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.

Christmas Day25th December, 2020

Preacher: Rev Dr Peter TrudingerLiturgist: Mr Geoff McManus

Organist: Mr Ashleigh Tobin OAM

REMEMBERING THE FIRST PEOPLEWe remember with gratitude the Kaurna people, the

original custodians of the land on which we now gatherand 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 CELEBRATETHE 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.)

MeditationGod’s joyous game at Christmas is an unending round of pass-the-parcel, where the prize is love. If you hold the parcel tightly, you lose. If you unwrap your portion and pass it on, everyone wins.

Prelude

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.)

Lift up your voices!Break forth into song!

For what has been trashed has been restored;Those who felt forsaken are reconciled

Our God comes into the worldOur God visits us with the strength of love.

(based on Isaiah 52:7-10)

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Lighting of the Advent CandlesThe Angel said to the shepherds:Do not be afraidI bring you good news of great joy for all peopleto you is born this day in the city of Davida saviour who is the Messiah, our Lord.

This is Christmas Day and we will rejoice!Let us light a candle for Christ!Let us light a candle for life!

Welcome

Remembering

*Carol TiS 304 O Come, all ye faithful (verses 1, 3, 4, 6, 7)1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;

Chorus:O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

3. See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;

Chorus

4. Lo! star led chieftains, wise men, Christ adoring,Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.

Chorus

6 Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation!sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;‘Glory to God, all glory in the highest’;

Chorus

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7 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,Jesus, to Thee be glory given;Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

Chorus

How is love born? A Moment for 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.)

Assurance of Pardon and RenewalAs God came to us once as a child…This is the Good News

Glory to God in the highestand on earth, peace and goodwill!

*Carol TiS 292 Infant holy, infant lowly1. Infant holy,

Infant lowly,for his bed a cattle stall;oxen lowing,little knowing,Christ the Babe is Lord of all.Swift are wingingangels singing,noels ringing,tidings bringing:Christ the Babe is Lord of all.

2. Flocks were sleeping,shepherds keepingvigil till the morning newsaw 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.

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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

The Good News for TodayJohn 1:1-14

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

*Carol TiS 318 Away in a manger1. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;the stars in the sky looked down where he lay,the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

2. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,but little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.I love you, Lord Jesus, look down from on highand stay by my side until morning is nigh.

3. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stayClose by me forever, and love me, I pray.Bless all the dear children in your tender care,and fit us for heaven to live with you there.

Sermon

Silent Reflection

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

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*Carol TiS 317 Love came down at Christmas1. Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, Love divine;Love was born at Christmas,star and angels gave the sign.

2. Worship we the Godhead,Love incarnate, Love divine;worship we our Jesus:but wherewith for sacred sign?

3. 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 (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.)

ResponseGod, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

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.

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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 others who are in need.)

Let us respond to the gift of Christ, with our gifts for the sake of the world. Let us reaffirm the dedication of our lives to the service of love in all the world.

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

*Carol TiS 303 Hark! The herald angels sing

1. Hark! the herald-angels singglory to the new-born King;peace on earth, and mercy mild,God and sinners reconciled!Joyful, all ye nations, rise,join the triumph of the skies;with the angelic host proclaim‘Christ is born in Bethlehem.’

Hark! the herald-angels singglory to the new-born King.

2. Christ, by highest heaven adored,Christ, the everlasting Lord,late in time behold Him come,Offspring of a virgin's womb:veiled in flesh the Godhead see;hail the Incarnate Deity,pleased as one like us to dwell,Jesus our Immanuel.

Hark! the herald-angels singglory to the new-born King.

3. Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!

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Hail, the Sun of righteousness!Light and life to all he brings,risen with healing in his wings:mild he lays his glory by,born that we no more need dieborn to raise us from the earth,born to give us second birth.

Hark! the herald-angels singglory to the new-born King.

*Commissioning and Blessing

*Choral Amen TiS 783(ii)

PostludeThis 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.

Sources used in worship today include Seasons of the Spirit, Brian Wren, Clothe for the Cradle (Wild Goose Worship Group) and Hay and Stardust (Ruth Burgess). Music reproduced with permission, licenses #A1050, LicenSingOnline, and #496838, CCLI. Image: flicker.com /photos /mfoubister/13113556064. Used with permission, CC BY_SA 2.0.

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About Scots Church AdelaideScots 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 www.facebook.com/scotschurchadelaide

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