One day, after Jesus had been taken into heaven, there was a gathering of about one hundred twenty of his followers. Peter stood up and addressed them, saying:

“Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled. What the Holy Spirit said through David about Judas has now happened. He was one of us, taking his place alongside us in this ministry, but in the end he was the one who showed the lynch mob where to arrest Jesus.
“So we need a replacement for Judas — someone to stand with us as a primary witness to the resurrection life of Jesus. It should be someone who was in our company for the whole time Jesus was among us, right through from the day he was baptised by John to the day when he was taken into heaven.

There were two nominations: Joseph Barsabbas, nicknamed Justus, and Matthias. The group prayed saying, “Lord, you know us all, through and through. Make it clear to us which of these two you are choosing to take on the task of ministry and leadership that Judas turned his back on.” And then, trusting God, they tossed a coin. On the fall of the coin, Matthias was declared to be the twelfth apostle.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

LORD, how good it will be for those
who turn a deaf ear to the advocates of greed;
who steer clear of corrupt short-cuts;
and avoid those who sneer at goodness.

Instead they relish your word, LORD.
Calming their minds,
they savour the scriptures day and night.

You make them strong and healthy,
like a Redgum tree with its roots deep in a river bank,
flowering abundantly every season,
and always laden with healthy leaves.
All that they do is vibrant with life.

But what a different story it is for the wicked;
they are about as secure as dry leaves in a cyclone.

They will have no defence
when they are brought to justice,
and no friends among people of integrity.

LORD, you keep a protective eye
on all who walk a straight path of peace and justice,
but nothing will save those who leave that road.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

If we are willing to believe what people tell us, surely we will be even more willing to put our trust in what God tells us, and we now have God’s own statement concerning his Son. Those who put their trust in the Son of God have taken to heart what God has said. Those who do not believe what God has said about his Son are in effect calling God a liar. In a nutshell, this is the message that God is asking us to believe: God gives us infinite life, and this life is received and lived in his Son. Those who accept the Son receive life, but anyone who rejects the Son of God is rejecting life itself.

  My reason for writing all this to you is simple: I want to ensure that you who trust in God’s Son will know beyond any doubt that you now have life without limit.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

After the supper, and after giving his final teaching to his followers, Jesus prayed to God, saying:

“Father, you have given me some followers from this world,
and I have given them the full picture of what you are like.
They were yours to begin with,
but you gave them to me,
and they have done what you asked of them.
Now they know for sure that everything I have
was given to me directly by you.
I gave my followers the same message you gave to me.
They took it on board and were convinced that I came from you. They believe that it was you who sent me.
I pray for them.

My prayer is not for this hell-bent world
but for the followers you gave me,
for they are rightfully yours.
Everything that is mine is yours,
and everything that is yours is mine,
and my image lights up in them. 

I will no longer be seen in the world,
but they will continue on in the world
while I come back to you.
Holy Father, protect them
by writing your name on them,
giving them the same identity you gave me,
so that they will be one with each other,
just as you and I are one in heart and mind.

While I was with them, I kept them safe
by assigning to them the name you gave me.
I stood guard over them, and didn’t lose a single one,
except the one who was lost from the beginning,
the one whose demise showed the Scriptures to be true.

Now I am on my way to you.

I say these things while the world is still in earshot,
so that those who listen may, like me,
experience a joy that goes right off the scale.
I have given them your message,
and now this godless world can’t stand them,
because they won’t play by the world’s rules,
just as I never played by the world’s rules.

I am not asking you to take them out of the world,
but I do ask that you keep them safe from the evil one.
They don't take their cues from this world,
because my dance has a different tune.

Immerse them in truth to make them a sacred people,
for your word is the truth which makes things holy.
Just as you sent me into the world on your mission,
so now I am sending them into the world.
I have dedicated myself one hundred percent, for their sake,
so that they in turn may commit themselves totally to the truth.”

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Let us lift up our hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God,
for you have put your testimony in our hearts
so that we might know that our life is in you.

You created the earth and the heavens
and marked out the way of the upright.
Through the prophets you called us to accept life,
and none are lost to your love and protection
except those who turn to their own ways and reject life.

You sent your Son into the world
and entrusted to him those who accepted your Word.
He made you known to us
and prayed that we might share the identity you gave him
and so be one with each other in your love.
Though he was killed by this hell-bent world,
you raised him from the dead
and through your sanctifying Word of truth
you call us to share eternal life in him.

Therefore with .....

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We give thanks for your beloved Son
to whom entrusted to him those who accepted your Word.
He made you known to us
and prayed that we might share the identity you gave him
and so be one with each other in your love.

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for you have put your testimony in our hearts
so that we might know that our life is in you.

You created the earth and the heavens
and marked out the way of the upright.
Through the prophets you called us to accept life,
and none are lost to your love and protection
except those who turn to their own ways and reject life.

You sent your Son into the world
and entrusted to him those who accepted your Word.
He made you known to us
and prayed that we might share the identity you gave him
and so be one with each other in your love.
Though he was killed by this hell-bent world,
you raised him from the dead
and through your sanctifying Word of truth
you call us to share eternal life in him.

Therefore, with our hearts lifted high,
we offer you thanks and praise at all times
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

God, who knows everyone’s heart,
gives us mercy and life in his Son.
Whoever accepts the Son of God receives life
in the name of Jesus Christ.

Sisters and Brothers,
  your sins are forgiven;
    be at peace.

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go now. Christ sends you into the world
just as he himself was sent into the world.
Delight in the Lord’s teaching,
testify to his resurrection life,
and share in the ministry of his people.

And may God protect you from the evil one;
May Christ Jesus give you God’s word and make you his own;
And may the Holy Spirit sanctify you in the truth,
and fill you with the joy of God.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
   In the name of Christ. Amen.

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net