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: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
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20310405T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20311004T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20320403T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20321002T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20330402T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20331001T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20340401T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20340930T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20350331T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20351006T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20360405T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20361004T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20370404T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20371003T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20380403T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20381002T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20390402T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20391001T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20400331T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20401006T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20410406T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20411005T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20420405T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20421004T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+1100
TZOFFSETTO:+1000
TZNAME:AEST
DTSTART:20430404T160000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+1000
TZOFFSETTO:+1100
TZNAME:AEDT
DTSTART:20431003T160000
END:DAYLIGHT
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270606T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270606T235959
DTSTAMP:20260406T091619
CREATED:20200831T130249Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240707T122708Z
UID:10001630-1812240000-1812326399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 5 - Year B
DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Samuel 8:4-11\, (12-15)\, 16-20\, (11:14-15)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	A gathering of the most influential people of Israel made arrangements to meet with the prophet Samuel at Ramah and present their demands. They said to him\, “You are getting too old to lead the nation\, and the way your sons are going\, they’ll never be up to it. It is time for a change of system. We want you to appoint a king to deal out justice for us. Every other nation has a king\, and we want one too.” \nSamuel was horrified by their demand for a king and he went straight to the LORD in prayer about it. But the LORD answered him saying\, “Go ahead and give them what they want. It is not only you they are turning their backs on; it’s me. They don’t want me as their ruler. This has been going on ever since I rescued them from their slave-drivers in Egypt. Over and over again they have turned their backs on me and run off after other gods. Now they are doing the same thing to you. So go ahead and give them what they want\, but before you do\, spell out to them in no uncertain terms what kings are really like once they are in power.” \nSo Samuel went back to the people who were demanding a king and passed on the LORD’s message. He said\, “Let me warn you what sort of ‘justice’ your king will deal out once he takes power. He will conscript your sons into his army\, some as foot soldiers\, some as drivers\, some on horseback. He will appoint officers of various ranks to give them orders and lead them off to war. Of those who do not go off to war\, he will press some into service on his farms to produce food for the troops\, and others he will put to work manufacturing weapons and equipment. He will take your daughters too and set them to work cooking and baking and powdering the noses of the noblewomen. \n“He will seize the best of your land\, your best fields\, vineyards and olive orchards\, and hand them over to his cronies. He will tax you heavily\, taking a big cut of everything you produce and giving it to the freeloaders who serve him as officers and officials. He will help himself to the best of everything you have\, your workers\, your livestock\, your equipment\, everything. He will be constantly looking to squeeze a bit more out of you. It will be like being slaves all over again. Then you’ll be sorry and you’ll be begging to be rescued from your king\, but it was your idea to have a king\, so there will be no point expecting the LORD to do anything about it.” \nBut everything Samuel said fell on deaf ears and the people continued to say\, “No! Our mind is made up. We want a king and we will have a king. We want to be just like the other nations with a king to rule over us and rally the troops and lead us into war.” \nSo Samuel said to the people\, “Come on then. Let’s go to Gilgal and set a king on a throne for you.” \nSo all the people gathered at Gilgal and there at the sacred site they crowned Saul as their first king. They offered up sacrifices to the LORD\, asking for success and prosperity. When it was done\, King Saul and all the Israelite people celebrated long and hard. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 138			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Thank you\, LORD\, thank you!\nThank you\, from the bottom of my heart!\nI will stand and sing your praises\nin the face of every would-be god! \nWherever I am\, I turn towards your holy Temple\nand fall to my knees in gratitude\,\nthanking you for your rock-solid love and loyalty;\nWith everything you say and everything you do\nyour reputation continues to go through the roof.\nThe minute I called\, you were there for me\,\nyou put steel in my spine\,\ngave me the guts to go on. \nWhen the things you have been saying sink in\, LORD\,\nall the earth’s powerful rulers will give credit to you.\nThey’ll join the party\, singing and dancing in your honour\,\ncelebrating the wonderful things you do. \nAs great as you are\,\nyou never think of ordinary people as beneath you\,\nbut you don’t waste your time\non those who are pretentious and stuck-up. \nAlthough I must often walk into dangerous situations\,\nyou protect me from hatred and hostility;\nyour invisible hand is always there\, keeping me safe. \nYou\, LORD\, have made plans for me\nand you will see them through to completion.\nYour love is as timeless and dependable as the rock;\nyou have made us what we are\nand you never give up on us. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Why do we speak as we do? We have the same kind of faith as the psalm-writer who said\, “What I say is what I believe.” We are no different. We say these things because that’s what we believe. We are quite sure that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead is not going to stop there. God is also going to raise us and you and reunite us all\, together with Jesus. So\, yes\, everything that God is doing is ultimately for your benefit. God’s extravagant generosity just keeps reaching out further and further to more and more people\, and so the flood-tide of gratitude just keeps swelling and all the glory goes to God. And rightly so. \nThat’s why we never feel like chucking in the towel. We might look like we are going downhill fast\, and it’s true that our bodies are falling apart on us\, but on the inside we’ve never been better and God seems to be making us stronger and stronger every day. This run of trouble that we’re copping at the moment is really no big deal in the scheme of things\, and it will make the final\, infinitely jackpotted prize of glory all the sweeter. \nWe don’t worry about how things look on the surface because the things that really matter aren’t visible. The things you can see won’t last long anyway\, but these things you can’t see are rock solid forever. We know that the bodies we live in now are like flimsy tents and soon enough\, they’ll be blown away. But no problem. Then we will get to move into the houses that God is giving us. They haven’t been knocked up by amateurs; they’ve been built by God to last forever in paradise. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 3: 20-35			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus was at home with his followers when once again such a big crowd gathered around the house that they couldn’t even get out to buy food. There was a rumour going round that Jesus was losing the plot\, and when his family heard what was going on\, they set out to take him in hand. The religious experts from Jerusalem had arrived too\, and they were ready to give their opinion: “He has gone over to Beelzebul\,” they said. “It’s all black magic. His power over the demons comes straight from the supreme commander of the demons.” \nBut Jesus gathered the people around him and responded with a riddle. “If there is an attempt to expel the satan from our midst\, could his own evil finger-pointing be driving the purge? Think about it. When an empire breaks into factions that undermine one another\, it collapses. When a team is split and at war with itself\, it all comes crashing down. So if the satan’s mob are divided because they have turned on their own\, then he has shot himself in the foot and his game is over. \n“The fact is\, no one can raid the house of a violent thug and carry off his belongings without first dealing with the thug himself. But if you can disarm him and tie him up\, then you can help yourself to everything in his house. \n“I kid you not\, people will be forgiven for all their toxic ways\, even the most despicable things they have said or done. But those who spit in the face of the Holy Spirit when they see the good things that God is doing have gone too far. There is no turning around once you go down that slippery slope.” Jesus said this in response to allegations that he had teamed up with the forces of evil. \nWhen his mother and his brothers arrived\, they sent a message in to let him know they had come for him. The crowd sitting around him inside passed on the message\, saying\, “Your mother and your brothers are outside and they want to see you.” \nBut Jesus replied\, saying\, “Who are they?” And looking around at those who were with him\, he said\, “Here are my true family! My brothers and sisters and mothers are those who are doing what God wants.” \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Genesis 3: 8-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In the cool of the