.org
Children’s Time (Exploring the Theme)
Children and Youth may go downstairs. Today the Sunday School will be having their Happy Birthday Jesus Party. Parents of young children, you are welcome to join your child if you feel they 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.
Choral Anthem
Sing of a Promise (Craig Mitchell and Allan Hoare)
Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“Look, the virgin shall become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.
The Gospel of Christ, Light of the world.
Thanks be to God.
Message
We sing: Love Came Down At Christmas
Together in Song 317
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
star and angels gave the sign.Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus:
but wherewith for sacred sign?Love shall be our token,
love be yours and love be mine,
love to God and neighbours,
love for plea and gift and sign.
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
With hope for a better tomorrow, we pray the words your son taught us to pray, 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.
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
We Sing: Doxology
Tune: O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all Spirit messengers below.
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Sending Forth and Final Benediction
As you go into this week, remember:
When you feel anxious or afraid,
may you look for God’s spirit,
may you reach for each other’s hands,
may you choose courage whenever you can.
And in all things, may you remember
that good news is louder than fear.
In the name of the one who calls,
the one who sends,
and the one who journeys with—
go in peace and
be not afraid.
Amen.
Choral Blessing
Amazing Babe of Bethlehem (Bray/Nairn)
Extroit
You are welcome to depart as the music continues
#BPUCChristmas #CallingAllAngels #morelove
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. All are welcome!
Thank you for joining us for worship!
If you would like to get in touch or request a prayer, please make use
of the Contact Cards in the pews and next to the Offering Bowl.
Alternately, you can email our Minister, Rev Linda Driver:
lindad@bpuc.org
This service has been prepared with
assistance from
Liturgy, Learning, & (Purposeful) Life (L3)
Rev. Dr Cathie Lambert
© 2025, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia
Words for Worship
for advent–epiphany
Prayers by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art LLC |
sanctifiedart.org
“Angels Among Us”
Worship Design Studio
The Bible Reading is from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated
Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the
United States of America.
Congregation
Hymns/Songs:
Angels From God
Copyright words and music: Doris Henderson March 2004
Used with Permission.
Joseph Heard the Troubling News
Tune: TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM 7.6.7.6 D (Good King Wenceslas)
Text: Copyright © 2010 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights
reserved.
Love Came Down at Christmas
Together in Song 317
Christina Georgina Rossetti, 1830-94 alt. Public Domain.
Doxology
Words: “Angels Among Us” Worship Design Studio
