Order of Service – 28th December 2025

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The Order of Service follows below.

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Brougham Place Uniting Church
Kardlayirdi Karnungga
Light on the Hill

December 28, 2025
Preacher: Rev Linda Driver
Christmas 1. White.

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 and Acknowledgment of Country

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

Call to Worship

The psalmist says:
praise God!
From the heavens:
praise God!
From the depths:
praise God!
For God’s presence:
praise God!
For the Christ-child:
praise God!
In our worship:
praise God!

Lighting of the Advent Candles

We sing: Angels from God

Angels bringing, Angels giving
hope to us from our God who cares.
Angels bringing, Angels giving
peace 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
joy to us from our God who cares.
Angels bringing, Angels giving
love to us from our God who cares.

Opening Prayer

God of grace,
whose presence we celebrate at Christmas,
we bring our praise to you.
And yet, even in the midst of our hallelujahs,
we name the fragile precariousness of life—
human life, creature life, earth life.
Our praise is real.
Our sorrows are, too.

God of grace,
whose presence we celebrate at Christmas,
we bring our praise to you
because in our moments of joy and fear,
we know you will accompany us.
Amen.

Prayer of Confession

God-with-us,
when we consider the world, we see much beauty.
For the times when we do not wonder at creation,
forgive us.

When we consider the world, we see much pain.
For the times when in our joy we do not notice another’s pain,
forgive us.

Through your Spirit, you are a companion to our suffering,
teach us also to walk with others in their pain.
In the name of Christ, we pray.
Amen.

Words of Grace

God comes to the world as a vulnerable baby.
God shares with the world in suffering.

Hear these words of comfort, hope, and joy:
God is with us! God is among us!
Nothing can separate us from God’s love!
Hallelujah! Amen!

We sing

Words on screen

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 Young People may go downstairs for Sunday School and Youth. 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.

We sing

Words on screen

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-23

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:

’And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,

for from you shall come a ruler

who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ “

Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. Then what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,

wailing and loud lamentation

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazarene.”

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

We sing

Words on screen

Message

*Nativity © 2006, Brian T. Kershisnik, used with permission*

We sing

Words on screen

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

We sing

Words on screen

Sending Forth and Final Benediction

At Christmas, we remember,
God is with us!
In our joys we remember,
God is with us!
In the world’s suffering, we remember,
God is with us!
So let us share in each other’s joys and sufferings.

Go now and seek peace and justice in the world,
in the name of the God who is with us,
Creator, Redeemer, Comforter.
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.

Postlude

#BPUC #CallingAllAngels #morelife

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

“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.

Congregational Songs

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

Doxology
Words: Worship Design Studio. Angels Among Us resource