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DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20270613T235959
DTSTAMP:20260406T082639
CREATED:20200831T133737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240714T114326Z
UID:10001632-1812844800-1812931199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 6 - 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 15:34 - 16:13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After King Saul had broken the command of the LORD\, he went home to Gibeah\, and Samuel the prophet went to Ramah\, and they never again set eyes on each other. Samuel was filled with grief over what Saul had become\, and the LORD regretted having ever made Saul king over Israel. \nOne day the LORD said to Samuel\, “It is time for you to get over your misery about Saul. I have had a gutful of him and I am going to end his reign. Fill up your flask with olive oil ready to anoint a new king. Go to Bethlehem and find a man named Jesse there\, for I have chosen one of his sons to be my king.” \nSamuel protested\, “How can I do that? If Saul gets wind of it he will kill me.” \nBut the LORD replied\, “Take a calf with you and tell everyone that you have come to a hold a feast offered in honour of me\, the LORD. Invite Jesse and his family to join you for the feast\, and then I will let you know what to do next. I will pick out one of Jesse’s sons\, and you are to pour the oil on his head to mark him out as the next king.” \nSamuel followed the LORD’s instructions and went to Bethlehem. The town officials were unnerved by his arrival\, and went out to meet him asking\, “What brings you to town? Have we done something wrong\, or are you just passing through in peace?” \nSamuel replied\, “Nothing’s wrong. I am here to offer a feast to the LORD. Go and prepare yourselves properly and then come and join me for the occasion.” \nSamuel also invited Jesse and his family to the feast and instructed them to prepare themselves properly. When they arrived\, Samuel took one look at Jesse’s oldest son\, Eliab\, and thought to himself\, “He has got to be the one the LORD has chosen.” \nBut the LORD said to Samuel\, “Don’t be fooled by how big and impressive he looks. He is not the man for me\, because I\, the LORD\, am not impressed by the same things that impress you people. People judge others by their outward appearance\, but I look beneath that and see what makes them tick.” \nThen Jesse introduced Samuel to his next son\, Abinadab\, but Samuel said\, “No\, this is not the one the LORD sent me to find.” \nJesse introduced his next son\, Shammah\, but Samuel said\, “This is not the one the LORD sent me to find either.” \nJesse introduced seven sons to Samuel\, but Samuel was convinced that none of them was the one the LORD had chosen. So he asked Jesse\, “Are all your sons here?” \nJesse replied\, “My youngest boy is not here. He is out on the farm taking care of some sheep.” \nSamuel said\, “Send someone to get him as quickly as possible\, for we will not sit down to this meal until he arrives.” \nSo Jesse sent someone to get his youngest son\, David\, and bring him to the feast. David was a good-looking\, fresh-faced kid\, and his eyes were full of life. As soon as he walked in\, the LORD said\, “Samuel\, get up and anoint him\, because this is the one I have chosen.” \nSo Samuel took out his flask of oil and poured it on David’s head in full view of his brothers. The Spirit of the LORD took hold of David and was powerfully at work in him from that moment on. With his mission accomplished\, Samuel got up and headed back home to Ramah. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Be there for your chosen ones when trouble hits\, LORD.\nUse the influence of your name to protect them!\nSend help from your sacred home\,\nand give them support from Mount Zion. \nRemember all they have given you in the past\,\nand treasure the gifts they have offered up to you. \nGive them their heart’s desire\, LORD\,\nand make all their plans come out right.\nProve yourself a winner and set them cheering;\ninspire them to fly your flag and chant your name.\nGive them all they ask for\, LORD. \nWe know you will help your chosen ones\, LORD;\nyou will reach out your hand from heaven\nand answer their prayers with a great victory. \nSome people get arrogant about their military might\,\nor the resources at their disposal\,\nbut the only thing we put our pride in\, O LORD our God\,\nis belonging to you and bearing your name.\nThat mob are heading for disaster\,\nbut we will come out on top and stand proud. \nGive victory to your chosen ones\, LORD;\nbe there for us when we call. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 5: 6-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	As long as we remain living out our daily lives here in our bodies\, we are not able to go and be with the Lord. All the same\, we remain full of confidence\, because it is what we put our trust in that keeps us on track\, not what our eyes tell us. So we are confident all right — you bet we are — and if we could have our way we would rather pull up stumps\, leave our bodies behind us\, and go home to be with the Lord. But in truth\, nothing really hangs on whether we are here or there. The only thing that really matters is that we set our sights on pleasing the Lord. At the end of the day\, every one of us will have to front up before Christ when he sits down at the pay desk to judge our work. We will be paid what we deserve for the way we have lived our daily lives here in our bodies\, whether we have done right\, or done wrong. \nTherefore\, knowing our place before the Lord\, we do our best to get the message through to others. But of course\, God already knows us inside out\, and I hope that in your heart of hearts you have got the full picture on us too. We are not trying to blow our own trumpet here. Instead we want to give you the chance to boast about us so that you can set the record straight with those who are always gloating about how good they are\, when all they are doing is putting on a good face and hiding what is really going on inside. When we seem to be off our heads\, we are just letting it all hang out for God. When we seem to have our heads on straight\, we are taking care for your sakes. Indeed\, it is the love of Christ that drives us on; because we are inspired by his example of one laying down his life for everybody else. When he died\, we all died. He died for everybody\, so that those who live might be set free from living as slaves to their own selfish desires\, and might instead live for him who died for them and was raised to life for them. \nBecause of all this\, nowadays we are careful not to assume that people are nothing more than what our eyes and ears tell us about them. In the past we made that mistake with Christ\, but we now know a lot more of him than our eyes or ears alone could detect. Whenever anyone unites themselves to Christ\, something new is created. What that person was becomes a thing of the past; they get a whole new start in life! \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 4: 26-34			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus used some stories to teach his followers\, saying\, “Here is a good illustration of the culture of God. A bloke empties a few packets of veggie seeds all over his back yard\, and then just goes about his business\, night and day\, without giving them a second thought. The seeds sprout and grow\, but the bloke has got no idea how it happens. Nature does the job\, all by itself. First the shoots pop up\, then before long the plants take shape\, and then one day there is a bumper crop of veggies in the back yard. And once they are ripe\, it doesn’t matter that the bloke doesn’t know how it happened. It’s not going to stop him going out into the yard with his knife and picking himself a feast at harvest time.” \nJesus also said\, “What else can we compare the culture of God with? How can we picture it? It is a bit like a mustard seed. When it gets planted in the garden\, it is so small\, you wouldn’t even know it was there. But once planted\, it grows into a huge weed. It goes berserk and starts throwing out branches big enough that a flock of galahs could build nests in its shade!” \nJesus used lots of these sort of illustrations to get the message through to the people. Everything he had to say to them was said in stories\, but when he was alone with his closest followers\, he explained things in more detail. \n©2006 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				  Ezekiel 17:22-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	This is what the Lord GOD says: \nI will personally choose a sprig\nfrom the crown of a towering tree\nand cut it loose.\nI will get one with tender leaves\nfrom among the new growth at the very top. \nI will plant it myself\non top of the highest mountain.\nI will plant it\non the great mountain of Israel\nso that it may grow to be a mighty tree\nwith massive branches and loads of fruit. \nBirds of every kind will find shelter in it\,\nbuilding nests in its shady branches.\nEverything that flies will be up there! \nThen every tree in every field will know for sure\nthat I am the LORD. \nI cut down the big trees\nand raise up the little ones.\nI wither the lush green trees\,\nand make the dry ones flourish again. \nI the LORD give you my word on this\,\nand I do what I say. \n©2009 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 92: 1-4\, 12-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It is a privilege to be able to publicly thank you\, LORD\,\nto sing your praises and put your name up in lights.\nIt is great to start the day singing about your rock-solid love\,\nwith a full band ringing out the tune\,\nand to end it thanking you for being so loyal and trustworthy\,\naccompanying our praise with guitars. \nFor you\, O LORD\, have given us so much to be happy about;\nwhat you have done with your own hands\nsets us singing and dancing for joy. \nPeople who always do the right thing by others\nwill thrive like a tropical rainforest\nand grow strong like a river redgum.\nThey have put down their roots in your soil\, LORD\,\nand they will brighten up your temple like flowers.\nEven when they grow old they will still be fruitful\,\nhealthy and vibrant and pulsing with life.\nThey are a credit to you\, LORD\,\nproving for all to see that you are straight and true.\nYou are our rock\,\nand there is nothing rotten or crooked in you. \n©2009 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 kingdom grows from the smallest beginnings\,\nand you have given us all a home in the shelter of your love. \nYou created the heavens and the earth\,\nand from the tiniest seeds\, you filled the earth with life.\nYou called your people to walk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand you anointed faithful rulers to lead them in your ways. \nYour child\, Jesus\, came among us\nsharing stories of your love and grace\nand teaching us the mysteries of your kingdom.\nHe died at the hands of those who take pride in brute force\,\nand in his death\, all have died.\nBut you raised him to life for us\,\nand in him everything has become new.\nNow we are confident that you will grant\nour heart’s true desire:\nto be at home with you forever. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2006 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\,\nwho shared stories of your kingdom\nand who died so that we might no longer live for ourselves\,\nbut live as new creations in him\nwho you raised to life for us\nand made all things new. \n©2006 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 kingdom grows from the smallest beginnings\,\nand you have given us all a home in the shelter of your love. \nYou created the heavens and the earth\,\nand from the tiniest seeds\, you filled the earth with life.\nYou called your people to walk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand you anointed faithful rulers to lead them in your ways. \nYour child\, Jesus\, came among us\nsharing stories of your love and grace\nand teaching us the mysteries of your kingdom.\nHe died at the hands of those who take pride in brute force\,\nand in his death\, all have died.\nBut you raised him to life for us\,\nand in him everything has become new.\nNow we are confident that you will grant\nour heart’s true desire:\nto be at home with you 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©2006 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 does not see as we see\, but looks on the heart.\nIf anyone is in Christ\,\nthere is a new creation:\neverything old has passed away;\neverything has become new. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go out\, and live no longer for yourselves\,\nbut for him who died and was raised for you.\nWalk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand judge others only by the integrity of their hearts.\nMake it your aim to please the Lord\,\nand to persuade others of the love of Christ. \nAnd may God answer you in times of trouble and protect you;\nMay Christ Jesus grant you your heart’s desire;\nand may the Holy Spirit take hold of you mightily from this day forward. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2006 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\nFeeling like a Weed?A sermon on Mark 4:26-34 & Ezekiel 17: 22-24 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFaithfully UnderwhelmingA sermon on Mark 4: 26-34\, 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 & 2 Corinthians 5: 6-17 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWeeds Overgrowing a Crumbling EmpireA sermon on Mark 4:26-34 & Ezekiel 17: 22-24 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp06/2027-06-13/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P06.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20360615T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20360615T235959
DTSTAMP:20260406T082639
CREATED:20200831T133737Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240714T114326Z
UID:10002137-2097100800-2097187199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 6 - 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 15:34 - 16:13			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After King Saul had broken the command of the LORD\, he went home to Gibeah\, and Samuel the prophet went to Ramah\, and they never again set eyes on each other. Samuel was filled with grief over what Saul had become\, and the LORD regretted having ever made Saul king over Israel. \nOne day the LORD said to Samuel\, “It is time for you to get over your misery about Saul. I have had a gutful of him and I am going to end his reign. Fill up your flask with olive oil ready to anoint a new king. Go to Bethlehem and find a man named Jesse there\, for I have chosen one of his sons to be my king.” \nSamuel protested\, “How can I do that? If Saul gets wind of it he will kill me.” \nBut the LORD replied\, “Take a calf with you and tell everyone that you have come to a hold a feast offered in honour of me\, the LORD. Invite Jesse and his family to join you for the feast\, and then I will let you know what to do next. I will pick out one of Jesse’s sons\, and you are to pour the oil on his head to mark him out as the next king.” \nSamuel followed the LORD’s instructions and went to Bethlehem. The town officials were unnerved by his arrival\, and went out to meet him asking\, “What brings you to town? Have we done something wrong\, or are you just passing through in peace?” \nSamuel replied\, “Nothing’s wrong. I am here to offer a feast to the LORD. Go and prepare yourselves properly and then come and join me for the occasion.” \nSamuel also invited Jesse and his family to the feast and instructed them to prepare themselves properly. When they arrived\, Samuel took one look at Jesse’s oldest son\, Eliab\, and thought to himself\, “He has got to be the one the LORD has chosen.” \nBut the LORD said to Samuel\, “Don’t be fooled by how big and impressive he looks. He is not the man for me\, because I\, the LORD\, am not impressed by the same things that impress you people. People judge others by their outward appearance\, but I look beneath that and see what makes them tick.” \nThen Jesse introduced Samuel to his next son\, Abinadab\, but Samuel said\, “No\, this is not the one the LORD sent me to find.” \nJesse introduced his next son\, Shammah\, but Samuel said\, “This is not the one the LORD sent me to find either.” \nJesse introduced seven sons to Samuel\, but Samuel was convinced that none of them was the one the LORD had chosen. So he asked Jesse\, “Are all your sons here?” \nJesse replied\, “My youngest boy is not here. He is out on the farm taking care of some sheep.” \nSamuel said\, “Send someone to get him as quickly as possible\, for we will not sit down to this meal until he arrives.” \nSo Jesse sent someone to get his youngest son\, David\, and bring him to the feast. David was a good-looking\, fresh-faced kid\, and his eyes were full of life. As soon as he walked in\, the LORD said\, “Samuel\, get up and anoint him\, because this is the one I have chosen.” \nSo Samuel took out his flask of oil and poured it on David’s head in full view of his brothers. The Spirit of the LORD took hold of David and was powerfully at work in him from that moment on. With his mission accomplished\, Samuel got up and headed back home to Ramah. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Be there for your chosen ones when trouble hits\, LORD.\nUse the influence of your name to protect them!\nSend help from your sacred home\,\nand give them support from Mount Zion. \nRemember all they have given you in the past\,\nand treasure the gifts they have offered up to you. \nGive them their heart’s desire\, LORD\,\nand make all their plans come out right.\nProve yourself a winner and set them cheering;\ninspire them to fly your flag and chant your name.\nGive them all they ask for\, LORD. \nWe know you will help your chosen ones\, LORD;\nyou will reach out your hand from heaven\nand answer their prayers with a great victory. \nSome people get arrogant about their military might\,\nor the resources at their disposal\,\nbut the only thing we put our pride in\, O LORD our God\,\nis belonging to you and bearing your name.\nThat mob are heading for disaster\,\nbut we will come out on top and stand proud. \nGive victory to your chosen ones\, LORD;\nbe there for us when we call. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  2 Corinthians 5: 6-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	As long as we remain living out our daily lives here in our bodies\, we are not able to go and be with the Lord. All the same\, we remain full of confidence\, because it is what we put our trust in that keeps us on track\, not what our eyes tell us. So we are confident all right — you bet we are — and if we could have our way we would rather pull up stumps\, leave our bodies behind us\, and go home to be with the Lord. But in truth\, nothing really hangs on whether we are here or there. The only thing that really matters is that we set our sights on pleasing the Lord. At the end of the day\, every one of us will have to front up before Christ when he sits down at the pay desk to judge our work. We will be paid what we deserve for the way we have lived our daily lives here in our bodies\, whether we have done right\, or done wrong. \nTherefore\, knowing our place before the Lord\, we do our best to get the message through to others. But of course\, God already knows us inside out\, and I hope that in your heart of hearts you have got the full picture on us too. We are not trying to blow our own trumpet here. Instead we want to give you the chance to boast about us so that you can set the record straight with those who are always gloating about how good they are\, when all they are doing is putting on a good face and hiding what is really going on inside. When we seem to be off our heads\, we are just letting it all hang out for God. When we seem to have our heads on straight\, we are taking care for your sakes. Indeed\, it is the love of Christ that drives us on; because we are inspired by his example of one laying down his life for everybody else. When he died\, we all died. He died for everybody\, so that those who live might be set free from living as slaves to their own selfish desires\, and might instead live for him who died for them and was raised to life for them. \nBecause of all this\, nowadays we are careful not to assume that people are nothing more than what our eyes and ears tell us about them. In the past we made that mistake with Christ\, but we now know a lot more of him than our eyes or ears alone could detect. Whenever anyone unites themselves to Christ\, something new is created. What that person was becomes a thing of the past; they get a whole new start in life! \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 4: 26-34			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus used some stories to teach his followers\, saying\, “Here is a good illustration of the culture of God. A bloke empties a few packets of veggie seeds all over his back yard\, and then just goes about his business\, night and day\, without giving them a second thought. The seeds sprout and grow\, but the bloke has got no idea how it happens. Nature does the job\, all by itself. First the shoots pop up\, then before long the plants take shape\, and then one day there is a bumper crop of veggies in the back yard. And once they are ripe\, it doesn’t matter that the bloke doesn’t know how it happened. It’s not going to stop him going out into the yard with his knife and picking himself a feast at harvest time.” \nJesus also said\, “What else can we compare the culture of God with? How can we picture it? It is a bit like a mustard seed. When it gets planted in the garden\, it is so small\, you wouldn’t even know it was there. But once planted\, it grows into a huge weed. It goes berserk and starts throwing out branches big enough that a flock of galahs could build nests in its shade!” \nJesus used lots of these sort of illustrations to get the message through to the people. Everything he had to say to them was said in stories\, but when he was alone with his closest followers\, he explained things in more detail. \n©2006 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				  Ezekiel 17:22-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	This is what the Lord GOD says: \nI will personally choose a sprig\nfrom the crown of a towering tree\nand cut it loose.\nI will get one with tender leaves\nfrom among the new growth at the very top. \nI will plant it myself\non top of the highest mountain.\nI will plant it\non the great mountain of Israel\nso that it may grow to be a mighty tree\nwith massive branches and loads of fruit. \nBirds of every kind will find shelter in it\,\nbuilding nests in its shady branches.\nEverything that flies will be up there! \nThen every tree in every field will know for sure\nthat I am the LORD. \nI cut down the big trees\nand raise up the little ones.\nI wither the lush green trees\,\nand make the dry ones flourish again. \nI the LORD give you my word on this\,\nand I do what I say. \n©2009 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 92: 1-4\, 12-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It is a privilege to be able to publicly thank you\, LORD\,\nto sing your praises and put your name up in lights.\nIt is great to start the day singing about your rock-solid love\,\nwith a full band ringing out the tune\,\nand to end it thanking you for being so loyal and trustworthy\,\naccompanying our praise with guitars. \nFor you\, O LORD\, have given us so much to be happy about;\nwhat you have done with your own hands\nsets us singing and dancing for joy. \nPeople who always do the right thing by others\nwill thrive like a tropical rainforest\nand grow strong like a river redgum.\nThey have put down their roots in your soil\, LORD\,\nand they will brighten up your temple like flowers.\nEven when they grow old they will still be fruitful\,\nhealthy and vibrant and pulsing with life.\nThey are a credit to you\, LORD\,\nproving for all to see that you are straight and true.\nYou are our rock\,\nand there is nothing rotten or crooked in you. \n©2009 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 kingdom grows from the smallest beginnings\,\nand you have given us all a home in the shelter of your love. \nYou created the heavens and the earth\,\nand from the tiniest seeds\, you filled the earth with life.\nYou called your people to walk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand you anointed faithful rulers to lead them in your ways. \nYour child\, Jesus\, came among us\nsharing stories of your love and grace\nand teaching us the mysteries of your kingdom.\nHe died at the hands of those who take pride in brute force\,\nand in his death\, all have died.\nBut you raised him to life for us\,\nand in him everything has become new.\nNow we are confident that you will grant\nour heart’s true desire:\nto be at home with you forever. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2006 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\,\nwho shared stories of your kingdom\nand who died so that we might no longer live for ourselves\,\nbut live as new creations in him\nwho you raised to life for us\nand made all things new. \n©2006 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 kingdom grows from the smallest beginnings\,\nand you have given us all a home in the shelter of your love. \nYou created the heavens and the earth\,\nand from the tiniest seeds\, you filled the earth with life.\nYou called your people to walk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand you anointed faithful rulers to lead them in your ways. \nYour child\, Jesus\, came among us\nsharing stories of your love and grace\nand teaching us the mysteries of your kingdom.\nHe died at the hands of those who take pride in brute force\,\nand in his death\, all have died.\nBut you raised him to life for us\,\nand in him everything has become new.\nNow we are confident that you will grant\nour heart’s true desire:\nto be at home with you 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©2006 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 does not see as we see\, but looks on the heart.\nIf anyone is in Christ\,\nthere is a new creation:\neverything old has passed away;\neverything has become new. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2006 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go out\, and live no longer for yourselves\,\nbut for him who died and was raised for you.\nWalk by faith\, not by sight\,\nand judge others only by the integrity of their hearts.\nMake it your aim to please the Lord\,\nand to persuade others of the love of Christ. \nAnd may God answer you in times of trouble and protect you;\nMay Christ Jesus grant you your heart’s desire;\nand may the Holy Spirit take hold of you mightily from this day forward. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2006 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\nFeeling like a Weed?A sermon on Mark 4:26-34 & Ezekiel 17: 22-24 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFaithfully UnderwhelmingA sermon on Mark 4: 26-34\, 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 & 2 Corinthians 5: 6-17 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWeeds Overgrowing a Crumbling EmpireA sermon on Mark 4:26-34 & Ezekiel 17: 22-24 by Nathan Nettleton
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