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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20340611
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CREATED:20201111T013729Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201111T013729Z
UID:10001743-2033596800-2033683199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 5 - Year C
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. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\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				  1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	During the terrible drought\, Elijah got word from the LORD saying\, “Go and live in the Sidonian town of Zarephath. There is a destitute widow there who I have told to feed you.” \nSo Elijah hit the road and headed for Zarephath. When he arrived on the outskirts of the town\, he saw a destitute widow gathering firewood. He called out to her\, saying\, “Could you please bring me a cup of water; I need a drink.” As she went to get the water\, he called out again\, saying\, “And grab me a chunk of bread too\, please.” \nBut she stopped and said\, “I swear by God\, the LORD your God\, that I haven’t got any bread to give you. I am down to the last handful of flour in my jar and the last dribble of oil in my jug. With them and the firewood I am collecting here\, I will prepare one last meal for myself and my son\, and when we’ve eaten that\, we will starve to death. \nElijah said to her\, “Don’t worry; it will be okay. Go and make the bread as you planned\, but make two loaves. Bring one to me\, and then share the second one with your son. For this is what the LORD\, the God of Israel\, is promising you: “The flour jar will never be empty and the oil jug will never run dry until the day that the LORD sends down rain on the land.” \nShe went and made the bread as Elijah had said\, and they all had enough to eat for many days. The flour in the jar never ran out and the oil in the jug never ran dry. It was just as Elijah had said: the LORD had given his word. \nSome time later\, while Elijah was still staying in the woman’s house\, the woman’s son fell sick. He got sicker and sicker and eventually he breathed his last. The woman turned on Elijah\, saying\, “What did I do to deserve this\, you man of God? Have you come to drag up my sin from the past and make my son die for it?” \nBut he said to her\, “Here\, give me your son.” \nHe took the child from her arms\, carried him upstairs to the room where he was staying and laid his body on the bed. He cried out to the LORD\, saying\, “O LORD\, my God\, what are you doing? Are you even bringing disaster on the widow who is putting a roof over my head by striking down her son?” \nThen he pressed himself against the child three times\, crying out to the LORD\, “O LORD\, my God\, give this child back his life again.” \nThe LORD listened to Elijah’s prayer: the child came back to life and began breathing again. Elijah took the child back downstairs to the main room of the house and gave him back to his mother\, saying\, “Look\, your son is alive.” \nAt that\, the woman said to Elijah\, “Now I know that you really are a man of God\, and that when you say you are speaking the word of the LORD\, it is for real.” \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 146			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You are the best\, LORD!\nWith all my heart I sing your praises.\nI will never stop talking you up;\nI won’t stop spruiking your goodness till the day I die. \nThere is no one but you that we can depend on\, LORD;\nnot experts\, not leaders\, no one.\nNo human being can give what we most need;\nno matter what their plans and schemes promise\,\nthe minute they’re gone\, their promises die with them. \nBut we hit the jackpot when we look to you for help\, LORD;\nwhen we put all our hopes in you – the God of our ancestors.\nYou are the one who made earth and sky\,\nwho poured out the seas and filled them with life.\nYou are true to your word no matter what;\nwhen people are ground into the dirt\, you bring about justice;\nwhen people are left to starve\, you come with food. \nYou\, LORD\, set the prisoners free.\nYou\, LORD\, open the eyes of those who can’t see.\nYou\, LORD\, put the downtrodden back on their feet. \nYou\, LORD\, love those who do the right thing.\nYou\, LORD\, keep a caring eye on the asylum seekers.\nYou stick up for those who have no one else to stick up for them\,\nbut you make the schemes of the corrupt backfire on them. \nTake charge forever\, LORD\,\nrule from your sacred Mountain for all time.\nYou’re the best\, LORD. We’re with you all the way! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Galatians 1:11-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let me set you straight on this\, brothers and sisters. The message that you heard me announcing is not something that somebody just cooked up one day. I can assure you that I didn’t get it second hand from any human source\, and nor did anybody word me up about it. Instead\, the message was the result of Jesus the Messiah revealing himself directly. \nNo doubt you have heard about my past in militant Judaism. I was out to destroy God’s church\, and my attacks were violent and targeted. When it came to proving my passion for the Jewish values and ways passed down by our ancestors\, I was way out in front of most people my age. But God had had other plans for me even before I was born. In an act of over-the-top generosity\, God called me — like the prophets of old — and made his Son known in me so that I might talk him up among those who aren’t even Jews. And when God called me\, that was it. I didn’t get any flesh-and-blood input on it\, and I didn’t run off to Jerusalem to be worded up by those who had been God’s ambassadors for longer than me. Instead I disappeared off into Arabia\, and later returned to Damascus. \nI have since been to Jerusalem and met Peter\, but that was three years later and I stayed with him for only fifteen days. I didn’t even meet any of the other church leaders there except for James\, the Lord’s brother. I swear to you before God\, that what I am writing to you is without a word of a lie! After that I headed way off into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. The churches of Judea — those who are in Christ there — had still never laid eyes on me. All they knew was what people were saying: “The bloke who was victimising us before is now broadcasting the faith he was previously trying to destroy.” And they rightly gave God all the credit for what they heard about me. \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 7:11-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus went to a town called Nain. His closest followers and a large crowd tagged along. When he arrived on the outskirts of the town\, he ran into a funeral procession. The only son of a widow had died and was being carried out to the graveyard\, followed by his mother and a large crowd of the townsfolk. When the Lord saw the widow\, he felt very sorry for her\, and said to her\, “Dry your eyes.” \nThen he stepped forward and touched the coffin\, and the bearers came to a halt. Jesus said\, “Young man\, listen to me. Rise up!” \nThe dead man sat up and began to speak\, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Everybody was quaking in their boots and they were quick to give God the credit for what was going on. They were saying things like\, “A great prophet has risen up among us!” and “God must be pleased with his people!” \nThe news about Jesus spread like wildfire throughout the Jewish territory and all the surrounding areas. \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Kings 17:17-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While Elijah was still staying in the widow’s house at Zarephath\, the woman’s son fell sick. He got sicker and sicker and eventually he breathed his last. The woman turned on Elijah\, saying\, “What did I do to deserve this\, you man of God? Have you come to drag up my sin from the past and make my son die for it?” \nBut he said to her\, “Here\, give me your son.” \nHe took the child from her arms\, carried him upstairs to the room where he was staying and laid his body on the bed. He cried out to the LORD\, saying\, “O LORD\, my God\, what are you doing? Are you even bringing disaster on the widow who is putting a roof over my head by striking down her son?” \nThen he pressed himself against the child three times\, crying out to the LORD\, “O LORD\, my God\, give this child back his life again.” \nThe LORD listened to Elijah’s prayer: the child came back to life and began breathing again. Elijah took the child back downstairs to the main room of the house and gave him back to his mother\, saying\, “Look\, your son is alive.” \nAt that\, the woman said to Elijah\, “Now I know that you really are a man of God\, and that when you say you are speaking the word of the LORD\, it is for real.” \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 30			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I’ll be singing your praises\, every chance I get\, LORD\,\nbecause you got me out of deep trouble\nand spared me the gloating of my enemies. \nI pleaded for help\, LORD God\,\nand you stepped in and healed me. \nThey were nearly ready to pronounce me dead\nbut your brought me back\, LORD;\nyou put me back on my feet\nwhen I was about to be carried to the morgue. \nSo I’m singing your praises\,\nand I’m encouraging everyone to do the same;\nto name you with joyful thanks. \nWe manage to get you angry at times\,\nbut it blows over in a moment\nbecause your mercy keeps on keeping on.\nWe may have an evening of bitter tears\,\nbut by morning your mercy has us smiling again. \nI was guilty of taking your goodness for granted;\nI thought I had it made.\nYou had put me on top of the world\nbut I got all too full of myself.\nYou stepped aside – made me stand alone —\nand I turned to jelly! \nI realised how much I needed you\, LORD\,\nand in my panic I begged you for mercy. \n“What good is my blood to you?” I cried.\n“How will it help if I’m in the grave?\nCan a corpse sing your praises?\nWill a gravestone publicise your goodness?\nGive me another chance\, LORD.\nPlease\, LORD\, bail me out one more time.” \nAnd sure enough\, you did\, LORD.\nYou turned my tears to laughter;\nyou set my dragging feet dancing;\nyou dusted me off and dressed me up for a party.\nSo now I’m singing your praises\nfrom the bottom of my heart\,\nand no one can shut me up! \nYou are my God\, LORD\,\nand I’m eternally grateful. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\nPrayers\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 watch over the strangers and the needy\nand raise us from death to new life. \nYou made heaven and earth\,\nthe sea and all that is in them.\nYou raised up prophets among your people\nand through them spoke your word of life and truth. \nWhen we went the way of wickedness and ruin\nand our resources came to an end\,\nyou had compassion\nand sent your only Son\, Jesus\, among us.\nHe opened the eyes of the blind\,\nlifted up those who were bowed down\,\ngave food to the hungry\,\nand set free the prisoners of death.\nWhen the powers of death rose against him\nand destroyed him\,\nyou spoke your word of life again\,\nraising him to new life\,\nas the revelation of your grace\nwho will reign forever in justice and truth. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2007 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 only Son\, Jesus\,\nwho was killed but raised to life by your word\nand now reveals you grace to us\,\nopening the eyes of the blind\,\nlifting up those who are bowed down\,\ngiving food to the hungry\,\nand setting free the prisoners of death. \n©2007 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 watch over the strangers and the needy\nand raise us from death to new life. \nYou made heaven and earth\,\nthe sea and all that is in them.\nYou raised up prophets among your people\nand through them spoke your word of life and truth. \nWhen we went the way of wickedness and ruin\nand our resources came to an end\,\nyou had compassion\nand sent your only Son\, Jesus\, among us.\nHe opened the eyes of the blind\,\nlifted up those who were bowed down\,\ngave food to the hungry\,\nand set free the prisoners of death.\nWhen the powers of death rose against him\nand destroyed him\,\nyou spoke your word of life again\,\nraising him to new life\,\nas the revelation of your grace\nwho will reign forever in justice and truth. \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©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Christ Jesus has not come to punish sin with death\,\nbut to call us through God’s grace\nand\, in compassion\, to raise us from death to life\nthrough the word of truth\, the gospel. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and do not be afraid.\nPut your hope in the Lord your God\nwho called you before you were born\nthat you might sing praises to God all your life long\nand proclaim the gospel of grace through faith. \nAnd may God watch over you with favour;\nMay Christ Jesus have compassion for you and give you life;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit put a song of praise in your heart\nand sustain your faith forever. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nThe Dark Side of “Zeal for the Lord”\nA sermon on Galatians 1:11-24 by Nathan Nettleton\nOne Who Gives Life\nA sermon on 1 Kings 17:8-24; & Luke 7:11-17 by Nathan Nettleton\nIn the Face of Death\nA sermon on 1 Kings 17:8-24; & Luke 7:11-17 by Nathan Nettleton\nWhen God Destroys Our Faith\nA sermon on Galatians 1:11-24; 1 Kings 17:8-24; & Luke 7:11-17 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp05/2034-06-11/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20350527
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20350528
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20200831T083003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220919T002603Z
UID:10001625-2063836800-2063923199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 3 - 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				  Hosea 2: 14-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Beloved Israel\, I\, the LORD\, will win you back.\nI will take you out to that wilderness place\nwhere our love was first awakened\,\nand whisper tender words in your ear. \nI will give you back your wedding presents\,\nand transform the Valley of Heartbreak\ninto the Pathway of Hope. \nThere you will again respond to me\nwith the delight you had as a young bride\nwhen you first came to me from the land of Egypt. \nFrom that day on\, you will call me\, “My loving husband.”\nNever again will you call me\, “Owner” and “Master.”\nI will wash you clean of the memories of those would-be gods.\nYou will never again have cause to utter their names. \nI will make a deal with the wild animals\,\nwith the birds of prey and dangerous creepy-crawlies\,\nto ensure that they never threaten you again.\nI will eliminate war and get rid of all the weapons\,\nso that you can sleep soundly\, with nothing to fear. \nThen you will be mine and I will be yours;\npartners in marriage forever.\nOur marriage will be good and right\,\nrock-solid in love and rich in mercy.\nWe will give ourselves to one another\nand be faithful to one another.\nYou will know me\, the LORD\, intimately and fully. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 103: 1-13\, 22			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	With all our hearts\, we praise you\, LORD\,\nfrom the depths of our being\nwe name you as our one and only. \nWith all that we are we sings your praises\, LORD;\nhow could we ever forget all you have done for us? \nWhen we do wrong\, you forgive us;\nwhen we are sick\, you make us well;\nwhen our lives fall apart\, you put us back together. \nWith love and mercy\, you treat us like royalty;\nyou shower us with good things all our lives;\nyou makes us feel as young and free as an eagle. \nYou are there for those who are victimised\, LORD;\nyou clear their names and bring them justice.  \nThrough Moses\, you let us know what you are on about;\nthrough Israel\, you let us see what you can do. \nYour mercy and generosity are extravagant\, LORD;\nyour patience and love are as solid as rock. \nWhen we do things that anger you\,\nyou don’t keep dredging them up forever. \nYou never deal with us as harshly as we deserve;\ndespite the wrong we have done\, you let us off lightly. \nWe could no more climb to the moon on a step ladder\nthan measure the limits of the love and loyalty\nyou show to those who respect you.\nWe could no more swim the ocean from pole to pole\nthan cover the distance you put between us and our sins. \nYour care and concern for those who honour you\nis as tender as that of parents for their children. \nWe honour you\, LORD\,\njoining our voices with all you have made\nand all you rule over. \nWith all our hearts\, we praise you\, LORD. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 3: 1-6			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	So you think we are starting to blow our own trumpet and write our own references\, do you? Of course\, some people need official references before anyone will trust them\, but not us. We don’t need to present references to you\, or to ask you for references to show anyone else. Why not? Because your life is all the recommendation we need. We carry your story in our hearts where anybody can read it and know the truth. It is clear at a glance that you are the real thing\, a genuine letter from the Messiah\, prepared by us and signed by him. No need for pen and ink or legal parchment! Your life has been written straight onto our beating hearts by the Spirit of the living God. \nSo we have every reason for our confidence. Because of the Messiah\, we can hold our heads high before God. We are not claiming that we had the qualifications or abilities to do anything on our own. Everything we have managed is God’s doing. The only reason we have what it takes to begin putting in place God’s new alliance with humanity is that God has given it to us. Neither the alliance itself\, nor our qualifications to introduce it\, are written legal documents. They are much more real than that – things of spirit! The letter of the law crushes people to death\, but the Spirit fills them with life. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 2: 13-22			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus went down to the beach. A huge crowd of people gathered around him\, and he taught them there. As he was walking along\, he saw a man named Levi\, the son of Alphaeus\, sitting in his office where he worked collecting taxes for the Roman occupation forces. Jesus said to him\, “Come and join me\,” and Levi got up and began following him. \nThat evening at Levi’s house\, Jesus and his followers had dinner with a group that included many disreputable characters whose lifestyles were considered offensive by the more respectable members of society. There were many such people among his followers. Some religious experts from the Pharisee party saw that he was eating in such bad company and confronted his closest followers over it\, saying\, “What does he think he’s doing\, sharing meals with people whose behaviour is beyond the pale?” \nWhen Jesus heard this\, he replied\, “Who needs the help of a doctor: the fit and healthy\, or the sick? I didn’t come to spend my time preaching to the converted\, but to call back those who are off the track.” \nDuring a time when John’s followers and the members of the Pharisee party were going without food for religious reasons\, some people came and asked Jesus\, “How come the followers of John and the followers of the Pharisees give up food at this time\, but your followers are still eating?” \nJesus replied\, “If you are the guests at a wedding feast\, you don’t refuse to eat and drink while the bridal couple are still with you\, do you? As long as the reason for the celebration is still in your midst\, you celebrate! All good things come to an end\, and when the reason to celebrate is taken away\, then they will go without.” \n“The thing is\, sometimes the old ways don’t fit the new situation. If you patch an old coat with a brand new piece of fabric\, the patch will shrink and tear an even bigger hole. If you try to recycle some brittle old bottles for a fresh batch of sparkling wine\, you’ll end up with nothing but smashed glass and an expensive puddle. Fresh content gets fresh packaging.” \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you have spoken\, not in carved letters on cold stone\,\nbut in songs of love\, warm with desire\,\nsung into our hearts. \nWhen time began you created the world\nand filled it with a rich abundance of birds and animals.\nYou gave yourself to your people in a holy covenant of love\,\nand through Moses and the prophets you led them\nin ways of justice and tenderness\, of faithfulness and mercy. \nYou sent your Son to us as the divine bridegroom.\nHis love was betrayed\, and yet remained undiminished\,\nand when he was killed you raised him to life.\nAlive forever\, he is among us again\,\nmercifully seeking out all who have strayed\,\nand calling us to follow him to the wedding feast\,\nthere to celebrate a new covenant\nwith the new wine of your passion. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for the divine bridegroom\, Jesus\,\nwho comes among us\nmercifully seeking out all who have strayed\,\nand calling us to follow him to the wedding feast\,\nthere to celebrate a new covenant\nwith the new wine of your passion. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you have spoken\, not in carved letters on cold stone\,\nbut in songs of love\, warm with desire\,\nsung into our hearts. \nWhen time began you created the world\nand filled it with a rich abundance of birds and animals.\nYou gave yourself to your people in a holy covenant of love\,\nand through Moses and the prophets you led them\nin ways of justice and tenderness\, of faithfulness and mercy. \nYou sent your Son to us as the divine bridegroom.\nHis love was betrayed\, and yet remained undiminished\,\nand when he was killed you raised him to life.\nAlive forever\, he is among us again\,\nmercifully seeking out all who have strayed\,\nand calling us to follow him to the wedding feast\,\nthere to celebrate a new covenant\nwith the new wine of your passion. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Blessed be God who is tender and caring\,\nslow to anger and rich in love.\nThe Lord does not treat us as our sins deserve\,\nbut forgives us\, and as far as east is from west\,\nso God removes our sins. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and follow the Christ wherever he calls.\nBless the Lord and hold dear all God’s gifts.\nFind your competence in God\nthat you might be ministers of a new covenant. \nAnd may God embrace you in tenderness and lay you down in safety.\nMay Christ write his words of love on your heart.\nAnd may the Spirit fill your life with richness\n    and give you the strength of an eagle. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\nReligion v’s LifeA sermon on Mark 2:1- 3:6 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp03b/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20350527
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20350528
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20210610T043757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210610T044727Z
UID:10001825-2063836800-2063923199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 3 - Year A
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. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\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				  Isaiah 49: 8-16a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	This is what the LORD is saying: \nWhat a day! I have answered your call.\nIt’s the day of rescue\, and here I am.\nI have kept you safe\,\nand I have given you to the people\nas the sign that I will always be with them. \nI have given you the job of putting the land in order\,\nof resettling the people\non the properties that were left abandoned. \nTell the prisoners they can now go free.\nTell those cowering in the darkness\nthat it is now safe to come out of hiding. \nThey will find all the food they want along the way.\nEven the rocky mountain tops will produce food for them.\nThey will never go hungry or thirsty;\nnever again be burnt by the sun or cut by the wind. \nI care deeply for them and I will lead them.\nI will guide them along the perfect track\nfrom one fresh waterhole to the next. \nI will level out the track\nso that there are no tough climbs\nand no treacherous descents. \nTake a look and see!\nHere come my people from far away\,\nfrom all points of the compass\,\nfrom this land and that. \nSing your lungs out\, sky above!\nExplode with joy\, O planet earth!\nBurst into song\, O mighty mountains!\nFor the LORD’S people were suffering\,\nbut the LORD has felt their pain and given them comfort. \nBut Zion said\, “The LORD’S back is turned to me.\nMy Lord has given up on me\, written me off.” \nGet a grip! Does a woman give up on the child at her breast?\nCan she turn her back when her own child is hurting?\nAnd yet a woman forgetting her child\nis a lot more likely than me forgetting you.\nLook here and see\,\nI have written your name on the palm of my hand. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 131			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, I am not too full of myself.\nI don’t set my sights too high.\nI don’t try to get involved in things\nthat are out of my league\nor beyond my capabilities. \nWhat I have done\, LORD\, is look after my soul. \nLike a mother tenderly calming a young child\,\nI have calmed my soul to a quiet peace. \nMay all your people put their hope in you\, LORD\,\nfrom now on\, and forevermore. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 4:1-5			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	How should you think of us? Think of us only as servants of the Messiah\, and as those whose job it is to handle the mysteries of God’s business. Now the basic expectation of anyone who is given such a job is that they can be trusted with it. For myself\, I couldn’t care less whether you or any other mob think I measure up. I don’t even try to judge myself. I am not aware of any black marks against my name\, but that doesn’t prove anything. It is only what the Lord thinks of me that matters. Therefore\, don’t go jumping the gun and trying to tally the score before time’s up\, before the Lord arrives. He will shine a spotlight on things that are now hidden under the cover of darkness\, and what really makes us tick will be out in the open for all to see. Then\, and only then\, will each person receive the thumbs-up from God for the things they’ve done well. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 6:24-34			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus said: \n“No one can play on two teams.\nYou’ll either give your best to one\nand under-perform for the other\,\nor short-change one\nand give your heart and soul for the other.\nYou can’t dedicate yourself to both God and financial success. \n“So I’m telling you\, don’t go worrying about your life\, about where your next meal is coming from or what you will find to drink. Don’t stress about what you look like or whether you’ve got the right clothes to wear. Life is more than food\, isn’t it? And the body is not just a clothes rack\, is it? Look at the birds flying around. They don’t do any farming. They don’t stock up the pantry with extra supplies. And yet the one who conceived you in heaven feeds them. You are worth more than they are\, aren’t you? So what good does worrying do you? It won’t make you live any longer - not even an hour - will it? \n“And why do you worry about what to wear? Think about the wild flowers. They grow without ever shopping or sewing a stitch. But you can take it from me that they are clothed more perfectly than even a princess at a royal wedding. If God takes such care over dressing the wildflowers\, which bloom today and are mown down and composted tomorrow\, how much more care will God take to make sure that you have the clothes you need? Yet you find it hard to trust! \n“So don’t get all anxious and go asking\, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘Where will we find a drink?’ or ‘What on earth will we wear?’ It is the people who don’t put their trust in God who put all their energy into these things. You can rest assured that the one who conceived you in heaven knows perfectly well that you need these things. So you can make your first priority the new culture of God and doing the right thing\, God’s way\, and all these other things will be taken care of for you. \n“So don’t stress out about tomorrow. Just deal with the troubles of today\, and leave tomorrow’s worries until they come.” \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton Laughingbird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nPrayers\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 show compassion to your suffering ones\nand have written our names on the palm of your hands. \nYou created the earth and all its creatures\,\nclothing even the grass of the fields in splendour\nand bringing forth abundant food\,\neven for the birds of the air.\nYou found your people imprisoned in darkness\nand through Moses and the prophets\,\nyou called them to freedom\nand led them by springs of water. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have come to us again\,\nteaching us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nWhen he was killed by those\nwho serve wealth and power\,\nyou raised him to life again\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2008 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\,\nin whom you have taught us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nYou raised him to life\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \n©2008 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 show compassion to your suffering ones\nand have written our names on the palm of your hands. \nYou created the earth and all its creatures\,\nclothing even the grass of the fields in splendour\nand bringing forth abundant food\,\neven for the birds of the air.\nYou found your people imprisoned in darkness\nand through Moses and the prophets\,\nyou called them to freedom\nand led them by springs of water. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have come to us again\,\nteaching us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nWhen he was killed by those\nwho serve wealth and power\,\nyou raised him to life again\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \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©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It is the Lord’s judgement alone that matters\,\nand God will no more write us off\nthan will a mother write off her nursing child.\nGod has sent comfort and a word of compassion\,\n”Come out of darkness and be free.” \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, as servants of Christ\nand stewards of God’s mysteries.\nStrive firstly for the kingdom of God\nand its righteousness and justice.\nDo not be anxious\, but calm your soul within you\nand do not condemn\, even yourselves. \nAnd may God generously provide all you need;\nMay Christ Jesus guide you in the ways of light;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit fill you with comfort and hope. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nFeasting and Fasting\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Alison Sampson\nWhen Buildings Fall: Do Not Worry?\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Nathan Nettleton\nThe Church Facing Judgement\nA sermon on 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 & Matthew 6: 24-34 by Nathan Nettleton\nGod and Possessions\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Jennifer Smith
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap03b/2035-05-27/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P03b.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20360615T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20360615T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20200831T133737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240714T114326Z
UID:10002137-2097100800-2097187199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 6 - 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 15:34 - 16:13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After King Saul had broken the command of the LORD\, he went home to Gibeah\, and Samuel the prophet went to Ramah\, and they never again set eyes on each other. Samuel was filled with grief over what Saul had become\, and the LORD regretted having ever made Saul king over Israel. \nOne day the LORD said to Samuel\, “It is time for you to get over your misery about Saul. I have had a gutful of him and I am going to end his reign. Fill up your flask with olive oil ready to anoint a new king. Go to Bethlehem and find a man named Jesse there\, for I have chosen one of his sons to be my king.” \nSamuel protested\, “How can I do that? If Saul gets wind of it he will kill me.” \nBut the LORD replied\, “Take a calf with you and tell everyone that you have come to a hold a feast offered in honour of me\, the LORD. Invite Jesse and his family to join you for the feast\, and then I will let you know what to do next. I will pick out one of Jesse’s sons\, and you are to pour the oil on his head to mark him out as the next king.” \nSamuel followed the LORD’s instructions and went to Bethlehem. The town officials were unnerved by his arrival\, and went out to meet him asking\, “What brings you to town? Have we done something wrong\, or are you just passing through in peace?” \nSamuel replied\, “Nothing’s wrong. I am here to offer a feast to the LORD. Go and prepare yourselves properly and then come and join me for the occasion.” \nSamuel also invited Jesse and his family to the feast and instructed them to prepare themselves properly. When they arrived\, Samuel took one look at Jesse’s oldest son\, Eliab\, and thought to himself\, “He has got to be the one the LORD has chosen.” \nBut the LORD said to Samuel\, “Don’t be fooled by how big and impressive he looks. He is not the man for me\, because I\, the LORD\, am not impressed by the same things that impress you people. People judge others by their outward appearance\, but I look beneath that and see what makes them tick.” \nThen Jesse introduced Samuel to his next son\, Abinadab\, but Samuel said\, “No\, this is not the one the LORD sent me to find.” \nJesse introduced his next son\, Shammah\, but Samuel said\, “This is not the one the LORD sent me to find either.” \nJesse introduced seven sons to Samuel\, but Samuel was convinced that none of them was the one the LORD had chosen. So he asked Jesse\, “Are all your sons here?” \nJesse replied\, “My youngest boy is not here. He is out on the farm taking care of some sheep.” \nSamuel said\, “Send someone to get him as quickly as possible\, for we will not sit down to this meal until he arrives.” \nSo Jesse sent someone to get his youngest son\, David\, and bring him to the feast. David was a good-looking\, fresh-faced kid\, and his eyes were full of life. As soon as he walked in\, the LORD said\, “Samuel\, get up and anoint him\, because this is the one I have chosen.” \nSo Samuel took out his flask of oil and poured it on David’s head in full view of his brothers. The Spirit of the LORD took hold of David and was powerfully at work in him from that moment on. With his mission accomplished\, Samuel got up and headed back home to Ramah. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Be there for your chosen ones when trouble hits\, LORD.\nUse the influence of your name to protect them!\nSend help from your sacred home\,\nand give them support from Mount Zion. \nRemember all they have given you in the past\,\nand treasure the gifts they have offered up to you. \nGive them their heart’s desire\, LORD\,\nand make all their plans come out right.\nProve yourself a winner and set them cheering;\ninspire them to fly your flag and chant your name.\nGive them all they ask for\, LORD. \nWe know you will help your chosen ones\, LORD;\nyou will reach out your hand from heaven\nand answer their prayers with a great victory. \nSome people get arrogant about their military might\,\nor the resources at their disposal\,\nbut the only thing we put our pride in\, O LORD our God\,\nis belonging to you and bearing your name.\nThat mob are heading for disaster\,\nbut we will come out on top and stand proud. \nGive victory to your chosen ones\, LORD;\nbe there for us when we call. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 5: 6-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	As long as we remain living out our daily lives here in our bodies\, we are not able to go and be with the Lord. All the same\, we remain full of confidence\, because it is what we put our trust in that keeps us on track\, not what our eyes tell us. So we are confident all right — you bet we are — and if we could have our way we would rather pull up stumps\, leave our bodies behind us\, and go home to be with the Lord. But in truth\, nothing really hangs on whether we are here or there. The only thing that really matters is that we set our sights on pleasing the Lord. At the end of the day\, every one of us will have to front up before Christ when he sits down at the pay desk to judge our work. We will be paid what we deserve for the way we have lived our daily lives here in our bodies\, whether we have done right\, or done wrong. \nTherefore\, knowing our place before the Lord\, we do our best to get the message through to others. But of course\, God already knows us inside out\, and I hope that in your heart of hearts you have got the full picture on us too. We are not trying to blow our own trumpet here. Instead we want to give you the chance to boast about us so that you can set the record straight with those who are always gloating about how good they are\, when all they are doing is putting on a good face and hiding what is really going on inside. When we seem to be off our heads\, we are just letting it all hang out for God. When we seem to have our heads on straight\, we are taking care for your sakes. Indeed\, it is the love of Christ that drives us on; because we are inspired by his example of one laying down his life for everybody else. When he died\, we all died. He died for everybody\, so that those who live might be set free from living as slaves to their own selfish desires\, and might instead live for him who died for them and was raised to life for them. \nBecause of all this\, nowadays we are careful not to assume that people are nothing more than what our eyes and ears tell us about them. In the past we made that mistake with Christ\, but we now know a lot more of him than our eyes or ears alone could detect. Whenever anyone unites themselves to Christ\, something new is created. What that person was becomes a thing of the past; they get a whole new start in life! \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 4: 26-34			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus used some stories to teach his followers\, saying\, “Here is a good illustration of the culture of God. A bloke empties a few packets of veggie seeds all over his back yard\, and then just goes about his business\, night and day\, without giving them a second thought. The seeds sprout and grow\, but the bloke has got no idea how it happens. Nature does the job\, all by itself. First the shoots pop up\, then before long the plants take shape\, and then one day there is a bumper crop of veggies in the back yard. And once they are ripe\, it doesn’t matter that the bloke doesn’t know how it happened. It’s not going to stop him going out into the yard with his knife and picking himself a feast at harvest time.” \nJesus also said\, “What else can we compare the culture of God with? How can we picture it? It is a bit like a mustard seed. When it gets planted in the garden\, it is so small\, you wouldn’t even know it was there. But once planted\, it grows into a huge weed. It goes berserk and starts throwing out branches big enough that a flock of galahs could build nests in its shade!” \nJesus used lots of these sort of illustrations to get the message through to the people. Everything he had to say to them was said in stories\, but when he was alone with his closest followers\, he explained things in more detail. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Ezekiel 17:22-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	This is what the Lord GOD says: \nI will personally choose a sprig\nfrom the crown of a towering tree\nand cut it loose.\nI will get one with tender leaves\nfrom among the new growth at the very top. \nI will plant it myself\non top of the highest mountain.\nI will plant it\non the great mountain of Israel\nso that it may grow to be a mighty tree\nwith massive branches and loads of fruit. \nBirds of every kind will find shelter in it\,\nbuilding nests in its shady branches.\nEverything that flies will be up there! \nThen every tree in every field will know for sure\nthat I am the LORD. \nI cut down the big trees\nand raise up the little ones.\nI wither the lush green trees\,\nand make the dry ones flourish again. \nI the LORD give you my word on this\,\nand I do what I say. \n©2009 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 92: 1-4\, 12-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It is a privilege to be able to publicly thank you\, LORD\,\nto sing your praises and put your name up in lights.\nIt is great to start the day singing about your rock-solid love\,\nwith a full band ringing out the tune\,\nand to end it thanking you for being so loyal and trustworthy\,\naccompanying our praise with guitars. \nFor you\, O LORD\, have given us so much to be happy about;\nwhat you have done with your own hands\nsets us singing and dancing for joy. \nPeople who always do the right thing by others\nwill thrive like a tropical rainforest\nand grow strong like a river redgum.\nThey have put down their roots in your soil\, LORD\,\nand they will brighten up your temple like flowers.\nEven when they grow old they will still be fruitful\,\nhealthy and vibrant and pulsing with life.\nThey are a credit to you\, LORD\,\nproving for all to see that you are straight and true.\nYou are our rock\,\nand there is nothing rotten or crooked in you. \n©2009 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 kingdom grows from the smallest beginnings\,\nand you have given us all a home in the shelter of your love. \nYou created the heavens and the earth\,\nand from the tiniest seeds\, you filled the earth with life.\nYou called your people to walk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand you anointed faithful rulers to lead them in your ways. \nYour child\, Jesus\, came among us\nsharing stories of your love and grace\nand teaching us the mysteries of your kingdom.\nHe died at the hands of those who take pride in brute force\,\nand in his death\, all have died.\nBut you raised him to life for us\,\nand in him everything has become new.\nNow we are confident that you will grant\nour heart’s true desire:\nto be at home with you forever. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2006 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 shared stories of your kingdom\nand who died so that we might no longer live for ourselves\,\nbut live as new creations in him\nwho you raised to life for us\nand made all things new. \n©2006 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 kingdom grows from the smallest beginnings\,\nand you have given us all a home in the shelter of your love. \nYou created the heavens and the earth\,\nand from the tiniest seeds\, you filled the earth with life.\nYou called your people to walk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand you anointed faithful rulers to lead them in your ways. \nYour child\, Jesus\, came among us\nsharing stories of your love and grace\nand teaching us the mysteries of your kingdom.\nHe died at the hands of those who take pride in brute force\,\nand in his death\, all have died.\nBut you raised him to life for us\,\nand in him everything has become new.\nNow we are confident that you will grant\nour heart’s true desire:\nto be at home with you 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©2006 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 does not see as we see\, but looks on the heart.\nIf anyone is in Christ\,\nthere is a new creation:\neverything old has passed away;\neverything has become new. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go out\, and live no longer for yourselves\,\nbut for him who died and was raised for you.\nWalk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand judge others only by the integrity of their hearts.\nMake it your aim to please the Lord\,\nand to persuade others of the love of Christ. \nAnd may God answer you in times of trouble and protect you;\nMay Christ Jesus grant you your heart’s desire;\nand may the Holy Spirit take hold of you mightily from this day forward. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2006 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\nFeeling like a Weed?A sermon on Mark 4:26-34 & Ezekiel 17: 22-24 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFaithfully UnderwhelmingA sermon on Mark 4: 26-34\, 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 & 2 Corinthians 5: 6-17 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWeeds Overgrowing a Crumbling EmpireA sermon on Mark 4:26-34 & Ezekiel 17: 22-24 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp06/2036-06-15/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P06.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20360615T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20360615T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20200831T133737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003403Z
UID:10002804-2097100800-2097187199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 6 - 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 15:34 - 16:13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After King Saul had broken the command of the LORD\, he went home to Gibeah\, and Samuel the prophet went to Ramah\, and they never again set eyes on each other. Samuel was filled with grief over what Saul had become\, and the LORD regretted having ever made Saul king over Israel. \nOne day the LORD said to Samuel\, “It is time for you to get over your misery about Saul. I have had a gutful of him and I am going to end his reign. Fill up your flask with olive oil ready to anoint a new king. Go to Bethlehem and find a man named Jesse there\, for I have chosen one of his sons to be my king.” \nSamuel protested\, “How can I do that? If Saul gets wind of it he will kill me.” \nBut the LORD replied\, “Take a calf with you and tell everyone that you have come to a hold a feast offered in honour of me\, the LORD. Invite Jesse and his family to join you for the feast\, and then I will let you know what to do next. I will pick out one of Jesse’s sons\, and you are to pour the oil on his head to mark him out as the next king.” \nSamuel followed the LORD’s instructions and went to Bethlehem. The town officials were unnerved by his arrival\, and went out to meet him asking\, “What brings you to town? Have we done something wrong\, or are you just passing through in peace?” \nSamuel replied\, “Nothing’s wrong. I am here to offer a feast to the LORD. Go and prepare yourselves properly and then come and join me for the occasion.” \nSamuel also invited Jesse and his family to the feast and instructed them to prepare themselves properly. When they arrived\, Samuel took one look at Jesse’s oldest son\, Eliab\, and thought to himself\, “He has got to be the one the LORD has chosen.” \nBut the LORD said to Samuel\, “Don’t be fooled by how big and impressive he looks. He is not the man for me\, because I\, the LORD\, am not impressed by the same things that impress you people. People judge others by their outward appearance\, but I look beneath that and see what makes them tick.” \nThen Jesse introduced Samuel to his next son\, Abinadab\, but Samuel said\, “No\, this is not the one the LORD sent me to find.” \nJesse introduced his next son\, Shammah\, but Samuel said\, “This is not the one the LORD sent me to find either.” \nJesse introduced seven sons to Samuel\, but Samuel was convinced that none of them was the one the LORD had chosen. So he asked Jesse\, “Are all your sons here?” \nJesse replied\, “My youngest boy is not here. He is out on the farm taking care of some sheep.” \nSamuel said\, “Send someone to get him as quickly as possible\, for we will not sit down to this meal until he arrives.” \nSo Jesse sent someone to get his youngest son\, David\, and bring him to the feast. David was a good-looking\, fresh-faced kid\, and his eyes were full of life. As soon as he walked in\, the LORD said\, “Samuel\, get up and anoint him\, because this is the one I have chosen.” \nSo Samuel took out his flask of oil and poured it on David’s head in full view of his brothers. The Spirit of the LORD took hold of David and was powerfully at work in him from that moment on. With his mission accomplished\, Samuel got up and headed back home to Ramah. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Be there for your chosen ones when trouble hits\, LORD.\nUse the influence of your name to protect them!\nSend help from your sacred home\,\nand give them support from Mount Zion. \nRemember all they have given you in the past\,\nand treasure the gifts they have offered up to you. \nGive them their heart’s desire\, LORD\,\nand make all their plans come out right.\nProve yourself a winner and set them cheering;\ninspire them to fly your flag and chant your name.\nGive them all they ask for\, LORD. \nWe know you will help your chosen ones\, LORD;\nyou will reach out your hand from heaven\nand answer their prayers with a great victory. \nSome people get arrogant about their military might\,\nor the resources at their disposal\,\nbut the only thing we put our pride in\, O LORD our God\,\nis belonging to you and bearing your name.\nThat mob are heading for disaster\,\nbut we will come out on top and stand proud. \nGive victory to your chosen ones\, LORD;\nbe there for us when we call. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 5: 6-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	As long as we remain living out our daily lives here in our bodies\, we are not able to go and be with the Lord. All the same\, we remain full of confidence\, because it is what we put our trust in that keeps us on track\, not what our eyes tell us. So we are confident all right — you bet we are — and if we could have our way we would rather pull up stumps\, leave our bodies behind us\, and go home to be with the Lord. But in truth\, nothing really hangs on whether we are here or there. The only thing that really matters is that we set our sights on pleasing the Lord. At the end of the day\, every one of us will have to front up before Christ when he sits down at the pay desk to judge our work. We will be paid what we deserve for the way we have lived our daily lives here in our bodies\, whether we have done right\, or done wrong. \nTherefore\, knowing our place before the Lord\, we do our best to get the message through to others. But of course\, God already knows us inside out\, and I hope that in your heart of hearts you have got the full picture on us too. We are not trying to blow our own trumpet here. Instead we want to give you the chance to boast about us so that you can set the record straight with those who are always gloating about how good they are\, when all they are doing is putting on a good face and hiding what is really going on inside. When we seem to be off our heads\, we are just letting it all hang out for God. When we seem to have our heads on straight\, we are taking care for your sakes. Indeed\, it is the love of Christ that drives us on; because we are inspired by his example of one laying down his life for everybody else. When he died\, we all died. He died for everybody\, so that those who live might be set free from living as slaves to their own selfish desires\, and might instead live for him who died for them and was raised to life for them. \nBecause of all this\, nowadays we are careful not to assume that people are nothing more than what our eyes and ears tell us about them. In the past we made that mistake with Christ\, but we now know a lot more of him than our eyes or ears alone could detect. Whenever anyone unites themselves to Christ\, something new is created. What that person was becomes a thing of the past; they get a whole new start in life! \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 4: 26-34			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus used some stories to teach his followers\, saying\, “Here is a good illustration of the culture of God. A bloke empties a few packets of veggie seeds all over his back yard\, and then just goes about his business\, night and day\, without giving them a second thought. The seeds sprout and grow\, but the bloke has got no idea how it happens. Nature does the job\, all by itself. First the shoots pop up\, then before long the plants take shape\, and then one day there is a bumper crop of veggies in the back yard. And once they are ripe\, it doesn’t matter that the bloke doesn’t know how it happened. It’s not going to stop him going out into the yard with his knife and picking himself a feast at harvest time.” \nJesus also said\, “What else can we compare the culture of God with? How can we picture it? It is a bit like a mustard seed. When it gets planted in the garden\, it is so small\, you wouldn’t even know it was there. But once planted\, it grows into a huge weed. It goes berserk and starts throwing out branches big enough that a flock of galahs could build nests in its shade!” \nJesus used lots of these sort of illustrations to get the message through to the people. Everything he had to say to them was said in stories\, but when he was alone with his closest followers\, he explained things in more detail. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Ezekiel 17:22-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	This is what the Lord GOD says: \nI will personally choose a sprig\nfrom the crown of a towering tree\nand cut it loose.\nI will get one with tender leaves\nfrom among the new growth at the very top. \nI will plant it myself\non top of the highest mountain.\nI will plant it\non the great mountain of Israel\nso that it may grow to be a mighty tree\nwith massive branches and loads of fruit. \nBirds of every kind will find shelter in it\,\nbuilding nests in its shady branches.\nEverything that flies will be up there! \nThen every tree in every field will know for sure\nthat I am the LORD. \nI cut down the big trees\nand raise up the little ones.\nI wither the lush green trees\,\nand make the dry ones flourish again. \nI the LORD give you my word on this\,\nand I do what I say. \n©2009 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 92: 1-4\, 12-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It is a privilege to be able to publicly thank you\, LORD\,\nto sing your praises and put your name up in lights.\nIt is great to start the day singing about your rock-solid love\,\nwith a full band ringing out the tune\,\nand to end it thanking you for being so loyal and trustworthy\,\naccompanying our praise with guitars. \nFor you\, O LORD\, have given us so much to be happy about;\nwhat you have done with your own hands\nsets us singing and dancing for joy. \nPeople who always do the right thing by others\nwill thrive like a tropical rainforest\nand grow strong like a river redgum.\nThey have put down their roots in your soil\, LORD\,\nand they will brighten up your temple like flowers.\nEven when they grow old they will still be fruitful\,\nhealthy and vibrant and pulsing with life.\nThey are a credit to you\, LORD\,\nproving for all to see that you are straight and true.\nYou are our rock\,\nand there is nothing rotten or crooked in you. \n©2009 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 kingdom grows from the smallest beginnings\,\nand you have given us all a home in the shelter of your love. \nYou created the heavens and the earth\,\nand from the tiniest seeds\, you filled the earth with life.\nYou called your people to walk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand you anointed faithful rulers to lead them in your ways. \nYour child\, Jesus\, came among us\nsharing stories of your love and grace\nand teaching us the mysteries of your kingdom.\nHe died at the hands of those who take pride in brute force\,\nand in his death\, all have died.\nBut you raised him to life for us\,\nand in him everything has become new.\nNow we are confident that you will grant\nour heart’s true desire:\nto be at home with you forever. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2006 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 shared stories of your kingdom\nand who died so that we might no longer live for ourselves\,\nbut live as new creations in him\nwho you raised to life for us\nand made all things new. \n©2006 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 kingdom grows from the smallest beginnings\,\nand you have given us all a home in the shelter of your love. \nYou created the heavens and the earth\,\nand from the tiniest seeds\, you filled the earth with life.\nYou called your people to walk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand you anointed faithful rulers to lead them in your ways. \nYour child\, Jesus\, came among us\nsharing stories of your love and grace\nand teaching us the mysteries of your kingdom.\nHe died at the hands of those who take pride in brute force\,\nand in his death\, all have died.\nBut you raised him to life for us\,\nand in him everything has become new.\nNow we are confident that you will grant\nour heart’s true desire:\nto be at home with you 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©2006 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 does not see as we see\, but looks on the heart.\nIf anyone is in Christ\,\nthere is a new creation:\neverything old has passed away;\neverything has become new. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go out\, and live no longer for yourselves\,\nbut for him who died and was raised for you.\nWalk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand judge others only by the integrity of their hearts.\nMake it your aim to please the Lord\,\nand to persuade others of the love of Christ. \nAnd may God answer you in times of trouble and protect you;\nMay Christ Jesus grant you your heart’s desire;\nand may the Holy Spirit take hold of you mightily from this day forward. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2006 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\nFeeling like a Weed?A sermon on Mark 4:26-34 & Ezekiel 17: 22-24 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFaithfully UnderwhelmingA sermon on Mark 4: 26-34\, 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 & 2 Corinthians 5: 6-17 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWeeds Overgrowing a Crumbling EmpireA sermon on Mark 4:26-34 & Ezekiel 17: 22-24 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp06/2036-06-15/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20370607
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20370608
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20201111T013729Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201111T013729Z
UID:10001744-2127945600-2128031999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 5 - Year C
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. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\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				  1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	During the terrible drought\, Elijah got word from the LORD saying\, “Go and live in the Sidonian town of Zarephath. There is a destitute widow there who I have told to feed you.” \nSo Elijah hit the road and headed for Zarephath. When he arrived on the outskirts of the town\, he saw a destitute widow gathering firewood. He called out to her\, saying\, “Could you please bring me a cup of water; I need a drink.” As she went to get the water\, he called out again\, saying\, “And grab me a chunk of bread too\, please.” \nBut she stopped and said\, “I swear by God\, the LORD your God\, that I haven’t got any bread to give you. I am down to the last handful of flour in my jar and the last dribble of oil in my jug. With them and the firewood I am collecting here\, I will prepare one last meal for myself and my son\, and when we’ve eaten that\, we will starve to death. \nElijah said to her\, “Don’t worry; it will be okay. Go and make the bread as you planned\, but make two loaves. Bring one to me\, and then share the second one with your son. For this is what the LORD\, the God of Israel\, is promising you: “The flour jar will never be empty and the oil jug will never run dry until the day that the LORD sends down rain on the land.” \nShe went and made the bread as Elijah had said\, and they all had enough to eat for many days. The flour in the jar never ran out and the oil in the jug never ran dry. It was just as Elijah had said: the LORD had given his word. \nSome time later\, while Elijah was still staying in the woman’s house\, the woman’s son fell sick. He got sicker and sicker and eventually he breathed his last. The woman turned on Elijah\, saying\, “What did I do to deserve this\, you man of God? Have you come to drag up my sin from the past and make my son die for it?” \nBut he said to her\, “Here\, give me your son.” \nHe took the child from her arms\, carried him upstairs to the room where he was staying and laid his body on the bed. He cried out to the LORD\, saying\, “O LORD\, my God\, what are you doing? Are you even bringing disaster on the widow who is putting a roof over my head by striking down her son?” \nThen he pressed himself against the child three times\, crying out to the LORD\, “O LORD\, my God\, give this child back his life again.” \nThe LORD listened to Elijah’s prayer: the child came back to life and began breathing again. Elijah took the child back downstairs to the main room of the house and gave him back to his mother\, saying\, “Look\, your son is alive.” \nAt that\, the woman said to Elijah\, “Now I know that you really are a man of God\, and that when you say you are speaking the word of the LORD\, it is for real.” \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 146			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You are the best\, LORD!\nWith all my heart I sing your praises.\nI will never stop talking you up;\nI won’t stop spruiking your goodness till the day I die. \nThere is no one but you that we can depend on\, LORD;\nnot experts\, not leaders\, no one.\nNo human being can give what we most need;\nno matter what their plans and schemes promise\,\nthe minute they’re gone\, their promises die with them. \nBut we hit the jackpot when we look to you for help\, LORD;\nwhen we put all our hopes in you – the God of our ancestors.\nYou are the one who made earth and sky\,\nwho poured out the seas and filled them with life.\nYou are true to your word no matter what;\nwhen people are ground into the dirt\, you bring about justice;\nwhen people are left to starve\, you come with food. \nYou\, LORD\, set the prisoners free.\nYou\, LORD\, open the eyes of those who can’t see.\nYou\, LORD\, put the downtrodden back on their feet. \nYou\, LORD\, love those who do the right thing.\nYou\, LORD\, keep a caring eye on the asylum seekers.\nYou stick up for those who have no one else to stick up for them\,\nbut you make the schemes of the corrupt backfire on them. \nTake charge forever\, LORD\,\nrule from your sacred Mountain for all time.\nYou’re the best\, LORD. We’re with you all the way! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Galatians 1:11-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let me set you straight on this\, brothers and sisters. The message that you heard me announcing is not something that somebody just cooked up one day. I can assure you that I didn’t get it second hand from any human source\, and nor did anybody word me up about it. Instead\, the message was the result of Jesus the Messiah revealing himself directly. \nNo doubt you have heard about my past in militant Judaism. I was out to destroy God’s church\, and my attacks were violent and targeted. When it came to proving my passion for the Jewish values and ways passed down by our ancestors\, I was way out in front of most people my age. But God had had other plans for me even before I was born. In an act of over-the-top generosity\, God called me — like the prophets of old — and made his Son known in me so that I might talk him up among those who aren’t even Jews. And when God called me\, that was it. I didn’t get any flesh-and-blood input on it\, and I didn’t run off to Jerusalem to be worded up by those who had been God’s ambassadors for longer than me. Instead I disappeared off into Arabia\, and later returned to Damascus. \nI have since been to Jerusalem and met Peter\, but that was three years later and I stayed with him for only fifteen days. I didn’t even meet any of the other church leaders there except for James\, the Lord’s brother. I swear to you before God\, that what I am writing to you is without a word of a lie! After that I headed way off into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. The churches of Judea — those who are in Christ there — had still never laid eyes on me. All they knew was what people were saying: “The bloke who was victimising us before is now broadcasting the faith he was previously trying to destroy.” And they rightly gave God all the credit for what they heard about me. \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 7:11-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus went to a town called Nain. His closest followers and a large crowd tagged along. When he arrived on the outskirts of the town\, he ran into a funeral procession. The only son of a widow had died and was being carried out to the graveyard\, followed by his mother and a large crowd of the townsfolk. When the Lord saw the widow\, he felt very sorry for her\, and said to her\, “Dry your eyes.” \nThen he stepped forward and touched the coffin\, and the bearers came to a halt. Jesus said\, “Young man\, listen to me. Rise up!” \nThe dead man sat up and began to speak\, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Everybody was quaking in their boots and they were quick to give God the credit for what was going on. They were saying things like\, “A great prophet has risen up among us!” and “God must be pleased with his people!” \nThe news about Jesus spread like wildfire throughout the Jewish territory and all the surrounding areas. \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Kings 17:17-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While Elijah was still staying in the widow’s house at Zarephath\, the woman’s son fell sick. He got sicker and sicker and eventually he breathed his last. The woman turned on Elijah\, saying\, “What did I do to deserve this\, you man of God? Have you come to drag up my sin from the past and make my son die for it?” \nBut he said to her\, “Here\, give me your son.” \nHe took the child from her arms\, carried him upstairs to the room where he was staying and laid his body on the bed. He cried out to the LORD\, saying\, “O LORD\, my God\, what are you doing? Are you even bringing disaster on the widow who is putting a roof over my head by striking down her son?” \nThen he pressed himself against the child three times\, crying out to the LORD\, “O LORD\, my God\, give this child back his life again.” \nThe LORD listened to Elijah’s prayer: the child came back to life and began breathing again. Elijah took the child back downstairs to the main room of the house and gave him back to his mother\, saying\, “Look\, your son is alive.” \nAt that\, the woman said to Elijah\, “Now I know that you really are a man of God\, and that when you say you are speaking the word of the LORD\, it is for real.” \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 30			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I’ll be singing your praises\, every chance I get\, LORD\,\nbecause you got me out of deep trouble\nand spared me the gloating of my enemies. \nI pleaded for help\, LORD God\,\nand you stepped in and healed me. \nThey were nearly ready to pronounce me dead\nbut your brought me back\, LORD;\nyou put me back on my feet\nwhen I was about to be carried to the morgue. \nSo I’m singing your praises\,\nand I’m encouraging everyone to do the same;\nto name you with joyful thanks. \nWe manage to get you angry at times\,\nbut it blows over in a moment\nbecause your mercy keeps on keeping on.\nWe may have an evening of bitter tears\,\nbut by morning your mercy has us smiling again. \nI was guilty of taking your goodness for granted;\nI thought I had it made.\nYou had put me on top of the world\nbut I got all too full of myself.\nYou stepped aside – made me stand alone —\nand I turned to jelly! \nI realised how much I needed you\, LORD\,\nand in my panic I begged you for mercy. \n“What good is my blood to you?” I cried.\n“How will it help if I’m in the grave?\nCan a corpse sing your praises?\nWill a gravestone publicise your goodness?\nGive me another chance\, LORD.\nPlease\, LORD\, bail me out one more time.” \nAnd sure enough\, you did\, LORD.\nYou turned my tears to laughter;\nyou set my dragging feet dancing;\nyou dusted me off and dressed me up for a party.\nSo now I’m singing your praises\nfrom the bottom of my heart\,\nand no one can shut me up! \nYou are my God\, LORD\,\nand I’m eternally grateful. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nPrayers\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 watch over the strangers and the needy\nand raise us from death to new life. \nYou made heaven and earth\,\nthe sea and all that is in them.\nYou raised up prophets among your people\nand through them spoke your word of life and truth. \nWhen we went the way of wickedness and ruin\nand our resources came to an end\,\nyou had compassion\nand sent your only Son\, Jesus\, among us.\nHe opened the eyes of the blind\,\nlifted up those who were bowed down\,\ngave food to the hungry\,\nand set free the prisoners of death.\nWhen the powers of death rose against him\nand destroyed him\,\nyou spoke your word of life again\,\nraising him to new life\,\nas the revelation of your grace\nwho will reign forever in justice and truth. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2007 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 only Son\, Jesus\,\nwho was killed but raised to life by your word\nand now reveals you grace to us\,\nopening the eyes of the blind\,\nlifting up those who are bowed down\,\ngiving food to the hungry\,\nand setting free the prisoners of death. \n©2007 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 watch over the strangers and the needy\nand raise us from death to new life. \nYou made heaven and earth\,\nthe sea and all that is in them.\nYou raised up prophets among your people\nand through them spoke your word of life and truth. \nWhen we went the way of wickedness and ruin\nand our resources came to an end\,\nyou had compassion\nand sent your only Son\, Jesus\, among us.\nHe opened the eyes of the blind\,\nlifted up those who were bowed down\,\ngave food to the hungry\,\nand set free the prisoners of death.\nWhen the powers of death rose against him\nand destroyed him\,\nyou spoke your word of life again\,\nraising him to new life\,\nas the revelation of your grace\nwho will reign forever in justice and truth. \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©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Christ Jesus has not come to punish sin with death\,\nbut to call us through God’s grace\nand\, in compassion\, to raise us from death to life\nthrough the word of truth\, the gospel. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and do not be afraid.\nPut your hope in the Lord your God\nwho called you before you were born\nthat you might sing praises to God all your life long\nand proclaim the gospel of grace through faith. \nAnd may God watch over you with favour;\nMay Christ Jesus have compassion for you and give you life;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit put a song of praise in your heart\nand sustain your faith forever. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2007 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nThe Dark Side of “Zeal for the Lord”\nA sermon on Galatians 1:11-24 by Nathan Nettleton\nOne Who Gives Life\nA sermon on 1 Kings 17:8-24; & Luke 7:11-17 by Nathan Nettleton\nIn the Face of Death\nA sermon on 1 Kings 17:8-24; & Luke 7:11-17 by Nathan Nettleton\nWhen God Destroys Our Faith\nA sermon on Galatians 1:11-24; 1 Kings 17:8-24; & Luke 7:11-17 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp05/2037-06-07/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20380221T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20380221T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20230314T235951Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230314T235953Z
UID:10002011-2150323200-2150409599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:7th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year A
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				  Leviticus 19: 1-2\, 9-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The LORD spoke to Moses\, saying: \nGather the whole congregation of my people and tell them this: You are to be utterly dedicated to doing what is right\, because I am the LORD your God\, and I am utterly dedicated to doing what is right. \nWhen you harvest the crops on your land\, you are not to be too thorough. Whether it is your grain fields\, your vineyards\, or your orchards\, just go over them once and don’t go back for anything you dropped or missed. You are to leave it so that the poor and the refugees can come and gather what they need. Why? Because I am the LORD your God. \nYou are not to steal; you are not to swindle anybody; and you are not to deceive one another. And you are not to drag my name through the mud by quoting it to convince someone that you are being honest when you are not. Why? Because I am the LORD. \nYou are not to commit fraud or theft to get your hands on what rightly belongs to someone else. You are not to hold back the wages of your workers beyond their regular pay day. You are not to take advantage of the disabilities of others\, or to make them the butt of cruel jokes. Why? Because if you do\, you’ll have me to answer to\, and I am the LORD. \nYou are not to pervert the course of justice in the courts. Your decisions must be fair and transparent\, not showing bias either to the poor or to the powerful. You are to be absolutely fair in your judgments\, without fear or favour. You are not to go spreading malicious stories about anybody; and you are not to seek to profit from the misfortune of another. Why? Because I am the LORD. \nYou are not to harbour hatred in your heart towards anyone in your community. If someone you know does the wrong thing\, speak up and sort it out\, or you will end up being held responsible yourself. If anyone among your people has wronged you\, you are neither to bear a grudge\, nor try to get even. Instead you are to love your neighbour as attentively as you love yourself. Why? Because I am the LORD. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 119: 33-40			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, teach me the way of life you have set for us\nand I will stick to it for keeps. \nHelp me to get my head around what you want\nand I will throw myself wholeheartedly into doing it. \nGuide me down the track you’ve mapped out for us\,\nfor nothing pleases me more than being where you want me. \nKeep me focussed on the values you’ve spelt out;\ndon’t let me get sucked into grabbing everything for myself. \nPut the blinkers on me so I see only your life-giving ways\nand am not distracted by fashionable froth and bubble. \nReassure me that I am in on what you promised to all\nwho respect you and work for you. \nProtect me with your good teachings\nso that I won’t disgrace myself as I fear I could. \nSee how much I long to do things your way;\nplease do the right thing by me and give me real life. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 3: 10-11\, 16-23			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You lot are God’s building\, and God equipped me and entrusted me with the task of laying the foundations like an expert master builder. The next job – building on the foundations – was given to someone else. But each builder has to work off the same plan. They can’t just build any old which way. They can’t start again because the foundation is already down and the building must fit the foundation. And in this case\, the foundation is none other than Jesus the Messiah. \nDon’t you realise what kind of building you lot are? You are God’s sacred temple. God’s Spirit lives in you. Anyone who ruins God’s temple can expect to be ruined by God. For God’s temple is to be kept sacred and undefiled\, and you lot are that temple. \nSo don’t kid yourselves. If you pride yourselves on a reputation for wisdom and knowledge\, you would be better off losing it and being written off as fools. That would be the first step to becoming truly wise\, because the kind of wisdom that is all the rage these days is dismissed by God as complete rot. As the scriptures say: \n“The Lord watches the clever get tangled up\nin their own cleverness\,” \nand in another place: \n“The Lord knows what the think tanks are thinking\,\nand it is all a lot of hot air!” \nSo don’t waste your time trying to big-note yourselves by dropping the names of your favourite leaders. You have already been given everything you could possibly want or need\, whether it be me or Apollos or Simon Peter\, or even the world\, life\, death\, the present\, or the future. Everything already belongs to you\, and you belong to the Messiah\, and the Messiah belongs to God. \n©2011 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 5: 38-48			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Continuing his teaching on new standards of integrity for his followers\, Jesus said\, “You know that the law put a limit on retaliation: ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ Well\, I am telling you to expect a bit more of yourselves than just that. When others are doing the wrong thing\, don’t come down to their level. Don’t take the law into your own hands at all. If someone gives you a smack around the ear to humiliate you\, stand tall and stick your chin out\, and invite them to have another crack. Absorb the hostility – don’t escalate it. Or if someone takes you to court and demands the shirt off your back\, drop your pants and hand over those as well. And if someone pulls rank and orders you to carry his pack for the next mile\, show him up by going the second mile as well.  \n“If people are begging for your help\, give it generously\, and don’t be stingy with anyone who asks you for a loan. \n“You know that the law said ‘Charity begins at home; love your neighbour’\, and it has always been accepted that ‘hate our enemies’ follows from that. Well\, it doesn’t\, so I am telling you to lift your standards. I want you to love our enemies. I want you to pray for the welfare of those who try to make your life a misery. That way you will clearly be the offspring of the God who conceived you in heaven; the God who lets the sun shine on the scum of the earth and the salt of the earth alike\, and the rain fall equally on those who always do the right thing and on those who are always crooked and corrupt. Loving the people who love you and treat you well is no big deal\, is it? Why would you expect a medal for that? Even the low-life pimps and pushers can do that much. Being friendly to your friends and neighbours does not show that you are any better than anyone else. The most godless foreigner can do that much just as well.  \n“Keep aiming to do better. Model yourselves on your Father in heaven who loves without limits or boundaries. Aim to love like that and settle for nothing less.” \n©2011 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 love and wisdom are perfect\,\nbut the wisdom of this world is foolishness to you. \nYou laid the foundations of the earth\nand built a people to be your holy temple.\nThrough the law you taught us to walk in your ways\,\nto love one another and provide for all equally\,\njust as you graciously make the sun to shine\nand rain to fall on good and bad a like. \nWhen we became caught in the futility\nof selfishness and vengefulness\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nas the new foundation\non which to rebuild a holy temple\nof perfect love that goes beyond the demands of the law.\nWhen he was put to death\,\nyou raised hm to new life\nand placed all things in his hands\nto share with all who belong to him. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2011 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 came as the new foundation\non which you are rebuilding a holy temple\nof perfect love that goes far beyond\nthe wisdom of this world which is foolishness to you. \n©2011 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 love and wisdom are perfect\,\nbut the wisdom of this world is foolishness to you. \nYou laid the foundations of the earth\nand built a people to be your holy temple.\nThrough the law you taught us to walk in your ways\,\nto love one another and provide for all equally\,\njust as you graciously make the sun to shine\nand rain to fall on good and bad a like. \nWhen we became caught in the futility\nof selfishness and vengefulness\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nas the new foundation\non which to rebuild a holy temple\nof perfect love that goes beyond the demands of the law.\nWhen he was put to death\,\nyou raised hm to new life\nand placed all things in his hands\nto share with all who belong to him. \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©2011 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 makes the sun shine and the rain fall\non the righteous and the unrighteous alike\,\ndoes not withold mercy from any who ask.\nComplete forgiveness is yours\nfor you belong to Christ\, and Christ belongs to God. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2011 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, knowing that your are God’s holy temple\nand that God’s Spirit dwells in you.\nTherefore\, love your enemies\,\npray for those who persecute you\ngive generously to all who need your help\,\nand be perfect\, as your heavenly Father is perfect\, \nAnd may God give you all things in Christ;\nMay Christ Jesus be the foundation of all you are and do;\nAnd may the Spirit fill you with delight in all God’s ways. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2011 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\nSalvation and RetaliationA sermon on Matthew 5: 38-48 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nUtopian Nonsense (or the way of Jesus)?A sermon on Matthew 5: 38-48 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNot Letting the Bastards Define YouA sermon on Matthew 5: 38-48 by James Alison
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap02/2038-02-21/
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CREATED:20210610T040053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210610T044722Z
UID:10001821-2150928000-2151014399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:8th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year A
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. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\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				  Isaiah 49: 8-16a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	This is what the LORD is saying: \nWhat a day! I have answered your call.\nIt’s the day of rescue\, and here I am.\nI have kept you safe\,\nand I have given you to the people\nas the sign that I will always be with them. \nI have given you the job of putting the land in order\,\nof resettling the people\non the properties that were left abandoned. \nTell the prisoners they can now go free.\nTell those cowering in the darkness\nthat it is now safe to come out of hiding. \nThey will find all the food they want along the way.\nEven the rocky mountain tops will produce food for them.\nThey will never go hungry or thirsty;\nnever again be burnt by the sun or cut by the wind. \nI care deeply for them and I will lead them.\nI will guide them along the perfect track\nfrom one fresh waterhole to the next. \nI will level out the track\nso that there are no tough climbs\nand no treacherous descents. \nTake a look and see!\nHere come my people from far away\,\nfrom all points of the compass\,\nfrom this land and that. \nSing your lungs out\, sky above!\nExplode with joy\, O planet earth!\nBurst into song\, O mighty mountains!\nFor the LORD’S people were suffering\,\nbut the LORD has felt their pain and given them comfort. \nBut Zion said\, “The LORD’S back is turned to me.\nMy Lord has given up on me\, written me off.” \nGet a grip! Does a woman give up on the child at her breast?\nCan she turn her back when her own child is hurting?\nAnd yet a woman forgetting her child\nis a lot more likely than me forgetting you.\nLook here and see\,\nI have written your name on the palm of my hand. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 131			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, I am not too full of myself.\nI don’t set my sights too high.\nI don’t try to get involved in things\nthat are out of my league\nor beyond my capabilities. \nWhat I have done\, LORD\, is look after my soul. \nLike a mother tenderly calming a young child\,\nI have calmed my soul to a quiet peace. \nMay all your people put their hope in you\, LORD\,\nfrom now on\, and forevermore. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 4:1-5			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	How should you think of us? Think of us only as servants of the Messiah\, and as those whose job it is to handle the mysteries of God’s business. Now the basic expectation of anyone who is given such a job is that they can be trusted with it. For myself\, I couldn’t care less whether you or any other mob think I measure up. I don’t even try to judge myself. I am not aware of any black marks against my name\, but that doesn’t prove anything. It is only what the Lord thinks of me that matters. Therefore\, don’t go jumping the gun and trying to tally the score before time’s up\, before the Lord arrives. He will shine a spotlight on things that are now hidden under the cover of darkness\, and what really makes us tick will be out in the open for all to see. Then\, and only then\, will each person receive the thumbs-up from God for the things they’ve done well. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 6:24-34			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus said: \n“No one can play on two teams.\nYou’ll either give your best to one\nand under-perform for the other\,\nor short-change one\nand give your heart and soul for the other.\nYou can’t dedicate yourself to both God and financial success. \n“So I’m telling you\, don’t go worrying about your life\, about where your next meal is coming from or what you will find to drink. Don’t stress about what you look like or whether you’ve got the right clothes to wear. Life is more than food\, isn’t it? And the body is not just a clothes rack\, is it? Look at the birds flying around. They don’t do any farming. They don’t stock up the pantry with extra supplies. And yet the one who conceived you in heaven feeds them. You are worth more than they are\, aren’t you? So what good does worrying do you? It won’t make you live any longer - not even an hour - will it? \n“And why do you worry about what to wear? Think about the wild flowers. They grow without ever shopping or sewing a stitch. But you can take it from me that they are clothed more perfectly than even a princess at a royal wedding. If God takes such care over dressing the wildflowers\, which bloom today and are mown down and composted tomorrow\, how much more care will God take to make sure that you have the clothes you need? Yet you find it hard to trust! \n“So don’t get all anxious and go asking\, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘Where will we find a drink?’ or ‘What on earth will we wear?’ It is the people who don’t put their trust in God who put all their energy into these things. You can rest assured that the one who conceived you in heaven knows perfectly well that you need these things. So you can make your first priority the new culture of God and doing the right thing\, God’s way\, and all these other things will be taken care of for you. \n“So don’t stress out about tomorrow. Just deal with the troubles of today\, and leave tomorrow’s worries until they come.” \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton Laughingbird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nPrayers\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 show compassion to your suffering ones\nand have written our names on the palm of your hands. \nYou created the earth and all its creatures\,\nclothing even the grass of the fields in splendour\nand bringing forth abundant food\,\neven for the birds of the air.\nYou found your people imprisoned in darkness\nand through Moses and the prophets\,\nyou called them to freedom\nand led them by springs of water. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have come to us again\,\nteaching us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nWhen he was killed by those\nwho serve wealth and power\,\nyou raised him to life again\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2008 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\,\nin whom you have taught us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nYou raised him to life\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \n©2008 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 show compassion to your suffering ones\nand have written our names on the palm of your hands. \nYou created the earth and all its creatures\,\nclothing even the grass of the fields in splendour\nand bringing forth abundant food\,\neven for the birds of the air.\nYou found your people imprisoned in darkness\nand through Moses and the prophets\,\nyou called them to freedom\nand led them by springs of water. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have come to us again\,\nteaching us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nWhen he was killed by those\nwho serve wealth and power\,\nyou raised him to life again\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \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©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It is the Lord’s judgement alone that matters\,\nand God will no more write us off\nthan will a mother write off her nursing child.\nGod has sent comfort and a word of compassion\,\n”Come out of darkness and be free.” \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, as servants of Christ\nand stewards of God’s mysteries.\nStrive firstly for the kingdom of God\nand its righteousness and justice.\nDo not be anxious\, but calm your soul within you\nand do not condemn\, even yourselves. \nAnd may God generously provide all you need;\nMay Christ Jesus guide you in the ways of light;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit fill you with comfort and hope. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nFeasting and Fasting\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Alison Sampson\nWhen Buildings Fall: Do Not Worry?\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Nathan Nettleton\nThe Church Facing Judgement\nA sermon on 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 & Matthew 6: 24-34 by Nathan Nettleton\nGod and Possessions\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Jennifer Smith
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap03a/2038-02-28/
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20380307
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DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20210610T041514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210610T044732Z
UID:10001823-2151532800-2151619199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:9th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year A
DESCRIPTION:This occasion only occurs in 2038 for churches that do not observe the last Sunday before Lent as Transfiguration Sunday. \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. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\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				  Deuteronomy 11: 18-21\, 26-28			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Moses said to the people: \n“Take to heart these teachings I have passed on to you from the LORD your God. Do whatever you need to do to keep them fixed in your minds: write them on the back of your hands; wear them as a badge stuck on your forehead. Teach them to your children and talk about them morning\, noon and night\, at home or wherever you go. Hang them over your front doors\, put them up on a billboard at the entrance to your town so that you will be reminded of them as you come and go. That way you will be assured of a long and happy life in the land that the LORD promised to your ancestors. Your children will enjoy the same\, and their children too\, as long as the earth keeps turning. \n“Take note. Today I have taught you how the LORD your God wants you to live\, and now it is in your hands. Your life can be blessed or cursed; the choice is yours. Everything will work out well for you if you live the way the LORD your God has told you to live. But everything will fall apart for you if you turn your back on the way that the LORD your God has told you to live and take off after other ways and other objects of devotion.” \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 31: 1-5\, 19-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I look to you for refuge\, LORD;\ndon’t let me be dragged through the mud.\nYou promised justice – save me! \nGive me your ear – I’m crying for help;\nrescue me before it’s too late.\nBe a secure refuge for me\,\na bomb shelter where I can hide. \nYour solid walls protect me from danger;\nlead me and guide me so I’ll be a credit to you;\nkeep me clear of pitfalls and traps. \nYou are the only refuge I trust\, LORD;\nI put my life in your hands.\nYou are a faithful God\,\nand you have saved me. \nYour goodness is rich and free;\navailable to all who respect you and trust you.\nOut in the open\, for all to see\,\nyou stockpile blessings for those in your care. \nYou shelter them yourself\, LORD\,\nkeeping them safe from vindictive plots.\nYou give them a safe hiding place\,\nsheltered from malicious talk. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD;\nand you proved yourself when I needed you.\nWhen I was surrounded by a violent mob\,\nyour love protected me like a solid wall. \nAt first I panicked;\nI thought you had given up on me.\nBut you were there in a flash\nwhen I cried out for help. \nI call on all your people to give you their love\, LORD.\nYou keep the faithful safe\nand repay the arrogant as they deserve. \nI say to myself\, “Be strong\, tough it out\,”\nas I wait with my trust in you\, LORD. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28\, (29-31)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Being identified with God’s message does not make me cringe at all. I am honoured to be associated with something that God is working through so powerfully in order to bring everyone who believes home to the safety and wholeness for which they were created. It began among the Jewish people\, but now everyone is in on it. It reveals God’s unshakable commitment to doing the right thing by all who put their trust in God’s trustworthiness. The scriptures put it this way: “Anyone who gets things right with God through a relationship of trust\, will live.” \nThis is not applied differently to different groups of people. Everyone is in the same boat because we have all done wrong and fallen well short of the shining integrity God created us for. But God treats everybody with a generosity that is out of all proportion to anything we could deserve and\, as a gift\, puts us back in the good books. This happens as part of the work done by Jesus the Messiah in putting everything back the way it should be. He was sent by God to clean up the mess we had gotten ourselves into and bring us back into a relationship based on trust\, and he made the ultimate sacrifice and paid the price in his own blood to get the job done. This demonstrated God’s unshakable commitment to doing the right thing by everyone\, both in the past and in the present. In the past God’s commitment was expressed by putting up with people’s wrongdoing and not dishing out the punishments they deserved. In the present\, God is again proving that commitment by putting those who put their trust in Jesus into the good books. \nSo what is left of our boast that we Jews are the only ones in the good books with God? Clearly it is not backed up by the facts. Why? Did others do something to earn an equal place before God? Not at all\, but God put the relationship on a trust basis\, and that put everyone on an equal footing. What we are saying is that people get into the good books by trusting God\, regardless of whether or not they observe the customs prescribed by the traditional Jewish law. God is not only the God of the Jews\, but of everyone else as well. After all\, there is only one God! Those who have been brought up to be religious are put in to God’s good books on the basis of a relationship of trust\, and everyone else is put in through exactly the same relationship of trust. However\, if you think we are saying that this relationship of trust means that there is no value in the traditional law\, you have missed the point. What we are saying is quite the opposite. It is only within this relationship of trust that the customs set out in the law can prove their worth. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 7: 21-29			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Drawing to the end of his sermon on the mountain\, Jesus said\, “You can’t bluff your way into the culture of heaven by dropping my name and prattling on about what a high view of my authority you hold. It is those who walk the walk who will get in – those who actually live the way God wants them to live. When the day comes\, many people will appeal to me saying\, ‘Lord\, Lord\, look at all the great things we did in your name. We preached. We took on the forces of evil and won. We were real movers and shakers. We did all sorts of impressive things and we gave you the credit for it all. Doesn’t that count for anything?’ But I will tell them straight\, ‘I’ll have nothing to do with you. You are a bunch of frauds\, rotten to the core. Get out of my sight!’ \n“The people who take notice of what I teach and put it into practice are like experienced builders who always put down solid foundations before building a house. When violent storms come\, or even if cyclones and floods hit\, that house stands firm\, rock-solid on its foundations. But those who hear my teachings and don’t bother doing anything about them are like brainless do-it-yourselfers who knock up a house with nothing but sand for foundations. The first time it is hit by a decent storm\, the wind and rain rip into it and in no time at all there is a spectacular crash and down it comes!” \nWhen Jesus had finished speaking\, the crowd was stunned. His teaching 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! \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nPrayers\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 by grace you have justified and redeemed us\nand become our refuge and strength. \nIn the first of your works you created the universe\nand everything that moves on the earth.\nWhen you sent a flood to purge the earth of corruption\,\nyou made a covenant with your servant Noah\nand saved every family of living creatures. \nYou sent your child\, Jesus Christ\, among us\,\nto teach us with authority how to live by your words\nand be welcomed into your kingdom.\nWhen he was killed by those who were filled with violence\,\nyou raised him with power from the dead\nand called everyone to put their faith in him.\nTo all who hear your invitation and act on it\nyou give the gift of righteousness in your presence\nand redemption in and through Christ Jesus. \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 grace\nin which you have justified and redeemed us\nand become our refuge and strength\,\neven though we had becoe corrupt and fallen short of your glory. \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 by grace you have justified and redeemed us\nand become our refuge and strength. \nIn the first of your works you created the universe\nand everything that moves on the earth.\nWhen you sent a flood to purge the earth of corruption\,\nyou made a covenant with your servant Noah\nand saved every family of living creatures. \nYou sent your child\, Jesus Christ\, among us\,\nto teach us with authority how to live by your words\nand be welcomed into your kingdom.\nWhen he was killed by those who were filled with violence\,\nyou raised him with power from the dead\nand called everyone to put their faith in him.\nTo all who hear your invitation and act on it\nyou give the gift of righteousness in your presence\nand redemption in and through Christ Jesus. \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	We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God\,\nbut through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus\,\nwe are forgiven and justified\nas a gift of his grace. \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 and build your lives on the solid rock\nof Christ’s words\, heard and put into action.\nDo not be ashamed of the gospel\,\nbut live by faith\nand find your refuge and strength in God. \nAnd may God be known to you in the stillness;\nMay Christ Jesus be the solid foundation of your lives;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit give you courage\,\neven when the earth is shaken around you. \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	 \nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nThe Blessing of Homeland\nA sermon on Deuteronomy 11:8-12\, 18-21\, 27-28 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap04a/2038-03-07/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20400603
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20400604
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20201103T042452Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201103T042832Z
UID:10001708-2222294400-2222380799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 4 - Year C
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. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\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				  1 Kings 18: 20-21 (22-29) 30-39			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	At Elijah’s suggestion\, King Ahab called all the prophets of the god Baal to an assembly on Mount Carmel\, and advertised it throughout Israel. When the crowd had gathered\, Elijah stepped forward and addressed them saying\, “How long are you going to keep trying to play for both sides? Make up your minds and follow the real God. Is it going to be the LORD or Baal?” \nBut there was silence. No one moved one way or the other. \nSo Elijah threw down the gauntlet\, saying\, “I’m here as the last remaining prophet on the LORD’s side\, but there are four hundred and fifty prophets here on Baal’s side. Bring us two bulls for a sacrifice. Baal’s mob can choose the bull they want. They are to butcher it and lay it out on the firewood on their altar\, but they are not allowed to light the fire. I will prepare the other bull the same way\, laying it out on the wood but not lighting the fire. Then they can call out to their god and I will call out to the LORD\, and we’ll see which god can prove himself by sending down fire.” \nThe gathered crowd thought this was a great idea. \nElijah turned to the prophets of Baal and said\, “There are lots of you\, so you can go first. Choose your bull\, prepare it for the sacrifice\, and start praying to your god. But you are not allowed to light the fire yourselves.” \nSo they took one of the bulls and butchered it for the sacrifice. From morning till midday they prayed to Baal\, crying out\, “O Baal\, god of fire\, answer us.” But nothing happened. There was no answer\, not so much as a whisper. They prayed harder and harder as they marched around the altar which they had made. \nCome midday\, Elijah started making fun of them. “Come on\,” he said. “Shout louder! What kind of god is he? Maybe he’s dreaming. Perhaps he’s nicked out to the dunny. Could he have wandered off somewhere? Maybe he’s fallen asleep\, and needs to be woken up.” \nSo they prayed louder and louder and more and more desperately. They slashed themselves with swords to offer up their own blood\, as was their custom\, and soon there was blood all over the place. They continued this well into the afternoon\, trying everything they could to get an answer out of their god\, but still there was nothing. Not a whisper\, not a spark\, no answer of any kind. \nThen Elijah called the people to gather around him\, and they crowded in close. The altar of the LORD that had once stood on the mountain was in ruins\, so Elijah rebuilt it in honour of the LORD using twelve large stones. Each stone represented one of the twelve tribes descended from the sons of Jacob to whom the LORD had given the name Israel. When Elijah finished building the altar\, he dug a trench around it\, deep enough to hold several buckets of water. He arranged the firewood on the altar\, cut the bull into pieces\, and laid it on the wood. Then he said\, “Fill four buckets of water and pour it all over the offering and the wood. When they had done it\, he said\, “Do it again”\, so another four buckets were poured over it. Then he said\, “Do it a third time\,” so four more buckets full were poured over it so that everything was completely soaked. The whole altar was dripping wet and the trench was flooded. \nAt the usual time of the evening sacrifice\, the prophet Elijah stood with the people and prayed\, “O LORD\, God of Abraham\, Isaac\, and Israel\, prove to everyone now that you are the real God in Israel\, and that I am serving you and acting on your authority. Answer me\, LORD. Show these people what you are made of\, so that they will know that you are the real God and that you are winning their hearts back to you.” \nWith a flash\, the LORD’s fire fell and incinerated the lot: the meat\, the wood\, the stones\, and even the water in the trench. There was nothing left but scorched dirt. When the people saw it happen\, they fell on their faces in awe\, saying “The LORD is the true God! The LORD is the true God!” \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 96			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We sing like we’ve never sung before\, LORD;\nsinging to you with all the earth.\nEvery mention of your name sets us singing your praises. \nWe never tire of telling the story of how you bailed us out;\nall over the world\, we speak of your incredible accomplishments;\neveryone we meet hears us giving the credit to you. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD; we can’t praise you enough!\nWhen it comes to gods\, you are in a league of your own;\nall other objects of devotion are powerless. \nBut you\, LORD\, created the whole cosmos;\nyou are surrounded by majesty and celebration;\nstrength and beauty are signs of your presence. \nPeople of every race and creed recognise you\, LORD;\nthey recognise you behind all that is strong and true;\nthey name you as the one who deserves all the glory. \nWe offer ourselves to you\, LORD;\nwe fall to our knees in this beautiful place of worship;\nwith all the earth\, we celebrate you alone. \nYou are our king\, LORD; we’ll tell everyone everywhere!\nYou have set the world on firm foundations\,\nand with you in charge\, everyone will get a fair go. \nLet the heavens and the earth celebrate;\nlet the roar of the sea join in;\nlet everything that walks\, flies or swims join the party! \nYou are on your way\, LORD\,\nand even the roadside trees cheer as you approach\,\nfor you are coming to set things right on the earth. \nYou will sort things out and put things right\,\nand reveal the truth about everything and everyone. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Galatians 1:1-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, Paul\, am one of God’s special ambassadors. I wasn’t given this job by a popular vote\, or by some ordinary human boss. I was entrusted with the job by none other than Jesus the Messiah and God the Father\, who raised Jesus from the dead. This letter comes to you\, the churches in Galatia\, from me\, and from the rest of God’s crew who are with me. \nI wish you a full helping of generous love and peace from the God who conceived us and from our number one man\, Jesus the Messiah. Faced with the record of our corruption\, he gave himself completely to breaking us free from the grip of the evil culture that is so entrenched in the present day. God made our freedom a priority\, and all the credit should go to God\, now and always. And so say all of us! \nI can hardly believe what I’m hearing about you. I’m disgusted. The Messiah was extravagantly generous in calling you\, but already you are turning your backs on him and getting sucked into some other message that claims to be good news. There is no other message that’s worth a pinch of spit\, but I hear that there are some snake oil merchants there who are twisting the Messiah’s message and leading you all astray. This is not about me. If anybody\, including me\, or for that matter even an angel from heaven\, starts pushing a message that goes against what we taught you\, they can go to hell! I’ve said it once\, and I’ll say it again: if anybody comes pushing a message that goes against the one you have already received\, they can go to hell! \nDoes it sound like I’m pandering to the crowd and telling people what they want to hear? Does it like like I care what people think of me\, or rather what God thinks of me? If I was still trying to impress the crowd\, I wouldn’t be serving the Messiah at all. \nLet me set you straight on this\, brothers and sisters. The message that you heard me announcing is not something that somebody just cooked up one day. I can assure you that I didn’t get it second hand from any human source\, and nor did anybody word me up about it. Instead\, the message was the result of Jesus the Messiah revealing himself directly. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 7: 1-10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After spending some time teaching the people\, Jesus went into the town of Capernaum. There was a Roman military commander there who had a slave who was very special to him\, but the slave had fallen ill and was dying. The commander was desperate to save the life of his slave\, so when he heard that Jesus was in town\, he sent some of the local Jewish officials to ask for his help. The officials spoke to Jesus with great enthusiasm on behalf of the commander. “This man is certainly worthy of your help\,” they said. “He is a great friend of our people. He even bankrolled the building of our local synagogue.” \nJesus headed off with them\, but before he reached the house\, the commander sent another delegation of friends out to him with a message saying\, “Lord\, don’t put yourself out for me. There is no need for you to come all the way to my house. I’m not worthy to have you under my roof\, and I wouldn’t presume to approach you in person. Please\, just give the word\, and my servant will be healed. I know how it works because I too am a man who obeys orders and who gives orders\, knowing that they will be obeyed. I tell one soldier ‘Go\,’ and he goes. I tell another ‘Jump\,’ and he says ‘How high?’ I tell my servant to do something\, and he does it.” \nWhen Jesus heard the commander’s message\, he was gob-smacked. Turning to address the crowd that was following him\, he exclaimed\, “Did you hear that? You might think you could find an Israelite with faith like that\, but no\, I have never before\, anywhere\, come across such deep trust.” \nAnd sure enough\, when the commander’s messengers got back to the house\, they found the slave back on his feet\, a picture of health. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Kings 8: 22-23\, 41-43			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Solomon stood in front of the altar of the LORD and\, with his hands raised high\, he led the gathered people in prayer. He prayed: \n“O LORD\, God of Israel\, you are one of a kind! No other god in the universe is like you. Your love is rock-solid and you never forget the alliance you have made with those who follow you whole-heartedly. \nAnd don’t stop with just us – foreigners will no doubt hear about you too. Attracted by your reputation and by news of the awesome things you do\, they will come from all sorts of far flung places to live among your people and offer their prayers within sight of this Temple. When they do\, listen to them from your heavenly home and answer their prayers. That way everyone on earth will hear of you and give you the same respect that your people Israel do. They will know that this Temple which I have built carries your authority. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 96: 1-9			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We sing like we’ve never sung before\, LORD;\nsinging to you with all the earth.\nEvery mention of your name sets us singing your praises. \nWe never tire of telling the story of how you bailed us out;\nall over the world\, we speak of your incredible accomplishments;\neveryone we meet hears us giving the credit to you. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD; we can’t praise you enough!\nWhen it comes to gods\, you are in a league of your own;\nall other objects of devotion are powerless. \nBut you\, LORD\, created the whole cosmos;\nyou are surrounded by majesty and celebration;\nstrength and beauty are signs of your presence. \nPeople of every race and creed recognise you\, LORD;\nthey recognise you behind all that is strong and true;\nthey name you as the one who deserves all the glory. \nWe offer ourselves to you\, LORD;\nwe fall to our knees in this beautiful place of worship;\nwith all the earth\, we celebrate you alone. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nPrayers\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 to tell of your salvation from day to day\nand declare your glory and your marvelous works to all. \nYou made the heavens and established the earth\,\nand revealed yourself through your law and prophets\nto be a God of glory and strength\nwho answers the cries of your people. \nThough we were not worthy to receive you\,\nfor we turned our backs on your grace\nand limped off after worthless other gods\,\nyou came to us in your child\, Jesus\,\nspeaking the word of healing and forgiveness.\nWhen we turned against him\,\nhe gave himself into our hands\nas a revelation of your self-sacrificing love\,\nand when we crucified him\,\nyou raised him from the dead\,\nand sent down your Spirit in fire\nto heal us and set us free from this evil age. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2013 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 came to us as a revelation of your self-sacrificing love\,\nspeaking the word of healing and forgiveness\nand sending down your Spirit in fire\nto heal us and set us free from this evil age. \n©2013 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 to tell of your salvation from day to day\nand declare your glory and your marvelous works to all. \nYou made the heavens and established the earth\,\nand revealed yourself through your law and prophets\nto be a God of glory and strength\nwho answers the cries of your people. \nThough we were not worthy to receive you\,\nfor we turned our backs on your grace\nand limped off after worthless other gods\,\nyou came to us in your child\, Jesus\,\nspeaking the word of healing and forgiveness.\nWhen we turned against him\,\nhe gave himself into our hands\nas a revelation of your self-sacrificing love\,\nand when we crucified him\,\nyou raised him from the dead\,\nand sent down your Spirit in fire\nto heal us and set us free from this evil age. \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©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus gave himself freely for our sins\nto set us free from the present evil age\,\naccording to the will of our God and Father\,\nand to turn our hearts back to righteousness and truth. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	If the Lord is God\, go now\, and follow him\,\nand do not be tempted to share your loyalty with other gods.\nStay true to the gospel that has been revealed to you in Jesus.\nCall on the name of the Lord\,\ntell of God’s salvation from day to day\,\nand live in righteousness and truth. \nAnd may God bring you grace and peace;\nMay Christ Jesus heal you and raise you up\,\nand may the Holy Spirit’s fiery glory strengthen your hearts. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nFollowers or Fans?\nA sermon on Luke 6:39 – 7:10 by Nathan Nettleton\nA Different Gospel?\nA sermon on Galatians 1:1-12; 1 Kings 18:20-39 & Luke 7:1-10 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp04b/2040-06-03/
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20410224T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20410224T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20230314T235951Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230314T235953Z
UID:10002012-2245276800-2245363199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:7th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year A
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				  Leviticus 19: 1-2\, 9-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The LORD spoke to Moses\, saying: \nGather the whole congregation of my people and tell them this: You are to be utterly dedicated to doing what is right\, because I am the LORD your God\, and I am utterly dedicated to doing what is right. \nWhen you harvest the crops on your land\, you are not to be too thorough. Whether it is your grain fields\, your vineyards\, or your orchards\, just go over them once and don’t go back for anything you dropped or missed. You are to leave it so that the poor and the refugees can come and gather what they need. Why? Because I am the LORD your God. \nYou are not to steal; you are not to swindle anybody; and you are not to deceive one another. And you are not to drag my name through the mud by quoting it to convince someone that you are being honest when you are not. Why? Because I am the LORD. \nYou are not to commit fraud or theft to get your hands on what rightly belongs to someone else. You are not to hold back the wages of your workers beyond their regular pay day. You are not to take advantage of the disabilities of others\, or to make them the butt of cruel jokes. Why? Because if you do\, you’ll have me to answer to\, and I am the LORD. \nYou are not to pervert the course of justice in the courts. Your decisions must be fair and transparent\, not showing bias either to the poor or to the powerful. You are to be absolutely fair in your judgments\, without fear or favour. You are not to go spreading malicious stories about anybody; and you are not to seek to profit from the misfortune of another. Why? Because I am the LORD. \nYou are not to harbour hatred in your heart towards anyone in your community. If someone you know does the wrong thing\, speak up and sort it out\, or you will end up being held responsible yourself. If anyone among your people has wronged you\, you are neither to bear a grudge\, nor try to get even. Instead you are to love your neighbour as attentively as you love yourself. Why? Because I am the LORD. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 119: 33-40			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, teach me the way of life you have set for us\nand I will stick to it for keeps. \nHelp me to get my head around what you want\nand I will throw myself wholeheartedly into doing it. \nGuide me down the track you’ve mapped out for us\,\nfor nothing pleases me more than being where you want me. \nKeep me focussed on the values you’ve spelt out;\ndon’t let me get sucked into grabbing everything for myself. \nPut the blinkers on me so I see only your life-giving ways\nand am not distracted by fashionable froth and bubble. \nReassure me that I am in on what you promised to all\nwho respect you and work for you. \nProtect me with your good teachings\nso that I won’t disgrace myself as I fear I could. \nSee how much I long to do things your way;\nplease do the right thing by me and give me real life. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 3: 10-11\, 16-23			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You lot are God’s building\, and God equipped me and entrusted me with the task of laying the foundations like an expert master builder. The next job – building on the foundations – was given to someone else. But each builder has to work off the same plan. They can’t just build any old which way. They can’t start again because the foundation is already down and the building must fit the foundation. And in this case\, the foundation is none other than Jesus the Messiah. \nDon’t you realise what kind of building you lot are? You are God’s sacred temple. God’s Spirit lives in you. Anyone who ruins God’s temple can expect to be ruined by God. For God’s temple is to be kept sacred and undefiled\, and you lot are that temple. \nSo don’t kid yourselves. If you pride yourselves on a reputation for wisdom and knowledge\, you would be better off losing it and being written off as fools. That would be the first step to becoming truly wise\, because the kind of wisdom that is all the rage these days is dismissed by God as complete rot. As the scriptures say: \n“The Lord watches the clever get tangled up\nin their own cleverness\,” \nand in another place: \n“The Lord knows what the think tanks are thinking\,\nand it is all a lot of hot air!” \nSo don’t waste your time trying to big-note yourselves by dropping the names of your favourite leaders. You have already been given everything you could possibly want or need\, whether it be me or Apollos or Simon Peter\, or even the world\, life\, death\, the present\, or the future. Everything already belongs to you\, and you belong to the Messiah\, and the Messiah belongs to God. \n©2011 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 5: 38-48			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Continuing his teaching on new standards of integrity for his followers\, Jesus said\, “You know that the law put a limit on retaliation: ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ Well\, I am telling you to expect a bit more of yourselves than just that. When others are doing the wrong thing\, don’t come down to their level. Don’t take the law into your own hands at all. If someone gives you a smack around the ear to humiliate you\, stand tall and stick your chin out\, and invite them to have another crack. Absorb the hostility – don’t escalate it. Or if someone takes you to court and demands the shirt off your back\, drop your pants and hand over those as well. And if someone pulls rank and orders you to carry his pack for the next mile\, show him up by going the second mile as well.  \n“If people are begging for your help\, give it generously\, and don’t be stingy with anyone who asks you for a loan. \n“You know that the law said ‘Charity begins at home; love your neighbour’\, and it has always been accepted that ‘hate our enemies’ follows from that. Well\, it doesn’t\, so I am telling you to lift your standards. I want you to love our enemies. I want you to pray for the welfare of those who try to make your life a misery. That way you will clearly be the offspring of the God who conceived you in heaven; the God who lets the sun shine on the scum of the earth and the salt of the earth alike\, and the rain fall equally on those who always do the right thing and on those who are always crooked and corrupt. Loving the people who love you and treat you well is no big deal\, is it? Why would you expect a medal for that? Even the low-life pimps and pushers can do that much. Being friendly to your friends and neighbours does not show that you are any better than anyone else. The most godless foreigner can do that much just as well.  \n“Keep aiming to do better. Model yourselves on your Father in heaven who loves without limits or boundaries. Aim to love like that and settle for nothing less.” \n©2011 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 love and wisdom are perfect\,\nbut the wisdom of this world is foolishness to you. \nYou laid the foundations of the earth\nand built a people to be your holy temple.\nThrough the law you taught us to walk in your ways\,\nto love one another and provide for all equally\,\njust as you graciously make the sun to shine\nand rain to fall on good and bad a like. \nWhen we became caught in the futility\nof selfishness and vengefulness\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nas the new foundation\non which to rebuild a holy temple\nof perfect love that goes beyond the demands of the law.\nWhen he was put to death\,\nyou raised hm to new life\nand placed all things in his hands\nto share with all who belong to him. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2011 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 came as the new foundation\non which you are rebuilding a holy temple\nof perfect love that goes far beyond\nthe wisdom of this world which is foolishness to you. \n©2011 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 love and wisdom are perfect\,\nbut the wisdom of this world is foolishness to you. \nYou laid the foundations of the earth\nand built a people to be your holy temple.\nThrough the law you taught us to walk in your ways\,\nto love one another and provide for all equally\,\njust as you graciously make the sun to shine\nand rain to fall on good and bad a like. \nWhen we became caught in the futility\nof selfishness and vengefulness\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nas the new foundation\non which to rebuild a holy temple\nof perfect love that goes beyond the demands of the law.\nWhen he was put to death\,\nyou raised hm to new life\nand placed all things in his hands\nto share with all who belong to him. \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©2011 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 makes the sun shine and the rain fall\non the righteous and the unrighteous alike\,\ndoes not withold mercy from any who ask.\nComplete forgiveness is yours\nfor you belong to Christ\, and Christ belongs to God. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2011 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, knowing that your are God’s holy temple\nand that God’s Spirit dwells in you.\nTherefore\, love your enemies\,\npray for those who persecute you\ngive generously to all who need your help\,\nand be perfect\, as your heavenly Father is perfect\, \nAnd may God give you all things in Christ;\nMay Christ Jesus be the foundation of all you are and do;\nAnd may the Spirit fill you with delight in all God’s ways. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2011 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\nSalvation and RetaliationA sermon on Matthew 5: 38-48 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nUtopian Nonsense (or the way of Jesus)?A sermon on Matthew 5: 38-48 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNot Letting the Bastards Define YouA sermon on Matthew 5: 38-48 by James Alison
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap02/2041-02-24/
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20410303
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20410304
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20210610T040053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210610T044722Z
UID:10001822-2245881600-2245967999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:8th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year A
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. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\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				  Isaiah 49: 8-16a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	This is what the LORD is saying: \nWhat a day! I have answered your call.\nIt’s the day of rescue\, and here I am.\nI have kept you safe\,\nand I have given you to the people\nas the sign that I will always be with them. \nI have given you the job of putting the land in order\,\nof resettling the people\non the properties that were left abandoned. \nTell the prisoners they can now go free.\nTell those cowering in the darkness\nthat it is now safe to come out of hiding. \nThey will find all the food they want along the way.\nEven the rocky mountain tops will produce food for them.\nThey will never go hungry or thirsty;\nnever again be burnt by the sun or cut by the wind. \nI care deeply for them and I will lead them.\nI will guide them along the perfect track\nfrom one fresh waterhole to the next. \nI will level out the track\nso that there are no tough climbs\nand no treacherous descents. \nTake a look and see!\nHere come my people from far away\,\nfrom all points of the compass\,\nfrom this land and that. \nSing your lungs out\, sky above!\nExplode with joy\, O planet earth!\nBurst into song\, O mighty mountains!\nFor the LORD’S people were suffering\,\nbut the LORD has felt their pain and given them comfort. \nBut Zion said\, “The LORD’S back is turned to me.\nMy Lord has given up on me\, written me off.” \nGet a grip! Does a woman give up on the child at her breast?\nCan she turn her back when her own child is hurting?\nAnd yet a woman forgetting her child\nis a lot more likely than me forgetting you.\nLook here and see\,\nI have written your name on the palm of my hand. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 131			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, I am not too full of myself.\nI don’t set my sights too high.\nI don’t try to get involved in things\nthat are out of my league\nor beyond my capabilities. \nWhat I have done\, LORD\, is look after my soul. \nLike a mother tenderly calming a young child\,\nI have calmed my soul to a quiet peace. \nMay all your people put their hope in you\, LORD\,\nfrom now on\, and forevermore. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 4:1-5			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	How should you think of us? Think of us only as servants of the Messiah\, and as those whose job it is to handle the mysteries of God’s business. Now the basic expectation of anyone who is given such a job is that they can be trusted with it. For myself\, I couldn’t care less whether you or any other mob think I measure up. I don’t even try to judge myself. I am not aware of any black marks against my name\, but that doesn’t prove anything. It is only what the Lord thinks of me that matters. Therefore\, don’t go jumping the gun and trying to tally the score before time’s up\, before the Lord arrives. He will shine a spotlight on things that are now hidden under the cover of darkness\, and what really makes us tick will be out in the open for all to see. Then\, and only then\, will each person receive the thumbs-up from God for the things they’ve done well. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 6:24-34			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus said: \n“No one can play on two teams.\nYou’ll either give your best to one\nand under-perform for the other\,\nor short-change one\nand give your heart and soul for the other.\nYou can’t dedicate yourself to both God and financial success. \n“So I’m telling you\, don’t go worrying about your life\, about where your next meal is coming from or what you will find to drink. Don’t stress about what you look like or whether you’ve got the right clothes to wear. Life is more than food\, isn’t it? And the body is not just a clothes rack\, is it? Look at the birds flying around. They don’t do any farming. They don’t stock up the pantry with extra supplies. And yet the one who conceived you in heaven feeds them. You are worth more than they are\, aren’t you? So what good does worrying do you? It won’t make you live any longer - not even an hour - will it? \n“And why do you worry about what to wear? Think about the wild flowers. They grow without ever shopping or sewing a stitch. But you can take it from me that they are clothed more perfectly than even a princess at a royal wedding. If God takes such care over dressing the wildflowers\, which bloom today and are mown down and composted tomorrow\, how much more care will God take to make sure that you have the clothes you need? Yet you find it hard to trust! \n“So don’t get all anxious and go asking\, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘Where will we find a drink?’ or ‘What on earth will we wear?’ It is the people who don’t put their trust in God who put all their energy into these things. You can rest assured that the one who conceived you in heaven knows perfectly well that you need these things. So you can make your first priority the new culture of God and doing the right thing\, God’s way\, and all these other things will be taken care of for you. \n“So don’t stress out about tomorrow. Just deal with the troubles of today\, and leave tomorrow’s worries until they come.” \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton Laughingbird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nPrayers\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 show compassion to your suffering ones\nand have written our names on the palm of your hands. \nYou created the earth and all its creatures\,\nclothing even the grass of the fields in splendour\nand bringing forth abundant food\,\neven for the birds of the air.\nYou found your people imprisoned in darkness\nand through Moses and the prophets\,\nyou called them to freedom\nand led them by springs of water. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have come to us again\,\nteaching us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nWhen he was killed by those\nwho serve wealth and power\,\nyou raised him to life again\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2008 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\,\nin whom you have taught us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nYou raised him to life\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \n©2008 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 show compassion to your suffering ones\nand have written our names on the palm of your hands. \nYou created the earth and all its creatures\,\nclothing even the grass of the fields in splendour\nand bringing forth abundant food\,\neven for the birds of the air.\nYou found your people imprisoned in darkness\nand through Moses and the prophets\,\nyou called them to freedom\nand led them by springs of water. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have come to us again\,\nteaching us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nWhen he was killed by those\nwho serve wealth and power\,\nyou raised him to life again\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \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©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It is the Lord’s judgement alone that matters\,\nand God will no more write us off\nthan will a mother write off her nursing child.\nGod has sent comfort and a word of compassion\,\n”Come out of darkness and be free.” \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, as servants of Christ\nand stewards of God’s mysteries.\nStrive firstly for the kingdom of God\nand its righteousness and justice.\nDo not be anxious\, but calm your soul within you\nand do not condemn\, even yourselves. \nAnd may God generously provide all you need;\nMay Christ Jesus guide you in the ways of light;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit fill you with comfort and hope. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nFeasting and Fasting\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Alison Sampson\nWhen Buildings Fall: Do Not Worry?\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Nathan Nettleton\nThe Church Facing Judgement\nA sermon on 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 & Matthew 6: 24-34 by Nathan Nettleton\nGod and Possessions\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Jennifer Smith
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap03a/2041-03-03/
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20420608T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20420608T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20200831T130249Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240707T122708Z
UID:10002136-2285798400-2285884799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 5 - 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 8:4-11\, (12-15)\, 16-20\, (11:14-15)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	A gathering of the most influential people of Israel made arrangements to meet with the prophet Samuel at Ramah and present their demands. They said to him\, “You are getting too old to lead the nation\, and the way your sons are going\, they’ll never be up to it. It is time for a change of system. We want you to appoint a king to deal out justice for us. Every other nation has a king\, and we want one too.” \nSamuel was horrified by their demand for a king and he went straight to the LORD in prayer about it. But the LORD answered him saying\, “Go ahead and give them what they want. It is not only you they are turning their backs on; it’s me. They don’t want me as their ruler. This has been going on ever since I rescued them from their slave-drivers in Egypt. Over and over again they have turned their backs on me and run off after other gods. Now they are doing the same thing to you. So go ahead and give them what they want\, but before you do\, spell out to them in no uncertain terms what kings are really like once they are in power.” \nSo Samuel went back to the people who were demanding a king and passed on the LORD’s message. He said\, “Let me warn you what sort of ‘justice’ your king will deal out once he takes power. He will conscript your sons into his army\, some as foot soldiers\, some as drivers\, some on horseback. He will appoint officers of various ranks to give them orders and lead them off to war. Of those who do not go off to war\, he will press some into service on his farms to produce food for the troops\, and others he will put to work manufacturing weapons and equipment. He will take your daughters too and set them to work cooking and baking and powdering the noses of the noblewomen. \n“He will seize the best of your land\, your best fields\, vineyards and olive orchards\, and hand them over to his cronies. He will tax you heavily\, taking a big cut of everything you produce and giving it to the freeloaders who serve him as officers and officials. He will help himself to the best of everything you have\, your workers\, your livestock\, your equipment\, everything. He will be constantly looking to squeeze a bit more out of you. It will be like being slaves all over again. Then you’ll be sorry and you’ll be begging to be rescued from your king\, but it was your idea to have a king\, so there will be no point expecting the LORD to do anything about it.” \nBut everything Samuel said fell on deaf ears and the people continued to say\, “No! Our mind is made up. We want a king and we will have a king. We want to be just like the other nations with a king to rule over us and rally the troops and lead us into war.” \nSo Samuel said to the people\, “Come on then. Let’s go to Gilgal and set a king on a throne for you.” \nSo all the people gathered at Gilgal and there at the sacred site they crowned Saul as their first king. They offered up sacrifices to the LORD\, asking for success and prosperity. When it was done\, King Saul and all the Israelite people celebrated long and hard. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 138			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Thank you\, LORD\, thank you!\nThank you\, from the bottom of my heart!\nI will stand and sing your praises\nin the face of every would-be god! \nWherever I am\, I turn towards your holy Temple\nand fall to my knees in gratitude\,\nthanking you for your rock-solid love and loyalty;\nWith everything you say and everything you do\nyour reputation continues to go through the roof.\nThe minute I called\, you were there for me\,\nyou put steel in my spine\,\ngave me the guts to go on. \nWhen the things you have been saying sink in\, LORD\,\nall the earth’s powerful rulers will give credit to you.\nThey’ll join the party\, singing and dancing in your honour\,\ncelebrating the wonderful things you do. \nAs great as you are\,\nyou never think of ordinary people as beneath you\,\nbut you don’t waste your time\non those who are pretentious and stuck-up. \nAlthough I must often walk into dangerous situations\,\nyou protect me from hatred and hostility;\nyour invisible hand is always there\, keeping me safe. \nYou\, LORD\, have made plans for me\nand you will see them through to completion.\nYour love is as timeless and dependable as the rock;\nyou have made us what we are\nand you never give up on us. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Why do we speak as we do? We have the same kind of faith as the psalm-writer who said\, “What I say is what I believe.” We are no different. We say these things because that’s what we believe. We are quite sure that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead is not going to stop there. God is also going to raise us and you and reunite us all\, together with Jesus. So\, yes\, everything that God is doing is ultimately for your benefit. God’s extravagant generosity just keeps reaching out further and further to more and more people\, and so the flood-tide of gratitude just keeps swelling and all the glory goes to God. And rightly so. \nThat’s why we never feel like chucking in the towel. We might look like we are going downhill fast\, and it’s true that our bodies are falling apart on us\, but on the inside we’ve never been better and God seems to be making us stronger and stronger every day. This run of trouble that we’re copping at the moment is really no big deal in the scheme of things\, and it will make the final\, infinitely jackpotted prize of glory all the sweeter. \nWe don’t worry about how things look on the surface because the things that really matter aren’t visible. The things you can see won’t last long anyway\, but these things you can’t see are rock solid forever. We know that the bodies we live in now are like flimsy tents and soon enough\, they’ll be blown away. But no problem. Then we will get to move into the houses that God is giving us. They haven’t been knocked up by amateurs; they’ve been built by God to last forever in paradise. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 3: 20-35			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus was at home with his followers when once again such a big crowd gathered around the house that they couldn’t even get out to buy food. There was a rumour going round that Jesus was losing the plot\, and when his family heard what was going on\, they set out to take him in hand. The religious experts from Jerusalem had arrived too\, and they were ready to give their opinion: “He has gone over to Beelzebul\,” they said. “It’s all black magic. His power over the demons comes straight from the supreme commander of the demons.” \nBut Jesus gathered the people around him and responded with a riddle. “If there is an attempt to expel the satan from our midst\, could his own evil finger-pointing be driving the purge? Think about it. When an empire breaks into factions that undermine one another\, it collapses. When a team is split and at war with itself\, it all comes crashing down. So if the satan’s mob are divided because they have turned on their own\, then he has shot himself in the foot and his game is over. \n“The fact is\, no one can raid the house of a violent thug and carry off his belongings without first dealing with the thug himself. But if you can disarm him and tie him up\, then you can help yourself to everything in his house. \n“I kid you not\, people will be forgiven for all their toxic ways\, even the most despicable things they have said or done. But those who spit in the face of the Holy Spirit when they see the good things that God is doing have gone too far. There is no turning around once you go down that slippery slope.” Jesus said this in response to allegations that he had teamed up with the forces of evil. \nWhen his mother and his brothers arrived\, they sent a message in to let him know they had come for him. The crowd sitting around him inside passed on the message\, saying\, “Your mother and your brothers are outside and they want to see you.” \nBut Jesus replied\, saying\, “Who are they?” And looking around at those who were with him\, he said\, “Here are my true family! My brothers and sisters and mothers are those who are doing what God wants.” \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Genesis 3: 8-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In the cool of the evening breeze\, Adam and Eve heard the LORD God walking towards them in the garden. They panicked and hid behind the some trees\, trying to avoid coming face to face with the LORD God. But the LORD God was looking for them\, and called out to them\, saying\, “Where are you?” \nThe man said\, “I heard you coming through the garden and I panicked because I was stark naked\, so I dived for cover.” \nThe LORD God asked\, “Who pointed out that you were naked? It never bothered you before. Have you eaten fruit from the tree that I clearly told you not to eat from?” \nThe man said\, “It wasn’t my fault. You put this woman here with me. She gave me the fruit and I ate it.” \nSo the LORD God turned to the woman and said\, “What’s the story? What have you done?” \nThe woman replied\, “I was tricked into eating it by the snake.” \nSo the LORD God passed sentence on each of them\, beginning with the snake\, saying\, \n“A curse upon you for what you have done.\nYou of all the animals\, cursed!\nYou of all the wild creatures\, cursed! \nDown on your belly you go!\nFace down: you can eat dust\nfor the rest of your life! \nYou and the woman will be sworn enemies.\nThere will always be war\nbetween your offspring and hers. \nHer offspring will go for your head\nand you will go for his heel. \n©2014 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 130			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	From the depths of despair\, from rock bottom\,\nI cry to you\, O LORD.\nI beg you to listen!\nPlease tune in and hear what I’m asking! \nIf you put black marks against our names\nfor every failing\,\nLord\, wouldn’t you have to write off everyone? \nBut forgiveness is much more your style\,\nand for this we adore you. \nI wait in eager anticipation for your presence\, LORD.\nEverything inside me yearns for you\nand your promises fill me with hope. \nDeep in my guts there is a hunger for you\, LORD\,\nmore pressing than a woman\nwaiting for the birth of her baby\,\nmore impatient than a child\nwaiting for a birthday;\ncrossing off the days\, one by one. \nO People of Israel\, put your trust in the LORD!\nThe LORD’s love never lets us down\,\nand is always ready to rescue us from danger. \nIt is the Lord who will bail us out\nwhen we are caught in the consequences\nof our own sin. \n©2000 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 steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever\nand your Word is exalted above everything. \nThe Earth is the work of your hands\,\nand you redeemed for yourself a people out of slavery.\nThough you sent prophets to warn them\,\nthey rejected you and clamoured for a king\, \nWhen kings had done their worst\nand we were mired in unspeakable blasphemies\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nto walk with us in the midst of trouble\nand extend your grace to all.\nWhen Jesus was condemned as unclean\, and crucified\nit seemed that the ruler of demons had won\,\nbut you raised Jesus from the dead\,\nbinding death’s strong man\nand plundering his divided house.\nSo now we do not lose heart\nfor you are preparing us for glory beyond measure\nas the family of our Lord forever. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2012 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\,\nfor you raised him from the dead\,\nbinding death’s strong man\nand plundering his divided house.\nSo now we do not lose heart\nfor you are preparing us for glory beyond measure\nas the family of our Lord forever. \n©2012 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 steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever\nand your Word is exalted above everything. \nThe Earth is the work of your hands\,\nand you redeemed for yourself a people out of slavery.\nThough you sent prophets to warn them\,\nthey rejected you and clamoured for a king\, \nWhen kings had done their worst\nand we were mired in unspeakable blasphemies\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nto walk with us in the midst of trouble\nand extend your grace to all.\nWhen Jesus was condemned as unclean\, and crucified\nit seemed that the ruler of demons had won\,\nbut you raised Jesus from the dead\,\nbinding death’s strong man\nand plundering his divided house.\nSo now we do not lose heart\nfor you are preparing us for glory beyond measure\nas the family of our Lord 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©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Truly I tell you\, your sins will be forgiven\nfor God’s steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever\,\nand the work of God’s hands will not be forsaken.\nChrist Jesus has bound the ruler of demons\nand broken us free from the house of sin. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, praising God’s name with your whole heart.\nRejoice in the work of the Holy Spirit\,\neven when others call it evil and denounce you as mad.\nBe the true brothers and sisters of Jesus\nby doing the will of God always. \nAnd may God extend grace to you and through you;\nMay Christ Jesus walk with you in the midst of trouble;\nand may the Holy Spirit prepare you for glory beyond all measure. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2012 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\nTies that BindA sermon on Mark 3: 20-35 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nHow Satan Casts Out SatanA sermon on Mark 3: 20-35 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nTo Reign Over Us?A sermon on 1 Samuel 8:4-20; 11:14-15 & Mark 3:20-35 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFamily: Painfully Difficult Good NewsA sermon on Mark 3: 20-35 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp05/2042-06-08/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20430531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20430601
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20201103T042452Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201103T042832Z
UID:10001709-2316643200-2316729599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 4 - Year C
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. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\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				  1 Kings 18: 20-21 (22-29) 30-39			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	At Elijah’s suggestion\, King Ahab called all the prophets of the god Baal to an assembly on Mount Carmel\, and advertised it throughout Israel. When the crowd had gathered\, Elijah stepped forward and addressed them saying\, “How long are you going to keep trying to play for both sides? Make up your minds and follow the real God. Is it going to be the LORD or Baal?” \nBut there was silence. No one moved one way or the other. \nSo Elijah threw down the gauntlet\, saying\, “I’m here as the last remaining prophet on the LORD’s side\, but there are four hundred and fifty prophets here on Baal’s side. Bring us two bulls for a sacrifice. Baal’s mob can choose the bull they want. They are to butcher it and lay it out on the firewood on their altar\, but they are not allowed to light the fire. I will prepare the other bull the same way\, laying it out on the wood but not lighting the fire. Then they can call out to their god and I will call out to the LORD\, and we’ll see which god can prove himself by sending down fire.” \nThe gathered crowd thought this was a great idea. \nElijah turned to the prophets of Baal and said\, “There are lots of you\, so you can go first. Choose your bull\, prepare it for the sacrifice\, and start praying to your god. But you are not allowed to light the fire yourselves.” \nSo they took one of the bulls and butchered it for the sacrifice. From morning till midday they prayed to Baal\, crying out\, “O Baal\, god of fire\, answer us.” But nothing happened. There was no answer\, not so much as a whisper. They prayed harder and harder as they marched around the altar which they had made. \nCome midday\, Elijah started making fun of them. “Come on\,” he said. “Shout louder! What kind of god is he? Maybe he’s dreaming. Perhaps he’s nicked out to the dunny. Could he have wandered off somewhere? Maybe he’s fallen asleep\, and needs to be woken up.” \nSo they prayed louder and louder and more and more desperately. They slashed themselves with swords to offer up their own blood\, as was their custom\, and soon there was blood all over the place. They continued this well into the afternoon\, trying everything they could to get an answer out of their god\, but still there was nothing. Not a whisper\, not a spark\, no answer of any kind. \nThen Elijah called the people to gather around him\, and they crowded in close. The altar of the LORD that had once stood on the mountain was in ruins\, so Elijah rebuilt it in honour of the LORD using twelve large stones. Each stone represented one of the twelve tribes descended from the sons of Jacob to whom the LORD had given the name Israel. When Elijah finished building the altar\, he dug a trench around it\, deep enough to hold several buckets of water. He arranged the firewood on the altar\, cut the bull into pieces\, and laid it on the wood. Then he said\, “Fill four buckets of water and pour it all over the offering and the wood. When they had done it\, he said\, “Do it again”\, so another four buckets were poured over it. Then he said\, “Do it a third time\,” so four more buckets full were poured over it so that everything was completely soaked. The whole altar was dripping wet and the trench was flooded. \nAt the usual time of the evening sacrifice\, the prophet Elijah stood with the people and prayed\, “O LORD\, God of Abraham\, Isaac\, and Israel\, prove to everyone now that you are the real God in Israel\, and that I am serving you and acting on your authority. Answer me\, LORD. Show these people what you are made of\, so that they will know that you are the real God and that you are winning their hearts back to you.” \nWith a flash\, the LORD’s fire fell and incinerated the lot: the meat\, the wood\, the stones\, and even the water in the trench. There was nothing left but scorched dirt. When the people saw it happen\, they fell on their faces in awe\, saying “The LORD is the true God! The LORD is the true God!” \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 96			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We sing like we’ve never sung before\, LORD;\nsinging to you with all the earth.\nEvery mention of your name sets us singing your praises. \nWe never tire of telling the story of how you bailed us out;\nall over the world\, we speak of your incredible accomplishments;\neveryone we meet hears us giving the credit to you. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD; we can’t praise you enough!\nWhen it comes to gods\, you are in a league of your own;\nall other objects of devotion are powerless. \nBut you\, LORD\, created the whole cosmos;\nyou are surrounded by majesty and celebration;\nstrength and beauty are signs of your presence. \nPeople of every race and creed recognise you\, LORD;\nthey recognise you behind all that is strong and true;\nthey name you as the one who deserves all the glory. \nWe offer ourselves to you\, LORD;\nwe fall to our knees in this beautiful place of worship;\nwith all the earth\, we celebrate you alone. \nYou are our king\, LORD; we’ll tell everyone everywhere!\nYou have set the world on firm foundations\,\nand with you in charge\, everyone will get a fair go. \nLet the heavens and the earth celebrate;\nlet the roar of the sea join in;\nlet everything that walks\, flies or swims join the party! \nYou are on your way\, LORD\,\nand even the roadside trees cheer as you approach\,\nfor you are coming to set things right on the earth. \nYou will sort things out and put things right\,\nand reveal the truth about everything and everyone. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Galatians 1:1-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, Paul\, am one of God’s special ambassadors. I wasn’t given this job by a popular vote\, or by some ordinary human boss. I was entrusted with the job by none other than Jesus the Messiah and God the Father\, who raised Jesus from the dead. This letter comes to you\, the churches in Galatia\, from me\, and from the rest of God’s crew who are with me. \nI wish you a full helping of generous love and peace from the God who conceived us and from our number one man\, Jesus the Messiah. Faced with the record of our corruption\, he gave himself completely to breaking us free from the grip of the evil culture that is so entrenched in the present day. God made our freedom a priority\, and all the credit should go to God\, now and always. And so say all of us! \nI can hardly believe what I’m hearing about you. I’m disgusted. The Messiah was extravagantly generous in calling you\, but already you are turning your backs on him and getting sucked into some other message that claims to be good news. There is no other message that’s worth a pinch of spit\, but I hear that there are some snake oil merchants there who are twisting the Messiah’s message and leading you all astray. This is not about me. If anybody\, including me\, or for that matter even an angel from heaven\, starts pushing a message that goes against what we taught you\, they can go to hell! I’ve said it once\, and I’ll say it again: if anybody comes pushing a message that goes against the one you have already received\, they can go to hell! \nDoes it sound like I’m pandering to the crowd and telling people what they want to hear? Does it like like I care what people think of me\, or rather what God thinks of me? If I was still trying to impress the crowd\, I wouldn’t be serving the Messiah at all. \nLet me set you straight on this\, brothers and sisters. The message that you heard me announcing is not something that somebody just cooked up one day. I can assure you that I didn’t get it second hand from any human source\, and nor did anybody word me up about it. Instead\, the message was the result of Jesus the Messiah revealing himself directly. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 7: 1-10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After spending some time teaching the people\, Jesus went into the town of Capernaum. There was a Roman military commander there who had a slave who was very special to him\, but the slave had fallen ill and was dying. The commander was desperate to save the life of his slave\, so when he heard that Jesus was in town\, he sent some of the local Jewish officials to ask for his help. The officials spoke to Jesus with great enthusiasm on behalf of the commander. “This man is certainly worthy of your help\,” they said. “He is a great friend of our people. He even bankrolled the building of our local synagogue.” \nJesus headed off with them\, but before he reached the house\, the commander sent another delegation of friends out to him with a message saying\, “Lord\, don’t put yourself out for me. There is no need for you to come all the way to my house. I’m not worthy to have you under my roof\, and I wouldn’t presume to approach you in person. Please\, just give the word\, and my servant will be healed. I know how it works because I too am a man who obeys orders and who gives orders\, knowing that they will be obeyed. I tell one soldier ‘Go\,’ and he goes. I tell another ‘Jump\,’ and he says ‘How high?’ I tell my servant to do something\, and he does it.” \nWhen Jesus heard the commander’s message\, he was gob-smacked. Turning to address the crowd that was following him\, he exclaimed\, “Did you hear that? You might think you could find an Israelite with faith like that\, but no\, I have never before\, anywhere\, come across such deep trust.” \nAnd sure enough\, when the commander’s messengers got back to the house\, they found the slave back on his feet\, a picture of health. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Kings 8: 22-23\, 41-43			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Solomon stood in front of the altar of the LORD and\, with his hands raised high\, he led the gathered people in prayer. He prayed: \n“O LORD\, God of Israel\, you are one of a kind! No other god in the universe is like you. Your love is rock-solid and you never forget the alliance you have made with those who follow you whole-heartedly. \nAnd don’t stop with just us – foreigners will no doubt hear about you too. Attracted by your reputation and by news of the awesome things you do\, they will come from all sorts of far flung places to live among your people and offer their prayers within sight of this Temple. When they do\, listen to them from your heavenly home and answer their prayers. That way everyone on earth will hear of you and give you the same respect that your people Israel do. They will know that this Temple which I have built carries your authority. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 96: 1-9			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We sing like we’ve never sung before\, LORD;\nsinging to you with all the earth.\nEvery mention of your name sets us singing your praises. \nWe never tire of telling the story of how you bailed us out;\nall over the world\, we speak of your incredible accomplishments;\neveryone we meet hears us giving the credit to you. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD; we can’t praise you enough!\nWhen it comes to gods\, you are in a league of your own;\nall other objects of devotion are powerless. \nBut you\, LORD\, created the whole cosmos;\nyou are surrounded by majesty and celebration;\nstrength and beauty are signs of your presence. \nPeople of every race and creed recognise you\, LORD;\nthey recognise you behind all that is strong and true;\nthey name you as the one who deserves all the glory. \nWe offer ourselves to you\, LORD;\nwe fall to our knees in this beautiful place of worship;\nwith all the earth\, we celebrate you alone. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nPrayers\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 to tell of your salvation from day to day\nand declare your glory and your marvelous works to all. \nYou made the heavens and established the earth\,\nand revealed yourself through your law and prophets\nto be a God of glory and strength\nwho answers the cries of your people. \nThough we were not worthy to receive you\,\nfor we turned our backs on your grace\nand limped off after worthless other gods\,\nyou came to us in your child\, Jesus\,\nspeaking the word of healing and forgiveness.\nWhen we turned against him\,\nhe gave himself into our hands\nas a revelation of your self-sacrificing love\,\nand when we crucified him\,\nyou raised him from the dead\,\nand sent down your Spirit in fire\nto heal us and set us free from this evil age. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2013 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 came to us as a revelation of your self-sacrificing love\,\nspeaking the word of healing and forgiveness\nand sending down your Spirit in fire\nto heal us and set us free from this evil age. \n©2013 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 to tell of your salvation from day to day\nand declare your glory and your marvelous works to all. \nYou made the heavens and established the earth\,\nand revealed yourself through your law and prophets\nto be a God of glory and strength\nwho answers the cries of your people. \nThough we were not worthy to receive you\,\nfor we turned our backs on your grace\nand limped off after worthless other gods\,\nyou came to us in your child\, Jesus\,\nspeaking the word of healing and forgiveness.\nWhen we turned against him\,\nhe gave himself into our hands\nas a revelation of your self-sacrificing love\,\nand when we crucified him\,\nyou raised him from the dead\,\nand sent down your Spirit in fire\nto heal us and set us free from this evil age. \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©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus gave himself freely for our sins\nto set us free from the present evil age\,\naccording to the will of our God and Father\,\nand to turn our hearts back to righteousness and truth. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	If the Lord is God\, go now\, and follow him\,\nand do not be tempted to share your loyalty with other gods.\nStay true to the gospel that has been revealed to you in Jesus.\nCall on the name of the Lord\,\ntell of God’s salvation from day to day\,\nand live in righteousness and truth. \nAnd may God bring you grace and peace;\nMay Christ Jesus heal you and raise you up\,\nand may the Holy Spirit’s fiery glory strengthen your hearts. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nFollowers or Fans?\nA sermon on Luke 6:39 – 7:10 by Nathan Nettleton\nA Different Gospel?\nA sermon on Galatians 1:1-12; 1 Kings 18:20-39 & Luke 7:1-10 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp04b/2043-05-31/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20460527
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20460528
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20201103T012614Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201103T012904Z
UID:10001707-2410992000-2411078399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 3 - Year C
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. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\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				  Sirach 27: 4-7			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	When grain is put through a sieve\,\nyou find out how much rubbish was in it.\nIt’s the same when a person starts talking.\nWhatever rubbish they are full of is soon out in the open. \nThe heat of the kiln tests a potter’s work for hidden faults.\nWhat a person is made of is tested in the heat of conversation. \nThe quality of the fruit tells you if a tree has been looked after.\nThe things people have to say\nreveal how they have taken care of their minds. \nDon’t pump anyone up before you hear how they talk.\nThat’s the way the truth about people comes out. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR   Isaiah 55: 10-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	This is what the LORD says: \nEverything I say has a powerful purpose;\nno empty words ever pass my lips.\nMy words are like drops of rain in the cycle of nature:\nwherever they fall they give life;\nthey replenish\, renew and nourish life\,\nand then the earth gives them back and they start again.\nMy words always achieve their purpose;\nthey flourish where I plant them\,\nthey nourish all who feed on them. \nMy Word will bring peace\nand you will come home with great celebration.\nThe trees will line the road\, clapping and singing;\nthe mountains will rain down ticker tape as you pass. \nWhere the saltbush struggled\,\na redgum will take root and grow;\nwhere noxious weeds ruled\,\nnative orchids and daisies will bloom again.\nThe wilderness in all its glory will stand like a monument\,\nlike a permanent sign of the LORD’s rich goodness. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 92: 1-4\, 12-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It is a privilege to be able to publicly thank you\, LORD\,\nto sing your praises and put your name up in lights.\nIt is great to start the day singing about your rock-solid love\,\nwith a full band ringing out the tune\,\nand to end it thanking you for being so loyal and trustworthy\,\naccompanying our praise with guitars. \nFor you\, O LORD\, have given us so much to be happy about;\nwhat you have done with your own hands\nsets us singing and dancing for joy. \nPeople who always do the right thing by others\nwill thrive like a tropical rainforest\nand grow strong like a river redgum.\nThey have put down their roots in your soil\, LORD\,\nand they will brighten up your temple like flowers.\nEven when they grow old they will still be fruitful\,\nhealthy and vibrant and pulsing with life.\nThey are a credit to you\, LORD\,\nproving for all to see that you are straight and true.\nYou are our rock\,\nand there is nothing rotten or crooked in you. \n©2009 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 15: 51-58			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Listen up! I will let you in on a mystery! We are not all going to die after all. But we will all be radically changed. When the final siren blows\, it will happen in the blink of an eye. Just like that. The siren will sound\, and those who were dead and buried will be raised up new\, never to decay again\, and any of us who hadn’t yet died will be changed just like them. The biggest make-over of all time! Our bodies will be stripped of their old steady decline\, and clothed instead in never-ending health. These short-term bodies will lose their use-by dates\, and be refitted\, completely immortal. When that happens – when our old falling-apart bodies put on never-ending health and immortality – then the old saying from the prophets will have come true: \n“Life wins! Death has been eaten alive!”\n“You were so sure of yourself\, Death\,\nbut you turned out to be toothless.\nYour bark was worse than your bite.” \nDeath depended on sin for its bite\, and sin was powered by the law. But they have been blown away by our Lord Jesus\, the Messiah. When he enters the fray\, we win! Thanks be to God! \nThat being the case\, my beloved friends\, hang in there\, rock solid\, come what may. Whatever role the Lord has asked you to play\, give it your absolute best\, because you can be sure that when you are on his side\, your work will never be in vain. \n©2015 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 6: 39-49			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While teaching the people\, Jesus quoted the proverb: “If the blind are leading the blind\, both fall into the same hole\,” and then he went on to say\, “Trainees can’t hold a candle to their teacher\, but if they continue their training\, they will eventually catch up with the teacher and be able to show others the way. \n“Why is it that you are always the first to point out a loose thread or a speck of dust on someone else’s clothing\, but you are the last to notice the dirty big vomit stain down your own front. There you are\, making a big display of offering to help the other person get their appearance in order\, without realising what a disgusting mess you are yourself. You pretentious fraud! Clean up your own act first\, and then you might gain enough perspective to be able to help others. \n“A healthy tree doesn’t produce sick fruit\, and neither does a sick tree produce healthy fruit. The health of each tree is judged by the quality of the fruit it produces. You don’t find mangoes growing on a lemon tree. You can’t pick grapes from a blackberry vine. Good people have hearts and minds full of good things\, and it shows in the generous and healthy ways they respond to others. Toxic people spew forth poison from the toxic filth churning inside them. Whatever your heart and mind are full of will colour what comes out when you open your mouth. \n“What’s the use of dropping my name all the time and prattling on about what a high view of my authority you hold\, when you ignore everything I ask you to do? The people who come to me and listen to what I say and put it into practice are like a builder who puts down solid foundations before building a house. When the flood waters rise and the river breaks its banks\, it can’t budge that house because it has been built to last. But those who hear what I say and don’t bother doing anything about it are more like someone who knocks up a house without laying any foundation at all. The first time the river bursts\, it is all over in a minute. The whole house comes crashing down and is swept away in little pieces!” \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nPrayers\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. \nWe do indeed give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your victory has swallowed up the power of death\nand given our living an unshakable foundation. \nYour Word went forth to create the earth\,\nand to give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.\nYour Word went forth through the law and prophets\nto form a people who hear and act on all you say. \nYour Word went forth in your Son\, Jesus Christ\,\nand brought forth the full fruits\nthat grow from the goodness of your heart.\nHis words unmasked hypocrisy\,\ndisarmed the powers of death\,\nand laid the foundation for your Church.\nThough he was killed by those\nwho lead others to destruction\,\nyou raised him to life\nand clothed him in immortality.\nIn his victory\, death has lost its sting\,\nand we can offer you our labour\nknowing that all your purposes will be accomplished. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2001 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 Word which went forth to create the earth\,\nand to form us as a people who hear and act on all you say.\nIn your Son\, Jesus Christ\, your Word unmasked hypocrisy\,\ndisarmed the sting of death\,\nand laid an unshakeable foundation for your Church. \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 for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your victory has swallowed up the power of death\nand given our living an unshakable foundation. \nYour Word went forth to create the earth\,\nand to give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.\nYour Word went forth through the law and prophets\nto form a people who hear and act on all you say. \nYour Word went forth in your Son\, Jesus Christ\,\nand brought forth the full fruits\nthat grow from the goodness of your heart.\nHis words unmasked hypocrisy\,\ndisarmed the powers of death\,\nand laid the foundation for your Church.\nThough he was killed by those\nwho lead others to destruction\,\nyou raised him to life\nand clothed him in immortality.\nIn his victory\, death has lost its sting\,\nand we can offer you our labour\nknowing that all your purposes will be accomplished. \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	Thought the words of our mouths betray the sin in our hearts\,\nthe words of God’s mouth will accomplish their purpose\,\novercoming the sting of death\nand giving us victory over sin\nthrough our Lord Jesus Christ. \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 act on the words of Christ which you have heard.\nProclaim that the Lord is just.\nBe steadfast and unshakeable.\nGive your best to the work of the Lord\,\nfor in Christ\, your labour is not in vain. \nAnd may God lead you out in joy and back in peace;\nMay Christ Jesus give you victory over the powers of death;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit cultivate your heart and mind\nto produce in you abundant fruits all your life. \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	 \nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nWhy you probably don’t need to learn more\nA sermon on Luke 6:39-49 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp03b/
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20510604T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20510604T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20200831T102338Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240701T020017Z
UID:10002135-2569449600-2569535999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 4 - 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				  2 Corinthians 4: 5-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We are not preaching about ourselves. The message we preach is that Jesus the messiah is Lord of all. We ourselves are slaves\, at your service\, for Jesus’s 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 messiah and knowing it for what it is. \nYou might not notice how beautiful that light is if you just look at us though. It is in us\, for sure\, but like a diamond necklace in a plain paper bag. That way nobody can make the mistake of thinking too highly of us. It is clear that the power is all God’s. \nWe cop the worst of everything\, but it hasn’t finished us off. It drives us nuts at times\, but it hasn’t driven us over the edge. We are picked on unfairly\, but we know we are not alone. We keep getting knocked down\, but we get right back up again. When you look for Jesus in us\, what you are most likely to see is his battered corpse\, but that now means that it is also possible to see his risen life taking shape in our bodies. Our lives are on the line all the time. We are always being thrown into the jaws of death because of Jesus\, but again that just means that the risen life of Jesus can be seen taking shape in our fragile flesh. No doubt death will finish us off soon\, but in you\, life is getting a good strong hold! \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 2: 23 - 3:6			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It was a Sabbath\, the day of rest\, and Jesus was leading the way through some wheat fields. As they walked\, his followers were casually plucking off a few heads of grain. The next thing you know\, some members of the devoutly religious Pharisee party popped up and challenged Jesus\, saying\, “Look at that! What do they think they are doing? Haven’t you taught them that it is against the law to harvest grain on the Sabbath?” \nBut Jesus replied\, “Haven’t you read in your Bibles what our national hero David did when he and his followers were hungry and had nothing to eat? He went into the house of God and took the sacred bread off the altar and ate that\, right under the nose of Abiathar the high priest. The law clearly says that only the priests are allowed to eat that\, but not only did he eat it himself\, he gave it to his followers to eat too. Don’t you lot get that the Sabbath was made for the benefit of the people\, not the other way around. The New Human is in charge now\, and even the Sabbath falls into line.” \nArriving back at the synagogue\, Jesus went on in. There was a man there who had one hand that was wasted away and useless. Some people there were keeping a close eye on Jesus to see if they could catch him doing a work of healing on the Sabbath and then dob him in to the authorities. Jesus saw the man with the crippled hand\, and said to him\, “Come out here\, up the front.” \nThen he looked around at the people and asked\, “What do you all think the law would want from us on the Sabbath\, to do good or to let things go bad\, to save a life or to destroy one?” \nBut they bit their tongues and said nothing. Jesus was outraged; gutted by their lack of compassion. Turning back to the man\, he said\, “Stretch out your hand.” \nThe man stretched out his hand\, and that was all it took: it was back to full strength. That was too much for the Pharisees. They went straight out and began conspiring with Herod’s mob to destroy Jesus. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Deuteronomy 5: 12-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Keep up the practice of making Saturday a dedicated rest day\, as the LORD your God has told you to do. You are to work on your business\, your projects\, and your chores on the other six days\, and keep the seventh day as a rest day\, dedicated to 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 bullocks\, horses\, dogs\, or any other animal you own. All who work for you need rest\, just as you do. Always keep in mind that you were forced to work as slaves in a foreign land\, and the LORD your God bared his arm and reached out and rescued you from there. That is why the LORD your God told you to keep the dedicated rest day. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 81: 1-10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We sing our lungs out to you\, God\,\nfor you make us strong;\nwe shout for joy\, celebrating you\,\nthe God of our ancestors. \nOur songs ring out in your honour\,\nand on our instruments we make the sweetest music we can. \nA trumpet blast opens the festival;\nevery month we celebrate your new creation. \nWe are your people\, God\, and this is our tradition;\na sacred law for every generation to follow.\nYou gave it to us through Joseph\nwhen our ancestors took refuge in Egypt. \nYou have spoken to us in an unfamiliar voice\,\nreminding us that it was you who freed us from slavery\nand you who lifted the burden from our backs. \nWhen we cried out in panic\, you rescued us;\nfrom the thunder clouds you answered our plea\,\nand at a desert spring you called us to account. \nYou begged us to pay attention\,\nto let you set us straight;\nyou longed for your people to listen to you. \nYou warned us to steer clear of alternative gods;\nto avoid offering our devotion to every new fad. \nYou are the LORD our God;\nthe God who rescued us from the land of slavery.\nWhen we come to you with our hungers\,\nyou fill us with all that we need. \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 it was you who knit together the newborn earth\nand said\, “Let light shine out of darkness.”\nWonderful are all your works. \nIn ancient times\,\nyou spoke through trustworthy prophets like Samuel\,\nrevealing to us your Word and your thoughts.\nHow weighty they are\, O God!\nHow vast is the sum of them. \nNow you have revealed yourself in your child\, Jesus.\nHe made known your grief at our brokenness\nand your desire to feed us\nwith the bread of compassion and mercy.\nWhen the powerful and hard-hearted conspired against him\,\npersecuting him and striking him down\,\nyou raised him to new life.\nNow\, even when we are afflicted in every way\,\nyou shine in our hearts\nto give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God\nin the face of Jesus Christ. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2016 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 made known your desire to feed us\nwith the bread of compassion and mercy.\nNow\, even when we are afflicted\,\nyou shine in our hearts\nto give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God\nin the face of Jesus Christ. \n©2016 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 it was you who knit together the newborn earth\nand said\, “Let light shine out of darkness.”\nWonderful are all your works. \nIn ancient times\,\nyou spoke through trustworthy prophets like Samuel\,\nrevealing to us your Word and your thoughts.\nHow weighty they are\, O God!\nHow vast is the sum of them. \nNow you have revealed yourself in your child\, Jesus.\nHe made known your grief at our brokenness\nand your desire to feed us\nwith the bread of compassion and mercy.\nWhen the powerful and hard-hearted conspired against him\,\npersecuting him and striking him down\,\nyou raised him to new life.\nNow\, even when we are afflicted in every way\,\nyou shine in our hearts\nto give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God\nin the face of Jesus Christ. \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©2016 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 has searched us and known us\nand grieved over our hardness of heart.\nBut the Lord’s mercies are as uncountable as the sand\nand we are forgiven\, not through sacrifices or offerings\,\nbut through the love and grace made known in Jesus. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2016 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and listen always for the Word of the Lord.\nAt all times\, do good and not harm\,\nsave life and do not destroy it.\nCarry always in your bodies\nthe life and death of Jesus. \nAnd may God be with you to the end.\nMay Christ Jesus make his life visible in you.\nand may the Holy Spirit give you the light of the knowledge\nof the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2016 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\nReligion v’s LifeA sermon on Mark 2:23 – 3:6 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\n #Sabbath OutrageA sermon on Mark 2:23 – 3:6 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\n Crackpots or Cracked Pots?A sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp04b/2051-06-04/
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20570304
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20570305
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20200831T103530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220909T034555Z
UID:10001628-2750889600-2750975999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:9th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year B
DESCRIPTION:This occasion next occurs in 2057 and only 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				  Deuteronomy 5: 12-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Keep up the practice of making Saturday a dedicated rest day\, as the LORD your God has told you to do. You are to work on your business\, your projects\, and your chores on the other six days\, and keep the seventh day as a rest day\, dedicated to 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 bullocks\, horses\, dogs\, or any other animal you own. All who work for you need rest\, just as you do. Always keep in mind that you were forced to work as slaves in a foreign land\, and the LORD your God bared his arm and reached out and rescued you from there. That is why the LORD your God told you to keep the dedicated rest day. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 81: 1-10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We sing our lungs out to you\, God\,\nfor you make us strong;\nwe shout for joy\, celebrating you\,\nthe God of our ancestors. \nOur songs ring out in your honour\,\nand on our instruments we make the sweetest music we can. \nA trumpet blast opens the festival;\nevery month we celebrate your new creation. \nWe are your people\, God\, and this is our tradition;\na sacred law for every generation to follow.\nYou gave it to us through Joseph\nwhen our ancestors took refuge in Egypt. \nYou have spoken to us in an unfamiliar voice\,\nreminding us that it was you who freed us from slavery\nand you who lifted the burden from our backs. \nWhen we cried out in panic\, you rescued us;\nfrom the thunder clouds you answered our plea\,\nand at a desert spring you called us to account. \nYou begged us to pay attention\,\nto let you set us straight;\nyou longed for your people to listen to you. \nYou warned us to steer clear of alternative gods;\nto avoid offering our devotion to every new fad. \nYou are the LORD our God;\nthe God who rescued us from the land of slavery.\nWhen we come to you with our hungers\,\nyou fill us with all that we need. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 4: 5-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We are not preaching about ourselves. The message we preach is that Jesus the messiah is Lord of all. We ourselves are slaves\, at your service\, for Jesus’s 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 messiah and knowing it for what it is. \nYou might not notice how beautiful that light is if you just look at us though. It is in us\, for sure\, but like a diamond necklace in a plain paper bag. That way nobody can make the mistake of thinking too highly of us. It is clear that the power is all God’s. \nWe cop the worst of everything\, but it hasn’t finished us off. It drives us nuts at times\, but it hasn’t driven us over the edge. We are picked on unfairly\, but we know we are not alone. We keep getting knocked down\, but we get right back up again. When you look for Jesus in us\, what you are most likely to see is his battered corpse\, but that now means that it is also possible to see his risen life taking shape in our bodies. Our lives are on the line all the time. We are always being thrown into the jaws of death because of Jesus\, but again that just means that the risen life of Jesus can be seen taking shape in our fragile flesh. No doubt death will finish us off soon\, but in you\, life is getting a good strong hold! \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 2: 23 - 3:6			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It was a Sabbath\, the day of rest\, and Jesus was leading the way through some wheat fields. As they walked\, his followers were casually plucking off a few heads of grain. The next thing you know\, some members of the devoutly religious Pharisee party popped up and challenged Jesus\, saying\, “Look at that! What do they think they are doing? Haven’t you taught them that it is against the law to harvest grain on the Sabbath?” \nBut Jesus replied\, “Haven’t you read in your Bibles what our national hero David did when he and his followers were hungry and had nothing to eat? He went into the house of God and took the sacred bread off the altar and ate that\, right under the nose of Abiathar the high priest. The law clearly says that only the priests are allowed to eat that\, but not only did he eat it himself\, he gave it to his followers to eat too. Don’t you lot get that the Sabbath was made for the benefit of the people\, not the other way around. The New Human is in charge now\, and even the Sabbath falls into line.” \nArriving back at the synagogue\, Jesus went on in. There was a man there who had one hand that was wasted away and useless. Some people there were keeping a close eye on Jesus to see if they could catch him doing a work of healing on the Sabbath and then dob him in to the authorities. Jesus saw the man with the crippled hand\, and said to him\, “Come out here\, up the front.” \nThen he looked around at the people and asked\, “What do you all think the law would want from us on the Sabbath\, to do good or to let things go bad\, to save a life or to destroy one?” \nBut they bit their tongues and said nothing. Jesus was outraged; gutted by their lack of compassion. Turning back to the man\, he said\, “Stretch out your hand.” \nThe man stretched out his hand\, and that was all it took: it was back to full strength. That was too much for the Pharisees. They went straight out and began conspiring with Herod’s mob to destroy Jesus. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n\nThese prayers are based on a set of readings that use a different 1st reading and psalm\, and will be replaced at some point. \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 it was you who knit together the newborn earth\nand said\, “Let light shine out of darkness.”\nWonderful are all your works. \nIn ancient times\,\nyou spoke through trustworthy prophets like Samuel\,\nrevealing to us your Word and your thoughts.\nHow weighty they are\, O God!\nHow vast is the sum of them. \nNow you have revealed yourself in your child\, Jesus.\nHe made known your grief at our brokenness\nand your desire to feed us\nwith the bread of compassion and mercy.\nWhen the powerful and hard-hearted conspired against him\,\npersecuting him and striking him down\,\nyou raised him to new life.\nNow\, even when we are afflicted in every way\,\nyou shine in our hearts\nto give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God\nin the face of Jesus Christ. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2016 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 made known your desire to feed us\nwith the bread of compassion and mercy.\nNow\, even when we are afflicted\,\nyou shine in our hearts\nto give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God\nin the face of Jesus Christ. \n©2016 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 it was you who knit together the newborn earth\nand said\, “Let light shine out of darkness.”\nWonderful are all your works. \nIn ancient times\,\nyou spoke through trustworthy prophets like Samuel\,\nrevealing to us your Word and your thoughts.\nHow weighty they are\, O God!\nHow vast is the sum of them. \nNow you have revealed yourself in your child\, Jesus.\nHe made known your grief at our brokenness\nand your desire to feed us\nwith the bread of compassion and mercy.\nWhen the powerful and hard-hearted conspired against him\,\npersecuting him and striking him down\,\nyou raised him to new life.\nNow\, even when we are afflicted in every way\,\nyou shine in our hearts\nto give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God\nin the face of Jesus Christ. \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©2016 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 has searched us and known us\nand grieved over our hardness of heart.\nBut the Lord’s mercies are as uncountable as the sand\nand we are forgiven\, not through sacrifices or offerings\,\nbut through the love and grace made known in Jesus. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2016 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and listen always for the Word of the Lord.\nAt all times\, do good and not harm\,\nsave life and do not destroy it.\nCarry always in your bodies\nthe life and death of Jesus. \nAnd may God be with you to the end.\nMay Christ Jesus make his life visible in you.\nand may the Holy Spirit give you the light of the knowledge\nof the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2016 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\nReligion v’s LifeA sermon on Mark 2:23 – 3:6 by Nathan Nettleton #Sabbath OutrageA sermon on Mark 2:23 – 3:6 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp04/
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20620528
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20620529
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20210610T043757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210610T044727Z
UID:10001826-2916000000-2916086399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 3 - Year A
