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UID:10002394-1893456000-1893542399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:New Years Day
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Ecclesiastes 3:1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Revelaton 21: 1-6a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 25: 31-46			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2030-01-01/2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20220904T231259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z
UID:10002432-1893456000-1893542399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:New Years Day
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Ecclesiastes 3:1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Revelaton 21: 1-6a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 25: 31-46			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2030-01-01/2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20220904T231259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z
UID:10002470-1893456000-1893542399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:New Years Day
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Ecclesiastes 3:1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Revelaton 21: 1-6a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 25: 31-46			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2030-01-01/2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20220904T231259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z
UID:10002508-1893456000-1893542399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:New Years Day
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Ecclesiastes 3:1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Revelaton 21: 1-6a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 25: 31-46			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2030-01-01/2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20220904T231259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z
UID:10002546-1893456000-1893542399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:New Years Day
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Ecclesiastes 3:1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Revelaton 21: 1-6a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 25: 31-46			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2030-01-01/2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20220904T231259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z
UID:10002584-1893456000-1893542399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:New Years Day
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Ecclesiastes 3:1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Revelaton 21: 1-6a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 25: 31-46			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2030-01-01/2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20220904T231259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z
UID:10002622-1893456000-1893542399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:New Years Day
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Ecclesiastes 3:1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Revelaton 21: 1-6a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 25: 31-46			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2030-01-01/2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20220904T231259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z
UID:10002660-1893456000-1893542399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:New Years Day
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Ecclesiastes 3:1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Revelaton 21: 1-6a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 25: 31-46			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2030-01-01/2/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20220904T231259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z
UID:10002698-1893456000-1893542399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:New Years Day
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Ecclesiastes 3:1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Revelaton 21: 1-6a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 25: 31-46			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2030-01-01/2/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300101T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20250208T235923Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T004614Z
UID:10002173-1893456000-1893542399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:The Feast of the Holy Name
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Numbers 6: 22-27			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The LORD told to Moses to pass on the following instructions to Aaron and his sons for their work as priests: \n“These are the words of blessing you are to use when you bless the Israelite people:\nMay the LORD set you up for life and look after you; \nMay the LORD smile upon you and be generous to you; \nMay the LORD keep an eye on you\nand give you a life in which all is well.\nWith these words you will remind my people who they belong to\, and I will bless them.” \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Galatians 4:4-7 (alternative)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	When the clock had run down and the time was right\,\nGod sent a rescuer\,\nGod’s own Son;\nborn to a woman in the usual way\,\ngrowing up under the thumb of the law\,\njust like the rest of God’s people. \nGod sent him into such circumstances\nso that he could get everyone else out of them;\npaying the price of our freedom\nand giving us the opportunity\nto be adopted into God’s family. \nBecause you are now God’s children\,\nthe Spirit of God’s child\, Jesus\,\nhas been sent into your hearts;\nthe Spirit who makes us as eager for God\nas children running into their parents’ arms\ncrying\, “Daddy! Mummy!” \nSo you are no longer at the beck and call\nof those things which once dictated your every move;\nnow you are God’s own children\,\nand as God’s children\, you will receive from God\nall that has been kept in trust for God’s children. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Philippians 2: 5-11 (alternative)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Model your attitude on the attitude of the Messiah\, Jesus. \nAlthough Jesus was the same as God in every way\,\nhe did not think of his God-like privileges\nas something to be milked for all they were worth. \nInstead\, he laid it all aside\nand\, with no more privileges than a slave\,\nwas born as a human being. \nHaving become a human being\,\nhe was the model of humility.\nHe didn’t demand his own way\nbut let God set the agenda;\neven when it included his own death\,\nand a gruesome public death at that. \nBecause of all this\,\nGod has raised him to the status of number one\nand honoured him more highly\nthan anyone else in the universe. \nSo now\, just the mention of the name ‘Jesus’\nshould bring everyone to their knees;\neveryone who has ever lived or ever will. \nEveryone\, everywhere will honour God\nby openly acknowledging\nthat Jesus the Messiah is Lord of all! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 2: 15-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	When the angels went back to heaven\, the shearers were left sitting there looking at one another\, gob-smacked. “We’d better go and check this out\,” they said. “Let’s go into town and see if we can see what’s happened\, what the Lord has let us in on.”\nSo without messing around they headed straight into Bethlehem\, and sure enough\, they tracked down Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the feed trough. When they saw all this\, they began telling everyone what they had heard about this child. People could hardly believe their ears when they heard what the shearers were saying. But their words were precious to Mary and she repeated them over and over in her mind\, wondering what would become of it all. The shearers headed off towards their camp again – a rowdy mob\, singing and shouting in the streets about how fabulous God was because of everything they had seen and heard. Everything had been just the way they had been told it would be.\nMary and Joseph followed the law and custom of their people and held a ceremony for the baby boy when he was eight days old to circumcise him and name him. They named him Jesus – the name which God’s messenger had given him before he was conceived in the womb. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\njoining with the whole world\nin telling of the greatness of your name. \nFrom the moment you created and named every living thing\nyour handiwork has been a source of awe and wonder.\nLike the moon and stars you set in place\,\nyour face has shone upon us and blessed us with peace. \nIn the fullness of time you sent your Son\,\nborn of woman and named by angels\,\nso that we too might be adopted by you\,\nand through your Spirit\, the treasure of our hearts\,\nlive worthily of the name you have given us. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We thank you for sending your Son\,\nborn of woman and named by angels\,\nso that we too might be adopted by you\,\nand live worthily of the name you have given us. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe join with the whole world to give you thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand telling of the greatness of your name. \nFrom the moment you created and named every living thing\nyour handiwork has been a source of awe and wonder.\nLike the moon and stars you set in place\,\nyour face has shone upon us and blessed us with peace. \nIn the fullness of time you sent your Son\,\nborn of woman and named by angels\,\nso that we too might be adopted by you\,\nand through your Spirit\, the treasure of our hearts\,\nlive worthily of the name you have given us. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	When the fullness of time had come\,\nGod sent his Son\, born of a woman\,\nborn under the law\,\nin order to redeem those who were under the law\,\nso that we might receive adoption as God’s children. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, glorifying and praising God\nfor all you have heard and seen.\nYou have been named as God’s adopted children:\nLive worthily of the glory with which God has dressed you. \nAnd may God bless you and keep you.\nMay Christ Jesus make his face to shine upon you\nand be gracious to you.\nAnd may the Spirit smile upon you and give you peace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nExchanging GiftsA sermon on Galatians 4: 4-7 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc07/2030-01-01/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300113T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300113T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20200728T014407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240204T121811Z
UID:10002099-1894492800-1894579199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:The Feast of the Baptism of our Lord - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Genesis 1: 1-5			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	At the outset\, when God created the universe\,\nthe earth was lifeless and shapeless;\na deep ocean of chaos\, shrouded in darkness;\nbrooded over by the Spirit of God. \nThen God called for light\,\nand light appeared.\nGod saw that light was a good thing\,\nand separated it from the darkness.\nGod named the light Day\,\nand the darkness Night.\nEvening passed and morning came;\nthe first day was done. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 29			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD God\, like your angels in heaven\nwe speak of you in glowing terms\,\nfor your glory and strength deserve rave reviews.\nWe give you a huge wrap\, LORD;\nwe put up you name in lights\nand hold a huge ticker tape parade\nbut it still falls short of the worship you deserve.  \nYour voice\, LORD\, rings out like thunder;\nresounding over the waters\,\ndrowning out even the waves of the sea.\nYour voice echoes with power;\nit would bring anyone to their knees. \nYour voice\, LORD\, shatters the Ironbark tree\,\nand splinters the Mountain Ash like match sticks.\nYour presence makes Mount Bogong jump like a calf;\nUluru like a rock wallaby.  \nYour voice\, LORD\, strikes fire from stone.\nThe sound of your voice convulses the wilderness;\nthe Simpson Desert shudders in labour.  \nYour voice\, LORD\, is like a cyclone\,\nhowling through a rainforest\,\nstripping the leaves from the trees. \nWe all gather to worship and cheer with all our might;\nfor you rule forever\, LORD\,\nand neither surging flood\nnor tidal wave can undermine you.\nGive strength to your people\, LORD!\nBless your people with peace!  \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Acts 19: 1-7			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Paul travelled through Turkey by the inland road\, and arrived in Ephesus. He found some students of the faith there who assured him that they had been baptised\, but while speaking with them he asked whether they had received the Holy Spirit when they had become believers. They replied\, “No\, we’re not even sure what you are talking about. We’ve never heard of a Holy Spirit.” \nSo Paul asked them what sort of baptism they had received\, and they answered\, “The baptism of John the baptiser.” \n“It’s a different thing\,” Paul told them. “John baptised people as a sign of their commitment to turning their lives around\, but he told them that they should put their trust in the one who would take over where he left off. The one he was pointing to was Jesus.” \nWhen they had got this straight\, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them in prayer\, the Holy Spirit took charge of them\, and they began to speak in strange languages and to preach inspired messages from God. There were about twelve of them in the group. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 1: 4-11			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	John the baptiser showed up in the desert preaching to the people. He called them to be baptised\, to completely turn their lives around and receive God’s forgiveness for their toxic ways. Everyone came flocking to John from Jerusalem and from all the rural districts of Judea. They owned up to their wrongdoing and were baptised by John in the Jordan River\, promising to mend their ways. \nJohn was dressed in rough clothes made of camel hair and animal skins. He lived on bush tucker – grasshoppers and wild honey. This was the guts of his message: “After me comes the One who is way out of my league – I wouldn’t even qualify to get down on my knees and lick his boots. I’m only baptising you with water\, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.” \nDuring those days\, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. The moment he came up from the water\, he saw the sky open up and the Spirit coming down like a diving kookaburra and taking hold of him. And a voice filled the air\, saying\, “You are my Son; the love of my life. You fill me with pride.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you rule over the mighty waters\nand baptise us into your life. \nWhen your voice first thundered over the seas\nyour brooding Spirit brought forth the earth from the void\nand breathed life into all your creatures.\nYou called your people to follow your ways\,\nand sent your servant\, John the Baptiser\,\nto proclaiming a baptism of repentance\nfor the forgiveness of sins. \nHe pointed to the one who was to come\n— your beloved child\, Jesus the Christ —\nwho came among us\,\nstrengthening us and blessing us with your peace.\nWhen he was baptised in the fearful waters of death\,\nyou raised him to life\nand tore open the heavens\nso that all might be baptised with your Holy Spirit\nand enter into your presence\nconfident of being declared\nto be the children who please you. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your beloved Son\, Jesus\,\nwho was baptised in the fearful waters of death\,\nand rose to tear open the heavens\nso that all might be baptised with your Holy Spirit\nand hear you declare them to be pleasing to you. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you rule over the mighty waters\nand baptise us into your life. \nWhen your voice first thundered over the seas\nyour brooding Spirit brought forth the earth from the void\nand breathed life into all your creatures.\nYou called your people to follow your ways\,\nand sent your servant\, John the Baptiser\,\nto proclaiming a baptism of repentance\nfor the forgiveness of sins. \nHe pointed to the one who was to come\n— your beloved child\, Jesus the Christ —\nwho came among us\,\nstrengthening us and blessing us with your peace.\nWhen he was baptised in the fearful waters of death\,\nyou raised him to life\nand tore open the heavens\nso that all might be baptised with your Holy Spirit\nand enter into your presence\nconfident of being declared\nto be the children who please you. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus Christ was baptised in the deep waters of death\nso that we might be buried and raised with him\nand have our sins washed away\nin the depths of God’s mercy. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, with the divine word in your ears\nassuring you that you are God’s beloved children.\nLive out the depth truths of your baptism\nand tell others of the abundant life beyond the waters. \nAnd may God\, our beloved\, give you strength;\nMay Christ Jesus fill you with his Holy Spirit;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit strengthen you and bless you with peace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nThe Voice Over the WaterA sermon on Mark 1: 4-11 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBaptised to What?A sermon on Mark 1: 4-11 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAn Extraordinary Ordinary BaptismA sermon on Mark 1:4-11; Genesis 1:1-5; & Acts 19:1-7 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nInto what were you baptised?A sermon on Acts 19:1-7 & Mark 1:4-11 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAnointed to ReignA sermon on Mark 1:4-11\, Genesis 1:1-5 & Acts 19:1-7 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nOrdained in BaptismA sermon on Mark 1:4-11; Genesis 1:1-5; & Psalm 29 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b11/2030-01-13/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/11.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300113T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300113T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20200728T014407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003410Z
UID:10002951-1894492800-1894579199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:The Feast of the Baptism of our Lord - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Genesis 1: 1-5			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	At the outset\, when God created the universe\,\nthe earth was lifeless and shapeless;\na deep ocean of chaos\, shrouded in darkness;\nbrooded over by the Spirit of God. \nThen God called for light\,\nand light appeared.\nGod saw that light was a good thing\,\nand separated it from the darkness.\nGod named the light Day\,\nand the darkness Night.\nEvening passed and morning came;\nthe first day was done. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 29			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD God\, like your angels in heaven\nwe speak of you in glowing terms\,\nfor your glory and strength deserve rave reviews.\nWe give you a huge wrap\, LORD;\nwe put up you name in lights\nand hold a huge ticker tape parade\nbut it still falls short of the worship you deserve.  \nYour voice\, LORD\, rings out like thunder;\nresounding over the waters\,\ndrowning out even the waves of the sea.\nYour voice echoes with power;\nit would bring anyone to their knees. \nYour voice\, LORD\, shatters the Ironbark tree\,\nand splinters the Mountain Ash like match sticks.\nYour presence makes Mount Bogong jump like a calf;\nUluru like a rock wallaby.  \nYour voice\, LORD\, strikes fire from stone.\nThe sound of your voice convulses the wilderness;\nthe Simpson Desert shudders in labour.  \nYour voice\, LORD\, is like a cyclone\,\nhowling through a rainforest\,\nstripping the leaves from the trees. \nWe all gather to worship and cheer with all our might;\nfor you rule forever\, LORD\,\nand neither surging flood\nnor tidal wave can undermine you.\nGive strength to your people\, LORD!\nBless your people with peace!  \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Acts 19: 1-7			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Paul travelled through Turkey by the inland road\, and arrived in Ephesus. He found some students of the faith there who assured him that they had been baptised\, but while speaking with them he asked whether they had received the Holy Spirit when they had become believers. They replied\, “No\, we’re not even sure what you are talking about. We’ve never heard of a Holy Spirit.” \nSo Paul asked them what sort of baptism they had received\, and they answered\, “The baptism of John the baptiser.” \n“It’s a different thing\,” Paul told them. “John baptised people as a sign of their commitment to turning their lives around\, but he told them that they should put their trust in the one who would take over where he left off. The one he was pointing to was Jesus.” \nWhen they had got this straight\, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them in prayer\, the Holy Spirit took charge of them\, and they began to speak in strange languages and to preach inspired messages from God. There were about twelve of them in the group. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 1: 4-11			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	John the baptiser showed up in the desert preaching to the people. He called them to be baptised\, to completely turn their lives around and receive God’s forgiveness for their toxic ways. Everyone came flocking to John from Jerusalem and from all the rural districts of Judea. They owned up to their wrongdoing and were baptised by John in the Jordan River\, promising to mend their ways. \nJohn was dressed in rough clothes made of camel hair and animal skins. He lived on bush tucker – grasshoppers and wild honey. This was the guts of his message: “After me comes the One who is way out of my league – I wouldn’t even qualify to get down on my knees and lick his boots. I’m only baptising you with water\, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.” \nDuring those days\, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. The moment he came up from the water\, he saw the sky open up and the Spirit coming down like a diving kookaburra and taking hold of him. And a voice filled the air\, saying\, “You are my Son; the love of my life. You fill me with pride.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you rule over the mighty waters\nand baptise us into your life. \nWhen your voice first thundered over the seas\nyour brooding Spirit brought forth the earth from the void\nand breathed life into all your creatures.\nYou called your people to follow your ways\,\nand sent your servant\, John the Baptiser\,\nto proclaiming a baptism of repentance\nfor the forgiveness of sins. \nHe pointed to the one who was to come\n— your beloved child\, Jesus the Christ —\nwho came among us\,\nstrengthening us and blessing us with your peace.\nWhen he was baptised in the fearful waters of death\,\nyou raised him to life\nand tore open the heavens\nso that all might be baptised with your Holy Spirit\nand enter into your presence\nconfident of being declared\nto be the children who please you. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your beloved Son\, Jesus\,\nwho was baptised in the fearful waters of death\,\nand rose to tear open the heavens\nso that all might be baptised with your Holy Spirit\nand hear you declare them to be pleasing to you. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you rule over the mighty waters\nand baptise us into your life. \nWhen your voice first thundered over the seas\nyour brooding Spirit brought forth the earth from the void\nand breathed life into all your creatures.\nYou called your people to follow your ways\,\nand sent your servant\, John the Baptiser\,\nto proclaiming a baptism of repentance\nfor the forgiveness of sins. \nHe pointed to the one who was to come\n— your beloved child\, Jesus the Christ —\nwho came among us\,\nstrengthening us and blessing us with your peace.\nWhen he was baptised in the fearful waters of death\,\nyou raised him to life\nand tore open the heavens\nso that all might be baptised with your Holy Spirit\nand enter into your presence\nconfident of being declared\nto be the children who please you. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus Christ was baptised in the deep waters of death\nso that we might be buried and raised with him\nand have our sins washed away\nin the depths of God’s mercy. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, with the divine word in your ears\nassuring you that you are God’s beloved children.\nLive out the depth truths of your baptism\nand tell others of the abundant life beyond the waters. \nAnd may God\, our beloved\, give you strength;\nMay Christ Jesus fill you with his Holy Spirit;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit strengthen you and bless you with peace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nThe Voice Over the WaterA sermon on Mark 1: 4-11 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBaptised to What?A sermon on Mark 1: 4-11 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAn Extraordinary Ordinary BaptismA sermon on Mark 1:4-11; Genesis 1:1-5; & Acts 19:1-7 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nInto what were you baptised?A sermon on Acts 19:1-7 & Mark 1:4-11 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAnointed to ReignA sermon on Mark 1:4-11\, Genesis 1:1-5 & Acts 19:1-7 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nOrdained in BaptismA sermon on Mark 1:4-11; Genesis 1:1-5; & Psalm 29 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b11/2030-01-13/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/11.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300120T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300120T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20200729T011820Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240211T105318Z
UID:10002100-1895097600-1895183999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:2nd Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Samuel 3:1-10\, (11-20)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Samuel grew up in the Temple at Shiloh\, working as an apprentice to Eli the priest\, in the service of the LORD. In those days\, the people had completely lost touch with God\, and messages or visions from the LORD were rare. The light of God had not gone out\, but Eli’s failing eyesight had left him unable to see.\nOne night\, Eli had gone to bed in his room\, and Samuel was lying down in the Temple of the LORD near the sacred Ark of God. The LORD called out\, “Samuel! Samuel!”\n“At your service\,” said Samuel\, jumping up and running into Eli’s room. “You called me and here I am\, at your service.”\nBut Eli said\, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”\nSo Samuel went and lay down again\, and the LORD called out again\, “Samuel!”\nSamuel got up and went to Eli\, saying “You called me and here I am\, at your service.”\nBut Eli said\, “I didn’t call you\, my son. Go back to bed.”\nNow it was no surprise that Samuel didn’t understand what was going on\, because he did not yet know the LORD\, and his mind had not yet been opened to what the LORD had to say. The LORD called Samuel a third time\, and again he got up and went to Eli\, saying “You called me and here I am\, at your service.”\nFinally the lights went on for Eli and he realised that it was the LORD who was calling the boy\, so he said to Samuel\, “Go and lie down\, and if you hear the call again\, say\, ‘Speak to me\, LORD. I’m at your service\, and I’m all ears.’ ”\nSo Samuel went and lay down again in the same place. The LORD came and stood alongside him\, calling out as before\, “Samuel! Samuel!”\nAnd Samuel replied\, “Speak to me. I’m at your service\, and I’m all ears.”\n    The LORD said to Samuel\, “Look\, I am about to do something that  will make the hair stand up on the back of everyone’s necks when they hear about it. On that day I will follow through on everything I have ever said I would do to Eli and his offspring. I have told him that I am about to bring down a permanent punishment on his family\, because his sons have been dragging my name through the mud and even though he knew about their corruption\, he didn’t crack down on them. So now I swear to Eli’s family that the charge of corruption will stand against them forever\, no matter how many apologies\, sacrifices or gifts they offer.”\nSamuel had a restless night after that! When he got up in the morning to open the doors of the house of the LORD\, he was afraid to say anything about the vision to Eli. But Eli wanted to know\, and called him\, saying\, “Samuel\, my son.”\n“At your service\,” Samuel answered.\n“What did the LORD have to say to you?” Eli asked. “Don’t keep me in the dark. May God punish you big time\, if you don’t tell me every detail of what was said to you.”\nSo Samuel told him the whole lot\, every last detail\, and when he had finished\, Eli said\, “The LORD has spoken. I will have to cop whatever the LORD sees fit to do.”\nAs Samuel grew to be a man\, the LORD kept a guiding hand on his shoulder\, and saw to it that when he spoke\, not a word was wasted. Before long\, the whole land\, from one end to the other\, knew that Samuel was the real deal – a messenger of the LORD who could be trusted. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 139: 1-6\, 13-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You have taken a good hard look at me\, LORD\,\nand you know exactly what makes me tick. \nYou know when I’ve got my feet up and when I’m on the job;\nyou can read my mind like an open book. \nYou see where I am going and where I stop\,\nand you know all about what I do and why. \nYou know exactly what I am going to say\, LORD\,\neven before I open my mouth. \nYou are in front of me\, behind me\, beside me;\nyour hand on my shoulder at every turn. \nAll this is more than I can get my head around;\nI pinch myself\, and struggle to take it in. \nIt was you who put me together\, every part of me;\nyou knit me together in my mother’s womb. \nI sing your praises\, LORD\,\nfor the the way you have made me fills me with awe.\nYour creative works blow my mind;\ntoo wonderful for words. \nYou could see me clearly before I was born;\nyou watched me taking shape in the secret depths\nand laid out the intricacies of nerve and muscle. \nYou kept your eye on me\nfrom conception to birth.\nMy life lay before you like an open book\nbefore I had even lived a day. \nYour thoughts are way beyond my grasp\, God\,\nand they add up to more than I can count.\nDeeper than the oceans\,\noutnumbering the grains of sand;\nI give up trying\nbut you are with me just the same. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 6: 12-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You people say: \n“There is nothing I am not allowed to do.” \nSure\, but the fact that you are allowed to do something doesn’t mean it is a good idea to do it. \n“There is nothing I am not allowed to do.” \nSure\, but I am not about to let such things start taking over my life. \nYou also hear people say: \n“Food belongs in the stomach\,\n   and stomachs were made for food.” \nSure\, but that’s not exactly the meaning of life! God could abolish both food and stomachs and leave untouched the things that really matter. Here’s a saying worth getting your teeth into: \n“The human body deserves better than sleaze.\n   The body belongs to the Lord\,\n      and the Lord belongs to the body.” \nIndeed\, God cares about bodies. God raised the Lord\, body and all\, and will raise us\, body and all\, just as powerfully. You do know\, don’t you\, that your bodies are now integral parts of Christ’s body? So how could I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a sleazy and degraded body? No way! For you do know\, don’t you\, that when bodies are joined in sexual intimacy — no matter how cheap and sleazy — they are united to one another forever. As scripture says\, “The two become one flesh.” But because you are united to the Lord\, you are one with the Lord. Steer well clear of sleaze! \nSome say: \n“The sins people commit are ‘out there’\n   and have no consequences in the body;” \nwhile others say: \n“If you get involved in sleazy sin\n   you are only hurting yourself.” \nYou do know\, don’t you\, that your body is a sacred dwelling place of the Holy Spirit\, and your life is therefore not your own to trash as you please? You have the Holy Spirit within you\, given to you by God. Your whole being\, body and soul\, belongs to God\, and it didn’t come cheap. So\, see to it that your bodily life always reflects well on God as its owner and occupier. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  John 1: 43-51			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus went up to Galilee and there he came across a man named Philip who\, like Andrew and Peter\, came from the city of Bethsaida. “Stick with me\,” said Jesus\, and Philip did.\nPhilip later came across his mate Nathanael and said to him\, “We have found the one everyone has been waiting for; the one who was written about in the law of Moses and in the prophets. It is Jesus\, the son of Joseph. He comes from Nazareth.”\nNathanael replied\, “Nazareth! You’ve got to be kidding. How could anything good come out of Nazareth?!”\nBut Philip just said\, “Come and see for yourself.”\nJesus took one look at Nathanael and said\, “Here we have a fair dinkum Israelite. There’s no bullshit in this bloke!”\nNathanael asked him\, “Where did you get your information on me?”\nJesus replied\, “I spotted you back there under the fig tree before Philip called you.”\nNathanael said\, “Rabbi\, you are the Son of God! You are the one who will rule God’s people!”\nJesus answered\, “Are you ready to put your trust in me just because I told you that I knew what you were made of the minute I spotted you under the fig tree. You will see things that make that pale into insignificance!”\nAnd turning to them all he continued\, “I kid you not\, you lot will see the New Human become the bridge between heaven and earth\, and the messengers of God going back and forth between the two.” \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor what we know of you is overwhelming\,\nmore wonderful than we can ever understand. \nIn the hidden depths of time\nyou formed the newborn earth according to your design\,\nand knit us together in our mothers’ wombs.\nYou led your people through Moses\,\nand corrected them through prophets like Samuel\,\nwhose every word went forth with your power. \nIn these last days you have sent us your Son\n— Jesus\, son of Mary\, from Nazareth.\nIn word and deed he brought the truth to light\nand called us to follow\nin the ways of integrity and discipleship.\nWhen the enemies of life put him to death\,\nyou raised him up by your power\,\nand likewise you raise us up\nand unite us with Christ\nthat we too may be an honoured dwelling place\nfor your Holy Spirit. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give you thanks for raising us up\nand uniting us with Christ\,\nso that we can follow him\nin the ways of integrity and discipleship\,\nand become an honoured dwelling place\nfor your Holy Spirit. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor what we know of you is overwhelming\,\nmore wonderful than we can ever understand. \nIn the hidden depths of time\nyou formed the newborn earth according to your design\,\nand knit us together in our mothers’ wombs.\nYou led your people through Moses\,\nand corrected them through prophets like Samuel\,\nwhose every word went forth with your power. \nIn these last days you have sent us your Son\n— Jesus\, son of Mary\, from Nazareth.\nIn word and deed he brought the truth to light\nand called us to follow\nin the ways of integrity and discipleship.\nWhen the enemies of life put him to death\,\nyou raised him up by your power\,\nand likewise you raise us up\nand unite us with Christ\nthat we too may be an honoured dwelling place\nfor your Holy Spirit. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The God who searches us and knows our inmost thoughts\nhas bought us at great price.\nIn Jesus Christ we have been freed from sin\nand heaven has been opened to us. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now. Listen for the voice of the Lord\nand follow wherever it leads.\nDo not be dominated by anything.\nAllow no room within yourselves for deceit\,\nbut offer yourselves as a temple for the Holy Spirit. \nAnd may God be with you and speak through you;\nMay Christ Jesus be one with you and raise you to life;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit dwell within you and make you holy. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nCome and SeeA sermon on John 1:43-51; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; 1 Samuel 3:2-10 & Psalm 139 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nUnthinkable: God Right HereA sermon on 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20 & John 1: 43-51 by Michael Hardin\n\n\n\nFood\, Sex\, Body Image and JesusA sermon on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNo Laws?A sermon on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFaith-bookA sermon on John 1:43-51; Psalm 139 & 1 Samuel 3:2-10 by Craig Bartlett
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b12/2030-01-20/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300120T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300120T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20200729T011820Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003410Z
UID:10002949-1895097600-1895183999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:2nd Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Samuel 3:1-10\, (11-20)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Samuel grew up in the Temple at Shiloh\, working as an apprentice to Eli the priest\, in the service of the LORD. In those days\, the people had completely lost touch with God\, and messages or visions from the LORD were rare. The light of God had not gone out\, but Eli’s failing eyesight had left him unable to see.\nOne night\, Eli had gone to bed in his room\, and Samuel was lying down in the Temple of the LORD near the sacred Ark of God. The LORD called out\, “Samuel! Samuel!”\n“At your service\,” said Samuel\, jumping up and running into Eli’s room. “You called me and here I am\, at your service.”\nBut Eli said\, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.”\nSo Samuel went and lay down again\, and the LORD called out again\, “Samuel!”\nSamuel got up and went to Eli\, saying “You called me and here I am\, at your service.”\nBut Eli said\, “I didn’t call you\, my son. Go back to bed.”\nNow it was no surprise that Samuel didn’t understand what was going on\, because he did not yet know the LORD\, and his mind had not yet been opened to what the LORD had to say. The LORD called Samuel a third time\, and again he got up and went to Eli\, saying “You called me and here I am\, at your service.”\nFinally the lights went on for Eli and he realised that it was the LORD who was calling the boy\, so he said to Samuel\, “Go and lie down\, and if you hear the call again\, say\, ‘Speak to me\, LORD. I’m at your service\, and I’m all ears.’ ”\nSo Samuel went and lay down again in the same place. The LORD came and stood alongside him\, calling out as before\, “Samuel! Samuel!”\nAnd Samuel replied\, “Speak to me. I’m at your service\, and I’m all ears.”\n    The LORD said to Samuel\, “Look\, I am about to do something that  will make the hair stand up on the back of everyone’s necks when they hear about it. On that day I will follow through on everything I have ever said I would do to Eli and his offspring. I have told him that I am about to bring down a permanent punishment on his family\, because his sons have been dragging my name through the mud and even though he knew about their corruption\, he didn’t crack down on them. So now I swear to Eli’s family that the charge of corruption will stand against them forever\, no matter how many apologies\, sacrifices or gifts they offer.”\nSamuel had a restless night after that! When he got up in the morning to open the doors of the house of the LORD\, he was afraid to say anything about the vision to Eli. But Eli wanted to know\, and called him\, saying\, “Samuel\, my son.”\n“At your service\,” Samuel answered.\n“What did the LORD have to say to you?” Eli asked. “Don’t keep me in the dark. May God punish you big time\, if you don’t tell me every detail of what was said to you.”\nSo Samuel told him the whole lot\, every last detail\, and when he had finished\, Eli said\, “The LORD has spoken. I will have to cop whatever the LORD sees fit to do.”\nAs Samuel grew to be a man\, the LORD kept a guiding hand on his shoulder\, and saw to it that when he spoke\, not a word was wasted. Before long\, the whole land\, from one end to the other\, knew that Samuel was the real deal – a messenger of the LORD who could be trusted. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 139: 1-6\, 13-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You have taken a good hard look at me\, LORD\,\nand you know exactly what makes me tick. \nYou know when I’ve got my feet up and when I’m on the job;\nyou can read my mind like an open book. \nYou see where I am going and where I stop\,\nand you know all about what I do and why. \nYou know exactly what I am going to say\, LORD\,\neven before I open my mouth. \nYou are in front of me\, behind me\, beside me;\nyour hand on my shoulder at every turn. \nAll this is more than I can get my head around;\nI pinch myself\, and struggle to take it in. \nIt was you who put me together\, every part of me;\nyou knit me together in my mother’s womb. \nI sing your praises\, LORD\,\nfor the the way you have made me fills me with awe.\nYour creative works blow my mind;\ntoo wonderful for words. \nYou could see me clearly before I was born;\nyou watched me taking shape in the secret depths\nand laid out the intricacies of nerve and muscle. \nYou kept your eye on me\nfrom conception to birth.\nMy life lay before you like an open book\nbefore I had even lived a day. \nYour thoughts are way beyond my grasp\, God\,\nand they add up to more than I can count.\nDeeper than the oceans\,\noutnumbering the grains of sand;\nI give up trying\nbut you are with me just the same. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 6: 12-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You people say: \n“There is nothing I am not allowed to do.” \nSure\, but the fact that you are allowed to do something doesn’t mean it is a good idea to do it. \n“There is nothing I am not allowed to do.” \nSure\, but I am not about to let such things start taking over my life. \nYou also hear people say: \n“Food belongs in the stomach\,\n   and stomachs were made for food.” \nSure\, but that’s not exactly the meaning of life! God could abolish both food and stomachs and leave untouched the things that really matter. Here’s a saying worth getting your teeth into: \n“The human body deserves better than sleaze.\n   The body belongs to the Lord\,\n      and the Lord belongs to the body.” \nIndeed\, God cares about bodies. God raised the Lord\, body and all\, and will raise us\, body and all\, just as powerfully. You do know\, don’t you\, that your bodies are now integral parts of Christ’s body? So how could I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a sleazy and degraded body? No way! For you do know\, don’t you\, that when bodies are joined in sexual intimacy — no matter how cheap and sleazy — they are united to one another forever. As scripture says\, “The two become one flesh.” But because you are united to the Lord\, you are one with the Lord. Steer well clear of sleaze! \nSome say: \n“The sins people commit are ‘out there’\n   and have no consequences in the body;” \nwhile others say: \n“If you get involved in sleazy sin\n   you are only hurting yourself.” \nYou do know\, don’t you\, that your body is a sacred dwelling place of the Holy Spirit\, and your life is therefore not your own to trash as you please? You have the Holy Spirit within you\, given to you by God. Your whole being\, body and soul\, belongs to God\, and it didn’t come cheap. So\, see to it that your bodily life always reflects well on God as its owner and occupier. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  John 1: 43-51			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus went up to Galilee and there he came across a man named Philip who\, like Andrew and Peter\, came from the city of Bethsaida. “Stick with me\,” said Jesus\, and Philip did.\nPhilip later came across his mate Nathanael and said to him\, “We have found the one everyone has been waiting for; the one who was written about in the law of Moses and in the prophets. It is Jesus\, the son of Joseph. He comes from Nazareth.”\nNathanael replied\, “Nazareth! You’ve got to be kidding. How could anything good come out of Nazareth?!”\nBut Philip just said\, “Come and see for yourself.”\nJesus took one look at Nathanael and said\, “Here we have a fair dinkum Israelite. There’s no bullshit in this bloke!”\nNathanael asked him\, “Where did you get your information on me?”\nJesus replied\, “I spotted you back there under the fig tree before Philip called you.”\nNathanael said\, “Rabbi\, you are the Son of God! You are the one who will rule God’s people!”\nJesus answered\, “Are you ready to put your trust in me just because I told you that I knew what you were made of the minute I spotted you under the fig tree. You will see things that make that pale into insignificance!”\nAnd turning to them all he continued\, “I kid you not\, you lot will see the New Human become the bridge between heaven and earth\, and the messengers of God going back and forth between the two.” \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor what we know of you is overwhelming\,\nmore wonderful than we can ever understand. \nIn the hidden depths of time\nyou formed the newborn earth according to your design\,\nand knit us together in our mothers’ wombs.\nYou led your people through Moses\,\nand corrected them through prophets like Samuel\,\nwhose every word went forth with your power. \nIn these last days you have sent us your Son\n— Jesus\, son of Mary\, from Nazareth.\nIn word and deed he brought the truth to light\nand called us to follow\nin the ways of integrity and discipleship.\nWhen the enemies of life put him to death\,\nyou raised him up by your power\,\nand likewise you raise us up\nand unite us with Christ\nthat we too may be an honoured dwelling place\nfor your Holy Spirit. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give you thanks for raising us up\nand uniting us with Christ\,\nso that we can follow him\nin the ways of integrity and discipleship\,\nand become an honoured dwelling place\nfor your Holy Spirit. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor what we know of you is overwhelming\,\nmore wonderful than we can ever understand. \nIn the hidden depths of time\nyou formed the newborn earth according to your design\,\nand knit us together in our mothers’ wombs.\nYou led your people through Moses\,\nand corrected them through prophets like Samuel\,\nwhose every word went forth with your power. \nIn these last days you have sent us your Son\n— Jesus\, son of Mary\, from Nazareth.\nIn word and deed he brought the truth to light\nand called us to follow\nin the ways of integrity and discipleship.\nWhen the enemies of life put him to death\,\nyou raised him up by your power\,\nand likewise you raise us up\nand unite us with Christ\nthat we too may be an honoured dwelling place\nfor your Holy Spirit. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The God who searches us and knows our inmost thoughts\nhas bought us at great price.\nIn Jesus Christ we have been freed from sin\nand heaven has been opened to us. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now. Listen for the voice of the Lord\nand follow wherever it leads.\nDo not be dominated by anything.\nAllow no room within yourselves for deceit\,\nbut offer yourselves as a temple for the Holy Spirit. \nAnd may God be with you and speak through you;\nMay Christ Jesus be one with you and raise you to life;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit dwell within you and make you holy. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nCome and SeeA sermon on John 1:43-51; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; 1 Samuel 3:2-10 & Psalm 139 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nUnthinkable: God Right HereA sermon on 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20 & John 1: 43-51 by Michael Hardin\n\n\n\nFood\, Sex\, Body Image and JesusA sermon on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNo Laws?A sermon on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFaith-bookA sermon on John 1:43-51; Psalm 139 & 1 Samuel 3:2-10 by Craig Bartlett
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b12/2030-01-20/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/12.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300127T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300127T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20200730T011518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240304T023901Z
UID:10002101-1895702400-1895788799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:3rd Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Jonah 3: 1-5\, 10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	For a second time\, the LORD gave orders to Jonah\, saying\, “Get up\, go to the great city of Nineveh\, and sound the call there with the words I give you.”\nSo this time Jonah did as the LORD had told him to\, and got up and went to Nineveh. Now the city of Nineveh was so big that even God was amazed\, and it would have taken Jonah three days to walk through it. He made a start\, walking through the city for a day\, and as he went he sounded a call\, “In just a few days\, Nineveh will be in ruins!”\nAnd the people of Nineveh believed that this call came from the great God\, so they took immediate action. They called a day of repentance\, and everybody\, no matter what their rank in society\, dressed in funeral clothes and went without food to show that they were serious about changing their ways.\nSeeing what they did\, and how they really were turning away from evil and getting their lives back on track\, God had a change of heart\, and cancelled the disaster that had been planned for the people of Nineveh. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 62: 5-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	A hush comes over every fibre of my being;\nfor you alone I wait\, God;\nmy future is in your hands. \nYou alone are the rock I cling to;\nmy protection\, my salvation;\nnothing can rattle me. \nMy freedom and honour depend on you\, God\,\nfor you are a solid rock and a safe refuge to me. \nEveryone should put their trust in you\, God\,\nand pour their hearts out to you always\,\nfor you are our safety and security. \nOrdinary battlers are but a puff of smoke;\ntoffs and silvertails are nothing but a mirage.\nIn the overall scheme of things\,\nno one is of any great consequence. \nThose who try stand-over tactics to get ahead\,\nor think they can make their fortune from crime\,\nwill find that their hopes are in vain;\nthe money they make\nwill come at the expense of their peace of mind. \nYou have given your word\, God;\nI have heard you say this more than once:\nthat power is your middle name\nand rock-solid love and loyalty are your nature.\nLord\, you treat everyone as they deserve\nfor what they have done. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 7: 29-31			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Sisters and brothers\,\nthe present circumstances of our lives\nare not the be all and end all\,\nbecause time is almost up. \nFrom now on\, don’t get too bound up in anything\,\nbut live in light of what is to come: \nthose who are married\nas though they are still waiting for love; \nthose who are grieving\nas though comfort is within reach; \nthose who are celebrating\nas though real joy is yet to come; \nthose who are shopping\nas though there is nothing worth owning; \nthose who are involved in business and politics\nas though they are of no consequence. \nWhy?\nBecause the world as we know it\nis on the way out. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 1: 14-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After John the baptiser was arrested\, Jesus headed up to Galilee and began spreading the good news of God. This was the guts of his message: \n“The time has come!\nThe culture of God is close at hand.\nTurn your lives around and accept the good news.” \nOne day\, as he was walking along the beach at Lake Galilee\, Jesus came across Simon and his brother Andrew setting their nets in the water\, because they made their living from fishing. Jesus called to them and said\, “Come with me\, and I’ll have you bringing in people rather than fish.”\nRight then and there\, they gave the fishing away and followed Jesus.\nA bit further up the beach\, he came across James and his brother John\, the sons of Zebedee. They were on board their boat\, repairing their fishing tackle. Straight away Jesus called them\, and they left their old man in the boat with the hired crew\, and set off with Jesus. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you are our rock of safety\,\nour stronghold\, our refuge\, our glory. \nYou created the earth and its inhabitants\,\nand called them to put their trust in you.\nThrough your prophets you revealed your willingness\nto show mercy to those who turn from evil\,\nhumbling themselves and following your ways. \nWhen the time was fulfilled\,\nyour kingdom drew near to us\nin your child\, Jesus of Nazareth.\nHe came among us proclaiming the good news\nand calling everyone to repent and follow you.\nHe was killed by those who trust in wealth and power\,\nbut you raised him to life\nand turned our mourning into joy.\nEven now as this world passes away\,\nyou call us to cast your nets wide\nso that all might be drawn in to the haven\nof your strength and love. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give you thanks that\,\neven as this world passes away\,\nyou cast your nets wide\nso that you might draw everyone into the haven\nof your strength and love\nand show mercy to all who repent and follow you. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you are our rock of safety\,\nour stronghold\, our refuge\, our glory. \nYou created the earth and its inhabitants\,\nand called them to put their trust in you.\nThrough your prophets you revealed your willingness\nto show mercy to those who turn from evil\,\nhumbling themselves and following your ways. \nWhen the time was fulfilled\,\nyour kingdom drew near to us\nin your child\, Jesus of Nazareth.\nHe came among us proclaiming the good news\nand calling everyone to repent and follow you.\nHe was killed by those who trust in wealth and power\,\nbut you raised him to life\nand turned our mourning into joy.\nEven now as this world passes away\,\nyou call us to cast your nets wide\nso that all might be drawn in to the haven\nof your strength and love. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Whenever a people humble themselves\,\nturn from their evil ways\,\nand put their hope and trust in divine mercy\,\nGod sees and forgives their sin\,\nand enfolds them in the strength and love of Christ our Lord. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, follow where Christ calls you\nand proclaim the message God gives you.\nWait in hope for God.\nAvoid become bound up in the business of the world\,\nbut live in readiness for the inbreaking of the Kingdom. \nAnd may God be your haven and your glory;\nMay Christ Jesus give you courage for his mission;\nAnd may the Spirit embrace your soul in God’s silence. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nRepent? Is that a choiceA sermon on Jonah 3: 1 – 5\, 10; Psalm 62: 5 – 12; 1 Corinthians 7: 29 – 31 & Mark 1: 14 – 20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nDoing a JonahA sermon on Jonah 3: 1 – 5\, 10; Psalm 62: 5 – 12; 1 Corinthians 7: 29 – 31 & Mark 1: 14 – 20 by Sr Meryl Webb\n\n\n\nDesire in a Contracting WorldA sermon on 1 Corinthians 7: 29 – 31 by Michael Hardin\n\n\n\nCulture ClashA sermon on Mark 1: 14 – 20 & 1 Corinthians 7: 29 – 31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCould it be a Conspiracy Theory?A sermon on Jonah 3: 1 – 5\, 10; 1 Corinthians 7: 29 – 31 & Mark 1: 14 – 20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJonah Swallows a SharkA sermon on the book of Jonah by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b13/2030-01-27/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/13.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300127T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300127T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043817
CREATED:20200730T011518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003409Z
UID:10002947-1895702400-1895788799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:3rd Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Jonah 3: 1-5\, 10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	For a second time\, the LORD gave orders to Jonah\, saying\, “Get up\, go to the great city of Nineveh\, and sound the call there with the words I give you.”\nSo this time Jonah did as the LORD had told him to\, and got up and went to Nineveh. Now the city of Nineveh was so big that even God was amazed\, and it would have taken Jonah three days to walk through it. He made a start\, walking through the city for a day\, and as he went he sounded a call\, “In just a few days\, Nineveh will be in ruins!”\nAnd the people of Nineveh believed that this call came from the great God\, so they took immediate action. They called a day of repentance\, and everybody\, no matter what their rank in society\, dressed in funeral clothes and went without food to show that they were serious about changing their ways.\nSeeing what they did\, and how they really were turning away from evil and getting their lives back on track\, God had a change of heart\, and cancelled the disaster that had been planned for the people of Nineveh. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 62: 5-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	A hush comes over every fibre of my being;\nfor you alone I wait\, God;\nmy future is in your hands. \nYou alone are the rock I cling to;\nmy protection\, my salvation;\nnothing can rattle me. \nMy freedom and honour depend on you\, God\,\nfor you are a solid rock and a safe refuge to me. \nEveryone should put their trust in you\, God\,\nand pour their hearts out to you always\,\nfor you are our safety and security. \nOrdinary battlers are but a puff of smoke;\ntoffs and silvertails are nothing but a mirage.\nIn the overall scheme of things\,\nno one is of any great consequence. \nThose who try stand-over tactics to get ahead\,\nor think they can make their fortune from crime\,\nwill find that their hopes are in vain;\nthe money they make\nwill come at the expense of their peace of mind. \nYou have given your word\, God;\nI have heard you say this more than once:\nthat power is your middle name\nand rock-solid love and loyalty are your nature.\nLord\, you treat everyone as they deserve\nfor what they have done. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 7: 29-31			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Sisters and brothers\,\nthe present circumstances of our lives\nare not the be all and end all\,\nbecause time is almost up. \nFrom now on\, don’t get too bound up in anything\,\nbut live in light of what is to come: \nthose who are married\nas though they are still waiting for love; \nthose who are grieving\nas though comfort is within reach; \nthose who are celebrating\nas though real joy is yet to come; \nthose who are shopping\nas though there is nothing worth owning; \nthose who are involved in business and politics\nas though they are of no consequence. \nWhy?\nBecause the world as we know it\nis on the way out. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 1: 14-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After John the baptiser was arrested\, Jesus headed up to Galilee and began spreading the good news of God. This was the guts of his message: \n“The time has come!\nThe culture of God is close at hand.\nTurn your lives around and accept the good news.” \nOne day\, as he was walking along the beach at Lake Galilee\, Jesus came across Simon and his brother Andrew setting their nets in the water\, because they made their living from fishing. Jesus called to them and said\, “Come with me\, and I’ll have you bringing in people rather than fish.”\nRight then and there\, they gave the fishing away and followed Jesus.\nA bit further up the beach\, he came across James and his brother John\, the sons of Zebedee. They were on board their boat\, repairing their fishing tackle. Straight away Jesus called them\, and they left their old man in the boat with the hired crew\, and set off with Jesus. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you are our rock of safety\,\nour stronghold\, our refuge\, our glory. \nYou created the earth and its inhabitants\,\nand called them to put their trust in you.\nThrough your prophets you revealed your willingness\nto show mercy to those who turn from evil\,\nhumbling themselves and following your ways. \nWhen the time was fulfilled\,\nyour kingdom drew near to us\nin your child\, Jesus of Nazareth.\nHe came among us proclaiming the good news\nand calling everyone to repent and follow you.\nHe was killed by those who trust in wealth and power\,\nbut you raised him to life\nand turned our mourning into joy.\nEven now as this world passes away\,\nyou call us to cast your nets wide\nso that all might be drawn in to the haven\nof your strength and love. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give you thanks that\,\neven as this world passes away\,\nyou cast your nets wide\nso that you might draw everyone into the haven\nof your strength and love\nand show mercy to all who repent and follow you. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you are our rock of safety\,\nour stronghold\, our refuge\, our glory. \nYou created the earth and its inhabitants\,\nand called them to put their trust in you.\nThrough your prophets you revealed your willingness\nto show mercy to those who turn from evil\,\nhumbling themselves and following your ways. \nWhen the time was fulfilled\,\nyour kingdom drew near to us\nin your child\, Jesus of Nazareth.\nHe came among us proclaiming the good news\nand calling everyone to repent and follow you.\nHe was killed by those who trust in wealth and power\,\nbut you raised him to life\nand turned our mourning into joy.\nEven now as this world passes away\,\nyou call us to cast your nets wide\nso that all might be drawn in to the haven\nof your strength and love. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Whenever a people humble themselves\,\nturn from their evil ways\,\nand put their hope and trust in divine mercy\,\nGod sees and forgives their sin\,\nand enfolds them in the strength and love of Christ our Lord. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, follow where Christ calls you\nand proclaim the message God gives you.\nWait in hope for God.\nAvoid become bound up in the business of the world\,\nbut live in readiness for the inbreaking of the Kingdom. \nAnd may God be your haven and your glory;\nMay Christ Jesus give you courage for his mission;\nAnd may the Spirit embrace your soul in God’s silence. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nRepent? Is that a choiceA sermon on Jonah 3: 1 – 5\, 10; Psalm 62: 5 – 12; 1 Corinthians 7: 29 – 31 & Mark 1: 14 – 20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nDoing a JonahA sermon on Jonah 3: 1 – 5\, 10; Psalm 62: 5 – 12; 1 Corinthians 7: 29 – 31 & Mark 1: 14 – 20 by Sr Meryl Webb\n\n\n\nDesire in a Contracting WorldA sermon on 1 Corinthians 7: 29 – 31 by Michael Hardin\n\n\n\nCulture ClashA sermon on Mark 1: 14 – 20 & 1 Corinthians 7: 29 – 31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCould it be a Conspiracy Theory?A sermon on Jonah 3: 1 – 5\, 10; 1 Corinthians 7: 29 – 31 & Mark 1: 14 – 20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJonah Swallows a SharkA sermon on the book of Jonah by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b13/2030-01-27/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300202T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300202T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200801T111224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260301T050159Z
UID:10002185-1896220800-1896307199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:The Feast of the Presentation of our Lord
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Malachi 3: 1-4			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The LORD who rules over everything has this to say: \n“Look\, I am sending my own messenger to get things ready for my arrival. Then\, all of a sudden\, the Lord you have been looking for will turn up in the temple. You have been longing to see the messenger who will come to put my promises on the table. Well\, he’s coming alright. But will anyone be able to cope with him when he does? Will anyone be able to stand firm in his presence? \nYou see\, he’ll be like a bush fire that clears all the debris from the forest floor\, or like paint stripper that takes a surface back to bare metal. He will tear through the whole family of priests and burn away the rubbish once and for all\, until they shine like pure polished gold. Then they’ll do what they are supposed to do and bring the right kind of offerings to the LORD. That way the offerings of the people of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to God again\, just like they were in the past.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 84 (alternative canticle)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The place where you live is just exquisite\,\nO LORD\, ruler of all!\nWith everything inside me\, I long to be there;\nI go all weak at the very thought of it.\nI want to be there\, body and soul\,\nsinging my heart out for you\, O God of life.  \nEven the birds find a home in your house;\nthere are nests in every nook and cranny\nwhere pigeons and sparrows raise their young.\nBird song and incense rise together\nto honour you\, Sovereign God\, ruler of all.\nHow privileged are those who live in your house;\njoyous songs of praise are forever on their lips.  \nThose who have tapped into your strength\nhave got it made.\nThe highway to heaven begins within them;\na direct route to your holy presence. \nThey are like people who can find water in the desert;\nthey drink from life giving springs\nthat no drought can ever dry up.\nThey go from strength to strength\,\nand will see you face to face on your holy mountain.  \nO LORD\, ruler of everything\, hear my cry.\nTune in to my prayer\, O God of our ancestors. \nYour presence is our protection\, O God;\nsmile upon us\, your chosen ones.  \nA day spent in your presence\nbeats a thousand nights in a five star resort.\nI’d rather scrub floors in your house\, O God\,\nthan rub shoulders with the rich and famous\nbeneath the flashing lights of greed and corruption.  \nO LORD our God\, you are the sun that shines on us\nand the shield that keeps us safe.\nYou shower us with generosity and honour\,\nand deny nothing to people of integrity.  \nO LORD\, ruler of all\,\neveryone who trusts in you has got it made! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 24: 7-10 (alternative canticle)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We hear the call:\n“Wake up! On your feet!\nOpen the gates and form a guard of honour!\nRoll out the red carpet\nbefore the glorious sovereign.” \nWho is this majestic ruler?\nIt is you\, LORD\, supreme and dynamic\,\nthe conqueror of conflict.  \nWe hear it again:\n“Wake up! On your feet!\nOpen the gates and form a guard of honour!\nRoll out the red carpet\nbefore the glorious sovereign.” \nWho is this majestic ruler?\nIt is you\, the LORD who rules over everything.\nThis majestic ruler is you\, our God. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Hebrews 2: 14-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	For Jesus to share so fully in the life experience of the children\, he had to be of the same flesh and blood as them. It was only in the same flesh and blood that he could go through the same death; and it was in going through death that he destroyed the devil who wields death as his ultimate weapon. That is how he broke open an escape route for those whose fear of death robbed them of their freedom to live. Now it is quite clear that he wasn’t doing this for the benefit of the angels. Rather it was for us human beings\, who follow in the footsteps of Abraham\, and so he had to become one of us in every respect. Only by being totally identified with us could he have the necessary compassion and loyalty to be the high priest who offers the costly gift to God to cancel out all we have done wrong. Because he himself has survived the worst that life can dish out without giving up\, he is now ideally placed to help out those whose limits are being being put to the test. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 2: 22-40			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Forty days after the birth of Jesus\, Joseph and Mary went up to the Jerusalem temple to undergo the purification ritual required by the religious law. They took Jesus with them\, and offered the sacrifice which the religious law required of new parents. In their case\, because they could not afford much\, the required sacrifice was “a pair of young pigeons or doves.” While they were at the Temple\, they took the opportunity to make the ritual presentation of the baby to the Lord. This too was in line with God’s law\, for it specified that “every firstborn son will be marked out as being dedicated to the Lord.”\nA man named Simeon came into the temple that day at the prompting of the Spirit. Simeon was a man of deep integrity and prayer; a man clearly under the influence of the Holy Spirit. He was living in eager anticipation of the day when the sorrows of God’s people would be brought to an end\, and the Holy Spirit had let him know that he would see the Lord’s chosen Messiah in person before he died. So when Joseph and Mary brought the child into the temple to do all the customary things that the law required\, Simeon was there. He took Jesus in his arms\, and began to praise God in prayer\, saying: \n“At last you are letting your servant go in peace\, Lord\,\njust as you promised you would.\nFor now\, with my own eyes\,\nI have seen your rescue operation underway.\nI have seen the launch of the life you have been preparing\nin the midst of the world and its peoples.\nI have seen the light which will make you known to the nations\,\nthe light which will have your people basking in glory.” \nThe parents couldn’t believe their ears when they heard what was being said about their child. Simeon gave them both a blessing\, and spoke to the child’s mother\, Mary\, saying\, “This child is destined to be the making or breaking of many people in Israel. He will be a sign of what God is now up to\, and many people will turn against him\, and thus expose what they are really made of. And as for you\, his mother\, it will tear your heart out.”\nThere was also an elderly prophet in the temple that day. Her name was Anna\, and she was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was eighty four years old\, and had lived as a widow ever since her husband had died after only seven years of marriage. She spent all her time in the temple\, worshipping God there\, day and night\, with prayer and great discipline. As Mary and Joseph presented the child in the temple\, Anna came up and began to speak of how wonderful God is. She spoke about the child to all those who were looking forward to the day when everything would be put right again for Jerusalem.\nWhen the family had completed everything that the law of the Lord required of them\, they headed back north to Galilee\, to their home town of Nazareth. The child grew up strong and healthy\, with a wise head on his shoulders\, and showing every indication that God was pleased with him. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor have allowed us to see the salvation\nyou have prepared for all peoples. \nYou are the Lord of heaven’s might\nwho conquered the chaos\nand brought forth the newborn earth.\nYou taught your people through your law and prophets\nto present themselves and their offspring to you\nto be purified and made holy for your service. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you shared our flesh and blood\nand became like us in every way.\nAs a newborn\, he was presented in the temple\nand designated as holy to you.\nHe was recognised by faithful prophets\nas the one who would\,\nthrough his own suffering and death\,\ndestroy the power of death\,\nand rise to be a merciful and faithful high priest\nwho atones for the sins of the people\nand frees us from the fear of death. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your child\, Jesus\,\nwho was presented to you in your temple\nand designated as the holy one\nwho would serve as a merciful and faithful high priest\nand\, through his own suffering and death\,\ndestroy the power of death forever. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor have allowed us to see the salvation\nyou have prepared for all peoples. \nYou are the Lord of heaven’s might\nwho conquered the chaos\nand brought forth the newborn earth.\nYou taught your people through your law and prophets\nto present themselves and their offspring to you\nto be purified and made holy for your service. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you shared our flesh and blood\nand became like us in every way.\nAs a newborn\, he was presented in the temple\nand designated as holy to you.\nHe was recognised by faithful prophets\nas the one who would\,\nthrough his own suffering and death\,\ndestroy the power of death\,\nand rise to be a merciful and faithful high priest\nwho atones for the sins of the people\nand frees us from the fear of death. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus became like us in every way\,\nso that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest\nmaking a sacrifice of atonement\nfor the sins of the people. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, for the Lord is dismissing you in peace.\nPresent yourselves to God\nto be purified and made holy to the Lord.\nRejoice in the presence of God\nwho never fails to bless those who walk with integrity. \nAnd may God be pleased with all you offer;\nMay Christ Jesus help you whenever you are tested;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit purify you with refining fire\nand give you honour and grace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhat Now?A sermon on Luke 2: 22-40 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Gift of BelongingA sermon on Luke 2: 22-40 by Alison Sampson
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc43/2030-02-02/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300203T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300203T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200731T080327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003409Z
UID:10002945-1896307200-1896393599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:4th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Deuteronomy 18: 15-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Moses said to the people\, “The LORD your God will raise up someone from among you to be a prophet for you. This prophet will be from the same mould as me\, and you are to carefully follow what such a prophet says. You yourselves asked the LORD your God to do this for you. Back on the day when we gathered at Mount Sinai\, you all said that you would die if you were ever again directly exposed to the sound of the LORD’s voice or the glare of the LORD’s fiery presence. The LORD told me you were right\, and said this to me: \nI\, the LORD\, will raise up someone from among their own people to be a prophet for them. This prophet will be from the same mould as you\, Moses. I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet\, and the prophet will tell the people everything I say they are to be told. Anyone who does not take any notice of what the prophet says on my behalf\, will have to answer to me. But by the same token\, if any prophet claims to represent some other source of truth\, or makes out that they are speaking on my behalf when I have not told them to say anything\, such a prophet must die.” \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 111			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Wow! More power to you\, LORD!\nWe can’t thank you enough.\nWith all who stand for justice\nour hearts burst with gratitude.  \nThe things you do are fantastic\, LORD\,\nand those who see and understand\nnever tire of exploring them. \nYour works are magnificent\, majestic\,\nand their integrity will never be eroded.  \nYou have a reputation for doing amazing things\,\nand all of them generous and merciful.  \nYou nourish those who honour you\nand you are always true to your word. \nYou have left your people in no doubt\nabout your power;\nyou have given them the whole world on a plate.  \nEverything you put your hands to\nis faithful\, fair and trustworthy\,\nas is everything you say. \nWhat you say goes\, now and forever\,\nand no one can afford to ignore it.  \nYou rescue your people and bring them home safe\,\nfor you have committed yourself to them\nfor all time. \nThe mere mention of your holy name\nmakes us go weak all over!  \nWisdom is born when your awesome presence\nknocks us to our knees\nand those who never lose sight of that\nhave got their heads on straight. \nAwestruck\, we give you honour and respect for ever. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 8: 1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us now look at your question about food that has been sacrificed to idols in the pagan temples. You ask whether it is okay for Christians to eat at meals where such food is served. What you have said is true: \n“superior knowledge dispels superstition.” \nBut it is also true that superior knowledge can swell your head; while love will clear your head and underpin sound moral judgment. Anyone who claims that their superior knowledge enables them to make their own moral decisions without worrying about anyone else is just proving how little they really know. By contrast\, those who love God and seek to express that love in all they do\, are truly in-the-know with God. \nSo\, what does knowledge have to say about whether or not it is okay to eat food that has been offered to idols? Plenty! We enlightened people know that “idols are actually nothing\,” and we know that “there is only one true God.” No matter how many so-called gods and lords there may be in the world — and there are certainly any number of things to which people devote themselves — we know better. We know that the one and only God is the Father\, who brought all things into being and for whom we exist. And we know that the one and only Lord is Jesus the Messiah\, through whom all things were brought into being\, and through whom we exist. \nHowever\, not everyone is up to speed on all this. Some people who\, until recently\, have been involved in the worship of idols\, are not so easily able to make the separation in their heads between the food and the worship of the idols. Their moral warning lights go off more easily\, and so if they go ahead and eat the food\, they feel defiled by it and wracked with guilt. You can depend on this saying: \n“We won’t get into God’s good books for what we eat.” \nNo one loses anything by abstaining from such food\, and no one gains any special benefits from eating it. But — and this is a big but for those of you who feel free to eat it — unless you are very careful\, this precious freedom of yours could turn into a minefield for those who are more morally timid. Because of your superior knowledge\, you feel free to accept invitations to banquets held at pagan temples\, and that’s all very well. But what if some less certain and secure Christians see you go? Perhaps\, because they look up to you\, they might feel that they should disregard their moral warning lights and join you in eating food that has been offered to idols. And once they start distrusting their own warning lights\, they are in trouble because they no longer know which way to turn. Your superior knowledge would then be responsible for crashing the moral integrity of a timid believer for whom Christ laid down his life. You’ve wounded them\, causing their fragile conscience to short-circuit. And if you dish out a kick in the guts to one who\, under God\, is a member of your own family\, then you are kicking Christ in the guts. So\, for myself\, if such food could risk derailing someone\, then I’d happily give up eating meat altogether in order to make sure that no one ever goes crashing off the rails because of something I did. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 1: 21-28			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus and his new followers travelled to the city of Capernaum. On the Sabbath day\, he taught in the synagogue there and the locals were stunned by his teaching. It was like nothing they had ever heard before. His words carried great weight and it was clear that he stood behind everything he said\, which was quite a contrast to the religious teachers they were used to! \nWhile he was in their synagogue\, a man who was defiled by a corrupt spirit came in and began screaming\, “What business have you got with us\, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to wipe us out? I’ve got you figured out: you are God’s Special Agent.” \nBut Jesus cut him down to size\, saying\, “Shut up\, and get out of him\, now!” \nAnd the corrupt spirit screamed loudly\, threw the man into a fit\, and then cleared off. Everyone was gob-smacked\, and couldn’t stop talking about it. “What’s going on?” they kept asking one another. “Is this some kind of new teaching? It’s certainly got some weight behind it. He even pulls rank on the corrupt spirits and sends them packing.” \nHis reputation began to spread like wildfire all over the Galilean countryside. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your justice stands in splendour and majesty\,\nand you nourish the faithful\nwith mercy and kindness. \nYou are the one God who created all things\nand for whom we exist.\nFrom the beginning you have revealed your mighty deeds\nand upheld a covenant with your chosen ones. \nYou raised up among your people\na prophet greater even than Moses\,\nyour Son and our teacher\, Jesus of Nazareth.\nWith words and deeds of authority he has taught us\,\nnot the knowledge that puffs up\,\nbut the love that builds up.\nYou put your holy words in his mouth\,\nand at his word even the demons fall silent.\nWhen he was killed\, you raised him to life\,\nand now it is through him that we exist\,\nand in him\, that the crippling grip of death is broken forever. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your Son and our teacher\, Jesus of Nazareth\,\nwho you raised up and gave words of authority\,\nto teach us the love that builds up\,\nto silence the demons\nand to break the crippling grip of death forever. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your justice stands in splendour and majesty\,\nand you nourish the faithful\nwith mercy and kindness. \nYou are the one God who created all things\nand for whom we exist.\nFrom the beginning you have revealed your mighty deeds\nand upheld a covenant with your chosen ones. \nYou raised up among your people\na prophet greater even than Moses\,\nyour Son and our teacher\, Jesus of Nazareth.\nWith words and deeds of authority he has taught us\,\nnot the knowledge that puffs up\,\nbut the love that builds up.\nYou put your holy words in his mouth\,\nand at his word even the demons fall silent.\nWhen he was killed\, you raised him to life\,\nand now it is through him that we exist\,\nand in him\, that the crippling grip of death is broken forever. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God\, who is merciful and kind\,\nhas come to us in Jesus Christ\,\nto establish a lasting covenant with us\,\nforgiving our sins\nand releasing us from the grip of evil. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and heed God’s message.\nNever forget God’s wonderful mercy and kindness.\nWelcome the freedom that is won in truth\,\nbut never use your freedom to undermine others.\nSee that your words and actions are worthy of praise. \nAnd may God uphold you in a lasting covenant.\nMay Christ Jesus free you from all that would harm you.\nAnd may the Holy Spirit nourish you in wisdom and faithfulness. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nTruth can destroy and truth can liberateA sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 & 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nRaising ProphetsA sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 & Deuteronomy 18: 15-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Calling of NamesA sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 & 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWith AuthorityA sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 & Deuteronomy 18: 15-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nConfronting Religious DemonsA sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Back-To-School Exorcism!A sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 & 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBiblical Ethics in the Age of COVIDA sermon on 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b14/2030-02-03/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/14.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300203T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300203T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200731T080327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240225T121735Z
UID:10002102-1896307200-1896393599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:4th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Deuteronomy 18: 15-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Moses said to the people\, “The LORD your God will raise up someone from among you to be a prophet for you. This prophet will be from the same mould as me\, and you are to carefully follow what such a prophet says. You yourselves asked the LORD your God to do this for you. Back on the day when we gathered at Mount Sinai\, you all said that you would die if you were ever again directly exposed to the sound of the LORD’s voice or the glare of the LORD’s fiery presence. The LORD told me you were right\, and said this to me: \nI\, the LORD\, will raise up someone from among their own people to be a prophet for them. This prophet will be from the same mould as you\, Moses. I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet\, and the prophet will tell the people everything I say they are to be told. Anyone who does not take any notice of what the prophet says on my behalf\, will have to answer to me. But by the same token\, if any prophet claims to represent some other source of truth\, or makes out that they are speaking on my behalf when I have not told them to say anything\, such a prophet must die.” \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 111			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Wow! More power to you\, LORD!\nWe can’t thank you enough.\nWith all who stand for justice\nour hearts burst with gratitude.  \nThe things you do are fantastic\, LORD\,\nand those who see and understand\nnever tire of exploring them. \nYour works are magnificent\, majestic\,\nand their integrity will never be eroded.  \nYou have a reputation for doing amazing things\,\nand all of them generous and merciful.  \nYou nourish those who honour you\nand you are always true to your word. \nYou have left your people in no doubt\nabout your power;\nyou have given them the whole world on a plate.  \nEverything you put your hands to\nis faithful\, fair and trustworthy\,\nas is everything you say. \nWhat you say goes\, now and forever\,\nand no one can afford to ignore it.  \nYou rescue your people and bring them home safe\,\nfor you have committed yourself to them\nfor all time. \nThe mere mention of your holy name\nmakes us go weak all over!  \nWisdom is born when your awesome presence\nknocks us to our knees\nand those who never lose sight of that\nhave got their heads on straight. \nAwestruck\, we give you honour and respect for ever. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 8: 1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us now look at your question about food that has been sacrificed to idols in the pagan temples. You ask whether it is okay for Christians to eat at meals where such food is served. What you have said is true: \n“superior knowledge dispels superstition.” \nBut it is also true that superior knowledge can swell your head; while love will clear your head and underpin sound moral judgment. Anyone who claims that their superior knowledge enables them to make their own moral decisions without worrying about anyone else is just proving how little they really know. By contrast\, those who love God and seek to express that love in all they do\, are truly in-the-know with God. \nSo\, what does knowledge have to say about whether or not it is okay to eat food that has been offered to idols? Plenty! We enlightened people know that “idols are actually nothing\,” and we know that “there is only one true God.” No matter how many so-called gods and lords there may be in the world — and there are certainly any number of things to which people devote themselves — we know better. We know that the one and only God is the Father\, who brought all things into being and for whom we exist. And we know that the one and only Lord is Jesus the Messiah\, through whom all things were brought into being\, and through whom we exist. \nHowever\, not everyone is up to speed on all this. Some people who\, until recently\, have been involved in the worship of idols\, are not so easily able to make the separation in their heads between the food and the worship of the idols. Their moral warning lights go off more easily\, and so if they go ahead and eat the food\, they feel defiled by it and wracked with guilt. You can depend on this saying: \n“We won’t get into God’s good books for what we eat.” \nNo one loses anything by abstaining from such food\, and no one gains any special benefits from eating it. But — and this is a big but for those of you who feel free to eat it — unless you are very careful\, this precious freedom of yours could turn into a minefield for those who are more morally timid. Because of your superior knowledge\, you feel free to accept invitations to banquets held at pagan temples\, and that’s all very well. But what if some less certain and secure Christians see you go? Perhaps\, because they look up to you\, they might feel that they should disregard their moral warning lights and join you in eating food that has been offered to idols. And once they start distrusting their own warning lights\, they are in trouble because they no longer know which way to turn. Your superior knowledge would then be responsible for crashing the moral integrity of a timid believer for whom Christ laid down his life. You’ve wounded them\, causing their fragile conscience to short-circuit. And if you dish out a kick in the guts to one who\, under God\, is a member of your own family\, then you are kicking Christ in the guts. So\, for myself\, if such food could risk derailing someone\, then I’d happily give up eating meat altogether in order to make sure that no one ever goes crashing off the rails because of something I did. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 1: 21-28			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus and his new followers travelled to the city of Capernaum. On the Sabbath day\, he taught in the synagogue there and the locals were stunned by his teaching. It was like nothing they had ever heard before. His words carried great weight and it was clear that he stood behind everything he said\, which was quite a contrast to the religious teachers they were used to! \nWhile he was in their synagogue\, a man who was defiled by a corrupt spirit came in and began screaming\, “What business have you got with us\, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to wipe us out? I’ve got you figured out: you are God’s Special Agent.” \nBut Jesus cut him down to size\, saying\, “Shut up\, and get out of him\, now!” \nAnd the corrupt spirit screamed loudly\, threw the man into a fit\, and then cleared off. Everyone was gob-smacked\, and couldn’t stop talking about it. “What’s going on?” they kept asking one another. “Is this some kind of new teaching? It’s certainly got some weight behind it. He even pulls rank on the corrupt spirits and sends them packing.” \nHis reputation began to spread like wildfire all over the Galilean countryside. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your justice stands in splendour and majesty\,\nand you nourish the faithful\nwith mercy and kindness. \nYou are the one God who created all things\nand for whom we exist.\nFrom the beginning you have revealed your mighty deeds\nand upheld a covenant with your chosen ones. \nYou raised up among your people\na prophet greater even than Moses\,\nyour Son and our teacher\, Jesus of Nazareth.\nWith words and deeds of authority he has taught us\,\nnot the knowledge that puffs up\,\nbut the love that builds up.\nYou put your holy words in his mouth\,\nand at his word even the demons fall silent.\nWhen he was killed\, you raised him to life\,\nand now it is through him that we exist\,\nand in him\, that the crippling grip of death is broken forever. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your Son and our teacher\, Jesus of Nazareth\,\nwho you raised up and gave words of authority\,\nto teach us the love that builds up\,\nto silence the demons\nand to break the crippling grip of death forever. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your justice stands in splendour and majesty\,\nand you nourish the faithful\nwith mercy and kindness. \nYou are the one God who created all things\nand for whom we exist.\nFrom the beginning you have revealed your mighty deeds\nand upheld a covenant with your chosen ones. \nYou raised up among your people\na prophet greater even than Moses\,\nyour Son and our teacher\, Jesus of Nazareth.\nWith words and deeds of authority he has taught us\,\nnot the knowledge that puffs up\,\nbut the love that builds up.\nYou put your holy words in his mouth\,\nand at his word even the demons fall silent.\nWhen he was killed\, you raised him to life\,\nand now it is through him that we exist\,\nand in him\, that the crippling grip of death is broken forever. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God\, who is merciful and kind\,\nhas come to us in Jesus Christ\,\nto establish a lasting covenant with us\,\nforgiving our sins\nand releasing us from the grip of evil. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and heed God’s message.\nNever forget God’s wonderful mercy and kindness.\nWelcome the freedom that is won in truth\,\nbut never use your freedom to undermine others.\nSee that your words and actions are worthy of praise. \nAnd may God uphold you in a lasting covenant.\nMay Christ Jesus free you from all that would harm you.\nAnd may the Holy Spirit nourish you in wisdom and faithfulness. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nTruth can destroy and truth can liberateA sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 & 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nRaising ProphetsA sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 & Deuteronomy 18: 15-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Calling of NamesA sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 & 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWith AuthorityA sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 & Deuteronomy 18: 15-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nConfronting Religious DemonsA sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Back-To-School Exorcism!A sermon on Mark 1: 21-28 & 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBiblical Ethics in the Age of COVIDA sermon on 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b14/2030-02-03/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/14.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300210T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300210T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200802T133646Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003409Z
UID:10002943-1896912000-1896998399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:5th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION:This occasion only occurs in 2027 for churches that do not observe the last Sunday before Lent as Transfiguration Sunday. \n\n\n\nBelow 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Isaiah 40: 21-31			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Don’t you understand?\nHave you somehow missed hearing about this?\nWasn’t this explained to you from day one?\nIsn’t it obvious to you who was responsible\nfor the creation of the earth? \nIt is God who is in charge:\nGod who sees the planet like a ball;\nits population like tiny insects.\nIt is God who spread out the sky like a tarp\,\nwho set up the galaxy like a tent to live in. \nIt is God who makes governments look powerless;\nwho reduces kings and presidents to nothing.\nThey rise up on the earth as confident as mighty trees\,\nbut to God they are like newly sprouted weeds.\nNo sooner have they popped their heads up\nthan God turns on them with a puff of breath\nand they wither and blow away like dry leaves. \nThe Holy One puts the challenge to you\, saying\,\n“Who are you going to replace me with?\nWho can you find who can hold a candle to me?” \nLook up and see the night sky.\nWho do you think created all that?\nIt is God who spreads out the milky way\,\nnumbering the stars and calling them each by name.\nSo great are God’s strength and power\nthat not one star goes missing. \nSo what are you talking about\, people of God\,\nwhen you raise your voices and say\,\n“The LORD’s got no idea what is happening to us;\nGod is paying no attention to our basic rights.” \nDon’t you understand?\nHave you somehow missed hearing about this?\nThe LORD is the God who outlasts everyone and everything\,\nthe Creator of the whole earth\, from one end to the other.\nThe LORD never runs out of puff\,\nand never feels like giving up.\nThe LORD knows the fine detail\nof things we can only guess at. \nWhen your energies are drained\,\nand you are too weak to stand\,\nthe LORD gives new strength and energy. \nEven the youngest and fittest have their limits;\nthey too eventually drop in their tracks. \nBut nothing can stop those who hang in there for the LORD.\nTheir strength will be constantly renewed;\nthey will soar with the effortless grace of an eagle.\nThey will run and never grow weary;\nthey will walk ever onward\nand never grow faint. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 147: 1-11\, 20c			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, we sing your praises! \nWe love to sing your praises\,\nfor you are incredibly generous\nand you deserve all the credit we can give. \nYou\, LORD\, are the one who rebuilds the ruined city\nand brings home those who have been kicked out. \nYou bandage the wounds of the brokenhearted\,\nand nurse them back to health. \nIt was you who counted out the stars\,\nand called them all by name. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD\,\nyour strength is off the scale\,\nand your grasp of what’s going on is mind boggling. \nYou put those who have been ground into the dirt back on their feet\,\nand you knock those who are callous and corrupt off their perches. \nOur songs are full of thanks to you\, LORD\,\nas we strike up the band in your honour. \nIt is you who spread the clouds across the sky\,\nready to rain on the earth\,\nready to bring the grass springing up green. \nIt is you who feeds the animals;\nyou who responds to the hungry cry of a currawong chick. \nYou are not impressed by massive horsepower;\nyou don’t get your kicks watching tests of speed. \nYou would much rather that people were awestruck by your love\, LORD\,\nand that they built their future on the solid rock of your faithfulness.\nLORD\, we sing your praises! \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 9: 16-23			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Preaching God’s message is not some great accomplishment for which I can expect to be applauded and rewarded. I am just doing what I was created to do\, so I’d be up the creek without a paddle if I failed to preach God’s message! If it was just a job I had applied for\, then I could expect to be paid an award wage. But since I am not doing this because I want to\, but because it is what I was made for\, I am simply being true to the call that God has wired into my brain. So is there anything in it for me? Sure! The privilege of being the mouth-piece that brings people into contact with the good news of God’s love is worth more than wages to me. And even better if it doesn’t cost them a cent\, so I refrain from calling in the favours I could\, by right\, claim for my role in bringing that message to you. \nCertainly I am free. No one has the right to tell me what I can and can’t do. But despite that\, I have voluntarily made myself a slave to everyone else’s customs in order to win over more people. Among Jewish people\, I stuck religiously to the Jewish customs in order to avoid offending them\, and to maximise the odds of winning them over. Among those who carefully observe the religious law\, I too lived as one governed by the law. I did this even though I am free from the law\, in order to maximise the odds of winning over those who are bound by the law. Among those who have never lived under the religious law\, I didn’t make a display of law-keeping\, but lived according to the local customs. I did this in order to maximise the odds of winning them over\, even though I am by no means lawless\, because Christ calls the shots in my life. Among those who are timid and uncertain\, I played it safe\, just as they do\, in order to win over as many timid and uncertain people as possible. I have become anything and everything to others — whatever it takes to find common ground with people and win their trust — so that by whatever means I can employ I might help people take hold of the lifeline God is throwing them. I do everything I can to promote the message of God’s love\, and I look for nothing more in return than to share in the benefits that it brings. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 1: 29-39			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus finished teaching in the Capernaum Synagogue and left with his followers. Taking James and John with him\, he went to the family home of Simon and Andrew. On arrival he was told that Simon’s mother-in-law was crook in bed\, burning up with fever. He went to her bedside\, took her by the hand and lifted her to her feet. The fever cleared\, then and there\, and she set about making them welcome in her home. \nBy sunset that day\, the word was out and a crowd was gathering at the door. It seemed that the whole city was there\, bringing everyone who was sick or tormented by demons. Jesus cured many people from various kinds of disease\, and freed many from the grip of demons. He would not allow the demons to say a word\, because they had him figured out. \nBefore sunrise the next morning\, Jesus got up and left the house on the quiet. He went bush in a remote area and spent the time alone in prayer. When he was missed\, Simon and his mates began the search. They tracked him down\, and said to him\, “Come on\, you’ve got everyone looking for you.” \nJesus answered\, “Let’s hit the road\, so that I can broadcast the message in the other towns in this neck of the woods. That’s what I came to do.” \nAnd so he hiked the length and breadth of Galilee. In every town he preached the message in the places where the people gathered\, and drove out the demonic powers. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you strengthen the powerless\nand renew those who wait for you in trust. \nYou are the Creator of the earth\nwho stretched out the sky like a curtain\nand sent down rain\, clothing the mountains in green.\nYou gathered your people from exile\,\nhealing the broken hearted and binding their wounds. \nYou came among us\, as one of us\,\nin your child Jesus the Christ\,\nsharing our weakness in order to save us.\nHealing the sick and casting out demonic powers\,\nhe proclaimed your mercy and peace.\nTurning his back on the acclaim of the crowds\,\nhe faithfully followed your call\nall the way to death on a cross.\nYou raised him up\nand promised that all who trust in him\nwill rise up with wings like eagles\nand run the race without ever growing weary. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give you thanks for gathering us from exile\,\nhealing our broken hearts and binding our wounds\,\nand raising us up on wings like eagles\nthat we might go where you send us\nand be what you need us to be\nwithout ever growing weary or faint. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you strengthen the powerless\nand renew those who wait for you in trust. \nYou are the Creator of the earth\nwho stretched out the sky like a curtain\nand sent down rain\, clothing the mountains in green.\nYou gathered your people from exile\,\nhealing the broken hearted and binding their wounds. \nYou came among us\, as one of us\,\nin your child Jesus the Christ\,\nsharing our weakness in order to save us.\nHealing the sick and casting out demonic powers\,\nhe proclaimed your mercy and peace.\nTurning his back on the acclaim of the crowds\,\nhe faithfully followed your call\nall the way to death on a cross.\nYou raised him up\nand promised that all who trust in him\nwill rise up with wings like eagles\nand run the race without ever growing weary. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God hears the cries of the brokenhearted\nand renews the strength of those who trust in his mercy.\nIn Jesus Christ\, God has taken us by the hand\,\nforgiving our sins and lifting us up to new life. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and trust in God’s mercy for your strength.\nProclaim the good news wherever God calls you\,\nand do not set yourselves apart from others\,\nbut be all things to all people for the sake of the gospel. \nAnd may God give you the strength and freedom of an eagle.\nMay Christ be the bread that nourishes and renews you.\nAnd may the Holy Spirit be the rising wind beneath your wings. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nJesus the ExorcistA sermon on Mark 1:29-39 by Garry Worete Deverell\n\n\n\nWhen is a Call not a Call?A sermon on Mark 1:29-39\, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 & Isaiah 40:21-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Word from the FireA sermon on Isaiah 40:21-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat is Freedom?A sermon on Mark 1:29-39 & 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe healing that leads to ministryA sermon on Mark 1: 29-39 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nThe Strength to Walk Away from SuccessA sermon on Mark 1:29-39\, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 & Isaiah 40:21-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLooking for good news during a pandemicA sermon on Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 & Mark 1:29-39 by Francesca Nuzzolese
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b15/2030-02-10/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/15.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300210T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300210T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200802T133646Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T020752Z
UID:10002103-1896912000-1896998399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:5th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION:This occasion only occurs in 2027 for churches that do not observe the last Sunday before Lent as Transfiguration Sunday. \n\n\n\nBelow 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Isaiah 40: 21-31			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Don’t you understand?\nHave you somehow missed hearing about this?\nWasn’t this explained to you from day one?\nIsn’t it obvious to you who was responsible\nfor the creation of the earth? \nIt is God who is in charge:\nGod who sees the planet like a ball;\nits population like tiny insects.\nIt is God who spread out the sky like a tarp\,\nwho set up the galaxy like a tent to live in. \nIt is God who makes governments look powerless;\nwho reduces kings and presidents to nothing.\nThey rise up on the earth as confident as mighty trees\,\nbut to God they are like newly sprouted weeds.\nNo sooner have they popped their heads up\nthan God turns on them with a puff of breath\nand they wither and blow away like dry leaves. \nThe Holy One puts the challenge to you\, saying\,\n“Who are you going to replace me with?\nWho can you find who can hold a candle to me?” \nLook up and see the night sky.\nWho do you think created all that?\nIt is God who spreads out the milky way\,\nnumbering the stars and calling them each by name.\nSo great are God’s strength and power\nthat not one star goes missing. \nSo what are you talking about\, people of God\,\nwhen you raise your voices and say\,\n“The LORD’s got no idea what is happening to us;\nGod is paying no attention to our basic rights.” \nDon’t you understand?\nHave you somehow missed hearing about this?\nThe LORD is the God who outlasts everyone and everything\,\nthe Creator of the whole earth\, from one end to the other.\nThe LORD never runs out of puff\,\nand never feels like giving up.\nThe LORD knows the fine detail\nof things we can only guess at. \nWhen your energies are drained\,\nand you are too weak to stand\,\nthe LORD gives new strength and energy. \nEven the youngest and fittest have their limits;\nthey too eventually drop in their tracks. \nBut nothing can stop those who hang in there for the LORD.\nTheir strength will be constantly renewed;\nthey will soar with the effortless grace of an eagle.\nThey will run and never grow weary;\nthey will walk ever onward\nand never grow faint. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 147: 1-11\, 20c			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, we sing your praises! \nWe love to sing your praises\,\nfor you are incredibly generous\nand you deserve all the credit we can give. \nYou\, LORD\, are the one who rebuilds the ruined city\nand brings home those who have been kicked out. \nYou bandage the wounds of the brokenhearted\,\nand nurse them back to health. \nIt was you who counted out the stars\,\nand called them all by name. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD\,\nyour strength is off the scale\,\nand your grasp of what’s going on is mind boggling. \nYou put those who have been ground into the dirt back on their feet\,\nand you knock those who are callous and corrupt off their perches. \nOur songs are full of thanks to you\, LORD\,\nas we strike up the band in your honour. \nIt is you who spread the clouds across the sky\,\nready to rain on the earth\,\nready to bring the grass springing up green. \nIt is you who feeds the animals;\nyou who responds to the hungry cry of a currawong chick. \nYou are not impressed by massive horsepower;\nyou don’t get your kicks watching tests of speed. \nYou would much rather that people were awestruck by your love\, LORD\,\nand that they built their future on the solid rock of your faithfulness.\nLORD\, we sing your praises! \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 9: 16-23			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Preaching God’s message is not some great accomplishment for which I can expect to be applauded and rewarded. I am just doing what I was created to do\, so I’d be up the creek without a paddle if I failed to preach God’s message! If it was just a job I had applied for\, then I could expect to be paid an award wage. But since I am not doing this because I want to\, but because it is what I was made for\, I am simply being true to the call that God has wired into my brain. So is there anything in it for me? Sure! The privilege of being the mouth-piece that brings people into contact with the good news of God’s love is worth more than wages to me. And even better if it doesn’t cost them a cent\, so I refrain from calling in the favours I could\, by right\, claim for my role in bringing that message to you. \nCertainly I am free. No one has the right to tell me what I can and can’t do. But despite that\, I have voluntarily made myself a slave to everyone else’s customs in order to win over more people. Among Jewish people\, I stuck religiously to the Jewish customs in order to avoid offending them\, and to maximise the odds of winning them over. Among those who carefully observe the religious law\, I too lived as one governed by the law. I did this even though I am free from the law\, in order to maximise the odds of winning over those who are bound by the law. Among those who have never lived under the religious law\, I didn’t make a display of law-keeping\, but lived according to the local customs. I did this in order to maximise the odds of winning them over\, even though I am by no means lawless\, because Christ calls the shots in my life. Among those who are timid and uncertain\, I played it safe\, just as they do\, in order to win over as many timid and uncertain people as possible. I have become anything and everything to others — whatever it takes to find common ground with people and win their trust — so that by whatever means I can employ I might help people take hold of the lifeline God is throwing them. I do everything I can to promote the message of God’s love\, and I look for nothing more in return than to share in the benefits that it brings. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 1: 29-39			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus finished teaching in the Capernaum Synagogue and left with his followers. Taking James and John with him\, he went to the family home of Simon and Andrew. On arrival he was told that Simon’s mother-in-law was crook in bed\, burning up with fever. He went to her bedside\, took her by the hand and lifted her to her feet. The fever cleared\, then and there\, and she set about making them welcome in her home. \nBy sunset that day\, the word was out and a crowd was gathering at the door. It seemed that the whole city was there\, bringing everyone who was sick or tormented by demons. Jesus cured many people from various kinds of disease\, and freed many from the grip of demons. He would not allow the demons to say a word\, because they had him figured out. \nBefore sunrise the next morning\, Jesus got up and left the house on the quiet. He went bush in a remote area and spent the time alone in prayer. When he was missed\, Simon and his mates began the search. They tracked him down\, and said to him\, “Come on\, you’ve got everyone looking for you.” \nJesus answered\, “Let’s hit the road\, so that I can broadcast the message in the other towns in this neck of the woods. That’s what I came to do.” \nAnd so he hiked the length and breadth of Galilee. In every town he preached the message in the places where the people gathered\, and drove out the demonic powers. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you strengthen the powerless\nand renew those who wait for you in trust. \nYou are the Creator of the earth\nwho stretched out the sky like a curtain\nand sent down rain\, clothing the mountains in green.\nYou gathered your people from exile\,\nhealing the broken hearted and binding their wounds. \nYou came among us\, as one of us\,\nin your child Jesus the Christ\,\nsharing our weakness in order to save us.\nHealing the sick and casting out demonic powers\,\nhe proclaimed your mercy and peace.\nTurning his back on the acclaim of the crowds\,\nhe faithfully followed your call\nall the way to death on a cross.\nYou raised him up\nand promised that all who trust in him\nwill rise up with wings like eagles\nand run the race without ever growing weary. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give you thanks for gathering us from exile\,\nhealing our broken hearts and binding our wounds\,\nand raising us up on wings like eagles\nthat we might go where you send us\nand be what you need us to be\nwithout ever growing weary or faint. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you strengthen the powerless\nand renew those who wait for you in trust. \nYou are the Creator of the earth\nwho stretched out the sky like a curtain\nand sent down rain\, clothing the mountains in green.\nYou gathered your people from exile\,\nhealing the broken hearted and binding their wounds. \nYou came among us\, as one of us\,\nin your child Jesus the Christ\,\nsharing our weakness in order to save us.\nHealing the sick and casting out demonic powers\,\nhe proclaimed your mercy and peace.\nTurning his back on the acclaim of the crowds\,\nhe faithfully followed your call\nall the way to death on a cross.\nYou raised him up\nand promised that all who trust in him\nwill rise up with wings like eagles\nand run the race without ever growing weary. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God hears the cries of the brokenhearted\nand renews the strength of those who trust in his mercy.\nIn Jesus Christ\, God has taken us by the hand\,\nforgiving our sins and lifting us up to new life. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and trust in God’s mercy for your strength.\nProclaim the good news wherever God calls you\,\nand do not set yourselves apart from others\,\nbut be all things to all people for the sake of the gospel. \nAnd may God give you the strength and freedom of an eagle.\nMay Christ be the bread that nourishes and renews you.\nAnd may the Holy Spirit be the rising wind beneath your wings. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nJesus the ExorcistA sermon on Mark 1:29-39 by Garry Worete Deverell\n\n\n\nWhen is a Call not a Call?A sermon on Mark 1:29-39\, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 & Isaiah 40:21-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Word from the FireA sermon on Isaiah 40:21-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat is Freedom?A sermon on Mark 1:29-39 & 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe healing that leads to ministryA sermon on Mark 1: 29-39 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nThe Strength to Walk Away from SuccessA sermon on Mark 1:29-39\, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 & Isaiah 40:21-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLooking for good news during a pandemicA sermon on Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 & Mark 1:29-39 by Francesca Nuzzolese
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b15/2030-02-10/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/15.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300217T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300217T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200803T041845Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T021038Z
UID:10001497-1897516800-1897603199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:6th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Kings 5: 1-14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The commander of the Syrian army was a man named Naaman. Naaman was very popular with his king\, because under his command\, the LORD had given Syria a string of military victories. Although he was a great soldier and a highly decorated commander\, Naaman suffered from leprosy. Naaman’s wife had a young Israelite girl among her servants who had come to Syria as a prisoner of war after a military raid. One day the girl said to her mistress\, “If only your husband could meet the prophet who lives in Samaria. I’m sure he would cure him of his leprosy.” \nNaaman spoke to the king about what the girl had said\, and the king gladly gave him leave to go. He also provided him with a letter of referral\, addressed to the king of Israel. \nNaaman headed off\, loaded up with money and expensive gifts of jewellery and fine clothing. Arriving in Israel\, he delivered the letter to the king. It read\, “The bearer of this letter is my trusted servant\, Naaman. I have sent him to you to have his leprosy cured.” \nWhen the king of Israel read the letter\, he was beside himself with fear; tearing his hair out over what to do. “What does the king of Syria think he’s doing?” he shouted. “Does he think I’m God or something\, that I can cure lepers at his request? It looks like he’s trying to pick a fight with me.” \nNews of this got to Elisha\, the prophet of God in Samaria. He sent a message to the king saying\, “Why are you tearing your hair out? Get a grip on yourself and send the man to me so that he can find out for himself that there is a real prophet in Israel.” \nSo Naaman and his whole entourage pulled up in the street outside Elisha’s house. Elisha sent an errand boy out to Naaman with a message\, saying\, “Go down to the Jordan River and wash yourself in it seven times. That will cure you and your skin will be as clean and clear as a child’s.” \nNaaman felt deeply insulted and drove off in a huff\, saying\, “You’d think that for a man of my standing he could have come out and talked to me himself. I thought that he would at least stand and call on the LORD his God\, and wave his hand over my skin to bring about the cure! What’s so special about their scummy Israelite river? Aren’t the two great rivers of Damascus much bigger and better? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” \nSo he stormed off\, seething with rage. But his servants spoke up and said\, “Sir\, if the prophet had told you to do something really difficult\, you would have done it\, wouldn’t you? So surely you have got nothing to lose but your disease if you do what he said and wash yourself in the river.” \nSo Naaman relented and\, wading out into the Jordan River\, he immersed himself seven times in the water\, just as the prophet of God had instructed him. Sure enough\, he was cured instantly\, and his skin became as clear and healthy as a child’s. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 30			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I’ll be singing your praises\, every chance I get\, LORD\,\nbecause you got me out of deep trouble\nand spared me the gloating of my enemies. \nI pleaded for help\, LORD God\,\nand you stepped in and healed me. \nThey were nearly ready to pronounce me dead\nbut your brought me back\, LORD;\nyou put me back on my feet\nwhen I was about to be carried to the morgue. \nSo I’m singing your praises\,\nand I’m encouraging everyone to do the same;\nto name you with joyful thanks. \nWe manage to get you angry at times\,\nbut it blows over in a moment\nbecause your mercy keeps on keeping on.\nWe may have an evening of bitter tears\,\nbut by morning your mercy has us smiling again. \nI was guilty of taking your goodness for granted;\nI thought I had it made.\nYou had put me on top of the world\nbut I got all too full of myself.\nYou stepped aside – made me stand alone —\nand I turned to jelly! \nI realised how much I needed you\, LORD\,\nand in my panic I begged you for mercy. \n“What good is my blood to you?” I cried.\n“How will it help if I’m in the grave?\nCan a corpse sing your praises?\nWill a gravestone publicise your goodness?\nGive me another chance\, LORD.\nPlease\, LORD\, bail me out one more time.” \nAnd sure enough\, you did\, LORD.\nYou turned my tears to laughter;\nyou set my dragging feet dancing;\nyou dusted me off and dressed me up for a party.\nSo now I’m singing your praises\nfrom the bottom of my heart\,\nand no one can shut me up! \nYou are my God\, LORD\,\nand I’m eternally grateful. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 9: 24-27			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You do understand\, don’t you\, that no matter how many runners there are in a race\, there will only be one winner at the end. So if you are aiming to become the best\, you are going to have to train long and hard. Elite athletes discipline themselves strictly in every area of their lives\, and they do so in pursuit of nothing more than a medal hung around their necks or a record that could fall the next week. The prize we are working towards will be in place forever\, so such single-minded discipline is even more essential for us. I can’t afford to be like a runner who doesn’t know where the finish line is\, or a footballer who doesn’t know where the goals are. Instead I subject my body to a punishing regime of training and work it like a slave\, so that I don’t end up\, after coaching everyone else in the right way\, being disqualified myself. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 1: 40-45			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus was approached by a man who was suffering from a hideous skin disease that made him a social outcast. The man got down on his knees and pleaded for help\, saying\, “You could make me clean if you wanted to.” \nJesus was deeply moved by the man’s sorry state. He reached out his hand and touched the man\, saying\, “I do want to. Be made clean!” \nAt that moment\, the symptoms vanished and he was made healthy and clean. Then Jesus gave him his marching orders and a tough talking-to\, saying\, “Keep your mouth shut about this. Go straight to the priest and have yourself examined so that you can be certified fit to return to normal social contact. As a sign that you are well\, give the offering that Moses said was to be given in thanks for your cleansing.” \nBut despite his instructions\, the man went straight out and began to tell everyone what Jesus had done for him. The word spread like wildfire\, and before long Jesus couldn’t even show his face in the towns without being mobbed. He had to stick to the outback tracks\, and people from everywhere came out to find him. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your anger passes quickly\,\nbut your mercy lasts a lifetime. \nFrom the depths of chaos you raised up the newborn earth\,\nand sent your prophets among your people.\nYour servant Elisha spoke your word to Naaman\,\nand he emerged from the healing waters singing your glory. \nTo us you have sent your Son\, Jesus the Christ\,\nand in compassion he has reached out and touched us\,\ncleansing us from all that defiled us.\nThough he was killed by gloating enemies\,\nyou changed our anguish into a joyful dance\,\nraising him up\nand crowning him with a glory that will never fade.\nNow he washes us in your everlasting mercy\nand pulls us from the depths\, cleansed and healed\,\nthat we might run the race\nand receive the victor’s wreath;\nour lives forever singing your praise. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for the compassion of your Son\, Jesus\,\nwho reaches out to us\nand pulls us from the depths\, cleansed and healed\,\nthat we might run the race\nand receive the victor’s wreath;\nour lives forever singing your praise. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your anger passes quickly\,\nbut your mercy lasts a lifetime. \nFrom the depths of chaos you raised up the newborn earth\,\nand sent your prophets among your people.\nYour servant Elisha spoke your word to Naaman\,\nand he emerged from the healing waters singing your glory. \nTo us you have sent your Son\, Jesus the Christ\,\nand in compassion he has reached out and touched us\,\ncleansing us from all that defiled us.\nThough he was killed by gloating enemies\,\nyou changed our anguish into a joyful dance\,\nraising him up\nand crowning him with a glory that will never fade.\nNow he washes us in your everlasting mercy\nand pulls us from the depths\, cleansed and healed\,\nthat we might run the race\nand receive the victor’s wreath;\nour lives forever singing your praise. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God\, whose anger passes quickly\,\nbut whose mercy lasts a lifetime\,\nhas compassion on all who cry for forgiveness and healing.\nThrough Jesus Christ\, God reaches out to us\,\nraises us up and says\, “Be Clean!” \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and live out our song of praise to God.\nDiscipline yourself in all things\, however small\,\nso that you may attain the prize of salvation\nthat is yours in Christ Jesus. \nAnd may God’s powerful blessing uphold you like a mountain.\nMay Christ Jesus touch you and make you whole.\nAnd may the Holy Spirit dance with you in the joy of life. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nToo Simple to BotherA sermon on 2 Kings 5:1-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nKeep it simple\, StupidA sermon on 2 Kings 5:1-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nTouched by the hand of GodA sermon on Mark 1: 40 -45 by Ron Ham\n\n\n\nBack from SheolA sermon on Psalm 30 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAthletic SpiritualityA sermon on 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nHealing CultureA sermon on Mark 1:40-45 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp01/2030-02-17/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20300224
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20300225
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200804T010843Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220909T034537Z
UID:10001498-1898121600-1898207999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:7th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Isaiah 43: 18-25			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	This is what the LORD has to say: \nDon’t dwell on the things of the past;\ndon’t get bogged down in nostalgia.\nI am about to do something completely new;\ncan’t you see it taking shape before your eyes? \nI will make a safe path through the hostile wilderness.\nI will make the desert rivers flow again.\nUntamed animals will applaud what I do\n– dingoes\, emus\, goannas –\nbecause the desert bursts into life\nas I send rains\, filling the inland lakes. \nNow the people I have chosen can drink their fill;\nI created them to be my people\,\nto enjoy and celebrate the things I do. \nDespite all this\, my people\,\nyou have not spent any time with me in worship\,\nand yet you claim to be sick and tired of me! \nYou have not given me anything of value;\nyou have not honoured me at any cost to yourselves.\nI have not made any demands of you\,\nor hassled you for gifts or fragrant incense. \nYou have not spent a cent on sweet spices for me\,\nnor offered me the prime cuts\nfrom the animals roasted on my own altar.\nAll you have ever brought me is grief;\nyou have made me sick with your offences. \nBut I am the One who wipes your record clean;\nbecause of who I am\,\nI will keep no record of what you’ve done wrong. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 41			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Those who are ready to help the poor have got it made;\nin hard times\, you step in to get them through\, LORD. \nYou stand guard over them\nand keep them in one piece.\nYou don’t let their enemies get their claws into them\, LORD\,\nand they are the happiest people in the country. \nWhen they are sick\, you get them safely through\,\nand when they are injured\, you put them back on their feet. \nIn dire straits\, I’m praying to you\, LORD;\nI know I have done the wrong thing by you\,\nbut please show mercy and heal me. \nMy enemies are gloating over how crook I am;\nkeen to see me dead and forgotten. \nThey visit\, pretending to wish me well\,\nbut are soon out on the streets\,\ncrowing to one another about how near to death I am. \nIn their hatred of me\, they whisper and sneer about me\,\nand wish on me the worst death they can imagine. \nThey reckon some deadly virus has got me by the throat\,\nand that I’ll never make it out of the hospital alive. \nEven my best mate\, who I trusted through thick and thin\,\nwho shared many a meal and many a drink with me\,\nhas turned against me now. \nGive me a break\, LORD\, in your generous mercy.\nPut me back on my feet so I can wipe the smirk off their faces. \nWhen my enemy’s campaign against me falls apart\nI will know that you have sided with me\, LORD. \nRecognising my integrity\, you have gone in to bat for me\nand given me a permanent place at your side. \nMay everything work out right for you\, LORD\, our God\,\nnow and ever\, to the end of time and beyond!\nAnd so say all of us! Too right! \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 1: 18-22			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	What God says\, God follows through on; and by the same token\, we have not been having a bet each way in anything we have said to you. The Son of God — Jesus the Christ — was made known among you by Silas\, Timothy and me. He was certainly not an each way bet on God’s part. On the contrary\, God backed him all the way\, and for good reason. Every promise God had ever made has ridden home a winner on the back of Jesus. That is why\, when we link up with him we are saying “Count us in!” and betting our lives on the glory all belonging to God. But we — that’s you and us — have only got in on what Christ is doing because God has made us partners in him. God signed the transfer papers\, marking us out and setting us apart as those whose fortunes were now bound up in Christ. God’s Spirit was put in our hearts\, given to us as the first instalment of the winnings that we are to share in Christ. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 2: 1-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	When Jesus arrived home in Capernaum after a few days away\, the word quickly got around that he was back. A large crowd flocked to the house to hear what he had to say. As he spelt out his message\, so many people crammed in that it was standing room only\, right through the house and out the front door into the street. While he was still speaking\, some people arrived carrying a paralysed man on a stretcher. They wanted to bring him to Jesus\, but they soon saw that there was no way of getting through the crowd. Not willing to give up\, they climbed up on top of the house and ripped open a section of the roof above Jesus’s head. Then they used ropes to lower their friend on his stretcher right down in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw how firmly they believed that all this effort would pay off\, he spoke to the paralysed man and said\, “Mate\, all you have done wrong is forgiven. You’re in the clear!” \nNow some of the local religious experts were there in the crowd\, and they immediately began thinking\, “Who does this bloke think he is? This is a gross insult to God\, because no one but God can put people in the clear.” \nBeing tuned in to what was going on around him\, Jesus could tell that these questions were bubbling up among them\, so he turned to them and said\, “Why does this set your heads spinning? Which do you think would be the bigger challenge for me\, to tell him he was forgiven\, or to tell him to get up\, fold up his stretcher and walk out of here? So\, if you want to know whether the New Human has the authority here on earth to put people in the clear\, watch this!” And he turned to the paralysed man and said\, “I’m telling you\, get up on your feet\, fold up your stretcher and get off home.” \nAnd sure enough\, the man got to his feet in front of everybody\, and promptly folded up his stretcher and headed out the door. The people could hardly believe their eyes. They all began giving God the credit for it\, saying\, “This is like nothing we have ever seen before!” \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you blot out the memory of our failures\,\nand bring new and life-giving things springing forth. \nYou created the earth and its inhabitants\nand formed a people for yourself to declare your praise.\nWhen they piled up sins instead of offerings\,\nyou sent your prophets to call them to repentance\nand offer forgiveness and restoration. \nTo us you sent your Son\, Jesus the Christ\,\nwith the authority to forgive sins\nand to set free those paralysed by illness or fear.\nWhen he was betrayed by a friend\nand killed by those who would not recognise\nthe new things you were doing\,\nyou raised him to life again\,\nand in him\, you establish us\nand anoint us as your own\,\npouring your Spirit into our hearts\nas a guarantee of all you have in store for us. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for the new and life-giving things\nyou are doing through your Son\, Jesus the Christ\,\nwho forgives our sins\,\nsets us free from the paralysis of illness and fear\,\nand pours your Spirit into our hearts. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you blot out the memory of our failures\,\nand bring new and life-giving things springing forth. \nYou created the earth and its inhabitants\nand formed a people for yourself to declare your praise.\nWhen they piled up sins instead of offerings\,\nyou sent your prophets to call them to repentance\nand offer forgiveness and restoration. \nTo us you sent your Son\, Jesus the Christ\,\nwith the authority to forgive sins\nand to set free those paralysed by illness or fear.\nWhen he was betrayed by a friend\nand killed by those who would not recognise\nthe new things you were doing\,\nyou raised him to life again\,\nand in him\, you establish us\nand anoint us as your own\,\npouring your Spirit into our hearts\nas a guarantee of all you have in store for us. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God’s own glory is confirmed\nin saying “Yes!” to our cry for mercy and healing.\nIn Jesus Christ\, God forgives our sins\nand chooses not to remember our wrong doing. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now in confidence\, as forgiven people.\nStand with the Lord forever\,\nlook for the new things God is doing\nand always be ready to help the poor. \nAnd may God watch and protect you;\nMay Christ Jesus who forgives you\, raise you to wholeness;\nAnd may the Spirit pour rivers into your deserts\nand lead you into all God’s promises. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\nReligion v’s LifeA sermon on Mark 2:1- 3:6 by Nathan NettletonForgiveness & Pulling TeethA sermon on Isaiah 43:18-25\, Psalm 41 & Mark 2:1-12 by Nathan NettletonRiding them Home as OneA sermon on 2 Corinthians 1: 18-22 by Nathan NettletonHaving Faith for One AnotherA sermon on Isaiah 43:18-25\, Psalm 41 & Mark 2:1-12 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp02/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20300303
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20300304
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200804T012729Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220909T034545Z
UID:10001499-1898726400-1898812799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:8th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION:This occasion only occurs in 2030 for churches that do not observe the last Sunday before Lent as Transfiguration Sunday. \n\n\n\nBelow 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Hosea 2: 14-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Beloved Israel\, I\, the LORD\, will win you back.\nI will take you out to that wilderness place\nwhere our love was first awakened\,\nand whisper tender words in your ear. \nI will give you back your wedding presents\,\nand transform the Valley of Heartbreak\ninto the Pathway of Hope. \nThere you will again respond to me\nwith the delight you had as a young bride\nwhen you first came to me from the land of Egypt. \nFrom that day on\, you will call me\, “My loving husband.”\nNever again will you call me\, “Owner” and “Master.”\nI will wash you clean of the memories of those would-be gods.\nYou will never again have cause to utter their names. \nI will make a deal with the wild animals\,\nwith the birds of prey and dangerous creepy-crawlies\,\nto ensure that they never threaten you again.\nI will eliminate war and get rid of all the weapons\,\nso that you can sleep soundly\, with nothing to fear. \nThen you will be mine and I will be yours;\npartners in marriage forever.\nOur marriage will be good and right\,\nrock-solid in love and rich in mercy.\nWe will give ourselves to one another\nand be faithful to one another.\nYou will know me\, the LORD\, intimately and fully. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 103: 1-13\, 22			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	With all our hearts\, we praise you\, LORD\,\nfrom the depths of our being\nwe name you as our one and only. \nWith all that we are we sings your praises\, LORD;\nhow could we ever forget all you have done for us? \nWhen we do wrong\, you forgive us;\nwhen we are sick\, you make us well;\nwhen our lives fall apart\, you put us back together. \nWith love and mercy\, you treat us like royalty;\nyou shower us with good things all our lives;\nyou makes us feel as young and free as an eagle. \nYou are there for those who are victimised\, LORD;\nyou clear their names and bring them justice.  \nThrough Moses\, you let us know what you are on about;\nthrough Israel\, you let us see what you can do. \nYour mercy and generosity are extravagant\, LORD;\nyour patience and love are as solid as rock. \nWhen we do things that anger you\,\nyou don’t keep dredging them up forever. \nYou never deal with us as harshly as we deserve;\ndespite the wrong we have done\, you let us off lightly. \nWe could no more climb to the moon on a step ladder\nthan measure the limits of the love and loyalty\nyou show to those who respect you.\nWe could no more swim the ocean from pole to pole\nthan cover the distance you put between us and our sins. \nYour care and concern for those who honour you\nis as tender as that of parents for their children. \nWe honour you\, LORD\,\njoining our voices with all you have made\nand all you rule over. \nWith all our hearts\, we praise you\, LORD. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 3: 1-6			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	So you think we are starting to blow our own trumpet and write our own references\, do you? Of course\, some people need official references before anyone will trust them\, but not us. We don’t need to present references to you\, or to ask you for references to show anyone else. Why not? Because your life is all the recommendation we need. We carry your story in our hearts where anybody can read it and know the truth. It is clear at a glance that you are the real thing\, a genuine letter from the Messiah\, prepared by us and signed by him. No need for pen and ink or legal parchment! Your life has been written straight onto our beating hearts by the Spirit of the living God. \nSo we have every reason for our confidence. Because of the Messiah\, we can hold our heads high before God. We are not claiming that we had the qualifications or abilities to do anything on our own. Everything we have managed is God’s doing. The only reason we have what it takes to begin putting in place God’s new alliance with humanity is that God has given it to us. Neither the alliance itself\, nor our qualifications to introduce it\, are written legal documents. They are much more real than that – things of spirit! The letter of the law crushes people to death\, but the Spirit fills them with life. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 2: 13-22			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus went down to the beach. A huge crowd of people gathered around him\, and he taught them there. As he was walking along\, he saw a man named Levi\, the son of Alphaeus\, sitting in his office where he worked collecting taxes for the Roman occupation forces. Jesus said to him\, “Come and join me\,” and Levi got up and began following him. \nThat evening at Levi’s house\, Jesus and his followers had dinner with a group that included many disreputable characters whose lifestyles were considered offensive by the more respectable members of society. There were many such people among his followers. Some religious experts from the Pharisee party saw that he was eating in such bad company and confronted his closest followers over it\, saying\, “What does he think he’s doing\, sharing meals with people whose behaviour is beyond the pale?” \nWhen Jesus heard this\, he replied\, “Who needs the help of a doctor: the fit and healthy\, or the sick? I didn’t come to spend my time preaching to the converted\, but to call back those who are off the track.” \nDuring a time when John’s followers and the members of the Pharisee party were going without food for religious reasons\, some people came and asked Jesus\, “How come the followers of John and the followers of the Pharisees give up food at this time\, but your followers are still eating?” \nJesus replied\, “If you are the guests at a wedding feast\, you don’t refuse to eat and drink while the bridal couple are still with you\, do you? As long as the reason for the celebration is still in your midst\, you celebrate! All good things come to an end\, and when the reason to celebrate is taken away\, then they will go without.” \n“The thing is\, sometimes the old ways don’t fit the new situation. If you patch an old coat with a brand new piece of fabric\, the patch will shrink and tear an even bigger hole. If you try to recycle some brittle old bottles for a fresh batch of sparkling wine\, you’ll end up with nothing but smashed glass and an expensive puddle. Fresh content gets fresh packaging.” \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you have spoken\, not in carved letters on cold stone\,\nbut in songs of love\, warm with desire\,\nsung into our hearts. \nWhen time began you created the world\nand filled it with a rich abundance of birds and animals.\nYou gave yourself to your people in a holy covenant of love\,\nand through Moses and the prophets you led them\nin ways of justice and tenderness\, of faithfulness and mercy. \nYou sent your Son to us as the divine bridegroom.\nHis love was betrayed\, and yet remained undiminished\,\nand when he was killed you raised him to life.\nAlive forever\, he is among us again\,\nmercifully seeking out all who have strayed\,\nand calling us to follow him to the wedding feast\,\nthere to celebrate a new covenant\nwith the new wine of your passion. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for the divine bridegroom\, Jesus\,\nwho comes among us\nmercifully seeking out all who have strayed\,\nand calling us to follow him to the wedding feast\,\nthere to celebrate a new covenant\nwith the new wine of your passion. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you have spoken\, not in carved letters on cold stone\,\nbut in songs of love\, warm with desire\,\nsung into our hearts. \nWhen time began you created the world\nand filled it with a rich abundance of birds and animals.\nYou gave yourself to your people in a holy covenant of love\,\nand through Moses and the prophets you led them\nin ways of justice and tenderness\, of faithfulness and mercy. \nYou sent your Son to us as the divine bridegroom.\nHis love was betrayed\, and yet remained undiminished\,\nand when he was killed you raised him to life.\nAlive forever\, he is among us again\,\nmercifully seeking out all who have strayed\,\nand calling us to follow him to the wedding feast\,\nthere to celebrate a new covenant\nwith the new wine of your passion. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Blessed be God who is tender and caring\,\nslow to anger and rich in love.\nThe Lord does not treat us as our sins deserve\,\nbut forgives us\, and as far as east is from west\,\nso God removes our sins. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and follow the Christ wherever he calls.\nBless the Lord and hold dear all God’s gifts.\nFind your competence in God\nthat you might be ministers of a new covenant. \nAnd may God embrace you in tenderness and lay you down in safety.\nMay Christ write his words of love on your heart.\nAnd may the Spirit fill your life with richness\n    and give you the strength of an eagle. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\nReligion v’s LifeA sermon on Mark 2:1- 3:6 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp03/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300303T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300303T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200804T022117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T021946Z
UID:10002110-1898726400-1898812799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Transfiguration Sunday (Last Sunday before Lent) - Year B
DESCRIPTION:Churches that do not observe the last Sunday before Lent as Transfiguration Sunday may prefer to use the resources for the 5th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent. \n\n\n\nBelow you will find the Bible readings set for Transfiguration Sunday in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				   Kings 2: 1-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Shortly before the LORD sent a whirlwind to take Elijah into heaven\, Elijah and Elisha headed off on a journey from Gilgal. Elijah had tried to talk Elisha out of coming\, saying\, “The LORD wants me to go to Bethel\, but there is no need for you to come. You can stay here.” \nBut Elisha said\, “I’m sticking with you\, come hell or high water!” \nSo they travelled together down to Bethel. There was a community of prophets in Bethel\, and they came out and asked Elisha\, “Do you realise that today the LORD is going to take your boss away from you?” \n“I know\,” Elisha replied\, “but shut up! I don’t want to talk about it.” \nElijah said\, “Elisha\, you stay put. The LORD wants me to go on to Jericho\, but there is no need for you to come.” \nBut Elisha said\, “I’m sticking with you\, come hell or high water!” \nSo they were still together when they arrived in Jericho. There was a community of prophets in Jericho\, and they came out and asked Elisha\, “Do you realise that today the LORD is going to take your boss away from you?” \n“I know\,” Elisha replied\, “but shut up! I don’t want to talk about it.”\nElijah said\, “Elisha\, you stay put. The LORD wants me to go across the Jordan River\, but there is no need for you to come.” \nBut Elisha said\, “I’m sticking with you\, come hell or high water!” \nSo the two of them continued on together. A group of fifty prophets followed them\, keeping their distance but not letting them out of their sight. When they arrived at the Jordan River\, Elijah took off his coat\, rolled it up\, and slapped the water with it. The water immediately parted to form a dry path through the middle of the river and the two of them crossed over. When they reached the other side\, Elijah said\, “Elisha\, our time together is almost up. What would you most like me to do for you before I am taken away?” \nElisha replied\, “Please make me your successor by leaving to me the largest share of the spirit that empowers you.” \nElijah responded\, “That’s a tough ask! But if you actually see me being taken away from you\, then you’ll get your wish. If you don’t\, you’ll miss out.” \nThe two of them continued to walk along\, deep in conversation\, when suddenly a chariot of fire drawn by two blazing horses charged between them and Elijah was sucked up in a whirlwind and taken into heaven. Elisha saw the whole thing and kept crying out\, “Father! Father! You are gone with the defenders of Israel\, God’s mounted warriors!” \nWhen Elijah disappeared from sight\, Elisha was torn apart with grief. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 50: 1-6			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You\, LORD\, are the mighty God.\nWherever the sun shines\, from horizon to horizon\,\nyou call the earth to attention. \nFrom the spectacular beauty of your holy mountain\,\nyou approach us in a blaze of glory. \nYou come with the full fanfare;\nflashes of fire in front of you;\nthunder storming all around you. \nYou call the earth and sky to sit as a jury\,\nand set out the charges against your people. \nYou call the accused:\nthose who swore their faithfulness to you\,\nand signed themselves to a binding alliance. \nThe whole universe honours you as the judge\,\nand affirms the honesty of your court. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 4: 3-6			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Are people saying that the message we preach is hidden behind some kind of mask? Well\, I can assure you that the only people who can’t see it clearly are those who will never escape the grip of death. Unable to believe and trust\, they were easy prey for the ruling spirit of this present age who messed with their heads and left them blind to the truth. As a result they can’t see the glorious light of the message of Christ\, and it is when we see Christ in all his glory\, that we see the spitting image of God. We are not preaching about ourselves. The message we preach is that Jesus the Christ is Lord of all. We ourselves are slaves at your service\, for Jesus’ sake. The very God who kicked off creation by calling for light to shine from darkness has now filled our hearts with the light that comes from seeing the glory of God in the face of Jesus the Christ and knowing it for what it is. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 9: 2-9			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus took Peter\, James and John and led them up a high mountain away from everyone else. Before their very eyes\, the way Jesus looked was suddenly changed from the inside out. His clothing became so white that it was dazzling – an effect beyond anything soap powder could ever achieve. Suddenly they saw Moses and Elijah there too\, in deep conversation with Jesus. \nPeter said\, “Boss\, this is fantastic! What a moment! How about we knock up three huts\, so that you\, Moses and Elijah can all stay here longer.” He was just shooting his mouth off without thinking because they were quaking in their boots. \nAn awesome cloud engulfed them\, and from deep within the cloud\, a voice boomed forth: “This is my Son\, the love of my life. Listen to him!” \nPeter\, James and John looked around and suddenly everything looked normal again and they saw no one there but Jesus. \nAs they were coming back down the mountain\, Jesus gave them strict instructions not to breathe a word to anyone about about what they had seen\, until after the New Human had risen from the dead. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your transfiguring light has overcome us\nand is restoring within us the image of your glory. \nWhen you created the universe you said\,\n“Let light shine out of darkness\,”\nand the heavens lit up in testimony to your justice.\nThrough the law and prophets your light has shone forth\,\nand your Word has never fallen silent. \nOn a high mountain you pulled back the veil of heaven\nand\, as Moses and Elijah passed on their mantles\nto the one in whom your saving Word is fulfilled\,\nyou allowed the incomparable glory of your Son\nto be seen by his terrified disciples.\nHe was killed by those who would not listen to you\,\nbut after you raised him from the dead\,\nyou sent the winds of heaven upon us\nwith an extravagant outpouring of your Holy Spirit. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for the incomparable glory of your Son\nwhich shines upon us as transfiguring light\,\nrestoring within us the image of your glory\nand gathering us up in the wild wind of your Holy Spirit. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your transfiguring light has overcome us\nand is restoring within us the image of your glory. \nWhen you created the universe you said\,\n“Let light shine out of darkness\,”\nand the heavens lit up in testimony to your justice.\nThrough the law and prophets your light has shone forth\,\nand your Word has never fallen silent. \nOn a high mountain you pulled back the veil of heaven\nand\, as Moses and Elijah passed on their mantles\nto the one in whom your saving Word is fulfilled\,\nyou allowed the incomparable glory of your Son\nto be seen by his terrified disciples.\nHe was killed by those who would not listen to you\,\nbut after you raised him from the dead\,\nyou sent the winds of heaven upon us\nwith an extravagant outpouring of your Holy Spirit. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Though we were blinded by sin\,\nGod’s saving light has been beamed into our hearts\nthat we might see the radiant mercy of God\nin the face of Jesus Christ. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and speak of what you have seen of God’s glory.\nDo not cling to the holy moments\nwhen heaven overshadows you\,\nbut as the Lord lives\, listen to Christ and follow him\nfrom the places of revelation\nto the places of mission. \nAnd may God shine the light of glory into your hearts.\nMay Christ be with you and never leave you.\nAnd may the Spirit renew the image of God within you. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nTransfiguration PeopleA sermon on Mark 9:2-9 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nMore Than Meets the EyeA sermon on Mark 9:2-9 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe View from the MountaintopA sermon on Mark 9:2-9 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThis is my Son\, Listen to himA sermon on Mark 9:2-9 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Surprising Light Behind the VeilA sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 & Mark 9:2-9 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nUp and Down the MountainA sermon on Mark 9:2-9 by Karen Quah
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b16/2030-03-03/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300306T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300306T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20250301T130714Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260322T012007Z
UID:10002192-1898985600-1899071999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Ash Wednesday
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Joel 2: 1-2\, 12-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Ring the alarm bells on the holy mountain.\nSound the sirens for the whole city to hear!\nPut the fear of God into everybody\,\nfor the day when the LORD will step in is near –\na dark and menacing day\,\na day of fierce heat and dark choking clouds! \nLike a raging bushfire sweeping down the mountain\,\na terrifying army comes.\nWave upon wave\,\nit leaves nothing but scorched earth in its path.\nIt is more terrifying than anything ever seen before\,\nor anything ever likely to be seen again. \nBut even now\, at the eleventh hour\,\nthe LORD calls to us saying: \n“It is not too late!\nGet back on track with me.\nShow me you mean it with your whole hearts.\nGo off your food and get on your knees.\nWeep and mourn from the depths of your hearts\,\nand don’t try to con me\nwith crocodile tears and cheap black arm bands. \n“Come back to me\, the LORD your God\,\nfor I am compassionate and generous\,\nas eager to forgive as any mother.\nMy love and loyalty always hold back my anger.\nGiven half a reason I’ll withhold sentence\nand give everybody a second chance. \n“What have you got to lose by trying?\nPerhaps you can convince me to change my mind.\nPerhaps I’ll even send good times instead of disaster\nand you’ll be eating and drinking in my honour. \n“Ring the alarm bells on my holy mountain.\nDeclare a day of national repentance.\nRally the people\, every one of them.\nGet them together to pray and fast.\nMake sure everyone has prepared themselves properly\,\nand make sure no one is missing.\nBring the aged and infirm\,\nthe toddlers and the newborn.\nCall back the newlyweds from honeymoons\nand cancel all leave. \n“In the heart of the place of worship\nlet those who lead you in prayer do so with tears.\nLet them cry out to me\, the LORD your God\,\nand beg me to have mercy on you.\nLet them plead with me not to make you a laughingstock\,\na classic example of a failed nation. \n“For why should the rest of the world scoff\nand conclude that your downfall is my failure?” \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Isaiah 58: 1-12 (alternative 1st reading)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God has told me to shout until you people hear;\nto hammer home the message until it gets through.\nYou are God’s people\, but God feels betrayed by you.\nListen to what God has to say about your sins: \n“Day after day\, you look good:\nyou turn up to worship and pay attention to my teachings.\nYou act like a people who want to do what is right;\nlike a people who want to obey to the letter.\nYou ask me for directions before you do anything\,\nand you seem enthusiastic about getting closer to me. \n“Do you want to know why your religious behaviour turns me off?\nDo you want to know why I ignore your fasting and bowing?\nI’ll tell you why. You put on a great performance of it all\,\nbut then you go straight back to feathering your own nest\nand ripping off your workers in the process. \n“When you fast\, it just makes you irritable and violent;\nand when you behave like that\, I’ll just hang up on you. \n“Do you really think this is what I like to see:\na day of pious misery?\nblack clothes\, long faces and crocodile tears?\ngiving up chocolate and ice-cream?\nDo you think that’s worship?\nDo you think that pleases me?\nGive me a break! \n“Do you want to know what I’d really like to see?\nDismantle the structures of injustice;\ntake your feet off the throats of the poor;\nstop jailing the victims of unfair laws;\nand quit plundering nature’s resources. \n“Do you want to know what else I’d like to see?\nOpen your tables to the hungry;\nopen your hearts and your homes to the refugees;\nopen your wardrobes to those without clothes;\nand don’t go hiding every time you see someone in need. \n“Do that\, and I’ll put your name up in lights!\nDo that and our relationship will be healed in an instant!\nI’ll put you under my personal protection;\nanyone who attacks you will have to deal with me\, the LORD!\nI’ll be on hand to respond whenever you need me;\njust say the word\, and I’ll be there for you. \n“If you abandon all forms of exploitation\,\nand avoid bad-mouthing others to gain an edge;\nif you share what you have with those in need\,\nand respond to the real needs of suffering communities;\nthen you’ll find that the world will light up for you\nand life will be one beautiful day after another. \n“I\, the LORD\, will always be there to guide you;\neven in the grip of drought\,\nI’ll keep you healthy and well fed.\nYou’ll be like an irrigated vineyard with its own deep bore\,\ngreen and lush and full of life! \n“Your ruined houses will be renovated and new;\nyou’ll be able to restore the homes\nthat have been in your families for generations.\nYou’ll get a reputation for making dreams possible\,\nfor enabling everyone to find a good place to live. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net\n \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 51: 1-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	O God\, your love never gives up.\nHave mercy on me now!  \nI’m relying on your record of generous mercy:\nplease wipe my slate clean! \nScrub away the filth I’ve been living in;\nScour away the stain of my sin. \nI know only too well what I’ve done;\nmy sins stare me in the face. \nIt is you I’ve double-crossed\, you I’ve betrayed;\nI’ve done things which I knew you despised. \nYou have all the facts and you know what I deserve;\nwhat ever you decide is fair enough.\nI’ve been on the wrong side of you forever.\nI turned my back on you before I was born. \nYou want honesty that comes from deep within\,\nso teach me your wisdom\,\nlet it take root in my heart. \nGet the bleach out and give me the treatment!\nSoak me and wash me\nuntil I’m as white as snow.  \nOpen my ears to laughter and music.\nThough you ground me into the dirt\,\nlet me now rise to the sounds of joy. \nTurn a blind eye to my record;\ndisregard my prior convictions. \nRenovate me from the inside\, O God;\nrebuild my heart and rewire my brain;\ninstall in me a new fault-free operating system. \nDon’t cut me off from you now\,\nor withdraw your Holy Spirit from me. \nRekindle in me the joy of being safe in your care\,\nand fill me with an insatiable desire to follow you. \nThen I’ll show others how to get back on track;\nthey’ll quit their corrupt ways and come back to you. \nGet me out of this mess before I get blood on my hands\, God.\nOnly you can get me out alive\,\nand I’ll tell everyone that you did. \nLord\, as soon as you’ve got me out\nand it’s safe to open my mouth\,\nI’ll be singing your praises with all my might. \nI know I can’t fool you with hollow religion\, God.\nI could perform all the rituals perfectly\, by the book\,\nbut it wouldn’t mean a cracker to you. \nWhat you want to see is a genuine heart-felt apology\nand a commitment to a total life-change.\nYou will never turn away anyone who comes to you heartbroken\nand promising to turn over a new leaf. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 5:20b - 6:10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	On Christ’s behalf we beg you to accept the generous peace deal that God is offering. The way of reconciliation is on the table before you: you’d be mad to turn your backs on it! Even though Christ had never been sucked into sin like us\, God lumped him in with us\, so as to make it possible to lump us in with him. United with him\, we can become examples of all that God considers to be right and true.\nWe are working together\, shoulder to shoulder with God\, and we urge you not to take God’s extravagant generosity for granted.\nIn the scriptures God says\, \n“At exactly the right moment\,\nI heard your call.\nThe day you needed help\,\nI was there to bail you out.” \nWell\, this is it — the exact right moment. This is the day to throw off the shackles and walk free! It won’t be our fault if you don’t take this chance — we’re doing everything in our power not to get in anyone’s way. There’s no point in nit-picking over the details of our work. We have endeavoured to be faithful servants of God and we’re confident that we’ve got the runs on the board. It’s not as though we’ve had it easy either. We have hung in there through hard times\, tough times and horrendous disasters. We’ve been bashed\, lynched and locked up. We’ve worked ourselves into the ground when things needed to be done\, sometimes even going without sleep and food. And through all this we have maintained our integrity — our intentions have been pure and our heads have been clear. We have managed to hold on to our patience\, generosity\, and holiness of spirit. Our love has been genuine\, our speech truthful\, and God has continued to work powerfully through us. We have armed ourselves with nothing but an iron commitment to doing what’s right\, and we’ve grasped the work of justice with both hands. Sometimes we’ve been honoured and sometimes slandered. We have been true to our word and yet denounced as charlatans. We’ve been treated as nobodies even though everyone knows who we are. We’ve been written of as dead\, but here we are\, brimming with life. We’ve been flogged to within an inch of our lives but never quite killed. We’ve almost drowned in tears and yet we are still bubbling with joy. They say we are poor\, and yet many are enriched by us. They say we have nothing to offer\, and yet everything is ours to share. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 6: 1-6\, 16-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While Jesus was teaching his followers on the mountain\, he said: \n“It is good to put the disciplines of godly living into practice\, but be on your guard against the temptation to start doing it for show. The God who conceived you knows what’s going on\, and if the good things you do are done only to impress people\, you’ll get no credit for them in heaven. \n“Don’t go blowing your own trumpet every time you do something charitable. If you give money for the relief of poverty\, don’t go asking for public acknowledgement. The world is full of sponsorship schemes and naming rights deals\, but it is all hypocrisy. It’s got more to do with image management than with concern for the poor. Of course it works as a business strategy\, but I can assure you that there will be no rewards beyond that. God brought you to birth and understands everything you do\, even what you do in secret. So if you want credit from God for giving money to charity\, give it anonymously. Go out of your way to keep it quiet – don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. It is that sort of unpretentious generosity that God will reward. \n“The same principle holds true when it comes to the inward disciplines such as prayer and fasting. When you pray\, don’t turn it into a exhibition. In the media and even in worship services you’ll see people leading so-called ‘prayers’ that look and sound more like campaign speeches\, carefully crafted for public consumption. It’s nothing more than hot air; sheer hypocrisy! No doubt they’ll succeed in impressing lots of people\, but I can assure you: that’s the only reward they’ll ever get. Take my advice: do your praying behind closed doors so that you won’t be tempted to start grandstanding. Find a place where you can take off your masks and just open yourselves to God in quietness. By getting yourself out of the spotlight\, you’ll have a chance of becoming aware of God’s presence – a reward in itself! \n“When you are fasting\, don’t go drawing attention to the fact. Some hypocrites make a big display of sitting at the table with long faces while everyone else eats. They might gain a reputation for being very religious and self-controlled\, but they won’t get anything else out of it. It’s a waste of time training yourself to control one appetite while simultaneously indulging your appetite for adulation. Instead\, when you are fasting\, maintain your usual outward appearance and demeanour as best you can\, so that no one will twig. God always has a loving eye on you and will see to it that your secret fasting reaps rich benefits. \n“Don’t go piling up investments here on earth\, where they can be wiped out in an instant by fire or flood\, or a market crash. There is only one investment strategy that can never fail or be eroded. Invest everything you are and everything you have in the ways of heaven. It is a simple fact that whatever you invest yourself in will monopolise your concerns and therefore shape the person you will become.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Great Prayer Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nAll glory and honour are yours\neverywhere and always\, O God\,\nfor in your kindness and mercy\,\nyour patience and faithfulness\,\nyou are always ready to forgive and not punish. \nWe give you thanks and praise for your Son\,\nour saviour and brother\, Jesus Christ\,\nby whose example and strength\nwe resist all evil\,\nand turn our backs on its lures\nof comfort and honour\, of power and success\,\nseeking instead to store up treasure in heaven\,\nknowing that though we may seem to have nothing\,\nin purity\, knowledge\, patience and kindness\,\nwe really possess everything. \nTherefore with ..... \n©1999 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We thank you for the example our saviour and brother\, Jesus Christ\,\nby whose strength we resist all evil\,\nseeking instead to store up treasure in heaven\,\nknowing that though we may seem to have nothing\,\nin purity\, knowledge\, patience and kindness\,\nwe really possess everything. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted)\n\nWe give you thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor in your kindness and mercy\,\nyour patience and faithfulness\,\nyou are always ready to forgive and not punish. \nWe thank you for your Son\,\nour saviour and brother\, Jesus Christ\,\nby whose example and strength\nwe resist all evil\,\nand turn our backs on its lures\nof comfort and honour\, of power and success\,\nseeking instead to store up treasure in heaven\,\nknowing that though we may seem to have nothing\,\nin purity\, knowledge\, patience and kindness\,\nwe really possess everything. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The Lord your God is kind and full of mercy\,\nalways ready to forgive and not punish.\nChrist\, by uniting with us and sharing in our sin\,\nhas enabled us to share in the righteousness of God. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nDoing the right thing: a modest entry to the kingdomA sermon on Matthew 6:1-6 by Paul Sheppy\n\n\n\nRiches in Heaven and Light in the BodyA sermon on Matthew 6: 19-23 by Peter Mugabi
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc17/2030-03-06/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/17.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300310T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300310T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200805T034657Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240318T114716Z
UID:10002111-1899331200-1899417599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:1st Sunday in Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Genesis 9: 8-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God said to Noah and his family: \n“I\, myself\, am forging an alliance with you\, and with all your descendants to come\, and with every living creature; all the birds\, domestic animals\, and wild animals of the earth who came out of the lifeboat with you. In the terms of this alliance which I am forging with you\, I am giving you my word that never again will all life be wiped out by a flood. There will never be another flood that will totally destroy the earth. I am making this alliance between me and you and all the living creatures that are with you\, and I am signing it in the clouds. The rainbow that I have put in the clouds for you all to see is my signature on the alliance between me and the earth. Whenever I make the clouds gather and my rainbow signature becomes visible there\, I will remember the alliance that governs my relationship with you and with every living creature on earth. I will remember\, and the waters will never again become a flood that wipes out all life on earth. I will see the rainbow which I have signed in the clouds and remember that I am party to a permanent binding alliance with every living creature of every kind on the earth. I assure you\, Noah\, that with this signature that you see in the clouds\, I have sealed the alliance between me\, God\, and the entire community of living creatures on the earth.” \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 25: 1-10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I gladly offer you everything I am\, LORD . \nI have put my trust in you\, God;\nplease don’t let me down;\ndon’t give my enemies grounds to gloat. \nBe there for those who hang in there for you\, no matter what:\ndon’t leave them with egg on their faces.\nSave that for the two-faced scabs who deserve it.  \nLet me in on your way of doing things\, LORD;\nteach me how to follow your tracks. \nSteer me along your ways of truth\, and teach me all about them.\nOnly you can save me from disaster\, God\,\nso I’ll wait for you before setting out. \nYour love and mercy have been as timeless and dependable as the rock;\nplease don’t change your mind about them now! \nDon’t keep a record of everything I’ve done wrong in the past.\nLet your unshakable love colour your view of me\,\nand keep your reputation for generosity intact! \nYou always do what is good and right\, LORD\,\nand so you patiently retrain those who do wrong. \nYou pilot a safe course for those who are not too full of themselves;\nyou give lessons on your ways to the humble folk. \nEvery path you tread\, LORD\, is marked by solid love and loyalty\nfor the benefit of all who keep our end of the bargain with you. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Peter 3: 18-22			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The Messiah copped the consequences of human corruption\nand suffered them all in one hit.\nHe who had done only what is right\nsuffered for those who had done wrong\nin order to bring you home to God.\nHe was killed by human hands\nbut made alive by the Spirit. \nIn the spirit\, he went and preached freedom to those who refused God’s way in past generations and whose spirits have remained in prison ever since. In their own day\, God had given them every chance. While Noah was building his boat\, for example\, there was plenty of time for people to realise why and change their ways\, but in the end a mere eight people were saved from the waters by getting into that lifeboat. Their experience was a bit of a preview of the way baptism saves you. It is not just a bath to clean up your appearance. Rather\, you are pulled from the water to a new life so that you can stand before God with a clear conscience. You are raised from death to life with Jesus the Messiah\, who has since taken his place in heaven as God’s right hand man\, and he has the last word on everything and everyone. There is no authority or power\, human or angel\, that can overrule him. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 1: 9-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	During those days\, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. The moment he came up from the water\, he saw the sky open up and the Spirit coming down like a diving kookaburra and taking hold of him. And a voice filled the air\, saying\, “You are my Son; the love of my life. You fill me with pride.” \nStraight after that\, the Spirit drove him out into a remote wilderness area. He had to prove himself for forty days in the bush\, while the devil tried every trick in the book to lure him off-track. Jesus was in tough country\, surrounded by wild animals\, and God’s angels took care of everything he needed. \nAfter John the baptiser was arrested\, Jesus headed up to Galilee and began spreading the good news of God. This was the guts of his message: \n“The time has come!\nThe culture of God is close at hand.\nTurn your lives around and accept the good news.” \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor in tenderness and faithful love\nyou forgive our sins and guide us when we stray. \nWhen the ancient flood destroyed the world you had created\,\nyou saved Noah and his family from the waters\,\nand established a covenant with them\nand with every living creature for all time. \nIn later times your Son\, Jesus\,\ncame forth from the waters of baptism\,\nand after proving himself in the wilderness\nwhere waves of temptation threatened to engulf him\,\nhe began proclaiming the good news of your kingdom\,\ncalling people to repent and believe in the gospel.\nHe was cast down to the land of the dead\nwhere he preached even to those lost in the flood\,\nbut you raised him to new life\nand seated him at your side\nto reign over every authority and power for ever. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your Son\, Jesus\,\nwho proved himself stronger than the devil’s temptations\,\nand who in death preached even to those lost in the flood\,\nand in resurrection reigns over every authority and power for ever. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor in tenderness and faithful love\nyou forgive our sins and guide us when we stray. \nWhen the ancient flood destroyed the world you had created\,\nyou saved Noah and his family from the waters\,\nand established a covenant with them\nand with every living creature for all time. \nIn later times your Son\, Jesus\,\ncame forth from the waters of baptism\,\nand after proving himself in the wilderness\nwhere waves of temptation threatened to engulf him\,\nhe began proclaiming the good news of your kingdom\,\ncalling people to repent and believe in the gospel.\nHe was cast down to the land of the dead\nwhere he preached even to those lost in the flood\,\nbut you raised him to new life\nand seated him at your side\nto reign over every authority and power for ever. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Christ suffered for sins\, once for all\,\nthe righteous for the unrighteous\,\nin order to bring you to God.\nThrough the mercy of Christ\, God remembers you\nbut not your faults or your sins. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and live in the spirit of your baptism\,\neven when you are led into wild and hard places.\nWith repentance and trust\, give yourselves to God\,\nand with fasting and prayer\,\nstrengthen yourselves against the ways of the tempter. \nAnd may God enfold you in tender and lasting love.\nMay Christ be beside you in times of struggle.\nAnd may the Spirit guide you back to the path\nwhenever you stray\, that you may keep the covenant. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nMinistering AngelsA sermon on Mark 1:9-15 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nWhat God has given up for LentA sermon on Genesis 9:8-17\, 1 Peter 3:1-18 & Mark 1:9-15 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nInto the wildernessA sermon on Mark 1:9-15 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nPut to the TestA sermon on Mark 1:9-15 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA God of WeaknessA sermon on Genesis 9:8-17\, 1 Peter 3:1-18 & Mark 1:9-15 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nReading the RainbowA sermon on Genesis 9:8-17 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b18/2030-03-10/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/18.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300310T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300310T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200805T034657Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003409Z
UID:10002941-1899331200-1899417599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:1st Sunday in Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Genesis 9: 8-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God said to Noah and his family: \n“I\, myself\, am forging an alliance with you\, and with all your descendants to come\, and with every living creature; all the birds\, domestic animals\, and wild animals of the earth who came out of the lifeboat with you. In the terms of this alliance which I am forging with you\, I am giving you my word that never again will all life be wiped out by a flood. There will never be another flood that will totally destroy the earth. I am making this alliance between me and you and all the living creatures that are with you\, and I am signing it in the clouds. The rainbow that I have put in the clouds for you all to see is my signature on the alliance between me and the earth. Whenever I make the clouds gather and my rainbow signature becomes visible there\, I will remember the alliance that governs my relationship with you and with every living creature on earth. I will remember\, and the waters will never again become a flood that wipes out all life on earth. I will see the rainbow which I have signed in the clouds and remember that I am party to a permanent binding alliance with every living creature of every kind on the earth. I assure you\, Noah\, that with this signature that you see in the clouds\, I have sealed the alliance between me\, God\, and the entire community of living creatures on the earth.” \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 25: 1-10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I gladly offer you everything I am\, LORD . \nI have put my trust in you\, God;\nplease don’t let me down;\ndon’t give my enemies grounds to gloat. \nBe there for those who hang in there for you\, no matter what:\ndon’t leave them with egg on their faces.\nSave that for the two-faced scabs who deserve it.  \nLet me in on your way of doing things\, LORD;\nteach me how to follow your tracks. \nSteer me along your ways of truth\, and teach me all about them.\nOnly you can save me from disaster\, God\,\nso I’ll wait for you before setting out. \nYour love and mercy have been as timeless and dependable as the rock;\nplease don’t change your mind about them now! \nDon’t keep a record of everything I’ve done wrong in the past.\nLet your unshakable love colour your view of me\,\nand keep your reputation for generosity intact! \nYou always do what is good and right\, LORD\,\nand so you patiently retrain those who do wrong. \nYou pilot a safe course for those who are not too full of themselves;\nyou give lessons on your ways to the humble folk. \nEvery path you tread\, LORD\, is marked by solid love and loyalty\nfor the benefit of all who keep our end of the bargain with you. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Peter 3: 18-22			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The Messiah copped the consequences of human corruption\nand suffered them all in one hit.\nHe who had done only what is right\nsuffered for those who had done wrong\nin order to bring you home to God.\nHe was killed by human hands\nbut made alive by the Spirit. \nIn the spirit\, he went and preached freedom to those who refused God’s way in past generations and whose spirits have remained in prison ever since. In their own day\, God had given them every chance. While Noah was building his boat\, for example\, there was plenty of time for people to realise why and change their ways\, but in the end a mere eight people were saved from the waters by getting into that lifeboat. Their experience was a bit of a preview of the way baptism saves you. It is not just a bath to clean up your appearance. Rather\, you are pulled from the water to a new life so that you can stand before God with a clear conscience. You are raised from death to life with Jesus the Messiah\, who has since taken his place in heaven as God’s right hand man\, and he has the last word on everything and everyone. There is no authority or power\, human or angel\, that can overrule him. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 1: 9-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	During those days\, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. The moment he came up from the water\, he saw the sky open up and the Spirit coming down like a diving kookaburra and taking hold of him. And a voice filled the air\, saying\, “You are my Son; the love of my life. You fill me with pride.” \nStraight after that\, the Spirit drove him out into a remote wilderness area. He had to prove himself for forty days in the bush\, while the devil tried every trick in the book to lure him off-track. Jesus was in tough country\, surrounded by wild animals\, and God’s angels took care of everything he needed. \nAfter John the baptiser was arrested\, Jesus headed up to Galilee and began spreading the good news of God. This was the guts of his message: \n“The time has come!\nThe culture of God is close at hand.\nTurn your lives around and accept the good news.” \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor in tenderness and faithful love\nyou forgive our sins and guide us when we stray. \nWhen the ancient flood destroyed the world you had created\,\nyou saved Noah and his family from the waters\,\nand established a covenant with them\nand with every living creature for all time. \nIn later times your Son\, Jesus\,\ncame forth from the waters of baptism\,\nand after proving himself in the wilderness\nwhere waves of temptation threatened to engulf him\,\nhe began proclaiming the good news of your kingdom\,\ncalling people to repent and believe in the gospel.\nHe was cast down to the land of the dead\nwhere he preached even to those lost in the flood\,\nbut you raised him to new life\nand seated him at your side\nto reign over every authority and power for ever. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your Son\, Jesus\,\nwho proved himself stronger than the devil’s temptations\,\nand who in death preached even to those lost in the flood\,\nand in resurrection reigns over every authority and power for ever. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor in tenderness and faithful love\nyou forgive our sins and guide us when we stray. \nWhen the ancient flood destroyed the world you had created\,\nyou saved Noah and his family from the waters\,\nand established a covenant with them\nand with every living creature for all time. \nIn later times your Son\, Jesus\,\ncame forth from the waters of baptism\,\nand after proving himself in the wilderness\nwhere waves of temptation threatened to engulf him\,\nhe began proclaiming the good news of your kingdom\,\ncalling people to repent and believe in the gospel.\nHe was cast down to the land of the dead\nwhere he preached even to those lost in the flood\,\nbut you raised him to new life\nand seated him at your side\nto reign over every authority and power for ever. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Christ suffered for sins\, once for all\,\nthe righteous for the unrighteous\,\nin order to bring you to God.\nThrough the mercy of Christ\, God remembers you\nbut not your faults or your sins. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and live in the spirit of your baptism\,\neven when you are led into wild and hard places.\nWith repentance and trust\, give yourselves to God\,\nand with fasting and prayer\,\nstrengthen yourselves against the ways of the tempter. \nAnd may God enfold you in tender and lasting love.\nMay Christ be beside you in times of struggle.\nAnd may the Spirit guide you back to the path\nwhenever you stray\, that you may keep the covenant. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nMinistering AngelsA sermon on Mark 1:9-15 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nWhat God has given up for LentA sermon on Genesis 9:8-17\, 1 Peter 3:1-18 & Mark 1:9-15 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nInto the wildernessA sermon on Mark 1:9-15 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nPut to the TestA sermon on Mark 1:9-15 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA God of WeaknessA sermon on Genesis 9:8-17\, 1 Peter 3:1-18 & Mark 1:9-15 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nReading the RainbowA sermon on Genesis 9:8-17 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b18/2030-03-10/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/18.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300317T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300317T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200805T041954Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240324T102953Z
UID:10002112-1899936000-1900022399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:2nd Sunday in Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Genesis 17: 1-7\, 15-16			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	One day\, when Abram was ninety-nine years old\, the LORD turned up and spoke to him\, saying\, “I am God Almighty. You are to live your life openly before me\, with absolute integrity. I will put in place an alliance between me and you\, and under its terms\, I will make sure you have a huge number of descendants.” \nAbram dropped in his tracks with his face to the ground as God continued to speak to him\, saying: \n“I\, myself\, am forging this alliance with you: I am promising that you will be the ancestor of a whole bunch of nations. You are not to be known by the name Abram anymore. From now on\, your name will be Abraham\, because it means ‘the father of many’\, and that is what you will be. I will make everything go well for you\, and your family will multiply rapidly. From among your offspring\, whole nations and kings will emerge. I will put this alliance in place between me and you and all who are to come in your family line through all generations. This alliance will last forever\, committing me to being God to you and to your descendants after you for all time. \nYour wife Sarai is in on this alliance too. However her name is to change too. From now on her name will be Sarah. I will see to it that things go well for her\, and what’s more\, she and you will conceive a child together and she will give birth to a son. I will make things go well for Sarah\, and in time\, nations and great rulers will trace their family line back to her.” \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 22: 23-31			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, I’ll call on all who honour you to stand up and say so!\nAll who trace their roots to Jacob will give you the glory!\nAll who share the heritage of Israel will stand in awe of you! \nLORD\, you did not rubbish anyone\nor blame the victims for their suffering.\nYou did not turn away or slip off quietly;\nwhen I cried for help\, you responded. \nWhenever people gather to worship\,\nmy heart overflows and I sing your praises.\nOut in the open for all to see\nI’ll do all that I promised. \nAt your table\, God\, the needy will feast;\nthose who hunger for you will be fed till they burst with praise!\nThey will be able to live it up\, now and forever! \nIn every corner of the earth people will wake up to themselves\nand turn back to you\, LORD.\nEvery race\, nation\, tribe and family\nwill offer themselves to you in worship\,\nfor you have the last word on everything;\nwhat you say goes. \nEven the dead will bow down to you\, LORD;\nthose who are trampled in the dust will look to you in hope\,\nand I will live for you and you alone. \nOur kids and their kids will serve you\, LORD;\nas we pass the message down from one generation to the next.\nPeople not even born yet will hear the story;\nthey will be told of what you have done to set us free. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Romans 4: 13-25			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	When God promised Abraham that he and his descendants would inherit the earth\, it was not because Abraham had earned it by following God’s instructions to the letter. Instead it was a gift given when God put things right for Abraham in response to the trust he had shown. If it were possible to earn the rights to the earth by rigid compliance with the law\, then basic values like trust and promise would be irrelevant. It would all become just another legal contract to be negotiated. Tie it all up in fine print and it will only end up serving as evidence against you; but where the relationship is conducted on the basis of trust\, no one goes on the lookout for very possible breach. \nSo instead of being a legal matter\, the fulfilment of the promise is conditional only on people’s willingness to put their trust in God. It is simply an expression of God’s generosity\, and that’s why it is guaranteed to always be available to everyone. Whether you were raised in a culture where observing the religious law was the norm\, or whether you have simply stepped out and put your trust in God like Abraham did\, the promise is open to you. After all\, both groups can rightly trace their line back to Abraham\, and the scriptures say that God promised to make him the father of many nations. \nWhen it looked like Abraham wouldn’t ever become the father of anyone\, he trusted his future into the hands of God\, believing that the God who can bring life out of death could create something out of nothing. He hung onto his hope even when it seemed utterly hopeless. He kept on believing that he would have many descendants because he was sure that God had promised him that. Even the cold hard biological facts didn’t cause him to throw in the towel. He knew that his hundred year old body was past it\, and that Sarah was an old woman who hadn’t even been fertile when she was young. Yet he didn’t allow even such obvious obstacles to break down his trust and make him cynical about God’s promise. Instead his faith actually grew stronger as he went right on crowing about the greatness of God. He remained dead-set certain that God was more than capable of making good on the promise. That is why God counted his trust as the equivalent of a perfect life. Now when the scriptures say “it was counted as the equivalent of a perfect life”\, it is not speaking of a special arrangement for Abraham alone. No\, it refers to all of us. We will all be accepted on that same basis if we too put our trust in the One who raised Jesus our Lord to new life from the dead. Jesus was put to death even though it was us who had done the wrong thing; but he was raised to new life so that we could be put right with God. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 8: 31-38			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Once his followers had identified him as the Messiah\, Jesus began to fill them in on what was going to happen to him. “The New Human is going to be put through the wringer. He’ll be done over by the politicians\, the priests and the religious lawyers. They’ll have him executed\, but after three days he’ll rise to life.” \nHe didn’t beat about the bush on this – he spelt it out as clear as you like. But Peter would have none of it. He pulled Jesus aside and gave him a piece of his mind. Recognising that his followers were losing the plot\, Jesus made an example of Peter\, saying\, “Get out of my face\, you satan! You’ve got no idea what God is on about. You’re just pursuing the same things as everyone else.” \nThen he called everyone to gather round – his followers and the whole crowd – and he said to them\, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to hand over the keys\, sign their own death warrant\, and then do as I do. If you try to hold on to control of your life you’ll end up losing the lot. But if you let go\, even if you pay the ultimate price for your commitment to me and to our message\, you’ll gain real life. What’s the point of getting control of the whole world if getting it kills you. There’s no trade-in on a burned out soul. There are some who find it embarrassing to be associated with me and with what I’m on about\, when they’re hanging around with their deceitful and easily distracted peers. If they don’t sort themselves out\, they’ll find that when the New Human arrives\, full of the glory of God and surrounded by the angels\, he’ll be too embarrassed to associate with them.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 9: 2-9 (alternative gospel if the last Sunday before Lent was not observed as Transfiguration)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus took Peter\, James and John and led them up a high mountain away from everyone else. Before their very eyes\, the way Jesus looked was suddenly changed from the inside out. His clothing became so white that it was dazzling – an effect beyond anything soap powder could ever achieve. Suddenly they saw Moses and Elijah there too\, in deep conversation with Jesus. \nPeter said\, “Boss\, this is fantastic! What a moment! How about we knock up three huts\, so that you\, Moses and Elijah can all stay here longer.” He was just shooting his mouth off without thinking because they were quaking in their boots. \nAn awesome cloud engulfed them\, and from deep within the cloud\, a voice boomed forth: “This is my Son\, the love of my life. Listen to him!” \nPeter\, James and John looked around and suddenly everything looked normal again and they saw no one there but Jesus. \nAs they were coming back down the mountain\, Jesus gave them strict instructions not to breathe a word to anyone about about what they had seen\, until after the New Human had risen from the dead. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor\, in an everlasting covenant\, you have promised\nto be our God through all generations. \nYou called into existence things that did not exist:\nthe universe and all that inhabits it.\nFrom Abraham and Sarah you brought forth nations\,\ncalling them to walk before you in the righteousness\nthat comes from faith. \nIn your Son\, Jesus\,\nyou showed your compassion for the afflicted\nand taught us that real life is found by those\nwho lose their life for your sake and for your gospel.\nHe was rejected by the religious leaders\, and killed\,\nbut three days later\,\nyou raised him from the dead as Lord.\nNow you justify all\nwho put their faith in you\, through him\,\ncounting it to us as righteousness\,\nand promising us the full riches of your grace\nwhen Christ comes in glory. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your everlasting covenant\,\nthrough which you justify us when we put our faith in you\,\ncounting it to us as righteousness\,\nand calling us to take up our cross and follow Christ\nin the way that leads to life. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor\, in an everlasting covenant\, you have promised\nto be our God through all generations. \nYou called into existence things that did not exist:\nthe universe and all that inhabits it.\nFrom Abraham and Sarah you brought forth nations\,\ncalling them to walk before you in the righteousness\nthat comes from faith. \nIn your Son\, Jesus\,\nyou showed your compassion for the afflicted\nand taught us that real life is found by those\nwho lose their life for your sake and for your gospel.\nHe was rejected by the religious leaders\, and killed\,\nbut three days later\,\nyou raised him from the dead as Lord.\nNow you justify all\nwho put their faith in you\, through him\,\ncounting it to us as righteousness\,\nand promising us the full riches of your grace\nwhen Christ comes in glory. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus Christ was handed over to death for us\nand raised to life for our justification.\nTherefore\, in an everlasting covenant\,\nGod has promised that all who put their trust in Christ\nwill\, by grace\, be considered righteous. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and live before God in openness and integrity.\nSet your minds on the ways of God\,\nnot clinging to your own life\,\nbut taking up your cross and following Jesus. \nAnd may God give you a share in the eternal covenant;\nMay Christ Jesus be proud of you when he comes in glory;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit make you grow strong in faith\nand lead you in the ways of righteousness. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nTrusting God\, and other impossibilitiesA sermon on Genesis 17:1-7\, 15-16 & Romans 4:13-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAbraham hung onto his hopeA sermon on Genesis 17:1-7\, 15-16 & Romans 4:13-25 by Sylvia Sandeman\n\n\n\nOffspring of the CovenantA sermon on Genesis 17:7 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Game-ChangerA sermon on Romans 4:13-25 & Mark 8:31-38 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Promised Holy Land?A sermon on Genesis 17:1-7\, 15-16 & Romans 4:13-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNot Hiding Your Face From InjusticeA sermon on Psalm 22 & Mark 8:31-38 by Brooke Prentis\n\n\n\nNot Feeling Rejected Enough?A sermon on Mark 8:31-38 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b19/2030-03-17/
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300325T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300325T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T043818
CREATED:20200807T012716Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260315T041951Z
UID:10003007-1900627200-1900713599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:The Feast of the Annunciation
DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections 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. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Isaiah 7: 10-14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The LORD sent word to King Ahaz of Judah\, saying: \nI\, the LORD your God\, will give you a sign so that you can be sure that it is really me who is sending you this promise of safety. What sign do you want? Something dramatic\, deep the earth or high in the sky? You name it\, and I’ll do it. \nBut Ahaz refused\, saying\, “I will ask no such thing. Far be it from me to demand guarantees from the LORD.” So Isaiah the prophet spoke on behalf of the LORD\, saying: \nThen get this into your head\, you who rule from David’s throne. Haven’t you made enough people sick and tired of your weak-as-water religious posturing? Do you have to try it on with God as well?! Well\, the Lord is going to go ahead and give you a sign anyway. Check this out: there is a girl who is pregnant. She will give birth to a baby boy and he will be given the name Emmanuel\, which means ‘God is with us.’ \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 45 (alternative)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	My heart overflows with words of delight;\na song of love bursts forth for the king;\nmy voice as charmed as the poet’s pen. \nYou\, my king\, are a man of unsurpassed beauty.\nEvery word that passes your lips is generous and inspiring.\nGod’s richest blessings are yours forever. \nWarrior\, present yourself armed and in uniform\,\nin all your splendour and majesty.\nRide forth in glory\, the pride of your people\,\nto defend the cause of truth and justice. \nMay your arm be strong and your skills razor sharp;\nmay every blow land with telling effect\,\npiercing the opposition to your righteous reign\,\nbringing to their knees the enemies of life. \nYour throne is God-given\, and will never be shaken.\nYour royal power is wielded for justice.\nYou have a passion for integrity\nand a loathing for corruption.\nTherefore God has chosen you above all others\,\ncrowned you with joy like no other has known. \nRich and exotic fragrances cascade from your royal robes\,\nand your palace is alive with music and dancing.\nThe daughters of kings wait on you\, hand and foot;\nand on your arm is your chosen bride in a gown of liquid gold. \nO chosen daughter\, bride of the king\, listen to my advice:\nleave your father’s home and don’t look back\nfor the king is wild with desire for you.\nWhat more could you want? Abandon yourself to him!\nWedding gifts will arrive from every nation\,\nthe wealthy outdo each other with their presents. \nThe inner beauty of your bride\, O king\,\noutshines even her wedding gown\,\nwoven with gold and sparkling with jewels.\nIn dazzling beauty she is brought to you\nwith her chosen bridesmaids at hand.\nJoy and laughter process in with her\,\nand the whole palace erupts with elation. \nSoon you will have children\, continuing your family line\,\nand the thrones of the earth will be theirs.\nNo one will ever forget you\,\nyour fame will inspire generation after generation\,\nand songs will be sung in praise of you forever and ever. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 40: 5-10 (alternative)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You are in a league of your own\, LORD God;\nnothing and no one comes within a bull’s roar of you!\nI can’t keep track of all the amazing things you’ve done\nor all the generous plans you’ve made for us.\nI could talk about them till the cows came home\nand still have barely scratched the surface. \nYou are not looking for gifts from us\, LORD;\nnothing we own is any use to you;\nYour generosity and mercy are not for sale;\nbut you have given us ears and asked us to listen. \nSo I am giving you my “Yes!”\nI’ll make your book my own and live by it.\nDoing what pleases you will be my greatest delight\,\nfor you are my God and I’m taking your ways to heart. \nWhen all your people gathered\,\nI spoke up about how you had bailed me out.\nI gave them the full story; I left nothing out;\nyou know this is true\, LORD. \nI have made no secret of the help you gave me;\nI have put it all out in the open.\nI have told everyone how you saved my life\nand how we can trust you completely.\nI have put it all on the public record\nand kept nothing to myself\nabout your rock-solid love or dependability. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Hebrews 10: 4-10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The old system of dealing with sin just wasn’t up to the job. There is no way that the blood of sacrificed animals could fix the problem. Because of this\, Christ came into the world saying\, \n“God\, you don’t want more sacrifices and offerings.\nI know you get no pleasure from all that stuff\,\neven when it’s done sincerely and by the book.\nBut you have prepared a body for me\, God\,\nand I come now to do what you really want\,\nfor it is what I do that is really ‘by the book’. \nDo you see what he’s saying there? He’s saying that God gets neither satisfaction nor pleasure from all the different kinds of offerings that the law prescribed for sin and for various other things. And he’s going further than that because he’s saying that he’s here to do what God really wants. This is a total change over. He is abolishing the previous system and putting a new one in place. So now\, according to what God really wanted\, Jesus has dealt with sin once and for all\, at the cost of his own body\, and brought us all up to scratch for God. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 1: 26-38			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God sent the angel Gabriel to a town called Nazareth in the region of Galilee\, to speak to a young woman named Mary. Mary was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph\, whose family line went back to King David. The angel approached Mary and said\, “Hello there! You’ve got it made! The Lord is with you and has chosen you.” \nBut Mary was freaking out over this and didn’t know what to make of the angel’s words\, so he spoke to her again\, saying\, “There is no need to be frightened\, Mary. God is smiling on you. Look what God is about to do: a child will be conceived in your womb. You will give birth to a baby boy\, and you will name him Jesus. He will have a great future\, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will put him on the throne established by his ancestor David. He will lead God’s people forever\, establishing a culture that will never die out.” \nMary replied\, “How can this possibly happen? I am still a virgin.” \nThe angel said to her\, “The Holy Spirit will take hold of you\, and the life-force of the Most High will enfold you. Therefore the child that is born will belong to God\, and will be called God’s Son. Check it out: your wrinkly old relative Elizabeth is also carrying a baby boy in her womb. Even when she was young she was infertile\, but now she is six months pregnant. It just goes to show that when God gets involved\, nothing will ever be impossible.” \nSo Mary said\, “Okay. Count me in. I’m at the service of the Lord. Let these things happen to me just as you have said.” \nAnd with that\, the angel was gone. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nAnnunciationA sermon on Luke 1: 26-55\, 2 Samuel 7: 1-16 & Romans 16:25-27 by Marita Munro\n\n\n\nThe Conception of GodA sermon on Luke 1:26-38 & 2 Samuel 7: 1-11\, 16 by  Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nVirginA sermon on Luke 1:26-35\, 38 by Alison Sampson
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc44/2030-03-25/
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