Standard OS€¦  · Web view2020. 12. 20. · Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word! Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord.

SCOTS CHURCH ADELAIDEUNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA

237 North TerraceAdelaide, South Australia

We, the Uniting Church people of Scots Church on North Terrace are called by God to be a welcoming,

inclusive, worshipping community of God,committed to justice, learning and care,

anticipating a world transformed by the love of God.

Third Sunday in Advent: Joy13th December 2020

Preacher: Rev Dr Peter Trudinger Liturgist: Dr Mari Yu

Organist: Mr Ashleigh Tobin OAM

REMEMBERING THE FIRST PEOPLE

We remember with gratitude the Kaurna people, the original custodians of the land on which we now gather

and ask for God’s grace to be good stewards of this place with them and to strive for reconciliation between all who

share it.

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WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE PRESENCE OF DIVINE MYSTERY

A warm welcome is extended to all.Your presence both enriches us

and this time of celebration together.

An asterisk * indicates you are invited to stand as you are able. You are invited to speak the words in bold.

Helpful instructions are in italics

Our worship service follows a classic pattern. For those of you unfamiliar with this, sentences in this font briefly explain the parts of the service.

If you require the hearing loop please sit in middle of centre pews

GATHERING(The meditation, prelude and image are intended to help you set aside the stresses of the outside world and prepare for worship.)

MeditationJoy is the simplest form of gratitude (Karl Barth)

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Prelude

Welcome

Call to Worship(We start by reminding ourselves that we are here to worship God together. The Call is often based on a passage from the Bible.)

Joy to the world!Jesus the Christ is coming!

We look for the Christ to come again,in words and ways of hope.Joy to the world!

We look for the Christ to come again,in words and ways of peace.Joy to the world!

We look for the Christ to come again,in words and ways of love.

Joy to the world!We look for the Christ to come again

restoring hope, peace, joy and love.Joy to the world!

Lighting of the Advent CandlesAdvent is a season of preparation as we wait for the hope, peace, joy, and love of God to break into our lives anew through the story of the birth of Jesus, and through acts of hope, peace, joy, and love. Each Sunday we light candles for remind us of the things that we are waiting for.

Today we light the third candle, the candle of joy

Opening Prayer(This prayer usually focuses on God, e.g., acknowledging that God is with us or praising God. The hymn continues the praise.)

*Hymn TiS 268 Joy to the world!1. Joy to the world! The Lord is come;

let earth receive its king; let every heart prepare him room,

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and heaven and nature sing,and heaven and nature sing,and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

2. Joy to the world! The Saviour reigns;let us our songs employ;while fields and streams, rocks, hills, and plainsrepeat the sounding joy,repeat the sounding joy,repeat, repeat the sounding joy

3. He rules the world with truth and grace,and makes the nations provethe glories of his righteousness,and wonders of his love,and wonders of his love,and wonders, wonders of his love.

Prayer of Confession(There is a vast difference between God and humans. Humans often do things that are hurtful to others or to God. This prayer acknowledges that there is room for improvement and asks for God’s forgiveness.)

We will follow each short prayer with the wordsLord/Christ, have mercy.

Lord/Christ, have mercy.

Assurance of Pardon and RenewalGod speaks to us because God loves us, …In Christ Jesus, we are forgiven and made whole

Thanks be to God.

WE LISTEN FOR WHAT THE SPIRITIS SAYING TO THE CHURCH TODAY

(We want to live in the way God wants us to live. First we pray that God might help us understand what that means. Then we listen to part of the Bible, and finally a message explaining what those words might mean for us today. The hymn often picks up on some theme from the Bible reading.)

Prayer for Illumination

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The Good News for TodayIsaiah 61:1-4Psalm 126Luke 1:26-28, 31-33, 46-55

In sacred words of old,we have heard the Spirit speak anew.

*Hymn TiS 497 Let all mortal flesh keep silence1. Let all mortal flesh keep silence

and with fear and trembling stand;ponder nothing earthly-minded,for with blessing in his handChrist our God to earth descendingcomes full homage to demand.

2. King of kings, yet born of Mary,as of old on earth he stood,Lord of lords, in human vesture,in the body and the blood,he will give to all the faithfulhis own self for heavenly food.

3. Rank on rank the host of heavenspreads its vanguard on the way,as the Light of light comes shiningfrom the realms of endless day,that the powers of hell may vanishas the darkness clears away.

4. At his feet the six-winged seraphs,cherubim with sleepless eye,veil their faces to the presence,as with ceaseless voice they cry,alleluia, alleluia,alleluia, Lord most high!

Sermon

Silent Reflection

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WE RESPOND IN FAITH(In this section we commit ourselves to live lives that are in keeping with God’s will.)

*Hymn TiS 690 Beauty for brokenness1. Beauty for brokenness

hope for despair,Lord, in your suffering,this is our prayer.Bread for the children,justice, joy, peace,sunrise to sunsetyour kingdom increase.

2. Shelter for fragile lives,cures for their ills,work for the craftsman,trade for their skills;land for the dispossessed,rights for the weak;voices to plead the causeof those who can't speak.

God of the poor,friend of the weak,give us compassion we pray;melt our cold hearts,let tears fall like rain.Come, change our lovefrom a spark to a flame.

3. Refuge from cruel wars,havens from fear,cities for sanctuary,freedoms to share,peace to the killing-fields,scorched earth to green;Christ for the bitterness,his cross for the pain.

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4. Rest for the ravaged earth,oceans and streams,plundered and poisoned,our future, our dreams.Lord, end our madness,carelessness, greed;make us content withthe things that we need.

God of the poor,friend of the weak,give us compassion we pray;melt our cold hearts,let tears fall like rain.Come, change our lovefrom a spark to a flame.

5. Lighten our darkness,breathe on this flameuntil your justice burns brightly again;until the nationslearn of your ways,seek your salvationand bring you their praise.

God of the poor,friend of the weak,give us compassion we pray;melt our cold hearts,let tears fall like rain.Come, change our lovefrom a spark to a flame.

Prayers of the People(God has asked us to love and care for each other. In this prayer, we remember situations of need in the world. It closes with the Lord’s Prayer, which was taught by Jesus to his disciples and is used by all Christians.)

“Light in the World” (John Davies)Response: Lord in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

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Closing with The Lord’s PrayerOur 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 yoursnow and for ever. Amen.

Life and Ministry of the Congregation(We mention some of the things that are happening in our community, including the practical ways we can respond to God’s love for us, by loving our neighbour.)

Invitation to the Offering(One practical way of responding is to contribute money which is used to help).

Have you loved your neighbour today? Have you loved God today? For love to be love, it must be shared, and in return we find joy.

*Prayer of Dedication(We offer the money to God and pray that it might be used wisely.)

*Hymn TiS 161 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!1. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!

Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;tender to me the promise of his word;in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.

2. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;his mercy sure, from age to age the same;his holy name - the Lord, the Mighty One.

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3. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!Powers and dominions lay their glory by.Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

4. Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lordto children's children and forevermore!

*Commissioning(At the end of the service, we prepare to go back to our daily lives. The Commissioning reminds us how we are to live in the world. The Blessing reassures us that God is with us in our daily lives.)

Go from this place to spread God’s peace.We go, planting seeds of peace in the world.

Go from this place to share God’s love.We go, laughing and shouting Good News.

Go from this place to live God’s spirit.We go, proclaiming God’s spirit set free in the world!

*Blessing

*Choral Amen TiS 783(ii)

Postlude This is an opportunity for quiet reflection. Please remain seated until the postlude has ended. No applause is necessary.

WE DEPART IN PEACETO LOVE AND SERVE

Let the church of Jesus, the Christ, arise and go forth into the world as a vibrant witness to the abiding presence of

God’s love.

We exchange the peace of the Christ with one another.

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Sources used in worship today Seasons of the Spirit, Penny Lowes , Words for Worship and John Davies in Hay and Stardust, ed. Ruth Burgess (©2005). Music reproduced with permission, licenses #A1050, LicenSingOnline, and #496838, CCLI. Image: Lorianne DiSabato, “The Potluck: Mural by David Fichter,” flickr.com/photos/zenmama/ 9595059022/, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Christmas CardsChristmas cards from Frontier Services and Uniting World will be available free of charge in McGregor Hall after today’s service.

Service of Lessons and Carols

Choir conducted by Alex Rooseand including organist Ashleigh TobinOAM here at Scots Church Adelaide

Sunday 20 December 10:30am

Advent and Christmas ServicesChristmas Eve Candlelight Service 8:00pm

Christmas Day Family Service 9:30am

Sunday 27 December 10:30am

Sunday 3 January 10:30am

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About Scots Church Adelaide

Scots Church was opened in 1851 by local supporters of the Free Church, a reform movement in the Church of Scotland that opposed political control of the church and engaged with the social changes of the 1800s, including industrialisation and urbanisation. The church originally was named after the leader of the movement, Thomas Chalmers. In 1929, the congregation amalgamated with Flinders St Presbyterian Church and took the name Scots Church. After the Flinders St church was demolished items such as the organ, windows and plaques, were placed in Scots Church, and the stonework re-used as facing for the office block. In 1977 Scots Church joined the Uniting Church in Australia.

Over the years, the congregation has supported many social initiatives around Adelaide. Today Scots proudly continues in its commitment to the city community as a neighbour and place open to all. We host several community organizations, including the SA Jazz Archive and The Big Issue. Our facilities are available for use by other community groups.

The building is the second oldest church still standing in the city. The current minister of the congregation is Rev Dr Peter Trudinger. Worship services are held at 10.30am each Sunday.

SCOTS CHURCH ADELAIDEUNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA

237 North Terrace, Adelaide, Phone 8223 1505Minister: Rev Dr Peter Trudinger

www.scotschurch.org

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www.facebook.com/scotschurchadelaide

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