BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//LaughingBird - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://laughingbird.net X-WR-CALDESC:Events for LaughingBird REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20270101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Melbourne BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20270403T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20271002T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20280401T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20280930T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20290331T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20291006T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20300406T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20301005T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20280914T000000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20280914T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081706 CREATED:20220829T022014Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T000526Z UID:10002720-1852502400-1852588799@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:The Feast of the Holy Cross DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Numbers 21: 4b-9 \n \n\n \n \n \n As they travelled\, the people began losing the plot and mouthing off against God and Moses. They were whinging\, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt if we are just going to die out here in the desert? There is no food. There is no water. And we can’t stand this lousy stuff we’ve got to eat.” \nAt that\, the LORD let loose some dangerous snakes among the people. The snakes had a fiery venom and many people were bitten and died. The people came to Moses and pleaded with him\, saying\, “We were wrong to mouth off against the LORD and against you. Please ask the LORD to get rid of the poisonous snakes that are plaguing us.” \nSo Moses prayed for the the people\, and the LORD spoke to him\, saying\, “Make a statue of a poisonous snake\, and set it up on a pole where the people can see it. Whenever anyone is bitten\, they are to look at the statue of the snake\, and they will survive.” \nSo Moses made a snake out of bronze\, and set it up on a pole. Whenever anyone was bitten by one of the snakes with the fiery venom\, they would fix their gaze on the bronze snake\, and they would live. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 98: 1-5 \n \n\n \n \n \n We sing like we’ve never sung before\, LORD\,\nbecause you have done fantastic things.\nWith your sleeves rolled up you got stuck in\nand came out on top. \nYour victory has made the headlines\, LORD\,\nnow the whole world can see that you were right all along. \nYou have never defaulted on your rock-solid love\,\nor your loyalty to your chosen people.\nFrom one end of the earth to the other\,\neveryone has seen your victory. \nWith all the world\, LORD\, we raise a noisy celebration\,\nsinging our lungs out and shouting your praise. \nThe bands strike up in your honour\, LORD\,\nfilling the air with festive music. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Psalm 78: 1-2\, 34-38 (Alternative Psalm) \n \n\n \n \n \n We are keen to learn of you\, LORD;\nyour people are eager to hear what you have to say. \nWe listen to those who pass on the old stories;\nthe dark mysteries of ancient wisdom. \nWhen your anger cut down our ancestors\, they sought your mercy;\nthey pleaded with you and promised to mend their ways. \nThey remembered that you are as solid as rock;\nthat you are the greatest; the one who puts things right. \nBut they were all words and no action\,\ntrying to pull the wool over your eyes with sweet talk. \nThey were fickle and two-faced;\nthey did not stick to the terms of their alliance with you. \nAnd yet you remained compassionate;\nyou continued to let them off the hook\nand refrained from wiping them out.\nOver and over you swallowed your anger\nand chose not to let your fury have its day. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 1 Corinthians 1: 18-24 \n \n\n \n \n \n The message about the cross sounds like a lot of mindless cock-and-bull to those who have thrown their lot in with this present world order and are going down with the ship. But to those of us who are being saved from that\, it is nothing less than the power of God! God spoke about this in the Scriptures: \n“I will expose the brilliant insights of your experts\nand the wise counsel of your gurus;\nI will expose them for what they really are\,\na load of codswallop!” \nSo where are the intellectuals now? Where are the religious experts? Where are those who have an answer for everything? What have they got to show for all their cleverness now that God has turned all the conventional wisdom on its head and made it look foolish? Seeing that no amount of human cleverness had ever woken anybody up to God’s ways\, God made the wise decision to use something that seemed utterly foolish to everyone — our preaching! — to rescue those who would trust the message. Most people want something more than this. Those with a religious world view demand to see miraculous signs to prove that it is from God. Those with a modern rational world view insist that it should have to prove its intellectual credibility. But what we are preaching is a Messiah who was strung up and killed. The religious people find this unthinkable\, and the intellectuals regard it as primitive nonsense; but to those who have heard the call of God\, whatever their background\, it is the ultimate good news of God’s chosen one — as miraculous and profound as one could ever wish for! \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 3: 13-17 \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus said: \n“No one has ever gone up and stood face to face with God. The only one who has done that is the New Human\, the one who came from God in the first place. You know the old story from the desert: the one about Moses lifting up the hand-made snake so that the people could look at something that would help them to focus their trust in God. Well\, the New Human is going to be lifted up for much the same reason. Everyone who looks up to him in trust and hope will receive life without limit. \n“God’s love for the world is so overwhelming that even giving up his own son was not too great a cost to ensure that no one need succumb to death. All those who put their trust in him can have boundless life instead. \n“God didn’t put his son’s life on the line merely to bring down the hammer and pass sentence on us. Rather\, God saw the world in desperate trouble and sent the Son on a cosmic rescue mission.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton Laughingbird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nEating from the Tree of LifeA sermon for the Feast of Holy Cross by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc46/2028-09-14/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/46.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20280914T000000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20280914T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081706 CREATED:20220829T022014Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T000526Z UID:10002723-1852502400-1852588799@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:The Feast of the Holy Cross DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Numbers 21: 4b-9 \n \n\n \n \n \n As they travelled\, the people began losing the plot and mouthing off against God and Moses. They were whinging\, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt if we are just going to die out here in the desert? There is no food. There is no water. And we can’t stand this lousy stuff we’ve got to eat.” \nAt that\, the LORD let loose some dangerous snakes among the people. The snakes had a fiery venom and many people were bitten and died. The people came to Moses and pleaded with him\, saying\, “We were wrong to mouth off against the LORD and against you. Please ask the LORD to get rid of the poisonous snakes that are plaguing us.” \nSo Moses prayed for the the people\, and the LORD spoke to him\, saying\, “Make a statue of a poisonous snake\, and set it up on a pole where the people can see it. Whenever anyone is bitten\, they are to look at the statue of the snake\, and they will survive.” \nSo Moses made a snake out of bronze\, and set it up on a pole. Whenever anyone was bitten by one of the snakes with the fiery venom\, they would fix their gaze on the bronze snake\, and they would live. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 98: 1-5 \n \n\n \n \n \n We sing like we’ve never sung before\, LORD\,\nbecause you have done fantastic things.\nWith your sleeves rolled up you got stuck in\nand came out on top. \nYour victory has made the headlines\, LORD\,\nnow the whole world can see that you were right all along. \nYou have never defaulted on your rock-solid love\,\nor your loyalty to your chosen people.\nFrom one end of the earth to the other\,\neveryone has seen your victory. \nWith all the world\, LORD\, we raise a noisy celebration\,\nsinging our lungs out and shouting your praise. \nThe bands strike up in your honour\, LORD\,\nfilling the air with festive music. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Psalm 78: 1-2\, 34-38 (Alternative Psalm) \n \n\n \n \n \n We are keen to learn of you\, LORD;\nyour people are eager to hear what you have to say. \nWe listen to those who pass on the old stories;\nthe dark mysteries of ancient wisdom. \nWhen your anger cut down our ancestors\, they sought your mercy;\nthey pleaded with you and promised to mend their ways. \nThey remembered that you are as solid as rock;\nthat you are the greatest; the one who puts things right. \nBut they were all words and no action\,\ntrying to pull the wool over your eyes with sweet talk. \nThey were fickle and two-faced;\nthey did not stick to the terms of their alliance with you. \nAnd yet you remained compassionate;\nyou continued to let them off the hook\nand refrained from wiping them out.\nOver and over you swallowed your anger\nand chose not to let your fury have its day. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 1 Corinthians 1: 18-24 \n \n\n \n \n \n The message about the cross sounds like a lot of mindless cock-and-bull to those who have thrown their lot in with this present world order and are going down with the ship. But to those of us who are being saved from that\, it is nothing less than the power of God! God spoke about this in the Scriptures: \n“I will expose the brilliant insights of your experts\nand the wise counsel of your gurus;\nI will expose them for what they really are\,\na load of codswallop!” \nSo where are the intellectuals now? Where are the religious experts? Where are those who have an answer for everything? What have they got to show for all their cleverness now that God has turned all the conventional wisdom on its head and made it look foolish? Seeing that no amount of human cleverness had ever woken anybody up to God’s ways\, God made the wise decision to use something that seemed utterly foolish to everyone — our preaching! — to rescue those who would trust the message. Most people want something more than this. Those with a religious world view demand to see miraculous signs to prove that it is from God. Those with a modern rational world view insist that it should have to prove its intellectual credibility. But what we are preaching is a Messiah who was strung up and killed. The religious people find this unthinkable\, and the intellectuals regard it as primitive nonsense; but to those who have heard the call of God\, whatever their background\, it is the ultimate good news of God’s chosen one — as miraculous and profound as one could ever wish for! \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 3: 13-17 \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus said: \n“No one has ever gone up and stood face to face with God. The only one who has done that is the New Human\, the one who came from God in the first place. You know the old story from the desert: the one about Moses lifting up the hand-made snake so that the people could look at something that would help them to focus their trust in God. Well\, the New Human is going to be lifted up for much the same reason. Everyone who looks up to him in trust and hope will receive life without limit. \n“God’s love for the world is so overwhelming that even giving up his own son was not too great a cost to ensure that no one need succumb to death. All those who put their trust in him can have boundless life instead. \n“God didn’t put his son’s life on the line merely to bring down the hammer and pass sentence on us. Rather\, God saw the world in desperate trouble and sent the Son on a cosmic rescue mission.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton Laughingbird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nEating from the Tree of LifeA sermon for the Feast of Holy Cross by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc46/2028-09-14/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/46.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280917T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280917T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081706 CREATED:20210518T122746Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T000526Z UID:10002730-1852761600-1852847999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 19 - 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Jeremiah 4: 11-12\, 22-28 \n \n\n \n \n \n The LORD gave me a message for Jerusalem\, saying: \n“When disaster comes\, you will know about it\, Jerusalem;\nthis is the warning your people will hear: \n“The invading army is bearing down on you\nlike a tornado from the desert.\nIt is the hot breath of my judgment;\nan angry wind sweeping away all in its path. \n“You will pay for your madness\, my people\,\nfor you have totally ignored me.\nYou are a pack of half-wits\nwith nothing between your ears.\nYou are experts only at corruption.\nYou haven’t got a clue about doing good.” \nThe LORD gave me a vision: \nI saw the earth – it was an empty wasteland.\nI saw the skies – the lights had gone out. \nI saw the mountains – shuddering and shaking.\nI saw the hills – trembling like jelly. \nI looked and looked\, but there was no one to be seen.\nNot even the scavenging birds had hung around. \nCroplands and orchards alike were scorched earth.\nCities and towns were nothing but rubble. \nEverything had fallen before the LORD;\nbefore the blazing anger of the LORD. \nThe LORD gave me this message: \n“The whole land will be destroyed\,\nand yet not beyond repair.\nThe earth will be wracked with grief\nand the skies will dress in black.\nBut I have made up my mind and I will not change it.\nI have given my word and will not take it back.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 14 \n \n\n \n \n \n Heartless\, mindless scum kid themselves\nthat there is no God. \nThey are corrupt and callous.\nThe things they do would make you sick.\nThere is not an ounce of good among them. \nThe LORD scans the human race\, one at a time\,\nlooking for any who are still wise;\nfor even one who still has a heart for God. \nBut it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack!\nThey’ve all lost the plot.\nEveryone is caught up\nin their own perverse ways.\nEvery last one of them. \nDon’t they know where all this will get them?\nThey never look to the LORD for anything;\nthey chew up God’s people and spit them out. \nBut it will soon be their turn to cringe in fear\,\nbecause God sides with those who play straight. \nIf you think you can trample\nthe dreams of the battlers\,\nWatch out! The LORD will be there for them.\nWe can hardly wait to hear the songs of freedom\nas justice marches down from God’s mountain! \nWhat a day it will be\nwhen the LORD redistributes the wealth\nand God’s people are compensated\nfor their suffering! \nOur ancestors will rise up with joy!\nThe streets will fill with singing and dancing! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 1 Timothy 1: 12-17 \n \n\n \n \n \n I am so thankful to Jesus Christ our Lord. It is him who gives me the strength to do what I do. He reckoned he could trust me\, so he gave me this work to do for him. This was despite the fact that I had a history of violence and all I had ever done was drag his name through the mud and victimise his people. I was shown mercy because I had acted without understanding what I was doing. I hadn’t known who Jesus was. Now though\, our Lord has been extravagantly generous and flooded me with faith and love in Christ Jesus. \nHere is a line you can write down and stake your life on: Jesus Christ came into the world to rescue sinners. I should know\, I was the number one sinner. By putting his mercy to work in me — the number one sinner — Jesus Christ clearly demonstrated just how much he was willing to endure to get through to us. He has made me an example to show others how to put their trust in him and so gain life without limit. \nAnd now I give all the glory\nand every honour\nto the One who rules forever;\nbeyond life and death;\nout of sight;\nthe one and only God.\nAnd so say all of us! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 15: 1-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n For much of the time\, a crowd of people hung around Jesus\, listening to everything he had to say. The crowd was full of disreputable characters whose lifestyles were offensive to the more respectable members of society. The devoutly religious Pharisees and the experts in religious law got their noses out of joint over this\, and began denouncing Jesus. “He keeps company with people whose behaviour is beyond the pale\,” they said\, “and he doesn’t even draw the line at eating with them.” \nJesus responded to their objections by telling a story. He said\, “If you had care of a hundred sheep and one of them got lost\, what would you do? Like anyone else\, you would leave the other ninety-nine grazing in the paddock and go off looking for the lost one until you found it. And when you found it\, you would be so relieved that you would hoist it up on your shoulders and dance home with a spring in your step. Not only that\, you would then call all your friends and neighbours around for party\, saying\, ‘The shout’s on me\, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’” \nJesus said\, “Let me assure you that it is just like that in heaven. One screwed-up person getting back on the right track causes far more celebration than ninety-nine respectable people who never left it.” \nHe continued with another story\, saying\, “If you had ten coins – all collector’s items – and you lost one of them\, what would you do? Like anyone else\, you would turn on all the lights and go over the house with a fine-toothed comb until you found it. And when you found it\, you would call all your friends and neighbours around for party\, saying\, ‘The shout’s on me\, for I have found the coin that I lost.’” \nJesus said\, “Let me assure you that the angels party like that over each wayward person who turns their life back towards God.” \n©2001 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 Exodus 32: 7-14 \n \n\n \n \n \n The LORD said to Moses: \n“Get back down there on the double! That mob of yours\, who you brought out of the land of slavery\, have gone completely off the rails. In the blink of an eye\, they have turned their backs on the path I set them on. They have cast an idol in the shape of a calf\, and they are worshipping it and giving offerings to it as expressions of their devotion. They are saying that it is the god who brought the nation out of the land of slavery. I have had a gutful of this people. They are always kicking against the traces. Now stand aside and let me give full vent to my blazing anger and blast them off the face of the earth. I’ll start again with you and build a great nation from your offspring.” \nBut Moses pleaded with the LORD his God\, saying: \n“LORD\, why are you letting your anger at your people burn out of control? You proved yourself to be the strongest and the greatest when you brought these people out of the land of slavery. Are you now going to turn around and give our enemies grounds to accuse you of planning genocide from the start? They will allege that you only took the people into the outback to slaughter them. Swallow your anger! Rethink this\, and don’t stamp out your people. Follow through on the promises you made to your trusty servants\, Abraham\, Isaac and Jacob. You gave them your word\, your personal guarantee. You said\, ‘I will multiply your descendants until they outnumber the stars in the sky\, and they will inherit the land I promised to give to your family forever.’” \nAnd so the LORD was persuaded to rethink the situation and to abandon the plan to wipe out the people with a disaster. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 51: 1-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n O God\, your love never gives up.\nHave mercy on me now! \nI’m relying on your record of generous mercy:\nplease wipe my slate clean! \nScrub away the filth I’ve been living in;\nScour away the stain of my sin. \nI know only too well what I’ve done;\nmy sins stare me in the face. \nIt is you I’ve double-crossed\, you I’ve betrayed;\nI’ve done things which I knew you despised. \nYou have all the facts and you know what I deserve;\nwhat ever you decide is fair enough.\nI’ve been on the wrong side of you forever.\nI turned my back on you before I was born. \nYou want honesty that comes from deep within\,\nso teach me your wisdom\,\nlet it take root in my heart. \nGet the bleach out and give me the treatment!\nSoak me and wash me\nuntil I’m as white as snow. \nOpen my ears to laughter and music.\nThough you ground me into the dirt\,\nlet me now rise to the sounds of joy. \nTurn a blind eye to my record;\ndisregard my prior convictions. \nRenovate me from the inside\, O God;\nrebuild my heart and rewire my brain;\ninstall in me a new fault-free operating system. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you are the immortal invisible King of the ages\,\nand your grace has overflowed for us in Christ Jesus. \nYou created the earth from a formless void\nand filled it with living things.\nIn every age you have looked for faithfulness\nand found instead depravity\, corruption and evil.\nThe hot winds of anger\nhave turned fruitful lands to desert\nbut always your merciful love has continued searching\nfor those who would be saved. \nYou sent your child\, Jesus Christ\, among us to save sinners.\nHis hospitality and compassion so scandalised the religious\nthat he was killed\,\nbut you raised him to new life.\nIn him you are turning us from our pasts\,\nlifting us joyously onto your shoulders\nand appointing us to your service\nas an example for all who would trust you for eternal life. \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 thank you that though the hot winds of your anger\nhave turned fruitful lands to desert\,\nyour son\, Jesus Christ\, came into the world to save sinners\nand all heaven rejoices over every lost one who repents. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you are the immortal invisible King of the ages\,\nand your grace has overflowed for us in Christ Jesus. \nYou created the earth from a formless void\nand filled it with living things.\nIn every age you have looked for faithfulness\nand found instead depravity\, corruption and evil.\nThe hot winds of anger\nhave turned fruitful lands to desert\nbut always your merciful love has continued searching\nfor those who would be saved. \nYou sent your child\, Jesus Christ\, among us to save sinners.\nHis hospitality and compassion so scandalised the religious\nthat he was killed\,\nbut you raised him to new life.\nIn him you are turning us from our pasts\,\nlifting us joyously onto your shoulders\nand appointing us to your service\nas an example for all who would trust you for eternal life. \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 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.\nWe have received mercy\,\nfor the grace of our Lord has overflowed for us\nin the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. \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\, overflowing with faith and love\nand seek out those who are lost.\nSide with the poor and sit with the just;\nmourn for the earth\nand rejoice with heaven over any who turn to God. \nAnd may God judge you faithful;\nMay Christ Jesus strengthen you;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit fill you with wisdom and grace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\nPractical AtheismA sermon on Psalm 14 and Luke 15: 1-10 by Nathan NettletonSearch and RescueA sermon on Luke 15: 1-10 by Nathan NettletonStumbling through Waste and VoidA sermon on Jeremiah 4:11-12\, 22-28; Psalm 14; 1 Timothy 1: 12-17 & Luke 15:1-10 by Nathan NettletonOn losing\, seeking and finding . . . sometimesA sermon on Luke 15: 1-10 by Marita MunroThe God who SearchesA sermon on Psalm 14 and Luke 15: 1-10 by Stacey AslangulHomecomingA sermon on Luke 15.1–10 by Jason GoroncyClimate Change and Spiritual TransformationA sermon on Jeremiah 4:11-12\, 22-28 & Luke 15:1-10 by Nathan NettletonForgive us\, Lord. We know not what we do.A sermon on Psalm 14:4 & 1 Timothy 1: 12-17 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp19/2028-09-17/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P19.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280917T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280917T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081706 CREATED:20210518T122746Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251013T122417Z UID:10001773-1852761600-1852847999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 19 - 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Jeremiah 4: 11-12\, 22-28 \n \n\n \n \n \n The LORD gave me a message for Jerusalem\, saying: \n“When disaster comes\, you will know about it\, Jerusalem;\nthis is the warning your people will hear: \n“The invading army is bearing down on you\nlike a tornado from the desert.\nIt is the hot breath of my judgment;\nan angry wind sweeping away all in its path. \n“You will pay for your madness\, my people\,\nfor you have totally ignored me.\nYou are a pack of half-wits\nwith nothing between your ears.\nYou are experts only at corruption.\nYou haven’t got a clue about doing good.” \nThe LORD gave me a vision: \nI saw the earth – it was an empty wasteland.\nI saw the skies – the lights had gone out. \nI saw the mountains – shuddering and shaking.\nI saw the hills – trembling like jelly. \nI looked and looked\, but there was no one to be seen.\nNot even the scavenging birds had hung around. \nCroplands and orchards alike were scorched earth.\nCities and towns were nothing but rubble. \nEverything had fallen before the LORD;\nbefore the blazing anger of the LORD. \nThe LORD gave me this message: \n“The whole land will be destroyed\,\nand yet not beyond repair.\nThe earth will be wracked with grief\nand the skies will dress in black.\nBut I have made up my mind and I will not change it.\nI have given my word and will not take it back.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 14 \n \n\n \n \n \n Heartless\, mindless scum kid themselves\nthat there is no God. \nThey are corrupt and callous.\nThe things they do would make you sick.\nThere is not an ounce of good among them. \nThe LORD scans the human race\, one at a time\,\nlooking for any who are still wise;\nfor even one who still has a heart for God. \nBut it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack!\nThey’ve all lost the plot.\nEveryone is caught up\nin their own perverse ways.\nEvery last one of them. \nDon’t they know where all this will get them?\nThey never look to the LORD for anything;\nthey chew up God’s people and spit them out. \nBut it will soon be their turn to cringe in fear\,\nbecause God sides with those who play straight. \nIf you think you can trample\nthe dreams of the battlers\,\nWatch out! The LORD will be there for them.\nWe can hardly wait to hear the songs of freedom\nas justice marches down from God’s mountain! \nWhat a day it will be\nwhen the LORD redistributes the wealth\nand God’s people are compensated\nfor their suffering! \nOur ancestors will rise up with joy!\nThe streets will fill with singing and dancing! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 1 Timothy 1: 12-17 \n \n\n \n \n \n I am so thankful to Jesus Christ our Lord. It is him who gives me the strength to do what I do. He reckoned he could trust me\, so he gave me this work to do for him. This was despite the fact that I had a history of violence and all I had ever done was drag his name through the mud and victimise his people. I was shown mercy because I had acted without understanding what I was doing. I hadn’t known who Jesus was. Now though\, our Lord has been extravagantly generous and flooded me with faith and love in Christ Jesus. \nHere is a line you can write down and stake your life on: Jesus Christ came into the world to rescue sinners. I should know\, I was the number one sinner. By putting his mercy to work in me — the number one sinner — Jesus Christ clearly demonstrated just how much he was willing to endure to get through to us. He has made me an example to show others how to put their trust in him and so gain life without limit. \nAnd now I give all the glory\nand every honour\nto the One who rules forever;\nbeyond life and death;\nout of sight;\nthe one and only God.\nAnd so say all of us! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 15: 1-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n For much of the time\, a crowd of people hung around Jesus\, listening to everything he had to say. The crowd was full of disreputable characters whose lifestyles were offensive to the more respectable members of society. The devoutly religious Pharisees and the experts in religious law got their noses out of joint over this\, and began denouncing Jesus. “He keeps company with people whose behaviour is beyond the pale\,” they said\, “and he doesn’t even draw the line at eating with them.” \nJesus responded to their objections by telling a story. He said\, “If you had care of a hundred sheep and one of them got lost\, what would you do? Like anyone else\, you would leave the other ninety-nine grazing in the paddock and go off looking for the lost one until you found it. And when you found it\, you would be so relieved that you would hoist it up on your shoulders and dance home with a spring in your step. Not only that\, you would then call all your friends and neighbours around for party\, saying\, ‘The shout’s on me\, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’” \nJesus said\, “Let me assure you that it is just like that in heaven. One screwed-up person getting back on the right track causes far more celebration than ninety-nine respectable people who never left it.” \nHe continued with another story\, saying\, “If you had ten coins – all collector’s items – and you lost one of them\, what would you do? Like anyone else\, you would turn on all the lights and go over the house with a fine-toothed comb until you found it. And when you found it\, you would call all your friends and neighbours around for party\, saying\, ‘The shout’s on me\, for I have found the coin that I lost.’” \nJesus said\, “Let me assure you that the angels party like that over each wayward person who turns their life back towards God.” \n©2001 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 Exodus 32: 7-14 \n \n\n \n \n \n The LORD said to Moses: \n“Get back down there on the double! That mob of yours\, who you brought out of the land of slavery\, have gone completely off the rails. In the blink of an eye\, they have turned their backs on the path I set them on. They have cast an idol in the shape of a calf\, and they are worshipping it and giving offerings to it as expressions of their devotion. They are saying that it is the god who brought the nation out of the land of slavery. I have had a gutful of this people. They are always kicking against the traces. Now stand aside and let me give full vent to my blazing anger and blast them off the face of the earth. I’ll start again with you and build a great nation from your offspring.” \nBut Moses pleaded with the LORD his God\, saying: \n“LORD\, why are you letting your anger at your people burn out of control? You proved yourself to be the strongest and the greatest when you brought these people out of the land of slavery. Are you now going to turn around and give our enemies grounds to accuse you of planning genocide from the start? They will allege that you only took the people into the outback to slaughter them. Swallow your anger! Rethink this\, and don’t stamp out your people. Follow through on the promises you made to your trusty servants\, Abraham\, Isaac and Jacob. You gave them your word\, your personal guarantee. You said\, ‘I will multiply your descendants until they outnumber the stars in the sky\, and they will inherit the land I promised to give to your family forever.’” \nAnd so the LORD was persuaded to rethink the situation and to abandon the plan to wipe out the people with a disaster. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 51: 1-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n O God\, your love never gives up.\nHave mercy on me now! \nI’m relying on your record of generous mercy:\nplease wipe my slate clean! \nScrub away the filth I’ve been living in;\nScour away the stain of my sin. \nI know only too well what I’ve done;\nmy sins stare me in the face. \nIt is you I’ve double-crossed\, you I’ve betrayed;\nI’ve done things which I knew you despised. \nYou have all the facts and you know what I deserve;\nwhat ever you decide is fair enough.\nI’ve been on the wrong side of you forever.\nI turned my back on you before I was born. \nYou want honesty that comes from deep within\,\nso teach me your wisdom\,\nlet it take root in my heart. \nGet the bleach out and give me the treatment!\nSoak me and wash me\nuntil I’m as white as snow. \nOpen my ears to laughter and music.\nThough you ground me into the dirt\,\nlet me now rise to the sounds of joy. \nTurn a blind eye to my record;\ndisregard my prior convictions. \nRenovate me from the inside\, O God;\nrebuild my heart and rewire my brain;\ninstall in me a new fault-free operating system. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you are the immortal invisible King of the ages\,\nand your grace has overflowed for us in Christ Jesus. \nYou created the earth from a formless void\nand filled it with living things.\nIn every age you have looked for faithfulness\nand found instead depravity\, corruption and evil.\nThe hot winds of anger\nhave turned fruitful lands to desert\nbut always your merciful love has continued searching\nfor those who would be saved. \nYou sent your child\, Jesus Christ\, among us to save sinners.\nHis hospitality and compassion so scandalised the religious\nthat he was killed\,\nbut you raised him to new life.\nIn him you are turning us from our pasts\,\nlifting us joyously onto your shoulders\nand appointing us to your service\nas an example for all who would trust you for eternal life. \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 thank you that though the hot winds of your anger\nhave turned fruitful lands to desert\,\nyour son\, Jesus Christ\, came into the world to save sinners\nand all heaven rejoices over every lost one who repents. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you are the immortal invisible King of the ages\,\nand your grace has overflowed for us in Christ Jesus. \nYou created the earth from a formless void\nand filled it with living things.\nIn every age you have looked for faithfulness\nand found instead depravity\, corruption and evil.\nThe hot winds of anger\nhave turned fruitful lands to desert\nbut always your merciful love has continued searching\nfor those who would be saved. \nYou sent your child\, Jesus Christ\, among us to save sinners.\nHis hospitality and compassion so scandalised the religious\nthat he was killed\,\nbut you raised him to new life.\nIn him you are turning us from our pasts\,\nlifting us joyously onto your shoulders\nand appointing us to your service\nas an example for all who would trust you for eternal life. \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 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.\nWe have received mercy\,\nfor the grace of our Lord has overflowed for us\nin the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. \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\, overflowing with faith and love\nand seek out those who are lost.\nSide with the poor and sit with the just;\nmourn for the earth\nand rejoice with heaven over any who turn to God. \nAnd may God judge you faithful;\nMay Christ Jesus strengthen you;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit fill you with wisdom and grace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nPractical AtheismA sermon on Psalm 14 and Luke 15: 1-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSearch and RescueA sermon on Luke 15: 1-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nStumbling through Waste and VoidA sermon on Jeremiah 4:11-12\, 22-28; Psalm 14; 1 Timothy 1: 12-17 & Luke 15:1-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nOn losing\, seeking and finding . . . sometimesA sermon on Luke 15: 1-10 by Marita Munro\n\n\n\nThe God who SearchesA sermon on Psalm 14 and Luke 15: 1-10 by Stacey Aslangul\n\n\n\nHomecomingA sermon on Luke 15.1–10 by Jason Goroncy\n\n\n\nClimate Change and Spiritual TransformationA sermon on Jeremiah 4:11-12\, 22-28 & Luke 15:1-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nForgive us\, Lord. We know not what we do.A sermon on Psalm 14:4 & 1 Timothy 1: 12-17 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAm I Preaching Doom and Gloom?A sermon on Jeremiah 4:11-12\, 22-28 & Luke 15:1-10 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp19/2028-09-17/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P19.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280924T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280924T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081706 CREATED:20210519T044541Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T000526Z UID:10002728-1853366400-1853452799@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 20 - 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1 \n \n\n \n \n \n I’m heart-broken\, sick with grief.\nSmiles are a thing of the past. \nTune in and listen.\nFrom one end of the country to the other\nyou can hear the cry of my suffering people.\n“Has the LORD cleared off and left us?” they groan.\n“Has our king fled the country?” \nThey gave God every reason to be angry\,\nflaunting their latest trendy objects of devotion. \nBut still they cry:\n“Months pass\, seasons come and go\,\nbut still there is no sign of help.” \nI am hurting with my people\, torn by their pain.\nI am grief-stricken\, filled with horror. \nSurely there is some treatment available.\nSurely there is something the doctors can do.\nSo why are my people still sick and broken?\nWhy are they not yet back on their feet? \nI need a head like a fire hydrant\nto do all the crying I am going to do\,\ngushing tears by the bucket full day and night\nover all my people who have been killed! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 79: 1-9 \n \n\n \n \n \n O God\, the land you gave us has been invaded;\nplaces erected in your honour have been desecrated;\nthe city you love has been reduced to rubble. \nPeople who faithfully served you have been slaughtered;\ntheir bodies have been tossed out like garbage\,\nferal animals tear them to shreds and crows pick their bones. \nThe city is awash with their blood\,\noverflowing the gutters;\ntheir bodies lie where they fell\,\nthere is no one left to bury them. \nThose outside our borders make a joke of our fate;\nthey laugh as they stick the boots in. \nWhy\, LORD?\nHow long will we cop this abuse?\nAre you going to be angry forever?\nWill your fiery rage never die down? \nTake it out on those who really deserve it;\non nations that shut you out and write you off. \nThey are the ones who chewed up your people\nand left nothing but scorched earth where we lived. \nPlease\, God\, don’t hold against us the wrongs of our ancestors.\nCome quickly with a tender heart and loving arms\,\nwe are at rock-bottom. \nYou are the only one who can get us out of this mess\, God.\nCome to our rescue! Bail us out! Forgive and heal us!\nShow everyone that your reputation is fully deserved! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 1 Timothy 2: 1-7 \n \n\n \n \n \n The number one thing I would urge you to do is to pray. Pray for everyone\, thanking God for them and requesting the best for them. Don’t forget to pray for those who exercise power and influence\, for we depend on them to allow us the space to get on with our lives in simplicity\, peace\, dignity and God-given integrity. There is no doubt that such prayers are exactly what God would wish us to be offering. Indeed\, what God really wants is for absolutely everyone to be brought into the life God intends for us\, and to know it; to know the full and wonderful truth of it. The bottom line is this: \nthere is one God\, and only one\,\nand there is one person standing between God and humanity\nto bring us together:\nChrist Jesus\, who was as human as us\nand who put his own life on the line\nso that everyone else could be set free.\nAll this was made clear once and for all. \nThe work to which I have been appointed is the work of broadcasting this news. You can take my word for this; I wouldn’t lie to you. God has made me an ambassador-at-large\, so that I might teach those outside the Jewish family to believe and trust in this truth. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 16: 1-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n Speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “Have you heard the story about the rich tycoon and his shifty business manager? One day the tycoon was presented with evidence that his business was seriously under-performing due to reckless management. So he called in his business manager and sacked him on the spot\, saying\, ‘Go and clear out your office and hand over the books for a full audit.’ \n“The manager said to himself\, ‘What am I going to do now. I’m out of work and my reputation is shot. I’m not fit enough for manual labour\, and I couldn’t bear to be seen receiving welfare. I know what I’ll do. I’ve got a sure-fire way to ensure that there will be plenty of people only too happy to help me out.’ \n“So\, before clearing out his office\, he went to work and called up all the business’s debtors\, one at a time. He asked the first\, ‘How much do you owe my boss?’ \n“The debtor replied\, ‘I owe him for a hundred barrels of oil.’ \n“The manager said\, ‘Sit down and sign here\, and you will only owe for fifty.’ \n“To another he said\, ‘And how much do you owe?’ \n“‘I owe your boss for a hundred tonnes of wheat\,’ the debtor replied. \n“The manager said\, “‘Sit down and sign here\, and it will be written down to eighty.’ \n“After the transactions had all been signed and sealed\, the tycoon discovered what had happened. All he could do was shake his head in admiration over the cunning ingenuity of the shifty business manager.” \nJesus went on to say\, “You see\, that’s how it is. The people who belong to this present world are far better equipped to dodge and weave their way through their dealings with one another than you lot are\, and you belong to the light. So take it from me\, if you’ve got a fistful of filthy lucre\, use it to help other people out. That way\, when it runs out\, you’ll have friends for life. \n“Those who can be trusted with a little\ncan be trusted with a lot.\nThose who are dishonest over little things\nare also dishonest over big things.\nIf you can’t even be trusted with a fistful of filthy lucre\,\nwho is going to trust you with things of real value?\nIf you can’t be trusted to look after other people’s things\,\nwho is going give you anything to keep as your own? \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©2001 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 Amos 8: 4-7 \n \n\n \n \n \n “Listen to me\, you who wipe your feet on those in need;\nyou who destroy the poor for your own gain.\nYou resent religious holidays\nbecause they interrupt your wheeling and dealing.\nYou demand twenty-four hour\, seven-day trading\,\nso that you can rip people off without ceasing.\nYour advertising is all deceit and delusion.\nYou rig the odds and the interest rates.\nYou lure the poor into crippling debt\nuntil you own them – body and soul –\nand then charge them again for owing you money. \n“I\, the LORD\, swear on the Bible you so proudly wave\,\nthat I will not forget a single one of your mongrel actions.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 113 \n \n\n \n \n \n You are the greatest\, LORD! \nWe\, your servants\, can’t stop singing your praises;\nthe mere mention of your name sets us singing! \nFrom now on and forever\,\nyour name will be held sacred\, LORD. \nFrom east to west\, from dawn to dusk\,\nyour name will inspire songs of praise. \nYou are ranked number one\, LORD\,\nway above even the greatest nations\,\noutshining even the sun and the stars. \nCan anyone compare with you\, LORD?\nIs there anyone else even close to your league?\nNot likely! You are seated so high\nthat you look down even to see the sky! \nYou lift up those who have been trodden into the dirt;\nyou put the poor and outcast back on their feet.\nYou give them a place among the guests of honour\,\na seat with the dignitaries and celebrities. \nYou give the infertile couple a family\nfilling their lives with the laughter of children. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you desire everyone to be saved\nand to come to the knowledge of the truth. \nThe earth is your handiwork\, but it has brought you tears;\nyou created the nations\, but they have brought you grief.\nYou sent your law and prophets\,\nbut your people served idols and wealth before you\,\nand were unfaithful with all you entrusted to them. \nWhen we despaired of ever being restored to health\,\nyou lived up to the name of “Saviour”\,\nsending us your child\, Jesus the Christ\n— himself human —\nwho gave himself as a ransom for all.\nAlthough his blood was shed in Jerusalem\,\nyou raised him to life\nand now and forever\, he is our mediator in your presence\,\nwelcoming us with love and renewing us through prayer\nthat we might live faithfully in all godliness and dignity. \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 thank you that though we have brought you grief\,\nyour son\, Jesus Christ\, gave himself as a ransom for all\,\nand is\, now and forever\, our mediator in your presence\,\nthat we might live faithfully in all godliness and dignity. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you desire everyone to be saved\nand to come to the knowledge of the truth. \nThe earth is your handiwork\, but it has brought you tears;\nyou created the nations\, but they have brought you grief.\nYou sent your law and prophets\,\nbut your people served idols and wealth before you\,\nand were unfaithful with all you entrusted to them. \nWhen we despaired of ever being restored to health\,\nyou lived up to the name of “Saviour”\,\nsending us your child\, Jesus the Christ\n— himself human —\nwho gave himself as a ransom for all.\nAlthough his blood was shed in Jerusalem\,\nyou raised him to life\nand now and forever\, he is our mediator in your presence\,\nwelcoming us with love and renewing us through prayer\nthat we might live faithfully in all godliness and dignity. \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 Jesus Christ\, has lived up to the name of “Saviour”\nfor he gave himself as a ransom for all\nto rescue us and forgive our sins. \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\nand continue to offer prayers and thanksgiving for everyone.\nBe shrewd in dealing with the world around you\nbut do not be seduced into serving wealth.\nWeep for those who suffer\nand share faith and truth with all. \nAnd may God welcome you with love;\nMay Christ Jesus give you knowledge of the truth;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit lead you into all godliness and dignity. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\nIs moral integrity for weaklings?A sermon on Luke 16: 1-13 by Nathan NettletonLearning from Low-life ScumA sermon on Luke 16: 1-13 by Nathan NettletonPray for Them?!!!A sermon on 1 Timothy 2:1-7 by Nathan NettletonDefrauding for JesusA sermon on Luke 16: 1-13 by Nathan NettletonAssessing Claims and Detaining GodA sermon on Luke 16:1-13; Jeremiah 8:18 – 9:1; & 1 Timothy 2:1-7 by Nathan NettletonFeeling Depressed and Following JesusA sermon on Jeremiah 8:18 – 9:1 by Nathan NettletonA Clever Rogue and Outrageous GraciousnessA sermon on Luke 16: 1-13 by Gilbert Joyce URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp20/2028-09-24/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P20.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280924T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280924T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081706 CREATED:20210519T044541Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251019T033841Z UID:10001776-1853366400-1853452799@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 20 - 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1 \n \n\n \n \n \n I’m heart-broken\, sick with grief.\nSmiles are a thing of the past. \nTune in and listen.\nFrom one end of the country to the other\nyou can hear the cry of my suffering people.\n“Has the LORD cleared off and left us?” they groan.\n“Has our king fled the country?” \nThey gave God every reason to be angry\,\nflaunting their latest trendy objects of devotion. \nBut still they cry:\n“Months pass\, seasons come and go\,\nbut still there is no sign of help.” \nI am hurting with my people\, torn by their pain.\nI am grief-stricken\, filled with horror. \nSurely there is some treatment available.\nSurely there is something the doctors can do.\nSo why are my people still sick and broken?\nWhy are they not yet back on their feet? \nI need a head like a fire hydrant\nto do all the crying I am going to do\,\ngushing tears by the bucket full day and night\nover all my people who have been killed! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 79: 1-9 \n \n\n \n \n \n O God\, the land you gave us has been invaded;\nplaces erected in your honour have been desecrated;\nthe city you love has been reduced to rubble. \nPeople who faithfully served you have been slaughtered;\ntheir bodies have been tossed out like garbage\,\nferal animals tear them to shreds and crows pick their bones. \nThe city is awash with their blood\,\noverflowing the gutters;\ntheir bodies lie where they fell\,\nthere is no one left to bury them. \nThose outside our borders make a joke of our fate;\nthey laugh as they stick the boots in. \nWhy\, LORD?\nHow long will we cop this abuse?\nAre you going to be angry forever?\nWill your fiery rage never die down? \nTake it out on those who really deserve it;\non nations that shut you out and write you off. \nThey are the ones who chewed up your people\nand left nothing but scorched earth where we lived. \nPlease\, God\, don’t hold against us the wrongs of our ancestors.\nCome quickly with a tender heart and loving arms\,\nwe are at rock-bottom. \nYou are the only one who can get us out of this mess\, God.\nCome to our rescue! Bail us out! Forgive and heal us!\nShow everyone that your reputation is fully deserved! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 1 Timothy 2: 1-7 \n \n\n \n \n \n The number one thing I would urge you to do is to pray. Pray for everyone\, thanking God for them and requesting the best for them. Don’t forget to pray for those who exercise power and influence\, for we depend on them to allow us the space to get on with our lives in simplicity\, peace\, dignity and God-given integrity. There is no doubt that such prayers are exactly what God would wish us to be offering. Indeed\, what God really wants is for absolutely everyone to be brought into the life God intends for us\, and to know it; to know the full and wonderful truth of it. The bottom line is this: \nthere is one God\, and only one\,\nand there is one person standing between God and humanity\nto bring us together:\nChrist Jesus\, who was as human as us\nand who put his own life on the line\nso that everyone else could be set free.\nAll this was made clear once and for all. \nThe work to which I have been appointed is the work of broadcasting this news. You can take my word for this; I wouldn’t lie to you. God has made me an ambassador-at-large\, so that I might teach those outside the Jewish family to believe and trust in this truth. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 16: 1-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n Speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “Have you heard the story about the rich tycoon and his shifty business manager? One day the tycoon was presented with evidence that his business was seriously under-performing due to reckless management. So he called in his business manager and sacked him on the spot\, saying\, ‘Go and clear out your office and hand over the books for a full audit.’ \n“The manager said to himself\, ‘What am I going to do now. I’m out of work and my reputation is shot. I’m not fit enough for manual labour\, and I couldn’t bear to be seen receiving welfare. I know what I’ll do. I’ve got a sure-fire way to ensure that there will be plenty of people only too happy to help me out.’ \n“So\, before clearing out his office\, he went to work and called up all the business’s debtors\, one at a time. He asked the first\, ‘How much do you owe my boss?’ \n“The debtor replied\, ‘I owe him for a hundred barrels of oil.’ \n“The manager said\, ‘Sit down and sign here\, and you will only owe for fifty.’ \n“To another he said\, ‘And how much do you owe?’ \n“‘I owe your boss for a hundred tonnes of wheat\,’ the debtor replied. \n“The manager said\, “‘Sit down and sign here\, and it will be written down to eighty.’ \n“After the transactions had all been signed and sealed\, the tycoon discovered what had happened. All he could do was shake his head in admiration over the cunning ingenuity of the shifty business manager.” \nJesus went on to say\, “You see\, that’s how it is. The people who belong to this present world are far better equipped to dodge and weave their way through their dealings with one another than you lot are\, and you belong to the light. So take it from me\, if you’ve got a fistful of filthy lucre\, use it to help other people out. That way\, when it runs out\, you’ll have friends for life. \n“Those who can be trusted with a little\ncan be trusted with a lot.\nThose who are dishonest over little things\nare also dishonest over big things.\nIf you can’t even be trusted with a fistful of filthy lucre\,\nwho is going to trust you with things of real value?\nIf you can’t be trusted to look after other people’s things\,\nwho is going give you anything to keep as your own? \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©2001 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 Amos 8: 4-7 \n \n\n \n \n \n “Listen to me\, you who wipe your feet on those in need;\nyou who destroy the poor for your own gain.\nYou resent religious holidays\nbecause they interrupt your wheeling and dealing.\nYou demand twenty-four hour\, seven-day trading\,\nso that you can rip people off without ceasing.\nYour advertising is all deceit and delusion.\nYou rig the odds and the interest rates.\nYou lure the poor into crippling debt\nuntil you own them – body and soul –\nand then charge them again for owing you money. \n“I\, the LORD\, swear on the Bible you so proudly wave\,\nthat I will not forget a single one of your mongrel actions.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 113 \n \n\n \n \n \n You are the greatest\, LORD! \nWe\, your servants\, can’t stop singing your praises;\nthe mere mention of your name sets us singing! \nFrom now on and forever\,\nyour name will be held sacred\, LORD. \nFrom east to west\, from dawn to dusk\,\nyour name will inspire songs of praise. \nYou are ranked number one\, LORD\,\nway above even the greatest nations\,\noutshining even the sun and the stars. \nCan anyone compare with you\, LORD?\nIs there anyone else even close to your league?\nNot likely! You are seated so high\nthat you look down even to see the sky! \nYou lift up those who have been trodden into the dirt;\nyou put the poor and outcast back on their feet.\nYou give them a place among the guests of honour\,\na seat with the dignitaries and celebrities. \nYou give the infertile couple a family\nfilling their lives with the laughter of children. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you desire everyone to be saved\nand to come to the knowledge of the truth. \nThe earth is your handiwork\, but it has brought you tears;\nyou created the nations\, but they have brought you grief.\nYou sent your law and prophets\,\nbut your people served idols and wealth before you\,\nand were unfaithful with all you entrusted to them. \nWhen we despaired of ever being restored to health\,\nyou lived up to the name of “Saviour”\,\nsending us your child\, Jesus the Christ\n— himself human —\nwho gave himself as a ransom for all.\nAlthough his blood was shed in Jerusalem\,\nyou raised him to life\nand now and forever\, he is our mediator in your presence\,\nwelcoming us with love and renewing us through prayer\nthat we might live faithfully in all godliness and dignity. \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 thank you that though we have brought you grief\,\nyour son\, Jesus Christ\, gave himself as a ransom for all\,\nand is\, now and forever\, our mediator in your presence\,\nthat we might live faithfully in all godliness and dignity. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you desire everyone to be saved\nand to come to the knowledge of the truth. \nThe earth is your handiwork\, but it has brought you tears;\nyou created the nations\, but they have brought you grief.\nYou sent your law and prophets\,\nbut your people served idols and wealth before you\,\nand were unfaithful with all you entrusted to them. \nWhen we despaired of ever being restored to health\,\nyou lived up to the name of “Saviour”\,\nsending us your child\, Jesus the Christ\n— himself human —\nwho gave himself as a ransom for all.\nAlthough his blood was shed in Jerusalem\,\nyou raised him to life\nand now and forever\, he is our mediator in your presence\,\nwelcoming us with love and renewing us through prayer\nthat we might live faithfully in all godliness and dignity. \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 Jesus Christ\, has lived up to the name of “Saviour”\nfor he gave himself as a ransom for all\nto rescue us and forgive our sins. \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\nand continue to offer prayers and thanksgiving for everyone.\nBe shrewd in dealing with the world around you\nbut do not be seduced into serving wealth.\nWeep for those who suffer\nand share faith and truth with all. \nAnd may God welcome you with love;\nMay Christ Jesus give you knowledge of the truth;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit lead you into all godliness and dignity. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nIs moral integrity for weaklings?A sermon on Luke 16: 1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLearning from Low-life ScumA sermon on Luke 16: 1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPray for Them?!!!A sermon on 1 Timothy 2:1-7 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nDefrauding for JesusA sermon on Luke 16: 1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAssessing Claims and Detaining GodA sermon on Luke 16:1-13; Jeremiah 8:18 – 9:1; & 1 Timothy 2:1-7 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFeeling Depressed and Following JesusA sermon on Jeremiah 8:18 – 9:1 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Clever Rogue and Outrageous GraciousnessA sermon on Luke 16: 1-13 by Gilbert Joyce\n\n\n\nTears\, Prayers and ForgivenessA sermon on Luke 16:1-13; Jeremiah 8:18 – 9:1; & 1 Timothy 2:1-7 by Geoff Leslie URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp20/2028-09-24/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P20.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281001T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281001T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081706 CREATED:20221017T002728Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251026T024942Z UID:10001962-1853971200-1854057599@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 21 - 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Jeremiah 32: 1-3a\, 6-15 \n \n\n \n \n \n I\, Jeremiah\, received a message from the LORD. At the time\, the Babylonian army was laying siege to Jerusalem. They were under the command of Nebuchadrezzar\, who had been king of Babylon for eighteen years. I was locked up in the guardhouse of the Jerusalem palace on the orders of Zedekiah\, who had been king of Judah for ten years. The message from the LORD said: \n“Jeremiah! Your cousin\, Hanamel\, son of Shallum\, is on his way to see you. He will ask you to buy his ancestral property at Anathoth because he can no longer afford to keep it. As his nearest relative\, you have the right to buy it in order to keep it in the family.” \nJust as the LORD had said\, my cousin Hanamel came to visit me in the guardhouse and said to me\, “I want to sell you my ancestral property at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The only way it can stay in our family is for you to exercise your right to buy it for yourself.” \nWhen this happened\, I knew that the message I had heard was from the LORD\, so I went ahead and bought the Anathoth property from Hanamel for the agreed price of seventeen pieces of silver. We had the legal document drawn up\, confirming the terms and conditions of the sale and transferring the title to me. When the document had been formally signed and witnessed\, I counted out the money and handed it to Hanamel. Then I took both the official copy of the document and a duplicate and handed them to Baruch. Baruch was the son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah\, and worked for me as my secretary. While Hanamel and the witness were still there\, and in the clear hearing of all the other Judeans who were at the guardhouse\, I said to Baruch: \nThis is an order from the LORD who rules over everything\, the God of Israel: Take these property documents\, both the official signed copy and its duplicate\, and store them in a sealed time capsule so that they will last for a long time. Because the LORD who rules over everything\, the God of Israel\, is making this promise: “Although you are being overrun by invading armies\, the time will come when you will once again own houses\, farms and vineyards in this land.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 91: 1-6\, 14-16 \n \n\n \n \n \n Your greatness and strength are our shelter\, LORD;\nwe can live secure in your shade.\nWe call you our refuge\, our place of safety;\nyou are the God in whom we trust. \nYou steer us clear of the traps that have been laid for us\,\nand keep us safe when disease threatens to wipe us out.\nYou gather us safely under your wings\nlike a mother bird shielding her chicks.\nWe are secure behind your armour-plated loyalty. \nNight or day\, we have nothing to fear;\nnot bullets\, nor bombs;\nnot illness\, nor injury;\nnot the withering heat of the sun\,\nnor the crippling power of fear itself. \nThose who know you and love you can depend on you\,\nyou are always there to pull them out of trouble. \nThe moment they call\, you answer;\nyou’re on their side when all hell breaks loose;\nyou save their lives and throw a party in their honour. \nYou give them long and fulfilling lives\, LORD;\nthey will see the realisation of all you have promised. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 1 Timothy 6: 6-19 \n \n\n \n \n \n The keys to a truly rich life are to model yourself on God and to find contentment in simple things. When it comes to the things money can buy\, we all have to leave this world as empty-handed as we entered it\, so if we’ve got food on our tables and clothes on our backs\, we are as rich as we’ll ever need to be. People who set their hearts on becoming very wealthy are their own worst enemies. They charge headlong into a mine field of inflated expectations and mind-numbing promises and they are easily seduced onto slippery slopes that end only in corruption and ruin. There are so many forms of evil that can be traced back to a passion for money\, and there have been so many people whose craving for wealth has eroded their commitment to Christ and brought them nothing but pain and misery. \nBut you\, Timothy\, are a man who belongs to God; so steer well clear of such things. Instead\, work hard at modelling yourself on God and developing your abilities to do the right thing\, to trust God no matter what\, to tough out the hard times\, and to be consistently loving and compassionate. The life to which you have been called – the life without limit – is not gained without struggle. You went public in declaring your commitment to this cause\, so fight hard and fair for it\, trusting always in God\, and the prize will be yours.  \nStanding now in the presence of God\, who gives life to all things\, and of Christ Jesus\, who spoke up for the truth in front of Pontius Pilate\, I am reminding you of your mandate: follow through to the max on all you have been told to do. See that none of your work gives anyone cause to point an accusing finger. And keep at it until our Lord Jesus Christ steps back onto centre stage\, as he will when God decides the time is right. \nGod alone deserves all praise!\nGod alone rules over all!\nGod far outranks every monarch and lord;\nevery chief\, commander\, and regime!\nGod alone lives beyond the reach of death\,\nhidden from every human eye\nby blazing light that holds us at bay!\nTo God\, honour and glory!\nTo God\, power over all\, forever!\nAnd so say all of us! \nPass on some advice from me to those who are wealthy in the here and now. Tell them not to go getting full of themselves\, or to fall for the idea that their money guarantees their quality of life – it could all be worthless tomorrow. Tell them\, instead\, to stake their future on God\, for everything we need to enjoy a truly rich life is given to us by God. Teach them that if they really want to set themselves up for the future\, they should invest heavily in doing good for others and build up a portfolio based on blue-chip sharing and generosity. That is the only way to achieve the goal of gaining shares in the life that is really worth living. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 16: 19-31 \n \n\n \n \n \n While speaking to some devoutly religious Pharisees who loved money\, Jesus told this story: \nThere was a rich man who was always dressed to the nines in the most expensive fashions and who enjoyed chef-prepared\, gourmet delicacies for breakfast\, lunch and tea. In the street outside his security gates\, lived a desperately poor man named Lazarus. He was malnourished and sleeping rough\, and his skin was scabby and infected. All he ever ate was the scraps thrown out in the rich man’s garbage. Often he was too weak even to stop the dogs from licking his sores. \nOne day this poor man died and was carried away by the angels and seated alongside Abraham at the best table. The rich man also died and was given a rich man’s burial. However\, in the land of the dead he found himself suffering horribly. He looked up\, and far in the distance he could see Abraham with Lazarus seated alongside him. In desperation he called out\, “Father Abraham\, take pity on me and send Lazarus to bring me even a drop of water to cool my tongue. I am in agony here in these flames.” \nBut Abraham said\, “Son\, remember how life was a bed of roses for you\, but Lazarus always copped the worst that life could dish up. Well here the tables have been turned. Besides\, there is nothing we can do anyway. Can’t you see how we are cut off from you by this massive chasm. No one can get across from here to you\, and you can’t get across from there to us.” \nThe rich man said\, “In that case\, Father\, please send him to my family home to warn my five brothers so that they won’t go down the same track as me and end up here in this nightmare too.” \nAbraham replied\, “They have heard the teachings of Moses and the prophets. That should be all the warning they need.” \nHe replied\, “It hasn’t sunk in though\, Father Abraham. But if someone was to come back from the dead to warn them\, then they’d turn their lives around for sure.” \nBut Abraham said to him\, “If they won’t take any notice of Moses and the prophets\, then even someone rising from the dead wouldn’t be enough to get through to them.” \n©2001 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 Amos 6: 1a\, 4-7 \n \n\n \n \n \n The writing is on the wall for those who are living it up in the city;\nfor those who think that no harm can reach them in this town. \nThe writing is on the wall for those who spend their days\nlounging around in pampered luxury;\ndining on the finest delicacies\nlike there was no tomorrow;\nsinging and dancing while others suffer\,\npartying on while others starve. \nThe writing is on the wall for those\nwho care more about the temperature of their chardonnay\nand the matching of clothes and cosmetics\nthan they do about the desperate plight\nof the poor who live in their land! \nThey’ve got it coming to them.\nThey will be the first to be driven into refugee camps.\nTheir cushy comforts will be nothing but a memory. \n©2001 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\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you alone are the blessed immortal sovereign\nwho dwells in unapproachable light. \nIn the shadow of your wing\,\nyou created the earth and gave life to all things.\nThrough Moses and the prophets you called us\nto take hold of the life that really is life. \nWhen our own harmful desires plunged us into destruction\,\nand we gazed across a great chasm\nhungering for even the crumbs that fell from your table\,\nyou sealed a promise that our homelands\nwould once again feed and clothe us.\nYou sent your child\, Jesus Christ.\nto show us your power to save.\nAfter testifying to the truth before Pontius Pilate\,\nhe was killed\, but you raised him from the dead\,\nand now he seats us at your banquet table\,\nand richly provides us with everything for fullness of life. \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 thank you that when we were gazing across a great chasm\nhungering for even the crumbs that fell from your table\,\nyou sent your son\, Jesus Christ\, to seat us at your banquet table\nand richly provide us with everything for our enjoyment. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you alone are the blessed immortal sovereign\nwho dwells in unapproachable light. \nIn the shadow of your wing\,\nyou created the earth and gave life to all things.\nThrough Moses and the prophets you called us\nto take hold of the life that really is life. \nWhen our own harmful desires plunged us into destruction\,\nand we gazed across a great chasm\nhungering for even the crumbs that fell from your table\,\nyou sealed a promise that our homelands\nwould once again feed and clothe us.\nYou sent your child\, Jesus Christ.\nto show us your power to save.\nAfter testifying to the truth before Pontius Pilate\,\nhe was killed\, but you raised him from the dead\,\nand now he seats us at your banquet table\,\nand richly provides us with everything for fullness of life. \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 Hear the words of Christ who is merciful:\n“I deliver all who cling to me\,\nanswer those who call me\,\nstand with those in trouble.\nThese I rescue and honour and show my power to save.” \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 take hold of the life that really is life.\nShun the eagerness for money\nbut be rich in good works.\nPursue righteousness\, godliness\,\nfaith\, love\, endurance and gentleness. \nAnd may God be your refuge and fortress;\nMay Christ Jesus free you from all that ensnares you;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit provide you with everything\nfor godliness and contentment. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nPursuing the life that really is lifeA sermon on 1 Timothy 6:6-19 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nConflicting Visions of the FutureA sermon on 1 Timothy 6: 6-19; Jeremiah 32: 1-3a\, 6-15; & Luke 16: 19-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Message from HadesA sermon on Luke 16: 19-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nDefying DespairA sermon on Jeremiah 32:1-3\, 6-15 & 1 Timothy 6: 6-19 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Chasm and the CrossA sermon on Luke 16: 19-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLocking or Opening GatesA sermon on Jeremiah 32: 1-3a\, 6-15 & Luke 16: 19-31 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp21/2028-10-01/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P21.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281008T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281008T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20221024T005908Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251102T000734Z UID:10001964-1854576000-1854662399@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 22 - 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. \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 Lamentations 1: 1-6 \n \n\n \n \n \n What a sad and lonely sight the city has become\,\nwhere once it was teeming with people.\nOnce she was the toast of all the world.\nNow she is a has-been.\nShe was the queen of the nations.\nNow she sweeps up after them. \nShe sobs her heart out every night.\nBitter tears fall like rain.\nShe who could pick and choose her lovers\nnow can’t find a shoulder to cry on.\nFormer friends don’t want to know her.\nThey join her enemies to stick the boots in. \nJudah has been marched off into exile.\nNothing but grief and hard labour ahead.\nShe wanders like a refugee\nwith no place to call her home.\nIf she runs\, they hunt her down\,\nand make her fate even worse than before. \nAlong the Jerusalem Road everyone is ruined\,\nfor the festival crowds no longer pass that way.\nThe city gates are derelict.\nThe priests are in despair.\nThe young women live in fear.\nThe city lies raped and ransacked. \nHer enemies now rule the roost\,\nliving it up at her expense.\nThe LORD has abandoned her to her fate\nbecause her offences just went on and on.\nHer children have been carried off\nas prisoners in enemy hands. \nDaughter Zion is a wrung out rag\,\nall her life and beauty gone.\nHer brightest and best are like lost cattle\nstarving in the desert.\nThey fled for their lives\nand are now fainting from hunger and thirst. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Lamentations 3: 19-26 \n \n\n \n \n \n The reality I’m facing is like a bitter taste in my mouth.\nGrief and deprivation poison my mind. \nI can’t stop thinking about it over and over\,\nbut every thought makes me want to die. \nThe one thing that gives me hope\,\nthe one thing I keep reminding myself of is this: \nYour love and loyalty never die\, LORD.\nYour generous mercy never runs dry.\nThey are created new every morning\nand you are as trustworthy as the solid rock. \nSo I keep telling myself that you are all I need\nand that I can still trust you to come through for me. \nYou are good to those who hang in there for you\, LORD;\nto those whose hearts continue to search for you. \nThe life for which you save us\, LORD\,\nis worth patiently waiting for. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Psalm 137 \n \n\n \n \n \n In Babylon\, sitting on the banks of the river\,\nwe swapped stories of home\nand cried and cried and cried. \nUnable to sing\,\nwe packed away our instruments unplayed. \nThe guards made a joke of our misery\,\ntormenting us with insults\,\nand demanding that we entertain them\nwith songs from our homeland. \nBut how could we sing your songs\nin that godless place\, LORD? \nIf I ever forget your holy city\, LORD\,\nmay my arms be turned into twigs and burned. \nLORD\, if I do not remember Jerusalem\nand stand up for her no matter what\,\nmay I be strung up by my toes\nover a mosquito infested swamp. \nLORD\, do not forgive that rampaging army\nfor the way they destroyed your holy city;\nfor the way they shouted and cheered\nas it crumbled and fell. \nDamn those murdering mongrels to hell\, LORD.\nReward anyone who pays them back\nfor what they did to us! \nReward anyone who rounds up their children\nand kicks them to death! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 2 Timothy 1: 1-14 \n \n\n \n \n \n Dear Timothy. This letter comes to you from me\, Paul\, a special ambassador of Christ Jesus\, chosen by God to make it known that in Christ Jesus\, life has been promised to everyone. I greet you as my beloved son\, and wish you all the best – God’s love and peace and extravagant generosity. \nI am so grateful for being able to worship God the way my ancestors did\, and I am sure I am doing the right thing. I also feel incredibly grateful when I think of you\, as I do in my prayers\, both day and night. I remember our last tearful farewell\, and I am desperately looking forward to catching up with you again. It will make me so happy! I have fond memories of your very real and down-to-earth faith. That quality seems to run in your family: I first saw it in your grandmother Lois\, and then in your mother Eunice\, and now\, sure enough\, it is alive in you too. That is why I want to remind you to keep fuelling the fire of the gift that God gave you when I placed my hands on your head and prayed for you. After all\, God did not intend that we should be timid about our gifts. Instead\, God gave them to us to be used with courage\, love and self-discipline. \nSo then\, don’t be embarrassed about the stories of our Lord\, or about me being locked up for him. Trust God’s power to be there for you\, and join me in putting your life on the line for the message of God’s all-embracing love. \nGod rescued us from a living death\nand called us to live for God alone\nWe had not earned this;\nit was simply God’s plan\,\ncarried out with great generosity. \nEven before time began\,\nGod’s extravagant generosity was ready for us;\na gift prepared for us in Christ Jesus. \nNow it is out in the open\,\nlit up for all to see:\nChrist Jesus has appeared as our lifesaver\,\nwiping out death\nand announcing the fabulous message\nof a life that death cannot touch. \nI have been given the job of broadcasting this message; of being an ambassador for it\, and a teacher of it. The trouble I have been suffering comes as a consequence of the job\, but I have no regrets. I’d do it all again\, because I have entrusted myself to Christ and come to know him\, and I have every confidence in his ability to see me through to the day when everything will be completed. \nSo remember all I have taught you – it is solid and trustworthy\, and will guide you in living out the faith and love which are grounded in Christ Jesus. With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us\, take good care of the wonderful gift that God has entrusted to you. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 17: 5-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n Those who Jesus had chosen as his ambassadors approached him and said\, “Make our faith grow bigger!” \nBut the Lord replied\, “Faith is not something that is bigger or smaller. You only need faith the size of a poppy seed to be able to say to a huge tree\, ‘Go jump in the lake\,’ and it would obey you. \n“Think about this: If you employ someone to be you servant\, full-time\, you expect him to do what you pay him for\, don’t you? If he comes in from a day working your land or shearing your sheep\, you are not going to tell him to put his feet up while you run his bath and fix his dinner are you? Instead you will tell him to take his boots off\, fix your supper\, and wait on your table until your meal is over. After that\, you’ll let him knock off and fix his own meal. You don’t pin a medal on him for just doing what he’s paid for\, do you? \n“So remember that it is the same with you. When you have done what is required of you\, don’t go expecting anyone to put your name up in lights. Instead say\, ‘We are nothing special. We were just doing our job\,’ and leave it at that.” \n©2001 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 Habakkuk 1: 1-4; 2: 1-4 \n \n\n \n \n \n My name is Habakkuk and I am a prophet. I went to God seeking an explanation for the way things are. \nFor crying out loud\, LORD!\nHow long will it be before you listen?\nHow long do I have to scream blue murder\nbefore you come to the rescue? \nWhy do you make me witness so much evil?\nWhy am I forced to see such things?\nEverywhere I look: violence and carnage\,\nfighting and madness on every side. \nLaw and order are out the window.\nJustice is a joke.\nThe corrupt ride roughshod over decent people\,\nand twisted laws protect them as they do. \nSo what have you got to say\, LORD?\nI’m not budging from this spot until you answer.\nI’m going to stand right here\, all eyes and ears\,\nuntil you respond to my complaint. \nThen the LORD answered me\, saying: \nGet the vision down in writing\nin words that everyone can understand\,\nand get it to the publishers on the double. \nThe vision I have made known is still true.\nWhen the time is right\, what it speaks of will happen.\nIt may seem to be taking its time in coming\,\nbut hang in there. It will happen.\nYou can count on it. \nSome people won’t have a bar of it\nbecause they are all spineless fluff;\nbut those who are fair dinkum live by it\nwith enduring courage and integrity. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 37: 1-9 \n \n\n \n \n \n Because of you\, LORD\, we don’t stress over corruption;\nwe don’t get jealous when crime seems to pay.\nThose who live off ill-gotten gains will have their day;\nthey’ll wither like cut flowers in a hot north wind. \nWe put our trust in you\, LORD\, and do what’s right.\nYou give us our own land\, and keep us safe and content.\nOur greatest delight comes from knowing you\, LORD\,\nand you delight in giving us what our hearts desire. \nWe have set our minds on following your ways\, LORD;\nour trust is in you\, and we know you’ll back us up.\nIt will be as clear as day that we made the right choice;\nyou’ll make it perfectly obvious that our cause was justified. \nWe wait in your presence\, LORD\,\nin stillness\, quietness\, patience.\nWe don’t waver when others profit from corruption;\nwe don’t regret our choice when others get away with murder. \nTrusting in you\, LORD\, we can let go of vengeful anger.\nWe can relax and not get sucked into taking the law\ninto our own hands.\nWe can trust you to kick out the crooks\, LORD\,\nand to hand the land over to those who staked their lives on you. \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. \nWe do indeed give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you saved us with a holy calling\nfor the sake of the life that is in Christ Jesus. \nBefore the ages began\, your grace was at work\,\nbringing all things into being according to your purpose.\nYou pledged your steadfast love to your people\,\nand even when they were in exile and suffering\nyour mercy was there new every morning. \nIn Christ Jesus you revealed the fullness of your grace\,\nand came among us sowing seeds of faith and love.\nWhen he was betrayed by his friends\nand killed by his enemies\,\nyou abolished death and raised him to life.\nThough we have done no more than we ought\,\nyou have honoured every seed of faith\,\nand with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us\,\nyou rekindle our gifts and empower us with love. \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 thank you that though we have done no more than we ought\,\nyou have honoured every seed of faith\,\nand with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us\,\nyou rekindle our gifts and empower us with love. \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 you saved us with a holy calling\nfor the sake of the life that is in Christ Jesus. \nBefore the ages began\, your grace was at work\,\nbringing all things into being according to your purpose.\nYou pledged your steadfast love to your people\,\nand even when they were in exile and suffering\nyour mercy was there new every morning. \nIn Christ Jesus you revealed the fullness of your grace\,\nand came among us sowing seeds of faith and love.\nWhen he was betrayed by his friends\nand killed by his enemies\,\nyou abolished death and raised him to life.\nThough we have done no more than we ought\,\nyou have honoured every seed of faith\,\nand with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us\,\nyou rekindle our gifts and empower us with love. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n Through Christ Jesus we are saved\,\nnot according to our works but by God’s purpose and grace\,\nfor the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.\nand the mercies of God never come to an end. \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\, relying on the power of God.\nGuard the good treasure God has entrusted to you\nand hold firm to the teaching of the apostles.\nRemember one another in your prayers\nand continue to offer yourselves for the gospel. \nAnd may God give you grace\, mercy and peace;\nMay Christ Jesus lead you into life and faith;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit live within you\nand rekindle good gifts within you. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nFaith you can take for grantedA sermon on Luke 17:5-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Power of the BrokenA sermon on Lamentations 1.1-6\, 3.1-33; Psalm 137 & Luke 17.5-10 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nFor crying out loud\, Lord!A sermon on Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nYou can’t earn itA sermon on Luke 17:5-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSpirits of Love and FearA sermon on 2 Timothy 1:1-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nHead Smashing RageA sermon on Psalm 137 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Beauty of LamentA sermon on Lamentations 1.1-6\, 3.1-33 & Psalm 137 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp22/2028-10-08/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P22.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281015T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281015T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20221030T234419Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251109T012030Z UID:10002983-1855180800-1855267199@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 23 - 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Jeremiah 29: 1\, 4-7 \n \n\n \n \n \n Nebuchadnezzar had taken most of the people from Jerusalem into exile in Babylon. The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter from Jerusalem to the exiles. It was addressed to what was left of their leaders\, priests and prophets\, and through them to all the people. This is what it said: \nThe LORD who rules over everything\, the God of Israel\, has sent you from Jerusalem into exile in Babylon and now gives you these instructions:\nSettle in for the long haul. Build houses and make yourselves at home. Plant gardens to provide you with food all year round. Continue normal family life – marry and have children\, and encourage your children to do the same. Don’t put off raising children in expectation of going home any time soon. Pray that the LORD will be good to Babylon and work hard for the wellbeing of the society you have been sent to live in. Your own interests are now bound up with the interests of this country. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 66: 1-12 \n \n\n \n \n \n All the earth should shout joyfully to you\, God;\nsinging your praises;\ngiving you the glory you deserve. \nThe things you have done are awesome\, God!\nWhen you take action\,\nyour enemies cringe in fear. \nYou are worshipped all over the earth;\neverywhere people sing your praises\nand speak your name with honour. \nWe want to publicise everything you have done\, God\,\nfor what you have done among us is awesome. \nYou made a dry path through the middle of the sea;\nyou took us safely through the river on foot.\nThere on the other side\, we celebrated your goodness\nand declared you to be our mighty ruler forever.\nYour eyes are always open\, watching the nations;\nlet pretentious rebels be warned! \nIf only everyone would honour you\, God\,\nand fill the world with the sound of your praises.\nYou are the one who sustains our life\nand keeps our feet on the right track. \nYou\, God\, have examined us carefully;\ntested us to see what we were made of.\nYou drove us to our limits\nand weighed us down with burdens;\nyou let us be run into the ground;\nyou took us through the fires of hell\nand the depths of despair\nbut then finally into a wide and generous land. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 2 Timothy 2: 8-15 \n \n\n \n \n \n Keep this line fixed in your mind: \nJesus Christ\, a human being descended from David\,\nhas been raised from the dead. \nThat\, in a nutshell\, is the message I’ve been preaching all along. That is the message which has got me into so much trouble and even seen me locked up like a dangerous criminal. Fortunately though\, God’s message itself can never be locked up. I’m willing to put up with all this because I know it helps get the message through to the people God is calling\, so that they can get in on the life for which we are saved – the glorious life without limit grounded in Christ Jesus. Another saying to hang on to is this one: \nIf we have died with him\,\nwe will live with him;\nIf we tough it out to the end\,\nwe will reign with him;\nif we turn our backs on him\,\nhe will turn his back on us;\nbut no matter how unfaithful we are\,\nhe remains a hundred percent faithful\,\nbecause he can never stop being who he is. \nDon’t let anybody forget these things. With God as your witness\, warn them not to get hung up on arguments over mere words. Such arguments achieve nothing and just drag everyone down. Instead put your energies into the work God has given you – teaching the truth with integrity – and prove yourself to be a worker who can hold his head high in God’s presence. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 17: 11-19 \n \n\n \n \n \n On his way to Jerusalem\, Jesus was travelling through the region along the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he was entering a village there\, he was approached by ten people who were suffering from leprosy. They stood at a safe distance and called out to him as one\, saying\, “Jesus! Sir! Show compassion for us!” \nWhen he saw what they were suffering from\, Jesus said to them\, “Go and ask the priests to certify that you are ready to resume normal social contact.” \nThe ten headed off\, as instructed\, and while they were on their way\, their skin became clean and healthy. Realising that he was healed\, one of them turned around and went back to Jesus\, singing the praises of God at the top of his voice. He threw himself down at Jesus’s feet and couldn’t stop thanking him. And he was a Samaritan – a member of a despised minority group. \nThen Jesus spoke up\, saying\, “Weren’t there ten people who were cured? Where have the other nine got to? How come this outsider is the only one who has come back to express thanks to God?” \nThen he said to the man\, “It’s time to stand up and get on with your life. Putting your faith into practice has made you whole.” \n©2001 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 2 Kings 5: 1-3\, 9-15c \n \n\n \n \n \n The commander of the Syrian army was a man named Naaman. Naaman was very popular with his king\, because under his command\, the LORD had given Syria a string of military victories. Although he was a great soldier and a highly decorated commander\, Naaman suffered from leprosy. Naaman’s wife had a young Israelite girl among her servants who had come to Syria as a prisoner of war after a military raid. One day the girl said to her mistress\, “If only your husband could meet the prophet who lives in Samaria. I’m sure he would cure him of his leprosy.” \nSo Naaman and his whole entourage travelled to Israel and pulled up in the street outside Elisha’s house. Elisha sent an errand boy out to Naaman with a message\, saying\, “Go down to the Jordan River and wash yourself in it seven times. That will cure you and your skin will be as clean and clear as a child’s.” \nNaaman felt deeply insulted and drove off in a huff\, saying\, “You’d think that for a man of my standing he could have come out and talked to me himself. I thought that he would at least stand and call on the LORD his God\, and wave his hand over my skin to bring about the cure! What’s so special about their scummy Israelite river? Aren’t the two great rivers of Damascus much bigger and better? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” \nSo he stormed off\, seething with rage. But his servants spoke up and said\, “Sir\, if the prophet had told you to do something really difficult\, you would have done it\, wouldn’t you? So surely you have got nothing to lose but your disease if you do what he said and wash yourself in the river.” \nSo Naaman relented and\, wading out into the Jordan River\, he immersed himself seven times in the water\, just as the prophet of God had instructed him. Sure enough\, he was cured instantly\, and his skin became as clear and healthy as a child’s. \nHe and his entourage immediately returned to Elisha. Standing before the prophet of God\, he declared\, “Now I know that there is no other God in all the world except the God of Israel.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 111 \n \n\n \n \n \n Wow! More power to you\, LORD!\nWe can’t thank you enough.\nWith all who stand for justice\nour hearts burst with gratitude. \nThe things you do are fantastic\, LORD\,\nand those who see and understand\nnever tire of exploring them. \nYour works are magnificent\, majestic\,\nand their integrity will never be eroded. \nYou have a reputation for doing amazing things\,\nand all of them generous and merciful. \nYou nourish those who honour you\nand you are always true to your word. \nYou have left your people in no doubt\nabout your power;\nyou have given them the whole world on a plate. \nEverything you put your hands to\nis faithful\, fair and trustworthy\,\nas is everything you say. \nWhat you say goes\, now and forever\,\nand no one can afford to ignore it. \nYou rescue your people and bring them home safe\,\nfor you have committed yourself to them\nfor all time. \nThe mere mention of your holy name\nmakes us go weak all over! \nWisdom is born when your awesome presence\nknocks us to our knees\nand those who never lose sight of that\nhave got their heads on straight. \nAwestruck\, we give you honour and respect for ever. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you rule forever in faithfulness\nand in you is salvation with eternal glory. \nWith awesome power you created the heavens and the earth\nand through water and fire you saved for yourself a people.\nEven when we were exiled throughout the earth\,\nyour Word\, which is never chained\,\ncalled us to settle wherever you placed us\nand to prayerfully seek the welfare of every land. \nIn Jesus the Christ\, your Word settled among us\,\nmeeting us in our brokenness and suffering\nand\, in mercy\, bringing healing and a way to wholeness.\nHe was chained like a criminal and crucified\,\nand when he died\, we died with him\,\nbut you raised him from the dead\nso that we might also live with him\,\nforever shouting the wonder of your deeds\nand singing the glory of your name. \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 thank you that in Jesus Christ\nyour Word has settled among us\,\nmeeting us in our brokenness and suffering\nand in mercy\, bringing healing and a way to wholeness. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you rule forever in faithfulness\nand in you is salvation with eternal glory. \nWith awesome power you created the heavens and the earth\nand through water and fire you saved for yourself a people.\nEven when we were exiled throughout the earth\,\nyour Word\, which is never chained\,\ncalled us to settle wherever you placed us\nand to prayerfully seek the welfare of every land. \nIn Jesus the Christ\, your Word settled among us\,\nmeeting us in our brokenness and suffering\nand\, in mercy\, bringing healing and a way to wholeness.\nHe was chained like a criminal and crucified\,\nand when he died\, we died with him\,\nbut you raised him from the dead\nso that we might also live with him\,\nforever shouting the wonder of your deeds\nand singing the glory of your name. \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 Jesus Christ remains faithful even if we are faithless.\nHe hears our cries for mercy and replies:\n“Get up and live\,\nyour faith has made you well.” \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 live fruitfully where God has placed you.\nPray and strive for the welfare of those you live among\,\nand do your best to present yourselves to God\nas faithful workers with no need to be ashamed. \nAnd may God open the pathways before you;\nMay Christ Jesus cleanse you and make you whole;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit keep your spirits alive\nand your feet from stumbling. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nHow Healed is Healed?A sermon on Luke 17: 11-19 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBecoming AbnormalA sermon on Luke 17: 11-19 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nTo Be SureA sermon on Luke 17: 11-19 & 2 Timothy 2:8-15 by Frank C Senn\n\n\n\nLiving the Life You’ve Been GivenA sermon on Jeremiah 29: 1\, 4-7 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Quest for a Place to Live WellA sermon on Jeremiah 29:1\, 4-7  by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe kingdom of God is among youA sermon on Luke 17: 11-19 by Belinda Groves\n\n\n\nJesus vs our TribalismA sermon on Luke 17: 11-19 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp23/2028-10-15/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P23.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281022T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281022T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20221107T035741Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251116T043724Z UID:10001970-1855785600-1855871999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 24 - 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Jeremiah 31: 27-34 \n \n\n \n \n \n You can count on this\, says the LORD. The time is coming when I will replant the land of Israel and Judah and raise a new crop of people and animals. In the past I dedicated myself to wreaking havoc among them\, and crushing\, demolishing and devastating them. But soon I will dedicate myself to healing them\, and to rebuilding and giving life\, says the LORD. No longer will people repeat the old saying: \n“When the parents eat junk\,\nit is the children whose teeth rot.” \nIt will be clear that everyone will pay for their own sins. If it is you who eats the junk\, it will be your teeth that rot. \nYou can count on this\, says the LORD. The time is coming when I will once again take Israel and Judah as my marriage partner. Our marriage will not be like the marriage I entered with their ancestors. Back then I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of slavery and carried them across the threshold into a home of their own. But even though I was loving and faithful\, says the LORD\, they broke our marriage vows. \nBut listen to the new marriage vows I will soon make with the people of Israel\, says the LORD: \n“I will write my values into your hearts and minds.\nI will be your God\, and you will be my people.” \nNo longer will they need lessons to learn how I want them to live. They won’t need to spur each other on\, saying\, “Get to know the LORD\,” because all of them\, from all walks of life\, will know me well\, says the LORD. I will erase all record of their past wrongs and let them start over with a clean slate. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 119: 97-104 \n \n\n \n \n \n LORD\, how I love your teachings!\nI keep them in my thoughts all day long. \nI’m able to stay a jump ahead of my enemies\nbecause your guidance is always with me. \nStudying your instructions has taught me far more\nthan I could ever learn from the best teachers. \nFollowing your rules to the letter\nhas given me more wisdom than old age brings. \nI steer clear of the paths of corruption\nso that I can stick to the track you have set. \nYou have taught me well\nand I won’t dodge any of your directions. \nYour words taste so sweet on my tongue\,\nthey are like strawberries and cream! \nYour commands have given me great understanding\nand made me allergic to lies and corruption! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5 \n \n\n \n \n \n Timothy\, stick to the trusted tracks you have been taught to follow and have found to be true. You know your teachers and you know you can trust them. Ever since you were a little fella\, you have had a good grasp of the sacred scriptures. From them you can learn what is needed to gain the life for which we are saved through trusting in Christ Jesus. All scripture is alive with the life-force of God and can be usefully employed in many ways: teaching people; exposing lies and bullshit; getting people back on track; and training people in how to live right. In these ways\, the scriptures help prepare and equip God’s people for their life-giving work. \nDon’t underestimate the importance of your work. God is watching everything you do. Christ Jesus is the one who will judge its value\, as he will for everyone\, past and present. He will appear and bring everything under his rule. In light of all this\, I am spelling out your job description once again and urging you to give it everything you’ve got: \n• preach God’s message;\n• stick at it\, when it seems to be going well and when it doesn’t;\n• teach clearly and persuasively;\n• set people straight when they need it;\n• be encouraging. \nYou will need tonnes of patience as you do all this\, because there will be times when people will not be able to stomach solid truths. Instead they will start collecting gurus who will pander to their weaknesses and sell them whatever they are itching to hear. They will block their ears to the truth and swallow fantasies. But as for you\, keep your wits about you at all times. When hostility comes\, take it on the chin. Work hard at spreading the message. God has given you this work – carry it out to the max. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 18: 1-8 \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus told a story to encourage people to be persistent in prayer and never lose heart. He said\, “Once upon a time there was a town magistrate who took no notice of God and had no respect for anyone. There was a widowed woman in the town who had very little in the way of resources or influence\, but who kept contacting the magistrate and demanding that he take action to protect her rights in a dispute with a powerful opponent. For a while he just kept brushing her off\, but eventually he said to himself\, ‘I couldn’t care less what happens to this woman\, and all her talk of God’s justice means nothing to me; but I’m going to give her what she wants because I’m sick to death of her nagging and I just want to get her off my back.’” \nAnd the Lord commented on his story\, saying\, “Do you get the point of what the callous magistrate is saying? If he can be pressured into acting for justice\, can’t you see how much more certain it is that God will bring about justice for those who have dedicated themselves to God and cry out for help night and day. Will God brush them off and ignore their pleas? You can take it from me: God will waste no time in bringing about justice for them. And yet\, will the New Human find much of that sort of persistent faith on earth when he makes his entrance?” \n©2001 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 32: 22-31 \n \n\n \n \n \n As he returned from his self-imposed exile\, Jacob set up camp for a night at the place where the road crossed the Jabbok Creek. During the night\, he got up and decided that it would be safer to shift everyone across to the other side of the creek. So he sent his two wives\, his two maids\, his eleven children\, and all their belongings across the creek while he stayed on alone at the original campsite. There in the darkness\, he suddenly found himself wrestling with a stranger. The fight continued until the first light of dawn. Unable to subdue Jacob\, the stranger swung a low blow that caught Jacob off-guard and dislocated his hip. Still Jacob would not give up\, and the stranger said\, “Call it quits! The sun is coming up and you’ve got a big day ahead of you\, so let me go.” \nBut Jacob replied\, “I will not release my grip until you give me a blessing.” \nSo the stranger said\, “What is your name?” \n“Jacob\,” he replied. \n“Not any more\,” the stranger said. “From now on you will be known as Israel\, because you have struggled against God and against people and you have held your own.” \nThen Jacob said to the stranger\, “Please tell me your name.” \n“Do you really need to ask who I am?” the stranger replied\, and then gave Jacob a blessing. \nAs the stranger departed\, Jacob said to himself\, “I have come face to face with God and survived to tell the tale!” So he named that place ‘Peniel’ which means ‘face of God’. The sun was fully risen as he left Peniel\, walking with a painful limp because of his dislocated hip. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 121 \n \n\n \n \n \n If we look to the mountains\,\nwill we find security there? \nNo\, our security comes from you alone\,\nthe LORD\, the maker of earth and sky. \nYou are on the alert\, twenty four hours a day\,\nmaking sure that we don’t lose our footing. \nYou never slack off or take a nap\,\nbut constantly guard your people. \nYou keep us safe\, LORD\,\nyou are always at our side to shield us. \nWhile the sun shines\, nothing can harm us;\nthe moon comes up\, but still we are safe. \nYou stand between us and all evil\, LORD;\nyou keep our lives clear of danger. \nWhether we are coming or going\,\nyou look after us\, LORD;\nyou always have and always will. \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 your promises are sweeter than honey\nand you bring justice to your people. \nYou created the earth\,\nand raised humans and animals upon it.\nYou led your people by the hand out of slavery\nand yet still they broke your covenant\nand turned away from listening to the truth. \nIn Jesus the Christ\, you came to us again\,\noffering a new covenant\, written on our hearts\,\nso that you might be our God\,\nand we might know you\,\nfrom the least to the greatest.\nWhen he was killed\,\nyou raised him to new life\,\nand through him\, you inspired sacred writings\nto bring us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ\nand to equip us for every good work\,\nas with persistent prayer\nwe seek to build your justice\nand plant your faithfulness on the earth. \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 thank you for your sacred writings\nthat lead us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ\nand to equip us for every good work\nas with persistent prayer\nwe seek to build your justice\nand plant your faithfulness on the earth. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your promises are sweeter than honey\nand you bring justice to your people. \nYou created the earth\,\nand raised humans and animals upon it.\nYou led your people by the hand out of slavery\nand yet still they broke your covenant\nand turned away from listening to the truth. \nIn Jesus the Christ\, you came to us again\,\noffering a new covenant\, written on our hearts\,\nso that you might be our God\,\nand we might know you\,\nfrom the least to the greatest.\nWhen he was killed\,\nyou raised him to new life\,\nand through him\, you inspired sacred writings\nto bring us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ\nand to equip us for every good work\,\nas with persistent prayer\nwe seek to build your justice\nand plant your faithfulness on the earth. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n The Lord comes to us with a new covenant\, saying:\n“I will write my law on your hearts;\nI will forgive your wrongdoing\nand remember your sins no more.” \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 continue in what you have learned and believed.\nPray always\, and do not lose heart.\nProclaim God’s message;\nendure hostility;\ncarry out your ministry fully. \nAnd may God be quick to answer your prayers;\nMay Christ Jesus inspire faith within you;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit tutor your hearts and\nequip you for every good work. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen God tries againA sermon on Jeremiah 31: 31-34 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Puzzle of GraceA sermon on Luke 18:1-8 & Jeremiah 31: 31-34 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Work of an EvangelistA sermon on 2 Timothy 4: 1-5 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSacred Writings and Itchy EarsA sermon on 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5 & Jeremiah 31: 31-34 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat use is the Bible?A sermon on 2 Timothy 3:14-17 & Jeremiah 31: 31-34 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIn the MeantimeA sermon on Jeremiah 31: 27-34; 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5 & Luke 18: 1-8 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp24/2028-10-22/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P24.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281029T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281029T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20221114T005120Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251123T041217Z UID:10001972-1856390400-1856476799@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 25 - 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Joel 2: 23-32 \n \n\n \n \n \n Shout for joy\, you who call the holy city home.\nCelebrate the goodness of the LORD your God.\nThe LORD has done the right thing by you\,\nsending you good rains\, just like in the old days;\nautumn and spring rains right on cue. \nYour silos will bulge with grain.\nYour vats will overflow with wine and olive oil. \nI\, the LORD your God\, will make up for the bad years;\nfor the seasons when locusts destroyed everything in sight.\nI sent them like an invading army\,\nswarming over your land\,\nstripping your crops bare. \nBut now you will have more than you can eat\,\nand will gladly give credit to me\, the LORD your God.\nI have done amazing things for you.\nYou will never be humiliated again. \nYou\, my people\, will know that I am among you\,\nand that I\, the LORD\, am your one and only God.\nYou are my people\,\nand you will never be humiliated again. \nThen\, after that\, I will do even more:\nI will pour out my Spirit on everyone.\nYour sons and your daughters will speak as prophets.\nThe elderly among you will dream dreams\,\nand the young will see visions. \nIn those days\, I will even pour out my Spirit\nupon men and women whose rights no one cares about. \nI will perform miraculous signs in the sky and on the earth\,\nblood\, and fire\, and clouds of smoke. \nThe sun will go black and the moon blood-red\nbefore the dawning\nof my awesome and glorious day. \nAnd everyone who cries out to me will be rescued\,\nfor there will be survivors on my holy mountain\nand in my holy city.\nI\, the LORD\, have promised this\,\nand among the survivors will be the people I have called. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 65 \n \n\n \n \n \n You deserve all the credit we can give you\, O God.\nWe will gather on your holy mountain\nand make good on all we have promised you. \nYou are the one who answers prayers\nand everyone on earth will turn to you.\nWhen we are weighed down by our guilt\,\nyou wipe away the record of our wrongs. \nWhat a privilege it is to be among your chosen ones;\nto be invited to live in your presence.\nEverything we could want is provided\nhere in your sacred temple. \nYou take action in awesome ways\, O God;\nyou step in and rescue us when we call.\nYou are the answer to the hopes of people everywhere\,\nin every land and across the seas. \nYou rolled up your sleeves\nand lifted the mountains into place.\nYou tamed the angry seas\,\nsilencing both roaring waves\nand frenzied crowds. \nFrom one end of the earth to the other\,\neveryone is mind-boggled by what you do.\nDawn and sunset join their voices\nas all the earth shouts for joy. \nYou tend the earth like a garden\,\nenriching the soil and keeping it watered.\nYour rivers never run dry\, God\,\nand the fields you have plowed\nyield a bumper harvest to feed your people. \nYou level the uneven ground\nand nourish the soil;\nyou water it with softening showers\nand set the seeds growing and flourishing. \nThe year is crowned with a bumper harvest\nand everything you touch is bursting with life. \nWilderness fields erupt in flower\,\nmountains and hills pour forth joy;\npaddocks are clothed with healthy flocks\,\nbarren land is ablaze with golden grain. \nAll of them shout for joy;\nall the earth breaks into song. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 2 Timothy 4: 6-8\, 16-18 \n \n\n \n \n \n Timothy\, I am passing the baton on to you now. My time is up. The last few drops of my life are being poured out as a final offering to God. I have given my best in the struggle. I have run the full course that was set before me. I have kept the faith\, no matter how tough the going got. The event has been judged by the Lord\, who always gets it right\, and all that lies ahead of me now is the medal ceremony. On that day\, the Lord will hang the medal around my neck to show that I have made the grade. And there on the podium\, receiving their medals alongside me\, will be everyone else who has eagerly awaited the Lord’s arrival. \nAt my first committal hearing\, there was no one taking my side. Everyone bolted and left me in the lurch. God forgive them! The Lord was there for me though\, standing along side me and giving me strength. That made it possible for me to get the message out; to broadcast it in full for those who had never heard it before. Then\, and countless times since\, the Lord rescued me from the midst of the circling sharks so that I might safely enter the kingdom of heaven. \nAll the glory belongs to the Lord!\nAlways has\, always will!\nAnd so say all of us! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 18: 9-14 \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus told a story to some people who held a very high opinion of their own moral character and a very low opinion of everybody else. He said\, “Two men went into the place of worship to pray. One of them was a member of the devoutly religious Pharisee party\, while the other was working as a debt collector for the Roman occupation forces and so was despised as a traitor. The religious man struck a pose in full view of everybody and prayed out loud\, saying\, ‘God\, I give you thanks that I am not dishonest\, corrupt or perverted like other people. I especially thank you that I am not like that traitor over there. I fast religiously twice a week\, and donate ten percent of all my income to you.’ \n“Meanwhile the traitor fell to his knees in a quiet corner and\, with his face buried in his hands\, prayed\, ‘God\, I know that I have failed you. Please have mercy on me!’” \n“You can take it from me\,” said Jesus\, “that it was this second man rather than the other who was in the good books with God when he headed for home. The fact is that those who big-note themselves will end up with egg all over their faces\, while those who remain down to earth and presume nothing will be promoted by God.” \n©2001 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 Sirach 35: 12-17 \n \n\n \n \n \n The Lord God has shown enormous generosity to you\,\nso be as generous as you can in your offerings to God. \nInvest in the Lord and the returns are guaranteed.\nWhatever you give\, you’ll get back many times over. \nBut don’t ever try to buy God’s favour.\nThe Lord will never accept a bribe or a kick-back. \nThe Lord hands down justice with a perfectly even hand\,\njudging each case fairly and never playing favourites. \nGod is no bleeding heart who always believes the poor\,\nbut anyone who has been wronged will have their case heard. \nThe Lord will never dismiss anyone without a fair hearing.\nEven the most down and out\n– those with no rights\, no family\, and no influence –\nwill have their grievances heard by God. \n©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Jeremiah 14: 7-10\, 19-22 \n \n\n \n \n \n Take on our case\, LORD\,\neven though we are as guilty as hell.\nDefend us for the sake of your own reputation\,\neven though we have a long record of treachery\nand we have done the wrong thing by you. \nYou are known as the hope of our nation\,\nas the one who always saves us.\nDon’t let yourself be seen as a mere blow-in in your own land;\nas an outside observer\, watching on\, but uninvolved. \nWhy should you be seen as a toothless tiger\,\nas an armed soldier who doesn’t know which side he’s on?\nCome on\, LORD\, you have made your base here.\nEveryone associates your name with us.\nDon’t give up on us now! \nWhat you have said about us is all true\, LORD;\nthat we are unfaithful;\nthat we have itchy feet and are always going astray.\nYou have said that you are sick of the sight of us\,\nand that you will not overlook our offences\nor hold back on punishing us as we deserve. \nHave you written us off completely\, LORD?\nDo you now hate and despise us?\nSurely you would never knock us down\nand leave us with no chance to get back on our feet?\nWe look for peace\, but we look in vain.\nWe wait for healing and rebuilding\,\nbut all we hear are threats of terror. \nWe have confessed our crimes\, LORD.\nWe did do the wrong thing by you\,\nand we continued the atrocities of our ancestors. \nDon’t give up on us\, LORD.\nYour reputation is at stake here.\nDon’t give yourself and your authority a bad name\nby breaking the alliance you made with us. \nHow useless are the things other nations put their trust in!\nCan their idols bring even a drop of rain?\nAren’t you the one in charge\, O LORD our God?\nYou are our only hope!\nYou are the one who makes things happen! \n©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 84: 1-7 \n \n\n \n \n \n The place where you live is just exquisite\,\nO LORD\, ruler of all!\nWith everything inside me\, I long to be there;\nI go all weak at the very thought of it.\nI want to be there\, body and soul\,\nsinging my heart out for you\, O God of life. \nEven the birds find a home in your house;\nthere are nests in every nook and cranny\nwhere pigeons and sparrows raise their young.\nBird song and incense rise together\nto honour you\, Sovereign God\, ruler of all.\nHow privileged are those who live in your house;\njoyous songs of praise are forever on their lips. \nThose who have tapped into your strength\nhave got it made.\nThe highway to heaven begins within them;\na direct route to your holy presence. \nThey are like people who can find water in the desert;\nthey drink from life giving springs\nthat no drought can ever dry up.\nThey go from strength to strength\,\nand will see you face to face on your holy mountain. \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 you have dealt wondrously with us\nand saved us for your heavenly kingdom. \nWith awesome power you created the earth\nand everything you touch comes alive;\ngrain abounds and vats overflow with wine and oil.\nYou called a people to be your own\nand you filled them with the plenty of your house. \nIn Jesus the Christ\, your son and our brother\,\nyou proclaimed the vindication\nof those who humbled themselves\,\ncasting themselves on your mercy\nand looking to you for strength to run the race.\nWhen he was crucified by those who would exalt themselves\,\nyou raised him from the dead\,\nand gave him the crown of righteousness.\nThrough him\, you pour out your spirit like rain on all flesh\nand your people bring forth a wonderful harvest\nof visions\, prophesies\, and songs of praise. \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 thank you that you vindicate those who humble themselves\,\nand that you now pour out your spirit like rain on all flesh\nbringing forth in your people a wonderful harvest\nof visions\, prophesies\, and songs of praise. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you have dealt wondrously with us\nand saved us for your heavenly kingdom. \nWith awesome power you created the earth\nand everything you touch comes alive;\ngrain abounds and vats overflow with wine and oil.\nYou called a people to be your own\nand you filled them with the plenty of your house. \nIn Jesus the Christ\, your son and our brother\,\nyou proclaimed the vindication\nof those who humbled themselves\,\ncasting themselves on your mercy\nand looking to you for strength to run the race.\nWhen he was crucified by those who would exalt themselves\,\nyou raised him from the dead\,\nand gave him the crown of righteousness.\nThrough him\, you pour out your spirit like rain on all flesh\nand your people bring forth a wonderful harvest\nof visions\, prophesies\, and songs of praise. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved\,\nfor Christ has promised\nthat those who humble themselves\nand cry out to the Lord for mercy\nwill be justified. \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\, rejoicing in the Lord your God.\nFight the good fight;\nfinish the race;\nkeep the faith. \nAnd may God rescue you from every evil attack;\nMay Christ Jesus reserve for you the crown of righteousness;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit flood you with grace\nand overflow in you with visions and dreams of glory. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nSelf-Esteem for SinnersA sermon on Luke 18: 9-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWounded by GodA sermon on Joel 2. 23-32 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nThe Pharisee\, the Tax Collector and JoelA sermon on Luke 18: 9-14 & Joel 2: 23-32 by Ian Cook\n\n\n\nStand Out RighteousnessA sermon on Luke 18: 9-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCompetitive Entry ScoreA sermon on Luke 18: 9-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThank God I am not like other peopleA sermon on Luke 18: 9-14 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp25/2028-10-29/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P25.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20210527T101457Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251123T041422Z UID:10001968-1856649600-1856735999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:All Saints Day - 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. \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 Daniel 7: 1-3\, 15-18 \n \n\n \n \n \n I\, Daniel\, had some alarming dreams and visions as I lay in bed one night. I got up and wrote them down. This was during the first year of Belshazzar’s reign as king of Babylon. In my first vision that night\, the four winds blew in from the sky and whipped up a great storm at sea. Up out of the stormy sea came four monstrous beasts\, each one different from the others. \nThis vision was deeply disturbing and left me badly shaken\, so I went straight to the nearest aide and asked him to help me to make sense of what it meant. He interpreted the dream for me saying: \n“The four monstrous beasts indicate the rise of four powerful nations that will reign on earth. But nevertheless\, the ones who will reign over God’s earth forever and ever will be the people who have been dedicated solely to the Most High God.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 149 \n \n\n \n \n \n You are the greatest\, LORD! \nWe sing your praises like we’ve never sung before\, LORD\,\nalong with all your faithful people everywhere. \nOur greatest joy is knowing\nthat you made us as your people.\nWith all the children of your holy city\,\nwe celebrate you as our King! \nEvery mention of your name sets us singing and dancing;\nwe strike up the band in your honour. \nFor you\, LORD\, delight in your people;\nyou share the spoils of victory with ordinary folk. \nYour faithful ones revel in your glory\,\nand bask in the sheer joy of praising you. \nPut your words in their mouths\nand your sword in their hands\, God\,\nso that they can bring the nations to justice\nand execute your sentence on every population.\nDeliver every despot and dictator into their hands\nto be tried and sentenced\nand put behind bars where they belong. \nMay all your faithful ones share in this glory\, LORD\,\nfor you are the greatest! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Ephesians 1: 11-23 \n \n\n \n \n \n Now that we are united to Christ\, we have been promised a share of all that belongs to Christ. This is our destiny\, because God chose us and made plans for us from the start\, and when God’s mind is set on something\, you can be sure it will happen. It was always God’s intention that those who put their hope in Christ — and we were among the first — would live lives that were a shining testimony to the glory of Christ. You have been in on this too\, since the moment you heard the truth about Christ\, recognised it to be the message that would save you\, and put your trust him. Then and there\, the Holy Spirit wrote God’s name on you\, marking you out as one of those who have been given a guaranteed place among God’s people when God finally puts everything right. You’ll certainly be a shining testimony to God’s glory then! \nHaving heard of your deep trust in the Lord Jesus and your active love for his people\, I could hardly stop thanking God for you. And I’m praying for you too. I ask the glorious God of our Lord Jesus the Messiah to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will fill you with wisdom and insight as you get to know God. That way you’ll get a clear picture of all that God wants you to see: \n\n\n\nthe promised goal of the mission to which you are called;\nthe extravagant generosity of God’s provision for us;\nand the immense capacity of the dynamic power which is put to work in us when we trust God.\n\n\n\nThis dynamic power is the same energy that God put to work in the Messiah when he raised him from death and enthroned him in heaven. Now the Messiah sits at God’s right hand\, reigning over the entire universe\, and there is not a single authority that can overrule him\, now or ever. Every religious hierarchy and military regime; every legal jurisdiction and people-power movement; every economic imperative and moral principle; God has put them all under the feet of the Messiah. God has decreed that all things will answer to him. The church\, then\, is central to what the Messiah is doing\, for it is his body\, already filled with the presence of the one who is filling each and every part of the entire universe. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 6:20-31 \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus taught his followers\, saying: \n“You who own next to nothing have got it made\,\nbecause you are already at home in the culture of God. \n“You who don’t have enough to eat now have got it made\,\nbecause you will be filled with good things. \n“You who are grief stricken now have got it made\,\nbecause you will be all smiles and laughter. \n“And if people hate you and shut you out\, treat you like dirt and drag your name through the mud because of your association with me\, then you really have got it made! You’re in great company because in every generation they’ve done the same thing to all God’s faithful messengers. So sing! Dance! Celebrate! Heaven is coming and you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams! \n“But the writing is on the wall for you who have got it all now.\nThat’s it for you. You’ve got nothing more to look forward to. \n“And the writing is on the wall for you who consume to excess.\nYou’ve had your share. You’re going to go hungry. \n“The writing is on the wall for you who think it’s all a big joke now.\nThe smile is going to be wiped right off your face. \n“And if everybody is fawning over you and saying how wonderful you are\, then the writing is well and truly on the wall. They come from a long line of people who fawned over every religious charlatan that ever tickled their ears.” \n“If you are ready to hear the truth then I have this to say: Love! Love even your enemies. Treat even those who hate you with love. If anyone mouths off at you or treats you like dirt\, wish them all the best and pray for them. 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. If someone nicks your coat\, just say\, ‘Hey\, if you’re needing that\, you’ll be needing these\,’ and hand over your hat and scarf as well. Give to everyone who asks something of you\, and don’t go hassling people to give back what they’ve got from you. Live generously\, and don’t go keeping score and looking to balance the ledger. \n“If you want to know how to treat someone\, just ask yourself what you’d be hoping for if you were in their shoes. Treat others the way you’d like to be treated\, not just the way you aretreated. \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. \nWe do indeed give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor by your great power you have called us to a rich hope\nand pledged us a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nIn time before dreaming you sent the wind\nto stir up the sea of chaos and bring forth the earth.\nThrough your law and prophets\nyou promised us that your Kingdom would belong forever\nto those who embraced your holiness. \nThrough your son\, Jesus Christ\,\nyou proclaimed a day when the hungry will feast\nand the mourners laugh.\nWhen he was killed on the cross\nyou raised him from the dead\nand seated him at your right hand.\nIn him you give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation\,\nso that we might know that hope to which you have called us\nand embody the fullness of Christ who fills all in all. \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 thank you for calling us with great power to a rich hope\,\nfor promising that your Kingdom would belong forever\nto those who embrace your holiness\,\nand for pledging us a glorious inheritance among the saints. \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 by your great power you have called us to a rich hope\nand pledged us a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nIn time before dreaming you sent the wind\nto stir up the sea of chaos and bring forth the earth.\nThrough your law and prophets\nyou promised us that your Kingdom would belong forever\nto those who embraced your holiness. \nThrough your son\, Jesus Christ\,\nyou proclaimed a day when the hungry will feast\nand the mourners laugh.\nWhen he was killed on the cross\nyou raised him from the dead\nand seated him at your right hand.\nIn him you give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation\,\nso that we might know that hope to which you have called us\nand embody the fullness of Christ who fills all in all. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n The Lord delights in saving those who need help.\nHaving heard and believed the word of truth\n– the gospel of salvation –\nwe have been sealed with the Holy Spirit\nas the pledge of our redemption. \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 with your faith in the Lord Jesus\nand your love open to all God’s people.\nBless those who curse you\,\nlove those who hate you\,\nand treat others as you would wish them to treat you. \nAnd may God give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation;\nMay Christ Jesus count you among his saints for eternity;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit mark you out\nfor fullness of redemption. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nLiving with the SaintsA sermon on Luke 6:20-31 & Ephesians 1:11-23 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nOnly for Saints?A sermon on Luke 6:20-31 & Ephesians 1:11-23 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSaints of God – Living\, Dead\, and …?A sermon on Daniel 7:1-3\, 15-18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11-23 & Luke 6:20-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBut the Saints Shall Receive the KingdomA sermon on Daniel 7:1-3\, 15-18 & Luke 6:20-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSaints of Blessed MemoryA sermon on Ephesians 1:11-23 & Luke 6:20-31 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/c42/2028-11-01/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/42.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20210527T101457Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T000526Z UID:10002726-1856649600-1856735999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:All Saints Day - 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. \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 Daniel 7: 1-3\, 15-18 \n \n\n \n \n \n I\, Daniel\, had some alarming dreams and visions as I lay in bed one night. I got up and wrote them down. This was during the first year of Belshazzar’s reign as king of Babylon. In my first vision that night\, the four winds blew in from the sky and whipped up a great storm at sea. Up out of the stormy sea came four monstrous beasts\, each one different from the others. \nThis vision was deeply disturbing and left me badly shaken\, so I went straight to the nearest aide and asked him to help me to make sense of what it meant. He interpreted the dream for me saying: \n“The four monstrous beasts indicate the rise of four powerful nations that will reign on earth. But nevertheless\, the ones who will reign over God’s earth forever and ever will be the people who have been dedicated solely to the Most High God.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 149 \n \n\n \n \n \n You are the greatest\, LORD! \nWe sing your praises like we’ve never sung before\, LORD\,\nalong with all your faithful people everywhere. \nOur greatest joy is knowing\nthat you made us as your people.\nWith all the children of your holy city\,\nwe celebrate you as our King! \nEvery mention of your name sets us singing and dancing;\nwe strike up the band in your honour. \nFor you\, LORD\, delight in your people;\nyou share the spoils of victory with ordinary folk. \nYour faithful ones revel in your glory\,\nand bask in the sheer joy of praising you. \nPut your words in their mouths\nand your sword in their hands\, God\,\nso that they can bring the nations to justice\nand execute your sentence on every population.\nDeliver every despot and dictator into their hands\nto be tried and sentenced\nand put behind bars where they belong. \nMay all your faithful ones share in this glory\, LORD\,\nfor you are the greatest! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Ephesians 1: 11-23 \n \n\n \n \n \n Now that we are united to Christ\, we have been promised a share of all that belongs to Christ. This is our destiny\, because God chose us and made plans for us from the start\, and when God’s mind is set on something\, you can be sure it will happen. It was always God’s intention that those who put their hope in Christ — and we were among the first — would live lives that were a shining testimony to the glory of Christ. You have been in on this too\, since the moment you heard the truth about Christ\, recognised it to be the message that would save you\, and put your trust him. Then and there\, the Holy Spirit wrote God’s name on you\, marking you out as one of those who have been given a guaranteed place among God’s people when God finally puts everything right. You’ll certainly be a shining testimony to God’s glory then! \nHaving heard of your deep trust in the Lord Jesus and your active love for his people\, I could hardly stop thanking God for you. And I’m praying for you too. I ask the glorious God of our Lord Jesus the Messiah to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will fill you with wisdom and insight as you get to know God. That way you’ll get a clear picture of all that God wants you to see: \n\n\n\nthe promised goal of the mission to which you are called;\nthe extravagant generosity of God’s provision for us;\nand the immense capacity of the dynamic power which is put to work in us when we trust God.\n\n\n\nThis dynamic power is the same energy that God put to work in the Messiah when he raised him from death and enthroned him in heaven. Now the Messiah sits at God’s right hand\, reigning over the entire universe\, and there is not a single authority that can overrule him\, now or ever. Every religious hierarchy and military regime; every legal jurisdiction and people-power movement; every economic imperative and moral principle; God has put them all under the feet of the Messiah. God has decreed that all things will answer to him. The church\, then\, is central to what the Messiah is doing\, for it is his body\, already filled with the presence of the one who is filling each and every part of the entire universe. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 6:20-31 \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus taught his followers\, saying: \n“You who own next to nothing have got it made\,\nbecause you are already at home in the culture of God. \n“You who don’t have enough to eat now have got it made\,\nbecause you will be filled with good things. \n“You who are grief stricken now have got it made\,\nbecause you will be all smiles and laughter. \n“And if people hate you and shut you out\, treat you like dirt and drag your name through the mud because of your association with me\, then you really have got it made! You’re in great company because in every generation they’ve done the same thing to all God’s faithful messengers. So sing! Dance! Celebrate! Heaven is coming and you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams! \n“But the writing is on the wall for you who have got it all now.\nThat’s it for you. You’ve got nothing more to look forward to. \n“And the writing is on the wall for you who consume to excess.\nYou’ve had your share. You’re going to go hungry. \n“The writing is on the wall for you who think it’s all a big joke now.\nThe smile is going to be wiped right off your face. \n“And if everybody is fawning over you and saying how wonderful you are\, then the writing is well and truly on the wall. They come from a long line of people who fawned over every religious charlatan that ever tickled their ears.” \n“If you are ready to hear the truth then I have this to say: Love! Love even your enemies. Treat even those who hate you with love. If anyone mouths off at you or treats you like dirt\, wish them all the best and pray for them. 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. If someone nicks your coat\, just say\, ‘Hey\, if you’re needing that\, you’ll be needing these\,’ and hand over your hat and scarf as well. Give to everyone who asks something of you\, and don’t go hassling people to give back what they’ve got from you. Live generously\, and don’t go keeping score and looking to balance the ledger. \n“If you want to know how to treat someone\, just ask yourself what you’d be hoping for if you were in their shoes. Treat others the way you’d like to be treated\, not just the way you aretreated. \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. \nWe do indeed give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor by your great power you have called us to a rich hope\nand pledged us a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nIn time before dreaming you sent the wind\nto stir up the sea of chaos and bring forth the earth.\nThrough your law and prophets\nyou promised us that your Kingdom would belong forever\nto those who embraced your holiness. \nThrough your son\, Jesus Christ\,\nyou proclaimed a day when the hungry will feast\nand the mourners laugh.\nWhen he was killed on the cross\nyou raised him from the dead\nand seated him at your right hand.\nIn him you give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation\,\nso that we might know that hope to which you have called us\nand embody the fullness of Christ who fills all in all. \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 thank you for calling us with great power to a rich hope\,\nfor promising that your Kingdom would belong forever\nto those who embrace your holiness\,\nand for pledging us a glorious inheritance among the saints. \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 by your great power you have called us to a rich hope\nand pledged us a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nIn time before dreaming you sent the wind\nto stir up the sea of chaos and bring forth the earth.\nThrough your law and prophets\nyou promised us that your Kingdom would belong forever\nto those who embraced your holiness. \nThrough your son\, Jesus Christ\,\nyou proclaimed a day when the hungry will feast\nand the mourners laugh.\nWhen he was killed on the cross\nyou raised him from the dead\nand seated him at your right hand.\nIn him you give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation\,\nso that we might know that hope to which you have called us\nand embody the fullness of Christ who fills all in all. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n The Lord delights in saving those who need help.\nHaving heard and believed the word of truth\n– the gospel of salvation –\nwe have been sealed with the Holy Spirit\nas the pledge of our redemption. \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 with your faith in the Lord Jesus\nand your love open to all God’s people.\nBless those who curse you\,\nlove those who hate you\,\nand treat others as you would wish them to treat you. \nAnd may God give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation;\nMay Christ Jesus count you among his saints for eternity;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit mark you out\nfor fullness of redemption. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nLiving with the SaintsA sermon on Luke 6:20-31 & Ephesians 1:11-23 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nOnly for Saints?A sermon on Luke 6:20-31 & Ephesians 1:11-23 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSaints of God – Living\, Dead\, and …?A sermon on Daniel 7:1-3\, 15-18; Psalm 149; Ephesians 1:11-23 & Luke 6:20-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBut the Saints Shall Receive the KingdomA sermon on Daniel 7:1-3\, 15-18 & Luke 6:20-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSaints of Blessed MemoryA sermon on Ephesians 1:11-23 & Luke 6:20-31 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/c42/2028-11-01/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/42.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281105T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281105T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20221121T044602Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251130T090726Z UID:10001974-1856995200-1857081599@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 26 - 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. \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 Habakkuk 1: 1-4; 2: 1-4 \n \n\n \n \n \n My name is Habakkuk and I am a prophet. I went to God seeking an explanation for the way things are. \nFor crying out loud\, LORD!\nHow long will it be before you listen?\nHow long do I have to scream blue murder\nbefore you come to the rescue? \nWhy do you make me witness so much evil?\nWhy am I forced to see such things?\nEverywhere I look: violence and carnage\,\nfighting and madness on every side. \nLaw and order are out the window.\nJustice is a joke.\nThe corrupt ride roughshod over decent people\,\nand twisted laws protect them as they do. \nSo what have you got to say\, LORD?\nI’m not budging from this spot until you answer.\nI’m going to stand right here\, all eyes and ears\,\nuntil you respond to my complaint. \nThen the LORD answered me\, saying: \nGet the vision down in writing\nin words that everyone can understand\,\nand get it to the publishers on the double. \nThe vision I have made known is still true.\nWhen the time is right\, what it speaks of will happen.\nIt may seem to be taking its time in coming\,\nbut hang in there. It will happen.\nYou can count on it. \nSome people won’t have a bar of it\nbecause they are all spineless fluff;\nbut those who are fair dinkum live by it\nwith enduring courage and integrity. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 119: 137-144 \n \n\n \n \n \n You always do the right thing\, LORD\,\nand your judgments are spot on.  \nYou have set out your instructions for us\,\nmarking the way of honesty and integrity. \nWhen I see opponents ignoring your teachings\,\nI get so angry I could explode. \nYour promises have tested true over and over\nand I will cherish your every word as I serve you. \nI might be a nothing\, a no one\,\nbut I know how to stick to your ways. \nYour commitment to what’s right never ends\nand your law is the essence of truth. \nTough times have come to torment me\,\nbut your teachings still put a smile on my face. \nYour directions are the ultimate in justice;\nthey show me the way to fullness of life. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 2 Thessalonians 1: 1-4\, 11-12 \n \n\n \n \n \n To the church in Thessalonica; a people who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus\, the Messiah. \nThis letter comes to you from the three of us: Paul\, Silvanus\, and Timothy. \nWe greet you as God’s own children and wish you all the best – God’s love and peace given through the Lord Jesus the Messiah. \nSisters and brothers\, we are constantly expressing our thanks to God for you. How could we not?! Your faith is growing in leaps and bounds\, and your love for each other continues to expand and deepen. We have even found ourselves boasting about you when we’ve been visiting God’s people in other churches. We go on and on about how your commitment and faith have remained rock-solid\, despite the campaign of vilification and abuse you have had to endure. \nThrough these tough times we continue to pray that God will enable you to live up to your calling. We pray too that God will be at work among you\, to make sure that every goal you set yourselves in faith and integrity is achieved. In that way\, your lives will be putting the name of our Lord Jesus up in lights. In your union with him\, you will also be sharing the glory because in extravagant generosity\, our God and the Lord Jesus the Messiah always share the glory. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 19: 1-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n The road Jesus was on took him through the town of Jericho. There was a man named Zacchaeus there who was despised as a traitor\, because he had made his fortune working as a debt collector for the Roman occupation forces. He was eager to lay eyes on Jesus\, but so was everyone else and he couldn’t see past the crowd because he was too short. So he nicked up the street a bit and climbed a tree in order to get a good view when Jesus came past. When Jesus got to that point on the road\, he looked up and called out to him\, “Zacchaeus\, come on down. I need you to put me up at your place for the night.”
    Zacchaeus nearly fell out of his tree in his eagerness to welcome Jesus into his home. The onlookers\, though\, were outraged\, and they began to grumble. “This Jesus has lost the plot. He’s gone home with the scum of the earth.” \nZacchaeus stood up and said to Jesus\, “I’m turning over a new leaf\, Lord. I am giving half of everything I own to the poor\, and anybody I have ripped off\, I am repaying four times over.” \nIn reply\, Jesus announced\, “God’s new life has broken out in this house today. Just like his ancestor Abraham\, this man is one of God’s chosen ones. You see\, the New Human has come to search for the lost and rescue them.” \n©2004 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 Isaiah 1: 10-18 \n \n\n \n \n \n During the reigns of Uzziah\, Jotham\, Ahaz\, and Hezekiah as kings of Judah\, the LORD spoke through Isaiah\, the son of Amoz. This is a message Isaiah was given about Judah and Jerusalem. \nListen to what I say\, for I am the LORD.\nYou rulers are no better than the rulers of Sodom!\nYou people are no better than the people of Gomorrah!\nSo take note of what I have to say. \nWhat do I care for all your sacrifices?\nI have had a gutful of them.\nIf I see one more burnt offering\n– be it a ram or a grain-fed calf –\nI think I’m going to puke.\nI can’t stand all this blood you keep offering\nfrom slaughtered bulls\, lambs and goats. \nWhat on earth makes you think\nthat this is the way to please me?\nGet out of my temple and stay out.\nYour gifts are wasted.\nYour incense is nothing but a smokescreen.\nI can’t stand all your sacred days and special gatherings;\nyour pomp and ceremony doesn’t hide your evil ways. \nYou can fill your calendar with special events\nto celebrate this\, that and the other thing\,\nbut I despise them deep in my guts.\nThey have drained my patience;\nI can’t put up with even one more. \nYou can raise your hands to me in prayer\,\nbut I’ll look away;\nYou can pray till you’re blue in the face\nbut I’ll block my ears.\nAll I see on your hands is blood;\nall I hear in your prayers is excuses. \nClean up your act;\nscrub yourselves clean\, inside and out;\ndon’t let me see any more corruption from you.\nQuit your evil\,\nlearn to do the right thing;\nmake justice your goal\,\nprevent the use and abuse of people;\nstand up for the vulnerable\,\ntake sides with the forgotten. \nCome on\, let’s sort this out.\nI am the LORD. Listen to me.\nYour sins are as red as scarlet\,\nbut they will be white as snow;\nthey are crimson like blood\,\nbut they will be like fresh-cut wool. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 32: 1-7 \n \n\n \n \n \n What a blessing it is to be among those you have forgiven\, LORD\,\nthose whose record of wrongdoing you have wiped clean. \nPeople who are honest about their lives\nhave everything going for them;\nthey never have to cover their tracks\nor worry that they’ll be in your bad books. \nI used to keep my sins to myself\, LORD\,\nbut they poisoned me from within;\nwasting my body\,\ntormenting my mind. \nDay and night I felt your eyes following me;\nI lived in fear that you’d see right through me.\nThe joy of living evaporated\nin the burning heat of my guilt. \nThen I decided to come clean with you\, LORD\,\nto own up to all I’d done and stop living a lie.\nI made a full confession to you\, LORD\,\nand you gave me a full pardon\, forgiving all my sin. \nNow\, like all your faithful people\, LORD\,\nI am always ready to open myself to you in prayer.\nWhen trouble breaks its banks\,\nyour faithful ones are on safe ground. \nYou are like a bomb shelter for us\, LORD;\nyou protect us from danger.\nThanks to you\, LORD\, we can still laugh;\nwe can dance around singing songs of freedom. \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 through you\, our faith is growing abundantly\nand our love for one another is increasing. \nAll that exists was established by your decree\,\nand even when wickedness has surrounded your people\nyour vision held firm for the appointed time\nand your righteous people lived by their faith. \nIn Jesus the Christ\,\nyou have come to seek out and save the lost.\nWhen those stunted by sin were drawn to him\nhe offered your gracious welcome and inspired repentance.\nThrough your power\nhe is fulfilling every good resolve and work of faith.\nWhen he was killed in a perversion of justice\,\nyou raised him from the dead\,\nand now you are glorifying him in us\,\nand us in him\,\nand through your grace\nyou are establishing your eternal justice\nin the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We thank you for coming in Jesus Christ\nat the appointed time\,\nto seek out and save the lost\nand to fulfil every good resolve and work of faith. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor through you\, our faith is growing abundantly\nand our love for one another is increasing. \nAll that exists was established by your decree\,\nand even when wickedness has surrounded your people\nyour vision held firm for the appointed time\nand your righteous people lived by their faith. \nIn Jesus the Christ\,\nyou have come to seek out and save the lost.\nWhen those stunted by sin were drawn to him\nhe offered your gracious welcome and inspired repentance.\nThrough your power\nhe is fulfilling every good resolve and work of faith.\nWhen he was killed in a perversion of justice\,\nyou raised him from the dead\,\nand now you are glorifying him in us\,\nand us in him\,\nand through your grace\nyou are establishing your eternal justice\nin the reign of our Lord 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©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n Christ came to seek out and to save the lost\nand by grace he makes us worthy of his call.\nMade righteous in him by faith\, we will live. \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 live by faith.\nPatiently trust in God’s promised future;\nlive by God’s teachings\,\nand let your love for one another increase. \nAnd may God give you grace and peace;\nMay Christ Jesus make you worthy of his call;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit fulfil in you\nevery good resolve and work of faith. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2004 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\nFor crying out loud\, Lord!A sermon on Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGood News for the RichA sermon on Luke 19:1-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGrowing in Faith and LoveA sermon on 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4\, 11-12 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSalvation Comes CallingA sermon on Luke 19:1-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Problem of Being LittleA sermon on Luke 19:1-10 by Ian Cook\n\n\n\nThe Scandal of the Scared Little Rich GuyA sermon on Luke 19:1-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Just Shall Live By FaithA sermon on Habakkuk 2:4 by Geoff Leslie URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp26/2028-11-05/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P26.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281112T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281112T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20221128T021744Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251207T094836Z UID:10001976-1857600000-1857686399@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 27 - 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. \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 Haggai 1:15b - 2:9 \n \n\n \n \n \n On the twenty-first day of the seventh month\, during the second year of the reign of Darius as king of Persia\, the LORD sent the prophet Haggai with a message for the remaining people in Judah\, and especially for their governor\, Zerubbabel\, and their high priest\, Joshua. This is what the message said: \nHow many of you can remember what this temple was like when it stood here in all its glory? How does what you see here now compare? Pathetic\, isn’t it? It needn’t stay that way though. \nFire up\, Zerubbabel\, and get to work. \nFire up\, Joshua. You are the high priest. Get to work. \nFire up\, all you people of the land\, and get to work. \nGet to work\, because I\, the LORD who rules over everything\, will be with you\, just as I promised I would be when you escaped from the land of slavery. My life-breath is among you and within you\, so you have nothing to fear. \nI\, the LORD who rules over everything\, promise you this. Very soon I will again shake up the earth and sky\, the oceans and the dry land. I will turn the nations upside down and shake out their treasures so that this temple will be full of splendour. All the world’s silver and all the world’s gold belong to me\, the LORD who rules over everything. This temple is going to end up more spectacular than it ever was. From this place I will enrich all people. I\, the LORD who rules over everything\, have given my word. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 145: 1-5\, 17-21 \n \n\n \n \n \n We will declare you to be the greatest\, God our king\,\nand put your name up in lights forever. \nEvery day\, without fail\, we will sing your praises\,\nwe will honour your name now and forever. \nYou are wonderful\, LORD; you deserve the highest praise\,\nand your greatness is more than we can comprehend. \nEach generation tells the next what you have done\,\nand speaks with awe about your accomplishments. \nWe will fill our minds with your splendour and glory\,\nand with the stories of your amazing exploits. \nJustice marks everything you do\, LORD\,\nand generous love colours your every deed. \nWhen honest hearts cry out to you\, LORD\,\nyou are right there alongside them. \nYou satisfy the desires of those who respect you;\nyou hear their cries and rescue them from death. \nYou watch out for those who love you\, LORD\,\nand wipe out corruption when it threatens. \nYour praises will be always on our lips\, LORD\,\nand with all who live\,\nwe will single out your name for the highest honour\nforever and ever. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Psalm 98 \n \n\n \n \n \n We sing like we’ve never sung before\, LORD\,\nbecause you have done fantastic things.\nWith your sleeves rolled up you got stuck in\nand came out on top. \nYour victory has made the headlines\, LORD\,\nnow the whole world can see that you were right all along. \nYou have never defaulted on your rock-solid love\,\nor your loyalty to your chosen people.\nFrom one end of the earth to the other\,\neveryone has seen your victory. \nWith all the world\, LORD\, we raise a noisy celebration\,\nsinging our lungs out and shouting your praise. \nThe bands strike up in your honour\, LORD\,\nfilling the air with festive music.\nWith a brass fanfare and a dancing beat\nwe loudly celebrate your reign over us. \nThe whole creation joins in the celebration:\nthe ocean and its creatures roar their approval;\nthe land and its animals\, cheer and stomp;\nrivers and lakes give a standing ovation\,\nmountains and hills erupt in applause. \nWe put on the whole show in your presence\, LORD\,\ncelebrating your arrival as you finally bring justice.\nWith you in charge we know things will be put right;\nnow every one on earth will get a fair go. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-5\, 13-17 \n \n\n \n \n \n Sisters and brothers\, on the subject of the day our Lord Jesus Christ finally comes and we are gathered together to be with him\, let me speak as plainly as I can. Whatever you do\, don’t go getting all jumpy about this. Don’t start flipping out because someone says that the day of the Lord has already been and gone; even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision or heard it from some authority\, or even read it in a letter from us. There are plenty of hoaxes and con-jobs about these things. Don’t fall for them. \nThere are some things that have to happen before that day comes. There will be a great turning against God\, and the appearance of the one who is a law unto himself. He personifies all that is destined for hell. Arrogant and charismatic\, he will set himself up in opposition to all other religions and faiths\, and demand that everyone give their ultimate allegiance and devotion to him alone. He will claim the place of God and promote himself as the supreme being. You remember these things\, don’t you? I explained them all to you when I was still there with you. \nYou are greatly loved by God\, sisters and brothers\, and we can’t stop thanking God for you. From the very beginning\, God chose you and set out to save you. Through our preaching of the message\, God called you and you accepted the truth. Your trust enabled God’s Spirit to begin the reconstruction of your lives that will prepare you to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then\, sisters and brothers\, anchor yourselves firmly to the truth. Hang on tight to the traditions we taught you\, both in person and in our letter. \nNow may Jesus Christ and God who conceived us in love and in extravagant generosity gave us gifts of encouragement and hope which never end\, give you real guts and strength in all you do and say for the cause of good. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 20: 27-38 \n \n\n \n \n \n The Saducees were a religious group whose teachings denied the belief that God will raise the dead to life. Some of their members approached Jesus with a question: \n“Teacher\, Moses left instructions about the family responsibilities of a man whose brother dies leaving a wife but no children. The man is to marry his brother’s widow and their first child will be counted as the offspring of his brother. Now give us your opinion about this case. The first of seven brothers married a woman\, but he died childless. The second brother fulfilled his responsibility to marry her\, but he also died childless. The same thing kept happening until all seven brothers were dead and still there was no child. Finally\, the woman also died. Now you say that the dead will be raised to life. If so\, whose wife will she be then since all seven had been married to her?” \nJesus answered their question\, saying: \n“Here and now\, people make a big deal about pairing up and starting families. But for those who are accepted into the life that lies beyond death\, such things will be superfluous. They will no more start families again than die again\, because they will be gathered into the great family of God and have no need of anything more. And if you really want to know whether the dead are raised to life\, you can take the word of Moses for it. In his account of the burning bush\, he addressed the Lord as the God of Abraham\, the God of Isaac\, and the God of Jacob. Obviously he does not mean that God is the God of corpses. Moses knew that to God\, all of them were alive\, for God is the God of the living.” \n©2004 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 Job 19: 23-27a \n \n\n \n \n \n If only my words of protest could outlive me! \nIf only they could be published somewhere;\nengraved on a plaque in a public place\,\nor chiselled in giant letters on the rock! \nI know that I have a guardian somewhere\nwho will stand up for me in the end and prove my innocence;\nalbeit when I’m rotting in my grave. \nBut I would see God now\, before I die.\nI would look God in the eye myself\,\nrather than have another stand on my behalf. \nI knot up inside just thinking about it! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 17: 1-9 \n \n\n \n \n \n Give me a fair hearing\, LORD;\npay attention to my plea.\nListen to what I have to say\,\nfor I speak without a word of a lie. \nI want you to be the one who declares me innocent\,\nfor you always see things as they really are. \nPut me under the microscope and see what I’m made of;\nmake a snap inspection anytime\, day or night.\nCross examine me as thoroughly as you wish;\nthere are no skeletons in my closet;\nI’ve got nothing to hide\nand no tracks to cover. \nI don’t just conform to what others do\, LORD;\nI take my cues from what you’ve said.\nI have avoided straying down the path of violence\,\nand kept my feet firmly on the tracks you’ve shown. \nI am calling to you\, God\,\nbecause I know you will help.\nTune in to what I have to say\nand hear me out. \nPut your rock-solid love on display for all to see.\nYou are the one who rescues and shelters\nthose who seek asylum from violent persecution. \nTreasure me and keep me safe;\ntuck me safely under your wings;\nhide me from those who are out to get me\,\nfrom the predators who hunt me down. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you chose us as the first fruits for salvation\nto share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. \nIn the first of your wonderful deeds\nyou created the heavens and earth\, sea and land\,\nand every age proclaims your love and justice.\nWhen your people faced ruin and discouragement\,\nyour prophets spoke your word of promise\nand the splendour of your worship was revived. \nThrough your Son and our Lord\, Jesus Christ\,\nyour good news was proclaimed\nand we were called from death to life.\nWhen he was killed by those who oppose you\,\nyou raised him to new life and through him\,\nyou are making us children of the resurrection\nand sanctifying us by your Spirit\nso that when he comes again\nwe might all be gathered together to him\,\nnever to die again. \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 thank you for choosing us in Jesus Christ\nas the first fruits for salvation\,\nmaking us children of the resurrection\nso that we might all be gathered together to him\,\nnever to die again. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you chose us as the first fruits for salvation\nto share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. \nIn the first of your wonderful deeds\nyou created the heavens and earth\, sea and land\,\nand every age proclaims your love and justice.\nWhen your people faced ruin and discouragement\,\nyour prophets spoke your word of promise\nand the splendour of your worship was revived. \nThrough your Son and our Lord\, Jesus Christ\,\nyour good news was proclaimed\nand we were called from death to life.\nWhen he was killed by those who oppose you\,\nyou raised him to new life and through him\,\nyou are making us children of the resurrection\nand sanctifying us by your Spirit\nso that when he comes again\nwe might all be gathered together to him\,\nnever to die again. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n The Lord is near to all who call\,\nall who cry out from their hearts.\nGod hears their cry and saves them. \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 with courage\, for God is with you.\nDo not let anyone deceive you\nbut hold fast to the traditions of the Apostles\nand put your trust in the God of the living. \nAnd may our Lord Jesus Christ\nand God our Father\, who loved us\nand through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope\,\ncomfort your hearts through the Holy Spirit\nand strengthen them in every good work and word. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nReclaiming DoubtA sermon on Luke 20:27-38\, 45-47 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCourage for the discouragedA sermon on Haggai 1:15b – 2:9 & 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5\, 13-17 by Andrew Woff\n\n\n\nNot of the DeadA sermon on Luke 20:27-38 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCompost\, First Fruits\, and the Whole HarvestA sermon on Haggai 1:15b – 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 & Luke 20:27-38 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nOff the Scale AlivenessA sermon on Luke 20:27-38 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAncient Marriage and Modern QuestionsA sermon on Luke 20:27-38 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\n‘Being like angels’: Glimpsing the life of the resurrectionA sermon on Luke 20:27-38 by Lina Toth URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp27/2028-11-12/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P27.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281119T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281119T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20221204T112933Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251214T032917Z UID:10001980-1858204800-1858291199@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 28 - 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Isaiah 65: 17-25 \n \n\n \n \n \n I\, the LORD\, am on the verge of making\nthe heavens and the earth brand new again.\nThe traumas of the past will be long forgotten\,\nfading from memory. \nKick up your heels and start the party!\nCelebrate what I’m bringing into existence.\nI’m creating Jerusalem as a place of joy\,\na place full of happy peaceful people. \nJerusalem will be my pride and joy.\nIts people will be my greatest delight.\nCries of fear will no longer be heard there.\nThe sounds of grieving will be gone for good. \nNever again will there be babies who die young\,\nor adults who don’t live to a ripe old age.\nIf anyone dies at a hundred\,\npeople will say they were cut down in their prime.\nIf they fall short of a hundred\,\nit will seem like some horrible curse. \nThey will live secure in the houses they have worked for.\nThey will enjoy the fruits of their own labours. \nNever again will anyone build a house\,\nonly to have the bank confiscate it.\nNever again will anyone sweat and toil\nonly to see the profit go to someone else. \nMy people will live long and sturdy like the great trees.\nMy chosen people will love their work and enjoy its fruits. \nTheir work will not be wasted.\nTheir children will not be doomed.\nI\, the LORD\, will see that their children flourish\,\nand that all will be well for their children’s children. \nBefore their prayers pass their lips\, I will answer.\nI’ll tune in before they’ve opened their mouths. \nThe dingo and the lamb will feed side by side.\nThe crocodile will go vegetarian.\nSnakes will bite nothing but the dust!\nThere will be no killing or maiming on my holy mountain;\nI\, the LORD\, have given my word! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Canticle: Isaiah 12 \n \n\n \n \n \n Thank you! Thank you! Thank you\, LORD!\nYour anger was roused against us\,\nbut you set it aside and comforted us instead. \nYou alone\, LORD\, are able to set us free\,\nso we put our trust in you\, and have nothing to fear.\nAll our strength and power come from you\, LORD GOD\,\nyou have become our hero\, our saviour! \nYou will put your saving love on tap\,\ndeep draughts to be enjoyed by everyone.\nOn that day we will all say to one another\,\n“Thank the LORD! Let God’s name be on everyone’s lips!” \nWe will tell the world what you have done\,\nwe will shout your name and declare you to be number one.\nWe will sing your praises because of all you have accomplished\,\nand give you the glory all over the earth.\nWith all the citizens of Zion\, we lift our voices to you\nwith shouts and laughter and songs of celebration\,\nfor you are the ultimate\, the greatest\, the Holy One\,\nand you live among us\, your people! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n My dear friends\, let me stand on the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ and spell out what you should do: sever ties with any members of the church who are bludging off the rest of you\, and not pulling their weight the way we taught you. We set the pace when we were with you\, as you well know\, so keep it up. We did not slack off and we didn’t sponge off anyone’s hospitality. We worked our guts out and paid our own way so that we would not be a drain on you at all. This was not because we he had no fair claim on your support; we clearly did. But it was more important to us to set an example for you to follow. You remember the rule we all operated by when we were with you: If you don’t work you don’t eat. But now we are hearing reports that some of you have become bludgers who don’t lift a finger unless it’s to pry into someone else’s business. Well\, since we all share in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ\, let me lay down the law to these people — and you know who you are. Pull your finger out and put your shoulder to the wheel. Take your fair share of the workload without making a big deal of it and you’ll have earned your keep. Brothers and sisters\, don’t ever run out of steam for doing what is right. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 21: 5-19 \n \n\n \n \n \n Some people were talking about the temple and waxing lyrical about what a spectacular building it was with its ornate stonework and all the beautiful fixtures which had been donated and dedicated to God. Jesus spoke up\, saying\, “The days are coming when everything you see here will be flattened. There will be nothing left of these great stones but a heap of rubble.” \n“Can you tell us when these things are going to happen?” they asked\, “and what warning sign we should watch for? What will tip us off that it is about to happen?” \nJesus replied\, “Be on your guard. Don’t fall for all the doomsday madness. There will be no shortage of people bobbing up and saying\, ‘Follow me! I’m the One!’ or ‘The world is about to end!’ Don’t even begin to take them seriously. Every time there’s a new war or a flare-up in some trouble-spot\, the fanatics will crank up the speculation again. Keep your cool. These things will happen\, but they are not an indication that the end is close. Nations will set out to destroy each other. There will be ethnic conflicts and civil wars. There will be horrendous natural disasters. In many places people will face starvation and there will be terrible outbreaks of disease. There will be terrifying signs\, as though the sky itself was going to fall in. \n“But before all this happens\, the world will turn against you. You will be harassed\, arrested and locked up in detention centres because of your association with me. You will be dragged before the religious authorities\, the civil magistrates\, and even the political leaders. These hearings will give you an opportunity to speak out for the truth. Make up your minds now not to worry about it in advance. Don’t bother trying to plan what you will say in the witness box. When the time comes\, I will give you the words. I will give you such wisdom that all the lawyers seeking to undo you will be left floundering\, lost for words. \n“Even those closest to you may end up betraying you. Some of you will be dobbed in by members of your own family or close relatives and friends. People everywhere will despise you because of your association with me\, and some of you will be killed. Nevertheless there is not even a hair on your head that is not safe in my care. By toughing it out you will gain your souls.” \n©2004 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 Malachi 4: 1-2a \n \n\n \n \n \n Hear what the LORD who rules over everything has to say: \nTake note\, the day is coming\,\nraging towards you like a bushfire.\nThose who are arrogant and corrupt\nwill go up like tinder-dry grass.\nThe day that comes will incinerate them\nwithout leaving a trace. \nBut for you who love me and bring honour to my name\,\nthe day of peace and integrity will dawn.\nThe sun will shine on you warmly\nwith gentle healing rays. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 98 \n \n\n \n \n \n We sing like we’ve never sung before\, LORD\,\nbecause you have done fantastic things.\nWith your sleeves rolled up you got stuck in\nand came out on top. \nYour victory has made the headlines\, LORD\,\nnow the whole world can see that you were right all along. \nYou have never defaulted on your rock-solid love\,\nor your loyalty to your chosen people.\nFrom one end of the earth to the other\,\neveryone has seen your victory. \nWith all the world\, LORD\, we raise a noisy celebration\,\nsinging our lungs out and shouting your praise. \nThe bands strike up in your honour\, LORD\,\nfilling the air with festive music.\nWith a brass fanfare and a dancing beat\nwe loudly celebrate your reign over us. \nThe whole creation joins in the celebration:\nthe ocean and its creatures roar their approval;\nthe land and its animals\, cheer and stomp;\nrivers and lakes give a standing ovation\,\nmountains and hills erupt in applause. \nWe put on the whole show in your presence\, LORD\,\ncelebrating your arrival as you finally bring justice.\nWith you in charge we know things will be put right;\nnow every one on earth will get a fair go. \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 you invite us to draw deeply from your well of salvation. \nYou created heaven and earth as the first of your works\nand chose a people to be your delight.\nThough we marred your creation\nwith war and insurrection\,\nyou have given us a vision of a day beyond the terrors:\na day when the sound of weeping will give way to delight\,\nwhen all creation will live in peace\nand people will long enjoy the fruits of their labours. \nIn your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nyou have begun the re-creation of all things.\nWhen he was betrayed by friends\,\narrested\, persecuted\,\nand put to death\,\nyou raised him to new life\nand through him\, you strengthen us\nso that we might not grow weary in doing what is right\nbut through endurance\, gain our souls. \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 thank you that in your Son\, Jesus Christ\,\nyou have begun the re-creation of all things\,\nand that through him you strengthen us\nso that we might not weary in doing what is right\nbut through endurance gain our souls. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you invite us to draw deeply from your well of salvation. \nYou created heaven and earth as the first of your works\nand chose a people to be your delight.\nThough we marred your creation\nwith war and insurrection\,\nyou have given us a vision of a day beyond the terrors:\na day when the sound of weeping will give way to delight\,\nwhen all creation will live in peace\nand people will long enjoy the fruits of their labours. \nIn your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nyou have begun the re-creation of all things.\nWhen he was betrayed by friends\,\narrested\, persecuted\,\nand put to death\,\nyou raised him to new life\nand through him\, you strengthen us\nso that we might not grow weary in doing what is right\nbut through endurance\, gain our souls. \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 Before we call\, the Lord answers\,\nwhile we are still speaking\, our saviour hears.\nGod has promised that our sins will not be remembered\nnor come to mind again. \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 tell the world what God does.\nDo not chase after self-proclaimed messiahs\,\nbut draw deeply from God’s saving well\nand speak the words the Spirit gives you.\nDo not be weary in doing what is right. \nAnd may God delight in you and give you strength;\nMay Christ Jesus lead you in the ways of new life;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit give you the words and wisdom\nto withstand all that would tear you down. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nTemples Will FallA sermon on Luke 21:5-19 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen You Hear of WarsA sermon on Luke 21:5-19 & Isaiah 65: 17-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nDon’t Panic! But Don’t Be Complacent!A sermon on Luke 21:5-19 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen You Hear of Wars and InsurrectionsA sermon on Luke 21:5-19 & Isaiah 65: 17-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nEverything Will FallA sermon on Luke 21:5-19 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp28/2028-11-19/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P28.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281126T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281126T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20210601T015406Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T043532Z UID:10001981-1858809600-1858895999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:Proper 29 - Christ the King - 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. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Jeremiah 23: 1-6 \n \n\n \n \n \n This is what the LORD\, the God of Israel\, says: \nThe writing is on the wall for you leaders of my people. You are supposed to be like shepherds\, keeping an eye on my flock and seeing that they are kept united and safe. But you have butchered them and scattered them. You have driven them off and left them defenceless. But I can assure you that I\, the LORD\, have been keeping my eye on you! I will see that you get what you deserve for your crimes against my people. \nI will bring back what’s left of my people; bring them home from the lands where I sent them when they fled as refugees. Back home where they belong\, they will regain their strength and flourish once again. I\, the LORD\, will raise up new leaders for them who can be trusted to care for them like real shepherds. My people will no longer have any reason to fear or despair\, and none of them will be lost. \nYou can be sure that the time is coming when I\, the LORD\,\nwill raise up a true king from the family of David;\none who will rule with wisdom and do the right thing;\nwho will bring justice to the land and set things right. \nAs long as he reigns the land will be secure\nand my people will enjoy peace.\nWhenever his name is mentioned\, people will say\,\n“Ah! The LORD has put everything right!” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Canticle: Luke 1: 68-79 \n \n\n \n \n \n We sing your praises\, Lord God of Israel\,\nbecause you have smiled upon us and put things right for us. \nFrom the family of your servant David\nyou have called forth a hero with the power to save us.\nYou promised this years ago\, in the preaching of your prophets.\nYou said you would break us loose from the grip of our enemies\nand from the traps of those who had it in for us. \nYou have been true to your word\nand honoured the agreement you made with our ancestors.\nWay way back\, you swore to Abraham and Sarah\nthat you would snatch us clear of enemy hands\nand give us the opportunity to serve you openly\,\nwithout having to watch our backs;\nto dedicate ourselves totally to you\nand to doing what is right for the rest of our lives. \nAnd now you have given us this child.\nHe will be known as a prophet of the great God.\nHe will go ahead of the coming Lord\,\ngetting everything prepared.\nHe will let your people know that you offer salvation\nand make it clear that their sins are forgiven. \nOur God\, your tender and patient love\nwill dawn on us and light up the world for us.\nEven in the darkest hours\, in the blackest hell-holes of our world\,\nyour love will break through and illuminate the way of peace. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Colossians 1: 11-20 \n \n\n \n \n \n We are praying that your strength will be built up as you draw on God’s awesome resources\, and that you will have the mental and emotional toughness to survive anything; not just to survive\, in fact\, but to keep on celebrating the good things you have received from God. You have much to be thankful for because\, like a proud father\, God has left a generous inheritance to the children of the light\, and you’ve been written in for a share of it. We became children of the light when God broke the grip of the darkness that had overwhelmed us and placed us instead in the loving hands of Christ. All that we have ever done wrong has been forgiven and we have been put back where we belong\, in the realm of God’s beloved Son. \nJesus Christ is the spitting image\nof the God we cannot see.\nChrist is the genuine original;\nthe blueprint for all creation. \nEverything else that exists had its origin in Christ:\nphysical things and spiritual things;\nvisible things and invisible things;\nthings that govern the universe;\nthings that regulate our lives;\nforces\, powers and energies.\nAbsolutely everything that exists\nwas founded in Christ\nand has its purpose in Christ. \nChrist preceded everything else\,\nand Christ is the glue that holds everything else together. \nChrist is to the church\nas the head is to the body.\nLife itself began with Christ\nand new life – born from the dead – began with Christ too.\nChrist was\, is\, and will be Number One in everything. \nGod was fully present in Christ\, and gladly so;\nreconciling everything in creation with its creator;\nbearing the cost personally in the blood shed on the cross\,\nto restore the peace between heaven and earth. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 23: 33-43 \n \n\n \n \n \n They took Jesus out to the place called Skull Hill where the executions were carried out\, and strung him up on a cross by driving nails through his flesh. They executed a couple of convicted criminals in the same way on crosses on each side of him. As he hung there\, Jesus prayed out loud\, saying\, “Father\, forgive these people. They’ve got no idea what they are doing.” \nThe executioners divided up his clothes among themselves\, tossing a coin to see who should get what. The people stood around staring\, but the community leaders were hurling insults and ridicule at him and making a huge joke of it\, saying\, “He reckoned he could save everyone else. Let’s see him get himself out of this if he’s really the Messiah\, God’s chosen one!” \nThe soldiers were sticking the boots in too\, offering him drinks of wine that had turned to vinegar\, and saying\, “Come on. If you’re the king of the Jews\, pull rank and get yourself out of this trouble!” \nThey also hung a sign above his head saying\, “This is the King of the Jews.” \nOne of the criminals who was strung up alongside him joined in the insults\, shouting\, “What sort of Messiah are you?! Get your act together and save yourself\, and save us while you’re at it!” \nBut the other criminal pulled his mate up short\, saying\, “Put a sock in it! Don’t you care what God could do to us? We are about to meet our maker\, the same as he is\, but you and I have done the crime and we are copping what we had coming. There was no miscarriage of justice over us. But what has this bloke ever done wrong? Nothing!” And then he said\, “Jesus\, remember me when you come to take charge of everything.” \nJesus replied\, “You have my word for it; today you will join me in Paradise.” \n©2001 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 Jeremiah 23: 1-6 \n \n\n \n \n \n This is what the LORD\, the God of Israel\, says: \nThe writing is on the wall for you leaders of my people. You are supposed to be like shepherds\, keeping an eye on my flock and seeing that they are kept united and safe. But you have butchered them and scattered them. You have driven them off and left them defenceless. But I can assure you that I\, the LORD\, have been keeping my eye on you! I will see that you get what you deserve for your crimes against my people. \nI will bring back what’s left of my people; bring them home from the lands where I sent them when they fled as refugees. Back home where they belong\, they will regain their strength and flourish once again. I\, the LORD\, will raise up new leaders for them who can be trusted to care for them like real shepherds. My people will no longer have any reason to fear or despair\, and none of them will be lost. \nYou can be sure that the time is coming when I\, the LORD\,\nwill raise up a true king from the family of David;\none who will rule with wisdom and do the right thing;\nwho will bring justice to the land and set things right. \nAs long as he reigns the land will be secure\nand my people will enjoy peace.\nWhenever his name is mentioned\, people will say\,\n“Ah! The LORD has put everything right!” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 46 \n \n\n \n \n \n Our refuge\, our shelter\, our fortress\, our security;\nyou are all these things to us\, God.\nYou are always there for us when we need you. \nBecause of you\, we will not panic\neven if our world comes crashing down around our ears;\neven if the earth splits open beneath us;\neven if chaos pours in like a raging flood;\neven if life as we know it goes up in smoke. \nYou are the LORD of cosmic power — the God of our ancestors —\nour safety\, our refuge. \nA river flowing with life-giving water runs through your holy city\nbringing joy and peace to your sacred home.\nYou are the most high God\, and the city where you live\nwill rest secure and greet the new day with confidence. \nThe world may be in chaos\, nations tearing apart at the seams\,\nbut when you speak\, the earth sinks to its knees. \nYou are the LORD of cosmic power — the God of our ancestors —\nour safety\, our refuge. \nWhat you have done is a sight for sore eyes\, LORD;\nyou have left a trail of destruction across the earth:\nweapons of war crushed and burned;\nimplements of fear smashed to pieces;\nconflicts and wars closed down for good. \nYou call us to a peaceful calm\nand invite us to know you as God.\nYou stand supreme above the nations\,\nunmatched in all the earth. \nYou are the LORD of cosmic power — the God of our ancestors —\nour safety\, our refuge. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you are the King of the Universe\nand you reign with justice and righteousness. \nYou created all things in heaven and on earth\,\nand through your holy prophets in ages past\nyou promised to save us from enemy hands\nand free us from corrupt and negligent rulers. \nOut of your deepest mercy\nyou have come to us in fullness in Jesus the Christ\,\nyour anointed One who rules wisely\,\nshepherding your people and setting them free.\nThough he is your visible image\,\nhe was crucified as a criminal.\nYou raised him as the firstborn from the dead\,\nand through him you are reconciling all things to yourself.\nNow you are reaching out to all who honour you\nand recognise your chosen one in the agony of death\,\nand welcoming them into the Paradise of your presence. \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 you thanks\, King of the Universe\,\nfor you have come to us in fullness in Jesus Christ\,\nyour anointed One who shepherds your people\,\nsetting them free and reigning with justice and righteousness. \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 you are the King of the Universe\nand you reign with justice and righteousness. \nYou created all things in heaven and on earth\,\nand through your holy prophets in ages past\nyou promised to save us from enemy hands\nand free us from corrupt and negligent rulers. \nOut of your deepest mercy\nyou have come to us in fullness in Jesus the Christ\,\nyour anointed One who rules wisely\,\nshepherding your people and setting them free.\nThough he is your visible image\,\nhe was crucified as a criminal.\nYou raised him as the firstborn from the dead\,\nand through him you are reconciling all things to yourself.\nNow you are reaching out to all who honour you\nand recognise your chosen one in the agony of death\,\nand welcoming them into the Paradise of your presence. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n In deepest mercy\,\nGod has rescued us from the power of darkness\nand transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son\,\nin whom we have redemption\, the forgiveness of sins. \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\, joyfully giving thanks to the one true King.\nPrepare a pathway for the Lord;\nendure everything with patience\,\nand teach people of salvation\nthrough the forgiveness of sins. \nAnd may God gather you into safety;\nMay Christ Jesus strengthen you with glorious power;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit guide your feet on the way of peace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nCan Christ be King if we become a Republic?A sermon on Colossians 1:11-20 & Luke 23:33-43 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCultural ImperialismA sermon on Colossians 1:11-20 & Luke 23:33-43 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nShepherds\, Kings\, and a Divided ChurchA sermon on Jeremiah 23:1-6; Colossians 1:11-20 & Luke 23:33-43 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFailed KingsA sermon on Colossians 1:11-20 & Luke 23:33-43 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp29/2028-11-26/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P29.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281203T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281203T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20221218T110815Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251228T010548Z UID:10001983-1859414400-1859500799@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:1st Sunday of Advent - 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 Isaiah 2: 1-5 \n \n\n \n \n \n This is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was given to me\, Isaiah: \nThe days are coming\nwhen the mountain on which the LORD’s temple stands\nwill be the greatest mountain of all\,\nIt will tower above every other peak and hill\,\nand all the world’s nations\nwill come rushing to it like a flood. \nPeople everywhere will say: \n“Come\, let’s go and climb the LORD’s mountain;\nlet us worship in the temple of the God of Jacob.\nThere the LORD will teach us how to live right\nso that we can get our lives on track.” \nThe holy mountain will be the place of enlightenment.\nIn the holy city\, the LORD’s truth will be made known. \nThe LORD will settle all disputes between nations\,\nand sort out their competing claims.\nThey will turn weapons into welcome signs\nand bombs into tools and toys.\nNever again will nations take up arms against one another;\nnever again will young people be trained for war. \nCome now\, all you people of God\,\nlet us stick to the tracks where the LORD’s light shines! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 122 \n \n\n \n \n \n When they invited us to your house\, LORD\,\nour hearts leapt for joy! \nAnd now\, here we are\,\nstanding inside the gates of your holy city. \nJerusalem\, your sacred home;\nthe place where city and temple are one. \nAll your tribes gather here\, LORD;\nall your people come up here to celebrate.\nThey name you as the one to whom all thanks is due\,\njust as your people have always done. \nThe seats of law and justice are here\,\nsafeguarded by David’s throne. \nWe pray for peace for Jerusalem;\nmay all go well for those who love your city. \nFill the city with peace and joy\, LORD\,\nand stand guard to keep it secure. \nFor the love of sisters and brothers in Jerusalem\,\nwe pray for the welfare of the city. \nFor the love of your house\, LORD God\,\nwe will work for peace in the holy land. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Romans 13: 11-14 \n \n\n \n \n \n You\, of course\, understand the significance of the times we are living in. It is time to wipe the sleep out of your eyes; to be on your feet\, fully alert. Salvation is at hand. It has been approaching ever since we first put our trust in God\, and it is now drawing near. The night is almost gone; the new day is about to dawn. So let’s make sure that we get rid of any old ways of living that belong to the darkness of our past. Let us live our lives in such a way that we’ll be able to hold our heads high when the broad light of day shows up everything for what it really is. Avoid the desperate pursuit of pleasure with its common pitfalls of substance abuse\, sexual sleaze\, hostile belligerence\, and crippling jealousy. Instead\, take on the persona of our Lord Jesus the Messiah and don’t give any encouragement to the selfish desires that clamour for your attention and seek to hijack your life. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 24: 36-44 \n \n\n \n \n \n Speaking in private with his followers\, Jesus said: \n“Time has almost reached its goal\, but exactly when that day and hour will come\, nobody knows. The angels of heaven don’t know and not even the Son knows. The Conceiver of everything is the only one who knows. What I can tell you is this: things will be much the same when the New Human arrives as they were in Noah’s day. Before the flood burst upon them\, people were going about their business as though everything was normal\, right up until the day that Noah went aboard his boat. They didn’t suspect a thing until the flood hit and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the New Human hits the scene. Two mates will be working shoulder to shoulder; one will be taken and one will be left behind. Two women will be working on the one bench; one will be taken and one will be left behind. So keep your eyes open and your ears pricked\, because you have no way of knowing which day will see your Lord arrive. Think about it. No one would ever let their houses get burgled if the house-breakers worked set hours and made appointments. You have got to be on the ready all the time\, because you have no way of knowing when the New Human is going to show up.” \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 the night is nearly gone\,\nand your light is dawning in the darkness. \nYou created the earth and its inhabitants\,\nand when the flood came in the days of Noah\,\nyou saved a people and called them to walk in your light.\nThough the day and hour cannot be known\,\nthrough your prophets\, you have given us\nvisions of our approaching salvation. \nIn your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nyou have called all peoples to yourself\nand taught us your ways.\nWhen he was killed\,\nyou raised him to new life\nand promised a day when he will come\nat an unexpected hour\nto gather up your faithful ones\nand bring them home to your house\,\nso that the weapons and works of darkness\nmight be discarded\nand all might be securely clothed in Christ Jesus himself. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We thank you that though the day and hour cannot be known\,\nyou have given us visions of our approaching salvation\,\nwhen Christ will gather your faithful ones\nand bring them home to your holy mountain. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor the night is nearly gone\,\nand your light is dawning in the darkness. \nYou created the earth and its inhabitants\,\nand when the flood came in the days of Noah\,\nyou saved a people and called them to walk in your light.\nThough the day and hour cannot be known\,\nthrough your prophets\, you have given us\nvisions of our approaching salvation. \nIn your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nyou have called all peoples to yourself\nand taught us your ways.\nWhen he was killed\,\nyou raised him to new life\nand promised a day when he will come\nat an unexpected hour\nto gather up your faithful ones\nand bring them home to your house\,\nso that the weapons and works of darkness\nmight be discarded\nand all might be securely clothed in Christ Jesus himself. \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©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.\nThe night is far gone\, the day is near.\nGod comes to us in mercy and love. \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 walk in the light of the Lord.\nStay alert for the Lord is near.\nPut on the armour of light\nand live openly and honourably.\nPray for peace for all God’s people. \nAnd may God clothe you in the light of Christ;\nMay Christ Jesus teach you his ways;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit keep you alert and prepared\nfor the coming day of the Lord. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nPrepare! How?A sermon on Isaiah 2:1-5\, Romans 13:11-14 & Matthew 24:36-44 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWake Up To Yourselves!A sermon on Romans 13: 11-14 and Isaiah 2: 1-5 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhere is it all Heading?A sermon on Matthew 24:36-44 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAim To Be Left Behind A sermon on Matthew 24:36-44 & Romans 13:11-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Future – what should we know? An Advent sermon by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJesus Comes to Disrupt and to LiberateA sermon on Isaiah 2:1-5\, Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14 & Matthew 24:36-44 by Scott Cowdell\n\n\n\nThe Burglar ComesA sermon on Matthew 24:36-44 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/a01/2028-12-03/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Advent1a.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281210T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281210T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20221226T002316Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260104T011806Z UID:10001985-1860019200-1860105599@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:2nd Sunday of Advent - 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 Isaiah 11: 1-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n Like a green shoot sprouting from the stump of a tree\,\nthe family of David will again produce a king. \nThe Spirit of the LORD will be with him\,\ngiving him wisdom and insight\,\nmaking him strong and perceptive\,\nfilling him with knowledge and respect for God. \nShowing due respect for the LORD\nwill be the new king’s greatest delight. \nHe will not judge by appearances\,\nnor act on the basis of rumour.\nHe will do the right thing by the poor\nand be fair to those who can’t fight for themselves.\nHis words will strike like lightning\,\nand wipe out evil and corruption. \nHis reputation will be built\non honesty\, loyalty and a passion for doing right. \nIn his day\, the dingo and the lamb will play together;\nthe hawk and the pigeon will share a nest;\nthe crocodile and the wallaby will eat together\,\nand a little child will lead them around like pets. \nFoxes and chooks will forage together;\ntheir cubs and chickens will snuggle up to sleep;\nand sharks will go vegetarian. \nA gurgling baby will play with a Tiger snake;\ntoddlers will stick their hands into bee hives unharmed. \nThere will be no killing or maiming on the LORD’s holy mountain.\nJust as water fills the oceans\,\nso will the earth be full of people\nwho know and love the LORD. \nWhen that day comes\, the revival of David’s line will be like a flag and all the world’s people’s will gather around it. All nations will look to the one king for guidance and he will live and reign in splendour and glory. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 72: 1-7\, 18-19 \n \n\n \n \n \n Send us a wise ruler\, O God\,\none who takes after you in justice and honesty;\none who does the right thing by everybody\,\nand is vigilant in ensuring justice for the poor;\none who will stand up for the disadvantaged\,\nprovide a way out of the poverty trap\,\nand stomp on those who exploit the vulnerable. \nThen the whole land will know prosperity and integrity;\nthe mountains\, the valleys\, the hills\, the plains. \nSend us a wise ruler\, O God\,\nwho will outlive the sun and moon\,\nwho will rule forever\, generation after generation. \nMay your chosen one give life to the land\nlike the spring rains in the wheat country.\nMay the people yield a bumper crop of honesty\,\nand may peace be as dependable\nas the southern cross in the night sky. \nMore power to you\, LORD\, God of our land;\nonly you can do such incredible things. \nMay the mere mention of your name\ninspire praise from everyone\, forever.\nMay the whole earth be full of your glory.\nToo right! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Romans 15: 4-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n The writings that we have received from times past were written to teach us what we need to know. The unchanging and inspiring message of the scriptures fills us with courage and hope. I pray that God — rock-solid and inspirational — will unite you and enable you to get along with one another\, showing each other the same sort of trust and respect that Christ Jesus shows to everyone. That sort of peaceful shared life will ring out a message\, as clear as a bell\, giving all the glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. So welcome and accept one another as openly as Christ has welcomed and accepted you\, and may all the credit go to God! \nYou can be sure of this: Christ accepted both insiders and outsiders. It is true that he came to serve the people of Israel\, who had always had inside access to the truth of God\, so as to make good on the promises made to their ancestors. But it is also true that he came so that the outsiders might encounter the mercy of God and get into the swing of giving credit and thanks to God too. The scriptures spoke of it in these words: \n“I will speak the truth about you among the outsiders\,\nI will sing your praises and honour your name.” \nIn another place it is written: \n“You outsiders\, come and celebrate with God’s people.” \nSimilarly\, another piece of scripture says: \n“All you outsiders\, sing the praises of God;\nlet all peoples everywhere honour the Lord.” \nAnd the prophet Isaiah wrote: \n“The root of David’s family will sprout again\,\nproducing the one who will give the outsiders hope;\nthe one who will rule over all people everywhere.” \nI pray that God\, the hope-giver\, will see to it that your faith produces a flood of joy and peace that fills your lives and spills over into an unshakeable confidence energised by the Holy Spirit. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 3: 1-12 \n \n\n \n \n \n While Jesus was living at home in Galilee\, John the baptiser showed up in the Judean desert preaching to the people. This was the guts of his message: “Turn your lives around\, for the culture of heaven is close at hand.” \nThe prophet Isaiah had spoken about John when he said\, \n“In the desert a voice is shouting: \n‘The Lord is coming!\nGet the road ready.\nClear the track\, straighten it out for him.’” \nJohn was dressed in rough clothes made of camel hair and animal skins. He lived on bush tucker – grasshoppers and wild honey. People came flocking to John from Jerusalem\, from all the rural districts of Judea\, and from up and down the Jordan valley. They owned up to their toxic ways and were baptised by John in the Jordan River. \nBut when John saw that members of the religious groups known as the Pharisees and the Sadducees were coming to him for baptism\, he bellowed\, “You slippery bunch of snakes! What makes you think that running down here for a quick bath will get you off scot free when the judgment comes? You’ve got to walk the walk. Show by your actions that you’ve turned your lives around as you say you have. And don’t presume you’ve got the inside running just because you can trace your family tree back to Abraham. I’m telling you straight\, descendants of Abraham are thick on the ground and\, at the snap of a finger\, God could turn these rocks into a few more. Family trees count for nothing. It is what sort of fruit the tree bears that matters. If the fruit is rubbish\, an axe is ready to cut the tree off at the ground and toss it on the fire.” \n“I’m only baptising you with water. After me comes the One who is way out of my league – I’d be honoured just to carry his boots. It won’t be just water that he’ll be immersing you in. He’ll baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He’s ready to start with his flame thrower in hand. He’ll release an uncontrollable fire into the dry bushland of your lives\, completely incinerating the rubbish and germinating the good seeds that lie in wait for that day.” \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 your reign draws near\nwith the promise of justice\, peace and security for all. \nYou created the earth and its inhabitants\,\nand through the voice of the prophets crying in the desert\,\nyou called us to prepare the way for your coming.\nThrough the scriptures\,\nyou spoke words of steadfastness and encouragement\,\nfilling us with hope in your visions of peace. \nYou came to us in your child\, Jesus\n— the new branch growing from the stump of Jesse’s line —\nand baptised us with Holy Spirit and fire.\nThough he was killed\, you raised him to life\,\nand clothed him in righteousness and faithfulness\nso that as his reign dawns\,\njustice may sprout on the earth\,\npeace outlast the moon\,\nand the knowledge of your wonderful grace\nwash over the earth as the waters cover the sea. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We give you thanks for your words of steadfastness and encouragement\,\nthat fill us with hope for the day\nwhen justice will sprout on the earth\,\npeace outlast the moon\,\nand the knowledge of your wonderful grace\nwash over the earth as the waters cover the sea. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your reign draws near\nwith the promise of justice\, peace and security for all. \nYou created the earth and its inhabitants\,\nand through the voice of the prophets crying in the desert\,\nyou called us to prepare the way for your coming.\nThrough the scriptures\,\nyou spoke words of steadfastness and encouragement\,\nfilling us with hope in your visions of peace. \nYou came to us in your child\, Jesus\n— the new branch growing from the stump of Jesse’s line —\nand baptised us with Holy Spirit and fire.\nThough he was killed\, you raised him to life\,\nand clothed him in righteousness and faithfulness\nso that as his reign dawns\,\njustice may sprout on the earth\,\npeace outlast the moon\,\nand the knowledge of your wonderful grace\nwash over the earth as the waters cover the sea. \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©2004 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 become a servant of all\nso that we might glorify God for his mercy.\nAll who repent\, confessing their sins\,\nare baptised in the love and mercy of God. \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 prepare the way of the Lord.\nWelcome one another as Christ has welcomed you\,\nand bear fruits worthy of repentance. \nAnd may God grant you harmony with one another;\nMay Christ Jesus fill you with joy and peace in believing;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit empower you and fill you with hope. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nIs it for Real?A sermon on Isaiah 11:1-10 & Matthew 3:1-12 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat wine do you serve with locusts?A sermon on Matthew 3:1-12 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Handle on HopeA sermon on Romans 15:4-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThat you may Abound in HopeA sermon on Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13 & Matthew 3:1-12 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Axe and the StumpA sermon on Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13 & Matthew 3:1-12 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nHope: defiant and celebratoryA sermon on Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13 & Matthew 3:1-12 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGetting a Handle on HopeA sermon on Romans 15:4-13 & Matthew 3:1-12 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/a02/2028-12-10/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Advent2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281217T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281217T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20230101T115746Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260111T034638Z UID:10001987-1860624000-1860710399@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:3rd Sunday of Advent - 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 Isaiah 35: 1-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n The parched and dusty land will celebrate;\nthe thirsty desert will be festive with flowers;\nblazing colours – orchid and desert pea –\nsongs of joy as new life bursts forth. \nThe desert will be as rich as the Barrier Reef\,\nas majestic as Kakadu\, as lush as the Daintree.\nThe glory of the LORD will be on display;\nthe splendour and magnificence of our God. \nAre your hands trembling? Be strong!\nAre your knees knocking? Stand firm! \nEncourage those who are fearing the worst;\ntell them not to give in to their fears but to hang in there.\nAssure them that God is at hand;\ncoming to pay back oppressors what they deserve;\ncoming to rescue you\, to set you free! \nWhat a day that will be!\nEyes long blind will open to colour and light!\nEars long deaf will hear music and laughter!\nLegs long paralysed will dance like brolgas!\nTongues long tied will sing like lyrebirds! \nFor reviving rains will fall on dry dusty land\,\nand rivers will flow in the desert.\nHard-baked salt pans will become inland lakes\,\nand cool water will gush up between scorching rocks.\nWater birds will flock where only dingoes roamed\,\nand soft fruits will grow where only mulga survived. \nThere will be a new highway\nknown as ‘The One and Only True Way”.\nThe corrupt will not be allowed access\,\nfor only God’s people may travel it;\nand on this road\, no one – not even a complete moron –\ncould ever lose their way. \nThere will be no hidden dangers along the road;\nno snakes lying in wait at the side.\nNothing threatening will be found there\,\nso those God has put right may walk in safety. \nThose who the LORD has bailed out will come home;\nthey will sing as they travel to God’s sacred mountain.\nThe smiles will never leave their faces again;\nlaughter and contentment will be theirs to keep\,\nand misery and despair will be made redundant. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 146: 5-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n 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 OR Luke 1: 47-55 \n \n\n \n \n \n We turn the spotlight on your greatness\, God!\nWe dance with wholehearted joy over you\, our saviour!\nYou smiled upon us\, though we were nothing special\,\nand the memory of your generosity will last forever.\nYou have done wonderful and powerful things for us.\nThere is no other name in the same league as yours. \nIn every generation\, Lord\, you shower mercy\nto those who treat you with respect.\nYou have rolled up your sleeves in a show of strength\,\nand sent packing those who were so full of themselves. \nYou kicked the power mongers out of office\,\nand lifted the downtrodden back to their feet.\nYou put on a feast for those who are hungry\,\nand slam the door on the rich without giving them a bite. \nYou give a helping hand to your servant Israel\,\nand always remember them with tender care.\nThis is exactly what you promised long ago\, Lord\,\nwhen you made a vow to Abraham and Sarah\nfor every generation.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n James 5: 7-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n My friends\, be patient as you wait for the Lord to return. Be as patient as the farmers. Farmers sow their crops and then have to wait patiently\, hoping for good seasonal rains\, because the harvest that pays their bills ripens in its own good time. There is nothing they can do to hurry it up. You can’t hurry the Lord up either\, so be patient. Stay focussed though\, and condition yourselves\, because the arrival of the Lord is not far off. \nMy friends\, don’t go whinging and putting each other down. If you do\, you’ll find yourselves having to answer for it. The judge could reopen the case against you at any moment. \nTake as your role models the prophets who brought us God’s message in the past. They really suffered for their stand\, but they hung in there\, never giving up\, and their patience paid off. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 11: 2-11 \n \n\n \n \n \n John the baptiser was being held in a detention centre when news reached him about what the Messiah was doing. When some of his followers visited him\, he sent them to Jesus with a question: “Are you the One everybody has been waiting for\, or are we still waiting for someone else?” \nJesus answered: \n“Go and tell John what you’ve witnessed. The blind are given their sight. The paralysed are up and walking. People with hideous diseases are cured. The deaf can hear. The dead are raised. And the poor are hearing news worth celebrating. How good it will be for those who realise what I’m up to and don’t get their noses out of joint over it.” \nWhen the messengers were on their way back to John with their report\, Jesus started to talk to the crowd about John: \n“When you went out to the desert to see John\, what were you expecting? A populist swayed by the winds of public opinion? No way! What then? A silvertail dressed up to the nines? No\, you’d hang out in the lobby of some exclusive resort if you wanted to see them. So what were you looking for? A prophet? Now we’re talking! And not just any prophet\, either. This is the one of whom scripture said: \n“Take note: I am sending my messenger ahead of you\nto blaze the trail for your arrival. \nI kid you not: there has never been a person born who could hold a candle to John the baptiser\, and yet the most insignificant nobody in the culture of heaven is greater than John.” \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 your mercy embraces the faithful\,\none generation to the next. \nYou are the creator of heaven\, earth and the teeming seas.\nYou promised mercy to our ancestors\nand sent prophets as an example of suffering and patience\nto prepare the Holy Way before you. \nIn Jesus the Christ we saw your promises take flesh\nas the blind saw the light\,\nthe deaf heard the music\,\nand the lame danced with joy.\nWhen he was killed\, you raised him to life\nand through him your good news still comes to the poor\nlike springs of water to thirsty ground\,\nuplifting the downtrodden\nand filling the hungry from the richness of your table. \nAnd so with thankful hearts we patiently wait\,\nknowing that the day is near\nwhen all the earth will see the fullness of your glory. \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 you that the promises made to our ancestors\nhave taken flesh in Jesus Christ\nwho brings your good news to the poor\nlike springs of water to thirsty ground\,\nuplifting the downtrodden\nand filling the hungry from the richness of your table. \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 mercy embraces the faithful\,\none generation to the next. \nYou are the creator of heaven\, earth and the teeming seas.\nYou promised mercy to our ancestors\nand sent prophets as an example of suffering and patience\nto prepare the Holy Way before you. \nIn Jesus the Christ we saw your promises take flesh\nas the blind saw the light\,\nthe deaf heard the music\,\nand the lame danced with joy.\nWhen he was killed\, you raised him to life\nand through him your good news still comes to the poor\nlike springs of water to thirsty ground\,\nuplifting the downtrodden\nand filling the hungry from the richness of your table. \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 Hear the good news for those who are fearful of heart:\n"Be strong\, do not fear!\nyour God is here\, coming to save you.”\nGod’s promise of mercy is for you. \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\, with good news for the poor\nand prepare the way for the Lord.\nWait patiently.\nDo not grumble against one another\,\nbut encourage one another.\nBe strong and do not fear. \nAnd may God come quickly to save you;\nMay Christ Jesus give you everlasting joy and gladness;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit strengthen your hearts\nand lead you on God’s holy way. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nStill Waiting\, LordA sermon on Isaiah 35:1-10\, James 5:7-10 & Matthew 11: 2-11 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFaith\, Hope and StumblingA sermon on Matthew 11: 2-11 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAre You the One?A sermon on Matthew 11: 2-11 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat Are We Waiting For?A sermon on Matthew 11:2-11 & Luke 1:47-55 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGo Tell JohnA sermon on Isaiah 35:1-10 & Matthew 11: 2-11 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJoyA sermon on Isaiah 35:1-10 by Jennie Clarke URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/a03/2028-12-17/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Advent3.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281224T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281224T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20230115T232108Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260118T100731Z UID:10001991-1861228800-1861315199@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:4th Sunday of Advent - 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 Isaiah 7: 10-16 \n \n\n \n \n \n The LORD sent word to King Ahaz of Judah\, saying: \nI\, the LORD your God\, will give you a sign so that you can be sure that it is really me who is sending you this promise of safety. What sign do you want? Something dramatic\, deep the earth or high in the sky? You name it\, and I’ll do it. \nBut Ahaz refused\, saying\, “I will ask no such thing. Far be it from me to demand guarantees from the LORD.” So Isaiah the prophet spoke on behalf of the LORD\, saying: \nThen get this into your head\, you who rule from David’s throne. Haven’t you made enough people sick and tired of your weak-as-water religious posturing? Do you have to try it on with God as well?! Well\, the Lord is going to go ahead and give you a sign anyway. Check this out: there is a girl who is pregnant. She will give birth to a baby boy and he will be given the name Emmanuel\, which means ‘God is with us.’ Before he is old enough to choose between right and wrong\, he will be eating foods that you can’t even get hold of in the present crisis. Yes\, even before he is old enough to take responsibility for his own behaviour\, the threat of war will have passed. The two countries whose armies are terrorising you will have disappeared without a trace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 80: 1-7\, 17-19 \n \n\n \n \n \n God\, you are the one who watches over your people\nlike a lifeguard supervising a dangerous beach\,\nwatching from a high seat\, like a king enthroned.\nListen to our prayer and clearly flag the boundaries\,\nso that your tribes will no longer get out of their depth. \nUp and at it\, God!\nCome equipped to rescue us.\nCome and smile on us again\, God;\nsave us and revive us with your kiss of life. \nLORD God\, you rule over everything;\nhow much longer will you keep us in the sin bin\,\nturning away in anger when we pray? \nYou reduced our rations to tears alone;\ntears by the plate full\, tears by the cup full.\nYou made us the laughing stock of our enemies\nand even our neighbours turn up their noses. \nCome and smile on us again\, God;\nsave us and revive us with your kiss of life. \nTake our side again\, your wayward favourite child\,\nthe one you raised by hand to be your own.\nWe will never go off the rails again;\nsave us now and your name will be on our lips forever. \nLORD God\, you rule over everything;\nCome and smile on us again;\nsave us and revive us with your kiss of life. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Romans 1: 1-7 \n \n\n \n \n \n This letter comes to you from me\, Paul\, a labourer in the service of Jesus Christ. I was called to be one of his special ambassadors and assigned to the task of broadcasting the wonderful message of God’s love in Christ. This message did not come out of the blue; you only have to read the writings of the prophets in the sacred scriptures to know that God had been promising it for some time. The message centres on God’s Son who was born into a family of King David’s descendants — a weak human like us — and who was declared to be the Son of God by being raised from the dead to new life — a powerful Spirit like the Holy One. I speak of course\, of Jesus\, the Messiah and our Lord. It is through him that we have come to be on the receiving end of God’s extravagant generosity. It is also through him that we have been made ambassadors with the special assignment of bringing the outsiders into a new relationship with God based on trust and obedience. Jesus the Christ gets all the credit for this\, and you\, of course\, were among those who have responded to the call to hand yourselves over to him in this way. \nSo this letter comes to you — God’s much loved people in the city of Rome — who have been called to dedicate yourselves wholly and solely to God. \nI greet you as God’s own children and wish you all the best — God’s love and peace given through the Lord Jesus the Messiah. \n©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 1: 18-25 \n \n\n \n \n \n This is the story surrounding the birth of Jesus the Messiah. His mother\, Mary\, was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph who was a descendant of King David. But before they had lived together\, Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant. It was the Holy Spirit who had made her pregnant\, but Joseph didn’t know that. Joseph was a staunch ‘respectability and law-and-order’ man\, but he still didn’t want to see Mary publicly disgraced\, so he made plans to break off the engagement on the quiet. But just when he had sorted this out in his head\, a messenger from the Lord spoke to him in a dream saying:\n“Joseph\, hold your nerve and go ahead and get married to Mary\, because the child in her womb was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a baby boy and you are to treat him as your own. Give him the name Jesus\, because he will live up to its meaning by saving his people from their toxic ways.” \nAs these events took place\, they shed new light on the words that the Lord had spoken through the prophet: \n“Check this out:\na virgin will fall pregnant and give birth to a son\,\nand people will speak of him as Emmanuel.” \n‘Emmanuel’ is a Hebrew name meaning ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph woke up after his dream\, he followed the instructions from the Lord’s messenger to the letter. He went ahead and married Mary\, but they remained celibate until after the baby was born. As instructed\, Joseph named the boy Jesus. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you rest your hand upon us\,\ncalling us to be your holy saints and giving us life again. \nBefore time began\, your Holy Spirit brooded over the chaos\nand brought the earth and its inhabitants to birth.\nThrough your prophets speaking in the holy scriptures\nyou promised us a child\nborn as a sign of your saving presence with us. \nYour promise has taken flesh in your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nwho was born of the line of David.\nWhen he was killed by your enemies\,\nyour Spirit brought him forth again\nby resurrection from the dead.\nThrough him the light of your presence has been restored\nand we have been called into the obedience of faith\nthat we might belong to Jesus Christ forever\,\nliving by the hope conceived in us by the Holy Spirit. \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 you thanks that through Christ\nthe light of your presence has been restored\nand we have been called into the obedience of faith\nthat we might live by the hope conceived in us by the Holy Spirit. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you rest your hand upon us\,\ncalling us to be your holy saints and giving us life again. \nBefore time began\, your Holy Spirit brooded over the chaos\nand brought the earth and its inhabitants to birth.\nThrough your prophets speaking in the holy scriptures\nyou promised us a child\nborn as a sign of your saving presence with us. \nYour promise has taken flesh in your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nwho was born of the line of David.\nWhen he was killed by your enemies\,\nyour Spirit brought him forth again\nby resurrection from the dead.\nThrough him the light of your presence has been restored\nand we have been called into the obedience of faith\nthat we might belong to Jesus Christ forever\,\nliving by the hope conceived in us by the Holy Spirit. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n Through Jesus Christ we have received grace:\nthe light of God’s presence is restored to us\nand we are saved. \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 live by the hope conceived within you.\nRefuse evil and choose good.\nCall on the name of the Lord.\nWalk with God in faithful obedience\,\nand do not fear public disgrace. \nAnd may God be with you;\nMay Christ Jesus save you from your sins;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit restore to you the light of God’s presence. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nSpeaking of pregnant virgins\, did you hear the one…A drama/sermon on Matthew 1: 18-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat are you really made of?A sermon on Matthew 1: 18-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nExpect the UnexpectedA sermon on Romans 1:1-7 & Matthew 1: 18-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nTarnished GoodsA sermon on Matthew 1: 18-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGod’s Suspect Sexual HistoryA sermon on Matthew 1: 18-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat if it was God?A sermon on Matthew 1: 18-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhy the Virgin Birth is not the Biggest ShockA sermon on Matthew 1: 18-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBlood on the sand and God with usA sermon on by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/a04/2028-12-24/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Advent4.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20281225T000000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20281225T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20220904T230756Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T004203Z UID:10002093-1861315200-1861401599@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:The Feast of the Nativity (Christmas Eve/Day) DESCRIPTION:The Revised Common Lectionary provides three sets of readings for the Feast of the Nativity\, and  calls them Proper I\, Proper II\, and Proper III. Some church will use different ones for different services. Some will use one set each year. Others might use readings from all three sets in an extended service of lessons and carols. \n\n\n\nBelow you will find the three sets\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases and prayers. Below the third set you will find a list of sermons for the day. \n\n\n\nProper I\n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Isaiah 9: 2-7 \n \n\n \n \n \n The people who lived in a dark cloud of gloom\nhave seen a great light break through;\nthose in the blackest hell-holes\nhave seen their whole world light up. \nLORD\, you have built up the nation\,\nand given them every reason to celebrate.\nThe people revel in it all\,\nlike farmers when a drought breaks;\nlike children opening presents. \nFinally they are out from under the thumb\nof those who oppressed them.\nYou have broken their chains\nand run the slave drivers out of town\,\njust as you did in days long ago. \nThere will be a huge bonfire\nto burn everything left by the occupation forces\,\ntheir blood-stained uniforms and cruel boots\nwill go up in flames. \nFor see! A child has been born for us;\nthe gift of a son who will take charge of everything.\nHe will be given all these titles:\nMost Excellent Advisor;\nSupreme God;\nFather Forever\,\nPrince of Peace. \nThe reach of his arm will just keep growing\,\nand his realm will know peace without limit. \nHe will inherit all that David ruled\,\nand bring stability and security.\nDoing what is just and right\nwill be the hallmarks of his reign\nfrom now on and for all time. \nThe LORD’s heart is set on this;\nThe LORD who rules over everything will see that it happens. \n©2000 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;\n    singing to you with all the earth.\n        Every mention of your name sets us singing your praises. \nWe never tire of telling the story of how you bailed us out;\n    all over the world\, we speak of your incredible accomplishments;\n        everyone we meet hears us giving the credit to you. \nYou are the greatest\, LORD; we can’t praise you enough!\n    When it comes to gods\, you are in a league of your own;\n        all other objects of devotion are powerless. \nBut you\, LORD\, created the whole cosmos;\n    you are surrounded by majesty and celebration;\n        strength and beauty are signs of your presence. \nPeople of every race and creed recognise you\, LORD;\n    they recognise you behind all that is strong and true;\n    they name you as the one who deserves all the glory. \nWe offer ourselves to you\, LORD;\n    we fall to our knees in this beautiful place of worship;\n        with all the earth\, we celebrate you alone. \nYou are our king\, LORD; we’ll tell everyone everywhere!\n    You have set the world on firm foundations\,\n        and with you in charge\, everyone will get a fair go. \nLet the heavens and the earth celebrate;\n    let the roar of the sea join in;\n        let everything that walks\, flies or swims join the party! \nYou are on your way\, LORD\,\n    and even the roadside trees cheer as you approach\,\n        for you are coming to set things right on the earth. \nYou will sort things out and put things right\,\n    and reveal the truth about everything and everyone. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Titus 2: 11-14 \n \n\n \n \n \n     God’s extravagant generosity is now out in the open for everyone to see. No one is left out - God has come to save everyone and everything! There are some solid lessons in this for all of us - we are being trained in how to turn our backs on crass and indulgent lifestyles\, and how to get our lives back under control and on track\, to realign ourselves with God and rebuild our integrity. All this is for the here and now. As much as we are eagerly waiting for the day when all God’s promises are fulfilled\, when the full glory of our great God and Saviour\, Jesus Christ\, is writ large for all to see\, there’s no reason not to get on with living it right now! After all\, it was him who paid the ultimate price to bail us out of the degradation we’d sunk into. He didn’t stop at getting us out either\, he personally went to work\, decontaminating us and transforming us into a people he’s proud to be identified with\, a people who enthusiastically throw themselves into doing good. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 2: 1-14\, (15-20) \n \n\n \n \n \n Many years ago\, the Roman Emperor Augustus gave orders for a census to be conducted throughout the whole empire. This was the first time it had been done while Quirinius was governor of Syria. Every man was required to go and register himself and his family in the town where he had been born. For Joseph\, this meant travelling all the way from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea. Bethlehem had been the home town of King David\, and Joseph\, being a descendent of David\, had been born there too\, so that was where he had to report. Joseph’s fiancée\, Mary\, travelled with him to Bethlehem for the census. She was pregnant and the baby was due any day. There was no accommodation left anywhere in the town\, so they ended up sleeping rough in the stables behind a pub. Sure enough\, she went into labour while they were there and gave birth to her first child – a baby boy. Mary wrapped the baby in a bunny rug and made up a bed for him in a feed trough.\nThe region around Bethlehem was sheep country\, and that night there was a bunch of shearers spinning yarns around their campfire. Suddenly the whole sky lit up with the glory of God\, and the Lord’s messenger stood among them. They were packing death\, but the messenger said to them\, “It’s okay! There’s no need to panic. I’m here with good news\, news that will give everyone everywhere good reason to celebrate. A saviour has just been born in David’s town. He is God’s chosen one\, the Lord of all. Go and see for yourselves. You’ll know you’ve found him when you see a baby wrapped in a bunny rug and lying in a feed trough!”\nThe moment he’d finished speaking\, the messenger was joined by a whole crowd from heaven\, all praising God and shouting at the tops of their voices\, saying: \n“All the glory belongs to God in heaven\,\nand let there be peace on earth for all God’s people!” \n    Then it was all over – the crowd went back to heaven and the shearers were left sitting there looking at one another\, gob-smacked. “We’d better go and check this out\,” they said. “Let’s go into town and see if we can see what’s happened\, what the Lord has let us in on.”\nSo without messing around they headed straight into Bethlehem\, and sure enough\, they tracked down Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the feed trough. When they saw all this\, they began telling everyone what they had heard about this child. People could hardly believe their ears when they heard what the shearers were saying. But their words were precious to Mary and she repeated them over and over in her mind\, wondering what would become of it all. The shearers headed off towards their camp again – a rowdy mob\, singing and shouting in the streets about how fabulous God was because of everything they had seen and heard. Everything had been just the way they had been told it would be. \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\,\nand to offer a new song of praise\,\nsinging: “Glory to you in the highest heaven\nand on earth peace among all you favour.” \nYou are the God who made the heavens\,\nthe Lord\, whose majestic light now shines\non those who walked in darkness.\nYour grace appears bringing salvation to all;\nyour child is given to us\, the firstborn of Mary\,\nand the heavenly host sings his praise. \nThough born in exile at the Emperor’s command\nand delivered over to death\,\nhe will rise to break the rod of oppression.\nThough clothed this night in bands of cloth\,\nhe will burn the blood stained clothes of war.\nThough laid this night in a manger\,\nhe will be seated on the throne of endless peace\nto rule with justice and righteousness\nfrom this time onward and forevermore. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2004 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 It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your grace appears bringing salvation to all;\nyour Son is given to us\, the firstborn of Mary.\nThough laid this night in a manger\,\nhe will be seated on the throne of endless peace\nto rule with justice and righteousness\nfrom this time onward and forevermore. \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\,\nand offer to you a new song of praise\,\nsinging: “Glory to you in the highest heaven\nand on earth peace among all you favour.” \nYou are the God who made the heavens\,\nthe Lord\, whose majestic light now shines\non those who walked in darkness.\nYour grace appears bringing salvation to all;\nyour child is given to us\, the firstborn of Mary\,\nand the heavenly host sings his praise. \nThough born in exile at the Emperor’s command\nand delivered over to death\,\nhe will rise to break the rod of oppression.\nThough clothed this night in bands of cloth\,\nhe will burn the blood stained clothes of war.\nThough laid this night in a manger\,\nhe will be seated on the throne of endless peace\nto rule with justice and righteousness\nfrom this time onward and forevermore. \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©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people.\nJesus Christ is given to us\nto redeem us from all wickedness\nand to make us a pure people who belong to him\nand are eager to do good. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go now\, glorifying and praising God\nfor all you have heard and seen.\nRenounce ungodly living and unworthy desires\,\nand take control of your life with godliness and honour. \nAnd may the God of grace increase your joy.\nMay Christ Jesus be born as Saviour within you.\nAnd may the Spirit\, the Wonderful Counsellor\,\nmake the good news known to you and through you. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nProper II\n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Isaiah 62:6-12 \n \n\n \n \n \n Jerusalem\, I have sent the town criers up onto the wall.\nI have told them to shout day and night\,\nand never let anyone shut them up.\nTheir job is to shout and chant without a break\,\nto keep up the pressure\nuntil the LORD puts Jerusalem back on her feet\nand makes her the toast of all the earth. \n“I have given my word\,” says the LORD\,\n“and you can count on it.”\n“Never again will I let your enemies in\nto plunder the food and wine\nthat you have put so much work into.\nFrom now on everyone will enjoy the fruits of their own labour;\nthose who bake the bread\nwill eat with thankful hearts;\nthose who pick the grapes\nwill enjoy the wine in my temple.” \nPeople of Jerusalem\, throw open your gates.\nGet everything ready for the home comers.\nResurface the road\,\nfill the potholes\, clear the stones\,\nput up signs to show everyone the way. \nThe LORD has an announcement to make\,\nand all the earth will hear it;\n“I am coming soon to save you\, Jerusalem\,\nand I will bring a reward\nto make up for all you have suffered. \nYou will be known as a people dedicated to me\,\nas the people I have reclaimed and brought home.\nYou will be called “the place to be\,\nthe city no one wants to leave.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 97 \n \n\n \n \n \n You\, LORD\, are the ruler of everything!\nThe whole earth celebrates!\nUp and down the coast\, everyone is shouting for joy! \nDeep\, dark clouds of mystery hide you from us;\njustice and integrity are the bedrock of your rule. \nYou are a consuming fire\, leaping in all directions\,\npurging the earth of its enemies. \nYour touch splits the darkness with bolts of light;\nthe earth is lit up and shakes like a leaf. \nYou are Lord of all the earth\, and in your presence\neven the mountains go weak and melt like wax. \nThe heavens herald you as the one who puts things right;\nall people everywhere witness your day of glory. \nThose who worshipped hollow facades\nwill hang their heads in shame.\nThose who take pride in the power of possessions\nwill be horrified when it all proves worthless.\nAll these false gods and short-lived saviours\ncrumble and fall before you\, the real thing. \nFrom the Temple Mountain to the farthest flung town\,\nyour people are celebrating with great joy\, O God\,\nbecause you have seen the truth and brought about justice. \nYou\, LORD\, are number one in all the universe;\nin a league of your own\,\nfar above anything else that seeks our allegiance. \nYou love those who detest evil\, LORD;\nYou stand guard over those who are loyal to you;\nYou come to their rescue if they fall prey to violence. \nWhen people have integrity and do what is right\,\nyou light up their lives and fill them with joy. \nAll who build their lives on the bedrock of your truth and justice\nare celebrating all you do\, LORD.\nJust the mention of your holy name\nand they burst forth with a flood of gratitude! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Titus 3: 4-7 \n \n\n \n \n \n When God our Saviour showed up\,\n    overflowing with goodness\, love and kindness\,\n        we were rescued from the horrors of our past. \nGod saved us\,\n    for no other reason than because God wanted to.\nWe had never done anything to deserve it.\n    It only happened because God’s mercy is so extravagant. \nThe Holy Spirit stepped in\n    and took us down into the healing waters.\nWe came out thoroughly rejuvenated\,\n    like newborn babies with a fresh start before us. \nThrough our contact with Jesus Christ\, our Saviour\,\n    God has poured out the Holy Spirit on us\,\n        like a rich oil that soaks into every pore.\nSo now\, having been given a clean slate\n    through God’s extravagant generosity\,\nwe are marked out to receive the full inheritance\,\n    the life without limit that everyone has been longing for. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 2: (1-7)\, 8-20 \n \n\n \n \n \n     Many years ago\, the Roman Emperor Augustus gave orders for a census to be conducted throughout the whole empire. This was the first time it had been done while Quirinius was governor of Syria. Every man was required to go and register himself and his family in the town where he had been born. For Joseph\, this meant travelling all the way from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea. Bethlehem had been the home town of King David\, and Joseph\, being a descendent of David\, had been born there too\, so that was where he had to report. Joseph’s fiancée\, Mary\, travelled with him to Bethlehem for the census. She was pregnant and the baby was due any day. There was no accommodation left anywhere in the town\, so they ended up sleeping rough in the stables behind a pub. Sure enough\, she went into labour while they were there and gave birth to her first child – a baby boy. Mary wrapped the baby in a bunny rug and made up a bed for him in a feed trough.\nThe region around Bethlehem was sheep country\, and that night there was a bunch of shearers spinning yarns around their campfire. Suddenly the whole sky lit up with the glory of God\, and the Lord’s messenger stood among them. They were packing death\, but the messenger said to them\, “It’s okay! There’s no need to panic. I’m here with good news\, news that will give everyone everywhere good reason to celebrate. A saviour has just been born in David’s town. He is God’s chosen one\, the Lord of all. Go and see for yourselves. You’ll know you’ve found him when you see a baby wrapped in a bunny rug and lying in a feed trough!”\nThe moment he’d finished speaking\, the messenger was joined by a whole crowd from heaven\, all praising God and shouting at the tops of their voices\, saying: \n“All the glory belongs to God in heaven\,\nand let there be peace on earth for all God’s people!” \nThen it was all over – the crowd went back to heaven and the shearers were left sitting there looking at one another\, gob-smacked. “We’d better go and check this out\,” they said. “Let’s go into town and see if we can see what’s happened\, what the Lord has let us in on.”\nSo without messing around they headed straight into Bethlehem\, and sure enough\, they tracked down Mary and Joseph and saw the baby lying in the feed trough. When they saw all this\, they began telling everyone what they had heard about this child. People could hardly believe their ears when they heard what the shearers were saying. But their words were precious to Mary and she repeated them over and over in her mind\, wondering what would become of it all. The shearers headed off towards their camp again – a rowdy mob\, singing and shouting in the streets about how fabulous God was because of everything they had seen and heard. Everything had been just the way they had been told it would be. \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\,\nsinging: “Glory to you in the highest heaven\nand on earth peace among all you favour.” \nYou are the God whose Word raised the earth from the seas\,\nwhose presence melts mountains like wax\,\nand whose light rains down joy on loyal hearts.\nYour loving kindness has appeared - salvation by grace -\na child is given to us\, the firstborn of Mary\,\nand the heavenly host sings his praise. \nThough born in exile at the Emperor’s command\nand delivered over to death\nhe will rise to bring back your people\nand name them “Redeemed”.\nThough clothed this night in bands of cloth\,\nhe will be wrapped in thunder and crowned with glory.\nThough laid this night in a manger\,\nhe will be throned on justice and righteousness\,\nand will restore to all the joyous fruits of their labours. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2004 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 It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your loving kindness has appeared - salvation by grace -\na Son is given to us\, the firstborn of Mary.\nThough laid this night in a manger\,\nhe will be throned on justice and righteousness\,\nand will restore to all the joyous fruits of their labours. \n©1999 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\,\nsinging: “Glory to you in the highest heaven\nand on earth peace among all you favour.” \nYou are the God whose Word raised the earth from the seas\,\nwhose presence melts mountains like wax\,\nand whose light rains down joy on loyal hearts.\nYour loving kindness has appeared - salvation by grace -\na child is given to us\, the firstborn of Mary\,\nand the heavenly host sings his praise. \nThough born in exile at the Emperor’s command\nand delivered over to death\nhe will rise to bring back your people\nand name them “Redeemed”.\nThough clothed this night in bands of cloth\,\nhe will be wrapped in thunder and crowned with glory.\nThough laid this night in a manger\,\nhe will be throned on justice and righteousness\,\nand will restore to all the joyous fruits of their labours. \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©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n The kindness and love of God our Saviour has been revealed\nand he has saved us according to his mercy.\nHaving been justified by his grace\,\nwe are now made heirs with Christ\nin the hope of eternal life. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©1999 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go now\, glorifying and praising God\nfor all you have heard and seen.\nLove the Lord\, reject evil\,\nBe joyous in Christ and live faithful lives. \nAnd may God shield you and call you his redeemed.\nMay Christ Jesus be born as Saviour within you.\nAnd may the Spirit be poured out upon you\,\nmaking you heirs of hope with Christ. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nProper III\n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Isaiah 52: 7-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n Talk about a sight for sore eyes!\nHere comes the messenger\, galloping down the mountain\,\nbringing the news that God’s people have been hanging out for:\n“You are saved!\nGod is in control!\nFinally there will be peace!” \nSo now its time to celebrate like crazy! \nThose of you who were standing\, tense and silent\, on the lookout\ncan let your hair down and sing and dance.\nFearing the worst\, you saw the best:\nthe LORD returning home to reclaim the city! \nYou whose streets and homes were reduced to rubble\ncan raise your glasses and sing together\,\nfor the LORD has put an arm around your shoulders\,\nreclaimed your streets\, and begun rebuilding. \nIn full view of every nation\nthe LORD has brandished a hard fist\,\nready to deal with would-be oppressors.\nNow is the time for the whole earth to see\nthe freedom God promised\,\nthe peace we longed for! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 98 \n \n\n \n \n \n We sing like we’ve never sung before\, LORD\,\nbecause you have done fantastic things.\nWith your sleeves rolled up you got stuck in\nand came out on top.  \nYour victory has made the headlines\, LORD\,\nnow the whole world can see that you were right all along. \nYou have never defaulted on your rock-solid love\,\nor your loyalty to your chosen people.\nFrom one end of the earth to the other\,\neveryone has seen your victory. \nWith all the world\, LORD\, we raise a noisy celebration\,\nsinging our lungs out and shouting your praise. \nThe bands strike up in your honour\, LORD\,\nfilling the air with festive music.\nWith a brass fanfare and a dancing beat\nwe loudly celebrate your reign over us. \nThe whole creation joins in the celebration:\nthe ocean and its creatures roar their approval;\nthe land and its animals\, cheer and stomp;\nrivers and lakes give a standing ovation\,\nmountains and hills erupt in applause. \nWe put on the whole show in your presence\, LORD\,\ncelebrating your arrival as you finally bring justice.\nWith you in charge we know things will be put right;\nnow every one on earth will get a fair go. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Hebrews 1: 1-4\, (5-12) \n \n\n \n \n \n Down through the years\, God has spoken to our ancestors through the prophets in all sorts of different ways. Lately though\, at long last\, God has sent a Son to speak to us directly. It was through this Son that God created the world in the first place\, and it will all belong to him in the end. You can see all the glory of God mirrored in this Son. God’s essential nature is imprinted on him perfectly. Everything in the universe holds together at his say so. The Son took action to bring about the forgiveness of sins\, and having done that he was given the most honoured seat in heaven as God’s right hand man. He had proven himself to be in a league above the angels\, and the title he was granted made this clear. \nThink about it; God never said to any of the angels: \n“You are my Son;\nfor I have conceived you and brought you to birth.” \nNor did God ever say of of angel:  \n“I am the Parent\,\nand this one is my Child.” \nWhen God’s firstborn is brought forth into the world\, God says: \n“All my angels are to worship him.”  \nReferring to the angels\, God says: \n“I make my angels but a puff of wind\,\nand my servants but flames of fire.” \nBut speaking to the Son\, God says: \n“Your throne\, O God\, will never be shaken.\nYour royal power is wielded for justice. \nYou have a passion for integrity and a loathing for corruption.\nTherefore God has chosen you above all others\,\nand crowned you with joy like no other has known.” \nAnd again speaking to the Son\, God says: \n“On day one\, Lord\, you laid the earth’s foundations\,\nand made the stars in the sky by hand.\nEarth and sky will one day be gone\,\nbut you are here for keeps.\nThey will wear out like favourite work clothes\nor be tossed out like last year’s fashions.\nBut you are untouched by time or wear\,\nand you will be with us forever.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 1: 1-14 \n \n\n \n \n \n At the very start\, there was one who is called the Word.\nThe Word was with God\,\nand the Word was God.\nFrom day one\, God and the Word were inseparable. \nIt was through the Word that everything was created.\nThere is absolutely nothing that doesn’t owe its existence to him. \nIn the Word was life.\nHe is the source of the life\nthat turns on the lights for everyone.\nThe light of his life breaks open the darkness\,\nand the darkness could not snuff it out. \nOnce there was a man on a mission from God;\nhis name was John.\nJohn gave a first-hand report about the light\,\nspelling it out so that everyone could believe.\nHe wasn’t the light\, himself\,\nbut he made it his job to draw everyone’s attention to the light. \nThe real light was on his way into the world;\nthe light that lights up inside of everyone. \nHe was in the world\nbut the world didn’t even notice him\neven though it owed its existence to him. \nHe turned up on his own planet\, among those he created\,\nbut his own people turned their backs on him. \nSome people accepted him\, though\,\nand put their trust in who he said he was\nand what he said he was on about.\nHe gave to those people all they needed\nto become children of God.\nBecoming God’s children had nothing to do\nwith sperm and egg\,\nor three-stage labour;\nthey became God’s children\nwhen they were born of God. \nThe Word\, though\, was born flesh and blood like everyone else.\nHe cast in his lot with us\nand rolled out his swag in our midst.\nWe have seen him in all his glory\,\nlike father\, like son;\nwarm and generous to a fault\,\nsolid and true to the core. \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 you have revealed your justice to the nations\nand recalled your merciful love for your people. \nIn the beginning your Word created the world.\nThrough your Word\, life was brought into being\,\nand the life was the light that overcomes the darkness.\nYour messenger came bringing the good news of peace\nso that all might know the Word and believe. \nAnd tonight the good news is fulfilled:\nthe Word has become flesh.\nThough comforted at the breast\, he is your exact likeness.\nThough the world did not know him\,\nhe bears the imprint of your very being.\nThough his own people gave him no welcome\,\nin him we have seen your glory\, full of grace and truth.\nHe will come to rule the world in justice\nand in him all the earth shall see your salvation. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2004 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 It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your Word has become flesh among us.\nThough the world did not know him\,\nhe bears the imprint of your very being.\nThough his own people turned him away\,\nin him we have seen your glory\, full of grace and truth. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you have revealed your justice to the nations\nand recalled your merciful love for your people. \nIn the beginning your Word created the world.\nThrough your Word\, life was brought into being\,\nand the life was the light that overcomes the darkness.\nYour messenger came bringing the good news of peace\nso that all might know the Word and believe. \nAnd tonight the good news is fulfilled:\nthe Word has become flesh.\nThough comforted at the breast\, he is your exact likeness.\nThough the world did not know him\,\nhe bears the imprint of your very being.\nThough his own people gave him no welcome\,\nin him we have seen your glory\, full of grace and truth.\nHe will come to rule the world in justice\nand in him all the earth shall see your salvation. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2004 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus Christ\, the exact likeness of God’s own being\,\nhas come into the world full of grace and truth.\nHe has made purification for sins\,\nand to all who believe in him\,\nhe gives the power to become children of God. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go now\, and join your voices\nwith the song of joy in all creation.\nAnnounce peace.\nHerald salvation.\nLet the earth know that God reigns. \nAnd may God sustain you with his powerful Word.\nMay Christ Jesus be born as Saviour within you.\nAnd may the Spirit reveal to you the glory\nof the Father’s only Son\, full of grace and truth. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\n“From little things\, big things grow.” A sermon on Luke 2: 1-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Homily from St Gregory Nazianzus for the Feast of the NativityA thematic sermon by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Homily from St Leo the Great for the Feast of the NativityA thematic sermon by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Nativity Sermon of St John ChrysostomA thematic sermon by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Nativity Sermon from St Ephraim the SyrianA thematic sermon by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Light ShinesA sermon on John 1:1-14 & Isaiah 9:2-7 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nToday!A thematic sermon by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPeace on EarthA sermon on Luke 2: 1-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Emmanuel ScandalA sermon on John 1: 1-14; Luke 2: 1-20 & Matthew 1: 18-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nChristmas LightsA Christmas sermon by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nHuman BecomingA sermon on John 1:1-18; Luke 1:26-38; Luke 2:1-20 & Isaiah 9:2-7 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Gospel in a Feed TroughA sermon on Luke 2:1-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFor Christmas hope and healing\, look to the shadowsA sermon on Luke 2:1-20 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nMay the Word be With YouA sermon on John 1:1-14 by Roslyn Wright\n\n\n\nLight in the DarknessA sermon on Isaiah 9:2\, Luke 2:9 & John 1:3-9 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc05/2028-12-25/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ChristmasDay.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281231T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20281231T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20230122T100834Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T004515Z UID:10001995-1861833600-1861919999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:1st Sunday of Christmas - 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 Isaiah 63: 7-9 \n \n\n \n \n \n I will set out the evidence of the LORD’s extravagant generosity;\nthe things that the LORD has done\, all deserving applause.\nThe LORD has done so much for us\,\nsmiled upon us and been good to us.\nOverflowing with love and loyalty\,\nour God has treated us far better than we deserve. \nEvery time we were in trouble\,\nthe LORD felt our pain and rescued us.\nThe LORD said of us:\n“These are my people for sure\, my own children\,\nwho would never do me wrong.” \nThe task of helping us out was not given to someone else;\nthe LORD was with us in person to rescue us.\nMotivated solely by love and compassion\,\nGod put our lives back together.\nGathering us up in loving arms\,\nour God carried us down through the years. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 148 \n \n\n \n \n \n We sing your praises\, LORD!\nFrom every corner of the universe\,\nfrom high and low\, near and far\,\nwe join the chorus of praise! \nWith the angels and all who serve you in heaven\,\nwe sing your praises!\nWith the sun and moon\, stars and planets\,\nwe sing your praises!\nWith far flung galaxies and the milky way\,\nwe sing your praises! \nAll of them speak of you in glowing terms\, LORD\,\nfor they owe their very existence to you.\nYou ordered their creation\nand fixed them in place for all time. \nWe sing your praises\, LORD!\nEvery creature on earth joins the choir\,\nsinging your praises for all they’re worth:\ndolphins and whales\nand the ocean itself;\nbushfire and hail storm\,\nsnow and ice\,\ncyclones dancing to your tune;\nmountain ranges and rolling hills\,\norchards and rainforests\,\nanimals from both bush and farm\,\nreptiles and birds;\npeople of every race and class\,\npeople of power and influence;\nmen and women\, old and young\,\nevery voice on earth joins as one! \nOne and all\, we sing your praises\, LORD\,\nyours is the only name on our lips!\nYou alone outshine the glory of the universe! \nYou have given strength to your people\,\nand honour to your faithful ones\,\nto those you have chosen\nand hold close to your heart. \nYou\, LORD\, are the greatest! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Hebrews 2: 10-18 \n \n\n \n \n \n Everything exists for God and because of God\, and God set out to gather everyone into one family on the road to glory. It was only right that the one who God chose as the trail blazer to lead people out of danger should first earn a perfect 10 in the same arena of suffering as them. You see\, the one who sets the pattern for holy living and the ones who are patterned by it are all children of the one God\, born through the same labour pains. That explains why Jesus has no hesitation in calling them his sisters and brothers. He says to God: \n“I will tell these\, my sisters and brothers\, all I know of you.\nWhenever they gather\, I’ll be there\, trumpeting your virtues.” \nAgain he puts himself in the same boat as us when he says: \n“I too live by putting my trust in God.” \nAnd yet again: \n“I take my stand here with the children God has given me.” \nSo it makes sense that for Jesus to share so fully in the life experience of the children\, he had to be of the same flesh and blood as them. It was only in the same flesh and blood that he could go through the same death; and it was in going through death that he destroyed the devil who wields death as his ultimate weapon. That is how he broke open an escape route for those whose fear of death robbed them of their freedom to live. Now it is quite clear that he wasn’t doing this for the benefit of the angels. Rather it was for us human beings\, who follow in the footsteps of Abraham\, and so he had to become one of us in every respect. Only by being totally identified with us could he have the necessary compassion and loyalty to be the high priest who offers the costly gift to God to cancel out all we have done wrong. Because he himself has survived the worst that life can dish out without giving up\, he is now ideally placed to help out those whose limits are being being put to the test. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 2: 13-23 \n \n\n \n \n \n The visit of the mystics from the east had tipped off King Herod about the birth of a potential rival. Before it was too late\, a messenger from the Lord made contact with Joseph in a dream and said\, “Get out of bed\, pack up the family\, and get out of town\, because Herod is about to send out a death squad to hunt down the child. Seek asylum in Egypt and stay there until I say otherwise.” \nSo Joseph hurriedly prepared the child and his mother for the journey. They made their getaway under the cover of night and hit the road for Egypt. They lived there until the death of Herod. It was just as the prophet Hosea had written: \n“I\, the Lord\, have called my son out of Egypt.” \nWhen Herod realised that the visiting mystics had pulled a swifty on him\, he went right off his head. Based on what they had said\, he calculated that the child could not yet be two years old\, so he sent out his death squads with orders to kill every child under the age of two in the district of Bethlehem. It was just as the prophet Jeremiah had said: \n“Hear the noise in the land of Ramah;\ngrief-stricken cries and screams;\nRachel weeping inconsolably\,\nwailing for her children\,\nfor they have been wiped out.” \nSome time later\, when Herod died\, a messenger of the Lord once again appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said\, “The coast is clear. Those who were out to get the child are dead. You can pack up and take him and his mother home to Israel.” \nSo Joseph did just that. He packed up the family and set out for Israel. However\, he was unnerved when the news reached him that Archelaus was now king of Judea\, taking over where his father Herod had left off. His fears were confirmed in a dream\, so they pushed on further north to the region of Galilee\, where they made their home in a town called Nazareth. This too was consistent with the words of the prophets: \n“They will call him the man from Nazareth.” \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\,\nbecause of all the good things you have done for us\nin your abundant mercy and steadfast love. \nAll things exist for you and through you\,\nfor you called them forth and fixed them in place.\nYou taught your people through the law and prophets\nand became their saviour in all their distress. \nIn your love and concern for us\,\nyou became present among us in your child\, Jesus.\nThough he was hunted at birth\nand forced to flee as a refugee\,\nhe was made perfect through his sufferings\nso that he might be a merciful high priest\,\nfaithfully reconciling your people to you.\nWhen enemies overtook him\,\nin death he destroyed the power of death\,\nand you raised him to new life\,\nfreeing all those whose lives were held in slavery\nby the fear of death. \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 thank you that in your love and concern for us\,\nyou became present among us in your Son\, Jesus.\nThough he was hunted at birth\nand forced to flee as a refugee\,\nhe was made perfect through his sufferings\nso that he might be a merciful high priest\,\nfaithfully reconciling your people to you. \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 all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nbecause of all the good things you have done for us\nin your abundant mercy and steadfast love. \nAll things exist for you and through you\,\nfor you called them forth and fixed them in place.\nYou taught your people through the law and prophets\nand became their saviour in all their distress. \nIn your love and concern for us\,\nyou became present among us in your child\, Jesus.\nThough he was hunted at birth\nand forced to flee as a refugee\,\nhe was made perfect through his sufferings\nso that he might be a merciful high priest\,\nfaithfully reconciling your people to you.\nWhen enemies overtook him\,\nin death he destroyed the power of death\,\nand you raised him to new life\,\nfreeing all those whose lives were held in slavery\nby the fear of death. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n Through his suffering\, Christ has become our high priest\,\noffering sacrifices to God to atone for our sins.\nIt is his presence that saves us\,\nfor in his love and mercy he redeems us\nand lifts us up. \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 give praise for all the Lord has done.\nPut your trust in Christ;\nweep over the world’s grief and suffering\,\nand with Christ\, offer yourselves to God\nfor the healing of the world. \nAnd may God give you strength and glory;\nMay Christ Jesus be proud to call you his brothers and sisters;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit lift you up and carry you onward. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nThe Refugee LiberatorA sermon on Matthew 2: 13-23 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nChristmas and Murdered ChildrenA sermon on Matthew 2: 13-23\, Hebrews 2:10-18 & Isaiah 63:7-9 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIs Christmas For Children?A sermon on Matthew 2: 13-23& Hebrews 2:10-18 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Paschal Nativity StoryA sermon on Matthew 2: 13-23 & Hebrews 2: 10-18 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLamentation at ChristmasA sermon on Matthew 2: 16-18 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/a06/2028-12-31/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Christmas1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002212-1861920000-1862006399@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:New Years Day DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 8 \n \n\n \n \n \n Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Revelaton 21: 1-6a \n \n\n \n \n \n I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 25: 31-46 \n \n\n \n \n \n While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2029-01-01/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002222-1861920000-1862006399@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:New Years Day DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 8 \n \n\n \n \n \n Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Revelaton 21: 1-6a \n \n\n \n \n \n I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 25: 31-46 \n \n\n \n \n \n While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2029-01-01/2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002231-1861920000-1862006399@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:New Years Day DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 8 \n \n\n \n \n \n Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Revelaton 21: 1-6a \n \n\n \n \n \n I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 25: 31-46 \n \n\n \n \n \n While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2029-01-01/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002241-1861920000-1862006399@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:New Years Day DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 8 \n \n\n \n \n \n Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Revelaton 21: 1-6a \n \n\n \n \n \n I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 25: 31-46 \n \n\n \n \n \n While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2029-01-01/2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002250-1861920000-1862006399@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:New Years Day DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 8 \n \n\n \n \n \n Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Revelaton 21: 1-6a \n \n\n \n \n \n I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 25: 31-46 \n \n\n \n \n \n While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2029-01-01/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002260-1861920000-1862006399@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:New Years Day DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 8 \n \n\n \n \n \n Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Revelaton 21: 1-6a \n \n\n \n \n \n I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 25: 31-46 \n \n\n \n \n \n While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2029-01-01/2/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290101T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T081707 CREATED:20220904T231259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220904T231259Z UID:10002269-1861920000-1862006399@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:New Years Day DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n Things happen in their due season; there is a right time for everything that happens on earth: \na time to be born\,\nand a time to die;\na time to sow the seed\,\nand a time to harvest the crop; \na time to end a life\,\nand a time to rehabilitate;\na time to demolish\,\nand a time to create; \na time to cry\,\nand a time to laugh;\na time to grieve\,\nand a time to party; \na time to throw caution to the wind\,\nand a time to play it safe;\na time to make love\,\nand a time to keep your pants on; \na time to keep searching\,\nand a time to write off the loss;\na time to hold on to what you’ve got\,\nand a time to let it go; \na time to share another’s pain\,\nand a time to urge them to move on;\na time to keep your mouth shut\,\nand a time to speak your mind; \na time to love\,\nand a time to hate;\na time to fight;\nand a time to make peace. \nBut in the end\, what difference does it make what we do? I have observed everyone working hard at the jobs that God has given them. God sets things up so that there is a proper time and place for everything\, but we forget too quickly and fail to learn the lessons of history. We see what has happened and what is happening\, but we can’t make sense of the connections or see what God is doing in it all. So I figure that there is no point in losing too much sleep over it. The most important thing is for people to be happy and to enjoy their lives for as long as they live. What’s more\, there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking and finding satisfaction in our work. They are God’s gifts to us. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 8 \n \n\n \n \n \n Our LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \nYour glory fills the universe! \nThe gurgling of babies makes more sense\nthan the clever arguments of your enemies.\nThe innocent chatter of children\nsilences the venomous talk of your opponents. \nWhen I gaze at your handiwork in the night skies\n— the moon\, the stars\, the milky way —\nthe whole cosmos under your control;\nI can’t help but wonder why you bother with us.\nWhy do you care so much for mere human beings\nwhen we count for so little in the scheme of things? \nAnd yet\, for reasons known to you alone\,\nyou created us almost on a par with yourself\nand decorated us with the highest honours and glory. \nYou have even entrusted us with power over your precious creation;\nyou placed the future of all life in our hands:\nsheep and cattle;\nemu and kangaroo\ninsects\, reptiles\, birds\, and sea creatures;\nair\, land and water and the planet itself. \nOur LORD and ruler\,\nall over the world\nthe mere mention of your name sets hearts pounding! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Revelaton 21: 1-6a \n \n\n \n \n \n I\, John\, had another extraordinary vision. I saw a completely revamped heaven and a radically reconstructed earth. The first heaven\, the first earth and the sea were all but a memory. Then I saw Jerusalem\, the city dedicated to God\, now made completely new. She was coming down the aisle from heaven itself\, from God\, and she looked sensational\, like a bride on her wedding day. I heard a loud voice coming from heaven’s throne. It said: \n“See\, God has moved in and set up home among ordinary people.\nGod will live with them and be their God\,\nand the people will gladly belong\nto the God who lives right in their midst. \nGod will wipe every tear from their eyes.\nDeath will be abolished forever;\npain and grief and tears will be things of the past.\nAll these things have been made obsolete.”  \nThen the one sitting on the throne said\, “Look\, I am making everything new – absolutely everything!”  \n“Write all this down\,” he said\, “because these words can be depended on. They are the truth.” \nThis is what he said: “The job is done! I am the whole story\, from A to Z. I am the beginning and I am the end.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Matthew 25: 31-46 \n \n\n \n \n \n While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “The day is coming when the New Human will turn up in all his glory\, accompanied by all his angels\, and he will be crowned as king. He will sit down on the judgment seat\, and all the nations of the world will be summoned to appear before him. Like a quality controller sorting out the good fruit from the rejects\, he will carefully sort the nations into two groups\, one on his right side and one on his left. Then the King will say to the group on his right side: \n‘Welcome\, you who have been given the thumbs up by my Father. Ever since the foundation of the world\, there has been a kingdom ready with your name on it. Come now\, and inherit it; because\nI was hungry and you lot fed me\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me a drink\,\nI came seeking asylum and you made me welcome\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot gave me clothes\,\nI was diseased and you took care of me\,\nI was in detention and you visited me.’ \nThen those compassionate nations will ask him\, ‘Lord\, when did we see you hungry and feed you\, or thirsty and give you a drink? When were you a refugee and we welcomed you\, or in detention and we visited you? When did we find you without clothes or sick and do something about it?’ \nAnd the King will reply\, ‘The fact is\, you did these things for people who were regarded as the dregs of society\, but who I love as my nearest and dearest; and each time you helped one of them\, you were helping me.’ \nThen he will say to the nations on the other side: \n‘You lot have been written off. Get out of my sight! A time of fire has been ignited by the devil and his agents\, and you will be swallowed up in it with them; because\nI was hungry and you lot didn’t give me a bite\,\nI was thirsty and you gave me nothing\,\nI came seeking asylum and you wouldn’t let me in\,\nI didn’t have a stitch to wear\nand you lot left me to freeze\,\nI was diseased and in detention\nand you turned your backs and wouldn’t come near me.’ \nThey too will ask\, ‘Lord\, when was it that we failed to take care of you? We don’t recall seeing you hungry or thirsty or seeking asylum or naked or sick or in detention.’ \nBut he will answer\, ‘The fact is\, you failed to do these things for those who were regarded as the dregs of society\, and each time you turned your backs on them\, you were turning your backs on me.’ \nAnd with that\, those nations will be gone\, swallowed up in the time of punishment. But the nations who did the right thing by others will enjoy life without limit.” \n©2023 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n \n\n \n \n Eucharistic Preface \n \n\n \n \n \n Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth we tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We thank you for gathering all our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nand with the whole earth tell of the greatness of your name\,\nfor you are the God who makes all things new. \nThe moon and the stars are your handiwork\,\nand the earth and its inhabitants reflect your glory.\nYou have created us\, dressing us in glory undeserved\,\nand entrusted the charge of the earth to our hands. \nYou have created a time for everything under heaven:\na time for remembering\,\nand a time to set plans for the future;\na time for prayer\nand a time to act with courage and compassion;\na time for sacrifice\nand a time to enjoy the fruits of our toil.\nIn Jesus Christ\, you have made your home among us\,\nand gathered our times into your time\,\nso that we might live the life of the kingdom\nwhich you prepared for us from the foundation of the world. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n In Jesus Christ\, God makes all things new.\nThe former things have disappeared.\nGod will wipe away every tear from our eyes. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go now\, and embrace the new time which God has given us.\nRecognize Christ in friend and stranger\,\nand as Christ has been gracious to you\,\nso be gracious to those in need. \nAnd may God dwell with you as your God.\nMay Christ be your food and drink\nand give you pleasure in your work.\nAnd may the Spirit be your beginning and end\nand hold all your times in her loving embrace. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nWhen I was hungry\, what did you do?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen I joined your church\, you burned me out!A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIcons on Street CornersA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWill the Sheep Plead for the Goats?A sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nJudging NationsA sermon on Matthew 25: 31-46 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc08/2029-01-01/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/08.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR