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Event Series Event Series: Proper 14 – Year B

Proper 14 – Year B

11 August All day

Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them, plus prayers and sermons based on them.

Bible Readings (paraphrased)

Lections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville, TN 37203-0003, USA. Used with Permission.

King David’s army, led by Joab and his officers, was preparing for battle against the Israelites who had rebelled with Absalom. David briefed them before they marched out, saying, “Absalom is still my son, so for my sake, capture him unharmed.” He gave these orders to the commanders, and all the troops heard what he said about Absalom.

With that, they headed out against the Israelite army. The battle was fought in the Ephraim forest and it spread out on several fronts. David’s men defeated the Israelite army that day, but it was a horrible bloodbath. Twenty thousand men died in the carnage and the dangerous forest terrain claimed as many victims again.

Absalom ran into a patrol of David’s men, led by Joab. He was pushing through a narrow track on his mule alone. As he passed under a great oak tree, Absalom’s thick hair got caught in the low branches and dragged him off the back of the mule which continued on its way. Absalom was left hanging in mid air, unable to get up or down. The patrol found him hanging there and they killed him. Joab thrust the first spear in and then ten of his men surrounded him and finished Absalom off.

An Ethiopian runner was sent to David to report on the outcome of the battle. He said to David, “Your Majesty, I bring you good news! The LORD has set things right for you today, making you safe from those who rebelled against you.”

The king said to the messenger, “What about Absalom? Is he okay?”

The Ethiopian answered, “May all your enemies and anyone who wishes you harm, my king, meet the same fate that Absalom has met today.”

The king was distraught. He disappeared into the nearest room, overcome with grief. Through his tears he cried out over and over, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I could have died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

From the depths of despair, from rock bottom,
I cry to you, O LORD.
I beg you to listen!
Please tune in and hear what I’m asking!

If you put black marks against our names
for every failing,
Lord, wouldn’t you have to write off everyone?

But forgiveness is much more your style,
and for this we adore you.

I wait in eager anticipation for your presence, LORD.
Everything inside me yearns for you
and your promises fill me with hope.

Deep in my guts there is a hunger for you, LORD,
more pressing than a woman
waiting for the birth of her baby,
more impatient than a child
waiting for a birthday;
crossing off the days, one by one.

O People of Israel, put your trust in the LORD!
The LORD’s love never lets us down,
and is always ready to rescue us from danger.

It is the Lord who will bail us out
when we are caught in the consequences
of our own sin.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Recognising that we are all parts of the one body, let’s give up all pretence. It’s time to come out from behind our masks and get fair dinkum with one another. No doubt there are times when it’s right to get angry, but make sure your response is right too. Justifiable anger doesn’t justify vengefulness, bitterness or any other sin. And when you’re angry, deal with the issues as soon as you can. Dragging it out just gives the devil a chance to get his foot in the door.

Those who’ve been stealing to make ends meet need to change their ways. It’s time they applied their skills to some honest trade and hopefully before long they will have enough to give something to others in need.

And all of you, watch your mouths. Don’t allow any venom or malice to pass your lips. Instead let every word be constructive and generous. Talk up what is good. That way what you have to say will be welcomed as a gift.

You are now identified as God’s people — the signs of the Holy Spirit mark you out as those destined for life when the day of freedom finally comes. So don’t go causing any grief to the Holy Spirit or making God ashamed to be associated with you. There are some things you should quit completely — resentment, vindictiveness, mudslinging, and any underhanded or malicious behaviour. Try living up to these labels instead — big-hearted, compassionate, tolerant. Try to be as generous in forgiving each other as God was with you. Children learn by imitating the parents they love. Take a tip from them and model yourself on what you’ve seen of God in Christ. Or in other words, live a life of love — love that doesn’t stop at anything. Christ’s love for us cost him everything, and there is no more pleasing gift anyone can give to God than a love that is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of others.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Anyone who comes on board with me will never hunger or thirst again. Put your trust in me and you will always be satisfied.”

Because of this, people began to grumble about him. They objected to him claiming to be the bread that came from heaven. They muttered to one another saying, “What does he take us for? We know who he is - Jesus, Joe’s lad. Is he forgetting that we know his mum and dad? How does he expect us to take him seriously when he says, ‘I have come from heaven’?”

Jesus answered them:

“Don’t go getting all worked up over me. The One who sent me is responsible for drawing people to me — otherwise no one would come. I’ll always be there for those who do come - each and every one of them. Even on the last day, I’ll be there, raising them to new life. One of the prophets put it this way, ‘Every last one of them will learn directly from God.’ So everyone who really tunes in to God and takes in what they hear will recognise who I am, and come to learn from me. Everyone wants to learn from an eyewitness and the only person who has seen God is the one who came from God. No one else has. Let me set you straight on this: whoever has faith has life — life without limit.

