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UID:10002962-1937433600-1937519999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:7th Sunday of Pascha - 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				  Acts 16: 16-34			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	One day\, as we were on our way with Paul to a prayer gathering\, we ran into a girl who worked as a clairvoyant. She was a slave: her whole life was controlled by the spirit that enabled her to predict people’s futures\, and by the money-men who were making a fortune out of her. She began following us around and yelling out\, “These men are puppets of the Most High God; here to sell you another way of salvation.” She kept this up for days and it was beginning to drive Paul nuts. Eventually he spat the dummy. Turning to her\, he gave the spirit that controlled her its marching orders: “On the authority of Jesus Christ I order you to get out of her.” And right then and there\, she was free of it. \nThis was not a popular move with the money-men who had been exploiting the girl. All they could see was her market value plummeting and their profits going down the drain. They got pretty heavy-handed with Paul and Silas and dragged them into the town square to face the law. The local magistrates were brought in and the men brought their accusations\, saying\, “These troublemakers are disturbing the peace. They are Jews from a dangerous religious sect and they are recruiting people to a lifestyle that is undermining the family values and Roman laws that make our city strong.” \nThat got the crowd fired up\, and soon everyone was screaming for blood. The magistrates gave orders to have them publicly beaten. Paul and Silas had the clothing torn from their backs and were viciously bashed with batons. They were then locked up and the prison guard was given orders to do whatever it took to make sure they had no chance of escape. Following his orders\, he put them in leg-irons and chained them to the wall in a maximum security cell. \nIn the middle of the night\, much to the surprise of the other prisoners\, Paul and Silas were sitting up in their cell\, praying and singing hymns to God at the top of their voices. Suddenly\, a severe earthquake shook the prison so violently that its walls and floors were giving way. The security doors all burst off their hinges and everyone’s chains were shattered. The prison guard woke up and\, seeing all the doors blown open he naturally assumed that all the prisoners had escaped. Knowing how the authorities would take it out on him\, he was about to kill himself and beat them to it\, when Paul screamed at him\, “Stop! You don’t need to top yourself. We are all still here!” \nGrabbing a torch\, the guard rushed in to look for himself. Seeing Paul and Silas there\, he fell to his knees\, shaking like a leaf. When he had pulled himself together\, he took them outside and asked\, “Sirs\, help me. How am I going to get out of this mess alive?” \nThey answered\, “Put your trust in the Lord Jesus\, and you will be saved. And the same goes for all your household.” \nThe prison guard welcomed them into his own home straight away and washed and dressed their wounds. Paul and Silas shared the Lord’s message with him and with all who lived in his house. The response was so eager that before the night was done\, the guard and his entire family were baptised. The night turned into quite a party. Paul and Silas were plied with food as the whole household celebrated their new life as people who trusted in God. \n©2001 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				  Revelation 22: 12-14\, 16-17\, 20-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I heard the Lord say: \n“Look; I’m on my way. I’ll be there soon. When I arrive\, I’ll have the prizes with me and I’ll hand them out on the basis of what everyone has done with their lives. I am the whole story\, from ‘A’ to ‘Z’. I am the first and the last; the opening night and the grand finale.\n“How good it will be for those who have scrubbed up well. They will be granted unlimited access to the tree of life\, to eat its fruits forever. They will be given priority entry rights at the gates of the city.\n“I am Jesus. It was me who sent the angel to you to deliver this message for the churches. I am the roots of the tree of David\, and its ultimate fruit. I am the bright star that heralds the morning.” \nWhat other response could we make but “Come on down”?\nThe Spirit says\, “Come on down!”\nThe bride prepared for Christ says\, “Come on down!”\nLet everyone who hears this message say it too: “Come on down!”\nAnd let all of us who thirst\, come on down ourselves.\nThe water of life is available as a free gift to anyone who wants it. \nThe one who has delivered this message and sworn to it\, says again\, “I kid you not. I am on my way. I’ll be there soon.” \nYou beauty! Come on down\, Lord Jesus!\nMay the extravagant generosity of the Lord Jesus surround everyone and everything! And so say all of us! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  John 17: 20-26			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After the supper\, and after giving his final teaching to his followers\, Jesus prayed to God\, saying: \n“My prayer is for all who will follow me;\nnot only for these few disciples gathered here\,\nbut also for all those who will put their trust in me\nwhen they hear about me from this lot. \nI pray that they will all be as one.\nIn the same way as you\, Father\, are living in me\,\nand I am living in you;\nI am praying that they will live in us.\nIf they do\, then the rest of the world will be able to accept\nthat it was you who sent me. \nYou have given me great honour\,\nand I have passed all the honour on to them\,\nso that they may be as closely united as you and I are.\nWith me living in them\,\nand you living in me\,\nthey can reach complete unity.\nTheir unity will allow the rest of the world to recognise\nthat it was you who sent me.\nIt will also demonstrate that you have loved these people\nas much as you have loved me. \nFather\, my desire for all these people you have given me\,\nis that they will be able to be with me wherever I am.\nYou loved me even before you kick-started the creation of the earth\nand now you are giving me all the glory\,\nand I want them to be able to say they witnessed it all. \nFather\, you always do what is right\nand integrity is your middle name.\nThe world does not know you\n- never has -\nbut I know you\,\nand now these few understand\nthat it was you who sent me. \nI let them know the truth of who you really are\,\nand I’ll continue to do so.\nIn that way\, the love you have always had for me\nwill find a home in their hearts too\,\nand I’ll be forever a part of them.” \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 Alpha and the Omega\, the first and the last\,\nwho shields the lives of those who love you. \nYou laid the foundation of the world\,\nand will come in glory to bring all things to fulfilment.\nWrapped in thunder clouds and throned on justice\,\nyou led your people by fire into the land of promise. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you came to us\nas the promised descendant of David\,\nwith a love that revealed your glory\neven in suffering and death.\nWhen you raised him from the grave\,\nthe strongholds of death were shaken\,\nand the chains of captivity were broken\,\nfreeing everyone to follow him into oneness with you.\nNow you are in us\, and we are in you\,\nand the waters of life\nwash our wounds and satisfy our deepest thirst. \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 revealing your love in your Son\, Jesus Christ.\nWhen you raised him from the grave\,\nthe strongholds of death were shaken violently\,\nbreaking off the chains of captivity\nand freeing everyone to follow him into oneness with 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\,\nfor you are the Alpha and the Omega\, the first and the last\,\nwho shields the lives of those who love you. \nYou laid the foundation of the world\,\nand will come in glory to bring all things to fulfilment.\nWrapped in thunder clouds and throned on justice\,\nyou led your people by fire into the land of promise. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you came to us\nas the promised descendant of David\,\nwith a love that revealed your glory\neven in suffering and death.\nWhen you raised him from the grave\,\nthe strongholds of death were shaken\,\nand the chains of captivity were broken\,\nfreeing everyone to follow him into oneness with you.\nNow you are in us\, and we are in you\,\nand the waters of life\nwash our wounds and satisfy our deepest thirst. \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 says that all may receive the water of life as a gift.\nThrough your trust in the Lord Jesus\,\nyou will be saved\, washed clean\,\nand your lives shielded in 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\, rejoicing in God.\nLove the Lord\, hate evil;\nBe as one with one another\, just as God is one.\nLet all the world see the love of God\nat work within you and among you. \nAnd may God shield your faithful lives with love;\nMay Christ Jesus give you the water of life as a gift;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit break you free from all captivity. \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 Whole Story\, from A to ZA sermon on Revelation 22 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nOne God – One ChurchA sermon on John 17.20-26 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen the Truth Ain’t the TruthA sermon on Acts 16.16-34\, John 17.20-26 & Revelation 22 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nWhat must I do to be SavedA sermon on Acts 16.16-34 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBacklashA sermon on Acts 16.16-34 & John 17.20-26 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nMaintaining Unity in DisagreementA sermon on John 17.20-26 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/c39/2031-05-25/
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310601T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310601T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095410
CREATED:20201111T000259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250706T023520Z
UID:10002963-1938038400-1938124799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:The Day of Pentecost - 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				  1st Reading: Acts 2: 1-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	On the Feast Day of Pentecost all the believers were together in one place. Suddenly\, as if out of nowhere\, there was a sound like a raging cyclone - and nothing could be heard above it anywhere in the house. And then the Holy Spirit burst in among them like a bushfire\, with sparks and fireballs leaping out to engulf every one there. With fire in their guts and the Holy Spirit unleashing their tongues\, they began to speak of God in languages they had never learned. \nNow in Jerusalem at that time\, there were faithful Jewish pilgrims from all over the world. The wild noise among the believers quickly drew a crowd. What they heard bewildered them because everyone\, no matter where they were from\, heard their native language being spoken by the believers. Almost unable to believe their ears\, they asked: \n“Don’t all these people come from Galilee? How come we can all hear them speaking our own native languages? Some of us are Parthians\, some Medes\, others Elamites. There are people visiting here from Mesopotamia\, Judea and Cappadocia\, Pontus and Asia\, Phrygia and Pamphylia\, Egypt and the Cyrenene occupied parts of Libya. There are immigrants from Rome\, both ethnic Jews and converts. Some here are even Cretans and Arabs! But these Galileans are speaking all our languages and telling us about the extraordinary things God has done.”  \nThey were all in a spin\, unable to make head nor tail of what was happening. They kept asking one another what was going on and what it could all mean. Others though\, just sneered and said\, “They’ve been on the turps. They’re just a bunch of drunks.”  \nPeter stood up with the other eleven and addressed the crowd as loudly and clearly as he could: \n“Men and women of Jerusalem\, locals and visitors\, listen up and I’ll let you in on what this is all about. If you think that these people are drunk\, you are wrong. Think about it - the pubs aren’t even open this early in the morning. No\, what is happening here was explained long ago in the words of the prophet Joel:  \n“This is what I will do\nwhen time reaches its climax\, God declares:  \nI will pour out my Spirit on everyone. \nYour sons and your daughters\nshall speak as prophets.\nThe young among you will see visions\,\nand the old will dream dreams.  \n  I even have men and women among those\nwhose rights no one cares about\,\nand in those days\nI will pour out my Spirit upon them too;\nand they shall proclaim my justice.  \n  I will perform miraculous signs in the sky above\nand awesome wonders on the earth below\,\nblood\, and fire\, and clouds of smoke.  \n  The sun will go black and the moon blood-red\nbefore the dawning\nof the awesome and glorious day of the Lord.  \n  And everyone who cries out to the Lord\nshall be saved.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR   Genesis 11: 1-9 (alternative 1st reading)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In ancient times\, everyone in the whole world spoke the same language and could understand each other clearly. As the human race spread out towards the East\, they settled the plains region in an area known as Shinar. Once there\, an enormous project was proposed: \n“Come one and all\, let’s build ourselves a great city with the world’s tallest skyscraper. Let’s use the latest technology: kiln-fired bricks instead of stone\, and bitumen instead of mortar. Let’s earn ourselves a global reputation for innovation and excellence. If we don’t\, we’ll be nothing but mediocre little mobs\, scattered all over the world!” \nSo the project was begun\, and the LORD came down for a look. Seeing the construction of the city and the skyscraper underway\, the LORD said: \n“Look\, these people are getting too big for their boots\, and this is only the tip of the iceberg. United by a common language and common ambition\, there will be no stopping them. Come\, let us go down and reprogram their tongues so that they will begin to speak in different languages and not be able to understand each other.” \nSo the LORD split them up into different language groups and scattered them across the face of the globe. The construction of the city was abandoned. The place came to be known as Babel because it was there that the peoples’ languages became like confused babble to one another and they split up into separate tribes that kept away from each other. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 104: 24-34\, 35b			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	O LORD\, what a wildly fabulous world!\nWorking hand in hand with wisdom\nyou have made\nan earthful of wonderful creatures.  \nJust look at the deep wide sea\,\nswarming with life beyond our imagining\,\nfrom coral to crayfish\, from mussels to marlin. \nShips plough the waves\,\nwhile mythical monsters cavort in the depths. \nLike seagulls at a picnic\,\nevery creature looks to you for food. \nThey gather around in eager expectation\,\nand gorge themselves when you open your hand.  \nIf you turned your back\, they’d be panic stricken;\nif you withdrew your Spirit\nthey would have nothing to breathe\,\ntheir bodies would quickly crumble. \nBut when you breathe your spirit into them\,\nlife sprouts up fresh and fragrant again\nand the earth itself is revived. \nGlorious is all you do\, LORD\,\nmay you be honoured forever.\nMay everything created be a joy to the LORD. \nOne look from the LORD makes even the earth quiver;\none touch and even the mountains erupt. \nWith every breath I will sing to the LORD;\nas long as there is life in me\,\nI will give honour to my God in song. \nEven my unspoken thoughts I offer to the LORD\,\nfor the LORD is a delight to me.  \nMay wickedness be wiped from the earth\,\nmay enemies of life no longer be found. \nO bless the LORD\, everything within me.\nPraise the LORD!  \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2nd Reading:  Romans 8: 14-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	All those who dance to the Spirit’s tune are God’s beloved children. We were not sold into slavery where we would grovel timidly in the dust\, afraid to put a foot wrong. Rather we were adopted into a family full of love and joy. Like eager children crying\, “Daddy! Mummy!” we come running to God\, and with loving arms\, God’s Spirit gathers us up\, demonstrating clearly to whom we belong. And since we are children of God\, we are actually on the same footing as Christ. With him we will inherit all that has been kept in trust for God’s children. But we have to take the good with the bad\, and we know the price he paid. We need to be willing to cop it on the chin with him now if we want to share the glory with him later. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR   Acts 2: 1-21 (alternative 2nd reading)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	On the Feast Day of Pentecost all the believers were together in one place. Suddenly\, as if out of nowhere\, there was a sound like a raging cyclone - and nothing could be heard above it anywhere in the house. And then the Holy Spirit burst in among them like a bushfire\, with sparks and fireballs leaping out to engulf every one there. With fire in their guts and the Holy Spirit unleashing their tongues\, they began to speak of God in languages they had never learned. \nNow in Jerusalem at that time\, there were faithful Jewish pilgrims from all over the world. The wild noise among the believers quickly drew a crowd. What they heard bewildered them because everyone\, no matter where they were from\, heard their native language being spoken by the believers. Almost unable to believe their ears\, they asked: \n“Don’t all these people come from Galilee? How come we can all hear them speaking our own native languages? Some of us are Parthians\, some Medes\, others Elamites. There are people visiting here from Mesopotamia\, Judea and Cappadocia\, Pontus and Asia\, Phrygia and Pamphylia\, Egypt and the Cyrenene occupied parts of Libya. There are immigrants from Rome\, both ethnic Jews and converts. Some here are even Cretans and Arabs! But these Galileans are speaking all our languages and telling us about the extraordinary things God has done.”  \nThey were all in a spin\, unable to make head nor tail of what was happening. They kept asking one another what was going on and what it could all mean. Others though\, just sneered and said\, “They’ve been on the turps. They’re just a bunch of drunks.”  \nPeter stood up with the other eleven and addressed the crowd as loudly and clearly as he could: \n“Men and women of Jerusalem\, locals and visitors\, listen up and I’ll let you in on what this is all about. If you think that these people are drunk\, you are wrong. Think about it - the pubs aren’t even open this early in the morning. No\, what is happening here was explained long ago in the words of the prophet Joel:  \n“This is what I will do\nwhen time reaches its climax\, God declares:  \nI will pour out my Spirit on everyone. \nYour sons and your daughters\nshall speak as prophets.\nThe young among you will see visions\,\nand the old will dream dreams.  \n  I even have men and women among those\nwhose rights no one cares about\,\nand in those days\nI will pour out my Spirit upon them too;\nand they shall proclaim my justice.  \n  I will perform miraculous signs in the sky above\nand awesome wonders on the earth below\,\nblood\, and fire\, and clouds of smoke.  \n  The sun will go black and the moon blood-red\nbefore the dawning\nof the awesome and glorious day of the Lord.  \n  And everyone who cries out to the Lord\nshall be saved.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  John 14: 8-17\, (25-27)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Philip said to Jesus\, “Lord\, if you’d just show us the Father\, we’d be more than happy.” \nJesus replied\, “All this time I’ve been with you\, and you still haven’t worked me out\, have you Philip? To see me is to see the Father. So what’s the point of asking me to show you the Father? Haven’t you got it sorted out in your head that I am one with the Father\, and the Father is one with me? When I tell you something\, I’m not speaking off my own bat. The Father who lives in me is at work in everything I say. Take my word for it that I am one with the Father\, and the Father is one with me; or if my saying it is not enough for you\, then surely the things you’ve seen me do prove the point. I kid you not when I tell you that anyone who trusts in me will do the very same things. In fact\, you’ll do even greater things than I’ve done\, because I’m going back to the Father and handing over the reins to you. I’ll back you up and do whatever you ask when you’re doing my work. That’s how the Son will give the glory to the Father. If you’re working on my behalf you can ask me for anything and I’ll do it. \n“If you love me\, it will show in the way you live out what I’ve told you to do. I will have a word with the Father and arrange for another defence counsel to be permanently assigned to you. Your new defence counsel will be the Spirit of Truth. The rest of the world will not accept the Spirit because they never accept what they can’t see or comprehend. You already know the Spirit though\, because the Spirit is with you and will be at work inside you. \n“I’ve told you all this while I’m still here with you. When I’m gone\, your new defence counsel — the Holy Spirit who the Father will send on my behalf — will take over\, teaching you everything and keeping all I’ve said fresh in your minds. The gift I’m leaving with you is peace; my kind of peace\, not the mere easing of hostilities that the rest of the world offers. So don’t go dropping your bundle or getting all fearful.” \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 pour your Spirit upon us\,\narousing us with visions and dreams\nand intoxicating us with an uncontainable fervour\nto proclaim your truth in the language of praise. \nYou sent forth your Spirit to create the universe\,\nand fill it with your wonders.\nYou breathed into us and we rose from the dust\,\nthe face of the earth came alive. \nIn these last days your child\, Jesus Christ\,\ncame speaking your words and doing your works;\nrevealing the truth of who you are.\nHe was crucified\,\nbut you raised him to glory by your life-giving power.\nHaving secured our adoption as your children\nand commissioned us to continue his works\,\nhe poured out your Holy Spirit on us\,\nsetting our hearts ablaze with a passion for peace\,\nand firing our tongues with everlasting songs of joy. \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 pouring out your Spirit upon us\,\narousing us with visions and dreams\nand intoxicating us with an uncontainable fervour\nto proclaim your truth in the language 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\nThanks and praise erupt from our lips\, O Lord\,\nfor you pour your Spirit upon us\,\narousing us with visions and dreams\nand intoxicating us with an uncontainable fervour\nto proclaim your truth in the language of praise. \nYou sent forth your Spirit to create the universe\,\nand fill it with your wonders.\nYou breathed into us and we rose from the dust\,\nthe face of the earth came alive. \nIn these last days your child\, Jesus Christ\,\ncame speaking your words and doing your works;\nrevealing the truth of who you are.\nHe was crucified\,\nbut you raised him to glory by your life-giving power.\nHaving secured our adoption as your children\nand commissioned us to continue his works\,\nhe poured out your Holy Spirit on us\,\nsetting our hearts ablaze with a passion for peace\,\nand firing our tongues with everlasting songs of joy. \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	Do not let your hearts be troubled\,\nfor everyone who calls out to the Lord will be saved.\nYou have been adopted as children of God\nand the Holy Spirit lives with you and in 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 in the power of the Holy Spirit.\nLove Christ and do the things he has done.\nDream dreams\, pursue visions\nand speak of God’s wonders\nin the words of those who would hear. \nAnd may God give you the Spirit of Truth forever;\nMay Christ Jesus work for you as you work for him;\nand may the Holy Spirit bear witness within you\nto the love and peace that are yours in Christ. \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\nBreaking through old divisionsA sermon on Acts 2: 1-21\, John 14: 8-17\,25-27 & Genesis 11: 1-9 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nResurrection Break-throughA sermon on John 14:8-17\,25-27; Romans 8:14-17 & Acts 2:1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Invitation of the Pentecost MiraclesA sermon on Acts 2:1-21 by Andrew Woff\n\n\n\nA Gold Logie PentecostA sermon on Acts 2:1-21 & Genesis 11:1-9 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLanguages of ReconciliationA sermon on Acts 2:1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPentecost: Gifted and SentA sermon on Acts 2: 1-21 by Gilbert Joyce\n\n\n\nThe Language of a New HumanityA sermon on Genesis 11:1-9 & Acts 2:1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nUnderstanding the Language of PentecostA Sermon for the Feast of Pentecost by Lina Toth (Andronoviene)\n\n\n\nHoly Spirit ReflectionsA Sermon for the Feast of Pentecost by Amelia Koh-Butler\n\n\n\nMuch Needed Miracles of CommunicationA sermon on Acts 2: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/c40/2031-06-01/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310608T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310608T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095410
CREATED:20201111T004134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250706T023829Z
UID:10002964-1938643200-1938729599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Trinity Sunday - 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				  Proverbs 8: 1-4\, 22-31			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Wisdom calls; her voice full of promise.\nCan’t you hear her\, offering herself to all who pass by? \nOn the station steps at rush hour\, there she is.\nOn a busy corner where everyone passes;\nleaning on the gate as the crowd comes through;\nwherever people are\, her voice rings out. \nThis is what she has to say: \n“Come one and all\, and hear me out;\nIf you’re in the land of the living\, what I have to offer is for you. \nThe LORD began the work of creation with me;\nthe opening act of the primeval drama.\nIn time before dreaming I was in on the action;\nright from the word ‘go’ as the earth began. \nBefore the oceans were spawned\, I was conceived;\nbefore the first springs bubbled up and the waters broke free.\nBefore the mountains were carved and anchored in place;\nbefore the hills were moulded\, I was born;\nbrought forth by hands that were not yet dirty\nfrom forging the elements of the planet’s first soil. \nI was there to see the LORD’s preliminary works:\n- launching the heavens;\n- drawing coastlines on the deep blue sea;\n- filling the sky with water-laden clouds;\n- unplugging the springs to fill rivers and lakes;\n- putting the ocean in its place\,\nand drawing a line in the sand that it dare not cross;\n- marking out and pouring the foundations of the earth. \nThroughout creation\, I was there at the LORD’s side\,\napplying my skills like an expert in the trade.\nMy joyous enthusiasm always made the LORD’s day\,\nfor I filled our work with dance and play.\nThe LORD’s earth was my playground\nand the earth’s children my greatest delight.” \n©2001 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				  Romans 5: 1-5			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It was our faith that put us back in the good books with God. We put our trust in Jesus Christ our Lord and we can rest assured that he has cleared up everything with God for us. Christ got us in on the extravagant generosity of God\, and that generosity has given us a safe place to plant our feet. We don’t just stand there\, though. We hold our heads up high and announce\, with pride\, that we confidently expect to be sharing the glory that is coming to God. Actually\, it’s not just what’s coming in the future that makes us feel so good. Even now\, when life seems to be giving us a raw deal\, we can stand proud. We know that going through suffering can make us tough enough to survive the worst of times. This ability to tough things through will in turn generate new depths of integrity and maturity within us. And that brings us full-circle because it is this integrity and maturity that gives us our confidence about the future. Our confidence is not in vain either. We are sure about that because of what we have already experienced: a flood of love surging into our hearts from the Holy Spirit who God has given to us. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  John 16: 12-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	On the night that he was betrayed\, Jesus said to his disciples\, “There is a whole lot more I would love to say to you\, but it would all be too much for you at the moment. The Spirit will come\, full of truth\, and will lead you by the hand into the pathways of truth. The Spirit does not speak independently\, but on my behalf. Through the Spirit\, I will let you know what is going to happen and what it all means. I will be honoured by everything the Spirit says\, because they are my words delivered to you. All that the Father has is mine. So now you understand why I have been saying that the message the Spirit will deliver to you is actually coming from me.” \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\,\nO Trinity of Love\,\nfor your greatness is known in all the world\nand your glory reaches beyond the stars. \nIn the first of your acts long ago\,\nbefore the mountains were shaped\nor springs brought forth water\,\nyou breathed your Spirit into being\nto work beside you like a skilled artist\,\ndancing joyously to the music of creation\nand delighting with you in the works of your hand. \nIn your child\, Jesus Christ\,\nyou have revealed the glory and honour\nfor which you created all humanity.\nWhen the world would not accept his truth\nand crucified him\,\nyou raised him to new life.\nThrough him\, you sent your Holy Spirit\nto pour your love into our hearts;\nwhispering your words into our ears\,\nguiding us into all truth\,\nand filling us with the hope of sharing 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 thank you that your Holy Spirit\,\nwho danced with you in creation\nand spoke to us in your Son\, Jesus Christ\,\nis now pouring your love into our hearts\,\nand guiding us into all truth. \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 Trinity of Love\,\nfor your greatness is known in all the world\nand your glory reaches beyond the stars. \nIn the first of your acts long ago\,\nbefore the mountains were shaped\nor springs brought forth water\,\nyou breathed your Spirit into being\nto work beside you like a skilled artist\,\ndancing joyously to the music of creation\nand delighting with you in the works of your hand. \nIn your child\, Jesus Christ\,\nyou have revealed the glory and honour\nfor which you created all humanity.\nWhen the world would not accept his truth\nand crucified him\,\nyou raised him to new life.\nThrough him\, you sent your Holy Spirit\nto pour your love into our hearts;\nwhispering your words into our ears\,\nguiding us into all truth\,\nand filling us with the hope of sharing your glory. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©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 our Lord\, Jesus Christ\,\nwe have obtained access to the grace of God.\nBy our faith we are put right with God\nHave peace with God\nfor we will share in God’s glory. \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 God\nand delighting in all God does.\nStand firm in the grace found in Christ\nso that in suffering\,\nyou may grow in endurance\, character and hope. \nAnd may God crown you with glory and honour;\nMay Christ Jesus bring you into the mercy of God;\nand may the Holy Spirit pour love into your hearts\nand guide you into all truth. \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 Trinity: A Christian DreamingA sermon on Proverbs 8. 1-4\, 22-31; Psalm 8 & John 16. 12-15 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nTrinity and CommunityA sermon on the doctrine of the Trinity by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nContemplating the TrinityA sermon on the Icon of the Trinity by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nTrinity\, Creation and PrayerA sermon on Proverbs 8:1-4\, 22-31; Romans 5:1-5 & John 16:12-15 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nStumbling into the Love Dance of the TrinityA sermon on the doctrine of the Trinity by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Love Triangle that WorksA sermon on the doctrine of the Trinity by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nDoes the Trinity add up?A sermon on the doctrine of the Trinity by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThree makes sense\, but one?A sermon on the doctrine of the Trinity by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen the Spirit of Truth ComesA sermon on Proverbs 8:1-4\, 22-31; Romans 5:1-5 & John 16:12-15 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIt matters\, but you don’t have to explain it!A sermon on the doctrine of the Trinity by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/c41/2031-06-08/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20310615
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20310616
DTSTAMP:20260404T095410
CREATED:20201112T001941Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201112T001941Z
UID:10001746-1939248000-1939334399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 6 - Year C
DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \nBible Readings (paraphrased)\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission.\n \n	\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Kings 21: 1-10\, (11-14)\, 15-21a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	A man named Naboth owned a vineyard in his hometown of Jezreel\, not far from King Ahab’s palace. One day King Ahab decided that he wanted to add Naboth’s vineyard to his own property\, so he went to Naboth and said\, “Since your vineyard is so near my house\, I’d like to have it for a vegetable garden. Sign it over to me and I’ll give you a better vineyard\, or if you prefer\, I’ll pay you a good price – cash up front.” \nBut Naboth replied\, “God forbid! I could never let go of this land. My family roots are deep in the soil that God has given us.” \nAhab stomped off home in a sulk and stewed all afternoon over Naboth’s refusal to part with his family vineyard. He lay on his bed\, scowling at the wall\, and wouldn’t even eat. His wife Jezebel came in and demanded\, “What has got you so down in the dumps that you’re off your food?” \nAhab replied\, “It’s because of Naboth. I wanted to take over his vineyard\, and I offered him a good price or even another vineyard in exchange\, but he wouldn’t part with it for love nor money.” \nJezebel retorted\, “Well\, are you the king\, or aren’t you? Get up; eat\, drink and be merry. I’ll get Naboth’s vineyard for you.” \nSo Jezebel wrote some letters on the king’s letterhead\, signed his name to them and sent them to the leaders of Naboth’s local community. The letters contained the following orders: “Call all the people together for a day of prayer and fasting. Seat Naboth up front and pay a couple of unscrupulous characters to raise accusations against him. Have them accuse him of insulting God and defaming the king. Then take him to the place of execution and stone him to death.” \nThe community leaders followed Jezebel’s orders to the letter. Just as she had written\, they called the people together for a day of prayer and fasting. They gave Naboth a seat of honour up the front. Two paid liars stood up in front of everyone and accused Naboth to his face of having bad-mouthed God and the king. An angry mob dragged Naboth outside the town and stoned him to death. They then sent word to Jezebel that Naboth had been executed. \nAs soon as Jezebel got the news of Naboth’s death\, she went and said to Ahab\, “Go and take over Naboth’s vineyard. He won’t cause you any more grief. He’s dead.” \nThe minute he heard that Naboth was dead\, Ahab jumped up and headed off to stake his claim to the vineyard. \nMeanwhile\, the LORD spoke to Elijah the prophet\, saying: \n“Go down and confront King Ahab of Israel\, who rules in Samaria. At this very moment he is in Naboth’s vineyard\, taking it over as his own. Go and say to him\, ‘This is what the LORD says: Have you murdered a man and now you’re stealing his property as well? You will pay for what you have done: in the very same spot where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood\, so too will they lick up your blood\, Ahab.’” \n    So Elijah went and confronted Ahab in Naboth’s vineyard. Before he could say anything\, Ahab saw him coming and said\, “So my enemy\, have you found me out?” \nElijah answered\, “Yes\, I have found you out. You have sold yourself over to the ways of evil. You have done things the LORD can’t stand to see and\, as a result\, disaster is coming your way.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 5: 1-8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Please listen to me\, LORD;\ntune in to my desperate words\,\nmy groans and cries for help. \nYou are my God and my ruler;\nlisten as I pray to you. \nYou’ll hear me every morning\, LORD;\nas the sun rises\, I’ll lay out my needs and wait on you. \nYou are not the kind of god who gets a laugh out of evil;\nyou don’t allow corruption to get a foothold anywhere near you. \nYou can’t stand the company of the arrogant;\nyou hate wrongdoing with a passion. \nYou unmask those who deal in deception;\nyou are disgusted by liars and blood-suckers. \nBut thanks to your extravagant and unfailing love\,\nI am free to enter your house.\nI am totally in awe of you\,\nas I bow down in your temple to worship. \nKeep me headed on the right track\, LORD;\ngive me a clear-cut path\nso I won’t get thrown off course by my enemies. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Galatians 2: 15-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We ourselves are not lawless Gentiles\, but ‘born and bred Jews’ — people of the law. However\, we now know that this gives us no particular advantage\, because God’s approval is not a reward for careful compliance with the law\, but a gift to those who entrust themselves to Jesus Christ. Once we came to understand that no code of ethics or self-improvement program could ever put us in the good books with God\, we also began to believe that Christ Jesus could\, and so we entrusted ourselves to him\, and left it to him to sort things out with God for us. \nHaving now entrusted out fate to Christ\, we are seeking to pattern our lives on his example instead of on the prescriptions of the law. Does that mean that Christ can now be held responsible for every sin we are found to commit? Don’t be ridiculous! I’m still far from perfect\, but that doesn’t mean I should reinstall the system I previously trashed. If I reverted to an obsession with avoiding mistakes\, I probably wouldn’t make any less of them; I’d just feel crippled by guilt. I’m not going back to that\, because it killed me the first time. If unfailing obedience to the law is all that matters\, I’m a dead man. So I’ve given up — but not in despair. I’ve given up in order to take up an alternative — a life open to God. I handed my life over to be crucified with Christ; and the life I now live is not my own\, but Christ’s. The only reason I am now living at all is that the risen Christ is living in me. Even my body would be dead meat by now if it weren’t for the life I live by faith in the Son of God\, who loved me and gave himself unreservedly for me. So there is no way that I’m going to reject God’s extravagant generosity and go back to trying to prove that I can make the grade on my own without it. If it were possible to make the grade by meticulous law-keeping\, then Christ died without achieving anything. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 7:36 - 8:3			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus accepted an invitation to a dinner party in the home of a man named Simon\, a member of the devoutly religious Pharisee party. In Simon’s neighbourhood there lived a woman whose life was a tangled mess of degrading behaviour and shame. When she heard that Jesus was a guest in the Pharisee’s home\, she took an expensive bottle of perfumed oil and walked in on the dinner party. She knelt down and began kissing Jesus’s feet. She was crying her eyes out\, and she dried her tears from his feet with her own hair. Then she opened the perfumed oil and used it to massage his feet. \nWhen the host saw this\, he was mortified\, but one of his first thoughts was\, “If this man was really the prophet that people say he is\, he’d know straight off that this woman who’s all over him is a filthy sinner\, and he’d get rid of her.” \nBefore he had a chance to do anything though\, Jesus spoke up; “Simon\, I’ve got something you need to hear.” \n“Well\, let’s hear it then\, Teacher\,” he replied. \nJesus said\, “There was a money lender who had two bad debts. One man owed him five grand\, and the other only fifty bucks\, but neither of them had the means to pay him back. In a fit of generosity\, he wrote off the debts leaving them both owing nothing. Now\, tell me; which of the two do you think he will be the more popular with?” \nSimon answered\, “I suppose the one who was let off the bigger debt.” \n“No doubt\,” said Jesus\, and then with a smile to the woman\, he said to Simon\, “Now think about how you’re looking at this woman. When I arrived here tonight\, you didn’t even show me where the bathroom was to wash my hands\, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her own hair. You didn’t even offer me a warm handshake\, whereas she has hardly stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t even give me a pre-dinner drink to make me feel at home\, but she has opened an expensive bottle and given me a beautiful foot massage. Let me tell you what this proves. She knows that although she has committed every sin in the book\, she’s been forgiven the lot. Her extravagant display of love is the measure of her gratitude. But those who live so tightly that they hardly need any forgiveness strangle their capacity to love.” \nThen\, turning back to the woman\, he said\, “All that you’ve done wrong is forgiven.” \nThat set the tongues wagging among the religious heavies at the table: “Who does he think he is\, forgiving sins?” \nBut Jesus\, unperturbed\, said to the woman\, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” \nNot long after this\, Jesus was back on the road. In cities and towns\, wherever they went\, he broadcast the message about the culture of God. The twelve travelled with him\, and so did a number of women who had found healing for physical or spiritual disorders. Among them were Mary from Magdala who had been released from seven demons that had plagued her; Joanna\, who was married to one of King Herod’s top officials; and Susanna. There were others too\, and together they provided most of the resources needed by the group as they travelled around. \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 Samuel 11:26 - 12:10\, 13-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The news that Uriah had been killed in battle reached his wife\, Bathsheba\, and she went into mourning. When the customary time of mourning was over\, King David arranged for her to move into the palace. She became his wife\, and a son was born to them. But David’s actions had put him off side with the LORD. \nThe LORD sent the prophet Nathan to speak to David. Nathan addressed the King saying: \nConsider this case\, your Majesty. Two men lived on neighbouring properties. One of them was filthy rich. He owned huge mobs of sheep and cattle\, and plenty of land to graze them on. The other man was dirt poor. He rented his land and owned only one small lamb. The lamb was like a pet to him and his children. It even used to eat at their table and sleep on the end of their bed. People used to joke that he treated the lamb like one of his daughters. One day the rich man had a guest from out of town. He was too stingy to butcher any of his own animals to prepare a meal for his guest\, so he sent a servant over the fence to steal the poor man’s lamb. He had the lamb roasted and carved up for the evening meal.” \nDavid was so outraged he nearly exploded! He thumped the table and said\, “I swear by God\, such a cruel and callous crime will not go unpunished. Hanging’s too good for a man like that! I order that he be made to pay compensation at four times the value of what he stole.” \nNathan looked David straight in the eye and said\, “You are the man! You stand condemned by your own words! Now listen to what the LORD\, the God of Israel\, says to you: \nI chose you to be king of Israel. When Saul was trying to kill you\, I rescued you. I gave you his throne and his wives and made you king over both Israel and Judah. If that wasn’t enough\, you should have said so. I would have gladly given you whatever you asked for. So why do you spit in my face now? Why have you rejected what I taught you and committed such a horrible crime? You murdered Uriah the Hittite so you could get your hands on his wife. He was fighting for you against the Ammonites – he shouldn’t have had to guard his back against you! And now the cat’s out of the bag. Your despicable behaviour will sow seeds of violence and betrayal that will tear apart your family generation after generation.” \nDavid cried out to Nathan\, saying\, “I have sinned against the LORD.” \nNathan replied\, “You most certainly have\, but the LORD is willing to give you another chance. You will not die for your sin as you deserve. However\, you have treated the LORD with utter contempt and the damage is done. The child that is soon to be born to you will not survive.” \nWith that\, Nathan left and went home. Uriah’s wife gave birth to David’s son\, but the child was struck down by serious illness right from day one. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 32			\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. \nYou have given us clear directions;\nyou have pointed out the path we should follow.\nYou have kept a watchful eye on us\nand made sure we understood. \nYou have encouraged us to follow willingly\,\nto understand and embrace your ways;\nnot to buck and snort like wild horses\,\nfighting the reins until our strength is broken. \nThose who refuse the straight and narrow\nwill suffer for it\, over and over;\nbut those who put their trust in you\, LORD\,\nwill find love and loyalty wherever they go. \nYou are celebrated by all right-minded people\, LORD;\nwith open hearts we shout for joy;\nwith clear minds we sing your praises. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nPrayers\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to pour out our thanks and praise\,\nas a fragrant offering to you\, O God\,\nfor you have poured out your love and mercy on us\nwith scandalous extravagance. \nYou created the earth and the heavens\,\nand gave us the land as an inheritance.\nThrough the law and the prophets you confronted us\nwhenever we sold out to do what is evil. \nWhen the law was unable to save us\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\, among us\,\nwith the good news of your reign.\nHe showered us with grace\nand in the face of pious hostility\nbrought us to your table.\nHe was crucified\, and we with him\,\nbut you raised him to resurrection life.\nNow it is now no longer we who live\,\nbut Christ who lives in us\,\nfor he loved us and gave himself for us\,\nsetting us right and restoring our hope. \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 pour out our thanks as a fragrant offering to you\, O God\,\nfor\, in Christ\, you have poured out love and mercy on us\nwith scandalous extravagance\nand it is now no longer we who live\,\nbut Christ who lives in us. \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 pour out thanks and praise\nas a fragrant offering to you\, O God\,\nfor you have poured out your love and mercy on us\nwith scandalous extravagance. \nYou created the earth and the heavens\,\nand gave us the land as an inheritance.\nThrough the law and the prophets you confronted us\nwhenever we sold out to do what is evil. \nWhen the law was unable to save us\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\, among us\,\nwith the good news of your reign.\nHe showered us with grace\nand in the face of pious hostility\nbrought us to your table.\nHe was crucified\, and we with him\,\nbut you raised him to resurrection life.\nNow it is now no longer we who live\,\nbut Christ who lives in us\,\nfor he loved us and gave himself for us\,\nsetting us right and restoring our hope. \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\, the Son of God\, loved us\nand gave himself for us.\nWe are put right with God through our faith in Christ.\nTherefore Jesus says to you:\n“Your faith has saved 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\, and live by faith in the Son of God.\nPray for God’s justice\,\nNever welcome evil\,\npour out your love freely. \nAnd may God hear your cries for help;\nMay Christ Jesus stand with you in the face of hostility;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit fill you with faith and life. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	 \nSermons\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\nWho makes the Grade?\nA sermon on Luke 7: 36 – 8:4 by Nathan Nettleton\nThe Power of Love versus the Love of Power\nA sermon on 1 Kings 21:1-21a & Luke 7: 36 – 8:3 by Nathan Nettleton\nIdentity and Compliance\nA sermon on Galatians 2:15-21 & Luke 7: 36 – 8:4 by Nathan Nettleton\nWicked Women Welcome\nA sermon on Luke 7: 36 – 8:4 by Alison Sampson
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp06/2031-06-15/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P06.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310622T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310622T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095410
CREATED:20201112T010545Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T032006Z
UID:10002966-1939852800-1939939199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 7 - 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				  1 Kings 19: 1-4\, (5-7)\, 8-15a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	King Ahab told his wife Jezebel how Elijah had made a mockery of the prophets of Baal and then killed them all. Jezebel was outraged and sent a message to Elijah\, saying\, “I’ll see that by this time tomorrow you suffer the same fate as the prophets you killed. May the gods strike me down if I don’t.” \nElijah was terrified and hit the road – running for his life. He made it to the Judean town of Beersheba where he parted company with his servant. He then went off-road and pushed on alone into the scrub. After a day of that\, he was in utter despair. He collapsed under the only tree for miles that offered any shade and spilled his guts\, saying\, “I can’t take any more\, LORD. Just kill me now! I’m as good as dead anyway.” \nExhausted\, he fell asleep where he lay. Suddenly someone tapped him on the shoulder\, saying\, “Get up and eat.” \nElijah looked around and there\, just near his head\, was a cake of damper bread and a full water bottle. He ate and drank and then went back to sleep. The messenger of the LORD came to him again\, tapping him on the shoulder and saying\, “Get up and eat\, or you’ll never survive the journey ahead.” \nSo Elijah got up and ate and drank his fill. That meal gave him the strength to push on for forty days and nights until he reached Mount Sinai – God’s own mountain. When he got there\, he spent the night in a cave. \nThe next morning\, the LORD spoke to him\, saying\, “Elijah\, what are you doing here?” \nElijah answered\, “I’ve given my all for you\, LORD God\, ruler of everything. The people of Israel have turned their backs on their alliance with you. They have demolished the places of worship and massacred your prophets. I am the only one left and now they are hunting me down to kill me too.” \nThe LORD said\, “Go outside and stand to attention on the mountain\, because I am about to pass in front of you.” \nAs Elijah stood there\, a cyclone hit the mountain\, shattering the rocks and splintering the trees; but the LORD was not in the cyclone. After the cyclone\, the mountain was shaken by an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake\, there was a raging bushfire; but the LORD was not in the bushfire. Then\, after all that\, there came a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it\, he pulled his coat over his face and stood stock still outside the entrance of the cave. Then\, from the silence\, came a voice\, saying\, “Elijah\, what are you doing here?” \nElijah answered\, “I’ve given my all for you\, LORD God\, ruler of everything. The people of Israel have turned their backs on their alliance with you. They have demolished the places of worship and massacred your prophets. I am the only one left and now they are hunting me down to kill me too.” \nThen the LORD said to him\, “Off you go. Head back down to the desert near Damascus.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 42 & 43			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Like a wallaby searching for a waterhole\,\nI crave you\, God\, with every fibre of my being. \nEverything inside me thirsts for you\, God\,\nfor you\, the Living God.\nWhen will the drought break\nso I can be with you\, face to face. \nI’ve had nothing but tears to sustain me;\nday and night it’s been the same;\nI can’t shut out the jeers and taunts\,\n“Where is this God of yours?” \nCherished memories flood my mind\,\nrubbing salt in the wound;\nmemories of past celebrations\nwhen I led the worship in your house.\nI can still hear the laughter and joyous singing;\nthe crowds celebrating your goodness. \nWhy do I feel so defeated?\nWhy am I so anxious and agitated?\nI tell myself not to give up hope\,\nfor you are my God and my help\nand I’ll be glad of that again. \nI feel so defeated inside;\nI try to remind myself of your goodness\nas I walk along the beach to the river mouth\nand look towards the mountains. \nBut all I hear is the roar of waves\nand churning waters;\nI feel like chaos is breaking over me\nand sucking me down\, deeper and deeper. \nEvery day I read of your rock-solid love\, LORD;\nand every night I sing your songs\nand pray to you as the God of my life. \nBut still I find myself asking the question:\n“Why has your rock-solid love let me down?\nWhy are so many out to get me\,\nmaking my life such a misery?” \nMy wounds are deep and painful\nbut the torture goes on;\nover and over I hear the taunts\,\n“Where is this God of yours?” \nWhy do I feel so defeated?\nWhy am I so anxious and agitated?\nI tell myself not to give up hope\,\nfor you are my God and my help\nand I’ll be glad of that again. \nClear my name\, God;\nside with me against these godless tormentors.\nRescue me from their lies and abuse. \nI trusted you to look after me\, God;\nwhy have you pushed me aside?\nWhy are so many out to get me\,\nmaking my life such a misery? \nLet your truth blaze like a beacon\nso I can see the way to go;\nlet it light up the path and lead me\nto your home on the sacred mountain. \nThen I will offer myself to you in worship\, God;\noffer myself with uninhibited joy.\nI will praise you with music and song\,\nO God\, my God! \nWhy do I feel so defeated?\nWhy am I so anxious and agitated?\nI tell myself not to give up hope\,\nfor you are my God and my help\nand I’ll be glad of that again. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Galatians 3: 23-29			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Before we had put our faith in Christ and allowed that faith to begin reshaping our lives\, we needed a rigid legal code to keep us in line. The law was like a zealous parole officer\, keeping us on the straight and narrow\, under duress. When Christ came\, the law was no longer necessary\, because we can be put on track with God by entrusting ourselves to Christ. Now that this opportunity is available to us\, we no longer need the parole officer watching over our shoulders. Having entrusted ourselves to Christ\, we have been transferred with him into the direct care of God\, and God treats us as beloved children\, not as prisoners. When we were baptised\, we handed in our prison clothes and were given a make-over in the image of Christ. All of you who have been baptised\, therefore\, are on an equal footing — your new Christ-like clothing covers any previous distinction. There is no longer any preferential treatment on the basis of your ethnic or religious background\, your education or employment status\, or even your sex. All of you are related to Christ Jesus in exactly the same way and are regarded by him as equals. If you belong to Christ\, then through him you are descendants of Abraham\, and you therefore stand to inherit all that God promised to Abraham’s children. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 8: 26-39			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus and his followers sailed across Lake Galilee and landed near the town of Gerasa. As they stepped ashore\, they were confronted by one of the locals – a dangerous madman who was tormented by demons. For years he had wandered around naked and dirty\, and made his home in the graveyard and the rubbish dump outside the town. He had a long history of violent outbursts. On many occasions he had been locked up and straight-jacketed\, but each time the demonic torment would drive him into a crazed frenzy and he would smash his way out and flee back into the bush. \nWhen the man saw that Jesus was ordering the vile spirit out of him\, he threw himself down on the ground\, screaming. “What gives you the right to interfere with my life? You’re Jesus\, the Son of the Supreme God. You don’t belong here. Leave me alone. I’ve been tortured enough already.” \n“What’s your name\,” Jesus asked him. \n“They call me ‘the Mob’\,” he replied. \nHe had been given that name because there were so many demons raging within him. The demons began pleading with Jesus not to wipe them off the face of the earth. They begged him to send them only as far as the herd of pigs foraging in a nearby paddock. Jesus agreed\, and ordered them out of the man. No sooner was the man free of the torment\, than the pigs went berserk\, stampeding off the edge of the cliff and drowning in the lake below. \nWhen the farm hands who were in charge of the pigs saw what had happened\, they dropped their bundles and bolted. They reported the incident in town\, and word of it was soon all over the district. A delegation came out to investigate\, and they found the man who had for so long been out of his mind sitting with Jesus and hanging on his every word. It was the first time they’d ever seen him clothed and clear-headed\, and the change was so dramatic that it unnerved them. The eye-witnesses filled them in on how the demon-crazed man had come to be healed. \nAll this was too freaky for the people of the Gerasa district. They were completely spooked by it and asked Jesus to clear off. So he and his followers piled back into the boat and headed for home. The man who had been freed from the demonic torment pleaded with Jesus to let him go with them\, but Jesus sent him home\, saying\, “Move back into town and tell everyone what God has done for you.” \nSo the man went on his way and never let the townsfolk forget the wonderful things Jesus had done for him. \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				  Isaiah 65: 1-9			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, the LORD\, have made myself available\neven to those who didn’t bother to ask.\nI put myself on call\, ready and waiting\,\neven for those who were too lazy to look for me.\nI kept waving and shouting\, “Here I am!”\nto a nation who kept ignoring me.\nI kept offering the hand of friendship\, round the clock\,\nto a people who kept spitting in my face. \nTheir behaviour has gone completely off the rails\,\nand they don’t care about anything but themselves.\nThey are constantly in my face\,\nneedling me\, stirring me up.\nThey play mix-and-match religion to spite me:\nan idol from here\, a ritual from there;\na sacrifice to this\, some incense for that;\na seance in the cemetery to summon the dead. \nIf I say don’t eat something\, they eat it.\nThey’d cook and serve sewerage if they thought I’d react.\nThey promote themselves as the spiritual elite;\ntoo holy by far to mix with those they see as beneath them.\nThese people are a noxious stench.\nThey get right up my nose. \nLook\, I’ve kept a record of what they’ve done.\nI’ll publish the lot and make them pay.\nThey’ll get all they deserve with interest\,\nand an added bonus for the sins of their parents.\nI\, the LORD\, guarantee all this\,\nbecause they worship only what gives them a high\nand they spurn me to pursue their next hit.\nI will see that they cop the full consequences\nof each and every despicable act. \nBut hear this from me\, the LORD:\nthere is still some good wine in the cellar.\nAnd just as people say\,\n“Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water”\,\nso for the sake of those who still serve me\,\nI will not just wipe out the entire nation. \nFrom among Jacob’s descendants\nI will raise my true children;\nfrom the tribe of Judah\nI will raise people worthy of receiving my land.\nThose I have chosen will inherit it;\nthose who truly serve me will make their home there. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 22: 19-28			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	What are you doing\, LORD? Don’t quit on me now!\nGet your act together and come to my rescue!\nSave me before I get my throat cut\,\nbefore my body is dog meat!\nPull me out before they get their teeth into me! \nAt last! Just before the bulls ran me down\, you have rescued me.\nI won’t forget this – I’ll let everyone know.\nWhenever people gather\, I’ll be singing your praise. \nI’ll call on all who honour you\, LORD\, to stand up and say so!\nAll who trace their roots to Jacob will give you the glory!\nAll who share the heritage of Israel will stand in awe of you! \nLORD\, you did not rubbish anyone\nor blame the victims for their suffering.\nYou did not turn away or slip off quietly;\nwhen I cried for help\, you responded. \nWhenever people gather to worship\,\nmy heart overflows and I sing your praises.\nOut in the open for all to see\nI’ll do all that I promised. \nAt your table\, God\, the needy will feast;\nthose who hunger for you will be fed till they burst with praise!\nThey will be able to live it up\, now and forever! \nIn every corner of the earth people will wake up to themselves\nand turn back to you\, LORD.\nEvery race\, nation\, tribe and family\nwill offer themselves to you in worship\,\nfor you have the last word on everything;\nwhat you say goes. \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\,\nand declare to all how much you have done for us. \nSince the day you brought the earth to birth\,\nyou have been present in the sounds of sheer silence\,\nwhere deep roars to deep;\nand through your law and prophets\nyou guarded us and kept us from destruction. \nWhen we were imprisoned in condemnation\,\nchained and shackled by demons too many to name\,\nyou sent your light and truth\nin your child\, Jesus the Christ.\nHe drove our tormentors into the abyss\nand reconciled us to ourselves and to one another.\nWhen he was crucified\,\nyou raised him to new life\nand plunged us into his death\, burial and resurrection.\nNow you feed us with bread and wine\nso that we might have strength for the journey\nto the holy mountain where you make your home. \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 Son\, Jesus Christ\,\nwho drives our tormentors into the abyss\,\nreconciles us to ourselves and to one another\,\nand feeds us with bread and wine\nso that we might have strength for the journey. \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\,\nand openly declare how much you have done for us. \nSince the day you brought the earth to birth\,\nyou have been present in the sounds of sheer silence\,\nwhere deep roars to deep;\nand through your law and prophets\nyou guarded us and kept us from destruction. \nWhen we were imprisoned in condemnation\,\nchained and shackled by demons too many to name\,\nyou sent your light and truth\nin your child\, Jesus the Christ.\nHe drove our tormentors into the abyss\nand reconciled us to ourselves and to one another.\nWhen he was crucified\,\nyou raised him to new life\nand plunged us into his death\, burial and resurrection.\nNow you feed us with bread and wine\nso that we might have strength for the journey\nto the holy mountain where you make your home. \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	You are no longer judged and condemned by the law\,\nfor in Christ Jesus\, you are children of God through faith.\nYou are clothed with Christ.\nYou are heirs of the promises 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\, proclaiming to all how much Jesus has done for you.\nBe as one with each other in Christ.\nWait for the Lord\, and be ready to hear God’s voice\,\neven in the sounds of sheer silence. \nAnd may God be your fortress;\nMay Christ Jesus release you from all that torments you;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit give you light and truth\nto sustain you day and night. \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 Sounds of SilenceA sermon on 1 Kings 19: 1-18 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGetting a Make-Over for JesusA sermon on Galatians 3: 23-29 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAnniversaries\, Covenants and Driving Off DemonsA sermon on Luke 8: 26-39 & Galatians 3:23-29 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nDon’t Try This AloneA sermon on 1 Kings 19:1-15a & Luke 8: 26-39 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGrowing Up and Becoming LawlessA sermon on Galatians 3: 23-29 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen the Black Sheep is Set FreeA sermon on Luke 8: 26-39 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp07/2031-06-22/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P07.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310629T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310629T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095410
CREATED:20201113T003715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T031352Z
UID:10002967-1940457600-1940543999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 8 - 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				  2 Kings 2: 1-2\, 6-14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Shortly before the LORD sent a whirlwind to take Elijah into heaven\, Elijah and Elisha headed off on a journey from Gilgal. Elijah had tried to talk Elisha out of coming\, saying\, “The LORD wants me to go to Bethel\, but there is no need for you to come. You can stay here.” \nBut Elisha said\, “I’m sticking with you\, come hell or high water!” \nSo they travelled together down to Bethel. Elijah said\, “Elisha\, you stay put. The LORD wants me to go across the Jordan River\, but there is no need for you to come.” \nBut Elisha said\, “I’m sticking with you\, come hell or high water!” \nSo the two of them continued on together. A group of fifty prophets followed them\, keeping their distance but not letting them out of their sight. When they arrived at the Jordan River\, Elijah took off his coat\, rolled it up\, and slapped the water with it. The water immediately parted to form a dry path through the middle of the river and the two of them crossed over. When they reached the other side\, Elijah said\, “Elisha\, our time together is almost up. What would you most like me to do for you before I am taken away?” \nElisha replied\, “Please make me your successor by leaving to me the largest share of the spirit that empowers you.” \nElijah responded\, “That’s a tough ask! But if you actually see me being taken away from you\, then you’ll get your wish. If you don’t\, you’ll miss out.” \nThe two of them continued to walk along\, deep in conversation\, when suddenly a chariot of fire drawn by two blazing horses charged between them and Elijah was sucked up in a whirlwind and taken into heaven. Elisha saw the whole thing and kept crying out\, “Father! Father! You are gone with the defenders of Israel\, God’s mounted warriors!” \nWhen Elijah disappeared from sight\, Elisha was torn apart with grief. When he had pulled himself back together\, he picked up the prophet’s coat which Elijah had dropped\, and headed back to the river bank. He rolled up Elijah’s coat and\, slapping the water with it as Elijah had\, called out\, “Are you with me now LORD\, God of Elijah?” \nSure enough\, when he struck the water\, a dry path opened up through the Jordan River again\, and Elisha crossed over to the Jericho side again. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 77: 1-2\, 11-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Please God\, hear me!\nI’m crying out as loud as I can. \nI search for you in desperation\, Lord.\nDay and night I never stop reaching out for you;\nI refuse to be comforted by anyone else. \nI think back on what you’ve done in the past\, LORD;\nI remember the amazing things you did. \nI will keep these things in my mind\,\nand meditate on all your works. \nYou are in a class of your own\, God;\nNo other god even comes close. \nYou are the God who does awesome things;\nyou have come out in the open\nand shown everyone what you’re made of. \nYou rolled your sleeves up and pulled your people out of trouble\,\ncoming to our rescue like you did for our forebears\,\nJacob and Joseph. \nWhen the waters stood between us and freedom\,\nthey took one look at you\, God\, and panicked;\nthe depths shuddered with fear. \nEverything went berserk;\nthe clouds burst their seams\,\nthunder shook the skies\nand lightning bolts flashed in all directions. \nYour whirlwind came with a crash of thunder;\nyour lightning lit up the sky;\nthe earth shuddered and shook. \nYou cut a path through the raging waters;\nblazed a trail through the roaring waves;\nnot a footprint was left to show where you’d been. \nLike sheep through a gate you led your people\,\nwith Moses and Aaron showing the way. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Galatians 5: 1\, 13-25			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Christ has set us free – really free. So stand your ground on that freedom\, and don’t let anyone or anything else start dictating the limits of your life. The life of freedom into which Christ has liberated us is a wonderful thing\, but don’t make the mistake of using it as an excuse to give in to every selfish impulse. That would only lure you into an even worse slavery. Instead use your freedom to serve one another in uninhibited love. If you live by just one law – “love others as fully as you love yourself” – you won’t need to slavishly study the rest in order to comply with its requirements. The rest is just commentary. If\, on the other hand\, you use your freedom to pursue selfish ends\, you’ll become increasingly nasty and competitive with one another and end up just destroying each other. And a fat lot of good your freedom will do you then! \nHow then should you live? Dance to the Spirit’s tune\, and don’t go feeding every selfish impulse that surfaces within you\, or they’ll grow into monsters and take over your life. You see\, the problem is that a wedge has been driven between our bodily appetites and the Spirit’s desires. They now strive for quite different things and have become opponents in a struggle for your allegiance. The conflict means that you can no longer simply assume that your body will reliably tell you what’s best for you. But that doesn’t mean that you have to live your lives in slavish compliance with the law\, because there is another alternative – following the leadings of the Spirit. \nIt is quite obvious what sort of things characterise those whose lives are dictated by their bodily impulses: \n\n\n\nloveless\, trivialised sex;\npolluted minds and hearts;\ndesperate pleasure seeking;\nthe worship of possessions and power;\npersonality cults;\nvindictiveness;\nmuck-raking;\nresenting the success of others;\nseething bitterness;\nvicious bickering;\nvenomous feuding;\nparanoid sectarianism;\ntoxic rivalry;\nchronic substance abuse;\ndesperate and deluded partying;\n\n\n\nI could go on\, but you get the picture! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: those who squander their freedom on such things can kiss the realm of God goodbye. \nWhat a contrast is the life danced to the Spirit’s tune! Like a lush tropical orchard its fruits are constantly ripening: \n\n\n\nactive\, unconditional love;\ndelight at the wonder of life;\na deep inner peace that shapes all our relating;\nthe ability to persevere when results are slow;\nopen-handed compassion;\nunfeigned generosity;\nunshakable loyalty;\nunassuming consideration of others;\nthe strength to direct our energies wisely.\n\n\n\nThere is no law against such things\, and no law that could ever produce them. Everyone who belongs to Christ Jesus has handed over their selfish impulses and corrupted bodily appetites to be executed on the cross. Since we now live a new life – drawn from the Spirit – let’s see to it that we live it to the full\, by allowing the Spirit to set the agenda in every area of our lives. Let’s not go getting all up ourselves\, resentfully obsessing over the success of others and trying to get the better of one another. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 9: 51-62			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	When Jesus’s time on earth was running out\, he gritted his teeth and set out for Jerusalem. He sent some messengers on ahead to book accommodation in the towns where he would be stopping on the way. In one Samaritan town\, the locals were so hostile towards Jerusalem that when they heard that Jesus was heading there\, no one was willing to offer him a room or even a meal. Two of his followers\, James and John\, were so incensed by this that they said\, “Lord\, do you want us to call down a thunderbolt from heaven to wipe them off the map?” \nBut Jesus put the two of them back in their place in no uncertain terms and then continued on down the track to another town. \nAs they travelled\, someone approached Jesus and said\, “I will follow you\, wherever you go.” \nBut Jesus replied\, “Do you know what you’d be letting yourself in for? Dogs have their kennels and chooks have sheds\, but the New Human can’t even find a room for the night.” \nTo someone else\, Jesus made the call: “Follow me.” \nBut the man said\, “Give me time. I can’t come until my father has been buried.” \nBut Jesus dismissed his excuses\, saying\, “Get your priorities straight. You can leave the lifeless to sort out the affairs of the dead. Your business is life. Hit the road and get the message out about the culture of God.” \nSomeone else came saying\, “I’m definitely with you\, Lord\, but I just need to say my goodbyes and sort things out at home before I can join you on the road.” \nJesus replied\, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too! Either you’re with us or you’re not. You’ll be of no use to God’s bandwagon if you’re going to keep jumping off to check on things at home.” \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				  1 Kings 19: 15-16\, 19-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	On Mount Sinai\, the LORD spoke to Elijah\, saying\, “Off you go. Head back down to the desert near Damascus. When you get there\, you are to crown Hazael as the new king of Syria. Then you are to crown Jehu\, the son of Nimshi\, as the new king of Israel. Finally\, you are to appoint Elisha\, the son of Shaphat\, to be your successor as my prophet.” \nSo Elijah set out as he had been told\, and found Elisha\, the son of Shaphat. Elisha was working a paddock with a plow pulled by a pair of bullocks. He was the twelfth in a line of men\, each plowing with a pair of bullocks. Elijah picked him out and as he walked past he threw his own prophet’s coat over him. Elisha dropped what he was doing and ran after Elijah\, saying\, “Let me just go and kiss my parents goodbye\, and then I’ll come with you.” \nElijah replied\, “Off you go. Have I done anything to stop you?” \nElisha went home and severed all his ties. Burning his plow and slaughtering his bullocks\, he gave a farewell barbecue for the people he had lived and worked with. Then\, putting his old life behind him\, he hit the road with Elijah and became his apprentice. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 16			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Protect me\, God\,\nyou are my place of refuge. \nI’m acknowledging you as the one in charge\, LORD;\nyou are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. \nI delight in the company of those\nwho dedicate themselves to you;\nthey are the salt of the earth. \nThose who worship other things\nwill have nothing but grief.\nI will not buy into their futile devotions;\nI will not utter the names they revere. \nYou are all I want\, LORD\, and all I need;\nyou hold my future in your hands. \nYou mark out the best of everything for me;\nyou’ve set me up with a bright future. \nI heap accolades on you\, LORD\,\nfor you always give me wise advice;\neven in the dead of night\nyou fill my heart with your teachings. \nI’ll always stick close behind you\, LORD;\nwith you near by\,\nI’ll never be pushed off track. \nYou fill me with delight\, LORD;\njoy erupts from deep in my bones;\nmy body relaxes\, safe in your care. \nYou’ll never let the grave drag me down;\nyour faithful servants are never left for dead. \nYou set my feet on a life-giving track\, LORD.\nTo be in your presence is absolute bliss.\nAll I could dream of comes from your hand. \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 alone are holy\,\nand there are no other gods that compare with you. \nWith thanksgiving we recall your awesome deeds\,\nyour wonders of old\,\nwhen you brought forth the earth from the churning chaos;\nwhen you parted the waters and led your people to freedom;\nwhen your chariot of fire carried your prophet to glory. \nAnd especially we recall\nhow you sent your child\, Jesus Christ\,\nwho proclaimed your reign among us.\nWhen he was crucified by those who refused to accept him\,\nyou raised him to life\,\nand through him\,\ngave us a double portion of your Spirit.\nHe has rescued us from slavery\,\ncalled us to follow in his ways\,\nand set us free to bear the fruit of your Holy Spirit\,\nin love\, joy\, peace\, patience\, kindness\,\ngenerosity\, faithfulness\, gentleness and self-control. \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 awesome deeds of old\,\nand for all you are doing now through your son\, Jesus Christ:\nrescuing us from slavery;\nguiding us in his ways by your Holy Spirit;\nand bearing within us fruits of love\, joy and peace. \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 holy\,\nand there are no other gods that compare with you. \nWith thanksgiving we recall your awesome deeds\,\nyour wonders of old\,\nwhen you brought forth the earth from the churning chaos;\nwhen you parted the waters and led your people to freedom;\nwhen your chariot of fire carried your prophet to glory. \nAnd especially we recall\nhow you sent your child\, Jesus Christ\,\nwho proclaimed your reign among us.\nWhen he was crucified by those who refused to accept him\,\nyou raised him to life\,\nand through him\,\ngave us a double portion of your Spirit.\nHe has rescued us from slavery\,\ncalled us to follow in his ways\,\nand set us free to bear the fruit of your Holy Spirit\,\nin love\, joy\, peace\, patience\, kindness\,\ngenerosity\, faithfulness\, gentleness and self-control. \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 has set you free.\nStand then as free people\,\nand do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.\nYou are set free to live by the Spirit. \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 proclaim the reign of God.\nDo not let bodily desires enslave you\,\nbut live by the Spirit.\nUse your freedom to grow in love for one another. \nAnd may God reach out to you and save you;\nMay Christ Jesus give you a double portion of his Spirit;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit bear fruit within you\nand guide you in all your ways. \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\nLosing your grip or loosing your gripA sermon on Luke 9: 51-62 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat does Christ think of your body?A sermon on Galatians 5: 1\, 13-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nMaking the Most of FreedomA sermon on Galatians 5: 1\, 13-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPlowing Ahead in an Age of ViolenceA sermon on Luke 9:51-62 & Galatians 5:1\, 13-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCalling Down FireA sermon on Luke 9:51-62 & Galatians 5:1\, 13-25 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp08/2031-06-29/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P08.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310706T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310706T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20201113T013506Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T031518Z
UID:10002968-1941062400-1941148799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 9 - 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				  2 Kings 5: 1-14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The commander of the Syrian army was a man named Naaman. Naaman was very popular with his king\, because under his command\, the LORD had given Syria a string of military victories. Although he was a great soldier and a highly decorated commander\, Naaman suffered from leprosy. Naaman’s wife had a young Israelite girl among her servants who had come to Syria as a prisoner of war after a military raid. One day the girl said to her mistress\, “If only your husband could meet the prophet who lives in Samaria. I’m sure he would cure him of his leprosy.” \nNaaman spoke to the king about what the girl had said\, and the king gladly gave him leave to go. He also provided him with a letter of referral\, addressed to the king of Israel. \nNaaman headed off\, loaded up with money and expensive gifts of jewellery and fine clothing. Arriving in Israel\, he delivered the letter to the king. It read\, “The bearer of this letter is my trusted servant\, Naaman. I have sent him to you to have his leprosy cured.” \nWhen the king of Israel read the letter\, he was beside himself with fear; tearing his hair out over what to do. “What does the king of Syria think he’s doing?” he shouted. “Does he think I’m God or something\, that I can cure lepers at his request? It looks like he’s trying to pick a fight with me.” \nNews of this got to Elisha\, the prophet of God in Samaria. He sent a message to the king saying\, “Why are you tearing your hair out? Get a grip on yourself and send the man to me so that he can find out for himself that there is a real prophet in Israel.” \nSo Naaman and his whole entourage pulled up in the street outside Elisha’s house. Elisha sent an errand boy out to Naaman with a message\, saying\, “Go down to the Jordan River and wash yourself in it seven times. That will cure you and your skin will be as clean and clear as a child’s.” \nNaaman felt deeply insulted and drove off in a huff\, saying\, “You’d think that for a man of my standing he could have come out and talked to me himself. I thought that he would at least stand and call on the LORD his God\, and wave his hand over my skin to bring about the cure! What’s so special about their scummy Israelite river? Aren’t the two great rivers of Damascus much bigger and better? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” \nSo he stormed off\, seething with rage. But his servants spoke up and said\, “Sir\, if the prophet had told you to do something really difficult\, you would have done it\, wouldn’t you? So surely you have got nothing to lose but your disease if you do what he said and wash yourself in the river.” \nSo Naaman relented and\, wading out into the Jordan River\, he immersed himself seven times in the water\, just as the prophet of God had instructed him. Sure enough\, he was cured instantly\, and his skin became as clear and healthy as a child’s. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 30			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I’ll be singing your praises\, every chance I get\, LORD\,\nbecause you got me out of deep trouble\nand spared me the gloating of my enemies. \nI pleaded for help\, LORD God\,\nand you stepped in and healed me. \nThey were nearly ready to pronounce me dead\nbut your brought me back\, LORD;\nyou put me back on my feet\nwhen I was about to be carried to the morgue. \nSo I’m singing your praises\,\nand I’m encouraging everyone to do the same;\nto name you with joyful thanks. \nWe manage to get you angry at times\,\nbut it blows over in a moment\nbecause your mercy keeps on keeping on.\nWe may have an evening of bitter tears\,\nbut by morning your mercy has us smiling again. \nI was guilty of taking your goodness for granted;\nI thought I had it made.\nYou had put me on top of the world\nbut I got all too full of myself.\nYou stepped aside – made me stand alone —\nand I turned to jelly! \nI realised how much I needed you\, LORD\,\nand in my panic I begged you for mercy. \n“What good is my blood to you?” I cried.\n“How will it help if I’m in the grave?\nCan a corpse sing your praises?\nWill a gravestone publicise your goodness?\nGive me another chance\, LORD.\nPlease\, LORD\, bail me out one more time.” \nAnd sure enough\, you did\, LORD.\nYou turned my tears to laughter;\nyou set my dragging feet dancing;\nyou dusted me off and dressed me up for a party.\nSo now I’m singing your praises\nfrom the bottom of my heart\,\nand no one can shut me up! \nYou are my God\, LORD\,\nand I’m eternally grateful. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Galatians 6: (1-6)\, 7-16			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	My friends\, by God’s gift you are spiritual people\, so if there are any among you who have fallen into some sin\, the rest of you should gently help them to get back on the right track. Guard yourselves against being sucked into the same mistakes\, because no one is immune to sin. If others are struggling\, don’t be slow to get your hands dirty and help out. Pitching in to help is the only thing that measures up to the instructions and example that Christ left us. If you think it’s beneath you\, you’ve fallen for your own publicity. Make a proper assessment of the value of your own contribution by taking a good hard look at yourself and asking how your work compares to your actual potential. Don’t go getting full of yourself simply because your efforts look more impressive than someone else’s. Everyone is responsible for pulling their weight according to their own ability\, not according to someone else’s ability. Those of you who have been well trained in God’s ways are therefore expected to contribute generously to the common life of the community that has taught you\, sharing all the good things that have been formed within you. \nDon’t be conned into thinking you can play God for a sucker. What you put into life determines what you’ll get back. If your investments are all in your own selfish impulses\, they’ll pay out a dividend of degradation and misery. But if you invest yourself in the ways of the Spirit\, your investment will yield rich dividends of life without limit\, guaranteed forever by the Spirit. So let’s see that we never get tired of doing the right thing. If we don’t lose patience\, but stay in for the long term\, we will be richly rewarded. Let’s take every opportunity\, then\, to contribute our energies to making the world a better place for everybody. And as a starting point\, let’s especially care for our co-workers in the community of faith. \nTake note: I am writing here in large letters with my own hand. Those who are trying to force you into adopting their customs of circumcision and the like are only after an easy way to impress everyone with their own importance. They haven’t got the guts to risk the consequences of standing firm and saying that the cross of Christ is the be all and end all. They talk big about the circumcision law\, but they don’t obey the whole law any more than we do. They are concerned only about those laws that they will be noticed for. They want you to accept circumcision so that they can boast of you as proof of their superior convert rate. God help me if I ever boast of anything other than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of the cross\, the world is a dead thing to me\, and I’ve died to it and become completely unresponsive to its attempts to lure me into going along with its self-serving ways. The fact is that it doesn’t make the least bit of difference whether you are circumcised or not. The one thing that is of ultimate importance is the new creation that God is making of us! For all of you who accept this and live by it\, you are the the true chosen people of God\, and I pray that the riches of God’s peace and mercy will be yours. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 10: 1-11\, 16-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Taking charge\, Jesus selected a large group of his followers – as many of them as there were nations in the world – and sent them off in pairs as advance parties into all the towns and districts he was planning to pass through. \nHe gave them the following instructions: “The world is an orchard\, groaning under a bumper crop\, ripe and ready for picking; but there are hardly any workers ready to bring it in. So get in touch with the Lord of the crop\, and put in an urgent request for more workers to be sent out to do the picking. Now\, on your bikes! And keep your eyes open\, because on this job you will be like children swimming among the sharks. Travel light and live simply – no carting luggage around and no wasting time swapping travel stories with everyone you bump into on the road. If anyone invites you to stay in their home\, pray openly for God to bless their household with peace. If they are peace-loving people\, they will benefit from your prayer. If they are not\, you haven’t lost anything. Stay in the same house until it’s time to move on. As workers\, you’ve earned your keep\, so eat and drink whatever your hosts provide\, and don’t go fussing about dietary customs. No shopping around for a better place! \n“If you arrive in a town and the locals welcome you\, be gracious guests and accept their hospitality\, whether their food appeals to you or not. Heal anyone in the town who is sick\, and announce that the culture of God is close at hand among them. If you arrive in a town and the locals refuse to welcome you\, then stand in the main street and say\, ‘We are scratching your name off our map because of what you have done. The culture of God has come within reach right here\, but you’ve shut it out.’ \n“Whoever listens to what you have to say is listening to me. Those who give you the cold shoulder are giving me the cold shoulder\, and if they’re giving me the cold shoulder they are doing the same to the One who sent me.” \nSo off they went in pairs\, the whole group of them\, and when they returned they were ecstatic. “Lord\,” they said\, “when we called the shots on your authority\, even the demons fell into line!” \nJesus replied\, “Yes\, I was watching\, and I saw the satan knocked off his perch and fall out of the sky like a bolt of lightning. You see\, the world is full of snakes and sharks\, but I have given you the ability to stand against them\, and against all the power of the enemy\, and they can do you no real harm. All the same\, the most exciting news for you is not that evil will give way to you\, but that your names are on the books in the pay office of heaven.” \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				  Isaiah 66: 10-14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Celebrate! Shout with joy\nall you who love Jerusalem.\nAll you who have shed tears over her\,\nit is time to share her joy.\nNow you can snuggle in close to her\,\nand be nourished at her comforting bosom.\nYou can drink deeply\nfrom her wonderful breasts. \nThis is what the LORD says:  \nI will make Jerusalem prosper like river in flood.\nThe world’s riches will overflow their banks\nand pour into her. \nJerusalem shall nurse you like a newborn;\nhold you in her arms and bounce you on her knee. \nI will comfort you there\nlike a mother comforting her own child. \nWhen you see all this\, your hearts will burst with joy.\nEven your bodies will feel rejuvenated\,\nlike grass springing up in the Autumn rains. \nIt will be clear to all that I\, the LORD\, am taking sides;\nfavouring those who serve me\nover those who oppose me. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 66: 1-9			\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. \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 have raised us up as a new creation\nand written our names in the book of life. \nYou created the earth in your goodness\nand its plentiful harvest feeds your creatures.\nThrough the law and prophets you revealed yourself\nas the God who heals us and makes us whole. \nWhen we had sown the seeds of destruction\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\, among us\nto sow seeds of peace\,\nbearing our burdens\nand immersing us in your healing waters.\nWhen he was rejected and nailed to the cross\,\nthe world was crucified to us\,\nand us to the world.\nYou pulled him back from the place of the dead\nand robed him in glory.\nNow you send us as labourers into the harvest\,\nto proclaim your nearness\,\nand to reap eternal life in your 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 thank you that you have raised us up as a new creation\,\nwritten our names in the book of life\,\nand sent us as labourers into the harvest\,\nto proclaim your nearness\,\nto immerse people into your healing waters\,\nand to reap eternal life in your 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 have raised us up as a new creation\nand written our names in the book of life. \nYou created the earth in your goodness\nand its plentiful harvest feeds your creatures.\nThrough the law and prophets you revealed yourself\nas the God who heals us and makes us whole. \nWhen we had sown the seeds of destruction\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\, among us\nto sow seeds of peace\,\nbearing our burdens\nand immersing us in your healing waters.\nWhen he was rejected and nailed to the cross\,\nthe world was crucified to us\,\nand us to the world.\nYou pulled him back from the place of the dead\nand robed him in glory.\nNow you send us as labourers into the harvest\,\nto proclaim your nearness\,\nand to reap eternal life in your 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	Our God is an awesome God\,\nwhose anger passes quickly\nand whose mercy lasts a lifetime.\nRejoice then\, for your names are written in heaven. \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 proclaim that the reign of God is near.\nTravel lightly\, but bear one another’s burdens\,\nand so fulfil the law of Christ.\nWork for the good of all\,\navoid temptation\,\nand pray that God will send more labourers into the harvest. \nAnd may God give you mercy and peace;\nMay Christ Jesus give you power over all that would harm you;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit produce within you\na rich harvest of joy and life. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nMission Insignificant?A sermon on Luke 10: 1-11\, 16-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nKeep it simple\, StupidA sermon on 2 Kings 5: 1-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nToo Simple to BotherA sermon on 2 Kings 5: 1-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCrucifying the Domesticated GospelA sermon on Galatians 6:1-16 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGod’s DreamA sermon on Galatians 6:1-16 by Paul Dekar\n\n\n\nGo in PeaceA sermon on 2 Kings 5: 1-14 & Galatians 6: 1-16 by Ian Cook\n\n\n\nTaking Pride in the Cross of Jesus ChristA sermon on Galatians 6:1-16 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nBringing Satan Crashing DownA sermon on Luke 10: 1-11\, 16-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nQuestions on MissionA sermon on Luke 10: 1-11\, 16-20 by Michael Wood
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp09/2031-07-06/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310713T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310713T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20201115T042237Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T032615Z
UID:10002969-1941667200-1941753599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 10 - 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				  Amos 7: 7-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God gave me a vision. I saw the Lord holding a plumb line against a wall to see whether it was straight. As I looked\, the LORD said to me\, “Amos\, what do you see?” \nI answered\, “A plumb line.” \nThen the LORD said: \n“I am using this plumb line\nto show how crooked my people Israel have become.\nI will not turn a blind eye again.\nThe private shrines of Isaac’s descendant will be flattened.\nIsrael’s so-called sacred sites will be scorched earth.\nI will declare war on the royal family of Jeroboam.” \nAmos was getting into hot water over his preaching. Amaziah\, the priest at the shrine in Bethel\, sent a message to Jeroboam\, the King of Israel\, saying\, “Amos is sowing the seeds of rebellion right in the heart of Israel. All his talk of doom and gloom will paralyse the nation. Have you heard what he is saying about you? \n‘Jereboam will be killed\,\nand the people of Israel\nwill be marched off into exile in a far off land.’” \nAmaziah also tried to send Amos away himself\, saying\, “Hey preacher-man\, get out of town! Buzz off back to Judah where you came from and ply your trade there. Harangue them with your prophesies\, but don’t open your mouth here in Bethel again. This is the royal chapel – the King’s worship place – and we don’t need your kind around here.” \nBut Amos answered back\, “I am no professional preacher; nor was I raised to be a preacher. I was happy making my living droving cattle and cutting timber. But the LORD called me in from the bush and said\, ‘Go and preach to my people Israel.’ \n“Now hear what the LORD has to say to you: \n‘You are giving orders against preaching to Israel;\ncensoring the message meant for Isaac’s descendants. \nThis is how the LORD says you’ll pay when the land is invaded:\nYour wife will be forced into prostitution in the city.\nYour children will be slaughtered.\nYour family land will be subdivided and sold.\nYou yourself will die in a filthy refugee camp\,\nand Israel will be marched across the border into exile.’” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 82			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Take action\, God!\nPass sentence on all those who judge and rule the earth. \nCall them to account for their unjust decisions;\nexpose their links to corruption and crime. \nOrder them to hand down justice to the deprived and abused\,\nand to protect the rights of those seeking refuge. \nCommand them to represent the needy and the vulnerable\,\nand to side with them against those who exploit them. \nThese judges and rulers don’t understand or care\, God;\nthey’ve got their heads in the sand\nwhile the world falls apart around them. \nYou\, God\, elevated them to office\,\nand delegated your authority to them;\nbut they have betrayed your trust\nand will die disgraced. \nTake action\, God!\nCome and judge the earth!\nReassert your control over all your nations! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Colossians 1: 1-14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Dear Christians in Colossae — you who are united in faithfully following Christ. This letter comes to you from me\, Paul\, and from Timothy. I was chosen by God to be a special ambassador of Christ Jesus\, and Timothy is one of my partners in this work. We greet you as God’s own children and wish you all the best — God’s love and peace. \nWe pray for you often\, and whenever we do we find ourselves expressing our deep gratitude to God\, the loving Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You see\, we are so thrilled about all the good things we have been hearing about you. We have heard reports of your trust in Christ Jesus. We have heard of your active love for all God’s people. We recognise these things as evidence that you really have cottoned on to the nature of the wonderful future God has promised you. You first caught wind of this promised future when the great news about God’s love reached you and you recognised it as the truth. The moment you heard it\, it dawned on you just how outrageously generous God is\, and ever since then the truth has been taking root within you and growing out through every area of your life\, bearing a rich harvest of good fruits\, just as it has been all over the world. It was our good mate Epaphras who first taught you these things. We love him greatly and are proud to work for Christ alongside him. He has represented us faithfully in his work for Christ among you\, and it was him who brought us such enthusiastic reports about the love being generated from your life in the Spirit. \nFrom the moment we heard them\, these reports have been inspiring us to pray for you all the time. We are praying that you will be given a full picture of what God wants\, and that you will grow wise and perceptive — aware of what the Spirit is doing. Then you will get to know God better and better\, and it will be reflected in you lives — giving credit to Christ — as you bear fruit in compassionate action for the benefit of others. We are also 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. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 10: 25-37			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	One of the legal experts asked Jesus a question to test his knowledge of the religious law. “Teacher\,” he asked\, “what do I need to do to inherit life without limit from God?” \nJesus replied with a question of his own: “What answer does the religious law give? What do you see written there?” \nThe legal expert answered\, “You must love the Lord your God with everything you are\, with all your heart and soul and mind and strength; and love your neighbour as attentively as you love yourself.” \n“Spot on!” said Jesus. “Do as it says and you will live.” \nBut the legal expert needed to push the issue in order to justify his question\, so he asked\, “But who would you define as a neighbour?” \nJesus replied with a story: “A man was travelling alone down the mountain road between Jerusalem and Jericho. He was mugged by a gang of thugs. They tore off all his clothes and possessions\, bashed him senseless\, and left him for dead. Some time later\, a priest came down the road\, but when he saw the man lying unconscious in the gutter\, he crossed the road\, pretended not to notice\, and hurried on past. Another person from a religious order did exactly the same thing; took one look at him\, crossed the road\, and hurried past. The next traveller to come down the road was a man from a despised and distrusted minority group – the Samaritans. When he saw the half dead man lying in the gutter\, he was deeply concerned and immediately stopped to help. He cleaned and disinfected his wounds\, and bandaged him up to stop the bleeding. Then he gave him a lift to the next town. He checked him into the little bush hospital there and made sure he was okay. Before leaving he paid for the man’s bed and instructed them to care for him there until he was back up and about. He promised that on his return he would pick up the bill for any additional costs that might be incurred. Now\, which of these three\, in your estimation\, was a neighbour to the man who was bashed on the road? \nThe legal expert\, of course\, replied\, “The one who treated him with compassion.” \nJesus said to him\, “Go and follow his example.” \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				  Deuteronomy 30: 9-14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	If you turn your lives around and commit yourselves completely — heart and soul — to the LORD your God\, and live by all the instructions written in The Book of God’s Law\, then the LORD your God will make sure that everything you do prospers. Everything you touch will turn to gold: your children will be many; your livestock will be healthy and multiplying; and your crop-lands will be fertile and productive. The LORD enjoyed blessing the endeavours of your ancestors and will take just as much pleasure in blessing everything you do. \nSurely what the LORD is telling you today is not beyond you or too tough for you. It is not as though it is a bunch of secrets kept in heaven and you can excuse yourselves on the grounds that it is out of reach and no one can explain to you how to live by it. Neither is it bound up in some foreign language and culture; so you can’t excuse yourselves on the grounds that it can only be understood and practised by those who can travel overseas to study it. No\, God’s Word is right here in your midst. You know it by heart and can speak it fluently. All you have to do is live by it! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 25:1-10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I gladly offer you everything I am\, LORD . \nI have put my trust in you\, God;\nplease don’t let me down;\ndon’t give my enemies grounds to gloat. \nBe there for those who hang in there for you\, no matter what:\ndon’t leave them with egg on their faces.\nSave that for the two-faced scabs who deserve it. \nLet me in on your way of doing things\, LORD;\nteach me how to follow your tracks. \nSteer me along your ways of truth\, and teach me all about them.\nOnly you can save me from disaster\, God\,\nso I’ll wait for you before setting out. \nYour love and mercy have been as timeless and dependable as the rock;\nplease don’t change your mind about them now! \nDon’t keep a record of everything I’ve done wrong in the past.\nLet your unshakable love colour your view of me\,\nand keep your reputation for generosity intact! \nYou always do what is good and right\, LORD\,\nand so you patiently retrain those who do wrong. \nYou pilot a safe course for those who are not too full of themselves;\nyou give lessons on your ways to the humble folk. \nEvery path you tread\, LORD\, is marked by solid love and loyalty\nfor the benefit of all who keep our end of the bargain with you. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\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 come to us as a neighbour\,\nbinding our wounds and carrying us to safety. \nIn the beginning\, you created light from darkness\nand the earth from chaos.\nYou sent prophets among your people\nto hold up a plumbline\nthat we might see the error of our ways\,\nrepent\, and bring justice and freedom\nfor the dispossessed and the vulnerable. \nYou have sent us the Word of truth\,\nin your child\, Jesus the Christ.\nHe was crucified\, but you raised him to life\nwith the strength of your glorious power.\nNow his words are bearing fruit among us\,\nfilling us with all wisdom and understanding\nand enabling us to love you with all our heart\, soul and mind\,\nand to love our neighbour with the same love\nthat that you have shown us in Christ. \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 coming to us as a neighbour\,\nbinding our wounds and carrying us to safety\,\nso that we might love you with all our heart\, soul and mind\,\nand love our neighbour as ourselves. \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 come to us as a neighbour\,\nbinding our wounds and carrying us to safety. \nIn the beginning\, you created light from darkness\nand the earth from chaos.\nYou sent prophets among your people\nto hold up a plumbline\nthat we might see the error of our ways\,\nrepent\, and bring justice and freedom\nfor the dispossessed and the vulnerable. \nYou have sent us the Word of truth\,\nin your child\, Jesus the Christ.\nHe was crucified\, but you raised him to life\nwith the strength of your glorious power.\nNow his words are bearing fruit among us\,\nfilling us with all wisdom and understanding\nand enabling us to love you with all our heart\, soul and mind\,\nand to love our neighbour with the same love\nthat that you have shown us in 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©2001 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 rescued us from the power of darkness\nand brought us safe into the Kingdom of Christ Jesus.\nIn him\, and through him we have redemption\nand 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 and live lives worthy of the Lord.\nLove God with all your heart\, soul\, mind and strength\nand bear fruit in every good work\,\nputting love and mercy into action for others\njust as you would for yourselves. \nAnd may God’s glorious power make you strong;\nMay Christ Jesus fill you with wisdom and understanding;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit prepare you for the hope\nthat is laid up for you in heaven. \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\nWho is my neighbour?A sermon on Amos 7:10-15; Luke 10:25-37 & Colossians 1:13-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat do Jesus and a Plumbline have in Common?A sermon on Amos 7:10-15 & Luke 10:25-37 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nMysticism and Prophesy: the intimate connectionA sermon on Amos 7.7-17 & Luke 10. 25-37 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nA New CitizenshipA sermon on Luke 10:25-37 & Colossians 1:13-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Measure to Live ByA sermon on Amos 7:10-15; Luke 10:25-37 & Colossians 1:13-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIt all depends how you look at itA sermon on Amos 7:10-15; Luke 10:25-37 & Colossians 1:13-14 by Sylvia Sandeman\n\n\n\nMaking and Unmaking NobodiesA sermon on Luke 10:25-37 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSchooled in Love and LimitsA sermon on Luke 10:25-37 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNot in my neighbourhood and other ways to avoid being a good SamaritanA sermon on Luke 10:25-37 by Sandra McLean
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp10/2031-07-13/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P10.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310720T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310720T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20210503T055030Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250824T121141Z
UID:10002970-1942272000-1942358399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 11 - 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				  Amos 8: 1-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The Lord GOD showed me a basket of freshly picked quince and asked\, “Amos\, what do you see?”\nI answered\, “A basket of quince.” \nThen the LORD said: \n“I am calling it quits with my people Israel.\nI will not turn a blind eye again.\nI\, the Lord GOD\, say that on that day\,\ninstead of singing in the temple\nthey will be sobbing and howling.\nThe city will be littered with bodies;\ntoo many to bury.\nSo shut up and listen to me! \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. \nThink about it and mourn\,\nfor it will pull the bottom out of your world.\nIt will devastate you like a flood\,\nsweeping everything away and leaving nothing but mud. \n“I\, the Lord GOD\, say that on that day\,\nI will black out the sun in the middle of the day\nand turn broad daylight into deepest darkness. \n“I will make that day as bitter for you\nas if your son and his bride had died at the altar.\nYour parties will become wakes.\nYour dance music will become a dirge.\nYour suits and frocks will all be sombre grey\nand you will tear your hair out. \n“I\, the Lord GOD\, can assure you of this\,\nthat the time is coming when everyone will be starving;\nhungering and thirsting\, not for bread and water\,\nbut for a word from me\, the LORD. \n“They will wander in confusion across the land\,\nfrom coast to coast\, from mountain to desert\,\ndesperately seeking a place where I can be heard\,\nbut they will find nothing but my silence.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 52			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Why\, God\, do powerful people boast of evil\nwhen your love can be trusted day after day? \nThey fill their time planning acts of destruction. \nThey wield words like weapons\,\nback-stabbing anyone who gets in their way. \nThey prize evil\, and discredit good;\nthey reward cunning lies\, and despise the truth. \nThey lust after dirt – fact or fiction —\nthat will give them the power to destroy someone. \nCut them down to size\, God!\nTear them from their pedestals!\nUproot them and toss them out to die! \nThose who trust your love and walk the straight and narrow\nwill watch in awe as you deal with them.\nThey will laugh and say:\n“See what happens to those who back the wrong horse;\ntrusting their money and power\ninstead of finding their strength in God.” \nWe put our trust in your rock-solid love\, God\,\nknowing it will last forever.\nWe sink our roots deeply into the soil of your presence\nand flourish like a well tended tree. \nWe will never stop thanking you\nfor all you have done.\nWe will enjoy the company of those who are loyal to you\,\nand give due honour to your good name. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Colossians 1: 15-28			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus 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. \nYou yourselves are a good example of what this is all about. You used to be at odds with God. Your attitude to God was hostile and your conduct was corrupt. But Christ took action to reconcile you to God\, even putting his own body on the line to see the job through. It cost him his life\, but Christ succeeded in getting you back on side with God. Now you can stand before God with your heads held high as though you had never set a foot wrong in your lives and your every thought\, word and deed had been above reproach. This is\, of course\, assuming that you stay firmly on track and rock-solid in the faith now\, and that you don’t give up hope and turn your backs on all that you have been promised. These promises were contained in the message you heard; a message which has been announced to every creature in the universe; a message which I am dedicated to serving.\nI wear my present suffering gladly\, as a badge of honour\, because I know that it is the price of getting the message out to you. For the sake of Christ’s body – the church – I’m happy to suffer in my own body anything that will contribute to the completion of the business left unfinished in Christ’s copping of abuse. For your benefit\, God commissioned me to serve the church by making God’s message fully known for the first time. Throughout history\, the world has been in the dark about this mystery\, but now it has been made as clear as day to God’s people. God decided to let them in on the whole fabulous picture – the wondrous mystery of the means by which God’s love embraces everyone\, regardless of race or religion. And what is revealed is simply that Christ is in you. And because Christ is in you\, you can confidently expect to share in the glory of Christ’s future. It is Christ\, and Christ alone\, that we are on about all the time. We preach Christ to everyone\, warning them and teaching them with all the wisdom we can muster\, so as to help them grow to the fullness of their potential as people of maturity and integrity – the spitting image of Christ! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 10: 38-42			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	On their way to Jerusalem\, Jesus and his followers passed through a certain village and accepted the invitation of a woman named Martha to share a meal in her home. Martha had a sister named Mary\, who sat down on the floor the moment Jesus arrived and hung on every word he said. Martha\, on the other hand\, was trying to do everything and was getting more and more flustered about it. She came in and said to Jesus\, “Lord\, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left all the work to me? Tell her to get off her butt and give me a hand.” \nBut the Lord answered\, “Martha\, Martha\, you are letting so many things stress you out. There is really only one thing that everyone needs. Mary has made the right choice and it is not going to be taken away from her.” \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 18: 1-10a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	One blazing hot summer afternoon\, Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent\, when the LORD appeared to him. Looking up\, Abraham saw three strangers approaching him. He immediately jumped up and hurried to welcome them as honoured guests. He said\, “Please allow me the honour of sharing the hospitality of my home with you. Come in. Take a bath. Put your feet up for a bit. Let me serve you up a meal so that you can leave refreshed and strengthened. I would count it a favour to have the opportunity to serve you in this way.” \nSo they said\, “Thank you\, we accept.” \nAbraham hurried into the tent and said\, “Sarah. Quick! Knock up a batch of scones while I organise the barbecue.” \nThen he ran out to his grazing herd and butchered a prime calf. He instructed one of his workers to prepare the best cuts for the barbecue. When it was all ready\, he served it up for his guests with a yoghurt dip and plenty to drink\, and waited on them while they ate. \nDuring the meal\, they said to him\, “Where is your wife\, Sarah?” \nAbraham replied\, “She’s inside; in the tent.” \nThen one of the three said\, “Mark my words! I’ll be back this way in about a year’s time\, and by then your wife Sarah will have a son.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, who is welcome at your table?\nWho can stay in the place you call your own? \nYou have given us the answer\, LORD.\nIt is those who walk with integrity\nand do the right thing;\nthose who speak the honest truth\nand do not use their words to wound;\nthose who do not exploit their friends\nor put down their neighbours.\nIt is those who hate corruption\nand look up to those who honour you\, LORD;\nthose who give their word\nand stand by it even if it costs them;\nthose who lend freely\, without seeking a profit\,\nand cannot be bribed into shafting the innocent. \nYou honour such people\, LORD\,\nand anchor them on unshakable ground. \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 have revealed to us the mystery\,\nhidden throughout the ages\,\nwhich is Christ in us\, the hope of glory. \nIn him\, you created heaven and earth\,\nand in him\, all things are held together.\nThrough your law and prophets you called us to your ways\,\nand when you saw the needy trampled and the poor ruined\,\nyou punished us with a famine of hearing your word. \nBut in Christ — your image made visible —\nyou have reached out even to those who did evil\,\ncalling us to sit at your feet\nand listen to your words of peace.\nWhen his blood was poured out in death on the cross\,\nyou raised him as firstborn from the dead\,\nreconciling all things to yourself in him\nand establishing us securely\nin the faith and hope of the gospel. \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 revealing to us\nthe mystery\, hidden throughout the ages:\nChrist in us\, the hope of glory\,\nreconciling all things to you\nand establishing us securely\nin the faith and hope of the gospel. \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 revealed to us the mystery\,\nhidden throughout the ages\,\nwhich is Christ in us\, the hope of glory. \nIn him\, you created heaven and earth\,\nand in him\, all things are held together.\nThrough your law and prophets you called us to your ways\,\nand when you saw the needy trampled and the poor ruined\,\nyou punished us with a famine of hearing your word. \nBut in Christ — your image made visible —\nyou have reached out even to those who did evil\,\ncalling us to sit at your feet\nand listen to your words of peace.\nWhen his blood was poured out in death on the cross\,\nyou raised him as firstborn from the dead\,\nreconciling all things to yourself in him\nand establishing us securely\nin the faith and hope of the gospel. \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	Though we were once estranged from God\,\nChrist has now reconciled us in his own body\,\nso as to present us holy\, blameless and irreproachable\ninto the presence 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\, trusting in God’s love forever\nand always giving thanks.\nDo not be worried or distracted\,\nnor shift from the hope promised in the gospel\,\nbut choose the better way\,\nuprooting injustice\nand proclaiming Christ with all wisdom. \nAnd may God establish you securely in the faith;\nMay Christ Jesus make you holy and blameless before God;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit raise you to maturity in Christ. \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 image-consciousness is okayA sermon on Colossians 1:15-28 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nReconciliation – Are the Bible and the News talking about the same thing?A sermon on Colossians 1:15-28 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Body of Christ as PainbearerA sermon on Colossians 1:15-28 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSeething Silence and Furious LoveA sermon on Amos 8: 1-12 & Luke 10:38-42 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nOne Thing Is NeededA sermon on Luke 10:38-42 by Daniel Bullock\n\n\n\nIt’s all about WomenA sermon on Luke 10:38-42 by Sylvia Sandeman\n\n\n\nMaking Martha WholeA sermon on Luke 10:38-42 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nTurned AroundA sermon on Luke 10:38-42 by Chris Anderson
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp11/2031-07-20/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310727T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310727T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20210504T020424Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250824T120743Z
UID:10002971-1942876800-1942963199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 12 - 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				  Hosea 1: 2-10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	When Hosea was first called to be the LORD'S mouthpiece\, the LORD said to him\, “Hosea\, Israel has been as unfaithful to me as a wife who has sex with anyone willing to pay. Since you are to represent me\, go and take a prostitute as your wife\, and have children with her\, even though you’ll always wonder if they are really yours.” \nSo Hosea went and married a prostitute named Gomer\, the daughter of Diblaim. Gomer fell pregnant and soon they had a baby boy. \nThe LORD said to Hosea\, “You are to name your son Jezreel\, after the site of the infamous massacre. It won’t be long now before I will punish the royal family of King Jehu for that massacre. The kingdom of Israel will be destroyed. When that day comes\, I will smash their weapons to pieces right there in the Jezreel valley.” \nGomer fell pregnant again and gave birth to a baby girl. This time the LORD said to Hosea\, “You are to name your daughter ‘No-mercy’. I’ve had a gutful of the people of Israel. I will no longer have mercy on them. I am not forgiving them any more. The people of Judah still belong to me and I will be merciful to them. Their defence systems\, armies and weapons won’t save them\, but I\, the LORD their God\, will save them myself.” \nAfter she had weaned No-mercy\, Gomer fell pregnant again and gave birth to another baby boy. The LORD said to Hosea\, “You are to name this one ‘Not-mine’\, because these people are not mine any more\, and I am no longer their God. Nevertheless\, it will not always be that way. One day Israel will flourish in such numbers that trying to count them would be like trying to count the grains of sand on the beach. And\, in the very same place where they were known as ‘Not-mine’\, they will once again be known as ‘Children of the living God.’” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 85			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, you smiled on your land\nand brought back the good times for your people. \nYou struck out the record of our guilt\nand pardoned all we had done wrong. \nYou swallowed your rage\,\nunclenched your fists\, and cooled down. \nYes God\, you have saved us before\,\nand now we need your help again.\nPut aside the anger we caused you\, LORD\,\nand help us get back on track. \nYou won’t maintain your rage forever\, will you?\nSurely you won’t burn with anger\, year after year? \nWouldn’t it be better to put us back on our feet\nand have us trumpeting your goodness? \nLet us in on your rock-solid love\, LORD.\nSave us and give us a fresh start. \nWe are eager to hear all you have to say\, LORD God\,\nfor your words bring peace and wellbeing\nto those who stick with you\nand leave behind their foolish ways. \nSurely for all who respect you\,\nthe life you saved us for is within reach.\nOur land will be ablaze with your presence. \nWhat a life it will be!\nLove and loyalty will link arms;\njustice and peace will become lovers. \nFaithfulness will sprout and reach for the sky;\nintegrity will beam down on the earth. \nYou will give us every good thing\, LORD\,\nand the land will give bumper crops. \nJustice and integrity will spring up as you approach\,\nlining the road to welcome you among us. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Colossians 2: 6-15\, (16-19)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Stay on track! You received Christ Jesus the Lord; now follow through on your good start. Put down deep roots and draw on Christ in everything you do. Make Christ the foundation on which you build your lives. See that your faith grows strong and stable\, just as you were taught\, and you will always be thankful. \nDon’t let anyone entangle you with highfalutin theories and intellectual clap-trap. There are plenty of exotic sounding spiritualities on offer; all claiming to enable you to achieve harmony with the psychic forces or spirit-powers that control the destiny of the cosmos. They contain enough truth to be very persuasive\, but they skirt around the truth of Christ. It is in Christ that God is fully present as a human being\, and accessible to you. It is in Christ that your progress into the fullness of human potential is made. And it is in Christ that you will find the real nerve centre of the cosmos. \nIt is also in Christ that you were marked out as people who belong to God\, not by going under the knife in a physical circumcision\, but by going under Christ’s knife to have your selfish compulsions cut away. This\, of course\, was still a physical action\, because it was in baptism that your old lives were lowered into the grave with Christ\, and it was from the waters of baptism that you were raised\, with Christ\, to new life; having entrusted yourself to the same life-giving power by which God raised Christ from the dead. Prior to that\, you were as good as dead\, because your actions and your hearts made it clear that you did not belong to God\, but God set about making you fully alive again\, together with Christ. God forgave all that you had done wrong\, and cancelled out all record of your offences and the punishments pending\, by adding it all to the conviction sheet of someone who had already been executed — namely Jesus Christ! Dying and rising\, Christ publicly exposed as a sham the claims of the various psychic forces and spirit-powers to be controlling the destiny of the cosmos. Christ’s resurrection triumph made a mockery of them. \nSo then\, do not let anybody put you down as spiritually inferior for not conforming to their prescriptions about abstaining from certain foods or drinks\, or not observing their particular sacred days or festivals. These sorts of things are a bit like travel brochures: they may whet your appetite for what’s ahead\, but they are nothing like actually arriving there. Christ is the reality we are looking forward to — the be all and end all — so you can take or leave the various traditions or disciplines that\, at best\, just point you in the right direction. Do not tolerate anyone advocating that you should be excluded unless you do everything their way and join them in their punishing self-disciplines and their obsession with pandering to angels. They go on and on about how all these things were communicated to them in supernatural visions\, but they are a lot of hot air. Their minds are actually stuck in an all-too-human rut because they have lost touch with the nerve-centre of true spirituality\, namely Christ. It is only the impulses that come from Christ the head that enable us\, the body\, to function and grow as a healthy whole in the way God intended for us. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 11: 1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	One day\, Jesus had set aside some time and space to pray. When he had finished\, one of his followers said to him\, “Lord\, John taught his followers how to pray. Please do the same for us.” \nSo Jesus said to them\, “Here is a model prayer for you to use when you pray: \nFather\, may your name be kept sacred.\nMay everything be brought under your rule.\nGive us enough food for each day.\nForgive us the things we have done wrong\,\njust as we forgive those who owe us anything.\nAnd don’t push us beyond our limits.” \nJesus went on to say\, “Imagine if friends from out of town dropped in without warning late one night\, and you didn’t even have enough in the cupboard to offer them a sandwich. So you knock on your next-door-neighbour’s door and call out\, ‘Please be a mate and lend me a few things from your kitchen to feed my unexpected guests.’ But your neighbour yells back from inside saying\, ‘Don’t hassle me with your problems. Its after midnight. We’ve already gone to bed and the kids are asleep. There’s no way I’m getting up for you or anyone.’ But let me tell you this; he might not get up and help just because he thinks that’s what mates do\, but if you stick to your guns and make a scene for long enough\, he will eventually get up and give you whatever you need just to shut you up! \n“So\, what I am telling you is this: \nIf you want to be given something\, keep on asking for it.\nIf you want to find something\, keep on searching for it.\nIf you want a door to open for you\, keep on knocking at it. \n“That’s the way it is. All who keep on asking will receive. All who keep on searching will find. And all who keep on knocking will have the door opened for them. Think about it. None of you parents would ever put a live snake in your child’s lunch box\, would you? If your child asked for a piece of chocolate\, you wouldn’t pop a funnel-web in her mouth\, would you? You lot might score a lot more points for selfishness than you do for generous love\, but you still care enough to want to provide the best for your own children. So surely you can see that God\, the ultimate parent\, will be all the more eager to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.” \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 18: 20-32			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The LORD said to Abraham\, “The reports I am hearing about the people of Sodom and Gomorrah are full of allegations of callous depravity and corruption. I have decided to go down and see for myself whether the situation is really as horrendous as the reports make out. Perhaps the people are really not so bad\, but I need to know.” \nSo the visitors set off in the direction of Sodom\, leaving Abraham in the presence of the LORD. Abraham turned to the LORD and said\, “Surely you wouldn’t just wipe out everybody; the good along with the bad? What if there are fifty decent\, honest people in the city? Will you still go ahead and wipe out the city instead of sparing it for the sake of the fifty good people who live there? Far be it from you to be so indiscriminate\, to lump the good people in with the evil\, and punish them all the same. How could you? You are the one who sits in judgment over all the earth; surely you must be seen to be fair in your own actions.” \nThe LORD replied\, “If I find fifty decent\, honest people in Sodom\, I will pardon the whole city for their sake.” \nAbraham spoke up again\, saying\, “I know I am way out of line challenging you\, Lord — mere mortal that I am — but what if the count falls five short? Would five people make such a difference that you would go ahead and destroy the whole city?” \nThe LORD replied\, “I will hold fire if I find forty-five decent people.” \nAbraham pressed on: “What if you could only find forty there?” \nThe LORD replied\, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” \nThen Abraham said\, “Forgive me for pushing the issue\, Lord\, but what if you can only rustle up thirty?” \nThe LORD replied\, “I will hold fire if I find thirty of them.” \n“Maybe I’m pushing my luck\, speaking to you like this\, Lord\,” said Abraham\, “but let’s say you found only twenty. What then?” \nThe LORD replied\, “For the sake of twenty I will spare the city.” \nAbraham said\, “Lord\, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time; but what if you can find only ten good people in Sodom?” \n“Then for the sake of those ten\,” the LORD answered\, “I will not destroy the city.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 138			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Thank you\, LORD\, thank you!\nThank you\, from the bottom of my heart!\nI will stand and sing your praises\nin the face of every would-be god! \nWherever I am\, I turn towards your holy Temple\nand fall to my knees in gratitude\,\nthanking you for your rock-solid love and loyalty;\nWith everything you say and everything you do\nyour reputation continues to go through the roof.\nThe minute I called\, you were there for me\,\nyou put steel in my spine\,\ngave me the guts to go on. \nWhen the things you have been saying sink in\, LORD\,\nall the earth’s powerful rulers will give credit to you.\nThey’ll join the party\, singing and dancing in your honour\,\ncelebrating the wonderful things you do. \nAs great as you are\,\nyou never think of ordinary people as beneath you\,\nbut you don’t waste your time\non those who are pretentious and stuck-up. \nAlthough I must often walk into dangerous situations\,\nyou protect me from hatred and hostility;\nyour invisible hand is always there\, keeping me safe. \nYou\, LORD\, have made plans for me\nand you will see them through to completion.\nYour love is as timeless and dependable as the rock;\nyou have made us what we are\nand you never give up on us. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\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 hallow your name throughout the earth\,\nfor in you love and fidelity embrace\,\npeace and justice kiss. \nWhen you created the earth and poured out your riches\nthe land sprang to life with good gifts for all.\nWhen we prostituted ourselves\nto the ruling spirits of the world\,\nyou loved us still\, and sent your prophets to call us back. \nIn your child\, Jesus\,\nyour divine nature has indwelt humanity.\nNailed to the cross\, he cancelled the record of our sin\,\nand when we were buried with him in baptism\,\nyou raised us with him\nthrough faith in your active power.\nNow to all who seek and ask\,\nyou give the gift of life\,\nholding us together in Christ’s body\,\nnourishing us daily with the bread of life\nand calling us “Children of the living God.” \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 to all who seek and ask\,\nyou give the gift of full life\,\nholding us together in Christ’s body\,\nnourishing us daily with the bread of life\nand calling us “Children of the living God.” \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\,\nand hallow your name throughout the earth\,\nfor in you love and fidelity embrace\,\npeace and justice kiss. \nWhen you created the earth and poured out your riches\nthe land sprang to life with good gifts for all.\nWhen we prostituted ourselves\nto the ruling spirits of the world\,\nyou loved us still\, and sent your prophets to call us back. \nIn your child\, Jesus\,\nyour divine nature has indwelt humanity.\nNailed to the cross\, he cancelled the record of our sin\,\nand when we were buried with him in baptism\,\nyou raised us with him\nthrough faith in your active power.\nNow to all who seek and ask\,\nyou give the gift of life\,\nholding us together in Christ’s body\,\nnourishing us daily with the bread of life\nand calling us “Children of the living God.” \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	To all who turn their hearts to God\, the word of peace comes:\nGod has erased the record that stood against us\,\nnailing it to the cross of Christ.\nGod has shown mercy\,\ncoming to revive us and save us. \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 as people in whom love and fidelity embrace;\npeace and justice kiss.\nLive your lives in Christ\,\nrooted and built up in him\,\nfull of thanksgiving\nand praying as he taught us. \nAnd may God give good gifts in answer to your prayers;\nMay Christ Jesus establish you in the faith;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit pour out heaven’s riches upon 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\nHow shall we pray?A sermon on Luke 11: 1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPraying by the BookA sermon on Luke 11: 1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nDon’t let them put you downA sermon on Colossians 2: 6-19 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nEarth-Shattering PrayerA sermon on Luke 11: 1-13 & Colossians 2:6-19 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Prayer of the ChurchA sermon on Luke 11: 1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nYour Will Be Done In A World Of ChaosA sermon on Luke 11: 1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGetting Off the Outrage GravitronA sermon on Luke 11:4 & Colossians 2:13-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPersistence in PrayerA sermon on Luke 11: 1-13 by Chris Barnden\n\n\n\nOn Praying the Lord’s PrayerA sermon on Luke 11: 1-13 by Geoff Leslie
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp12/2031-07-27/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310803T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310803T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20210505T052924Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250831T102139Z
UID:10002972-1943481600-1943567999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 13 - 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				  Hosea 11: 11-11			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, the LORD\, once loved a little tacker called Israel.\nI called\, “Come to me\, my child. Leave the land of slavery.” \nBut I was wasting my breath.\nThe more I called\, the further they ran.\nThey kept offering themselves to other gods\nand giving their devotion to things they owned. \nThey did this even though I had raised them;\neven though I hugged them and guided their first steps.\nThey were blind to all I’d done for them.\nThey forgot how often I had nursed them back to health. \nI had secured them with kindness\, not ropes.\nI had led them in love\, not chains.\nI doted on them like a parent cuddling a baby.\nI got down to play with them and feed them. \nThey will end up in slavery again.\nThey will be under the thumb of foreign powers.\nI begged them to come back to me for safety\,\nbut they thumbed their nose at my offer. \nNow their cities are torn apart by violence\nand those who think they have the answers\nare destroyed along with their plans. \nMy people are hell-bent on replacing me.\nThey go flocking to the latest trendy messiah\,\nbut he is powerless to help them. \nIsrael\, O Israel; I can’t give up hope.\nI can’t walk away and abandon you to your fate.\nI can’t bring myself to treat you as you deserve;\nto wipe you out like Sodom and Gomorrah.\nMy gut knots up just thinking about it.\nMy heart melts and warm tears flow. \nSo I will not let my anger explode.\nI will not destroy you\, Israel.\nIf I were just a human being\, I would have snapped\,\nbut I am God\, the one and only.\nI am among you\, but not in fury. \nMy people will return to me\, the LORD.\nI will roar like a lion\, and when they hear me roar\nthey will come trembling out of their hiding places. \nThey will come fearfully – unsure of what awaits them —\ntrembling like birds lifted from their cage.\nBut they will come en masse\, like migratory birds\nreturning from their lands of exile\,\nand I will welcome them back into their own homes. \nI\, the LORD\, have given my word. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 107: 1-9\, 43			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Thank you\, LORD! Thank you for being so good.\nYour rock-solid love will never end. \nLORD\, we freely and openly acknowledge\nthat it was you who got us out of trouble;\nyou who put us back on the right track.\nYou gathered us from the four corners of the globe\,\nfrom wherever we had been lost or exiled. \nSome of us were lost in pitiless deserts\,\ndesperate to find shelter and company.\nWithout food or water\,\nour courage dried up and our steps grew weak. \nIn sheer despair\, we cried out to you\, LORD\,\nand in a flash\, you came to our rescue.\nYou guided us back to the main road\nand got us safely to the nearest town. \nSo let us tell you how grateful we are\, LORD.\nThank you for your rock-solid love\nand for the great things you do for everyone;\nfor you quench our thirst\nand feed us generously when we hunger. \nDesiring wisdom\, we take note of all you do\, LORD\,\nand focus our thoughts on your rock-solid love. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Colossians 3: 1-11			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	If you are fair dinkum when you say you have been raised to new life with Christ\, then commit yourself to the things that belong to such a life. Look to Christ — God’s right hand man — and take your cues from him. Concentrate on the things that matter to Christ\, and don’t let yourselves get hooked into the agendas that preoccupy the world around you. Your old life is behind you — dead and buried — and your new life is intimately bound up with Christ\, and lived in God. The full reality of this new life is not visible to the general public yet\, but it will be. Because your life is now bound to Christ\, when Christ makes his triumphant return to the public stage\, you will be there with him\, in all your glory\, for all to see. \nSo\, since your old life has been extinguished\, make sure you stamp out any remnants of it that might spark up within you and set it off again. Don’t char your sexuality with trivialised\, loveless flings. Expel the fumes of moral contamination. Douse smouldering compulsions. Remove anything that might fuel greed\, because after all\, greed is just another form of idolatry. God is getting ready to deal with those who have been defiantly allowing these sorts of things to burn out of control. You were once implicated in all this\, because those things were all part of the kind of life you used to live. But now you must purge yourselves of all such things — bitterness\, vengefulness\, spite\, slander\, and any tendency to mouth off in ways that insult and humiliate others. And don’t lie to one another. Dishonesty may have been a natural part of the old persona you all once wore\, but you’ve stripped all that off\, along with all its accessories\, and decked yourselves out in a whole new persona. The new you is becoming more and more like your creator as your minds are reconstructed and your understanding grows. In this renewed life\, we are no longer divided up into factions based on our backgrounds. It no longer makes any difference at all whether you were from this ethnic group or that\, one religious tradition or another; whether you were educated or illiterate\, refined or rough-nut\, welfare dependent or money-to-burn. Every possible distinction among you is rendered irrelevant\, because now Christ is in all of you and all of you are in Christ. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 12: 13-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Someone called out to Jesus from the crowd\, saying\, “Teacher\, tell my brother to give me my fair share of the family inheritance.” \nBut Jesus replied\, “Come on\, mate. What makes you think I’m in the business of family mediation?” \nAnd turning to the crowd\, he said\, “Keep a close eye on your values! Greed has all sorts of ways of getting under your guard if you don’t take care. Don’t get sucked into thinking that life is all about how much stuff you own. Let me illustrate. A certain rich man had an absolutely bumper year. His business interests and investments all went through the roof\, and at the end of the year he had so much money he didn’t know what to do with it all. So he said to himself\, ‘I’m going to put it all away for myself and live off the interest. I’ll never need to work again. I’ll surround myself with the best of everything and just put my feet up\, pat myself on the back\, and eat and drink to my heart’s content.’ \n“But God said to him\, ‘You mindless twit! Your number’s up. Tonight you’ll kick the bucket\, and what will you be remembered for? Nothing but a stockpile of goodies heading for the tax office!’ \n“That is the way it goes for all those who accumulate wealth for their own selfish pleasure and have nothing invested in anything that God values.” \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				  Ecclesiastes 1: 2\, 12-14; 2: 18-23			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(If anyone can suggest an Aussie phrase that better conveys the meaning of ‘vanity of vanities’\, please email me and let me know. I realise that this one may offend some people\, but I haven’t thought of anything that captures it as thoroughly.)\n\nWhat a wank!\nI reckon it’s all a big wank\, the lot of it! \nWhen I was the king of Israel\, living in Jerusalem\, I was known as a teacher of wisdom. I put a lot of work into study and reflection\, trying to get my head around the way things work out\, here on earth. God has given people a hunger to understand such things\, but what a frustrating quest it is! It is like chasing the wind. I have carefully observed all that goes on in the world\, and so far as I can see\, it is all a big wank. \nOne thing I did get my head around is why people hate their work so much. The harder we work\, the less we are able to enjoy the fruits of our labours. Instead\, it is the next generation who really benefit from our efforts\, and there is no guarantee that they won’t be a bunch of no-hopers who squander the lot. They could be a pack of complete drongos\, but they are still going to inherit control of everything we created with all our careful planning and hard yakka. What a wank! \nThe more I thought about it\, the more depressed I got. All my hard work felt like a complete waste of effort. Some people apply themselves to their work with extraordinary vision\, knowledge and expertise\, but everything they create must be passed on to someone who hasn’t lifted a finger to earn it. This is all a big wank\, not to mention a crime! So what do people gain from their own efforts\, from all the hard yakka they put in through the long hot days? Nothing but tired bones\, headaches\, and enough anxieties to keep them awake at night. It is all a horrible big wank! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 49: 1-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Listen up\, folks.\nAll of you\, everywhere\, tune in to this. \nWhether you be kings or commoners\,\nbattlers or silvertails\,\nI have wisdom to share with you.\nI have thought deeply and made sense of things;\nI have listened to the deep truths\nand will uncover mysteries in my song. \nThere is no need to be afraid in tough times\,\neven when enemies are out to get us;\neven though they are rich and arrogant\,\nand confident in wielding power. \nThe fact is\, money does not sure up your life;\nno one can stave off death by bribing God. \nNo one has the means to save themselves;\nto buy immunity from death.\nIt is not possible to live forever\nand avoid the grave. \nBrilliant\, high-achievers die\,\nand bludging morons die\,\nand neither can take anything with them;\nwhatever they had is left to others. \nThe cemetery will be their final resting place\nand it is a permanent address for both\,\nwhether their legacy is remembered or not. \nDeath cuts everyone down to size;\nin the grave\, a man and his dog are equals. \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 gather us up in your arms\nand hold us like a child to your cheek\,\nhealing us\, even before we know it. \nYou created the earth and chose yourself a people\,\nsnatching them from danger\nand leading them to a land where they could settle. \nWhen disobedience and idolatrous greed\nwere our only response to your loving call\,\nyour heart was still warm and compassionate towards us\nand you recoiled from punishing your children.\nYou came to us in love and mercy\nin Christ — the Holy One in our midst —\nshowing us the path to renewal in your image.\nWhen he was put to death\,\nyou raised him in glory\,\nand now our lives are hidden in his\,\nready to be revealed in glory\nwhen all is fulfilled and Christ is all and 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 gathering us up in your arms\nsnatching us from danger and hiding our lives in Christ\,\nready to be revealed in glory\nwhen all is fulfilled and Christ is all and in all! \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 gather us up in your arms\nand hold us like a child to your cheek\,\nhealing us\, even before we know it. \nYou created the earth and chose yourself a people\,\nsnatching them from danger\nand leading them to a land where they could settle. \nWhen disobedience and idolatrous greed\nwere our only response to your loving call\,\nyour heart was still warm and compassionate towards us\nand you recoiled from punishing your children.\nYou came to us in love and mercy\nin Christ — the Holy One in our midst —\nshowing us the path to renewal in your image.\nWhen he was put to death\,\nyou raised him in glory\,\nand now our lives are hidden in his\,\nready to be revealed in glory\nwhen all is fulfilled and Christ is all and 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	God has heard you cry out\nand has snatched you from danger.\nGod’s compassion for you is warm and tender.\nYour life is hidden with Christ in 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 as those raised with Christ\,\nwondering at God’s great love\nand telling the story of your salvation.\nBe on your guard against all kinds of greed\nand set your minds on the ways of heaven. \nAnd may God reach out to you and nourish you;\nMay Christ Jesus renew you in the image of your creator;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit lead you with cords of kindness and love. \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\nProfit Tables and the Prophet’s TableA sermon on Luke 12: 13-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSet your minds on things aboveA sermon on Colossians 3.1-11 and Luke 12.13-21 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nHidden With Christ in GodA sermon on Colossians 3.1-11 and Luke 12.13-21 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nCommitting to things associated with new life in ChristA sermon on Colossians 3.1-11 by John Fowler\n\n\n\nIntimate Partner Violence and the Image of GodA sermon on Hosea 11:1-11 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp13/2031-08-03/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310810T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310810T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20210505T060302Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250907T045140Z
UID:10002973-1944086400-1944172799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 14 - 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 1: 1\, 10-20			\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. \nIf you are willing to cooperate with my ways\nyou’ll feast like kings;\nbut if you dig your heels in and defy me\nyou’ll be slaughtered like cattle.\nI am the LORD. You have been warned. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 50: 1-8\, 22-23			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You\, LORD\, are the mighty God.\nWherever the sun shines\, from horizon to horizon\,\nyou call the earth to attention. \nFrom the spectacular beauty of your holy mountain\,\nyou approach us in a blaze of glory. \nYou come with the full fanfare;\nflashes of fire in front of you;\nthunder storming all around you. \nYou call the earth and sky to sit as a jury\,\nand set out the charges against your people. \nYou call the accused:\nthose who swore their faithfulness to you\,\nand signed themselves to a binding alliance. \nThe whole universe honours you as the judge\,\nand affirms the honesty of your court. \nWe belong to you and you call us to listen.\nYou set out the case against us\, your chosen people.\nYou are God; our God.  \nIt is not our sacrifices you condemn;\nthe gifts we are constantly offering. \nBut you set us straight in no uncertain terms;\nwe have ignored you\,\noffering gifts instead of ourselves.\nYou warn us that when you pass sentence\,\nthere is nowhere to make further appeal. \nYou are honoured when we express our gratitude\,\nnot when we fob you off with gifts.\nIt is those who get back on the right track\nwho you lead into the land of freedom. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Hebrews 11: 1-3\, 8-16			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Faith is the capacity to put all your eggs in the one basket\, when even the existence of the basket must be taken on trust and hope. It was the ability to take decisive action based on faith alone that made our forebears such memorable heroes. Even our belief that the universe came into existence on God’s say-so is based solely on faith. The existence of material things might be provable\, but the belief that their origins lie in something that is not accessible to scientific observation can only be grounded in faith. \nIt was the exercise of faith that enabled Abraham to cooperate when God called him to uproot himself and emigrate. He was to be given a new and permanent home\, but when he set out\, he had no idea where he was headed. It was faith that kept him going\, even when\, on arrival in the land that had been promised to him\, he had to camp like a refugee and see his son Isaac and grandson Jacob doing the same. What he inherited and passed on to them was a promise that was yet to be made good. He was sustained by a vision of the city that would be founded\, designed and built by God. \nIt was the exercise of faith that enabled Sarah and Abraham to go ahead and have a child\, even though they had grown old without ever before being able to have one. They believed that God could be trusted to keep promises. As a result\, this one shrivelled old couple became the parents of a line of descendants that is now as uncountable as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the beach. \nAll those we remember as the early heroes of faith went to their graves without having seen the promises fulfilled\, but still trusting in God. They were glad to have just caught a glimpse of what was coming\, and that vision was enough to sustain them. They freely admitted that they were on the earth as outsiders and guests. This attitude made it clear that they were still expecting to eventually find their true home. If they had regarded themselves as truly belonging to the places they had come from\, there was nothing to stop them from going back. It is clear that the reason they didn’t was that their hearts were set on a better country — a piece of heaven itself. It is no wonder that God is proud to be known as their God. And their faith will be vindicated\, for God has made ready a city for them. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 12: 32-40			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus said to his followers\, “You lot may seem small and helpless\, but don’t be afraid. God conceived you in love and is only too happy to give you the kingdom. Simplify your lives. Off-load your possessions and share generously with people in need. Commit yourselves to a new investment strategy\, putting all your eggs in God’s basket. Such investments are not subject to the vagaries of the market. If the treasures that your heart is set on are all in God\, they are totally fire-proof. Nothing can ever devalue them. The fact is that wherever you make your greatest investment\, your passion and energy will inevitably follow. \n“Keep your boots on! Keep the lights on! Be ready for action at any moment. Be like diligent workers who are not sure when their boss will be back from his honeymoon\, but are determined to be hard at work whenever he shows up. They will be glad they didn’t slack off but kept themselves industrious\, because you can bet that when he comes he will throw a party for them – all on the house – and give them a generous end-of-year bonus. It won’t make any difference whether he arrives early or late in the shift. If he finds them on the job\, they will have every reason to be thankful. \n“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			\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 15: 1-6			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The LORD spoke to Abram in a vision\, saying\, “Abram\, don’t you worry about a thing. I am your armour-plated protection and you will be greatly rewarded for your loyalty to me.” \nBut Abram said\, “Thank you\, Lord GOD\, but the only thing I really want is the one thing you’ve never given me: children. I have longed for children of my own but you have not given me any. When I die\, there will be no one to carry on my family name\, and since the only person born in my house is Eliezer\, my Turkish servant; he will inherit everything I own. \nBut the LORD spoke to Abram again\, saying\, “Eliezer will not be your heir. You will be able to pass on your property to a child of your own.” \nThe LORD took Abram outside and said\, “Look at the night sky\, Abram. See if you can count how many stars there are. You can’t\, can you? Well\, your descendants will be as uncountable as the stars in the night sky.” \nAbram took the LORD’s word on trust\, and for that the LORD regarded him as a good man. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 33: 12-22			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	What more could a country want than to have you as their God?\nTo be your cherished people\, LORD\, is the best thing in life. \nYou keep your eye on the whole earth;\nyou see each and every one of us. \nThough you are seated in power\, LORD\,\nyou concern yourself with all who live on earth.\nYou shaped us\, inside and out\,\nand you watch everything we do with interest. \nNo army can guarantee our safety;\nthe toughest fighter is not invincible. \nPinning our hopes on military might is futile;\nbrute force cannot make life worth living. \nIt is you\, LORD\, who watches over all who respect you;\nyou\, whose love and loyalty give us confidence.\nYou are our only hope when death closes in;\nour only security when times are tough. \nWe put our trust in you\, LORD;\nyou alone can help and protect us. \nBecause of you\, our hearts are bursting with joy;\nyour name stands out and fills us with confidence. \nSurround us with your love\, LORD.\nWe’ve pinned all our hopes on you\nand on your rock-solid love. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor it is your good pleasure to open the Kingdom to us. \nThe worlds were created by your word\nand the heavens testify that you are just.\nThrough your law and prophets\nyou called your people from their hypocrisy\,\nrefusing to accept our offerings or hear our prayers\nuntil we showed a willingness to obey you. \nThrough Jesus Christ\, your child and our saviour\,\nyou called us to travel lightly\nas strangers and foreigners on the earth\,\nputting our hopes in you alone\nand always ready to welcome your future.\nWhen he was killed by those\nwhose hands were full of blood\,\nyou raised him to new life\nso that he might prepare a new world\nfor those who put their faith in your promises\,\ngiving away their riches on earth\nand treasuring heaven in their hearts. \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 are preparing a heavenly city\nfor those who put their faith in your promises\,\ngiving away their riches on earth\nand treasuring heaven in their hearts. \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 it is your good pleasure to open the Kingdom to us. \nThe worlds were created by your word\nand the heavens testify that you are just.\nThrough your law and prophets\nyou called your people from their hypocrisy\,\nrefusing to accept our offerings or hear our prayers\nuntil we showed a willingness to obey you. \nThrough Jesus Christ\, your child and our saviour\,\nyou called us to travel lightly\nas strangers and foreigners on the earth\,\nputting our hopes in you alone\nand always ready to welcome your future.\nWhen he was killed by those\nwhose hands were full of blood\,\nyou raised him to new life\nso that he might prepare a new world\nfor those who put their faith in your promises\,\ngiving away their riches on earth\nand treasuring heaven in their hearts. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God is not ashamed to be called your God.\nThough your sins are like scarlet they shall be like snow;\nthough they are like crimson\, they shall be like wool. \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 like those prepared for the Lord to return.\nCease to do evil\, learn to do good;\nseek justice\, rescue the oppressed.\nGive freely to those in need\nand let your treasure be in the things of heaven \nAnd may God not be ashamed to be called your God;\nMay Christ Jesus find you attentive and well prepared;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit give you the assurance\nof all that has been promised to 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\nWhat Keeps Us Going?A sermon on Hebrews 11:1-3\, 8-16 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nOverriding the Operating SystemA sermon on Luke 12:32-40 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNo More Bull!A sermon on Isaiah 1: 1\, 10-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat is Faith?A sermon on Hebrews 11:1-3\, 8-16 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFaithful FaithA sermon on Hebrews 11: 1-3\, 8-16 & Luke 12: 32-40 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFaith as Medicine for Sick WorldA sermon on Isaiah 1:10-20; Hebrews 11:1-3\, 8-16 & Luke 12:32-40 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nImaginationA sermon on Hebrews 11: 1-3\, 8-16 & Isaiah 1: 1\, 10-20 by Jody Kilpatrick\n\n\n\nGod the Waiter\, God the ThiefA sermon on Luke 12:32-40 by Karen Quah
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp14/2031-08-10/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310817T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310817T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20210506T044743Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250914T051326Z
UID:10002974-1944691200-1944777599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 15 - 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 5: 1-7			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I’ll sing a story in song\,\na gift of love for my vine-growing friend. \nMy best friend began a vineyard;\nideally situated on a sunny\, fertile hillside.\nHe cleared the rocks\, cultivated the soil\,\nand planted top-grade vines.\nHe built a fully equipped winery\,\ndug a cellar and installed a wine-press.\nHe had every reason to expect top-quality grapes\,\nbut the entire harvest was bitter and useless. \nCome now\, you who live in Jerusalem\,\nand all you people of Judah;\nwho do you think is in the right:\nme or my vineyard? \nDid I fall down on the job somewhere;\nwhat more could I have done for my vineyard?\nWas I wrong to expect good quality grapes?\nWhy did I get nothing but rubbish? \nWell\, I’m sick of that lousy vineyard.\nI’ll tell you what I’ll do to it:\nI will rip down the fences\nand let the animals chew it up;\nI will smash down the gates\nand let the passers-by stomp all over it. \nI will leave it in ruins;\ntrashed and abandoned;\nthe weeds and blackberries will take over.\nI will disconnect the water\nand pray that the rains steer clear. \nAre you people getting the message? \nThe LORD who rules over everything\nis the vine-grower\,\nand you\, the people of Israel and Judah\nare the carefully tended vineyard.\nThe LORD expected a harvest of justice\,\nbut violence broke out instead.\nWhere honesty and integrity should have flourished\,\nthere was nothing but the cries of the victims! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 80: 1-2\, 8-19			\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. \nRemember how you brought us out of Egypt like a young grapevine\,\nso that you could plant your own vineyard.\nYou cleared the land and prepared the soil;\nyou planted our roots deep and we grew strongly. \nWe grew wide and high\, bigger than the tallest trees\,\neven shading the mountains.\nYour vineyard grew and grew till it filled the land\nfrom the western ocean to the eastern river. \nSo why have you torn down the security fence\,\nso that anyone can tramp through and pinch the fruit?\nWild pigs rampage through doing untold damage;\nferal goats and rabbits eat whatever’s left. \nCome on\, God! You rule over everything. Do something!\nTurn around and look at what’s going on.\nThis vine came from root stock you planted yourself;\ntake charge of its welfare again. \nOthers have hacked and burned it\nto within an inch of its life.\nWipe them out\nwith a single withering stare! \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				  Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It was by exercising faith that the people of Israel were able to walk through the Red Sea as though it were dry land. The slave-drivers from whom they had escaped drowned when they tried to do the same thing. \nIt was the exercise of faith that brought down the fortified walls of Jericho. The people of Israel encircled the city for seven days\, trusting God\, and the walls collapsed. Rahab the prostitute was exercising faith when she harboured the Israelite spies in her Jericho home. Because of her faith\, her life was saved when those around her who had resisted God were killed. \nNeed I go on? There is not enough time to tell the stories of all the great heroes of faith. The stories of Gideon\, Barak\, Samson\, and Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets — all of them well worth telling. Exercising faith\, they did extraordinary things: they defeated world powers; put justice into practice; and won promises of loyalty. They closed the jaws of lions; put out raging fires; and escaped unscathed from savage violence. Although their positions seemed weak and vulnerable\, they were given strength and became formidable warriors who successfully repelled invading armies. The things faith has achieved! Faith-filled women saw their dead loved ones raised back to life. Some faith-filled people even endured torture — refusing to cave in and go free — sustained by their confident expectation of the ultimate freedom that comes with resurrection. We have stories of others who were publicly humiliated and flogged\, or locked up in chains. Others were battered to death with rocks\, or sawn in half\, or hacked to pieces. We know of others who lived as refugees; forced out into harsh isolated environments\, deprived of their basic human rights\, and constantly subjected to persecution and harassment. Dressed in rags\, homeless\, powerless\, and shunned; they had to survive as best they could on the edges of a hostile and callous world — a world that did not deserve them! \nAll these heroes received top marks for their faith\, and yet even they did not see the completion of all God had promised. Why? Because God had even better ideas! God wanted us to be included in the story too\, and so put everything on hold until we could all be made perfect at once. \nSo\, we are by no means running the race alone! The air around us is thick with encouragement — all these heroes who bore witness to the truth before us\, cheering us on. So let’s strip down for the run that lies ahead\, tossing aside everything that would hold us back\, especially the sin that clings on so tenaciously. And then let’s get on with it — run and run and never quit until we’ve crossed the line. We can do it if we just keep our eyes fixed on Jesus\, because he has led the way and become the first to complete this faith marathon. He was so focussed on the goal that he was able to push on through the pain barriers\, enduring the agony and humiliation of the cross. He knew that the celebrations would make it all worth while\, and sure enough\, he now enjoys the number one seat of honour alongside God’s throne. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 12: 49-56			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus said\, “Fire! I have come to torch the earth\, and if I had my way it would be well and truly ablaze by now! And I am facing a baptism of fire myself – I will be immersed in the conflict and torment of a world going to hell and back. You can’t imagine the stress I’m bearing until it’s over! Do you think I am here to make everything peaceful and nice on earth? Wrong! I am not here to paper over the cracks\, but to drive a wedge into them\, opening them up for all to see. The hostility can no longer be concealed by family solidarity. The cracks will open up\, dividing households: \nthree against two\,\nand two against three;\nfather against son\,\nand son against father;\nmother against daughter\,\nand daughter against mother;\nmother-in-law against daughter-in-law\,\nand daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” \nSpeaking to the crowds\, Jesus also said\, “When you see dark clouds gathering in the western sky\, you are quick to forecast rain\, and you are spot on. And when you feel the wind blowing in from the desert in the morning\, you say\, ‘It’ll be stinking hot today\,’ and of course\, you are right. So don’t play dumb with me! You are perfectly capable of reading the signs to recognise when the weather is about to change\, so what’s so difficult about reading the signs to make sense of what’s happening in the world right now?” \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: 23-29			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	“What kind of God do you think I am?” says the LORD.\n“A pocket God who lives where you put me\,\nor a God far beyond your grasp?”\n“Can anyone find a secret hiding place\nwhere I won’t be able to see them?”\nsays the LORD.\n“Do I not fill the entire universe\,\nheaven and earth alike?” \n“I know perfectly well what those so-called prophets are saying. They preach lies\, naming me as their authority\, and claiming that I gave them messages in dreams and visions. How long will I have to put up with it? Will they never wake up to themselves\, these snake-oil evangelists whose preaching is all a con-job motivated by their own twisted agendas? They trade their best lines and slimiest techniques with one another as they collude to persuade people to substitute other things for me\, just as their ancestors substituted trendy fertility gods for me.” \n“You prophets with your dreams:\ngo ahead and rabbit on about them.\nBut let the prophet who truly has my word\nbe bold and resolute in announcing my message.\nThe two are like chalk and cheese\,”\nsays the LORD. \n“Don’t you know that my word is like a raging fire?\nsays the LORD\,\n“and like a sledgehammer that smashes rocks to pieces?” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 82			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Take action\, God!\nPass sentence on all those who judge and rule the earth. \nCall them to account for their unjust decisions;\nexpose their links to corruption and crime. \nOrder them to hand down justice to the deprived and abused\,\nand to protect the rights of those seeking refuge. \nCommand them to represent the needy and the vulnerable\,\nand to side with them against those who exploit them. \nThese judges and rulers don’t understand or care\, God;\nthey’ve got their heads in the sand\nwhile the world falls apart around them. \nYou\, God\, elevated them to office\,\nand delegated your authority to them;\nbut they have betrayed your trust\nand will die disgraced. \nTake action\, God!\nCome and judge the earth!\nReassert your control over all your nations! \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 though our lives were a wasteland\nyou cherished us and gave us life again. \nWith a love-song\, you sang the earth into existence\,\nand led your people from slavery through the Red Sea.\nYou planted them in a fertile land\nand looked for a harvest of justice and righteousness. \nWhen we returned only bloodshed and torment\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nto be the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.\nHis preaching kindled a fire\nand divided the living from the dead.\nHe endured the cross\, disregarding its shame\nand was baptised in suffering and death.\nYou raised him to life and seated him at your right hand\,\nand are now strengthening us for the race before us\,\nso that with the faithful witnesses of all generations\nwe may receive your promises and be made perfect. \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 our lives were a wasteland\nyou cherished us and gave us life again\,\nsending your child\, Jesus Christ\,\nto be the pioneer and perfecter of our 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 thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor though our lives were a wasteland\nyou cherished us and gave us life again. \nWith a love-song\, you sang the earth into existence\,\nand led your people from slavery through the Red Sea.\nYour planted them in a fertile land\nand looked for a harvest of justice and righteousness. \nWhen we returned only bloodshed and torment\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nto be the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.\nHis preaching kindled a fire\nand divided the living from the dead.\nHe endured the cross\, disregarding its shame\nand was baptised in suffering and death.\nYou raised him to life and seated him at your right hand\,\nand are now strengthening us for the race before us\,\nso that with the faithful witnesses of all generations\nwe may receive your promises and be made perfect. \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\, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith\,\nhas endured the cross so that our sins will be forgiven\nand we will be made perfect with the faithful of all ages. \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 eyes on Jesus\,\nthe pioneer and perfecter of our faith.\nLay aside the ways of sin\,\nbring forth a harvest of justice and righteousness\,\nand run with perseverance\nthe race that is set before us. \nAnd may God turn to you and cherish you;\nMay Christ Jesus surround you with the light of his presence;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit give you life and strength. \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 That Starts FiresA sermon on Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2 and Luke 12:49-56 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSurfing the Edge of ChaosA sermon on Luke 12:49-56 by Anne Wilkinson-Hayes\n\n\n\nThe Price of VictoryA sermon on Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2 & Luke 12: 49-56 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat If Jesus Is To Blame?A sermon on Luke 12:49-56 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nHard DisciplineA sermon on Isaiah 5:1-7; Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2 & Luke 12: 49-56 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nRuptureA sermon on Luke 12:49-56 by Christine Redwood
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp15/2031-08-17/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P15.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310824T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310824T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20210506T050449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250921T021035Z
UID:10002975-1945296000-1945382399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 16 - 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 1: 4-10			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The LORD spoke to me saying: \n“Jeremiah\, I am the God who created you;\nI knew you before your parents thought of you.\nBefore you were born I chose you for myself\,\nI picked you out to speak to the nations on my behalf.” \nI replied\, “LORD God\, you’re making a big mistake! I am a lousy public speaker and I’m too young for anybody to take me seriously.” \nBut the LORD said to me\, \n“Don’t put yourself down because of your age.\nJust go to whoever I send you to\,\nand say whatever I tell you to say. \nDon’t let yourself feel intimidated by anyone\,\nbecause I’ll be there to back you up.\nYou’ll be okay; take my word for it.” \nThen the LORD reached out and touched my mouth\, saying to me\, \n“With my own hand I am putting my words into your mouth.\nHere and now I am appointing you to the job.\nI give you the authority to speak to the nations for me;\nto speak words that will wreak havoc\,\nwords that will crush and demolish and devastate\,\nand words that will heal and rebuild and give life.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 71: 1-6			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I run to you for protection\, LORD\,\nplease don’t ever let me down. \nYou always do the right thing\,\nso please be there for me when I need you.\nHear me when I call for help\nand step in quickly to bail me out. \nKeep me safe when I need somewhere to hide.\nYou are like a mountain hideaway to me;\nlike a bunker than nothing can blast open. \nIf I fall into hostile hands\,\nbe my God and rescue me;\nDon’t let the callous and cruel\nget their claws into me. \nYou are my only hope\,\nthe only one I can depend on\, LORD;\nI’ve trusted you since I was a kid. \nI’ve leaned on you for support\nsince the day I was born.\nYou were the midwife who delivered me from my mother’s womb\,\nthe safe hands who pulled me gasping into life.\nI’ll never stop thanking you for that! \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Hebrews 12: 18-29			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The place where you have arrived is not like Mount Sinai was when your ancestors arrived there — rumbling like thunder and spewing fire and thick darkness. On arrival they heard a trumpet blast from the mountain and then the sound of a voice so terrifying that they begged for it to stop. The little they did hear was bad enough — that if even an animal was to touch the mountain it must die. What they witnessed was so terrifying that even Moses admitted that he was reduced to jelly. \nYou have arrived at Mount Zion\, heaven’s own Jerusalem\, and it is completely different. This is the city where God lives\, and it is populated by angels — too many to count — and by the whole assembly of God’s beloved children who are signed-up in heaven. All of them\, angels and people\, are gathered there to celebrate God\, and you have arrived to join them\, for it is here that all those who committed themselves to doing right are finally made complete in love and integrity. God is here and\, here\, what God says goes. Jesus is here too\, putting in place the new alliance between us and God. The memory of how Jesus was killed is strong here\, but it is remembered most for what he achieved in the process rather than just as tragedy like Abel’s death. \nSo\, now that you’re here\, make sure you don’t reject what God is saying to you. If our ancestors couldn’t get away with rejecting what God told them to do at Mount Sinai\, then what chance would we have if we turn a deaf ear to God on arrival in heaven? Back then\, God’s voice shook the earth to its foundations\, but what’s coming will be even more awesome. God’s promise is clear: “One final time I will shake up both earth and heaven.” When God says\, “One final time”\, it is clear that this final shaking will get rid of everything that has no lasting value and leave behind only those things that will last forever. \nSo we are being given a homeland where God reigns — a homeland that will stand rock-solid when everything else is shaken. No wonder we are so grateful. We simply overflow with thanks and fall to our knees before God\, overcome with awe. This is our worship\, for we offer ourselves into the consuming fire of love that is God. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 13: 10-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	One Sabbath day\, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue. There was a woman in the congregation there who had been afflicted for eighteen years by a crippling and untreatable condition. It twisted her body and kept her bent over all the time. When Jesus saw her\, he called her over and said\, “Woman\, you are now set free from what has crippled you.” \nHe placed his hands on her and\, right then and there\, she straightened up to her full height and burst into a song of praise to God. The president of the synagogue\, though\, was spitting chips\, because the day on which Jesus had carried out this work of healing was the Sabbath rest day. Desperate to get the crowd back on side\, he kept saying\, “God has given us six days a week for work to be done\, so you have plenty of opportunity to come and be healed. There is no need to break the Sabbath for it.” \nBut the Lord took him on over this\, saying\, “You two-faced frauds! Don’t tell me that each of you doesn’t unchain your dog on the Sabbath just as you do every other day\, so that it can stretch it’s legs and get a drink. This woman is a daughter of Abraham who the satan has kept chained up for eighteen years. So doesn’t it seem all the more fitting that it be on the Sabbath day that she be freed from her chains?” \nHis words left his critics with egg all over their faces. To the rest of the congregation though\, his actions were cause for wonder and celebration. \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				  Isaiah 58: 9b-14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The LORD says: \n“If you abandon all forms of exploitation\,\nand avoid bad-mouthing others to gain an edge;\nif you share what you have with those in need\,\nand respond to the real needs of suffering communities;\nthen you’ll find that the world will light up for you\nand life will be one beautiful day after another. \n“I\, the LORD\, will always be there to guide you;\neven in the grip of drought\,\nI’ll keep you healthy and well fed.\nYou’ll be like an irrigated vineyard with its own deep bore\,\ngreen and lush and full of life! \n“Your ruined houses will be renovated and new;\nyou’ll be able to restore the homes\nthat have been in your families for generations.\nYou’ll get a reputation for making dreams possible\,\nfor enabling everyone to find a good place to live. \n“If you stop making a mockery of the sabbath\nby using the holy day to push your own agendas;\nif you bring your words and your actions\ninto line with one another\nby bringing the life you live during the week\ninto line with the worship you offer on that day;\nthen I will be close to you and be your delight\,\nand you will be highly regarded all over the earth.\nThe land I gave to your ancestors\nwill continue to bring forth life\nfor you and your children. \n“I\, the LORD\, have spoken.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 103: 1-8			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	With all our hearts\, we praise you\, LORD\,\nfrom the depths of our being\nwe name you as our one and only. \nWith all that we are we sings your praises\, LORD;\nhow could we ever forget all you have done for us? \nWhen we do wrong\, you forgive us;\nwhen we are sick\, you make us well;\nwhen our lives fall apart\, you put us back together. \nWith love and mercy\, you treat us like royalty;\nyou shower us with good things all our lives;\nyou makes us feel as young and free as an eagle. \nYou are there for those who are victimised\, LORD;\nyou clear their names and bring them justice. \nThrough Moses\, you let us know what you are on about;\nthrough Israel\, you let us see what you can do. \nYour mercy and generosity are extravagant\, LORD;\nyour patience and love are as solid as rock. \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 our rock and haven;\nthe tower of strength to whom we can always turn. \nYou created the heavens and earth\,\nand the sound of your voice shakes all things.\nYou put your words in the mouths of the prophets\nto destroy wickedness and overthrow the ruthless\,\nand to build justice and plant righteousness. \nYour child\, Jesus Christ\, came among us\nwith words of freedom\, hope and healing\nwhich so scandalised the powerful that they crucified him\,\nbut you raised him to new life\nand appointed him as the mediator of a new covenant.\nBefore we were formed in the womb\, you knew us\nand now you are bringing us into your holy city\nwith the angels and saints and the faithful of every age\nto rejoice together at the wonderful things you are doing. \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 your for your words of freedom\, hope and healing\nby which you are bringing us into your holy city\nwith the angels and saints and the faithful of every age\nto rejoice together at the wonderful things you are doing. \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 our rock and haven;\nthe tower of strength to whom we can always turn. \nYou created the heavens and earth\,\nand the sound of your voice shakes all things.\nYou put your words in the mouths of the prophets\nto destroy wickedness and overthrow the ruthless\,\nand to build justice and plant righteousness. \nYour child\, Jesus Christ\, came among us\nwith words of freedom\, hope and healing\nwhich so scandalised the powerful that they crucified him\,\nbut you raised him to new life\nand appointed him as the mediator of a new covenant.\nBefore we were formed in the womb\, you knew us\nand now you are bringing us into your holy city\nwith the angels and saints and the faithful of every age\nto rejoice together at the wonderful things you are doing. \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 our hope from the moment of birth.\nJesus Christ\, the mediator of the new covenant\,\nis pleased to free us from all that has bound us. \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 to speak the words God gives you\nto all those to whom God sends you.\nOffer your worship to God\nwith thanksgiving\nand with works of freedom and mercy. \nAnd may God be your shelter to keep you safe;\nMay Christ Jesus set you free from all that cripples you;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit be with you to deliver you\nand to make you perfect with all God’s faithful ones. \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\nEmbracing the SacredA sermon on Luke 13:10-17 & Jeremiah 1: 4-10 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nTo Free or Not to FreeA sermon on Luke 13:10-17 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPut To ShameA sermon on Luke 13:10-17 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\n“Love is more demanding than the Law”A sermon on Luke 13:10-17 by John Fowler\n\n\n\nA True Call in Dark TimesA sermon on  Jeremiah 1: 4-10 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp16/2031-08-24/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310831T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310831T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20210510T030514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250928T045045Z
UID:10002976-1945900800-1945987199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 17 - 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 2: 4-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Listen up\, you people of Israel;\nall you who count Jacob as your ancestor;\nListen to what the LORD has to say: \nWhat was wrong with me that so turned off your ancestors\nthat they kept as far away from me as they could?\nWhat was it that sent them off\non a merry-go-round of worthless distractions\nthat bled them of substance and character? \nNot once did they look for my help again\,\nor remember how I had rescued them from slavery.\nThey forgot how I guided them through the wilderness\,\nthrough hostile deserts and treacherous valleys;\nhow I got them safely across impassable land;\nblackened\, fearful terrain with no water;\nuninhabited places where nobody survives. \nI brought you safely into a rich and fruitful land;\na land laden with good things\, yours for the picking.\nBut you barged in and destroyed all I had given you;\nturned a precious heritage into a polluted wasteland. \nEven your religious leaders showed no interest in me! \nThey taught the law without getting to know me.\nThey defied me as they governed the people.\nThey preached a message of other gods\nand set their hearts on shallow and futile things. \nSo now I\, the LORD\, am taking you to court.\nI’m laying charges against you\nand against your children and grandchildren. \nWhoever heard of such a thing?\nSearch the earth from one end to the other.\nScour the history books and see.\nWhat other nation has ever changed its gods?\nThey are loyal even to false gods!\nBut my people have squandered their crowning glory\nby trading me in for shallow and futile things. \nI\, the LORD\, call the heavens to sit as jury\,\nto be appalled by this case;\nto weigh evidence that will shock and disgust.\nFor my my people have added crime upon crime.\nThey have turned their backs on me\,\ntheir only source of fresh\, flowing\, life-giving water;\nand they have taken to digging their own water-holes;\nstagnant puddles that stink and leak. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 81: 1\, 10-16			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We sing our lungs out to you\, God\,\nfor you make us strong;\nwe shout for joy\, celebrating you\,\nthe God of our ancestors. \nYou are the LORD our God;\nthe God who rescued us from the land of slavery.\nWhen we come to you with our hungers\,\nyou fill us with all that we need. \nBut we have repeatedly failed to listen to you;\nthough we were your people\,\nwe dug our heels in against you. \nYou stood aside and let us have our way;\nwe made our own bed and you left us to lie in it. \nYou longed for us to listen to you;\nfor your people to get back on track. \nIf we had only been willing to cooperate\,\nyou’d have been ready to sort out our enemies.\nThose whose hostility to you was taken out on us\nwould have been sent cowering away\,\nnever to be seen again. \nIf only we had responded to your call\, LORD\,\nyou would have spread a banquet before us\nfeeding us with the sweetest and best of everything. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Hebrews 13: 1-8\, 15-16			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	See to it that love continues to run both ways in all your dealings with one another. Don’t limit your hospitality to your friends. Some people who have welcomed strangers into their homes were actually opening their doors to God’s messengers without realising it. Keep standing up for those who are in detention\, just as you would if you were locked up with them. Imagine yourselves in the shoes of those who are being harshly mistreated and work for them accordingly. Don’t let out of sight mean out of mind! \nSee to it that the vowed life of marriage is treated with the respect it deserves. Protect the sacredness of the sexual intimacy within vowed relationships. God will sort out those who drag sex into the mire of selfishness\, dishonesty and betrayal. \nKeep the lust for money right out of your lives. Be satisfied with what you have\, trusting in God’s promise to never let you down or abandon you. We can say with confidence: \n“The Lord looks after me;\nI’ve got nothing to fear.\nWhat harm can anyone do me?” \nRemember your leaders through whom you heard God’s message. Watch the way they live and note what comes of it. Model yourselves on their example of faith. Such examples don’t go out of date\, because Jesus Christ is the same now as he always was and always will be. Let us continue to offer the gift of praise to God through Christ. Keeping God’s name on our lips is a real gift\, but it is not the only gift that matters. Don’t overlook the importance of sharing what you have and working for the good of others\, because these too are gifts that delight God. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 14: 1\, 7-14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Once on the Sabbath day\, Jesus was invited to a dinner at the home of one of the leading members of the devoutly religious Pharisee party. Throughout the evening\, he was being closely watched by everyone there. \nNoticing how most of the guests were angling for the best seats at the top of the table\, Jesus turned the scene into an illustration\, saying\, “When you are invited as a guest to a formal dinner – a wedding banquet or the like – don’t rush to park yourself in the number one seat. There may be some more prominent celebrities on the guest list\, and when one of them turns up\, your host will come and ask you to vacate your seat for them. You’ll have egg all over your face in front of everyone\, and there may be nothing but the scummy seats left for you. If looking good in public is so important to you\, it would be a much better strategy to park yourself down in the back corner somewhere. Then when you are seen down there\, your host will come and say\, ‘Come on\, my friend\, we can find you a better seat than this.’ You’ll get a much better write-up in the social pages for that! The fact is that those who big-note themselves will be knocked off their perches\, but those who avoid the limelight will end up as everyone’s hero.” \nThen Jesus turned to the one who had invited him and said\, “When you are throwing a party\, don’t just invite your friends\, family and well-heeled neighbours. They will all return the favour sometime and so\, rather than being a gift\, your party will become something you are repaid for. Instead\, invite people who are always being left out – the down-and-outs\, the misfits\, the refugees\, the disabled. You’ll find that far more richly rewarding\, and although they can never repay you\, when God’s people are all raised from the dead\, you’ll be more than repaid. \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 10: 12-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Arrogant pride is born when people turn their backs on the Lord.\nIt is conceived in hearts that are cut off from their Maker. \nArrogant pride has its roots in sin\,\nand those who are addicted to it spew forth corruption. \nThat’s why the Lord brings terrible disasters on them\nand wipes them out completely. \nThe Lord topples arrogant rulers\,\nand hands their authority to humble people. \nThe Lord tears out arrogant nations by the roots\,\nand replaces them with unpretentious peoples. \nThe Lord rids the planet of arrogant empires\,\nleaving nothing but scorched earth where they stood.\nSome of them were destroyed so completely\nthat even the memory of them was erased. \nHuman beings were never intended to become arrogant.\nViolence and hostility were not part of their creator’s design. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR  Proverbs 25: 6-7			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Don’t go big noting yourself\nor nominating yourself for the honours lists.\nIt is far better to have others calling for your promotion\nthan to be dismissed as completely up yourself. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 112			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We are singing your praises\, LORD! \nHow good life is for those who respect you\, LORD\,\nfor those who gladly do what you want them to do. \nTheir children will follow in their footsteps\,\ndoing what’s right and going from strength to strength. \nYou fill their homes with good things\,\nand guarantee their good reputation. \nTheir generosity\, tolerance\, and integrity shine forth in a dark world\,\nlighting up the way for others to follow. \nLORD\, you see that things go well\nfor those who conduct their business fairly\nand lend generously to those in need. \nYou guarantee a firm footing for people of integrity;\ntheir reputation will long outlast them. \nBad news will not break them\,\nfor they have an inner strength grounded in you\, LORD.\nWith their trust in you\, they are calm in a crisis;\nfearless in the fight\,\nand they always end up on top. \nYou will honour their strength\nand make their integrity a lasting legacy\,\nfor they have been open-handed\, especially to the poor. \nAll this throws corrupt people into a snarling rage.\nBitterness consumes them\nas their dreams crumble to nothing. \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 offer you our sacrifice of praise\, O God\,\nfor despite our poverty\, brokenness and blindness\,\nyou invite us to feast with you forever. \nYou created all the earth\nand led your people out of slavery into a plentiful land\nto feast on finest wheat and pure wild honey. \nWhen we abandoned you — our fountain of living water —\ngoing instead after things which were worthless and defiled\,\nyour love for us remained constant\,\nand in mercy\, you never abandoned us.\nInstead you sent us your child\, Jesus Christ\,\nwho is the same yesterday\, today and forever.\nHis witness to your all-embracing love\nso offended the values of the world\nthat he was tortured to death\,\nbut you raised him to new life\,\nand now\, through him\,\nyou are teaching us to share and do good\nso that our lives may be a pleasing sacrifice to you. \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 even when we abandoned you\n— our fountain of living water —\nstill in your love and mercy you never abandoned us\,\nbut raised us with Christ to share and do good\nso that our lives may be a pleasing sacrifice 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 offer you our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving\, O God\,\nfor despite our poverty\, brokenness and blindness\,\nyou honour us with your righteous ones. \nYou created all the earth\nand led your people out of slavery into a plentiful land\nto feast on finest wheat and pure wild honey. \nWhen we abandoned you — our fountain of living water —\ngoing instead after things which were worthless and defiled\,\nyour love for us remained constant\,\nand in mercy\, you never abandoned us.\nInstead you sent us your child\, Jesus Christ\,\nwho is the same yesterday\, today and forever.\nHis witness to your all-embracing love\nso offended the values of the world\nthat he was tortured to death\,\nbut you raised him to new life\,\nand now\, through him\,\nyou are teaching us to share and do good\nso that our lives may be a pleasing sacrifice to you. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ\nhas given himself for us\, saying:\n”I will never leave you or forsake you.\nThose who humble themselves will be lifted 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 walk in all God’s ways.\nKeep your lives free from the love of money\nbut let love between people continue and be honoured.\nShow hospitality to strangers.\nPray for those who suffer torture and imprisonment\nand do not neglect to do good. \nAnd may God be your strength;\nMay Christ Jesus be for you a fountain of living water;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit raise you to life\nwith all God’s righteous ones. \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 Prosecutor’s CaseA drama/sermon on Jeremiah 2: 4-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Economy of CompassionA on Luke 14. 7-14 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nYou Are Invited …A sermon on Luke 14: 1\, 7-14 & Hebrews 13: 1-8\, 15-16 by Samara Pitt\n\n\n\nSacrifices That Please GodA sermon on Hebrews 13:1-8\, 15-16 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nYesterday and Today and ForeverA sermon on Hebrews 13:1-8\, 15-16 & Luke 14:1\, 7-14 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nHeading for Rock Bottom with JesusA sermon on Luke 14:1\, 7-14 & Jeremiah 2:4-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhy Drink From that Pool?A sermon on Luke 14:1\, 7-14 & Jeremiah 2:4-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Awkwardness of Being a GuestA on Luke 14. 1-24 by Cas Wepener\n\n\n\nCreating Beauty Amidst ChaosA sermon on Hebrews 13:1-8\, 15-16; Jeremiah 2: 4-13 & Luke 14:1\, 7-14 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp17/2031-08-31/
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310907T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310907T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20210510T032644Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251005T044905Z
UID:10002977-1946505600-1946591999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 18 - 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 18: 1-11			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The LORD spoke to me and said\, “Jeremiah\, get yourself down to the potter’s workshop\, because there you will hear and understand what I’ve got to say.” \nSo I went down to the workshop and saw the potter there working at his wheel. As I watched\, the clay he was working wouldn’t take the shape he intended\, so he simply changed his plan and reworked it into a pot of a different shape. Then the LORD spoke to me\, saying: \n“People of Israel\, don’t you realise that I can do with you just what the potter has done with this pot. Watch the way the potter works\, people of Israel\, and remember that you are like clay in my hands. If I speak to a corrupt nation and threaten to tear it out by the roots and crush and demolish it\, and it takes note of what I have said and mends its ways\, I will change my mind and give them a fresh start. If\, on the other hand\, I tell a nation that I am planning to build them up with strength and life\, and they turn around and become callous and cruel and take no further notice of anything I say\, then I will abandon my plans to do anything good for them. \nSo then\, Jeremiah\, go now and give the people who live in Judah and Jerusalem this message from me: I\, the LORD\, am taking you in hand like a potter taking clay\, and I am planning to flatten you; to crush you completely. The only way to persuade me to change my mind is to turn around right now; to mend your ways and clean up your act.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 139: 1-6\, 13-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You have taken a good hard look at me\, LORD\,\nand you know exactly what makes me tick. \nYou know when I’ve got my feet up and when I’m on the job;\nyou can read my mind like an open book. \nYou see where I am going and where I stop\,\nand you know all about what I do and why. \nYou know exactly what I am going to say\, LORD\,\neven before I open my mouth. \nYou are in front of me\, behind me\, beside me;\nyour hand on my shoulder at every turn. \nAll this is more than I can get my head around;\nI pinch myself\, and struggle to take it in. \nIt was you who put me together\, every part of me;\nyou knit me together in my mother’s womb. \nI sing your praises\, LORD\,\nfor the the way you have made me fills me with awe.\nYour creative works blow my mind;\ntoo wonderful for words. \nYou could see me clearly before I was born;\nyou watched me taking shape in the secret depths\nand laid out the intricacies of nerve and muscle. \nYou kept your eye on me\nfrom conception to birth.\nMy life lay before you like an open book\nbefore I had even lived a day. \nYour thoughts are way beyond my grasp\, God\,\nand they add up to more than I can count.\nDeeper than the oceans\,\noutnumbering the grains of sand;\nI give up trying\nbut you are with me just the same. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Philemon 1-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, Paul\, am in detention here for the sake of Christ Jesus. Our brother\, Timothy\, is here with me. We write this letter to you\, Philemon\, our good friend and work-mate. Please share it with our sister Apphia\, with our brother-in-arms Archippus\, and with the rest of the church that meets at your house. \nWe send our best wishes for peace and blessings from God our Father\, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. \nYou have been in my prayers. I have been thanking God for all the good reports I keep hearing about how much trust you put in the Lord Jesus and how much love you show to all God’s people. I am praying that you and those who share your faith will see more and more clearly how much good we can accomplish on Christ’s behalf. My friend\, your love is already accomplishing much. You’ve given many of God’s faithful people a new lease of life\, and so indeed you have been a source of joy and encouragement to me. \nIn light of all this\, I want to ask you a favour. I suppose I could pull rank as an elder statesman or as one who has proved his commitment to Christ in jail\, and order you to do what I want; but I would much rather ask you as a mate. The favour I want to ask is for my own son. You didn’t know I was a father\, did you?! Well foster-father perhaps\, and only since I’ve been locked up\, but you know him well — Onesimus! I know you said he was completely useless in the past — quite the opposite of what his name means — but now he is enormously useful to both you and me. I feel like I’m tearing my own heart out\, sending him back to you. I badly wanted to keep him here so that he could continue to look after me\, as I know you would have done\, while I remain in detention for preaching God’s message. However\, I didn’t want to go behind your back on this. I wanted to give you the opportunity to make your own decision rather than be manoeuvred into something against your will. Perhaps there was a good reason why you lost him for a while. Now you can be reunited with him\, but no longer as your slave\, but something much more: a beloved brother. I already count him as a brother — in Christ and in what we’ve been through together — but he will be even more so to you. \nSo\, if you still count me as a mate\, please welcome Onesimus as warmly as you would welcome me. If he owes you anything for any wrong he’s done in the past\, put it on my tab and I’ll fix you up for it when I can. You have my promise here under my own signature: I will pay whatever is owed to you. I won’t even bring up the issue of how you owe me your very life! \nSo that’s it. Please do me this big favour as a brother in Christ! You’ve got no idea how much good it would do for my tired old heart. I have every confidence that you would obey if I ordered you to do this\, but I’m writing to ask you to do it for me as a favour\, and knowing you\, you’ll find some way of doing even more than I’ve asked. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Luke 14: 25-33			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	As Jesus continued his journey\, the crowds of people following him kept growing. One day he turned to them and said\, “Are you sure that you have got what it takes to follow me all the way? Unless you are being accused of hating your parents\, your spouse\, your children\, your brothers and sisters\, and even your own life\, you are probably not fully on board yet. \n“You can’t follow me unless you are ready to accept that you will be targeted by the death squads. \n“If you were planning to build an office tower\, you would know to sit down and calculate the costs carefully before giving the go-ahead for construction. You wouldn’t take the risk of pouring the foundations without securing the finance needed to finish the project. If you ran out of money half way\, you’d be the laughing stock of the industry and you’d be forever saddled with a reputation for failing to finish what you started. \n“If you were responsible for deciding whether or not the nation went to war\, you would know to sit down first and calculate whether your military resources could match those of your enemy. If you decided that the enemy could blow you away twice over\, you’d send out the negotiators to work out a peace deal long before the hostilities commenced. \n“Following me\, then\, is the same. You have to decide whether you have got what it takes\, because you can’t follow me unless you quit clinging to what you’ve got.” \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				  Deuteronomy 30: 15-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	“Take note that today I\, the LORD your God\, have laid out the choices clearly before you. You can choose life and good times or death and hard times. If you live by the rules that I have given you today — if you love me\, do things my way\, and follow my rules\, guidance and instructions — then you will live and flourish. I\, the LORD your God\, will look after you and make you strong and prosperous in the land I am about to give you. \nOn the other hand\, if you reject me and refuse to listen to me\, it will be a very different story. I am warning you in no uncertain terms that if you pursue other objects of devotion and serve them instead of me\, your lives will be ruined. You will not last long in the land I am about to give you on the other side of the Jordan River. \nHere and now I call on the earth and sky to witness that I have laid out the choices clearly before you; choices between life and death\, between being blessed and being cursed. Choose life! Choose life so that you and your children and grandchildren can flourish. Commit yourself to me\, the LORD your God\, in love and loyalty. Obey what I say and stick with me\, because that is the sure-fire recipe for a long and satisfying life in the land that I promised to your ancestors\, Abraham\, Isaac and Jacob.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 1			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, how good it will be for those\nwho turn a deaf ear to the advocates of greed;\nwho steer clear of corrupt short-cuts;\nand avoid those who sneer at goodness. \nInstead they relish your word\, LORD.\nCalming their minds\,\nthey savour the scriptures day and night. \nYou make them strong and healthy\,\nlike a Redgum tree with its roots deep in a river bank\,\nflowering abundantly every season\,\nand always laden with healthy leaves.\nAll that they do is vibrant with life. \nBut what a different story it is for the wicked;\nthey are about as secure as dry leaves in a cyclone. \nThey will have no defence\nwhen they are brought to justice\,\nand no friends among people of integrity. \nLORD\, you keep a protective eye\non all who walk a straight path of peace and justice\,\nbut nothing will save those who leave that road. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor we are awe struck by your handiwork\nand overwhelmed by the depths of your wisdom and love. \nLike a potter at the wheel\, you created the universe\nand shaped our bodies in secret in the hidden depths.\nYou have kept your hand on your people\,\nreshaping us as seemed good to you\nwhenever we become misshapen\nby allowing other allegiances\nto compromise our faithfulness to you. \nThough many times we laid the foundations\nfor a life worthy of your love and justice\nwe could never bring the work to completion\nuntil you sent your child\, Jesus\, to us\nto lead us in the way of the cross.\nWhen he was killed you raised him to life\nand gave him back to us forever\,\nto save us from destruction\nand refresh the hearts of all your saints. \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 keep your hand on your people\nwith the skill and love of a potter at the wheel\,\nreshaping us whenever we become misshapen\nby allowing other allegiances\nto compromise our faithfulness 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\,\nfor we are awe struck by your handiwork\nand overwhelmed by the depths of your wisdom and love. \nLike a potter at the wheel\, you created the universe\nand shaped our bodies in secret in the hidden depths.\nYou have kept your hand on your people\,\nreshaping us as seemed good to you\nwhenever we become misshapen\nby allowing other allegiances\nto compromise our faithfulness to you. \nThough many times we laid the foundations\nfor a life worthy of your love and justice\nwe could never bring the work to completion\nuntil you sent your child\, Jesus\, to us\nto lead us in the way of the cross.\nWhen he was killed you raised him to life\nand gave him back to us forever\,\nto save us from destruction\nand refresh the hearts of all your saints. \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	When we turn from evil\,\nGod does not bring disaster on us\,\nbut forgives our sins\nand refreshes our hearts in Christ. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now to live and share your faith with all.\nLove Christ more than even family or friends\,\nand\, in Christ\, love all God’s people.\nDo not cling to possessions\,\nbut take up your cross and follow Jesus. \nAnd may God shape you in the ways of love and justice;\nMay Christ Jesus refresh your heart;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit surround you with grace and 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\nThey’ll know we are Christians by our hate?A sermon on Philemon 1-21 and Luke 14: 25-33 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nSurrender to the Potter’s HandsA sermon on Jeremiah 18:1-11 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Potter and the ClayA sermon on Jeremiah 18:1-6 by George Whitfield (1714-1770) abridged and preached by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nDiscipleship as TreacheryA sermon on Luke 14:25-33 & Philemon by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nIt Really Could Cost EverythingA sermon on Luke 14: 25-33 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp18/2031-09-07/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310914T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310914T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20210518T122746Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251013T122417Z
UID:10002979-1947110400-1947196799@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/cp19/2031-09-14/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310921T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310921T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20210519T044541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251019T033841Z
UID:10002980-1947715200-1947801599@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/cp20/2031-09-21/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P20.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310928T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20310928T225959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20221017T002728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251026T024942Z
UID:10002981-1948320000-1948402799@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/cp21/2031-09-28/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311005T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311005T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20221024T005908Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251102T000734Z
UID:10002982-1948924800-1949011199@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/cp22/2031-10-05/
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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311012T080000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311012T170000
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CREATED:20221030T234419Z
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UID:10002984-1949558400-1949590800@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/cp23/2031-10-12/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311019T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311019T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20221107T035741Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251116T043724Z
UID:10002985-1950134400-1950220799@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/cp24/2031-10-19/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P24.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311026T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311026T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20221114T005120Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251123T041217Z
UID:10002986-1950739200-1950825599@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/cp25/2031-10-26/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P25.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311102T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311102T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20221121T044602Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251130T090726Z
UID:10002987-1951344000-1951430399@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/cp26/2031-11-02/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311109T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311109T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20221128T021744Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251207T094836Z
UID:10002988-1951948800-1952035199@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/cp27/2031-11-09/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311116T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311116T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20221204T112933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251214T032917Z
UID:10002989-1952553600-1952639999@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/cp28/2031-11-16/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P28.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311123T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311123T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20210601T015406Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251221T043532Z
UID:10002990-1953158400-1953244799@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/cp29/2031-11-23/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P29.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311130T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311130T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20221218T110815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251228T010548Z
UID:10002991-1953763200-1953849599@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/a01/2031-11-30/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Advent1a.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311207T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311207T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20221226T002316Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260104T011806Z
UID:10002992-1954368000-1954454399@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/a02/2031-12-07/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311214T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20311214T235959
DTSTAMP:20260404T095411
CREATED:20230101T115746Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260111T034638Z
UID:10002993-1954972800-1955059199@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/a03/2031-12-14/
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