BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//LaughingBird - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:LaughingBird X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://laughingbird.net X-WR-CALDESC:Events for LaughingBird REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Melbourne BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20270403T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20271002T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20280401T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20280930T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20290331T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20291006T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280525T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280525T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20200827T044009Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003404Z UID:10002818-1842825600-1842911999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:The Feast of the Ascension of our Lord DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Acts 1: 1-11 \n \n\n \n \n \n Dear Theophilus\,  \nIn my first book\, The Gospel according to Luke\, I wrote an account of all that Jesus did and taught from the time he started until the day he said goodbye and was taken up to heaven. Before he left\, he gathered the apostles\, who he had chosen through the Holy Spirit\, and spelled out his final instructions.  \nFor forty days after his suffering and death\, he repeatedly showed up and proved in many ways that he really was alive again. Face to face with the apostles\, he spoke with them about the culture of God. While he was still meeting and sharing meals with them\, he put them on notice that they were not to leave Jerusalem yet. “Instead\,” he said\, “you must wait here for the gift I told you about - the gift my Father promised. You remember how John baptised with water. Well\, you will be baptised with Holy Spirit in just a few days time.”  \nWhen they were all together for the last time\, the apostles had one burning question: “Lord\, is this the time? Will you regain our freedom now and give us our own king to reign over Israel?”  \nJesus replied\, “Only the Father can decide such things and the timing is none of your business. Just focus on this: the Holy Spirit will flood over you and drench you with power\, giving you the passion and courage to be my witnesses. Then you will be able to tell everyone about me\, in Jerusalem\, all over Judea and Samaria\, and even to the ends of the earth.”  \nThat was it - his last words. Right before their eyes\, he was carried up into the air where he soon disappeared into the clouds. They just stood there stunned\, staring into the sky. Suddenly two men appeared next to them\, dressed in white robes! They said\, “You Galileans! What are you standing here for\, staring into the sky? Jesus has been taken into heaven\, but don’t worry. He’ll be back\, just as surely - and just as mysteriously - as he left.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 47 \n \n\n \n \n \n We applaud you\, LORD\, as everyone should;\nwe roar your name and sing for joy. \nYou are an awesome God;\nnumber one in the universe;\nthe great ruler of all the earth. \nYou have subdued those who attacked us;\nput hostile nations at our mercy. \nYou picked out the best land for us;\nyou favoured us with a prized inheritance. \nTake your place at the top of the dais\, LORD God\,\nas we sound trumpets and cheer in your honour. \nYou are our God\, and we’ll sing your praises;\nyou are our ruler\, and we’ll sing your praises. \nYou are the God who rules over all the earth;\nwe’ll sing your praises in all our songs. \nYou are the God who rules over the nations;\nthe throne where you sit is one of a kind. \nLeaders gather from every people on earth\nand\, like Abraham’s descendants\,\ngive their allegiance to you\, God.\nThey lay down their weapons\nand honour you as their ultimate superior. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Psalm 93 (alternative psalm) \n \n\n \n \n \n LORD\, you are the great ruler.\nMajesty enfolds you like a royal robe\nand strength radiates from you.  \nYou have fixed the world firmly in its place.\nYour throne is immovable\, LORD;\never was and ever shall be.  \nSurging floods have risen\, O LORD\,\nsurging up with a mighty roar;\nengulfing everything in thunderous sound.  \nYou are more impressive than the surging waters\,\nmore powerful than the crashing waves;\nyou are number one in all the universe\, LORD!  \nWhatever you say is set in stone.\nThe place you live\, O LORD\, is clearly sacred;\nits holiness will outlast time. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Ephesians 1: 15-23 \n \n\n \n \n \n Having heard of your deep trust in the Lord Jesus and your active love for his people\, I could hardly stop thanking God for you. And I’m praying for you too. I ask the glorious God of our Lord Jesus the Messiah to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will fill you with wisdom and insight as you get to know God. That way you’ll get a clear picture of all that God wants you to see: \n\n\n\nthe promised goal of the mission to which you are called;\nthe extravagant generosity of God’s provision for us;\nand the immense capacity of the dynamic power which is put to work in us when we trust God.\n\n\n\nThis dynamic power is the same energy that God put to work in the Messiah when he raised him from death and enthroned him in heaven. Now the Messiah sits at God’s right hand\, reigning over the entire universe\, and there is not a single authority that can overrule him\, now or ever. Every religious hierarchy and military regime; every legal jurisdiction and people-power movement; every economic imperative and moral principle; God has put them all under the feet of the Messiah. God has decreed that all things will answer to him. The church\, then\, is central to what the Messiah is doing\, for it is his body\, already filled with the presence of the one who is filling each and every part of the entire universe. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 24: 44-53 \n \n\n \n \n \n On the last day that Jesus was on earth after his resurrection\, he said to his disciples\, “The things I have said while I was with you amount to this: everything written about me in the law of Moses\, the prophets\, and the psalms is to be fulfilled.” \nAs he spoke they began to see how to read the scriptures with open minds so as to understand what God was saying in them. Jesus said to them: \n“What was written will now be clear to you: that the Messiah is to suffer and then rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that the people of every nation must be told of the Messiah’s call to turn their lives around and receive forgiveness for their toxic ways. You can get started here in Jerusalem. You have witnessed these things first hand\, so you can tell everyone what you have seen and heard. And don’t miss this: I myself am sending you the gift that my Father promised\, so wait here in the city until you have been fitted out with God’s power.” \nJesus then led his disciples out as far as Bethany\, where he lifted up his hands and spoke a blessing over them. Even as he was blessing them\, he parted from them and was carried into heaven. Falling to their knees\, they worshipped him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy and\, after that\, they were always in the temple praising God. \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 called us to a rich hope\nand a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nYou fixed the world in place\nand rule over all from your sacred throne.\nYou formed a people for yourself\nand through Moses and the prophets you spoke to them\nof the Christ who fills all in all. \nAs it was written\, he suffered and was killed\,\nbut you raised him from the dead\nand he walked again with his chosen ones\,\nspeaking to them of your glorious kingdom.\nYou carried him into heaven on the clouds\nand made him head over all things for the church\,\nseating him at your right hand\nfar above all rule and authority\, power and dominion\,\nand above every name that is named\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We give thanks for your Son\, Jesus\,\nwho you carried up into heaven\nand seated at your right hand\nso that he might be everywhere present\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise with shouts of joy\, O God\,\nfor you have called us to a rich hope\nand a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nYou fixed the world in place\nand rule over all from your sacred throne.\nYou formed a people for yourself\nand through Moses and the prophets you spoke to them\nof the Christ who fills all in all. \nAs it was written\, he suffered and was killed\,\nbut you raised him from the dead\nand he walked again with his chosen ones\,\nspeaking to them of your glorious kingdom.\nYou carried him into heaven on the clouds\nand made him head over all things for the church\,\nseating him at your right hand\nfar above all rule and authority\, power and dominion\,\nand above every name that is named\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n As Jesus Christ instructed his followers\,\nthe forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name\nfrom the holy city to the ends of the earth. \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 out into the world.\nand in your words and in your lives\nbear witness to the Christ who has ascended\nto be everywhere present. \nAnd as you come to know him\,\nmay God give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation\,\nmay Christ Jesus lift up his hands and bless you\,\nand may the Spirit open to you all the riches of Christ’s inheritance. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nThe Ascension: Christ’s superabundant presenceA sermon on Acts 1. 6-14 & John 17:1-11 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nStretching those WingsA sermon for the Feast of the Ascension by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNot Knowing Where to LookA sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLook around you!A sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nThe Ascension of the High PriestA sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc38/2028-05-25/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/38.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280525T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280525T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20200827T044009Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003404Z UID:10002812-1842825600-1842911999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:The Feast of the Ascension of our Lord DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Acts 1: 1-11 \n \n\n \n \n \n Dear Theophilus\,  \nIn my first book\, The Gospel according to Luke\, I wrote an account of all that Jesus did and taught from the time he started until the day he said goodbye and was taken up to heaven. Before he left\, he gathered the apostles\, who he had chosen through the Holy Spirit\, and spelled out his final instructions.  \nFor forty days after his suffering and death\, he repeatedly showed up and proved in many ways that he really was alive again. Face to face with the apostles\, he spoke with them about the culture of God. While he was still meeting and sharing meals with them\, he put them on notice that they were not to leave Jerusalem yet. “Instead\,” he said\, “you must wait here for the gift I told you about - the gift my Father promised. You remember how John baptised with water. Well\, you will be baptised with Holy Spirit in just a few days time.”  \nWhen they were all together for the last time\, the apostles had one burning question: “Lord\, is this the time? Will you regain our freedom now and give us our own king to reign over Israel?”  \nJesus replied\, “Only the Father can decide such things and the timing is none of your business. Just focus on this: the Holy Spirit will flood over you and drench you with power\, giving you the passion and courage to be my witnesses. Then you will be able to tell everyone about me\, in Jerusalem\, all over Judea and Samaria\, and even to the ends of the earth.”  \nThat was it - his last words. Right before their eyes\, he was carried up into the air where he soon disappeared into the clouds. They just stood there stunned\, staring into the sky. Suddenly two men appeared next to them\, dressed in white robes! They said\, “You Galileans! What are you standing here for\, staring into the sky? Jesus has been taken into heaven\, but don’t worry. He’ll be back\, just as surely - and just as mysteriously - as he left.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 47 \n \n\n \n \n \n We applaud you\, LORD\, as everyone should;\nwe roar your name and sing for joy. \nYou are an awesome God;\nnumber one in the universe;\nthe great ruler of all the earth. \nYou have subdued those who attacked us;\nput hostile nations at our mercy. \nYou picked out the best land for us;\nyou favoured us with a prized inheritance. \nTake your place at the top of the dais\, LORD God\,\nas we sound trumpets and cheer in your honour. \nYou are our God\, and we’ll sing your praises;\nyou are our ruler\, and we’ll sing your praises. \nYou are the God who rules over all the earth;\nwe’ll sing your praises in all our songs. \nYou are the God who rules over the nations;\nthe throne where you sit is one of a kind. \nLeaders gather from every people on earth\nand\, like Abraham’s descendants\,\ngive their allegiance to you\, God.\nThey lay down their weapons\nand honour you as their ultimate superior. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Psalm 93 (alternative psalm) \n \n\n \n \n \n LORD\, you are the great ruler.\nMajesty enfolds you like a royal robe\nand strength radiates from you.  \nYou have fixed the world firmly in its place.\nYour throne is immovable\, LORD;\never was and ever shall be.  \nSurging floods have risen\, O LORD\,\nsurging up with a mighty roar;\nengulfing everything in thunderous sound.  \nYou are more impressive than the surging waters\,\nmore powerful than the crashing waves;\nyou are number one in all the universe\, LORD!  \nWhatever you say is set in stone.\nThe place you live\, O LORD\, is clearly sacred;\nits holiness will outlast time. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Ephesians 1: 15-23 \n \n\n \n \n \n Having heard of your deep trust in the Lord Jesus and your active love for his people\, I could hardly stop thanking God for you. And I’m praying for you too. I ask the glorious God of our Lord Jesus the Messiah to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will fill you with wisdom and insight as you get to know God. That way you’ll get a clear picture of all that God wants you to see: \n\n\n\nthe promised goal of the mission to which you are called;\nthe extravagant generosity of God’s provision for us;\nand the immense capacity of the dynamic power which is put to work in us when we trust God.\n\n\n\nThis dynamic power is the same energy that God put to work in the Messiah when he raised him from death and enthroned him in heaven. Now the Messiah sits at God’s right hand\, reigning over the entire universe\, and there is not a single authority that can overrule him\, now or ever. Every religious hierarchy and military regime; every legal jurisdiction and people-power movement; every economic imperative and moral principle; God has put them all under the feet of the Messiah. God has decreed that all things will answer to him. The church\, then\, is central to what the Messiah is doing\, for it is his body\, already filled with the presence of the one who is filling each and every part of the entire universe. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 24: 44-53 \n \n\n \n \n \n On the last day that Jesus was on earth after his resurrection\, he said to his disciples\, “The things I have said while I was with you amount to this: everything written about me in the law of Moses\, the prophets\, and the psalms is to be fulfilled.” \nAs he spoke they began to see how to read the scriptures with open minds so as to understand what God was saying in them. Jesus said to them: \n“What was written will now be clear to you: that the Messiah is to suffer and then rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that the people of every nation must be told of the Messiah’s call to turn their lives around and receive forgiveness for their toxic ways. You can get started here in Jerusalem. You have witnessed these things first hand\, so you can tell everyone what you have seen and heard. And don’t miss this: I myself am sending you the gift that my Father promised\, so wait here in the city until you have been fitted out with God’s power.” \nJesus then led his disciples out as far as Bethany\, where he lifted up his hands and spoke a blessing over them. Even as he was blessing them\, he parted from them and was carried into heaven. Falling to their knees\, they worshipped him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy and\, after that\, they were always in the temple praising God. \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 called us to a rich hope\nand a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nYou fixed the world in place\nand rule over all from your sacred throne.\nYou formed a people for yourself\nand through Moses and the prophets you spoke to them\nof the Christ who fills all in all. \nAs it was written\, he suffered and was killed\,\nbut you raised him from the dead\nand he walked again with his chosen ones\,\nspeaking to them of your glorious kingdom.\nYou carried him into heaven on the clouds\nand made him head over all things for the church\,\nseating him at your right hand\nfar above all rule and authority\, power and dominion\,\nand above every name that is named\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We give thanks for your Son\, Jesus\,\nwho you carried up into heaven\nand seated at your right hand\nso that he might be everywhere present\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise with shouts of joy\, O God\,\nfor you have called us to a rich hope\nand a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nYou fixed the world in place\nand rule over all from your sacred throne.\nYou formed a people for yourself\nand through Moses and the prophets you spoke to them\nof the Christ who fills all in all. \nAs it was written\, he suffered and was killed\,\nbut you raised him from the dead\nand he walked again with his chosen ones\,\nspeaking to them of your glorious kingdom.\nYou carried him into heaven on the clouds\nand made him head over all things for the church\,\nseating him at your right hand\nfar above all rule and authority\, power and dominion\,\nand above every name that is named\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n As Jesus Christ instructed his followers\,\nthe forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name\nfrom the holy city to the ends of the earth. \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 out into the world.\nand in your words and in your lives\nbear witness to the Christ who has ascended\nto be everywhere present. \nAnd as you come to know him\,\nmay God give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation\,\nmay Christ Jesus lift up his hands and bless you\,\nand may the Spirit open to you all the riches of Christ’s inheritance. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nThe Ascension: Christ’s superabundant presenceA sermon on Acts 1. 6-14 & John 17:1-11 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nStretching those WingsA sermon for the Feast of the Ascension by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNot Knowing Where to LookA sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLook around you!A sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nThe Ascension of the High PriestA sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc38/2028-05-25/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/38.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280525T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280525T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20200827T044009Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003404Z UID:10002828-1842825600-1842911999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:The Feast of the Ascension of our Lord DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Acts 1: 1-11 \n \n\n \n \n \n Dear Theophilus\,  \nIn my first book\, The Gospel according to Luke\, I wrote an account of all that Jesus did and taught from the time he started until the day he said goodbye and was taken up to heaven. Before he left\, he gathered the apostles\, who he had chosen through the Holy Spirit\, and spelled out his final instructions.  \nFor forty days after his suffering and death\, he repeatedly showed up and proved in many ways that he really was alive again. Face to face with the apostles\, he spoke with them about the culture of God. While he was still meeting and sharing meals with them\, he put them on notice that they were not to leave Jerusalem yet. “Instead\,” he said\, “you must wait here for the gift I told you about - the gift my Father promised. You remember how John baptised with water. Well\, you will be baptised with Holy Spirit in just a few days time.”  \nWhen they were all together for the last time\, the apostles had one burning question: “Lord\, is this the time? Will you regain our freedom now and give us our own king to reign over Israel?”  \nJesus replied\, “Only the Father can decide such things and the timing is none of your business. Just focus on this: the Holy Spirit will flood over you and drench you with power\, giving you the passion and courage to be my witnesses. Then you will be able to tell everyone about me\, in Jerusalem\, all over Judea and Samaria\, and even to the ends of the earth.”  \nThat was it - his last words. Right before their eyes\, he was carried up into the air where he soon disappeared into the clouds. They just stood there stunned\, staring into the sky. Suddenly two men appeared next to them\, dressed in white robes! They said\, “You Galileans! What are you standing here for\, staring into the sky? Jesus has been taken into heaven\, but don’t worry. He’ll be back\, just as surely - and just as mysteriously - as he left.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 47 \n \n\n \n \n \n We applaud you\, LORD\, as everyone should;\nwe roar your name and sing for joy. \nYou are an awesome God;\nnumber one in the universe;\nthe great ruler of all the earth. \nYou have subdued those who attacked us;\nput hostile nations at our mercy. \nYou picked out the best land for us;\nyou favoured us with a prized inheritance. \nTake your place at the top of the dais\, LORD God\,\nas we sound trumpets and cheer in your honour. \nYou are our God\, and we’ll sing your praises;\nyou are our ruler\, and we’ll sing your praises. \nYou are the God who rules over all the earth;\nwe’ll sing your praises in all our songs. \nYou are the God who rules over the nations;\nthe throne where you sit is one of a kind. \nLeaders gather from every people on earth\nand\, like Abraham’s descendants\,\ngive their allegiance to you\, God.\nThey lay down their weapons\nand honour you as their ultimate superior. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Psalm 93 (alternative psalm) \n \n\n \n \n \n LORD\, you are the great ruler.\nMajesty enfolds you like a royal robe\nand strength radiates from you.  \nYou have fixed the world firmly in its place.\nYour throne is immovable\, LORD;\never was and ever shall be.  \nSurging floods have risen\, O LORD\,\nsurging up with a mighty roar;\nengulfing everything in thunderous sound.  \nYou are more impressive than the surging waters\,\nmore powerful than the crashing waves;\nyou are number one in all the universe\, LORD!  \nWhatever you say is set in stone.\nThe place you live\, O LORD\, is clearly sacred;\nits holiness will outlast time. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Ephesians 1: 15-23 \n \n\n \n \n \n Having heard of your deep trust in the Lord Jesus and your active love for his people\, I could hardly stop thanking God for you. And I’m praying for you too. I ask the glorious God of our Lord Jesus the Messiah to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will fill you with wisdom and insight as you get to know God. That way you’ll get a clear picture of all that God wants you to see: \n\n\n\nthe promised goal of the mission to which you are called;\nthe extravagant generosity of God’s provision for us;\nand the immense capacity of the dynamic power which is put to work in us when we trust God.\n\n\n\nThis dynamic power is the same energy that God put to work in the Messiah when he raised him from death and enthroned him in heaven. Now the Messiah sits at God’s right hand\, reigning over the entire universe\, and there is not a single authority that can overrule him\, now or ever. Every religious hierarchy and military regime; every legal jurisdiction and people-power movement; every economic imperative and moral principle; God has put them all under the feet of the Messiah. God has decreed that all things will answer to him. The church\, then\, is central to what the Messiah is doing\, for it is his body\, already filled with the presence of the one who is filling each and every part of the entire universe. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 24: 44-53 \n \n\n \n \n \n On the last day that Jesus was on earth after his resurrection\, he said to his disciples\, “The things I have said while I was with you amount to this: everything written about me in the law of Moses\, the prophets\, and the psalms is to be fulfilled.” \nAs he spoke they began to see how to read the scriptures with open minds so as to understand what God was saying in them. Jesus said to them: \n“What was written will now be clear to you: that the Messiah is to suffer and then rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that the people of every nation must be told of the Messiah’s call to turn their lives around and receive forgiveness for their toxic ways. You can get started here in Jerusalem. You have witnessed these things first hand\, so you can tell everyone what you have seen and heard. And don’t miss this: I myself am sending you the gift that my Father promised\, so wait here in the city until you have been fitted out with God’s power.” \nJesus then led his disciples out as far as Bethany\, where he lifted up his hands and spoke a blessing over them. Even as he was blessing them\, he parted from them and was carried into heaven. Falling to their knees\, they worshipped him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy and\, after that\, they were always in the temple praising God. \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 called us to a rich hope\nand a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nYou fixed the world in place\nand rule over all from your sacred throne.\nYou formed a people for yourself\nand through Moses and the prophets you spoke to them\nof the Christ who fills all in all. \nAs it was written\, he suffered and was killed\,\nbut you raised him from the dead\nand he walked again with his chosen ones\,\nspeaking to them of your glorious kingdom.\nYou carried him into heaven on the clouds\nand made him head over all things for the church\,\nseating him at your right hand\nfar above all rule and authority\, power and dominion\,\nand above every name that is named\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We give thanks for your Son\, Jesus\,\nwho you carried up into heaven\nand seated at your right hand\nso that he might be everywhere present\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise with shouts of joy\, O God\,\nfor you have called us to a rich hope\nand a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nYou fixed the world in place\nand rule over all from your sacred throne.\nYou formed a people for yourself\nand through Moses and the prophets you spoke to them\nof the Christ who fills all in all. \nAs it was written\, he suffered and was killed\,\nbut you raised him from the dead\nand he walked again with his chosen ones\,\nspeaking to them of your glorious kingdom.\nYou carried him into heaven on the clouds\nand made him head over all things for the church\,\nseating him at your right hand\nfar above all rule and authority\, power and dominion\,\nand above every name that is named\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n As Jesus Christ instructed his followers\,\nthe forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name\nfrom the holy city to the ends of the earth. \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 out into the world.\nand in your words and in your lives\nbear witness to the Christ who has ascended\nto be everywhere present. \nAnd as you come to know him\,\nmay God give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation\,\nmay Christ Jesus lift up his hands and bless you\,\nand may the Spirit open to you all the riches of Christ’s inheritance. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nThe Ascension: Christ’s superabundant presenceA sermon on Acts 1. 6-14 & John 17:1-11 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nStretching those WingsA sermon for the Feast of the Ascension by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNot Knowing Where to LookA sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLook around you!A sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nThe Ascension of the High PriestA sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc38/2028-05-25/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/38.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280525T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280525T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20200827T044009Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T003404Z UID:10002823-1842825600-1842911999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:The Feast of the Ascension of our Lord DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n Acts 1: 1-11 \n \n\n \n \n \n Dear Theophilus\,  \nIn my first book\, The Gospel according to Luke\, I wrote an account of all that Jesus did and taught from the time he started until the day he said goodbye and was taken up to heaven. Before he left\, he gathered the apostles\, who he had chosen through the Holy Spirit\, and spelled out his final instructions.  \nFor forty days after his suffering and death\, he repeatedly showed up and proved in many ways that he really was alive again. Face to face with the apostles\, he spoke with them about the culture of God. While he was still meeting and sharing meals with them\, he put them on notice that they were not to leave Jerusalem yet. “Instead\,” he said\, “you must wait here for the gift I told you about - the gift my Father promised. You remember how John baptised with water. Well\, you will be baptised with Holy Spirit in just a few days time.”  \nWhen they were all together for the last time\, the apostles had one burning question: “Lord\, is this the time? Will you regain our freedom now and give us our own king to reign over Israel?”  \nJesus replied\, “Only the Father can decide such things and the timing is none of your business. Just focus on this: the Holy Spirit will flood over you and drench you with power\, giving you the passion and courage to be my witnesses. Then you will be able to tell everyone about me\, in Jerusalem\, all over Judea and Samaria\, and even to the ends of the earth.”  \nThat was it - his last words. Right before their eyes\, he was carried up into the air where he soon disappeared into the clouds. They just stood there stunned\, staring into the sky. Suddenly two men appeared next to them\, dressed in white robes! They said\, “You Galileans! What are you standing here for\, staring into the sky? Jesus has been taken into heaven\, but don’t worry. He’ll be back\, just as surely - and just as mysteriously - as he left.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 47 \n \n\n \n \n \n We applaud you\, LORD\, as everyone should;\nwe roar your name and sing for joy. \nYou are an awesome God;\nnumber one in the universe;\nthe great ruler of all the earth. \nYou have subdued those who attacked us;\nput hostile nations at our mercy. \nYou picked out the best land for us;\nyou favoured us with a prized inheritance. \nTake your place at the top of the dais\, LORD God\,\nas we sound trumpets and cheer in your honour. \nYou are our God\, and we’ll sing your praises;\nyou are our ruler\, and we’ll sing your praises. \nYou are the God who rules over all the earth;\nwe’ll sing your praises in all our songs. \nYou are the God who rules over the nations;\nthe throne where you sit is one of a kind. \nLeaders gather from every people on earth\nand\, like Abraham’s descendants\,\ngive their allegiance to you\, God.\nThey lay down their weapons\nand honour you as their ultimate superior. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Psalm 93 (alternative psalm) \n \n\n \n \n \n LORD\, you are the great ruler.\nMajesty enfolds you like a royal robe\nand strength radiates from you.  \nYou have fixed the world firmly in its place.\nYour throne is immovable\, LORD;\never was and ever shall be.  \nSurging floods have risen\, O LORD\,\nsurging up with a mighty roar;\nengulfing everything in thunderous sound.  \nYou are more impressive than the surging waters\,\nmore powerful than the crashing waves;\nyou are number one in all the universe\, LORD!  \nWhatever you say is set in stone.\nThe place you live\, O LORD\, is clearly sacred;\nits holiness will outlast time. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Ephesians 1: 15-23 \n \n\n \n \n \n Having heard of your deep trust in the Lord Jesus and your active love for his people\, I could hardly stop thanking God for you. And I’m praying for you too. I ask the glorious God of our Lord Jesus the Messiah to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will fill you with wisdom and insight as you get to know God. That way you’ll get a clear picture of all that God wants you to see: \n\n\n\nthe promised goal of the mission to which you are called;\nthe extravagant generosity of God’s provision for us;\nand the immense capacity of the dynamic power which is put to work in us when we trust God.\n\n\n\nThis dynamic power is the same energy that God put to work in the Messiah when he raised him from death and enthroned him in heaven. Now the Messiah sits at God’s right hand\, reigning over the entire universe\, and there is not a single authority that can overrule him\, now or ever. Every religious hierarchy and military regime; every legal jurisdiction and people-power movement; every economic imperative and moral principle; God has put them all under the feet of the Messiah. God has decreed that all things will answer to him. The church\, then\, is central to what the Messiah is doing\, for it is his body\, already filled with the presence of the one who is filling each and every part of the entire universe. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 24: 44-53 \n \n\n \n \n \n On the last day that Jesus was on earth after his resurrection\, he said to his disciples\, “The things I have said while I was with you amount to this: everything written about me in the law of Moses\, the prophets\, and the psalms is to be fulfilled.” \nAs he spoke they began to see how to read the scriptures with open minds so as to understand what God was saying in them. Jesus said to them: \n“What was written will now be clear to you: that the Messiah is to suffer and then rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that the people of every nation must be told of the Messiah’s call to turn their lives around and receive forgiveness for their toxic ways. You can get started here in Jerusalem. You have witnessed these things first hand\, so you can tell everyone what you have seen and heard. And don’t miss this: I myself am sending you the gift that my Father promised\, so wait here in the city until you have been fitted out with God’s power.” \nJesus then led his disciples out as far as Bethany\, where he lifted up his hands and spoke a blessing over them. Even as he was blessing them\, he parted from them and was carried into heaven. Falling to their knees\, they worshipped him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy and\, after that\, they were always in the temple praising God. \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 called us to a rich hope\nand a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nYou fixed the world in place\nand rule over all from your sacred throne.\nYou formed a people for yourself\nand through Moses and the prophets you spoke to them\nof the Christ who fills all in all. \nAs it was written\, he suffered and was killed\,\nbut you raised him from the dead\nand he walked again with his chosen ones\,\nspeaking to them of your glorious kingdom.\nYou carried him into heaven on the clouds\nand made him head over all things for the church\,\nseating him at your right hand\nfar above all rule and authority\, power and dominion\,\nand above every name that is named\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces) \n \n\n \n \n \n We give thanks for your Son\, Jesus\,\nwho you carried up into heaven\nand seated at your right hand\nso that he might be everywhere present\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n General Prayer of Thanksgiving \n \n\n \n \n \n (Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise with shouts of joy\, O God\,\nfor you have called us to a rich hope\nand a glorious inheritance among the saints. \nYou fixed the world in place\nand rule over all from your sacred throne.\nYou formed a people for yourself\nand through Moses and the prophets you spoke to them\nof the Christ who fills all in all. \nAs it was written\, he suffered and was killed\,\nbut you raised him from the dead\nand he walked again with his chosen ones\,\nspeaking to them of your glorious kingdom.\nYou carried him into heaven on the clouds\nand made him head over all things for the church\,\nseating him at your right hand\nfar above all rule and authority\, power and dominion\,\nand above every name that is named\,\nnot only in this age but also in the age to come. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n As Jesus Christ instructed his followers\,\nthe forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name\nfrom the holy city to the ends of the earth. \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 out into the world.\nand in your words and in your lives\nbear witness to the Christ who has ascended\nto be everywhere present. \nAnd as you come to know him\,\nmay God give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation\,\nmay Christ Jesus lift up his hands and bless you\,\nand may the Spirit open to you all the riches of Christ’s inheritance. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nThe Ascension: Christ’s superabundant presenceA sermon on Acts 1. 6-14 & John 17:1-11 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nStretching those WingsA sermon for the Feast of the Ascension by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNot Knowing Where to LookA sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLook around you!A sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nThe Ascension of the High PriestA sermon on Acts 1: 1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc38/2028-05-25/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/38.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280528T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280528T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201110T075219Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250629T104033Z UID:10001738-1843084800-1843171199@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/c39/2028-05-28/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/39.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280528T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280528T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201110T075219Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T000528Z UID:10002739-1843084800-1843171199@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\nThe Whole Story\, from A to ZA sermon on Revelation 22 by Nathan NettletonOne God – One ChurchA sermon on John 17.20-26 by Nathan NettletonWhen the Truth Ain’t the TruthA sermon on Acts 16.16-34\, John 17.20-26 & Revelation 22 by Garry DeverellWhat must I do to be SavedA sermon on Acts 16.16-34 by Nathan NettletonBacklashA sermon on Acts 16.16-34 & John 17.20-26 by Nathan NettletonMaintaining Unity in DisagreementA sermon on John 17.20-26 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/c39/2028-05-28/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/39.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280531T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280531T000000 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20200830T121453Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T030936Z UID:10001620-1843344000-1843344000@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:The Feast of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n \n\n \n \n 1 Samuel 2: 1-10 \n \n\n \n \n \n After the birth of her son\, Samuel\, Hannah prayed the following prayer: \n“Thanks to you\, LORD\, I am full of joy;\nthanks to you\, I can stand strong and proud.\nI can return the insults that were hurled at me\,\nand kick up my heels\, because you have set me free. \nThere is no other god like you\, LORD\,\nno one who can hold a candle to you;\nnot even the ancient rock is as dependable as you. \nI can tell the proud to stop their boasting;\ntell the arrogant to put a sock in it.\nYou\, LORD\, know us inside and out;\nyou see whether or not we live up to our words. \nYou\, LORD\, disarm the powerful\,\nand redistribute their strength to the helpless.\nThose who consumed to excess are now queuing at soup kitchens\,\nbut those who were deprived now feast in splendour.\nInfertile couples are having children\, one after the other\,\nwhile those who flaunted their children\nfind their families falling apart. \nLife is yours to give or to take\, LORD;\nyou can send someone to the land of the dead\,\nand you can bring them back again. \nYou\, LORD\, can make us or break us;\nyou can put us on a pedestal or knock us off.\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 can do all this because the earth is yours;\nyou set it up and you wrote the rules. \nTo those who are faithful\, you guarantee safe passage;\nthose who are corrupt soon lose sight of any light to steer by\,\nfor no matter how strong people are\,\nthey can’t make it alone. \nYou are the LORD!\nThose who try to obstruct you\nfind that it is like standing in the path of a train\nas you thunder towards your destination.\nYou\, LORD\, have the final word on all that is done on earth.\nYou will give strength and power to your chosen ruler.” \n©2000 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 \n Romans 12: 9-16b \n \n\n \n \n \n See to it that your love is for real and without pretence. Avoid corruption like the plague. Dig your heels in and don’t be budged from the side of good. Love one another\, and not just in theory but with warmth and friendly affection. If you need something to compete over\, see who can score the most points for treating everyone else like royalty. Don’t let your enthusiasm get slack\, but keep yourselves on the boil and work hard for the Lord. Celebrate in anticipation of all that is to come. When you are being put through the wringer\, tough it out\, and pray all the harder. Do what you can to help out other Christians who are in need\, and work at making strangers feel welcome and at home among you. \nWhen others persecute you\, wish them all the best and pray that God will look after them. Seek the best for them; don’t wish disaster on them. When others are celebrating\, celebrate with them. When others are hurting\, share the pain with them. Stay in tune with one another\, living a shared life based on common commitments. Don’t be full of yourselves\, but hang out with those who the world writes off as nobodies. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Luke 1:39-57 \n \n\n \n \n \n When the angel told Mary that both she and her relative Elizabeth were going to have babies\, Mary took the first opportunity to make the trip to visit Elizabeth. Elizabeth lived with her husband Zechariah in a Judean town in the hills. Mary sang out as soon as she arrived at their house\, and when she heard the greeting\, Elizabeth felt the baby jump in her womb. The Holy Spirit welled up in Elizabeth and she cried out with joy\, saying: \n“You have been blessed like no other woman!\nAnd doubly blessed is the child in your womb!\nAnd what about me? Why am I so blessed\,\nthat my Lord’s own mother should knock at my door?\nThe moment your greeting reach my ears\,\nthe baby in my womb began bouncing with glee!\nClearly you are God’s favoured one\,\nbecause you believed what God said to you;\ntrusting God to follow through on every promise. \nMary too was bursting with joy. She said: \n“Let me turn the spotlight on God’s greatness!\nWith all that I am I dance with joy over God\, my saviour!\nGod has smiled upon me\, though I was no one special.\nNow I’ll be remembered forever as the favoured one.\nThe supreme God has done wonderful things for me.\nNo other name is in the same league as God’s. \nIn every generation\, those who treat God with respect\nare rewarded with showers of mercy.\nWith sleeves rolled up\, God has made a show of strength\,\nand sent packing those who were so full of themselves. \nGod has kicked the power mongers out of office\,\nand lifted the downtrodden back to their feet.\nGod has put on a feast for those who were hungry\,\nand slammed the door on the rich without giving them a bite. \nThe Lord’s servant Israel receives a helping hand.\nGod always remembers them with tender care.\nThis is exactly what God promised long ago\,\na vow made to Abraham and Sarah for every generation.” \nMary didn’t return home for about three months\, but stayed until Elizabeth’s baby was born. Elizabeth gave birth to a boy who was given the name John. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/abc45/2028-05-31/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/45.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280604T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280604T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201111T000259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250706T023520Z UID:10001740-1843689600-1843775999@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/c40/2028-06-04/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/40.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280604T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280604T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201111T000259Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T000528Z UID:10002738-1843689600-1843775999@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/c40/2028-06-04/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/40.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280611T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280611T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201111T004134Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250706T023829Z UID:10001742-1844294400-1844380799@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/c41/2028-06-11/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/41.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20280618 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20280619 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201112T001941Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201112T001941Z UID:10001745-1844899200-1844985599@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/cp06/2028-06-18/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P06.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280618T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280618T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201112T010545Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T032006Z UID:10001748-1844899200-1844985599@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/cp07/2028-06-18/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P07.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280702T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280702T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201113T003715Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T031352Z UID:10001750-1846108800-1846195199@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/cp08/2028-07-02/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P08.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280709T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280709T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201113T013506Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T031518Z UID:10001752-1846713600-1846799999@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/cp09/2028-07-09/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P09.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280709T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280709T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201113T013506Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201113T013506Z UID:10002737-1846713600-1846799999@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\nMission Insignificant?A sermon on Luke 10: 1-11\, 16-20 by Nathan NettletonKeep it simple\, StupidA sermon on 2 Kings 5: 1-14 by Nathan NettletonToo Simple to BotherA sermon on 2 Kings 5: 1-14 by Nathan NettletonCrucifying the Domesticated GospelA sermon on Galatians 6:1-16 by Nathan NettletonGod’s DreamA sermon on Galatians 6:1-16 by Paul DekarGo in PeaceA sermon on 2 Kings 5: 1-14 & Galatians 6: 1-16 by Ian CookTaking Pride in the Cross of Jesus ChristA sermon on Galatians 6:1-16 by Garry DeverellBringing Satan Crashing DownA sermon on Luke 10: 1-11\, 16-20 by Nathan NettletonQuestions on MissionA sermon on Luke 10: 1-11\, 16-20 by Michael Wood URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp09/2028-07-09/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P09.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280716T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280716T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201115T042237Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201115T042237Z UID:10002736-1847318400-1847404799@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\nWho is my neighbour?A sermon on Amos 7:10-15; Luke 10:25-37 & Colossians 1:13-14 by Nathan NettletonWhat do Jesus and a Plumbline have in Common?A sermon on Amos 7:10-15 & Luke 10:25-37 by Nathan NettletonMysticism and Prophesy: the intimate connectionA sermon on Amos 7.7-17 & Luke 10. 25-37 by Garry DeverellA New CitizenshipA sermon on Luke 10:25-37 & Colossians 1:13-14 by Nathan NettletonA Measure to Live ByA sermon on Amos 7:10-15; Luke 10:25-37 & Colossians 1:13-14 by Nathan NettletonIt all depends how you look at itA sermon on Amos 7:10-15; Luke 10:25-37 & Colossians 1:13-14 by Sylvia SandemanMaking and Unmaking NobodiesA sermon on Luke 10:25-37 by Nathan NettletonSchooled in Love and LimitsA sermon on Luke 10:25-37 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp10/2028-07-16/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P10.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280716T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280716T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20201115T042237Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250818T032615Z UID:10001754-1847318400-1847404799@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/cp10/2028-07-16/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P10.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280723T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280723T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20210503T055030Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250824T121141Z UID:10001756-1847923200-1848009599@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/cp11/2028-07-23/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P11.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280723T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280723T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20210503T055030Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210503T055030Z UID:10002735-1847923200-1848009599@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\nWhen image-consciousness is okayA sermon on Colossians 1:15-28 by Nathan NettletonReconciliation – Are the Bible and the News talking about the same thing?A sermon on Colossians 1:15-28 by Nathan NettletonThe Body of Christ as PainbearerA sermon on Colossians 1:15-28 by Nathan NettletonSeething Silence and Furious LoveA sermon on Amos 8: 1-12 & Luke 10:38-42 by Nathan NettletonOne Thing Is NeededA sermon on Luke 10:38-42 by Daniel BullockIt’s all about WomenA sermon on Luke 10:38-42 by Sylvia SandemanMaking Martha WholeA sermon on Luke 10:38-42 by Alison Sampson URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp11/2028-07-23/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P11.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280730T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280730T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20210504T020424Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250824T120743Z UID:10001758-1848528000-1848614399@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/cp12/2028-07-30/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P12.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280806T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280806T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20210505T052924Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250831T102139Z UID:10001760-1849132800-1849219199@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/cp13/2028-08-06/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P13.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280806T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280806T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20210505T052924Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210505T052924Z UID:10002734-1849132800-1849219199@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\nProfit Tables and the Prophet’s TableA sermon on Luke 12: 13-21 by Nathan NettletonSet your minds on things aboveA sermon on Colossians 3.1-11 and Luke 12.13-21 by Garry DeverellHidden With Christ in GodA sermon on Colossians 3.1-11 and Luke 12.13-21 by Garry DeverellCommitting to things associated with new life in ChristA sermon on Colossians 3.1-11 by John FowlerIntimate Partner Violence and the Image of GodA sermon on Hosea 11:1-11 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp13/2028-08-06/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P13.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280813T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280813T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20210505T060302Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210505T060302Z UID:10002733-1849737600-1849823999@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\nWhat Keeps Us Going?A sermon on Hebrews 11:1-3\, 8-16 by Nathan NettletonOverriding the Operating SystemA sermon on Luke 12:32-40 by Nathan NettletonNo More Bull!A sermon on Isaiah 1: 1\, 10-20 by Nathan NettletonWhat is Faith?A sermon on Hebrews 11:1-3\, 8-16 by Nathan NettletonFaithful FaithA sermon on Hebrews 11: 1-3\, 8-16 & Luke 12: 32-40 by Nathan NettletonFaith as Medicine for Sick WorldA sermon on Isaiah 1:10-20; Hebrews 11:1-3\, 8-16 & Luke 12:32-40 by Nathan NettletonImaginationA sermon on Hebrews 11: 1-3\, 8-16 & Isaiah 1: 1\, 10-20 by Jody Kilpatrick URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp14/2028-08-13/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P14.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280813T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280813T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20210505T060302Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250907T045140Z UID:10001762-1849737600-1849823999@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/cp14/2028-08-13/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P14.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280820T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280820T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20210506T044743Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210506T044743Z UID:10002732-1850342400-1850428799@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/cp15/2028-08-20/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P15.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280820T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280820T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102703 CREATED:20210506T044743Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250914T051326Z UID:10001764-1850342400-1850428799@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/cp15/2028-08-20/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P15.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280827T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280827T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102704 CREATED:20210506T050449Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250921T021035Z UID:10001766-1850947200-1851033599@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/cp16/2028-08-27/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P16.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280903T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280903T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102704 CREATED:20210510T030514Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250928T045045Z UID:10001768-1851552000-1851638399@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/cp17/2028-09-03/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P17.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280903T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280903T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102704 CREATED:20210510T030514Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210510T030514Z UID:10002731-1851552000-1851638399@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\nThe Prosecutor’s CaseA drama/sermon on Jeremiah 2: 4-13 by Nathan NettletonThe Economy of CompassionA on Luke 14. 7-14 by Garry DeverellYou Are Invited …A sermon on Luke 14: 1\, 7-14 & Hebrews 13: 1-8\, 15-16 by Samara PittSacrifices That Please GodA sermon on Hebrews 13:1-8\, 15-16 by Nathan NettletonYesterday and Today and ForeverA sermon on Hebrews 13:1-8\, 15-16 & Luke 14:1\, 7-14 by Nathan NettletonHeading for Rock Bottom with JesusA sermon on Luke 14:1\, 7-14 & Jeremiah 2:4-13 by Nathan NettletonWhy Drink From that Pool?A sermon on Luke 14:1\, 7-14 & Jeremiah 2:4-13 by Nathan NettletonThe Awkwardness of Being a GuestA on Luke 14. 1-24 by Cas Wepener URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/cp17/2028-09-03/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P17.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280910T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20280910T235959 DTSTAMP:20260404T102704 CREATED:20210510T032644Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251005T044905Z UID:10001960-1852156800-1852243199@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/cp18/2028-09-10/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P18.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR