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:20250405T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20251004T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20260404T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20261003T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20270403T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20271002T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20280401T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20280930T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20290331T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20291006T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20300406T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20301005T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261108T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261108T235959
DTSTAMP:20260409T143242
CREATED:20200818T110524Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231217T232511Z
UID:10001578-1794096000-1794182399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 27 - Year A
DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Joshua 24: 1-3a\, 14-25			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem. He called a meeting of their leaders — the tribal elders\, the clan chiefs\, the judges\, and the civil officials — and they gathered under the authority of God. Joshua addressed them\, saying: \n“The LORD\, the God of Israel\, wants you to hear this. Back in the dark ages\, your ancestors — Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor — lived in the land beyond the Euphrates river and served other gods. Then the LORD led your father Abraham out of that land and into the land of Canaan\, and gave him a huge mob of descendants. So now\, treat the LORD with due respect\, and be absolutely fair dinkum and rock-solid in your commitment to doing all that the LORD asks of you. Have nothing more to do with any of the other objects of devotion that your ancestors worked for back in those days\, or when they were in Egypt. Put yourselves wholly at the service of the LORD. But if you are unwilling to serve the LORD\, then you can make up your own minds what you are going to devote yourselves to: the ignorant ways of your ancestors back there in the dark ages; or the trivialities of the culture around you here. But I have made up my mind for myself and for my family; we will devote ourselves to the LORD.” \nWhen Joshua finished his speech\, the leaders replied\, saying: \n“There is no way we would turn our backs on the LORD and devote ourselves to other gods. It was the LORD who broke us free from slavery and did such spectacular things before our very eyes in the land where we had been oppressed. As we travelled\, the LORD looked after us every step of the way and kept us safe from hostile nations. It was the LORD who made room for us by driving out the nations who were occupying this land. Therefore we will serve the LORD\, for the LORD is our God.” \nBut Joshua challenged them saying\, “You lot haven’t got what it takes to serve the LORD\, for the LORD has the most uncompromising standards. The LORD demands your undivided devotion\, and will not tolerate or forgive any unfaithfulness or breach of trust. If you do the wrong thing by the LORD and go running around after some other object of devotion\, the LORD will turn on you and do you some serious harm. The LORD will quit looking after you and destroy you instead.” \nBut the leaders of the people all insisted\, “No\, we will serve the LORD!” \nSo Joshua said\, “You people are all witnesses that you made this choice with clear heads and sound minds. You all understand that you are choosing to serve the LORD alone.” \n“We know what we are saying\,” they replied. \nThen Joshua said\, “Well then\, get rid of any other objects of devotion that you have in your lives\, and give your hearts wholly and solely to the LORD our God.” \nAnd the people answered Joshua\, saying\, “The LORD our God is the only one we will serve and the only one we will obey.” \nSo Joshua ratified the alliance between God and the people that day\, and there at Shechem he spelt out the terms and conditions of the alliance. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 78: 1-7			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We are keen to learn of you\, LORD;\nyour people are eager to hear what you have to say. \nWe listen to those who pass on the old stories;\nthe dark mysteries of ancient wisdom.\nThese are things we must hear and know\,\nfor the wisdom of our ancestors must not be lost. \nWe will not deprive our children of these things.\nWe will pass on the stories to the next generation\, LORD\,\nstories of the wonderful things you have done\,\nso that they know how great and amazing you are. \nYou laid down the law for your people\, LORD\,\nand set out what you expected of your chosen ones.\nYou spelt it out to our ancestors\,\nand told them to teach it to their children\,\nso that the next generation would know your ways;\nso that those who had not yet even been born\nwould be able to grow up and pass it on to their children;\nso that they will trust their future to you\, God\,\nliving their lives by your instructions\nand never forgetting what you have done. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Sisters and brothers\, as you grieve over the recent death of some members of your congregation\, we do not want you to be left in the dark about what this means for their future. The pain of separation is real\, but your grief is different from the grief of others who have no hope beyond this. Why? Because we believe that Jesus died and rose back to life\, and that in the same way\, all those who have died will be gathered up by God with Jesus to share his life. We declare this to you with the utmost confidence\, for we have the Lord’s word for it. We who are still alive\, and who may still be here when the Lord arrives to take charge\, are certainly no better placed than those who have died. On that day\, when the order is given\, and the archangel roars\, and God sounds the siren\, the Lord will emerge from heaven in person\, and the first to their feet will be those who have died in union with the Messiah. Then the rest of us\, those of us who are still alive at the time\, will be snatched up too\, and there will be a great reunion in the clouds as we all meet the Lord in the air together. From then on\, there will be no more painful separations; we will all be with the Lord forever. So keep reminding one another about what I’ve said\, so that you may all take courage in this time of sadness. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 25: 1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “When the time comes\, the arrival of the culture of heaven will be like this: \nAt a wedding celebration\, ten young women were given the job of holding up oil lamps and forming a guard of honour to greet the bridegroom when he arrived at the reception hall. Five of them had their wits about them\, but the other five were not the full bottle. These five dim-wits had their lamps alight\, but they didn’t bring any spare oil. The five bright-sparks had some extra with them\, just in case. The bridegroom was delayed by several hours\, and the ten girls all fell asleep in the foyer while they were waiting for him. Finally\, on the stroke of midnight\, there was a shout\, ‘Quick! The bridegroom has just come around the corner. On your feet and get those lamps waving!’ \nThe ten young women all jumped up and trimmed their lamps\, but by that time the five dim-wits were almost out of oil. They turned to the well-prepared women and said\, ‘Our lamps are going out. Can you spare us some oil?’ \nBut the well-prepared women replied\, ‘Sorry! If we try to make it go around all ten of us\, then all the lamps will run out and there’ll be no lights at all. You’ll have to go down to the shops and get some more for yourselves.’ \nBut while the five who had not kept their stocks up ran down to the shops\, the bridegroom pulled up\, and those who had been ready for him waved their lamps and followed him into the wedding feast. The door was locked behind them\, and when the other five returned\, they couldn’t get in. They banged on the door and called out\, ‘Sir\, Sir\, open the door for us.’ \nBut the bridegroom replied\, ‘I’m telling you straight\, I don’t recognise you.’” \n“And so\,” Jesus concluded\, “Keep yourselves ready\, because you have no way of knowing when the time will come.” \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Wisdom of Solomon 6: 12-16			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Wisdom is a radiant beauty\nand her beauty never fades.\nThose who love her always recognise her\nand those who seek her have no trouble finding her. \nShe is open and generous\nwith all who desire her.\nGet up early to track her down\nand you’ll have no trouble.\nYou’ll find her right outside\,\nready and waiting for you. \nAnyone who gets their mind fixed on her\nis on the way to understanding everything clearly.\nAnyone who stays awake to her\nwill soon be without a care in the world.\nShe is always on the lookout for those who are worthy of her.\nShe bowls up and generously introduces herself.\nShe is there in their minds whenever they need her. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR  Amos 5: 18-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, the LORD\, am heartbroken over you people\nwho seem so eager to see the day\nwhen I will step in to put everything right.\nWhat have you got to look forward to on that day? \nWhat you see as a light at the end of the tunnel\nis a train coming the other way!\nFor you\, it will be like escaping from a crocodile\nonly to swim into the jaws of a shark;\nor flopping down in your favourite chair\nonly to sit on a deadly snake. \nCan’t you see that for you\nthe day of justice will be a dark and gloomy day\nand not any kind of bright new tomorrow? \nI can’t stand your religious festivals.\nWhen you gather for worship\, it makes me sick. \nI will not accept anything you offer me in worship\,\nno matter what it costs or how beautifully it is presented.\nYou can offer me all your sacrifices and gifts\,\nbut I will turn away in disgust. \nGo and sing your noisy songs somewhere else.\nI don’t want to hear another note you play. \nYour worship will remain like a foul stench to me\nuntil you flood your lives with justice;\nuntil your passion for doing what’s right\nis as unstoppable as a rolling river. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Wisdom of Solomon 6: 17-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The first sign of wisdom in a person\nis a genuine hunger to learn from others.\nThose who seek guidance from others\nare clearly proving their love of wisdom\,\nand the love of wisdom\nis shown in living by her laws.\nLiving by her laws\nguarantees unending life\,\nand unending life is lived\nin close relationship with God. \nSo the desire for wisdom\nleads directly to the Kingdom of God. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR  Psalm 70			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Please God\, deliver me!\nHelp me\, LORD\, quickly! \nThese people are out to get me\, LORD;\nleave them confused\nwith egg all over their faces.\nThey are trying to do me harm;\nknock them off their perches\nand send them packing. \nWhen they smirk and make a joke of me\,\nrun them out of town in disgrace. \nPut a smile on the face\nof everyone who seeks you\, LORD.\nGive everyone who loves your ways\nreason to celebrate your greatness forever. \nBut right now\, God\, I need your help in a hurry;\nI can’t make ends meet.\nYou are the one who helps me;\nthe one who rescues me from danger.\nQuickly\, LORD\, help me without delay! \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your mysteries well up from ancient depths\,\nassuring us that we will be with you forever. \nIn the first of your mighty works\,\nyou created the earth and filled it with life.\nYou rescued a people from slavery\nand called them to choose between wisdom and foolishness\, between serving you and making their own gods. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have again called us to choose -\nto live in readiness\nfor the promised return\nof the one who died and rose again\,\nor to waste our opportunities\nand squander what you have given us.\nWe choose to serve you\,\nand with hearts full of gratitude\nwe trust in your protection and look for the day\nwhen at the trumpet’s sound the dead will arise\nand all will be embraced in the marriage of earth and heaven. \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	As those who have chosen to serve you\,\nwe give thanks for your protection along the way\nand your promise of a day\nwhen at the trumpet’s sound the dead will arise\nand all will be embraced in the marriage of earth and heaven. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your mysteries well up from ancient depths\,\nassuring us that we will be with you forever. \nIn the first of your mighty works\,\nyou created the earth and filled it with life.\nYou rescued a people from slavery\nand called them to choose between wisdom and foolishness\, between serving you and making their own gods. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have again called us to choose -\nto live in readiness\nfor the promised return\nof the one who died and rose again\,\nor to waste our opportunities\nand squander what you have given us.\nWe choose to serve you\,\nand with hearts full of gratitude\nwe trust in your protection and look for the day\nwhen at the trumpet’s sound the dead will arise\nand all will be embraced in the marriage of earth and heaven. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus died and rose again\, and through Jesus\,\nthose who live or die in him\nwill be embraced in the mercy of God forever. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and follow in the footsteps\nof those who have gone before us in Christ.\nRevere the Lord.\nServe God in sincerity and faithfulness.\nTeach those who come after you to trust in God. \nAnd may God protect you along the way;\nMay Christ Jesus keep you alert and prepared;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit fuel the lamp that guides your path. \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\nSo\, how are you going to live?A sermon on Matthew 23:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\n Things you can’t shareA sermon on Matthew 23:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGrief\, Fear\, and Rapturous WelcomesA sermon on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & Matthew 25:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nReady\, Coming or NotA sermon on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & Matthew 25:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nToo Good For HeavenA sermon on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & Matthew 25:1-13 by Suzanne Ross\n\n\n\nIsrael\, Gaza\, and the Book of JoshuaA sermon on the book of Joshua by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap27/2026-11-08/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P27.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20291111T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20291111T235959
DTSTAMP:20260409T143242
CREATED:20200818T110524Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231217T232511Z
UID:10002086-1889049600-1889135999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 27 - Year A
DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Joshua 24: 1-3a\, 14-25			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem. He called a meeting of their leaders — the tribal elders\, the clan chiefs\, the judges\, and the civil officials — and they gathered under the authority of God. Joshua addressed them\, saying: \n“The LORD\, the God of Israel\, wants you to hear this. Back in the dark ages\, your ancestors — Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor — lived in the land beyond the Euphrates river and served other gods. Then the LORD led your father Abraham out of that land and into the land of Canaan\, and gave him a huge mob of descendants. So now\, treat the LORD with due respect\, and be absolutely fair dinkum and rock-solid in your commitment to doing all that the LORD asks of you. Have nothing more to do with any of the other objects of devotion that your ancestors worked for back in those days\, or when they were in Egypt. Put yourselves wholly at the service of the LORD. But if you are unwilling to serve the LORD\, then you can make up your own minds what you are going to devote yourselves to: the ignorant ways of your ancestors back there in the dark ages; or the trivialities of the culture around you here. But I have made up my mind for myself and for my family; we will devote ourselves to the LORD.” \nWhen Joshua finished his speech\, the leaders replied\, saying: \n“There is no way we would turn our backs on the LORD and devote ourselves to other gods. It was the LORD who broke us free from slavery and did such spectacular things before our very eyes in the land where we had been oppressed. As we travelled\, the LORD looked after us every step of the way and kept us safe from hostile nations. It was the LORD who made room for us by driving out the nations who were occupying this land. Therefore we will serve the LORD\, for the LORD is our God.” \nBut Joshua challenged them saying\, “You lot haven’t got what it takes to serve the LORD\, for the LORD has the most uncompromising standards. The LORD demands your undivided devotion\, and will not tolerate or forgive any unfaithfulness or breach of trust. If you do the wrong thing by the LORD and go running around after some other object of devotion\, the LORD will turn on you and do you some serious harm. The LORD will quit looking after you and destroy you instead.” \nBut the leaders of the people all insisted\, “No\, we will serve the LORD!” \nSo Joshua said\, “You people are all witnesses that you made this choice with clear heads and sound minds. You all understand that you are choosing to serve the LORD alone.” \n“We know what we are saying\,” they replied. \nThen Joshua said\, “Well then\, get rid of any other objects of devotion that you have in your lives\, and give your hearts wholly and solely to the LORD our God.” \nAnd the people answered Joshua\, saying\, “The LORD our God is the only one we will serve and the only one we will obey.” \nSo Joshua ratified the alliance between God and the people that day\, and there at Shechem he spelt out the terms and conditions of the alliance. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 78: 1-7			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We are keen to learn of you\, LORD;\nyour people are eager to hear what you have to say. \nWe listen to those who pass on the old stories;\nthe dark mysteries of ancient wisdom.\nThese are things we must hear and know\,\nfor the wisdom of our ancestors must not be lost. \nWe will not deprive our children of these things.\nWe will pass on the stories to the next generation\, LORD\,\nstories of the wonderful things you have done\,\nso that they know how great and amazing you are. \nYou laid down the law for your people\, LORD\,\nand set out what you expected of your chosen ones.\nYou spelt it out to our ancestors\,\nand told them to teach it to their children\,\nso that the next generation would know your ways;\nso that those who had not yet even been born\nwould be able to grow up and pass it on to their children;\nso that they will trust their future to you\, God\,\nliving their lives by your instructions\nand never forgetting what you have done. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Sisters and brothers\, as you grieve over the recent death of some members of your congregation\, we do not want you to be left in the dark about what this means for their future. The pain of separation is real\, but your grief is different from the grief of others who have no hope beyond this. Why? Because we believe that Jesus died and rose back to life\, and that in the same way\, all those who have died will be gathered up by God with Jesus to share his life. We declare this to you with the utmost confidence\, for we have the Lord’s word for it. We who are still alive\, and who may still be here when the Lord arrives to take charge\, are certainly no better placed than those who have died. On that day\, when the order is given\, and the archangel roars\, and God sounds the siren\, the Lord will emerge from heaven in person\, and the first to their feet will be those who have died in union with the Messiah. Then the rest of us\, those of us who are still alive at the time\, will be snatched up too\, and there will be a great reunion in the clouds as we all meet the Lord in the air together. From then on\, there will be no more painful separations; we will all be with the Lord forever. So keep reminding one another about what I’ve said\, so that you may all take courage in this time of sadness. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 25: 1-13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While speaking to his followers\, Jesus said\, “When the time comes\, the arrival of the culture of heaven will be like this: \nAt a wedding celebration\, ten young women were given the job of holding up oil lamps and forming a guard of honour to greet the bridegroom when he arrived at the reception hall. Five of them had their wits about them\, but the other five were not the full bottle. These five dim-wits had their lamps alight\, but they didn’t bring any spare oil. The five bright-sparks had some extra with them\, just in case. The bridegroom was delayed by several hours\, and the ten girls all fell asleep in the foyer while they were waiting for him. Finally\, on the stroke of midnight\, there was a shout\, ‘Quick! The bridegroom has just come around the corner. On your feet and get those lamps waving!’ \nThe ten young women all jumped up and trimmed their lamps\, but by that time the five dim-wits were almost out of oil. They turned to the well-prepared women and said\, ‘Our lamps are going out. Can you spare us some oil?’ \nBut the well-prepared women replied\, ‘Sorry! If we try to make it go around all ten of us\, then all the lamps will run out and there’ll be no lights at all. You’ll have to go down to the shops and get some more for yourselves.’ \nBut while the five who had not kept their stocks up ran down to the shops\, the bridegroom pulled up\, and those who had been ready for him waved their lamps and followed him into the wedding feast. The door was locked behind them\, and when the other five returned\, they couldn’t get in. They banged on the door and called out\, ‘Sir\, Sir\, open the door for us.’ \nBut the bridegroom replied\, ‘I’m telling you straight\, I don’t recognise you.’” \n“And so\,” Jesus concluded\, “Keep yourselves ready\, because you have no way of knowing when the time will come.” \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Wisdom of Solomon 6: 12-16			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Wisdom is a radiant beauty\nand her beauty never fades.\nThose who love her always recognise her\nand those who seek her have no trouble finding her. \nShe is open and generous\nwith all who desire her.\nGet up early to track her down\nand you’ll have no trouble.\nYou’ll find her right outside\,\nready and waiting for you. \nAnyone who gets their mind fixed on her\nis on the way to understanding everything clearly.\nAnyone who stays awake to her\nwill soon be without a care in the world.\nShe is always on the lookout for those who are worthy of her.\nShe bowls up and generously introduces herself.\nShe is there in their minds whenever they need her. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR  Amos 5: 18-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I\, the LORD\, am heartbroken over you people\nwho seem so eager to see the day\nwhen I will step in to put everything right.\nWhat have you got to look forward to on that day? \nWhat you see as a light at the end of the tunnel\nis a train coming the other way!\nFor you\, it will be like escaping from a crocodile\nonly to swim into the jaws of a shark;\nor flopping down in your favourite chair\nonly to sit on a deadly snake. \nCan’t you see that for you\nthe day of justice will be a dark and gloomy day\nand not any kind of bright new tomorrow? \nI can’t stand your religious festivals.\nWhen you gather for worship\, it makes me sick. \nI will not accept anything you offer me in worship\,\nno matter what it costs or how beautifully it is presented.\nYou can offer me all your sacrifices and gifts\,\nbut I will turn away in disgust. \nGo and sing your noisy songs somewhere else.\nI don’t want to hear another note you play. \nYour worship will remain like a foul stench to me\nuntil you flood your lives with justice;\nuntil your passion for doing what’s right\nis as unstoppable as a rolling river. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Wisdom of Solomon 6: 17-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The first sign of wisdom in a person\nis a genuine hunger to learn from others.\nThose who seek guidance from others\nare clearly proving their love of wisdom\,\nand the love of wisdom\nis shown in living by her laws.\nLiving by her laws\nguarantees unending life\,\nand unending life is lived\nin close relationship with God. \nSo the desire for wisdom\nleads directly to the Kingdom of God. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR  Psalm 70			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Please God\, deliver me!\nHelp me\, LORD\, quickly! \nThese people are out to get me\, LORD;\nleave them confused\nwith egg all over their faces.\nThey are trying to do me harm;\nknock them off their perches\nand send them packing. \nWhen they smirk and make a joke of me\,\nrun them out of town in disgrace. \nPut a smile on the face\nof everyone who seeks you\, LORD.\nGive everyone who loves your ways\nreason to celebrate your greatness forever. \nBut right now\, God\, I need your help in a hurry;\nI can’t make ends meet.\nYou are the one who helps me;\nthe one who rescues me from danger.\nQuickly\, LORD\, help me without delay! \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your mysteries well up from ancient depths\,\nassuring us that we will be with you forever. \nIn the first of your mighty works\,\nyou created the earth and filled it with life.\nYou rescued a people from slavery\nand called them to choose between wisdom and foolishness\, between serving you and making their own gods. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have again called us to choose -\nto live in readiness\nfor the promised return\nof the one who died and rose again\,\nor to waste our opportunities\nand squander what you have given us.\nWe choose to serve you\,\nand with hearts full of gratitude\nwe trust in your protection and look for the day\nwhen at the trumpet’s sound the dead will arise\nand all will be embraced in the marriage of earth and heaven. \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	As those who have chosen to serve you\,\nwe give thanks for your protection along the way\nand your promise of a day\nwhen at the trumpet’s sound the dead will arise\nand all will be embraced in the marriage of earth and heaven. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your mysteries well up from ancient depths\,\nassuring us that we will be with you forever. \nIn the first of your mighty works\,\nyou created the earth and filled it with life.\nYou rescued a people from slavery\nand called them to choose between wisdom and foolishness\, between serving you and making their own gods. \nIn your child\, Jesus\, you have again called us to choose -\nto live in readiness\nfor the promised return\nof the one who died and rose again\,\nor to waste our opportunities\nand squander what you have given us.\nWe choose to serve you\,\nand with hearts full of gratitude\nwe trust in your protection and look for the day\nwhen at the trumpet’s sound the dead will arise\nand all will be embraced in the marriage of earth and heaven. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus died and rose again\, and through Jesus\,\nthose who live or die in him\nwill be embraced in the mercy of God forever. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, and follow in the footsteps\nof those who have gone before us in Christ.\nRevere the Lord.\nServe God in sincerity and faithfulness.\nTeach those who come after you to trust in God. \nAnd may God protect you along the way;\nMay Christ Jesus keep you alert and prepared;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit fuel the lamp that guides your path. \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\nSo\, how are you going to live?A sermon on Matthew 23:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\n Things you can’t shareA sermon on Matthew 23:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGrief\, Fear\, and Rapturous WelcomesA sermon on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & Matthew 25:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nReady\, Coming or NotA sermon on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & Matthew 25:1-13 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nToo Good For HeavenA sermon on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 & Matthew 25:1-13 by Suzanne Ross\n\n\n\nIsrael\, Gaza\, and the Book of JoshuaA sermon on the book of Joshua by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap27/2029-11-11/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P27.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR