BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//LaughingBird - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://laughingbird.net X-WR-CALDESC:Events for LaughingBird REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Melbourne BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20260404T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20261003T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20270403T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20271002T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20280401T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20280930T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002524-1798761600-1798847999@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/abc08/2027-01-01/2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002604-1798761600-1798847999@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/abc08/2027-01-01/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002628-1798761600-1798847999@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/abc08/2027-01-01/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002652-1798761600-1798847999@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/abc08/2027-01-01/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002676-1798761600-1798847999@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/abc08/2027-01-01/2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20250208T235923Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T004614Z UID:10002170-1798761600-1798847999@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/abc07/2027-01-01/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/07.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270106T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270106T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20220904T231506Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260208T003529Z UID:10001913-1799193600-1799279999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:The Feast of the Epiphany 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 60:1-6 \n \n\n \n \n \n On your feet\, people of God! Let everyone see you!\nThe glory of the LORD\nhas set you aglow with light\nlike the sunrise on the rock. \nDarkness overpowers the earth and its peoples\,\nblinding them\, weighing them down;\nbut for you the sun always shines\,\nbecause the LORD has lit up your lives with glory. \nAs the brightness of your light intensifies\,\nnations and their rulers will be drawn to you\nlike moths to a flame. \nOpen your eyes! Look around you!\nThe crowds are streaming towards you.\nEveryone is coming\,\neven the children you thought had gone forever. \nWhat a sight for sore eyes!\nYou’ll be elated and proud – positively aglow.\nYou’ll be showered with gifts by those who arrive\,\npriceless gifts from overseas and around the world. \nThey’ll arrive by the truckload from everywhere\,\nfrom places rich and exotic and mysterious.\nPeople will bring gold and frankincense\,\nand lavish their praise on the LORD. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 72:1-7\, 10-14 \n \n\n \n \n \n Send us a wise ruler\, O God\,\none who takes after you in justice and honesty;\none who does the right thing by everybody\,\nand is vigilant in ensuring justice for the poor;\none who will stand up for the disadvantaged\,\nprovide a way out of the poverty trap\,\nand stomp on those who exploit the vulnerable. \nThen the whole land will know prosperity and integrity;\nthe mountains\, the valleys\, the hills\, the plains. \nSend us a wise ruler\, O God\,\nwho will outlive the sun and moon\,\nwho will rule forever\, generation after generation. \nMay your chosen one give life to the land\nlike the spring rains in the wheat country.\nMay the people yield a bumper crop of honesty\,\nand may peace be as dependable\nas the southern cross in the night sky. \nGive your chosen one the top ranking in all the world\,\ndeferred to and revered\nby every other monarch\, president and governor.\nMay they all feel compelled to pay homage\,\nto come bearing gifts\, priceless and exotic\,\nand to put themselves and their nations\nat the service of your chosen one. \nAll this is only right for the one who rescues those in need\,\nand has compassion for the homeless and the refugees;\nwho champions the cause of the forgotten and the spurned\,\nand guarantees the lives of the powerless;\nwho rescues those subjected to violence and oppression\,\nand treasures their lives\, each and every one. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Ephesians 3:1-12 \n \n\n \n \n \n      I\, Paul\, am in jail for my commitment to Jesus Christ\, or more particularly\, for my efforts on Christ’s behalf to break down the walls that kept you Gentiles separated from his people. No doubt you have heard about how God\, in an amazing act of generosity\, assigned me to this job. You’ve also heard - since I just told you a page or so back - about how God let me in on this mystery directly. If you go back and read over what I said about this earlier\, you too will be able to understand what God has shown me concerning the mystery of Christ. No previous generation was ever given the opportunity to begin unravelling this mystery. The whole human race was in the dark about it until now. Now though\, the Holy Spirit is bringing it all out into the open through Christ’s chosen leaders and messengers. And\, in a nutshell\, this is what it is all about: the Gentiles are God’s chosen people too! Those who have had no previous contact with God’s people have exactly the same right of access to God as those who can trace their bloodline back to Abraham. There is only one body of people who will inherit all that God has promised\, and Jesus Christ has opened it up to everybody\, regardless of their origins. No more segregation - Christ has put the welcome mat out for everyone.\n    I’ve taken on the job of getting this message out into the public arena. I still can’t get over how generous God was in trusting me with the job and equipping me for it. Of the available candidates\, you wouldn’t have thought I’d have even made the short list\, but in an act of reckless good will\, God gave me the tap on the shoulder. So now I have the privilege of letting the Gentiles know that they too can share in the inexhaustible riches and extravagant generosity of Christ. God\, who created everything\, had always had this plan in mind\, but now I have the privilege of giving everyone else their first look at it! The wisdom of God has more angles and aspects than the finest diamond\, and more than any one person or group could every comprehend\, but through the church it is all being opened up. Through ordinary congregations of believers like you\, the powers of the universe and the authorities of the spiritual world are being schooled in God’s ways! God had always planned for it to be this way\, and the plan was put into effect through the actions of Jesus Christ our Lord. It is because we trust him that we now have the confidence to deal directly with God and the courage to live accordingly. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 2:1-12 \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus was born in Bethlehem\, in the territory of Judea\, during the reign of King Herod. Some time after his birth\, a group of eastern mystics turned up in Jerusalem looking for him. “Where can we find the child who has been born to be the king of the Jews?” they asked. “We observed the appearance of the star that heralds his birth\, and so we have come all this way to pay our respects.”\nWhen King Herod heard this\, he went berserk\, and when Herod was agitated\, everybody in Jerusalem was on edge. Pulling himself together\, he called in the city’s top priests and religious scholars and asked them whereabouts the Messiah was supposed to be born. They were in no doubt: “Bethlehem in Judea\,” they said. “The prophet Micah spelt it out quite clearly: \n‘Bethlehem in Judea\, you’re it!\nI’m going to put you on the map!\nYou will be the home town of my chosen ruler\,\nthe one who will lead my people on the right track.’” \nHaving sorted that out\, Herod met behind closed doors with the visiting mystics and pumped them for information about exactly when the star had first appeared. He then gave them directions to Bethlehem and sent them on their way\, saying\, “Go\, and leave no stone unturned until you find the child. When you’ve found him\, drop me a line so that I can come down and pay my respects too.”\nSo\, having gained this information from the king\, they hit the road. As they did\, they spotted the star again\, the same one they had first seen appear. Taking a line from the star\, they were able to track down the exact place where the child was. Their search was finally at an end\, and they were over the moon! They were allowed into the house and there they saw him\, a little child in the arms of his mother\, Mary. Overcome with awe\, they fell to their knees in reverent wonder before the child. From their luggage\, they gave him exotic gifts of gold\, aromatic frankincense\, and myrrh.\nThey were warned in a dream to avoid contacting Herod\, so they kept a low profile and took the back roads out of Judea as they began their journey home to their own country. \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 are the fulfilment of all our searching. \nSince the time you created all things\nyou have had a plan\n— hidden in mystery through the ages —\nto draw all the world into one body\,\nand to share with all peoples your promises of glory. \nAnd now the light has risen\,\nthe mystery is made known:\nyour beloved child\, Jesus\, is revealed to the whole world\nas Saviour and Redeemer\,\nand as the King who reigns in justice and peace.\nYou made him known first\nto the magi from the east\,\nwho came to pay him homage\,\nthough they knew of him only what the silent stars could tell. \nAnd now\, you draw us again to the feet of Jesus\n— the crucified and risen Christ —\nto offer our gifts of praise to the light 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 give you thanks for your beloved child\, Jesus\,\nwho you made known to the magi from the east\,\nwho knew of him only what the silent stars could tell.\nYou have drawn us again to his feet\nand in him we have found the fulfilment of all our searching. \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\nGracious God\, our hearts rejoice in your presence\,\nas we give you our thanks and praise\,\nfor you are the fulfilment of all our searching. \nSince the time you created all things\nyou have had a plan\n— hidden in mystery through the ages —\nto draw all the world into one body\,\nand to share with all peoples your promises of glory. \nAnd now the light has risen\,\nthe mystery is made known:\nyour beloved child\, Jesus\, is revealed to the whole world\nas Saviour and Redeemer\,\nand as the King who reigns in justice and peace.\nYou made him known first\nto the magi from the east\,\nwho came to pay him homage\,\nthough they knew of him only what the silent stars could tell. \nAnd now\, you draw us again to the feet of Jesus\n— the crucified and risen Christ —\nto offer our gifts of praise to the light 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©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n God has declared that through our union with Christ\nand through our faith in him\nwe may enter God’s presence with all confidence.\nOur sins are no longer held against us\,\nGod’s grace has been given to us. \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\, seek out the Christ wherever he may be found\,\nand share the good news with all who bear him no ill will.\nBring light to those in thick darkness\,\na voice to those no one speaks for\,\nand hope to those no one cares for. \nAnd may God make you a sharer in the promised light.\nMay Christ Jesus fill you with his sense of what is right.\nAnd may the Holy Spirit be to you like rain\nthat gives life to the fertile earth. \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\nThe Visit of the MagiA sermon on Matthew 2: 1-12 by  Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nShocking NewsA sermon on Matthew 2: 1-12 by  Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGifts that really matterA sermon on Isaiah 60:1-6 & Matthew 2: 1-12 by  Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nComing to LightA sermon on Matthew 2: 1-12 by  Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAn Epiphany TsunamiA sermon on Matthew 2: 1-12 by  Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Little Child\, God Before the AgesA sermon on Matthew 2: 1-12 by  Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Power and the KingsA sermon on Matthew 2:1-12; Isaiah 60:1-6 & Ephesians 3:1-12 by  Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nEpiphany and the Hope of UnityA sermon for the Feast of Epiphany by Fr Abel van der Veer\n\n\n\nMay a Multitude of Camels Cover You!A sermon on Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12 & Matthew 2:1-12 by Fr Richard Treloar\n\n\n\nSearchingA sermon on Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7\,10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12 & Matthew 2:1-12 by Fr Sam Goodes\n\n\n\nThe Feast of EpiphanyA sermon on Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12 & Matthew 2:1-12 by the Revd Marilyn Hope\n\n\n\nWilde Fairytales and Epiphany LightA sermon for the Feast of Epiphany by Fr Matthew Dowsey\n\n\n\nBy a Different RouteA sermon on Isaiah 60:1-6\, Matthew 2: 1-12 & Ephesians 3:1-12 by the Revd Roxanne Addley\n\n\n\nGifts to be ReceivedA sermon for the Feast of Epiphany by the Revd Dr Craig D’Alton\n\n\n\nBrought to LightA sermon on Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12 & Matthew 2:1-12 by  Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGenerous LightA sermon on Matthew 2: 1-12 by  Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc10/2027-01-06/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/10.