A Light on the Hill

Order of Service – 14th December 2025

The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill

December 14, 2025
Nativity Service
Advent 3. 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

Welcome

Naa marni? (Are you all good?)
Marni Ai! (Good I am)

(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,
e 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 from prophets,
may we prepare our hearts with hope and love.

Opening Prayer
Creator God,
as we come together in worship,
may we let go of all that has gone wrong in the last week,
may we invite in the hope, peace and love
that you sing over all of us.
Amen.

Lighting of the Advent Candle

We sing: Angels from God

  1. Angels bringing, Angels giving
    joy to us from our God who cares.
    Angels bringing, Angels giving
    joy to us from our God who cares.

Angels are around us –
Let us be aware
Angels sent to comfort
from a God who cares.

  1. Angels bringing, Angels giving
    joy to us from our God who cares.
    Angels bringing, Angels giving
    joy to us from our God who cares.

Prayer of Confession

Words of Grace

God’s love is boundless,
and God’s gift of grace is abundant.
May we live more fully in this love and grace,
awake to the joy God brings in our lives.
Amen.

We sing: Joyful, Joyful

Together in Song 152

  1. Joyful, joyful, we adore you,
    God of glory, God of love;
    hearts unfold like flowers before you
    opening to the sun above.
    Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
    drive the dark of doubt away;
    giver of immortal gladness,
    fill us with the light of day.

  2. All your works with joy surround you,
    earth and heav’n reflect your rays,
    stars and angels sing around you,
    centre of unbroken praise.
    Field and forest, vale and mountain,
    flowery meadow, flashing sea,
    singing bird and flowing fountain
    call to praise you joyfully.

  3. You are giving and forgiving,
    ever blessing, ever blest,
    well-spring of the joy of living,
    ocean-depth of happy rest.
    You our Father, Christ our brother,
    all are yours who live in love;
    teach us how to love each other,
    lift us to your joy above.

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

We sing: Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

Together in Song 292

  1. Infant holy,
    infant lowly,
    for his bed a cattle stall;
    oxen lowing,
    little knowing
    Christ the babe is Lord of all;
    swift are winging
    angels singing,
    nowells ringing,
    tidings bringing,
    Christ the babe is Lord of all,
    Christ the babe is Lord of all.

  2. Flocks were sleeping,
    shepherds keeping
    vigil till the morning new
    saw the glory,
    heard the story,
    tidings of a gospel true;
    thus rejoicing,
    free from sorrow,
    praises voicing,
    greet the morrow,
    Christ the babe was born for you,
    Christ the babe was born for you.

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:1-20.

In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrolment 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

We sing: Angels we have heard on high

  1. 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!

  1. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
    Why your joyous strains prolong?
    What the gladsome tidings be
    which inspire your heavenly song?

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

  1. Come to Bethlehem and see
    Christ whose birth the angels sing;
    come, adore on bended knee,
    Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

The Nativity: A Very Ray Martin Christmas

Nativity Part 1

We sing: Mary said Yes!

Refrain
Mary said, “Yes, yes, yes!
My Lord, Your way is best.”
Mary said, “Yes, yes, yes!
Your way is best!”

  1. Gabriel appeared,
    A message to proclaim:
    “Do not be afraid,
    For you are blessed today!”

Mary said, “Yes, yes, yes!
My Lord, Your way is best.”
Mary said, “Yes, yes, yes!
Your way is best!”

  1. “You will have a child,
    He’s the Chosen One,
    Jesus is His name
    And He will be God’s Son!”

Mary said, “Yes, yes, yes!
My Lord, Your way is best.”
Mary said, “Yes, yes, yes!
Your way is best!”

  1. Mary wondered how,
    “How can this be true?”
    Gabriel explained,
    “There’s nothing God can’t do!”

Mary said, “Yes, yes, yes!
My Lord, Your way is best.”
Mary said, “Yes, yes, yes!
Your way is best!”

  1. Mary trusted God,
    She always obeyed.
    We must do the same,
    So just like her we say –

Oh we say, “Yes, yes, yes!
My Lord, Your way is best!
Oh we say,”Yes, yes, yes!
Your way is best!“

Nativity Part 2

We sing: While Shepherds Watched

  1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
    all seated on the ground,
    the angel of the Lord came down
    and glory shone around.

  2. ’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:

  3. ‘the heavenly babe you there shall find
    to human view displayed,
    all meanly wrapped in swaddling clothes
    and in a manger laid.’

  4. ‘All glory be to God on high,
    and to the world be peace;
    goodwill henceforth from heaven to earth
    begin and never cease.’

Nativity Part 3

We sing: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

  1. 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.

Nativity Part 4

We sing: We Three Kings of Orient Are

  1. 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.

  1. Glorious now behold Him arise;
    King and God and sacrifice;
    Alleluia, Alleluia,
    Sounds through the earth and skies.

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

Nativity Part 5

We sing: Angels from the realms of Glory

Together in Song 309

  1. Angels, from the realms of glory,
    wing your flight o’er all the earth:
    heralds of creation’s story,
    now proclaim Messiah’s birth:

Refrain:
come and worship Christ, the new-born King,
come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King.

  1. Shepherds, in the field abiding,
    watching over flocks by night,
    God with us is now residing;
    yonder shines the infant Light:

come and worship Christ, the new-born King,
come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King.

  1. Wise men, leave your contemplations,
    brighter visions beam afar;
    seek the great Desire of nations,
    you have seen his natal star:

come and worship Christ, the new-born King,
come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King.

  1. Though an infant now we view him,
    he shall fill his Father’s throne,
    gather all the nations to him:
    every knee shall then bow down:

come and worship Christ, the new-born King,
come and worship, worship Christ, the new-born King.

Commissioning of the Christmas Angels

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 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

God of peace and possibility,
we offer these gifts so that they may be transformed into your good news
for the sake of the world.
Amen.

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.

Extroit

#BPUCChristmas #CallingAllAngels #morejoy

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

Advent Candle Lighting
Melissa Neumann
“Joy to the World” Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts

L3 Advent Christmas Epiphany 2024 & 2025

The Bible Reading is from the Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

A Very Ray Martin Christmas
Written by Emelia Haskey 2025
Adapted from A Christmas to Believe In
© 2007, Sharon Kay Chatwell
Used with permission.

Congregation Hymns/Songs:

Angels From God
Copyright words and music: Doris Henderson March 2004
Used with Permission.

Joyful, Joyful
Together in Song 152
Henry Van Dyke 1852-1933alt. Public Domain.

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Together in Song 292
Polish Carol (?13th cent.). Edith Gellibrand Reed 1885-1933
Translation from The Kingsway Carol Book © E. G. Reed
By permission HarperCollins Publishers. Public Domain.

Angels we have heard on high
Words: Trad. French carol; trans. Crown of Jesus, 1862 alt.
UMH 238 All rights reserved.

Mary Said Yes #14671
Language:English
Contributors: Michael Mangan
Tune: © 1995,2005, Litmus Productions
Text: © 1995,2005, Litmus Productions

While shepherds watched their flocks
Together In Song 299
Nahum Tate 1652-1715 alt.

Hark! the herald angels sing
Together in Song 303
Charles Wesley 1707-88 and others. Public Domain.

We three kings of Orient are
Words John Henry Hopkins Jr 1857. Public Domain.

Angels from the realms of Glory
Together in Song 309
James Montgomery 1771-1857 alt. Public Domain

Doxology
Words: Worship Design Studio. Angels Among Us resource

www.bpuc.org