I am the bread of life. Sure, your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but they still died. Now it’s different. Now the real bread has come from heaven and you can eat it and be protected from death forever. I am the bread — living bread — straight from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live life without end and without limit. The bread that I’m offering is my own flesh, and I give it for the life of the world.”

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures, from which the first reading is usually chosen, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative.

The weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm.

Fearing for his life, Elijah went off-road and pushed on alone into the scrub. After a day of that, he was in utter despair. He collapsed under the only tree for miles that offered any shade and spilled his guts, saying, “I can’t take any more, LORD. Just kill me now! I’m as good as dead anyway.”

Exhausted, he fell asleep where he lay. Suddenly someone tapped him on the shoulder, saying, “Get up and eat.”

Elijah looked around and there, just near his head, was a cake of damper bread and a full water bottle. He ate and drank and then went back to sleep. The messenger of the LORD came to him again, tapping him on the shoulder and saying, “Get up and eat, or you’ll never survive the journey ahead.”

So Elijah got up and ate and drank his fill. That meal gave him the strength to push on for forty days and nights until he reached Mount Sinai – God’s own mountain.

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

I will speak up in your favour, every chance I get, LORD.
Every time I open my mouth, I’ll sing your praises.

Everything I’m proud of is your doing, LORD;
the news of your goodness puts a smile on the face of the helpless.

I’ll put the spotlight on you, LORD;
and gather a crowd to spread the word.

When I pounded on your door, LORD, you opened up;
you calmed my fears and put my mind at rest.

Those who look to you light up with joy;
their faces never grow dark with shame.

When I had nothing, I cried out, LORD, and you answered;
you got me out of some serious trouble.

You station your angels to watch over those who trust you;
they watch us, guard us, and get us safely through.

May everyone taste for themselves how good you are, LORD;
may everyone find shelter in you and be happy.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Prayers

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 sent us the bread of heaven.

You created the heavens and the earth,
and all your creatures draw their life from you.
Even when we have rebelled against you,
you have never left us hanging in fear
or crying from the depths.
In love and mercy you hear our yearning prayers
and mark us out for the day of redemption.

You sent to us your Son, Jesus Christ,
the bread of life for our deepest hunger,
and you drew us to him that we might learn from him.
When the world turned against him,
he gave himself up, in the fullness of love,
a fragrant offering and sacrifice to you
for the life of the whole world,
so that we and all who trust him
might feed on him and have life without limit.

Therefore with .....

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We give thanks for your Son, Jesus Christ,
who gave himself up as a fragrant offering
for the life of the whole world,
so that we and all who trust him
might feed on him, the bread of life,
and have life without limit.

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for yu have drawn us to yourself in Christ,
and will raise us to life on teh last day.

You created the heavens and the earth,
and all your creatures draw their life from you.
Even when we have rebelled against you,
you have never left us hanging in fear
or crying from the depths.
In love and mercy you hear our yearning prayers
and mark us out for the day of redemption.

You sent to us your Son, Jesus Christ,
the bread of life for our deepest hunger,
and you drew us to him that we might learn from him.
When the world turned against him,
he gave himself up, in the fullness of love,
a fragrant offering and sacrifice to you
for the life of the whole world,
so that we and all who trust him
might have life without limit.

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

If the Lord recorded our sins, no one could survive,
but God’s capacity for forgiveness is extraordinary.
The Lord will bring mercy and grant full pardon.

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

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go out and imitate God, living in love.
Put your hope in God’s Word
and let your own words be truthful and constructive.
May sin rouse your anger,
but never let anger cause you to sin.
Don’t allow any room for evil.

And may God always hear your voice.
May Christ Jesus raise you to new life;
and may the Holy Spirit nourish you for the life of love.

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

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Sermons

Sermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website.

  1. Putting you life where your mouth is
    A sermon on Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2 by Nathan Nettleton
  2. Taking off our Masks
    A sermon on Ephesians 4:25-52 by Sylvia Sandeman
  3. The Bread You Feed On
    A sermon on John 6:35, 41-51 & Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2 by Nathan Nettleton
  4. The Way of the Cross
    A sermon on 2 Samuel 18: 5-9, 15, 31-33 and John 6: 35, 41-51 by Alison Sampson
  5. Covid, Canceling, and a Culture of Kindness
    A sermon on Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2 by Nathan Nettleton

Details

Date:
11 August
Series: