The parched and dusty land will celebrate;
the thirsty desert will be festive with flowers;
blazing colours – orchid and desert pea –
songs of joy as new life bursts forth.

The desert will be as rich as the Barrier Reef,
as majestic as Kakadu, as lush as the Daintree.
The glory of the LORD will be on display;
the splendour and magnificence of our God.

Are your hands trembling? Be strong!
Are your knees knocking? Stand firm!

Encourage those who are fearing the worst;
tell them not to give in to their fears but to hang in there.
Assure them that God is at hand;
coming to pay back oppressors what they deserve;
coming to rescue you, to set you free!

What a day that will be!
Eyes long blind will open to colour and light!
Ears long deaf will hear music and laughter!
Legs long paralysed will dance like brolgas!
Tongues long tied will sing like lyrebirds!

For reviving rains will fall on dry dusty land,
and rivers will flow in the desert.
Hard-baked salt pans will become inland lakes,
and cool water will gush up between scorching rocks.
Water birds will flock where only dingoes roamed,
and soft fruits will grow where only mulga survived.

There will be a new highway
known as ‘The One and Only True Way”.
The corrupt will not be allowed access,
for only God’s people may travel it;
and on this road, no one – not even a complete moron –
could ever lose their way.

There will be no hidden dangers along the road;
no snakes lying in wait at the side.
Nothing threatening will be found there,
so those God has put right may walk in safety.

Those who the LORD has bailed out will come home;
they will sing as they travel to God’s sacred mountain.
The smiles will never leave their faces again;
laughter and contentment will be theirs to keep,
and misery and despair will be made redundant.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We hit the jackpot when we look to you for help, LORD;
when we put all our hopes in you – the God of our ancestors.
You are the one who made earth and sky,
who poured out the seas and filled them with life.
You are true to your word no matter what;
when people are ground into the dirt, you bring about justice;
when people are left to starve, you come with food.

You, LORD, set the prisoners free.
You, LORD, open the eyes of those who can’t see.
You, LORD, put the downtrodden back on their feet.

You, LORD, love those who do the right thing.
You, LORD, keep a caring eye on the asylum seekers.
You stick up for those who have no one else to stick up for them,
but you make the schemes of the corrupt backfire on them.

Take charge forever, LORD,
rule from your sacred Mountain for all time.
You’re the best, LORD. We’re with you all the way!

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We turn the spotlight on your greatness, God!
We dance with wholehearted joy over you, our saviour!
You smiled upon us, though we were nothing special,
and the memory of your generosity will last forever.
You have done wonderful and powerful things for us.
There is no other name in the same league as yours.

In every generation, Lord, you shower mercy
to those who treat you with respect.
You have rolled up your sleeves in a show of strength,
and sent packing those who were so full of themselves.

You kicked the power mongers out of office,
and lifted the downtrodden back to their feet.
You put on a feast for those who are hungry,
and slam the door on the rich without giving them a bite.

You give a helping hand to your servant Israel,
and always remember them with tender care.
This is exactly what you promised long ago, Lord,
when you made a vow to Abraham and Sarah
for every generation.”

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

My friends, be patient as you wait for the Lord to return. Be as patient as the farmers. Farmers sow their crops and then have to wait patiently, hoping for good seasonal rains, because the harvest that pays their bills ripens in its own good time. There is nothing they can do to hurry it up. You can’t hurry the Lord up either, so be patient. Stay focussed though, and condition yourselves, because the arrival of the Lord is not far off.

My friends, don’t go whinging and putting each other down. If you do, you’ll find yourselves having to answer for it. The judge could reopen the case against you at any moment.

Take as your role models the prophets who brought us God’s message in the past. They really suffered for their stand, but they hung in there, never giving up, and their patience paid off.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

John the baptiser was being held in a detention centre when news reached him about what the Messiah was doing. When some of his followers visited him, he sent them to Jesus with a question: “Are you the One everybody has been waiting for, or are we still waiting for someone else?”

Jesus answered:

“Go and tell John what you’ve witnessed. The blind are given their sight. The paralysed are up and walking. People with hideous diseases are cured. The deaf can hear. The dead are raised. And the poor are hearing news worth celebrating. How good it will be for those who realise what I’m up to and don’t get their noses out of joint over it.”

When the messengers were on their way back to John with their report, Jesus started to talk to the crowd about John:

“When you went out to the desert to see John, what were you expecting? A populist swayed by the winds of public opinion? No way! What then? A silvertail dressed up to the nines? No, you’d hang out in the lobby of some exclusive resort if you wanted to see them. So what were you looking for? A prophet? Now we’re talking! And not just any prophet, either. This is the one of whom scripture said:

“Take note: I am sending my messenger ahead of you
to blaze the trail for your arrival.

I kid you not: there has never been a person born who could hold a candle to John the baptiser, and yet the most insignificant nobody in the culture of heaven is greater than John.”

©2001 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 your mercy embraces the faithful,
one generation to the next.

You are the creator of heaven, earth and the teeming seas.
You promised mercy to our ancestors
and sent prophets as an example of suffering and patience
to prepare the Holy Way before of you.

In Jesus Christ we saw your promises take flesh
as the blind saw the light,
the deaf heard the music,
and the lame danced with joy.
When he was killed, you raised him to life
and through him your good news still comes to the poor
like springs of water to thirsty ground,
uplifting the downtrodden
and filling the hungry from the richness of your table.

And so with thankful hearts we patiently wait,
knowing that the day is near
when all the earth will see the fullness of your glory.

Therefore with .....

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We give you that the promises made to our ancestors
have taken flesh in Jesus Christ
who brings your good news to the poor
like springs of water to thirsty ground,
uplifting the downtrodden
and filling the hungry from the richness of your table.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you thanks and praise, O God,
for your mercy embraces the faithful,
one generation to the next.

You are the creator of heaven, earth and the teeming seas.
You promised mercy to our ancestors
and sent prophets as an example of suffering and patience
to prepare the Holy Way before of you.

In Jesus Christ we saw your promises take flesh
as the blind saw the light,
the deaf heard the music,
and the lame danced with joy.
When he was killed, you raised him to life
and through him your good news still comes to the poor
like springs of water to thirsty ground,
uplifting the downtrodden
and filling the hungry from the richness of your table.

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.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Hear the good news for those who are fearful of heart:
"Be strong, do not fear!
your God is here, coming to save you.”
God’s promise of mercy is for you.

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

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go now, with good news for the poor
and prepare the way for the Lord.
Wait patiently.
Do not grumble against one another,
but encourage one another.
Be strong and do not fear.

And may God come quickly to save you;
May Christ Jesus give you everlasting joy and gladness;
And may the Holy Spirit strengthen your hearts
and lead you on God’s holy way.

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

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net