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270110T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270110T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200728T014407Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003410Z UID:10002950-1799539200-1799625599@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/b11/2027-01-10/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/11.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270110T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270110T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200728T014407Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240204T121811Z UID:10001481-1799539200-1799625599@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/b11/2027-01-10/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/11.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270117T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270117T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200729T011820Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240211T105318Z UID:10001483-1800144000-1800230399@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/b12/2027-01-17/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/12.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270117T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270117T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200729T011820Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003410Z UID:10002948-1800144000-1800230399@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/b12/2027-01-17/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/12.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270124T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270124T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200730T011518Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240304T023901Z UID:10001485-1800748800-1800835199@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/b13/2027-01-24/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/13.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270124T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270124T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200730T011518Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003409Z UID:10002946-1800748800-1800835199@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/b13/2027-01-24/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/13.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270131T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270131T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200731T080327Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240225T121735Z UID:10001487-1801353600-1801439999@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/b14/2027-01-31/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/14.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270131T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270131T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200731T080327Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003409Z UID:10002944-1801353600-1801439999@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/b14/2027-01-31/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/14.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270202T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270202T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200801T111224Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260301T050159Z UID:10001492-1801526400-1801612799@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/abc43/2027-02-02/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/43.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270207T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270207T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200802T133646Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003409Z UID:10002942-1801958400-1802044799@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/b15/2027-02-07/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/15.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270207T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270207T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200802T133646Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T020752Z UID:10001495-1801958400-1802044799@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/b15/2027-02-07/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/15.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270207T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270207T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20200804T022117Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240312T021946Z UID:10001501-1801958400-1802044799@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/b16/2027-02-07/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/16.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270210T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270210T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080019 CREATED:20250301T130714Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260322T012007Z UID:10002193-1802217600-1802303999@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/abc17/2027-02-10/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/17.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270214T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270214T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080020 CREATED:20200805T034657Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240318T114716Z UID:10001509-1802563200-1802649599@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/b18/2027-02-14/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/18.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270214T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270214T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080020 CREATED:20200805T034657Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003409Z UID:10002940-1802563200-1802649599@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/b18/2027-02-14/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/18.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270221T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270221T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080020 CREATED:20200805T041954Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240324T102953Z UID:10001511-1803168000-1803254399@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/b19/2027-02-21/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/19.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270228T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270228T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080020 CREATED:20200806T030148Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240331T083250Z UID:10001513-1803772800-1803859199@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:3rd 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 Exodus 20: 1-17 \n \n\n \n \n \n God spoke the following words to the people: \nI am the LORD your God; the one who brought you out of the land where you were oppressed\, and freed you from a life of slavery. You are not to have any other gods ahead of me. \nYou are not to make anything else into an object of devotion ahead of me. I don’t care whether it is some heavenly presence\, or something in the world around you\, or something deep at the centre of everything; you are not to dedicate yourself to such things or to worship them. I am the LORD your God\, and I want your undivided love. If people reject me\, they will cop the consequences for their betrayal\, and their children will be copping it for several generations to come. But those who love me and live by my instructions will enjoy my rock-solid love and loyalty for a thousand generations. \nYou are not to exploit my name. I am the LORD your God\, and I will not let anyone get away with dragging my name through the mud. \nKeep up the practice of making Saturday a dedicated rest day. You are to work on your business\, projects\, and chores on the other six days\, and keep the seventh day as a rest day\, dedicated to me\, the LORD your God. You are not to do any work that day\, and you are not to ask anyone else to work either — not your family\, not your employees\, not the migrant workers who live down the street\, and not even your animals. I am the LORD\, and I spent six days making the earth\, sea and sky and everything in them\, and then took the seventh day off. That is why I made the dedicated rest day so special\, and set it apart as a sacred day. \nTreat those who have raised you with due respect\, and your future will be secure in the land that I\, the LORD your God\, am giving you. \nDo not kill anyone. \nDo not engage in any relationship that betrays or trivialises anyone. \nDo not steal what rightly belongs to others. \nDo not sacrifice the truth about someone else in order to win your case. \nDo not desire things that belong to other people. Do not go wishing you could get your hands on someone else’s home or lover or employees or assets or anything else. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 19 \n \n\n \n \n \n Your glory is written in the sky\, God;\nyour artistry is carved on the face of the earth.\nFrom one day to another\, the message passes on\,\nand each night puts the next one in the know. \nNot a word is spoken\,\nnot a sound do they make;\nyet their silence reverberates around the earth\nand their unspoken message echoes from pole to pole. \nYou made the sun at home flying across the sky.\nIt takes to its task with the eagerness of a bridegroom;\nas exultant as an athlete breasting the tape.\nAs your messenger\, God\, it does its rounds\,\nfrom one end of the sky to the other\,\nwarming everything in its path. \nYour revealed will is right on the mark\, LORD;\nit gives our souls their second wind.\nWhat you says goes\,\nand any fool can wise up by taking note. \nYour instructions are spot on\, LORD;\nanyone who follows them will be glad they did.\nWhat you direct us to do is easy to see\,\nand once seen\, everything become clear. \nRespect for you keeps us true\, LORD\,\nnothing can corrupt it\, now or ever.\nWhat you decide is always accurate;\na fair ruling\, beyond dispute. \nYour Word is worth far more\nthan even diamond encrusted gold!\nIt is sweeter by far\nthan any mouth watering delicacy\,\neven chocolate dipped strawberries with cream! \nBut that’s not all!\nYour Word\, O LORD\, keeps me out of danger\,\nand following it pays off richly. \nCan anyone put their finger on all their own faults?\nLORD\, eradicate the bugs I haven’t even identified yet. \nRemind me not to entertain sour contemptuous thoughts\,\nand don’t let them start pulling my strings.\nWithout them\, I can stay on course\,\nand keep my record clean. \nThat’s what I want\, O LORD.\nI want all the things I say\,\nand all the things I mull over in my heart\,\nto be things I’d be proud to offer to you\,\nfor you are the bedrock of my life;\nthe one who puts me back where I belong. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 1 Corinthians 1: 18-25 \n \n\n \n \n \n The message about the cross sounds like a lot of mindless cock-and-bull to those who have thrown their lot in with this present world order and are going down with the ship. But to those of us who are being saved from that\, it is nothing less than the power of God! God spoke about this in the Scriptures: \n“I will expose the brilliant insights of your experts\nand the wise counsel of your gurus;\nI will expose them for what they really are\,\na load of codswallop!” \nSo where are the intellectuals now? Where are the religious experts? Where are those who have an answer for everything? What have they got to show for all their cleverness now that God has turned all the conventional wisdom on its head and made it look foolish? Seeing that no amount of human cleverness had ever woken anybody up to God’s ways\, God made the wise decision to use something that seemed utterly foolish to everyone — our preaching! — to rescue those who would trust the message. Most people want something more than this. Those with a religious world view demand to see miraculous signs to prove that it is from God. Those with a modern rational world view insist that it should have to prove its intellectual credibility. But what we are preaching is a Messiah who was strung up and killed. The religious people find this unthinkable\, and the intellectuals regard it as primitive nonsense; but to those who have heard the call of God\, whatever their background\, it is the ultimate good news of God’s chosen one — as miraculous and profound as one could ever wish for! When it’s all said and done\, the sum total of the human race’s intellectual achievements don’t even begin to stack up against the foolishness of God; and the combined force of all the world’s powers is puny in comparison to the weakness of God. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 2: 13-22 \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus travelled up to Jerusalem shortly before the Jewish religious festival known as Passover. He walked into the Temple and found people selling the cattle\, sheep and pigeons required for the religious sacrifices. He also saw the money changers seated at their tables supplying the required currency for the temple taxes. Jesus grabbed a length of rope and\, wielding it like a stock-whip\, drove them all out of the Temple and trashed their stalls. It was bedlam\, with cattle and sheep going in all directions and coins spilling everywhere as he kicked over the money changer’s tables and shouted at those selling the pigeons\, saying\, “Get those things out of here. Stop treating my Father’s house like a shopping mall!” \nIt reminded his followers of the passage of scripture that says\, “I will be consumed by passion for your house.” \nThe Jewish authorities were soon on the scene demanding to know whether he could produce any evidence that his actions were authorised. Jesus answered them\, “Tear down this temple\, and in three days I will raise it back up.” \nThe authorities snorted\, “The construction of this temple has taken forty-six years\, and it’s still not finished. Are you so out-of-your-tree that you think you could rebuild it in three days?” \nOf course\, Jesus was really describing his own body as the new temple. After he had been raised from the dead\, his followers remembered that he had said this\, and it reinforced their belief in the words of scripture and in the words spoken by Jesus. \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 the Word of your cross\, though appearing foolish\,\nis the power and wisdom which save us. \nYou created the universe;\nthe skies tell of your glory\nand the earth bears witness to your steadfast love.\nYou brought your people from slavery to freedom\nand gave your holy commandments through Moses;\nwords that guide the simple and sharpen vision\,\nreviving the soul and delighting the heart. \nWhen the world\, in its sophistication and pride\,\nmade an idol of money\nand a marketplace of your temple\,\nusing your name only to boost profits\,\nyou sent your Son\, Jesus Christ\,\nfilled with zeal for your honour.\nHe was torn down by the fury of evil and corruption\,\nbut rose again in three days\,\nforever establishing the foolishness and weakness of God\nas the pathway of life and salvation. \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 Christ\,\nwho came\, filled with zeal for your honour\,\nand revealed to us that the way of the cross\,\nwhich\, though appearing weak foolish to the world\,\nis the power and wisdom which save us. \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 the Word of your cross\, though appearing foolish\,\nis the power and wisdom which save us. \nYou created the universe;\nthe skies tell of your glory\nand the earth bears witness to your steadfast love.\nYou brought your people from slavery to freedom\nand gave your holy commandments through Moses;\nwords that guide the simple and sharpen vision\,\nreviving the soul and delighting the heart. \nWhen the world\, in its sophistication and pride\,\nmade an idol of money\nand a marketplace of your temple\,\nusing your name only to boost profits\,\nyou sent your Son\, Jesus Christ\,\nfilled with zeal for your honour.\nHe was torn down by the fury of evil and corruption\,\nbut rose again in three days\,\nforever establishing the foolishness and weakness of God\nas the pathway of life and salvation. \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 The message of the cross is the power of God to salvation.\nThough faults hide within us\,\nthrough Christ crucified\,\nGod forgives us and frees us from blame for sin. \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\, with God’s foolishness and weakness\nas your only wisdom and strength.\nProclaim Christ crucified\,\nand seek riches only in the love of God’s Word\nand in zeal for God’s house. \nAnd may God’s just demands be your nourishment & delight.\nMay Christ be the power and wisdom of God to you.\nAnd may the Holy Spirit keep you\, thought and word\,\nin God’s good 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\nWhen Jesus Takes OffenceA sermon on John 2:13-22 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Question of IdentityA sermon on Exodus 20:1-17 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nVery Busy\, Very Important?A sermon on Psalm 19 & Exodus 20:1-17 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nUpending Our TablesA sermon loosely connected to John 2:13-22 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nObjects of DesireA sermon on Exodus 20:1-17 & John 2:13-22 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b20/2027-02-28/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/20.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270307T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270307T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080020 CREATED:20200806T030204Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240407T051400Z UID:10001515-1804377600-1804463999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:4th 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 Numbers 21: 4-9 \n \n\n \n \n \n The people of Israel wanted to skirt around the land of Edom\, so when they set out from Mount Hor they took the Red Sea track. As they travelled\, the people began losing the plot and mouthing off against God and Moses. They were whinging\, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt if we are just going to die out here in the desert? There is no food. There is no water. And we can’t stand this lousy stuff we’ve got to eat.” \nAt that\, the LORD let loose some dangerous snakes among the people. The snakes had a fiery venom and many people were bitten and died. The people came to Moses and pleaded with him\, saying\, “We were wrong to mouth off against the LORD and against you. Please ask the LORD to get rid of the poisonous snakes that are plaguing us.” \nSo Moses prayed for the the people\, and the LORD spoke to him\, saying\, “Make a statue of a poisonous snake\, and set it up on a pole where the people can see it. Whenever anyone is bitten\, they are to look at the statue of the snake\, and they will survive.” \nSo Moses made a snake out of bronze\, and set it up on a pole. Whenever anyone was bitten by one of the snakes with the fiery venom\, they would fix their gaze on the bronze snake\, and they would live. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 107: 1-3\, 17-22 \n \n\n \n \n \n Thank you\, LORD! Thank you for being so good.\nYour rock-solid love will never end. \nLORD\, we freely and openly acknowledge\nthat it was you who got us out of trouble;\nyou who put us back on the right track.\nYou gathered us from the four corners of the globe\,\nfrom wherever we had been lost or exiled. \nSome of us had wrecked our health in destructive living;\ninvolvement in evil left us sick and injured.\nWe were off our food\, weak and broken;\na painful death was knocking at the door. \nIn sheer despair\, we cried out to you\, LORD\,\nand in a flash\, you came to our rescue.\nYour words healed us; got us back on our feet;\npulled us free of the jaws of death. \nSo let us tell you how grateful we are\, LORD.\nThank you for your rock-solid love\nand for the great things you do for everyone;\nLet us bring gifts to say thank you\,\nand sing and dance to celebrate what you’ve done. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Ephesians 2: 1-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n You were as good as dead as a result of the corrupt and loveless ways you were living. You were following the script written for these dark days we live in\, and taking your cues from the spirit who rules over the murky and polluted atmosphere that surrounds us; the one who is busy pulling the strings of those who have refused to do things God’s way. There was a time when all of us were numbered among that lot\, and we were living as slaves to our basic bodily appetites. The desire for selfish pleasures and sensual stimulation dictated everything we did\, and we were like screwed up kids who seem destined for trouble; just as bad as everyone else. But because God is so rich in mercy\, that was not the end of the story. God’s love for us was undiminished even when our twisted behaviour had completely destroyed our lives\, and so God gave us another shot at life\, a new life\, united to Christ. This was motivated by God’s overwhelming love for us\, and it was clearly an act of sheer generosity that saw us rescued into the life of God. Indeed\, God did not merely snatch us from the grave\, but raised us up with Jesus the Messiah and united us to him so fully that\, in him\, we are now seated with God in the heavenly places. This act of kindness\, shown to us in and through Jesus the Messiah\, will stand forever as proof that God’s extravagant love and generosity are far richer than we could ever fathom. In fact it is only because God’s generous mercy is so over-the-top that God responded to your trust and saved you. You did nothing to deserve it or bring it about. It is a gift\, given by God. It is not something you earned by doing the right thing\, so there is absolutely nothing for anyone to go patting themselves on the back for. You see\, we are simply what God has made us. We have been created in union with Jesus the Messiah to work for good — a task that provides the focus for the way of life which God prepared for us from the word ‘go’. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 3: 14-21 \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus said: \n“You know the old story from the desert: the one about Moses lifting up the hand-made snake so that the people could look at something that would help them to focus their trust in God. Well\, the New Human is going to be lifted up for much the same reason. Everyone who looks up to him in trust and hope will receive life without limit. \n“God’s love for the world is so overwhelming that even giving up his own son was not too great a cost to ensure that no one need succumb to death. All those who put their trust in him can have boundless life instead. \n“God didn’t put his son’s life on the line merely to bring down the hammer and pass sentence on us. Rather\, God saw the world in desperate trouble and sent the Son on a cosmic rescue mission. Those who put their trust in him are no longer facing sentence; but those who turn their backs on him are already condemned\, because they have rejected the only Son of God and all he stands for. This is\, in fact\, the way the judgment is happening: the light has come into the world\, and the truth about everyone is being found out by the way they react to it. Many people beat a fast retreat back into the shadows\, because the things they are doing are so corrupt that they need the cover of darkness. People can’t stand the light if they are doing the wrong thing. They avoid it like the plague because they don’t want the things they do exposed. But those who live by the truth and act with integrity have nothing to hide. They are more than happy to step into the light where it will be plain for all to see that they have been acting in close cooperation with God.” \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 lasting love you gave your only Son\,\nso that all who trust in him may have eternal life. \nIn the beginning you spoke the word of life\nand brought the world into being.\nYou rescued a people from oppression\,\nand even when they rebelled against you\nyou heard their cries and snatched them from danger. \nIn great love and mercy\,\nyou sent your Son\, Jesus\, into the world\,\nand though he was lifted up on the cross to die\,\nyou gave the gift of life to all who turned to him in faith.\nRaising him from the dead\,\nyou have given us life in him\,\nnot because of any works of our own\,\nbut as a gift from the immeasurable riches of your grace\ngiven us in Christ\,\nnow and for the ages to come. \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 immeasurable riches of your grace\nthrough which you sent your Son\, Jesus\, into the world\,\nand allowed him to be lifted up on the cross\,\nso that all who turn to him in faith may have eternal 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 lasting love you gave your only Son\,\nso that all who trust in him may have eternal life. \nIn the beginning you spoke the word of life\nand brought the world into being.\nYou rescued a people from oppression\,\nand even when they rebelled against you\nyou heard their cries and snatched them from danger. \nIn great love and mercy\,\nyou sent your Son\, Jesus\, into the world\,\nand though he was lifted up on the cross to die\,\nyou gave the gift of life to all who turned to him in faith.\nRaising him from the dead\,\nyou have given us life in him\,\nnot because of any works of our own\,\nbut as a gift from the immeasurable riches of your grace\ngiven us in Christ\,\nnow and for the ages to come. \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 did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world\,\nbut in order that through him the world might be saved.\nThough we were dead through our sins\,\nin great mercy\, God has spoken a word of healing\nand made us alive together with 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 live as people made by God for good works.\nLive your life in God openly in the light so all may see.\nCelebrate God’s love with a sacrifice of praise\,\nand tell your story of salvation with joy. \nAnd may God show you the immeasurable riches of his grace.\nMay Christ lead you into the life prepared for you.\nAnd may the Spirit gift you with faith for salvation. \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\nThe Day of Judgment is TodayA sermon on John 3: 14-21 & Ephesians 2: 1-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLooking to the Suffering OneA sermon on John 3: 14-21 & Ephesians 2: 1-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nEnemies of God?A sermon on John 3: 14-21 & Ephesians 2: 1-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGod So LovesA sermon on John 3: 14-21 & Ephesians 2: 1-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFor God So Loved The WorldA sermon on John 3: 14-21 by Simon Holt URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b21/2027-03-07/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/21.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270314T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270314T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080020 CREATED:20200807T020838Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240414T104558Z UID:10001518-1804982400-1805068799@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:5th 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 Jeremiah 31: 31-34 \n \n\n \n \n \n You can count on this\, says the LORD. The time is coming when I will once again take Israel and Judah as my marriage partner. Our marriage will not be like the marriage I entered with their ancestors. Back then I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of slavery and carried them across the threshold into a home of their own. But even though I was loving and faithful\, says the LORD\, they broke our marriage vows. \nBut listen to the new marriage vows I will soon make with the people of Israel\, says the LORD: \n“I will write my values into your hearts and minds.\nI will be your God\, and you will be my people.” \nNo longer will they need lessons to learn how I want them to live. They won’t need to spur each other on\, saying\, “Get to know the LORD\,” because all of them\, from all walks of life\, will know me well\, says the LORD. I will erase all record of their past wrongs and let them start over with a clean slate. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 51: 1-12 (alternative) \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. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 119: 9-16 (alternative) \n \n\n \n \n \n If anyone wants to avoid polluting their life\, LORD\,\nthey should use your word as protection. \nI am giving my all to getting close to you;\ndon’t let me stumble off the track you have set for us. \nEverything you have said\, I treasure in my heart\,\nto keep myself from doing the wrong thing by you. \nYou are the best\, LORD\,\nteach me all you require of your people. \nMy mouth is ready\, willing and able\nto repeat whatever you have to say. \nThe path you have set for us is my greatest delight;\nit is worth more to me than all the money in the world. \nI will keep my mind fixed on your teachings\,\nand my eyes fixed on the track you have set for us. \nI will cherish the rules you have given us\,\nand never forget the things you have to say. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Hebrews 5: 5-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n Christ did not push himself forward and campaign for the position of high priest. It was God who tapped him on the shoulder and said\, in the words of scripture: \n“You’re it — my Son;\ntoday I have named you.” \nIn the same way\, in another place\, God says: \n“You are a priest forever;\nyour task is the priestly work begun by Melchizedek.” \nWhen Jesus was among us and the threat of death was closing in on him\, it was with agonized cries and tears that he did his priestly work of offering up prayers and appeals to the God who has the power to save us from death. His pleas were heard because of his prayerful acceptance of God’s will. He was given no special privileges as a Son — he got his lessons in obedience in the same school of suffering as the rest of us. Once he had made the grade\, perfecting all that he had to learn\, God marked him out as a high priest — the last of the line that began with Melchizedek. Thus\, Jesus became the one who sets free all who trust and follow him. For them he is the source of life without limit. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 12: 20-33 \n \n\n \n \n \n Many people were arriving in Jerusalem for the celebration of the Jewish religious festival known as Passover. However\, not all of the people were Jewish\, and one group of foreigners made contact with Philip\, and said\, “Sir\, we would like to meet Jesus.” \nPhilip\, who was from the Galilean town of Bethsaida\, told Andrew\, and together they went and told Jesus about the request from the foreign visitors. On hearing about it\, Jesus said\, “If the foreigners are asking after us\, we’ve reached the point of no return. The time has come for the New Human to be lifted up in all his glory.” \nHe went on to say: \n“I kid you not\, a grain of wheat is nothing unless it hits the dirt and loses its life. But if it gives up its life as a single grain\, then it will begin to produce a bumper crop of life. Anyone who prizes their own life above everything else will end up losing the lot. But those who treat their individual survival in this world as a matter of no consequence will find life opening up before them without limit. If any of these people want to apprentice themselves to me\, they will need to come and stick with me. Those who work for me will be going wherever I go. Whoever works for me will get the thumbs-up from the God who conceived me. But at the moment\, I’m all churned up inside. Should I call on the Father to bail me out of what is about to happen? No\, I can’t do that because what is about to happen is the pinnacle of everything I came to achieve. So then\, I call out to God and say\, ‘Father\, put your name up in lights!’ ” \nAnd a voice answered from heaven\, saying\, “I have already brought glory to my name\, and I will do so again.” \nThe crowd who were gathered there heard the voice. Some of them said it sounded like thunder\, and others said\, “A messenger from God has spoken to him.” \nJesus addressed them\, saying\, “This voice has spoken for your benefit\, not mine. The world is being weighed in the balance right now; and the one who has been calling the shots in this world will now be driven out. As for me\, I will be lifted up off the ground\, and when that happens\, I will draw all people to myself.” \nWith these words\, he gave an indication of the kind of death he was going to die. \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 have taken us by the hand\,\nand offered yourself to us in a sacred covenant. \nYou are the creator of all things;\nyou knew the earth and its inhabitants before their birth.\nYou led a suffering people from slavery to freedom\,\nand offered to be their God\nif they would be your people. \nThough we broke our vows to you and pursued evil\,\nin gracious love you offered us a new covenant\nembodied in your Son\, Jesus\,\nwho was made perfect on the path of obedience\,\neven in the face of suffering.\nLifted up on a cross to die\,\nhe has drawn all people to himself;\nand raised from the dead\,\nhe has become the source of eternal salvation\nfor all who live in obedience\nto the new law you have written on our hearts. \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 was made perfect on the path of obedience\nand\, as he was lifted up on a cross to die\,\ndrew all people to himself\nand became the source of eternal salvation\nfor all who follow the new law you have written on 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 have taken us by the hand\,\nand offered yourself to us in a sacred covenant. \nYou are the creator of all things;\nyou knew the earth and its inhabitants before their birth.\nYou led a suffering people from slavery to freedom\,\nand offered to be their God\nif they would be your people. \nThough we broke our vows to you and pursued evil\,\nin gracious love you offered us a new covenant\nembodied in your Son\, Jesus\,\nwho was made perfect on the path of obedience\,\neven in the face of suffering.\nLifted up on a cross to die\,\nhe has drawn all people to himself;\nand raised from the dead\,\nhe has become the source of eternal salvation\nfor all who live in obedience\nto the new law you have written on our hearts. \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 sees us for what we are\,\nbut in mercy does not cast us aside.\nThrough Jesus Christ\, the source of eternal salvation\,\nGod washes away our guilt\nand remembers our sin no more. \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\, to serve Christ and follow him.\nLet your old life fall like a grain of wheat into the earth\nso that you may bear much fruit\nas you allow God to reshape your heart\nand live in obedience to the law written within you. \nAnd may God centre you in truth and steady your spirit.\nMay Christ renew your joy and strengthen your will.\nAnd may the Spirit teach you God’s hidden wisdom\nand fill you with songs of rejoicing. \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\nGive up and GrowA sermon on John 12:20-33 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Dark Light of CrucifixionA sermon on John 12:20-33 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nJesus our PriestA sermon on Hebrews 5:5-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nDeath\, Life\, and Jimmy StynesA sermon on John 12:20-33 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFacing the Firing SquadA sermon on John 12:20-33 & Jeremiah 31:31-34 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Bitter Cup and Other BlessingsA sermon on John 12:20-33; Hebrews 5:5-10; & Jeremiah 31:31-34 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nHopeA sermon on John 12:20-33; Hebrews 5:5-10; Psalm 51 & Jeremiah 31:31-34 by Andrea Klimt\n\n\n\nWhen God tries againA sermon on Jeremiah 31:31-34 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b22/2027-03-14/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/22.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270321T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270321T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080020 CREATED:20200810T075806Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240422T025429Z UID:10001520-1805587200-1805673599@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:6th Sunday in Lent (Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday) - 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 Mark 11: 1-11 (Gospel for the Liturgy of the Palms) \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus and his followers were getting close Jerusalem\, and their last stop was just outside the twin townships of Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of his followers into the township\, saying\, “As soon as you get into the main street you will see a young donkey tied up to a fence. It is an awkward looking thing and has not yet even been ridden. Collect it and bring it to me\, and if anyone asks you what you are doing\, just tell them the boss needs it and will return it in no time.” \nSo they headed into the township\, and found the donkey tied up outside a gate in the main street. As they untied it\, some of the locals challenged them\, saying\, “What do you think you’re doing untying that donkey?” \nThey told them what Jesus had said and the locals let them go. \nThey brought it to Jesus and made an improvised saddle from items of spare clothing. When Jesus got on and began riding slowly up the road to Jerusalem\, people began giving him the red-carpet treatment. Some were spreading their coats on the road before him while others were cutting down branches of leaves and flowers and spreading them along the road. Both in front of him and behind him\, the cheering crowd began to chant: \nHooray!\nGod’s blessing is on the one\nwho comes in the name of the Lord!\nGod’s blessing is on the coming kingdom\nof our ancestor\, King David!\nHooray for God\, the greatest of all! \nOnce he was inside Jerusalem\, Jesus went on into the temple and had a good look around. However\, it was already late in the day\, so he and the twelve went back out to Bethany and stayed overnight there. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 12: 12-16 (Alternative Gospel for the Liturgy of the Palms) \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus set out to complete his journey to Jerusalem on the Sunday before the religious festival known as Passover. Huge crowds had gathered in the city for the festival and\, when they got word that Jesus was due to arrive\, they lined the streets\, waving palm branches\, to give him a hero’s welcome. As he approached\, a loud chant went up: \nHooray!\nGod’s blessing is on the one\nwho comes in the name of the Lord\,\nthe King of Israel! \nJesus found a young donkey\, and rode in on it. It was just as the scriptures had said: \n“Do not be afraid\, people of Jerusalem.\nLook\, here comes your king\nriding a simple little donkey!” \nAt the time\, his followers couldn’t get their heads around the meaning of all this. Only later\, when Jesus was known in all his glory\, did it dawn on them that the things which had been written about him had\, in fact\, happened to him. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 118: 1-2\, 19-29 (Psalm for the Liturgy of the Palms) \n \n\n \n \n \n Thank you\, LORD\, thank you!\nThank you for your goodness!\nThank you for your love —\nrock solid and timeless!\nMay all your people recognise\nthat your love and loyalty last forever. \nThe minute they open the city gates\n— the gates of justice —\nwe’ll be the first through\, LORD;\neager to tell you how thankful we are. \nThese gates belong to you\, LORD\,\nthose you have put right can come on through. \nThank you for answering our prayers\, LORD;\nfor coming to our rescue and putting us right. \nFrom a rejected stone found in a rubbish pile\nyou cut and polished a priceless jewel.\nThis is obviously your work\, LORD\,\nand we can hardly believe our eyes! \nToday is your day\, LORD\, a day to honour you;\nwe will celebrate with joy and laughter. \nGet us through safely\, LORD!\nIn the tasks ahead\, give us success! \nThe one who comes in your name\, LORD\,\nis the one who is truly blessed.\nGathered here in your house\,\nwe praise you for sending him. \nYou\, LORD\, are our only God\,\nand you light up our lives.\nIn a great procession\,\nwe march to the sacred place\,\nwaving branches and banners;\ntossing flowers in the air. \nYou are our God\nand we give you thanks.\nYou are our God\nand we give you our highest acclaim. \nThank you\, LORD\, thank you!\nThank you for your goodness!\nThank you for your love —\nrock solid and timeless! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Isaiah 50: 4-9a \n \n\n \n \n \n The LORD God has given me the gift of the gab\nso that my words can teach others\nand put a spring in the step of the weary. \nAs I wake up each new day\,\nGod makes me hungry for learning.\nThe LORD cleaned out my ears\nso that I could hear every word.\nI learned eagerly;\nI never rebelled or quit. \nI was opposed by others\,\nbut I gritted my teeth and stood my ground.\nI looked them in the eye\nwhen they insulted me and spat in my face.\nI took it on the chin and did not fight back\,\nwhen they gave me a belting and tore out my hair. \nThe Lord GOD is always there for me\,\nso no disgrace ever gets to me.\nI have steeled my jaw and dug in my heels\,\nand I’m sure I’ll never be ashamed of my stand\nbecause I can trust God to back me up. \nSo\, who thinks they can take me on?\nLet them stand up and face me!\nWho are my opponents?\nLet’s see what they’re made of! \nThe Lord GOD is backing me;\nso who is going to accuse me of doing wrong? \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 31: 9-16 \n \n\n \n \n \n Be kind to me\, LORD\,\nI’m a mess.\nMy eyes are bloodshot from crying;\nMy heart is breaking\nand my whole body aches. \nGrief gnaws away at my life\,\nsorrows piles up\, year after year.\nMisery is draining my strength\nand destroying my health. \nI get no respect from my opponents;\nnothing but ridicule.\nThose who know me can’t bear to look at me;\neven strangers cross the street to avoid me. \nEveryone wants to purge me from their thoughts;\nthey’ve given me up for dead;\nabandoned me like a burned out car. \nEveryone is out to get me;\nthey’re whispering behind my back.\nThey’ve portrayed me as a monster\nand put a price on my head. \nBut I still put my trust in you\, LORD;\nyou are my God and you’re all I’ve got left.\nMy future is in your hands;\nsnatch me from the grasp\nof those who are hunting me down. \nI’m working for you; look on me with love.\nStand by me and save me. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton Laughingbird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Philippians 2: 5-11 \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 Mark 14:1 - 15:47 \n \n\n \n \n \n There were only two days to go until the religious festival known as Passover\, and the chief priests and the religious lawyers were getting anxious to find a way to get Jesus arrested and killed on the quiet. They wanted it done without delay\, because they were afraid that if it was done during the festival it might provoke a riot among the people. \nAt this time\, Jesus was a dinner guest in the home of Simon the Leper\, in the town of Bethany\, just outside Jerusalem. During the dinner\, a woman approached him with a very expensive bottle of blended fragrant oils. She broke open the bottle and tenderly poured out the oils on his head. But some of the other guests got their noses out of joint over this and began growling\, “What do you think you’re doing? That stuff is worth a fortune. Why was it not sold and the money put to work to do something for the poor?” \nThey were giving her a hard time over it\, but Jesus came to her defence\, saying\, “Give it a break. Why are you picking on her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. You will always have the poor with you\, so you can go and do something worthwhile for them any time you like\, but you won’t always have the opportunity to do anything worthwhile for me. She has done what she could\, using these oils to prepare my body for a decent burial. I can tell you now\, without a word of a lie\, that wherever the great news is broadcast\, anywhere in the world\, she will be remembered for what she has done today.” \nThat was the last straw for Judas Iscariot\, who was one of the twelve – the inner circle of Jesus’s closest followers. He arranged a secret meeting with the chief priests\, and offered to rat on Jesus and give them the information they needed to arrest him. They were over the moon about his offer and promised to pay him for his trouble. So Judas began looking for the right moment to double-cross Jesus. \nOn the first day of the Festival – the day during which the Passover lamb is sacrificed – the disciples asked Jesus where they should go to book a room for their celebration of the Passover Meal. He sent two of them off to take care of it\, saying\, “Go into the city and you will be met by a man carrying a bucket of water. Follow him\, and when you see him arrive at a house\, speak to the owner of the house and say\, ‘The Teacher wants to book your guest room to celebrate the Passover with his followers.’ He will show you a large room upstairs which is already set up for such an occasion. You two go and prepare the meal for us there.” \nSo the two disciples set off for the city. They found everything just as Jesus had described it\, and they made all the necessary preparations for the Passover Meal. \nWhen the evening came\, Jesus arrived with the rest of the twelve to share the meal. When they were all seated and eating\, Jesus said\, “I kid you not; one of you will double-cross me; one of you who is sharing the meal with me.” \nThey were all quite shaken by this\, and began asking him in turn\, “Surely it is not me\, is it?” \nHe answered\, “I will be betrayed by one of the twelve\, one of the very ones who pass me the sauce and top up my glass as we share the meal. And while the fate of the New Human is well known to scripture\, the writing is on the wall for the one who stabs him in the back. That one is going to wish he had never been born.” \nDuring the meal\, Jesus took a loaf of bread in his hands and praised God. He broke the loaf\, and gave it to them\, saying: “Take some. This is my body.” \nThen he picked up a glass of wine\, gave thanks to God\, and gave it to them\, and they all took a drink from it. He said to them\, “This is my blood\, which is spilled for countless people in sealing God’s new alliance. I tell you without a word of a lie\, that not another drop will pass my lips until the day when we drink in celebration of the culture of God.” \nThen\, after singing the hymn that concludes the meal\, they went out to the Mount Of Olives. As they went\, Jesus said to them\, “You lot will all chuck in the towel. It will be just like the old saying in Scripture\, \n‘Knock off the shepherd\,\nand the sheep will run in all directions.’ \nBut when I have been raised\, I will go on up to Galilee ahead of you.” \nPeter protested\, saying\, “Everyone else might lose their nerve and shoot through\, but not me. I will hang in there no matter what.” \nJesus said to him\, “Don’t bet on it. This very day\, this very night\, before the rooster crows a second time\, you will have sworn three times that you don’t even know me.” \n“Over my dead body!” thundered Peter. “I’d die before I would deny you.” \nAnd all the others swore the same. \nSoon they arrived at the Gethsemene Gardens. He asked most of them to wait for him while he went to pray\, and took only Peter\, James and John with him. As they went\, he became increasingly disturbed and distraught. He said to the three\, “I feel totally gutted. It feels like it’s killing me. Wait here and hang in there while I pray.” \nHe went ahead a little and threw himself down on the ground and prayed for the possibility of a way out of what was about to happen to him. He said\, “Abba\, Father\, you can do anything. Get me out of this without having to drink this bitter cup! But still\, the bottom line is whatever you want.” \nWhen he got up\, he found that his followers had fallen asleep. He woke Peter\, saying\, “Simon\, have you nodded off? Couldn’t you hang in there with me for even one hour? Stay on the watch\, and pray that you will not have to face anything that’s too tough for you to handle. Your spirit is raring to go\, but your body can’t hack the pace.” \nThen he moved off again and prayed in the same words as before. When he came back\, he found them all asleep again\, simply unable to keep their eyes open\, and they didn’t know how to explain themselves. When he came back the third time\, he said\, “Are you lot planning to sleep right through? Enough! The time is up. A traitor has dealt the New Human into the hands of the corrupt. On your feet\, and get moving! Look\, here comes the one who has done the dirty on me!” \nImmediately\, even before he finished getting the words out\, Judas\, who was one of the twelve\, arrived on the scene with a heavily armed mob. They had been dispatched by the coalition of chief priests\, religious lawyers\, and political authorities. The traitor had given them their cue: “The one I greet with a kiss is the target. Bust him and drag him off under guard.” \nSo when he arrived\, he walked straight up to Jesus saying\, “Rabbi!” and gave him a kiss. \nImmediately the mob surrounded Jesus\, grabbed him roughly and began to drag him off. In the confusion\, someone pulled a knife and began lashing out\, slashing a personal attendant of the High Priest and cutting off his ear. Jesus said to the mob\, “Do you think I am some kind of dangerous thug\, that you need your weapons drawn and your batons ready when you come out here to take me in? I have been sitting in the temple with you nearly every day\, teaching the people\, and you could have easily busted me if you had wanted to. But you are proving the scriptures right by doing it this way!” \nBy this time\, everyone had run for their lives and abandoned him to his fate. There was one particular young bloke who had been following him\, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. The mob tried to grab him too\, but he broke free\, losing the towel in the process\, and ran off into the night\, stark naked. \nThey dragged Jesus off to the High Priest\, where all the chief priests and the political heavy-weights and the religious lawyers were waiting for him. Peter followed at a safe distance\, and made it all the way into the High Priest’s central courtyard. He sat down there with the security guards and kept himself warm by their fire. \nThe chief priests and the ruling council were doing their best to put together a case against Jesus that would lead to a summary execution\, but they couldn’t get the evidence to stick. A procession of witnesses brought false allegations against him\, but they kept contradicting each other. Eventually though\, some shonky witnesses testified that they had heard Jesus claim to be able to demolish the Temple\, which the people had built in Jerusalem\, and to build a replacement in just three days without any human help. They still couldn’t get their stories to line up properly\, but the High Priest got to his feet\, put Jesus back on the stand\, and said\, “You have heard the allegations that you claimed to have powers which only God could possess. What do you have to say in your own defence?” \nBut Jesus remained silent and offered no reply. So the High Priest put a different question to him\, “Are you the Messiah\, the Son of the Blessed One?” \nJesus replied\, “I am. And you will see the New Human seated as God’s right hand man and riding in with the clouds of heaven.” \nAt that\, the High Priest feigned utter dismay and turned to the council saying\, “Why should we bother with further witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemous claim to be on a par with God. What is your verdict?” \nTheir unanimous verdict was that he deserved to be condemned to death. \nThere was a near riot as they all began to stick the boots in\, spitting in his face and roughing him up. They blindfolded him and bashed him repeatedly\, saying\, “Come on\, prophesy for us!” \nHe was handed over to the security guards and they assaulted him further. \nPeter was still keeping a low profile downstairs in the courtyard\, but a girl from the High Priest’s domestic staff saw him there keeping warm by the fire. She recognised him and said\, “You were with that Nazarene bloke\, Jesus\, weren’t you?” \nBut he denied it\, saying\, “I don’t know what you mean. I’ve got no idea what you are talking about.” \nHe walked out into the entrance courtyard\, but the girl saw him again and began saying to everyone there\, “Look\, this bloke is one of them.” \nBut again Peter denied it. A little while later\, some of the bystanders became more insistent\, saying to Peter\, “You’ve got to be one of them. You are a Galilean – it’s a dead give away.” \nPeter began foul-mouthing them and yelling\, “I’ve never even set eyes on the bloke you are talking about. I swear it on a stack of bibles!” \nBut the moment the denial was out of his mouth\, a rooster began to crow for the second time. The words of Jesus came flooding back – “Before the rooster crows twice\, you will have sworn three times that you don’t even know me” – and Peter fell apart\, bawling his eyes out; a broken man. \nAt the crack of dawn the next morning\, the chief priests\, the politicians\, the religious lawyers\, and the whole ruling council held a meeting to plan their next move. They handcuffed Jesus\, marched him off\, and transferred him into the custody of Pilate\, the Roman governor. \nPilate began his interrogation by asking Jesus\, “Are you the King of the Jews?” \n“They are your words\,” answered Jesus. \nThe chief priests raised a string of allegations against him\, and Pilate turned to him and said\, “Aren’t you going to defend yourself? These are serious crimes they are accusing you of.” \nBut\, much to the governor’s amazement\, Jesus offered no further reply to any of it. \nNow it had been Pilate’s practice to release a political prisoner – any prisoner nominated by the people – during the annual celebration of the Passover festival. At the time\, there was a group of prisoners being held on murder charges after a terrorist attack\, and among them was a man named Barabbas. A crowd had gathered and were beginning to call on Pilate to make his customary release for them. He answered\, “Would you like me to release the king of the Jews for you this year?” \nPilate said this because he realised that Jesus had only been charged to get him out of the way of his religious rivals\, and so he saw the annual custom as an opportunity to solve two problems at once. But the chief priests were busy stirring up the crowd to call for the release of Barabbas instead. Pilate asked the crowd\, “Then what am I supposed to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?” \nThe shout came back\, “Execute him!” \n“Why? What evil has he done to deserve death?” Pilate asked them. \nBut the crowd just kept chanting\, “String him up! String him up!” \nSo Pilate\, wishing to keep the crowd happy\, gave orders for the release of Barabbas. After having Jesus flogged for good measure\, he handed him over to the executioners. \nThe governor’s security guards kept Jesus detained for a while in the Roman headquarters while the whole battalion gathered round and entertained themselves at his expense. They clothed him in a purple dress-coat\, and twisted some barbed wire into a crown and jammed it on his head. They began saluting him and saying\, “Heil\, King of the Jews!” and then bashing him over the head with their batons. They spat on him and knelt down in mock worship of him. When they’d finished their brutal sport\, they stripped the purple dress-coat off him\, put him back in his own clothes\, and marched him off to be executed. They pulled a man out of the crowd\, and forced him to carry the large wooden cross on which Jesus was to be strung up. The man was Simon of Cyrene\, the father of Alexander and Rufus\, and he had come down to the city from the bush. \nThe place where the executions were carried out was called Skull Hill\, or in Hebrew\, Golgotha. When they got there\, they offered Jesus a strong drink – wine spiked with a common drug – but he turned it down. At nine o’clock in the morning\, they strung Jesus up on the cross by driving nails through his flesh. Then they divided up his clothes among themselves\, tossing a coin to see who should get what. The sign informing onlookers of the offence for which he was being executed\, read\, “The King of the Jews.” \nA couple of convicted thugs were executed at the same time. The three crosses were erected in a row with Jesus on the middle one. People passing by hurled insults and ridicule at him. They shook their heads and said\, “What happened to the big man who reckoned he could demolish the Temple and rebuild it in three days? Show us what you’re made of! Get yourself off the cross and save yourself now!” \nThe chief priests and the religious lawyers were there too\, making jokes about it to one another with the best of them. “He reckoned he could save everyone else\, but he can’t even save himself!” they said. “Let’s see the Messiah\, the King of Israel\, get himself down off the cross. If we see him do that\, we’ll be ready to believe in him!” \nEven those being executed alongside him hurled abuse at him. \nWhen midday came\, the sky went black for three hours and it was dark everywhere. At about three o’clock Jesus screamed out in agony\, “Eli\, Eli\, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God\, my God\, why have you turned your back on me?” \nWhen the people standing around heard this\, some of them thought he was calling for help from Elijah. Someone soaked a sponge in wine that had turned to vinegar and held it up on a stick for him to drink\, saying\, “Let’s hang around and see whether Elijah will turn up to rescue him.” \nThen Jesus let out a loud cry\, and breathed his last. At that very moment\, the curtain that closed off the most holy place in the Temple tore open\, all the way from the top to the bottom. The commanding officer was standing at his post facing Jesus\, and when he saw how Jesus died\, he said\, “Fair dinkum\, this bloke must have been the Son of God!” \nThere were a number of women there too\, watching it all from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene\, Salome\, and another Mary who was the mother of Joses and James junior. They had been among Jesus’s followers since the days in Galilee and had provided most of the resources needed by his group. There were also numerous other women who had come to Jerusalem with him. \nIt was the day of Preparation which comes immediately before the sacred Sabbath day\, and so Joseph of Arimethea plucked up the courage to go to Pilate and ask permission to take the body of Jesus for burial. Joseph was a respected member of the ruling council\, and was himself someone who was genuinely looking forward to the culture of God. Pilate was doubtful whether they could already be certain that Jesus was dead\, so he sent for the commanding officer and asked him how long Jesus had been dead. Having heard from the commanding officer that Jesus was well and truly dead\, Pilate gave orders for the body to be released to Joseph. Joseph took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a linen shroud which he had purchased. He buried Jesus in a tomb which had been cut into a rock wall\, and rolled a boulder over the entrance to seal it. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses witnessed the burial. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Mark 15: 1-39\, (40-47) (Alternative shorter gospel reading) \n \n\n \n \n \n At the crack of dawn\, the chief priests\, the politicians\, the religious lawyers\, and the whole ruling council held a meeting to plan their next move. They handcuffed Jesus\, marched him off\, and transferred him into the custody of Pilate\, the Roman governor. \nPilate began his interrogation by asking Jesus\, “Are you the King of the Jews?” \n“They are your words\,” answered Jesus. \nThe chief priests raised a string of allegations against him\, and Pilate turned to him and said\, “Aren’t you going to defend yourself? These are serious crimes they are accusing you of.” \nBut\, much to the governor’s amazement\, Jesus offered no further reply to any of it. \nNow it had been Pilate’s practice to release a political prisoner – any prisoner nominated by the people – during the annual celebration of the Passover festival. At the time\, there was a group of prisoners being held on murder charges after a violent uprising\, and among them was a man named Barabbas. A crowd had gathered and were beginning to call on Pilate to make his customary release for them. He answered\, “Would you like me to release the king of the Jews for you this year?” \nPilate said this because he realised that Jesus had only been charged to get him out of the way of his religious rivals\, and so he saw the annual custom as an opportunity to solve two problems at once. But the chief priests were busy stirring up the crowd to call for the release of Barabbas instead. Pilate asked the crowd\, “Then what am I supposed to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?” \nThe shout came back\, “Execute him!” \n“Why? What evil has he done to deserve death?” Pilate asked them. \nBut the crowd just kept chanting\, “String him up! String him up!” \nSo Pilate\, wishing to keep the crowd happy\, gave orders for the release of Barabbas. After having Jesus flogged for good measure\, he handed him over to the executioners. \nThe governor’s security guards kept Jesus detained for a while in the Roman headquarters while the whole battalion gathered round and entertained themselves at his expense. They clothed him in a purple dress-coat\, and twisted some barbed wire into a crown and jammed it on his head. They began saluting him and saying\, “Heil\, King of the Jews!” and then bashing him over the head with their batons. They spat on him and knelt down in mock worship of him. When they’d finished their brutal sport\, they stripped the purple dress-coat off him\, put him back in his own clothes\, and marched him off to be executed. They pulled a man out of the crowd\, and forced him to carry the large wooden cross on which Jesus was to be strung up. The man was Simon of Cyrene\, the father of Alexander and Rufus\, and he had come down to the city from the bush. \nThe place where the executions were carried out was called Skull Hill\, or in Hebrew\, Golgotha. When they got there\, they offered Jesus a strong drink – wine spiked with a common drug – but he turned it down. At nine o’clock in the morning\, they strung Jesus up on the cross by driving nails through his flesh. Then they divided up his clothes among themselves\, tossing a coin to see who should get what. The sign informing onlookers of the offence for which he was being executed\, read\, “The King of the Jews.” \nA couple of convicted thugs were executed at the same time. The three crosses were erected in a row with Jesus on the middle one. People passing by hurled insults and ridicule at him. They shook their heads and said\, “What happened to the big man who reckoned he could demolish the Temple and rebuild it in three days? Show us what you’re made of! Get yourself off the cross and save yourself now!” \nThe chief priests and the religious lawyers were there too\, making jokes about it to one another with the best of them. “He reckoned he could save everyone else\, but he can’t even save himself!” they said. “Let’s see the Messiah\, the King of Israel\, get himself down off the cross. If we see him do that\, we’ll be ready to believe in him!” \nEven those being executed alongside him hurled abuse at him. \nWhen midday came\, the sky went black for three hours and it was dark everywhere. At about three o’clock Jesus screamed out in agony\, “Eli\, Eli\, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God\, my God\, why have you turned your back on me?” \nWhen the people standing around heard this\, some of them thought he was calling for help from Elijah. Someone soaked a sponge in wine that had turned to vinegar and held it up on a stick for him to drink\, saying\, “Let’s hang around and see whether Elijah will turn up to rescue him.” \nThen Jesus let out a loud cry\, and breathed his last. At that very moment\, the curtain that closed off the most holy place in the Temple tore open\, all the way from the top to the bottom. The commanding officer was standing at his post facing Jesus\, and when he saw how Jesus died\, he said\, “Fair dinkum\, this bloke must have been the Son of God!” \nThere were a number of women there too\, watching it all from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene\, Salome\, and another Mary who was the mother of Joses and James junior. They had been among Jesus’s followers since the days in Galilee and had provided most of the resources needed by his group. There were also numerous other women who had come to Jerusalem with him. \nIt was the day of Preparation which comes immediately before the sacred Sabbath day\, and so Joseph of Arimethea plucked up the courage to go to Pilate and ask permission to take the body of Jesus for burial. Joseph was a respected member of the ruling council\, and was himself someone who was genuinely looking forward to the culture of God. Pilate was doubtful whether they could already be certain that Jesus was dead\, so he sent for the commanding officer and asked him how long Jesus had been dead. Having heard from the commanding officer that Jesus was well and truly dead\, Pilate gave orders for the body to be released to Joseph. Joseph took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a linen shroud which he had purchased. He buried Jesus in a tomb which had been cut into a rock wall\, and rolled a boulder over the entrance to seal it. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses witnessed the burial. \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 alone are good and your steadfast love is forever. \nThe creation of the world was your doing\nand is a marvel to our eyes.\nYour prophets told of the coming one\nwho would teach your ways\nand sustain us with your word. \nYour son\, Jesus\, though one with you\ngave up all he had\,\ntaking on human flesh\,\nand walking the path of obedience\nall the way to insult\, betrayal and death\,\ntrusting only in your vindication.\nThough he was rejected by those who had cheered him\,\nyou made him the cornerstone of new life\nand raised him to the highest place of honour.\nHe has opened the gates of justice\nand become our salvation\,\nso with shouts of joy we greet his appearing\,\nand proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord\nto your glory 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\, Jesus Christ\,\nwho\, giving up all he had\nand walking the path of obedience\nall the way to insult\, betrayal and death\,\nopened the gates of justice\nand become our salvation. \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 alone are good and your steadfast love is forever. \nThe creation of the world was your doing\nand is a marvel to our eyes.\nYour prophets told of the coming one\nwho would teach your ways\nand sustain us with your word. \nYour son\, Jesus\, though one with you\ngave up all he had\,\ntaking on human flesh\,\nand walking the path of obedience\nall the way to insult\, betrayal and death\,\ntrusting only in your vindication.\nThough he was rejected by those who had cheered him\,\nyou made him the cornerstone of new life\nand raised him to the highest place of honour.\nHe has opened the gates of justice\nand become our salvation\,\nso with shouts of joy we greet his appearing\,\nand proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord\nto your glory 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 The God who vindicates us is near.\nWe shall not be put to shame.\nWith the Lord God as our help\nno one can declare us guilty. \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 Christ in obedience.\nHave the same mind as was in Christ Jesus;\nKeep your ears open to God’s teaching;\nBe humble\, even in the face of hostility\nand do not turn back. \nAnd may God help you and keep you from disgrace;\nMay Christ Jesus lead you through the gates of justice;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit keep you in God’s steadfast love\n    and fill your mouths with praise to the glory of God. \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.There are not many sermons available because our church no longer includes a sermon in the worship for this occasion. \n\n\n\n\nBenefit of HindsightA sermon on John 12:12-16 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJesus and the Opinion PollsA sermon for Palm Sunday by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/b23/2027-03-21/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/23.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270322T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270322T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080020 CREATED:20200810T122724Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003408Z UID:10002925-1805673600-1805759999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Monday of Holy Week DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of 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 42:1-9 \n \n\n \n \n \n The Lord says: \nLet me introduce to you the one who serves me\,\nthe one I am backing all the way.\nI have chosen him\,\nand I am bursting with pride over him.\nI have given him my spirit in full measure\,\nand he will bring about justice everywhere on earth. \nHe won’t go thrusting himself into the public eye\,\nor grandstanding in the street with pompous speeches.\nHe won’t exploit the vulnerability of damaged people\,\nor squeeze the last drops out of those who are running on empty.\nHe will be completely fair dinkum\nabout making justice a reality. \nHe will not run out of steam or throw in the towel\nuntil his mission is accomplished;\nuntil justice holds sway everywhere on earth\nand the world’s peoples are eager to learn from him. \nI am the one who created the universe\nand stretched out the skies;\nthe one who constructed the earth\nand produced everything that grows from it;\nthe one who breathes life into the world’s people\nand kindles the spark of life within them;\nI am the LORD your God;\nso listen to what I have to say: \nI\, the LORD\, have called you to stand for what is right.\nI have put my arm around you and kept you safe.\nI have made you a shining light for all the earth to see\,\nto draw all people everywhere\ninto a permanent alliance with me.\nI have given you a privileged role\nas the one who enables the blind to see the light;\nthe one who opens the gates of the stifling detention centres\nand welcomes the prisoners into the fresh air of freedom. \nI am the LORD\, that is my name;\nI don’t allow pretenders to cash in on my glory\nor rip off my image to promote their frauds. \nTake note: everything I warned you about has happened on cue.\nNow I am announcing my new projects;\nI’m letting you in on them even before they get started. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 36: 5-11 \n \n\n \n \n \n You unwavering love fills the universe\, LORD;\nyour loyalty is as timeless as the milky way.  \nYour passion for doing right\nis as solid as the mountain ranges;\nyour understanding of us\nis as deep as the oceans. \nYou set out to save the lives of every creature\, LORD\,\nand no one – not man nor woman\,\nnot bird nor beast – is left out of your care. \nYour love\, O God\, is our greatest treasure!\nYou keep a place for everyone\nunder the shelter of your wings. \nYou invite all who come to feast at your table;\nthe wine of your love flows like a river\nand no one’s glass is allowed to run dry. \nLife bursts forth from you like a fountain;\nlight shines from you and lights up our world. \nDon’t ever give up on us\, LORD;\nkeep loving all who trust you\,\nkeep rescuing all whose hearts are in the right place. \nProtect us from those who would trample us underfoot.\nStand in the way of those who would drive us from the land. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Hebrews 9: 11-15 \n \n\n \n \n \n The priests of old served in a great tent which people had made as the place to approach God here on earth\, but when Christ came he bypassed the old tent. He came as the new high priest\, bringing a new improved way of approaching God. Once and for all he went in to the real Holy Place of God’s presence\, in the middle of the ultimate tent — heaven itself. He also bypassed the old sacrifices of goat and calf blood. Instead\, he shed his own blood in the process of winning permanent freedom for everyone. \nUnder the old arrangements\, people were not permitted to come and worship God if they had done something that made them officially unclean. They had to be purified first in a ritual that required them to be sprinkled with blood from goats and bulls and with the ashes of a sacrificed calf. Now if such a ritual was enough to clear up these problems\, imagine how much more thoroughly our lives can be cleaned up — inside and out — by the blood of Christ! Christ’s self-sacrifice — which because of his spotless record was the greatest possible sacrifice — was made in the power of God’s Spirit to wipe the slate clean for us. No longer are we weighed down by the emotional debris left over from previous futile efforts to sort things out with God. Now we are free to join the joyous dance of life that honours God! \nThis is why we say that Jesus is the mediator. He brought the two sides together — us and God — to establish a new alliance. It took his own death to bring the job to completion\, but he succeeded in having written off the debts we had accumulated by breaking the rules of the old agreement\, and having us written back into the list of those who God has called — those who will inherit for all time all that God has promised to give. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 12: 1-11 \n \n\n \n \n \n Six days before the celebration of Passover\, Jesus arrived in Bethany. He stayed overnight in the home of Mary\, Martha and Lazarus; the man he had previously raised from the dead. Martha prepared a dinner party in honour of Jesus\, and everyone was there\, including Lazarus. During the evening\, Mary broke open a very expensive bottle of blended fragrant oils. She poured out the oil and used it to massage Jesus’ feet. She then wiped them dry with her own hair. The intoxicating fragrance of the oils filled the whole house. \nJudas Iscariot\, however\, took exception to her behaviour. Although he was one of Jesus’ closest followers\, the seeds of betrayal were taking root in his mind. When he saw what Mary was doing\, he growled\, “What do you think you’re doing? That stuff is worth a fortune. Why was it not sold and the money put to work to do something for the poor?” \nHe wasn’t really the least bit concerned about the plight of the poor\, but he was their treasurer and liked to keep their shared account topped up so he could help himself to it without anyone noticing. \nJesus said\, “Get off her case\, Judas! She brought that oil and kept it to use in preparing me for a decent burial. There will never be any shortage of opportunities to do something worthwhile for the poor\, but you won’t always have the opportunity to do anything worthwhile for me.” \nThe news that Jesus was back in Bethany spread quickly and the crowds gathered to see him. Many were also keen to see Lazarus\, because they had heard about Jesus raising him from the dead. When news of this reached the senior religious authorities\, they began plotting to have Lazarus killed as well. They wanted to get rid of him because he had inspired so many of their followers to give up on them and switch their allegiance to Jesus. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc24/2027-03-22/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/24.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270322T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270322T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080020 CREATED:20200810T122724Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250511T054759Z UID:10001525-1805673600-1805759999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Monday of Holy Week DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of 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 42:1-9 \n \n\n \n \n \n The Lord says: \nLet me introduce to you the one who serves me\,\nthe one I am backing all the way.\nI have chosen him\,\nand I am bursting with pride over him.\nI have given him my spirit in full measure\,\nand he will bring about justice everywhere on earth. \nHe won’t go thrusting himself into the public eye\,\nor grandstanding in the street with pompous speeches.\nHe won’t exploit the vulnerability of damaged people\,\nor squeeze the last drops out of those who are running on empty.\nHe will be completely fair dinkum\nabout making justice a reality. \nHe will not run out of steam or throw in the towel\nuntil his mission is accomplished;\nuntil justice holds sway everywhere on earth\nand the world’s peoples are eager to learn from him. \nI am the one who created the universe\nand stretched out the skies;\nthe one who constructed the earth\nand produced everything that grows from it;\nthe one who breathes life into the world’s people\nand kindles the spark of life within them;\nI am the LORD your God;\nso listen to what I have to say: \nI\, the LORD\, have called you to stand for what is right.\nI have put my arm around you and kept you safe.\nI have made you a shining light for all the earth to see\,\nto draw all people everywhere\ninto a permanent alliance with me.\nI have given you a privileged role\nas the one who enables the blind to see the light;\nthe one who opens the gates of the stifling detention centres\nand welcomes the prisoners into the fresh air of freedom. \nI am the LORD\, that is my name;\nI don’t allow pretenders to cash in on my glory\nor rip off my image to promote their frauds. \nTake note: everything I warned you about has happened on cue.\nNow I am announcing my new projects;\nI’m letting you in on them even before they get started. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 36: 5-11 \n \n\n \n \n \n You unwavering love fills the universe\, LORD;\nyour loyalty is as timeless as the milky way.  \nYour passion for doing right\nis as solid as the mountain ranges;\nyour understanding of us\nis as deep as the oceans. \nYou set out to save the lives of every creature\, LORD\,\nand no one – not man nor woman\,\nnot bird nor beast – is left out of your care. \nYour love\, O God\, is our greatest treasure!\nYou keep a place for everyone\nunder the shelter of your wings. \nYou invite all who come to feast at your table;\nthe wine of your love flows like a river\nand no one’s glass is allowed to run dry. \nLife bursts forth from you like a fountain;\nlight shines from you and lights up our world. \nDon’t ever give up on us\, LORD;\nkeep loving all who trust you\,\nkeep rescuing all whose hearts are in the right place. \nProtect us from those who would trample us underfoot.\nStand in the way of those who would drive us from the land. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Hebrews 9: 11-15 \n \n\n \n \n \n The priests of old served in a great tent which people had made as the place to approach God here on earth\, but when Christ came he bypassed the old tent. He came as the new high priest\, bringing a new improved way of approaching God. Once and for all he went in to the real Holy Place of God’s presence\, in the middle of the ultimate tent — heaven itself. He also bypassed the old sacrifices of goat and calf blood. Instead\, he shed his own blood in the process of winning permanent freedom for everyone. \nUnder the old arrangements\, people were not permitted to come and worship God if they had done something that made them officially unclean. They had to be purified first in a ritual that required them to be sprinkled with blood from goats and bulls and with the ashes of a sacrificed calf. Now if such a ritual was enough to clear up these problems\, imagine how much more thoroughly our lives can be cleaned up — inside and out — by the blood of Christ! Christ’s self-sacrifice — which because of his spotless record was the greatest possible sacrifice — was made in the power of God’s Spirit to wipe the slate clean for us. No longer are we weighed down by the emotional debris left over from previous futile efforts to sort things out with God. Now we are free to join the joyous dance of life that honours God! \nThis is why we say that Jesus is the mediator. He brought the two sides together — us and God — to establish a new alliance. It took his own death to bring the job to completion\, but he succeeded in having written off the debts we had accumulated by breaking the rules of the old agreement\, and having us written back into the list of those who God has called — those who will inherit for all time all that God has promised to give. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 12: 1-11 \n \n\n \n \n \n Six days before the celebration of Passover\, Jesus arrived in Bethany. He stayed overnight in the home of Mary\, Martha and Lazarus; the man he had previously raised from the dead. Martha prepared a dinner party in honour of Jesus\, and everyone was there\, including Lazarus. During the evening\, Mary broke open a very expensive bottle of blended fragrant oils. She poured out the oil and used it to massage Jesus’ feet. She then wiped them dry with her own hair. The intoxicating fragrance of the oils filled the whole house. \nJudas Iscariot\, however\, took exception to her behaviour. Although he was one of Jesus’ closest followers\, the seeds of betrayal were taking root in his mind. When he saw what Mary was doing\, he growled\, “What do you think you’re doing? That stuff is worth a fortune. Why was it not sold and the money put to work to do something for the poor?” \nHe wasn’t really the least bit concerned about the plight of the poor\, but he was their treasurer and liked to keep their shared account topped up so he could help himself to it without anyone noticing. \nJesus said\, “Get off her case\, Judas! She brought that oil and kept it to use in preparing me for a decent burial. There will never be any shortage of opportunities to do something worthwhile for the poor\, but you won’t always have the opportunity to do anything worthwhile for me.” \nThe news that Jesus was back in Bethany spread quickly and the crowds gathered to see him. Many were also keen to see Lazarus\, because they had heard about Jesus raising him from the dead. When news of this reached the senior religious authorities\, they began plotting to have Lazarus killed as well. They wanted to get rid of him because he had inspired so many of their followers to give up on them and switch their allegiance to Jesus. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc24/2027-03-22/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/24.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270322T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270322T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T080020 CREATED:20200810T122724Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003408Z UID:10002919-1805673600-1805759999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Monday of Holy Week DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of 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 42:1-9 \n \n\n \n \n \n The Lord says: \nLet me introduce to you the one who serves me\,\nthe one I am backing all the way.\nI have chosen him\,\nand I am bursting with pride over him.\nI have given him my spirit in full measure\,\nand he will bring about justice everywhere on earth. \nHe won’t go thrusting himself into the public eye\,\nor grandstanding in the street with pompous speeches.\nHe won’t exploit the vulnerability of damaged people\,\nor squeeze the last drops out of those who are running on empty.\nHe will be completely fair dinkum\nabout making justice a reality. \nHe will not run out of steam or throw in the towel\nuntil his mission is accomplished;\nuntil justice holds sway everywhere on earth\nand the world’s peoples are eager to learn from him. \nI am the one who created the universe\nand stretched out the skies;\nthe one who constructed the earth\nand produced everything that grows from it;\nthe one who breathes life into the world’s people\nand kindles the spark of life within them;\nI am the LORD your God;\nso listen to what I have to say: \nI\, the LORD\, have called you to stand for what is right.\nI have put my arm around you and kept you safe.\nI have made you a shining light for all the earth to see\,\nto draw all people everywhere\ninto a permanent alliance with me.\nI have given you a privileged role\nas the one who enables the blind to see the light;\nthe one who opens the gates of the stifling detention centres\nand welcomes the prisoners into the fresh air of freedom. \nI am the LORD\, that is my name;\nI don’t allow pretenders to cash in on my glory\nor rip off my image to promote their frauds. \nTake note: everything I warned you about has happened on cue.\nNow I am announcing my new projects;\nI’m letting you in on them even before they get started. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 36: 5-11 \n \n\n \n \n \n You unwavering love fills the universe\, LORD;\nyour loyalty is as timeless as the milky way.  \nYour passion for doing right\nis as solid as the mountain ranges;\nyour understanding of us\nis as deep as the oceans. \nYou set out to save the lives of every creature\, LORD\,\nand no one – not man nor woman\,\nnot bird nor beast – is left out of your care. \nYour love\, O God\, is our greatest treasure!\nYou keep a place for everyone\nunder the shelter of your wings. \nYou invite all who come to feast at your table;\nthe wine of your love flows like a river\nand no one’s glass is allowed to run dry. \nLife bursts forth from you like a fountain;\nlight shines from you and lights up our world. \nDon’t ever give up on us\, LORD;\nkeep loving all who trust you\,\nkeep rescuing all whose hearts are in the right place. \nProtect us from those who would trample us underfoot.\nStand in the way of those who would drive us from the land. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Hebrews 9: 11-15 \n \n\n \n \n \n The priests of old served in a great tent which people had made as the place to approach God here on earth\, but when Christ came he bypassed the old tent. He came as the new high priest\, bringing a new improved way of approaching God. Once and for all he went in to the real Holy Place of God’s presence\, in the middle of the ultimate tent — heaven itself. He also bypassed the old sacrifices of goat and calf blood. Instead\, he shed his own blood in the process of winning permanent freedom for everyone. \nUnder the old arrangements\, people were not permitted to come and worship God if they had done something that made them officially unclean. They had to be purified first in a ritual that required them to be sprinkled with blood from goats and bulls and with the ashes of a sacrificed calf. Now if such a ritual was enough to clear up these problems\, imagine how much more thoroughly our lives can be cleaned up — inside and out — by the blood of Christ! Christ’s self-sacrifice — which because of his spotless record was the greatest possible sacrifice — was made in the power of God’s Spirit to wipe the slate clean for us. No longer are we weighed down by the emotional debris left over from previous futile efforts to sort things out with God. Now we are free to join the joyous dance of life that honours God! \nThis is why we say that Jesus is the mediator. He brought the two sides together — us and God — to establish a new alliance. It took his own death to bring the job to completion\, but he succeeded in having written off the debts we had accumulated by breaking the rules of the old agreement\, and having us written back into the list of those who God has called — those who will inherit for all time all that God has promised to give. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 12: 1-11 \n \n\n \n \n \n Six days before the celebration of Passover\, Jesus arrived in Bethany. He stayed overnight in the home of Mary\, Martha and Lazarus; the man he had previously raised from the dead. Martha prepared a dinner party in honour of Jesus\, and everyone was there\, including Lazarus. During the evening\, Mary broke open a very expensive bottle of blended fragrant oils. She poured out the oil and used it to massage Jesus’ feet. She then wiped them dry with her own hair. The intoxicating fragrance of the oils filled the whole house. \nJudas Iscariot\, however\, took exception to her behaviour. Although he was one of Jesus’ closest followers\, the seeds of betrayal were taking root in his mind. When he saw what Mary was doing\, he growled\, “What do you think you’re doing? That stuff is worth a fortune. Why was it not sold and the money put to work to do something for the poor?” \nHe wasn’t really the least bit concerned about the plight of the poor\, but he was their treasurer and liked to keep their shared account topped up so he could help himself to it without anyone noticing. \nJesus said\, “Get off her case\, Judas! She brought that oil and kept it to use in preparing me for a decent burial. There will never be any shortage of opportunities to do something worthwhile for the poor\, but you won’t always have the opportunity to do anything worthwhile for me.” \nThe news that Jesus was back in Bethany spread quickly and the crowds gathered to see him. Many were also keen to see Lazarus\, because they had heard about Jesus raising him from the dead. When news of this reached the senior religious authorities\, they began plotting to have Lazarus killed as well. They wanted to get rid of him because he had inspired so many of their followers to give up on them and switch their allegiance to Jesus. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc24/2027-03-22/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/24.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR