King David died and was buried in Jerusalem. He had ruled over Israel for forty years; seven years from Hebron, and then thirty-three from Jerusalem. David’s son Solomon inherited the throne, and he had a firm grip on the kingdom.

Solomon honoured the LORD and lived as his father David had taught him. In addition he offered sacrifices and burned incense at some of the sacred sites in the hills. The most important of these sacred sites was at Gibeon and Solomon offered more than a thousand sacrifices on the altar there.

One night, while he was staying over in Gibeon, the LORD God appeared to Solomon in a dream. God said to him, “Solomon, what would you most like me to give you?”

Solomon answered God, saying:

You always loved my father, your servant David. Your love was solid and unshakable, because he was good and honest and did what was right by you. As a sign of your love and loyalty to him, you gave him a son to inherit his kingdom. So here I am, LORD God. I am your servant, and you have made me king in place of my father, even though I’m little more than a boy and have no idea how to conduct myself properly. I am your servant and you have given me the job of ruling your chosen people, even though they are a great nation and there are more of them than anyone can count. So then, what I would most like you to give me is a sharp mind to rule justly and to be able to pick the difference between right and wrong every time. Without such a gift, no one could ever hope to rule your people.

The Lord was most impressed with Solomon’s request, and said to him:

You could have selfishly asked me to give you a long life, or to make you the richest man on earth, or to wipe out your enemies. But instead you have asked me for the wisdom to make the right decisions for my people. You have chosen well and I will give you exactly what you have asked for. You will have more wisdom and insight than anyone else who has ever lived or ever will. And to top it all off, I will also give you what you could have asked for, but didn’t. All your life you will be extraordinarily rich, and you will be greatly honoured by everyone. No other king will be able to hold a candle to you. And if you do things my way and play by the rules I have given you, much as your father did, then I will give you a long and healthy life.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Wow! More power to you, LORD!
We can’t thank you enough.
With all who stand for justice
our hearts burst with gratitude.

The things you do are fantastic, LORD,
and those who see and understand
never tire of exploring them.

Your works are magnificent, majestic,
and their integrity will never be eroded.

You have a reputation for doing amazing things,
and all of them generous and merciful.

You nourish those who honour you
and you are always true to your word.

You have left your people in no doubt
about your power;
you have given them the whole world on a plate.

Everything you put your hands to
is faithful, fair and trustworthy,
as is everything you say.

What you say goes, now and forever,
and no one can afford to ignore it.

You rescue your people and bring them home safe,
for you have committed yourself to them
for all time.

The mere mention of your holy name
makes us go weak all over!

Wisdom is born when your awesome presence
knocks us to our knees
and those who never lose sight of that
have got their heads on straight.

Awestruck, we give you honour and respect for ever.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

When it comes to the way you live, watch your step! Don’t go acting without thinking. Use your heads and live wisely. Make the most of your time, because these days, evil never stops trying to seduce us. So don’t be naive and stupid. See to it that you get the will of the Lord clear in your heads. And if you’re going to go getting yourselves “under the influence”, make sure its the influence of the Spirit and not of the wine! It will still get you singing! Sing together often — psalms, hymns and spiritual songs — offer them as a toe-tapping gift to the Lord, and when you’re not together, do the same thing in your hearts. As children filled with gratitude and wonder, give thanks to God — all the time and for everything. Mention the name of our Lord Jesus Christ when you do, as a reminder of where our gratitude comes from.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Jesus said, “I am the 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.”

This got the people all worked up and they began arguing among themselves, saying, “What is this bloke talking about? He can’t serve a meal of his own flesh, can he?”

Hearing this, Jesus said to them:

Let me set you straight on this. Unless you swallow the New Human — consume him flesh and blood — you’ll be lifeless. Those who do consume me are nourished by my flesh and blood and have life without limit. I’ll be there for them on the last day, raising them to new life. You see, my flesh and blood are the real stuff — true food and drink. What you eat and drink becomes a part of you, but when you consume my flesh and blood, not only will I become a part of you, but you’ll find yourself in me, becoming a part of me. The God who conceived me is the source of my life and has sent me, serving me up to you. In much the same way, I will be the source of life for whoever digests me. Do you see then? This is the real bread which has come from heaven. It’s not like what your ancestors ate in the desert. They still died. This is different. Those who eat this bread will live life without end and without limit.

©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.

Wisdom has established herself in the neighbourhood;
her house has seven rooms, a place for everyone.

She has laid her table for a great house-warming feast;
the meat is roasted, the wine is poured,
her servant-girls are ready to wait on the guests.

On the busiest corner in town she makes her invitation,
“Is life a riddle to you? Then come with me!
Do the concerns of each day
leave you scratching your head?
Come over to my place and we’ll chew the fat.
Share my bread and wine and things will fall into place.
The time has come to turn the corner,
to grow up, to embrace life.
Think before you act
and walk with understanding.”

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

May the people you have chosen treat you with respect, LORD;
for those who do never want for anything.

Even fearsome sharks go hungry sometimes,
but people who entrust themselves to you never miss out.

When the children gather, I’ll teach them to trust you, LORD;
this is the message I’ll pass on to them:

“Do you hunger for life;
do you want to know the secret of a long and happy life?
Don’t vilify anyone with what you say,
and let every word that passes your lips be the honest truth.
Give evil a wide berth, and embrace goodness instead.
Seek peace, and work hard to maintain it.”

©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,
in the company of those who live with integrity,
for you have given yourself to us as flesh and blood
and become the bread that nourishes us for eternal life.

Your righteousness was established before time began
and all you have created reflects your honour and majesty.
You made a covenant with your people
and gave yourself generously to all
who seek your wisdom and walk in your ways.

In your great and steadfast love,
you have come to redeem your people,
offering us life in your Son, Jesus.
Though his blood was poured out
and his flesh sent to the grave,
you raised him up to new life,
and now he offers himself to us
as the bread of heaven,
so that all who eat and drink of him
might live forever as one with him.

Therefore with .....

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We give thanks for your Son, Jesus,
who you raised to new life,
and who now offers himself to us
as the bread of heaven,
so that all who eat and drink of him
might live forever as one with him.

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
in the company of those who live with integrity,
at all times and for everything
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Your righteousness was established before time began
and all you have created reflects your honour and majesty.
You made a covenant with your people
and gave yourself generously to all
who seek your wisdom and walk in your ways.

In your great and steadfast love,
you have come to redeem your people,
offering us life in your Son, Jesus.
Though his blood was poured out
and his flesh sent to the grave,
you raised him up to new life,
and now he offers himself to us
as the bread of heaven,
so that all who eat and drink of him
might live forever as one with 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

The Lord is gracious and merciful
and comes to us to redeem us.
Christ Jesus offers himself to us, forgiving our sins
and promising to raise us to life on the last day.

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

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go out, nourished by the bread of heaven,
and take care to walk in the ways of wisdom.
Discern carefully between right and wrong.
Understand what the will of the Lord is.
Feed on Christ and be filled with the Spirit.

And may God give you a wise and discerning mind;
May Christ Jesus fill you with life in all its fullness;
and may the Holy Spirit overflow in you
in songs of joy and praise forever.

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

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net