A Light on the Hill
Order of Service – 23rd February 2025
The Order of Service follows below.
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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
A Light on the Hill
Date. 23 February, 2025
Preacher: Trevor Phillips
Liturgical week: Epiphany 7, Green.
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 and Acknowledgment of Country
Naa marni?
(Are you all good?)
Marni Ai!
(Good I am)
We acknowledge the sovereign custodians of this place where we gather, the Kaurna peoples. We offer their elders our respect, those past and those present. We commit to working for a more just settlement for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in these lands.
Introit and Lighting of the Candles
Put all your trust in God. Tis 555
Call to Worship
We sing: Love divine, all loves excelling
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown:
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.Come, almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more thy temples leave:
thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.Finish then thy new creation,
pure and spotless let us be,
let us see thy great salvation,
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love and praise.
Together in Song 217. Charles Wesley 1707-88 alt. Public Domain.
Opening Prayer
O God, ground of our being, lead us into life!
Guide us into wholeness.
Fill us with your desires
and touch our lives with your goodness
Push us out onto the path of freedom
freedom to live in love and from love;
freedom to worship your holy name.
Prayer of Confession
O God,
we are loaded with enemy-making impulses!
How easy it is to look at others with suspicion,
to keep score on wrongs,
to let bitterness and judgement pile up and pour out.
We’re sorry for all those parts of us
that remain untouched and unmoved
by your mercy, your grace, your love.
Forgive us God, we pray.
Words of Assurance/Grace
The truth for each and every one of us
is that we inhabit a world defined by mercy and love.
God is a merciful parent
shockingly kind and embracing,
even when we are ungrateful,
even when we embrace wrongdoing wilfully.
Brothers and sisters, we share in God’s exceeding generosity.
We are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
Passing of the Peace
The peace of our God be with you.
And also with you.
Community News and Notices
Children’s Time
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 at the entrances.
Anthem
Christ is the world’s true light. FL\A 7- p31
Scripture Reading: Luke 6:27–38
Love for Enemies
”But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do
good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those
who mistreat you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other
also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your
shirt. Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what
is yours, do not ask for it back again. Do to others as you would have
them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
”Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and
you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and
it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will
be the measure you get back.”
May the Spirit of God open our eyes to see, our ears to hear,
and our hearts to understand.
Message
We sing: Servant song
Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.We are pilgrims on a journey
and companions on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.I will hold the Christ-light for you
in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow
till we’ve seen this journey through.When we sing to God in heaven
we shall find such harmony,
born of all we’ve known together
of Christ’s love and agony.Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.
Together in Song, 650. Richard Gillard. Words and music by permission Integrity Music (Aust). Words used with permission under copyright CCLI Licence No 137219. Copyright cleared music for churches.
Prayers of the People
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.
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
You lavish us with good gifts, God!
We give you thanks and give from this abundance
now.
Let them be used to further your purposes.
Amen.
We sing: Here I am Lord
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night;
I will go, Lord, if you lead me;
I will hold your people in my heart.I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain;
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night;
I will go, Lord, if you lead me;
I will hold your people in my heart.I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame;
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts are satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night;
I will go, Lord, if you lead me;
I will hold your people in my heart.
Together in Song 658. Charles Wesley 1707-88 alt. Public Domain. Daniel L. Schutte 1947 – Suggested by Isaiah 6. Words by permission Oregon Catholic Press. All rights reserved. One License, License #A‑604444.
Sending Forth and Benediction
Choral Blessing
The peace of the earth be with you. J. Bell
AGM
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!
This service has been prepared with assistance from
Prayers and call to worship adapted from Liturgy, Learning &
(purposeful) Life. Worship resources (MediaCom). Writer: Jesse
Size
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated
Edition (NRSVUE). Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of
Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights
reserved worldwide
Cover Photo by T Phillips