evening breeze\, Adam and Eve heard the LORD God walking towards them in the garden. They panicked and hid behind the some trees\, trying to avoid coming face to face with the LORD God. But the LORD God was looking for them\, and called out to them\, saying\, “Where are you?” \nThe man said\, “I heard you coming through the garden and I panicked because I was stark naked\, so I dived for cover.” \nThe LORD God asked\, “Who pointed out that you were naked? It never bothered you before. Have you eaten fruit from the tree that I clearly told you not to eat from?” \nThe man said\, “It wasn’t my fault. You put this woman here with me. She gave me the fruit and I ate it.” \nSo the LORD God turned to the woman and said\, “What’s the story? What have you done?” \nThe woman replied\, “I was tricked into eating it by the snake.” \nSo the LORD God passed sentence on each of them\, beginning with the snake\, saying\, \n“A curse upon you for what you have done.\nYou of all the animals\, cursed!\nYou of all the wild creatures\, cursed! \nDown on your belly you go!\nFace down: you can eat dust\nfor the rest of your life! \nYou and the woman will be sworn enemies.\nThere will always be war\nbetween your offspring and hers. \nHer offspring will go for your head\nand you will go for his heel. \n©2014 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 130			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	From the depths of despair\, from rock bottom\,\nI cry to you\, O LORD.\nI beg you to listen!\nPlease tune in and hear what I’m asking! \nIf you put black marks against our names\nfor every failing\,\nLord\, wouldn’t you have to write off everyone? \nBut forgiveness is much more your style\,\nand for this we adore you. \nI wait in eager anticipation for your presence\, LORD.\nEverything inside me yearns for you\nand your promises fill me with hope. \nDeep in my guts there is a hunger for you\, LORD\,\nmore pressing than a woman\nwaiting for the birth of her baby\,\nmore impatient than a child\nwaiting for a birthday;\ncrossing off the days\, one by one. \nO People of Israel\, put your trust in the LORD!\nThe LORD’s love never lets us down\,\nand is always ready to rescue us from danger. \nIt is the Lord who will bail us out\nwhen we are caught in the consequences\nof our own sin. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever\nand your Word is exalted above everything. \nThe Earth is the work of your hands\,\nand you redeemed for yourself a people out of slavery.\nThough you sent prophets to warn them\,\nthey rejected you and clamoured for a king\, \nWhen kings had done their worst\nand we were mired in unspeakable blasphemies\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nto walk with us in the midst of trouble\nand extend your grace to all.\nWhen Jesus was condemned as unclean\, and crucified\nit seemed that the ruler of demons had won\,\nbut you raised Jesus from the dead\,\nbinding death’s strong man\nand plundering his divided house.\nSo now we do not lose heart\nfor you are preparing us for glory beyond measure\nas the family of our Lord forever. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your child\, Jesus\,\nfor you raised him from the dead\,\nbinding death’s strong man\nand plundering his divided house.\nSo now we do not lose heart\nfor you are preparing us for glory beyond measure\nas the family of our Lord forever. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever\nand your Word is exalted above everything. \nThe Earth is the work of your hands\,\nand you redeemed for yourself a people out of slavery.\nThough you sent prophets to warn them\,\nthey rejected you and clamoured for a king\, \nWhen kings had done their worst\nand we were mired in unspeakable blasphemies\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nto walk with us in the midst of trouble\nand extend your grace to all.\nWhen Jesus was condemned as unclean\, and crucified\nit seemed that the ruler of demons had won\,\nbut you raised Jesus from the dead\,\nbinding death’s strong man\nand plundering his divided house.\nSo now we do not lose heart\nfor you are preparing us for glory beyond measure\nas the family of our Lord forever. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Truly I tell you\, your sins will be forgiven\nfor God’s steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever\,\nand the work of God’s hands will not be forsaken.\nChrist Jesus has bound the ruler of demons\nand broken us free from the house of sin. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, praising God’s name with your whole heart.\nRejoice in the work of the Holy Spirit\,\neven when others call it evil and denounce you as mad.\nBe the true brothers and sisters of Jesus\nby doing the will of God always. \nAnd may God extend grace to you and through you;\nMay Christ Jesus walk with you in the midst of trouble;\nand may the Holy Spirit prepare you for glory beyond all measure. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nTies that BindA sermon on Mark 3: 20-35 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nHow Satan Casts Out SatanA sermon on Mark 3: 20-35 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nTo Reign Over Us?A sermon on 1 Samuel 8:4-20; 11:14-15 & Mark 3:20-35 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFamily: Painfully Difficult Good NewsA sermon on Mark 3: 20-35 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp05/2027-06-06/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P05.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20420608T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20420608T235959
