There was a disciple named Tabitha who lived in the town of Joppa. She was also known by the Greek version of her name — Dorcas. She was a very generous woman who never missed an opportunity to pitch in and do something for others; especially the needy. One day she got sick. She went downhill quickly and in no time she was dead. The other disciples prepared her body for burial in the customary way, and laid her out in an upstairs room so her friends could pay their last respects.

Peter was in the neighbouring town of Lydda at the time, and news of his presence quickly reached the disciples in Joppa. They sent two of their number over to Lydda to ask Peter to come quickly and be with them for the funeral. Peter got up and went with them straight away. When he arrived, they took him in to view the body. The room was full of older women — most of them widows who had appreciated Tabitha’s care — and the tears flowed freely. Several of them began showing Peter the coats that Tabitha had made and the jumpers she had knitted while she was still with them.

Peter asked to be left alone with the body for a few minutes, and when everyone was out of the room, he knelt down and prayed. Then he turned, looked directly at the body, and said, “Tabitha, get up.”

Sure enough, she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Peter gave her his hand and helped her to her feet. Then he opened the door and called in the gathered Christians and the widows, and presented Tabitha to them, alive. Word of this spread like wildfire, and many people in Joppa put their trust in the Lord as a result. Peter spent the next few days in Joppa, staying in the home of a leather-worker named Simon.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

You, LORD, are my guide in the wilderness;
there is nothing more I could need.

You set up camp in places of beauty and shelter;
you lead the way on secluded tracks
beside creeks of cool clean water.
I feel my spirit breathing freely again;
your reputation puts me at ease;
I leave the navigating to you, and follow.

Even if we hike through a perilous valley,
where crows keep a menacing watch,
fear will still not get the better of me.
As long as I stick with you
I know I’ll make the distance;
with a knife and a bit of rope
you seem able to tackle any challenge.

You cook up a feast for me,
as those who wanted to feed on me watch, frustrated.
You pamper me like an honoured guest
and constantly top up my glass.

My life feels charmed, each and every day.
Love, mercy and all good things
keep falling into my lap.

I’m with you for life, LORD,
where you go, I’ll go;
where you live, I’ll live.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

I had a vision of an enormous crowd, bigger than anyone could ever count. It was made up of people from every nation; from all the different ethnic groups, cultural groups and language groups. They were all standing together before the throne and before the Lamb of God. They were dressed in white robes and were waving banners and throwing flowers in the air. Their voices rose as one – an enormous roar – saying:

“The life into which we have been saved
belongs to our God who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb of our God.”

Around the throne stood the four awesome creatures, and around them stood the twenty four elders, and around them stood all the angels. All together they fell to their knees before the throne, with their faces to the ground, and worshipped God, singing:

“So say all of us!
May glory and wisdom
and gratitude and honour
and authority and strength
and every good thing
be given to our God,
from now to forever!
And so say all of us!

Then one of the elders came and spoke to me, saying, “What can you tell me about these people in white robes? Who are they, and where have they come from?”

I replied, “I’m not sure, Sir, but you have the answers.”

Then he said to me, “These are the people who have come through the ultimate atrocity. They have washed their robes as white as snow in the blood of the lamb.

For this reason they now have the privilege
of gathering before the throne of God,
and there in the Temple they serve God, day and night,
and the one who is seated on the throne
provides them refuge and safe shelter.

Never again will they go hungry;
never again will they go thirsty;
never again will they be burned by the sun,
or left exposed to any searing heat.

The Lamb who is at the centre of the throne
has guided them through the wilderness
and will now care for them forever.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes
and guide them to crystal clear springs
where the water of life bubbles up freely.”

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

In the middle of winter, at the time when the Jewish festival of Hanukkah is celebrated, Jesus was in Jerusalem. One day he was in the Temple and, as he walked through the part known as Solomon’s Porch, a group of religious loyalists surrounded him and began demanding some answers: “How long are you going to keep holding your cards to your chest? If you are God’s Anointed One, come right out and say it.”

Jesus answered, “I’ve already laid my cards on the table, but you don’t take what I say seriously. If you want to know who I am, then look at what I do, because everything I do is done on my Father’s behalf. You lot still won’t believe though, because you’re not among those who have had me as their guide. Those who have, pick my voice every time. I know them well and they know to respond to my voice and to put their feet in my footsteps. I give them life without limit; life they will never lose. No one can ever drag them out of the safety of my hands. Their care is the greatest responsibility of all, and my Father has entrusted it to me. They can no more be dragged out of my hands than out of my Father’s. The Father and I are one on this.”

©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 you are the shepherd
who guides us to springs of life-giving water.

You spread out creation like a rich banquet and,
forming us from the dust of the earth,
you raised us to life and opened our eyes.
You chose a people to be your flock,
tending them with goodness and love.

Your child, Jesus, came working in your name.
You placed those who belonged to you
into the safety of his hands
and they recognised your voice in him.
When he was cast into death’s dark valley,
you raised him to new life.
Now he lives forever,
shepherding all who look to you for salvation.
You wipe the tears from our eyes
and spread a table before us
so that we might feed forever
from your abundant goodness,
and hunger and thirst no more.

Therefore with .....

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We thank you for your child, Jesus,
who shepherds all who look to you for salvation,
wiping the tears from our eyes and spreading a table before us
so that we might feed forever from your abundant goodness.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for you are the shepherd
who guides us to springs of the water of life.

You spread out creation like a rich banquet,
and forming us from the dust of the earth,
you raised us to life and opened our eyes.
You chose a people to be your flock,
tending them with goodness and love.

Your child, Jesus, came working in your name.
You placed those who belonged to you
into the safety of his hands
and they recognised your voice in him.
When he was cast into death’s dark valley,
you raised him to new life.
Now he lives forever,
shepherding all who look to you for salvation.
You wipe the tears from our eyes
and nourish us with your abundant goodness,
so that we hunger and thirst no more.

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

Salvation belongs to our God!
At the cost of his own blood,
the Lamb of God has washed us clean.
All who follow Christ
can never be snatched out of his hand.

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

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go now, following the voice of the shepherd.

Fear no evil, for God is by your side.

Devote yourselves to the works of God,

to words of mercy, to good deeds and to acts of love.

And may God wipe every tear from your eyes;

May Christ Jesus be your shepherd and all that you need;

And may the Holy Spirit tend you with goodness and love

all the days of your lives.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,

   In the name of Christ. Amen.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net