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. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\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				  Isaiah 49: 8-16a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	This is what the LORD is saying: \nWhat a day! I have answered your call.\nIt’s the day of rescue\, and here I am.\nI have kept you safe\,\nand I have given you to the people\nas the sign that I will always be with them. \nI have given you the job of putting the land in order\,\nof resettling the people\non the properties that were left abandoned. \nTell the prisoners they can now go free.\nTell those cowering in the darkness\nthat it is now safe to come out of hiding. \nThey will find all the food they want along the way.\nEven the rocky mountain tops will produce food for them.\nThey will never go hungry or thirsty;\nnever again be burnt by the sun or cut by the wind. \nI care deeply for them and I will lead them.\nI will guide them along the perfect track\nfrom one fresh waterhole to the next. \nI will level out the track\nso that there are no tough climbs\nand no treacherous descents. \nTake a look and see!\nHere come my people from far away\,\nfrom all points of the compass\,\nfrom this land and that. \nSing your lungs out\, sky above!\nExplode with joy\, O planet earth!\nBurst into song\, O mighty mountains!\nFor the LORD’S people were suffering\,\nbut the LORD has felt their pain and given them comfort. \nBut Zion said\, “The LORD’S back is turned to me.\nMy Lord has given up on me\, written me off.” \nGet a grip! Does a woman give up on the child at her breast?\nCan she turn her back when her own child is hurting?\nAnd yet a woman forgetting her child\nis a lot more likely than me forgetting you.\nLook here and see\,\nI have written your name on the palm of my hand. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 131			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, I am not too full of myself.\nI don’t set my sights too high.\nI don’t try to get involved in things\nthat are out of my league\nor beyond my capabilities. \nWhat I have done\, LORD\, is look after my soul. \nLike a mother tenderly calming a young child\,\nI have calmed my soul to a quiet peace. \nMay all your people put their hope in you\, LORD\,\nfrom now on\, and forevermore. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Corinthians 4:1-5			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	How should you think of us? Think of us only as servants of the Messiah\, and as those whose job it is to handle the mysteries of God’s business. Now the basic expectation of anyone who is given such a job is that they can be trusted with it. For myself\, I couldn’t care less whether you or any other mob think I measure up. I don’t even try to judge myself. I am not aware of any black marks against my name\, but that doesn’t prove anything. It is only what the Lord thinks of me that matters. Therefore\, don’t go jumping the gun and trying to tally the score before time’s up\, before the Lord arrives. He will shine a spotlight on things that are now hidden under the cover of darkness\, and what really makes us tick will be out in the open for all to see. Then\, and only then\, will each person receive the thumbs-up from God for the things they’ve done well. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 6:24-34			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus said: \n“No one can play on two teams.\nYou’ll either give your best to one\nand under-perform for the other\,\nor short-change one\nand give your heart and soul for the other.\nYou can’t dedicate yourself to both God and financial success. \n“So I’m telling you\, don’t go worrying about your life\, about where your next meal is coming from or what you will find to drink. Don’t stress about what you look like or whether you’ve got the right clothes to wear. Life is more than food\, isn’t it? And the body is not just a clothes rack\, is it? Look at the birds flying around. They don’t do any farming. They don’t stock up the pantry with extra supplies. And yet the one who conceived you in heaven feeds them. You are worth more than they are\, aren’t you? So what good does worrying do you? It won’t make you live any longer - not even an hour - will it? \n“And why do you worry about what to wear? Think about the wild flowers. They grow without ever shopping or sewing a stitch. But you can take it from me that they are clothed more perfectly than even a princess at a royal wedding. If God takes such care over dressing the wildflowers\, which bloom today and are mown down and composted tomorrow\, how much more care will God take to make sure that you have the clothes you need? Yet you find it hard to trust! \n“So don’t get all anxious and go asking\, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘Where will we find a drink?’ or ‘What on earth will we wear?’ It is the people who don’t put their trust in God who put all their energy into these things. You can rest assured that the one who conceived you in heaven knows perfectly well that you need these things. So you can make your first priority the new culture of God and doing the right thing\, God’s way\, and all these other things will be taken care of for you. \n“So don’t stress out about tomorrow. Just deal with the troubles of today\, and leave tomorrow’s worries until they come.” \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton Laughingbird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nPrayers\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 show compassion to your suffering ones\nand have written our names on the palm of your hands. \nYou created the earth and all its creatures\,\nclothing even the grass of the fields in splendour\nand bringing forth abundant food\,\neven for the birds of the air.\nYou found your people imprisoned in darkness\nand through Moses and the prophets\,\nyou called them to freedom\nand led them by springs of water. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have come to us again\,\nteaching us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nWhen he was killed by those\nwho serve wealth and power\,\nyou raised him to life again\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2008 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\,\nin whom you have taught us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nYou raised him to life\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \n©2008 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 show compassion to your suffering ones\nand have written our names on the palm of your hands. \nYou created the earth and all its creatures\,\nclothing even the grass of the fields in splendour\nand bringing forth abundant food\,\neven for the birds of the air.\nYou found your people imprisoned in darkness\nand through Moses and the prophets\,\nyou called them to freedom\nand led them by springs of water. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have come to us again\,\nteaching us to entrust our souls to you\nand to seek first your kingdom\nand its righteousness and justice for all.\nWhen he was killed by those\nwho serve wealth and power\,\nyou raised him to life again\nso that his light might shine in the darkness\nand bring all the earth to freedom. \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©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It is the Lord’s judgement alone that matters\,\nand God will no more write us off\nthan will a mother write off her nursing child.\nGod has sent comfort and a word of compassion\,\n”Come out of darkness and be free.” \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, as servants of Christ\nand stewards of God’s mysteries.\nStrive firstly for the kingdom of God\nand its righteousness and justice.\nDo not be anxious\, but calm your soul within you\nand do not condemn\, even yourselves. \nAnd may God generously provide all you need;\nMay Christ Jesus guide you in the ways of light;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit fill you with comfort and hope. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2008 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nFeasting and Fasting\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Alison Sampson\nWhen Buildings Fall: Do Not Worry?\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Nathan Nettleton\nThe Church Facing Judgement\nA sermon on 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 & Matthew 6: 24-34 by Nathan Nettleton\nGod and Possessions\nA sermon on Matthew 6: 24-34 by Jennifer Smith
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap03b/2062-05-28/
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20680304
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20680305
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20210610T041514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210610T044732Z
UID:10001824-3098044800-3098131199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:9th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year A
DESCRIPTION:This occasion only occurs in 2038 for churches that do not observe the last Sunday before Lent as Transfiguration Sunday. \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. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\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				  Deuteronomy 11: 18-21\, 26-28			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Moses said to the people: \n“Take to heart these teachings I have passed on to you from the LORD your God. Do whatever you need to do to keep them fixed in your minds: write them on the back of your hands; wear them as a badge stuck on your forehead. Teach them to your children and talk about them morning\, noon and night\, at home or wherever you go. Hang them over your front doors\, put them up on a billboard at the entrance to your town so that you will be reminded of them as you come and go. That way you will be assured of a long and happy life in the land that the LORD promised to your ancestors. Your children will enjoy the same\, and their children too\, as long as the earth keeps turning. \n“Take note. Today I have taught you how the LORD your God wants you to live\, and now it is in your hands. Your life can be blessed or cursed; the choice is yours. Everything will work out well for you if you live the way the LORD your God has told you to live. But everything will fall apart for you if you turn your back on the way that the LORD your God has told you to live and take off after other ways and other objects of devotion.” \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 31: 1-5\, 19-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I look to you for refuge\, LORD;\ndon’t let me be dragged through the mud.\nYou promised justice – save me! \nGive me your ear – I’m crying for help;\nrescue me before it’s too late.\nBe a secure refuge for me\,\na bomb shelter where I can hide. \nYour solid walls protect me from danger;\nlead me and guide me so I’ll be a credit to you;\nkeep me clear of pitfalls and traps. \nYou are the only refuge I trust\, LORD;\nI put my life in your hands.\nYou are a faithful God\,\nand you have saved me. \nYour goodness is rich and free;\navailable to all who respect you and trust you.\nOut in the open\, for all to see\,\nyou stockpile blessings for those in your care. \nYou shelter them yourself\, LORD\,\nkeeping them safe from vindictive plots.\nYou give them a safe hiding place\,\nsheltered from malicious talk. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD;\nand you proved yourself when I needed you.\nWhen I was surrounded by a violent mob\,\nyour love protected me like a solid wall. \nAt first I panicked;\nI thought you had given up on me.\nBut you were there in a flash\nwhen I cried out for help. \nI call on all your people to give you their love\, LORD.\nYou keep the faithful safe\nand repay the arrogant as they deserve. \nI say to myself\, “Be strong\, tough it out\,”\nas I wait with my trust in you\, LORD. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28\, (29-31)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Being identified with God’s message does not make me cringe at all. I am honoured to be associated with something that God is working through so powerfully in order to bring everyone who believes home to the safety and wholeness for which they were created. It began among the Jewish people\, but now everyone is in on it. It reveals God’s unshakable commitment to doing the right thing by all who put their trust in God’s trustworthiness. The scriptures put it this way: “Anyone who gets things right with God through a relationship of trust\, will live.” \nThis is not applied differently to different groups of people. Everyone is in the same boat because we have all done wrong and fallen well short of the shining integrity God created us for. But God treats everybody with a generosity that is out of all proportion to anything we could deserve and\, as a gift\, puts us back in the good books. This happens as part of the work done by Jesus the Messiah in putting everything back the way it should be. He was sent by God to clean up the mess we had gotten ourselves into and bring us back into a relationship based on trust\, and he made the ultimate sacrifice and paid the price in his own blood to get the job done. This demonstrated God’s unshakable commitment to doing the right thing by everyone\, both in the past and in the present. In the past God’s commitment was expressed by putting up with people’s wrongdoing and not dishing out the punishments they deserved. In the present\, God is again proving that commitment by putting those who put their trust in Jesus into the good books. \nSo what is left of our boast that we Jews are the only ones in the good books with God? Clearly it is not backed up by the facts. Why? Did others do something to earn an equal place before God? Not at all\, but God put the relationship on a trust basis\, and that put everyone on an equal footing. What we are saying is that people get into the good books by trusting God\, regardless of whether or not they observe the customs prescribed by the traditional Jewish law. God is not only the God of the Jews\, but of everyone else as well. After all\, there is only one God! Those who have been brought up to be religious are put in to God’s good books on the basis of a relationship of trust\, and everyone else is put in through exactly the same relationship of trust. However\, if you think we are saying that this relationship of trust means that there is no value in the traditional law\, you have missed the point. What we are saying is quite the opposite. It is only within this relationship of trust that the customs set out in the law can prove their worth. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 7: 21-29			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Drawing to the end of his sermon on the mountain\, Jesus said\, “You can’t bluff your way into the culture of heaven by dropping my name and prattling on about what a high view of my authority you hold. It is those who walk the walk who will get in – those who actually live the way God wants them to live. When the day comes\, many people will appeal to me saying\, ‘Lord\, Lord\, look at all the great things we did in your name. We preached. We took on the forces of evil and won. We were real movers and shakers. We did all sorts of impressive things and we gave you the credit for it all. Doesn’t that count for anything?’ But I will tell them straight\, ‘I’ll have nothing to do with you. You are a bunch of frauds\, rotten to the core. Get out of my sight!’ \n“The people who take notice of what I teach and put it into practice are like experienced builders who always put down solid foundations before building a house. When violent storms come\, or even if cyclones and floods hit\, that house stands firm\, rock-solid on its foundations. But those who hear my teachings and don’t bother doing anything about them are like brainless do-it-yourselfers who knock up a house with nothing but sand for foundations. The first time it is hit by a decent storm\, the wind and rain rip into it and in no time at all there is a spectacular crash and down it comes!” \nWhen Jesus had finished speaking\, the crowd was stunned. His teaching 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! \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nPrayers\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 by grace you have justified and redeemed us\nand become our refuge and strength. \nIn the first of your works you created the universe\nand everything that moves on the earth.\nWhen you sent a flood to purge the earth of corruption\,\nyou made a covenant with your servant Noah\nand saved every family of living creatures. \nYou sent your child\, Jesus Christ\, among us\,\nto teach us with authority how to live by your words\nand be welcomed into your kingdom.\nWhen he was killed by those who were filled with violence\,\nyou raised him with power from the dead\nand called everyone to put their faith in him.\nTo all who hear your invitation and act on it\nyou give the gift of righteousness in your presence\nand redemption in and through Christ Jesus. \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 grace\nin which you have justified and redeemed us\nand become our refuge and strength\,\neven though we had becoe corrupt and fallen short of your glory. \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 by grace you have justified and redeemed us\nand become our refuge and strength. \nIn the first of your works you created the universe\nand everything that moves on the earth.\nWhen you sent a flood to purge the earth of corruption\,\nyou made a covenant with your servant Noah\nand saved every family of living creatures. \nYou sent your child\, Jesus Christ\, among us\,\nto teach us with authority how to live by your words\nand be welcomed into your kingdom.\nWhen he was killed by those who were filled with violence\,\nyou raised him with power from the dead\nand called everyone to put their faith in him.\nTo all who hear your invitation and act on it\nyou give the gift of righteousness in your presence\nand redemption in and through Christ Jesus. \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	We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God\,\nbut through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus\,\nwe are forgiven and justified\nas a gift of his grace. \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 and build your lives on the solid rock\nof Christ’s words\, heard and put into action.\nDo not be ashamed of the gospel\,\nbut live by faith\nand find your refuge and strength in God. \nAnd may God be known to you in the stillness;\nMay Christ Jesus be the solid foundation of your lives;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit give you courage\,\neven when the earth is shaken around you. \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	 \nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nThe Blessing of Homeland\nA sermon on Deuteronomy 11:8-12\, 18-21\, 27-28 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap04a/2068-03-04/
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20790305
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20790306
DTSTAMP:20260404T051231
CREATED:20201103T042459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220919T010156Z
UID:10001710-3445200000-3445286399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:9th Sunday between Epiphany and Lent - Year C
DESCRIPTION:This occasion next occurs in 2079 and only 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				  1 Kings 8: 22-23\, 41-43			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Solomon stood in front of the altar of the LORD and\, with his hands raised high\, he led the gathered people in prayer. He prayed: \n“O LORD\, God of Israel\, you are one of a kind! No other god in the universe is like you. Your love is rock-solid and you never forget the alliance you have made with those who follow you whole-heartedly. \nAnd don’t stop with just us – foreigners will no doubt hear about you too. Attracted by your reputation and by news of the awesome things you do\, they will come from all sorts of far flung places to live among your people and offer their prayers within sight of this Temple. When they do\, listen to them from your heavenly home and answer their prayers. That way everyone on earth will hear of you and give you the same respect that your people Israel do. They will know that this Temple which I have built carries your authority. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 96: 1-9			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We sing like we’ve never sung before\, LORD;\nsinging to you with all the earth.\nEvery mention of your name sets us singing your praises. \nWe never tire of telling the story of how you bailed us out;\nall over the world\, we speak of your incredible accomplishments;\neveryone we meet hears us giving the credit to you. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD; we can’t praise you enough!\nWhen it comes to gods\, you are in a league of your own;\nall other objects of devotion are powerless. \nBut you\, LORD\, created the whole cosmos;\nyou are surrounded by majesty and celebration;\nstrength and beauty are signs of your presence. \nPeople of every race and creed recognise you\, LORD;\nthey recognise you behind all that is strong and true;\nthey name you as the one who deserves all the glory. \nWe offer ourselves to you\, LORD;\nwe fall to our knees in this beautiful place of worship;\nwith all the earth\, we celebrate you alone. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Galatians 1:1-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, Paul\, am one of God’s special ambassadors. I wasn’t given this job by a popular vote\, or by some ordinary human boss. I was entrusted with the job by none other than Jesus the Messiah and God the Father\, who raised Jesus from the dead. This letter comes to you\, the churches in Galatia\, from me\, and from the rest of God’s crew who are with me. \nI wish you a full helping of generous love and peace from the God who conceived us and from our number one man\, Jesus the Messiah. Faced with the record of our corruption\, he gave himself completely to breaking us free from the grip of the evil culture that is so entrenched in the present day. God made our freedom a priority\, and all the credit should go to God\, now and always. And so say all of us! \nI can hardly believe what I’m hearing about you. I’m disgusted. The Messiah was extravagantly generous in calling you\, but already you are turning your backs on him and getting sucked into some other message that claims to be good news. There is no other message that’s worth a pinch of spit\, but I hear that there are some snake oil merchants there who are twisting the Messiah’s message and leading you all astray. This is not about me. If anybody\, including me\, or for that matter even an angel from heaven\, starts pushing a message that goes against what we taught you\, they can go to hell! I’ve said it once\, and I’ll say it again: if anybody comes pushing a message that goes against the one you have already received\, they can go to hell! \nDoes it sound like I’m pandering to the crowd and telling people what they want to hear? Does it like like I care what people think of me\, or rather what God thinks of me? If I was still trying to impress the crowd\, I wouldn’t be serving the Messiah at all. \nLet me set you straight on this\, brothers and sisters. The message that you heard me announcing is not something that somebody just cooked up one day. I can assure you that I didn’t get it second hand from any human source\, and nor did anybody word me up about it. Instead\, the message was the result of Jesus the Messiah revealing himself directly. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 7: 1-10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After spending some time teaching the people\, Jesus went into the town of Capernaum. There was a Roman military commander there who had a slave who was very special to him\, but the slave had fallen ill and was dying. The commander was desperate to save the life of his slave\, so when he heard that Jesus was in town\, he sent some of the local Jewish officials to ask for his help. The officials spoke to Jesus with great enthusiasm on behalf of the commander. “This man is certainly worthy of your help\,” they said. “He is a great friend of our people. He even bankrolled the building of our local synagogue.” \nJesus headed off with them\, but before he reached the house\, the commander sent another delegation of friends out to him with a message saying\, “Lord\, don’t put yourself out for me. There is no need for you to come all the way to my house. I’m not worthy to have you under my roof\, and I wouldn’t presume to approach you in person. Please\, just give the word\, and my servant will be healed. I know how it works because I too am a man who obeys orders and who gives orders\, knowing that they will be obeyed. I tell one soldier ‘Go\,’ and he goes. I tell another ‘Jump\,’ and he says ‘How high?’ I tell my servant to do something\, and he does it.” \nWhen Jesus heard the commander’s message\, he was gob-smacked. Turning to address the crowd that was following him\, he exclaimed\, “Did you hear that? You might think you could find an Israelite with faith like that\, but no\, I have never before\, anywhere\, come across such deep trust.” \nAnd sure enough\, when the commander’s messengers got back to the house\, they found the slave back on his feet\, a picture of health. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n\nThese prayers are based on a set of readings that use a different 1st reading and psalm\, and will be replaced at some point. \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 to tell of your salvation from day to day\nand declare your glory and your marvelous works to all. \nYou made the heavens and established the earth\,\nand revealed yourself through your law and prophets\nto be a God of glory and strength\nwho answers the cries of your people. \nThough we were not worthy to receive you\,\nfor we turned our backs on your grace\nand limped off after worthless other gods\,\nyou came to us in your child\, Jesus\,\nspeaking the word of healing and forgiveness.\nWhen we turned against him\,\nhe gave himself into our hands\nas a revelation of your self-sacrificing love\,\nand when we crucified him\,\nyou raised him from the dead\,\nand sent down your Spirit in fire\nto heal us and set us free from this evil age. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2013 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 came to us as a revelation of your self-sacrificing love\,\nspeaking the word of healing and forgiveness\nand sending down your Spirit in fire\nto heal us and set us free from this evil age. \n©2013 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 to tell of your salvation from day to day\nand declare your glory and your marvelous works to all. \nYou made the heavens and established the earth\,\nand revealed yourself through your law and prophets\nto be a God of glory and strength\nwho answers the cries of your people. \nThough we were not worthy to receive you\,\nfor we turned our backs on your grace\nand limped off after worthless other gods\,\nyou came to us in your child\, Jesus\,\nspeaking the word of healing and forgiveness.\nWhen we turned against him\,\nhe gave himself into our hands\nas a revelation of your self-sacrificing love\,\nand when we crucified him\,\nyou raised him from the dead\,\nand sent down your Spirit in fire\nto heal us and set us free from this evil age. \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©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus gave himself freely for our sins\nto set us free from the present evil age\,\naccording to the will of our God and Father\,\nand to turn our hearts back to righteousness and truth. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2013 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	If the Lord is God\, go now\, and follow him\,\nand do not be tempted to share your loyalty with other gods.\nStay true to the gospel that has been revealed to you in Jesus.\nCall on the name of the Lord\,\ntell of God’s salvation from day to day\,\nand live in righteousness and truth. \nAnd may God bring you grace and peace;\nMay Christ Jesus heal you and raise you up\,\nand may the Holy Spirit’s fiery glory strengthen your hearts. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2013 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\nFollowers or Fans?A sermon on Luke 6:39 – 7:10 by Nathan NettletonA Different Gospel?A sermon on Galatians 1:1-12; 1 Kings 18:20-39 & Luke 7:1-10 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp04/
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