DTSTAMP:20260406T091619
CREATED:20200831T130249Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240707T122708Z
UID:10002136-2285798400-2285884799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 5 - Year B
DESCRIPTION:Below you will find the Bible readings set for this occasion in the Revised Common Lectionary\, with our Australian idiomatic paraphrases of them\, plus prayers and sermons based on them. \n\n\n\nBible Readings (paraphrased)\n\n\n\nLections from The Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts(CCT) P.O. Box 340003\, Room 381\, Nashville\, TN 37203-0003\, USA. Used with Permission. \n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  1 Samuel 8:4-11\, (12-15)\, 16-20\, (11:14-15)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	A gathering of the most influential people of Israel made arrangements to meet with the prophet Samuel at Ramah and present their demands. They said to him\, “You are getting too old to lead the nation\, and the way your sons are going\, they’ll never be up to it. It is time for a change of system. We want you to appoint a king to deal out justice for us. Every other nation has a king\, and we want one too.” \nSamuel was horrified by their demand for a king and he went straight to the LORD in prayer about it. But the LORD answered him saying\, “Go ahead and give them what they want. It is not only you they are turning their backs on; it’s me. They don’t want me as their ruler. This has been going on ever since I rescued them from their slave-drivers in Egypt. Over and over again they have turned their backs on me and run off after other gods. Now they are doing the same thing to you. So go ahead and give them what they want\, but before you do\, spell out to them in no uncertain terms what kings are really like once they are in power.” \nSo Samuel went back to the people who were demanding a king and passed on the LORD’s message. He said\, “Let me warn you what sort of ‘justice’ your king will deal out once he takes power. He will conscript your sons into his army\, some as foot soldiers\, some as drivers\, some on horseback. He will appoint officers of various ranks to give them orders and lead them off to war. Of those who do not go off to war\, he will press some into service on his farms to produce food for the troops\, and others he will put to work manufacturing weapons and equipment. He will take your daughters too and set them to work cooking and baking and powdering the noses of the noblewomen. \n“He will seize the best of your land\, your best fields\, vineyards and olive orchards\, and hand them over to his cronies. He will tax you heavily\, taking a big cut of everything you produce and giving it to the freeloaders who serve him as officers and officials. He will help himself to the best of everything you have\, your workers\, your livestock\, your equipment\, everything. He will be constantly looking to squeeze a bit more out of you. It will be like being slaves all over again. Then you’ll be sorry and you’ll be begging to be rescued from your king\, but it was your idea to have a king\, so there will be no point expecting the LORD to do anything about it.” \nBut everything Samuel said fell on deaf ears and the people continued to say\, “No! Our mind is made up. We want a king and we will have a king. We want to be just like the other nations with a king to rule over us and rally the troops and lead us into war.” \nSo Samuel said to the people\, “Come on then. Let’s go to Gilgal and set a king on a throne for you.” \nSo all the people gathered at Gilgal and there at the sacred site they crowned Saul as their first king. They offered up sacrifices to the LORD\, asking for success and prosperity. When it was done\, King Saul and all the Israelite people celebrated long and hard. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 138			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Thank you\, LORD\, thank you!\nThank you\, from the bottom of my heart!\nI will stand and sing your praises\nin the face of every would-be god! \nWherever I am\, I turn towards your holy Temple\nand fall to my knees in gratitude\,\nthanking you for your rock-solid love and loyalty;\nWith everything you say and everything you do\nyour reputation continues to go through the roof.\nThe minute I called\, you were there for me\,\nyou put steel in my spine\,\ngave me the guts to go on. \nWhen the things you have been saying sink in\, LORD\,\nall the earth’s powerful rulers will give credit to you.\nThey’ll join the party\, singing and dancing in your honour\,\ncelebrating the wonderful things you do. \nAs great as you are\,\nyou never think of ordinary people as beneath you\,\nbut you don’t waste your time\non those who are pretentious and stuck-up. \nAlthough I must often walk into dangerous situations\,\nyou protect me from hatred and hostility;\nyour invisible hand is always there\, keeping me safe. \nYou\, LORD\, have made plans for me\nand you will see them through to completion.\nYour love is as timeless and dependable as the rock;\nyou have made us what we are\nand you never give up on us. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Why do we speak as we do? We have the same kind of faith as the psalm-writer who said\, “What I say is what I believe.” We are no different. We say these things because that’s what we believe. We are quite sure that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead is not going to stop there. God is also going to raise us and you and reunite us all\, together with Jesus. So\, yes\, everything that God is doing is ultimately for your benefit. God’s extravagant generosity just keeps reaching out further and further to more and more people\, and so the flood-tide of gratitude just keeps swelling and all the glory goes to God. And rightly so. \nThat’s why we never feel like chucking in the towel. We might look like we are going downhill fast\, and it’s true that our bodies are falling apart on us\, but on the inside we’ve never been better and God seems to be making us stronger and stronger every day. This run of trouble that we’re copping at the moment is really no big deal in the scheme of things\, and it will make the final\, infinitely jackpotted prize of glory all the sweeter. \nWe don’t worry about how things look on the surface because the things that really matter aren’t visible. The things you can see won’t last long anyway\, but these things you can’t see are rock solid forever. We know that the bodies we live in now are like flimsy tents and soon enough\, they’ll be blown away. But no problem. Then we will get to move into the houses that God is giving us. They haven’t been knocked up by amateurs; they’ve been built by God to last forever in paradise. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 3: 20-35			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus was at home with his followers when once again such a big crowd gathered around the house that they couldn’t even get out to buy food. There was a rumour going round that Jesus was losing the plot\, and when his family heard what was going on\, they set out to take him in hand. The religious experts from Jerusalem had arrived too\, and they were ready to give their opinion: “He has gone over to Beelzebul\,” they said. “It’s all black magic. His power over the demons comes straight from the supreme commander of the demons.” \nBut Jesus gathered the people around him and responded with a riddle. “If there is an attempt to expel the satan from our midst\, could his own evil finger-pointing be driving the purge? Think about it. When an empire breaks into factions that undermine one another\, it collapses. When a team is split and at war with itself\, it all comes crashing down. So if the satan’s mob are divided because they have turned on their own\, then he has shot himself in the foot and his game is over. \n“The fact is\, no one can raid the house of a violent thug and carry off his belongings without first dealing with the thug himself. But if you can disarm him and tie him up\, then you can help yourself to everything in his house. \n“I kid you not\, people will be forgiven for all their toxic ways\, even the most despicable things they have said or done. But those who spit in the face of the Holy Spirit when they see the good things that God is doing have gone too far. There is no turning around once you go down that slippery slope.” Jesus said this in response to allegations that he had teamed up with the forces of evil. \nWhen his mother and his brothers arrived\, they sent a message in to let him know they had come for him. The crowd sitting around him inside passed on the message\, saying\, “Your mother and your brothers are outside and they want to see you.” \nBut Jesus replied\, saying\, “Who are they?” And looking around at those who were with him\, he said\, “Here are my true family! My brothers and sisters and mothers are those who are doing what God wants.” \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Below are the alternative 1st Reading and Psalm themed to the Gospel lection			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Prior to the revision of the Lectionary in 1992\, the 1st reading and the psalm that responded to it were chosen to link thematically with the gospel reading. After hearing the critique of those who said that the Hebrew Scriptures\, from which the first reading is usually chosen\, should be allowed to speak with their own voice rather than just add support to the gospel reading\, the Lectionary was revised so that during Ordinary Time\, the 1st reading runs in its own semi-continuous series\, working through various books of the Hebrew Bible. The older themed series continues to be available as an alternative. \nThe weekly prayers offered here at LaughingBird Resources are based on the four readings above\, and do not draw on the themed 1st reading and psalm. \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Genesis 3: 8-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	In the cool of the evening breeze\, Adam and Eve heard the LORD God walking towards them in the garden. They panicked and hid behind the some trees\, trying to avoid coming face to face with the LORD God. But the LORD God was looking for them\, and called out to them\, saying\, “Where are you?” \nThe man said\, “I heard you coming through the garden and I panicked because I was stark naked\, so I dived for cover.” \nThe LORD God asked\, “Who pointed out that you were naked? It never bothered you before. Have you eaten fruit from the tree that I clearly told you not to eat from?” \nThe man said\, “It wasn’t my fault. You put this woman here with me. She gave me the fruit and I ate it.” \nSo the LORD God turned to the woman and said\, “What’s the story? What have you done?” \nThe woman replied\, “I was tricked into eating it by the snake.” \nSo the LORD God passed sentence on each of them\, beginning with the snake\, saying\, \n“A curse upon you for what you have done.\nYou of all the animals\, cursed!\nYou of all the wild creatures\, cursed! \nDown on your belly you go!\nFace down: you can eat dust\nfor the rest of your life! \nYou and the woman will be sworn enemies.\nThere will always be war\nbetween your offspring and hers. \nHer offspring will go for your head\nand you will go for his heel. \n©2014 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 130			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	From the depths of despair\, from rock bottom\,\nI cry to you\, O LORD.\nI beg you to listen!\nPlease tune in and hear what I’m asking! \nIf you put black marks against our names\nfor every failing\,\nLord\, wouldn’t you have to write off everyone? \nBut forgiveness is much more your style\,\nand for this we adore you. \nI wait in eager anticipation for your presence\, LORD.\nEverything inside me yearns for you\nand your promises fill me with hope. \nDeep in my guts there is a hunger for you\, LORD\,\nmore pressing than a woman\nwaiting for the birth of her baby\,\nmore impatient than a child\nwaiting for a birthday;\ncrossing off the days\, one by one. \nO People of Israel\, put your trust in the LORD!\nThe LORD’s love never lets us down\,\nand is always ready to rescue us from danger. \nIt is the Lord who will bail us out\nwhen we are caught in the consequences\nof our own sin. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever\nand your Word is exalted above everything. \nThe Earth is the work of your hands\,\nand you redeemed for yourself a people out of slavery.\nThough you sent prophets to warn them\,\nthey rejected you and clamoured for a king\, \nWhen kings had done their worst\nand we were mired in unspeakable blasphemies\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nto walk with us in the midst of trouble\nand extend your grace to all.\nWhen Jesus was condemned as unclean\, and crucified\nit seemed that the ruler of demons had won\,\nbut you raised Jesus from the dead\,\nbinding death’s strong man\nand plundering his divided house.\nSo now we do not lose heart\nfor you are preparing us for glory beyond measure\nas the family of our Lord forever. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your child\, Jesus\,\nfor you raised him from the dead\,\nbinding death’s strong man\nand plundering his divided house.\nSo now we do not lose heart\nfor you are preparing us for glory beyond measure\nas the family of our Lord forever. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor your steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever\nand your Word is exalted above everything. \nThe Earth is the work of your hands\,\nand you redeemed for yourself a people out of slavery.\nThough you sent prophets to warn them\,\nthey rejected you and clamoured for a king\, \nWhen kings had done their worst\nand we were mired in unspeakable blasphemies\,\nyou sent your child\, Jesus\,\nto walk with us in the midst of trouble\nand extend your grace to all.\nWhen Jesus was condemned as unclean\, and crucified\nit seemed that the ruler of demons had won\,\nbut you raised Jesus from the dead\,\nbinding death’s strong man\nand plundering his divided house.\nSo now we do not lose heart\nfor you are preparing us for glory beyond measure\nas the family of our Lord forever. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Truly I tell you\, your sins will be forgiven\nfor God’s steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever\,\nand the work of God’s hands will not be forsaken.\nChrist Jesus has bound the ruler of demons\nand broken us free from the house of sin. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go now\, praising God’s name with your whole heart.\nRejoice in the work of the Holy Spirit\,\neven when others call it evil and denounce you as mad.\nBe the true brothers and sisters of Jesus\nby doing the will of God always. \nAnd may God extend grace to you and through you;\nMay Christ Jesus walk with you in the midst of trouble;\nand may the Holy Spirit prepare you for glory beyond all measure. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nTies that BindA sermon on Mark 3: 20-35 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nHow Satan Casts Out SatanA sermon on Mark 3: 20-35 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nTo Reign Over Us?A sermon on 1 Samuel 8:4-20; 11:14-15 & Mark 3:20-35 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFamily: Painfully Difficult Good NewsA sermon on Mark 3: 20-35 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp05/2042-06-08/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P05.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR