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UID:10001636-1814054400-1814140799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 8 - 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				  2 Samuel 1:1\, 17-27			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	David returned from a successful campaign against the Amalekite army\, and during a two day break in Ziklag he received news that King Saul had been killed in battle. David composed a song of lament in memory of Saul and his son Jonathan. He called it “The Song of the Bow” and it was written down in the Book of Jashar. David gave orders to his army musicians to teach the song to everyone in Judah. The words went like this: \nIsrael\, your most decorated soldiers\nlie dead on the hills!\nYour glorious heroes have been cut down!\nDon’t let news of this reach the streets of Gath;\ndon’t breathe a word of it in Ashkelon\,\nor the godless Philistine women\nwill mock us in our misery\,\ngloating and dancing with joy. \nA curse on Mount Gilboa\nwhere our heroes’ blood was spilt:\nmay the sun never shine there\,\nand the rain never fall;\nmay it never see a flower bloom again.\nCursed be the place where Saul bit the dust\,\nwhere his polished armour\nwas smeared with blood. \nOur great heroes never flinched under fire:\nwith bow in hand\,\nJonathan’s aim was deadly;\nwith sword in hand\,\nSaul cut the enemy to pieces. \nSaul and Jonathan\, how easy it was to love them!\nLike father\, like son\, in life and in death;\nthey made eagles look slow\,\nand lions look weak. \nWomen of Israel\, cry your eyes out for Saul!\nIt was him you had to thank\nfor your stunning wardrobes\,\nyour designer gowns\nand your elegant jewellery. \nOur finest men have fallen\,\ncut down in the heat of the battle! \nJonathan lies dead on Mount Gilboa.\nMy heart is broken for you\, my brother Jonathan;\nI loved you more than words can say.\nYour love was my greatest delight\,\nmore precious than the love of women. \nThe heroes who filled us with pride have fallen.\nTheir weapons\, once feared\,\nare tossed on the scrap heap! \n©2000 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			\n				  2 Corinthians 8: 7-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Everything you people put your hand to turns to gold. You seem to be the best at everything. You have outstanding faith. You’re articulate. You have great knowledge and insight. Your energy and enthusiasm seem boundless. Even in love you seem to outshine everyone else. So then\, we are hoping that you will also come out tops in generosity\, as you contribute to the relief fund for the church in Judea. \nI’m not trying to force you into anything. I’m simply telling you about the generosity of others so that you’ll know where the benchmark is. I will be watching to see how your love measures up. Of course\, if you really want a standard to aspire to\, think about the extravagant offering of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich in everything\, but he gave it all up for you. He accepted poverty in order to make you rich. \nSo if you want my advice on this matter\, here it is: it is time to put your money where your mouth is. You talked big last year about how willing you were to help when you first heard about the need. Now it’s time to show that you’re not all hot air. It is time to dig deep and show everyone that you are as generous with your actions as you are with your promises. I’m not concerned about how much actually ends up in the hat when you pass it around. It’s more a question of how what you give compares with what you have. No matter how eager you are\, no one expects you to give what you don’t have. \nPlease don’t think that I am trying to make life a bed of roses for others by putting the squeeze on you. You have got plenty at the moment\, and they’re doing it tough. Next time it might be the other way around. It’s like swings and roundabouts — it all balances out after a while. As the scriptures say\, \n“Those with the most let nothing go to waste\,\nand those with the least will not go without.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 5: 21-43			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus arrived by boat back on the Jewish side of Lake Galilee. A huge crowd gathered to meet him on the beach\, and a man named Jairus – a respected leader of the synagogue – was among them. Jairus fell on his knees at Jesus’s feet and begged him repeatedly\, “My precious little girl is on the verge of death. Come and lay your hands on her and make her well\, so that she will live.” Jesus agreed and went with him. Much of the crowd tagged along\, all jostling and pushing\, trying to be near him. \nHiding in the crowd was a woman suffering from prolonged bleeding. For the previous twelve years her condition had meant that everyone treated her as defiled and contagious. She had spent all her money on doctors and healers who had prescribed everything under the sun. Despite all their remedies and promises\, her problem just kept getting worse. She had heard about Jesus and was sure that he was her last chance. Unnoticed\, she pushed her way through the crowd and managed to touch the edge of his coat. She was thinking to herself\, “Surely even touching this man’s clothes will be enough to make me well.” \nSure enough\, the moment she did it\, she felt the bleeding stop. She could feel a real change in herself and she knew that she was finally free of the illness. Jesus felt something too\, a sudden release of energy from within. He spun around\, looking at the crowd\, and asked\, “Who touched me?” \n“Who hasn’t?!” his followers asked incredulously. “If this crowd get any closer they’ll have to hoist you onto their shoulders\, so there’s not much point in asking who touched you.” \nBut Jesus knew that it was something more than that and kept looking around to see who it was. The woman knew he meant her\, and she knew that she was going to be found out. Shaking with fear\, because she had defiled everyone she had touched\, she fell at his feet and spilled out the whole story. But Jesus lifted her by the hand and said to her\, “Daughter\, you took a risk of faith and it has paid off for you. Welcome back to the world of the healthy! May peace\, health and happiness be yours\, and may your illness be gone for good.” \nAs he was saying this\, some people arrived from Jairus’ home and said\, “It’s too late. Your daughter is dead. It’s no use bothering the teacher now.” \nBut Jesus heard what they were saying\, and said to Jairus\, “Don’t give up. Trust me.” \nHe sent the crowd on their way and wouldn’t let anyone come with them except Peter and the brothers\, James and John. When they arrived at the home of the synagogue leader\, it was in a state of chaos. Everywhere there were people crying\, and you could hardly move for funeral directors\, neighbours\, and people bearing condolences and casseroles. Jesus didn’t mince his words: “That’s enough. The child is not dead. She’s only asleep.” \nBut they rubbished him. They knew she was dead. Unperturbed\, Jesus took charge of the situation and kicked them all outside. Taking only the child’s parents and his three companions\, he went into the room where the child was laid out. He clasped her hand tenderly and said to her\, “Talitha koum!” which is Aramaic for “Little girl\, get up.” That was all it took – she was up and walking around\, as healthy as she had been for the previous twelve years! Of course everyone there was blown away – overcome with joy and amazement. Jesus gave them strict instructions not to breathe a word of this to anybody. Then he said\, “The girl’s probably hungry. Find her something to eat.” \n©2000 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 1: 13-15; 2: 23-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God is not the author of death.\nGod created all things so that they might live.\nDeath never brings a smile to God’s face. \nThe natural way of the earth is to generate life.\nThe forces of nature are not destructive or poisonous.\nThe kingdom of death does not govern the planet. \nA life lived in truth and integrity is immune to death\,\nbecause God created us for life without limit;\npermanent and incorruptible\, just like God. \nBut the devil got jealous and screwed it all up.\nHis greed and envy infected the world with death\,\nand for those who side with him\, it will prove fatal. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Lamentations 3: 23-33 (canticle)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Your love and loyalty never die\, LORD.\nYour generous mercy never runs dry.\nThey are created new every morning\nand you are as trustworthy as the solid rock. \nSo I keep telling myself that you are all I need\nand that I can still trust you to come through for me. \nYou are good to those who hang in there for you\, LORD;\nto those whose hearts continue to search for you. \nThe life for which you save us\, LORD\,\nis worth patiently waiting for. \nIt is a good thing to shoulder unfair burdens\nwhile we are still young;\nto put up with solitary confinement\nif that is what the LORD has imposed;\nto eat dust\nwithout giving up hope;\nto turn the other cheek with courage\nand cop the insults that are dished out. \nI can’t believe\nthat the Lord will write us off forever. \nThe Lord might be dishing out grief to us now\nbut not willingly. \nThe Lord’s rock-solid love\nwill pour forth compassion for us\nfor the Lord does not take pleasure\nin causing trouble or pain. \n©2014 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR   Psalm 30			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I’ll be singing your praises\, every chance I get\, LORD\,\nbecause you got me out of deep trouble\nand spared me the gloating of my enemies. \nI pleaded for help\, LORD God\,\nand you stepped in and healed me. \nThey were nearly ready to pronounce me dead\nbut your brought me back\, LORD;\nyou put me back on my feet\nwhen I was about to be carried to the morgue. \nSo I’m singing your praises\,\nand I’m encouraging everyone to do the same;\nto name you with joyful thanks. \nWe manage to get you angry at times\,\nbut it blows over in a moment\nbecause your mercy keeps on keeping on.\nWe may have an evening of bitter tears\,\nbut by morning your mercy has us smiling again. \nI was guilty of taking your goodness for granted;\nI thought I had it made.\nYou had put me on top of the world\nbut I got all too full of myself.\nYou stepped aside – made me stand alone —\nand I turned to jelly! \nI realised how much I needed you\, LORD\,\nand in my panic I begged you for mercy. \n“What good is my blood to you?” I cried.\n“How will it help if I’m in the grave?\nCan a corpse sing your praises?\nWill a gravestone publicise your goodness?\nGive me another chance\, LORD.\nPlease\, LORD\, bail me out one more time.” \nAnd sure enough\, you did\, LORD.\nYou turned my tears to laughter;\nyou set my dragging feet dancing;\nyou dusted me off and dressed me up for a party.\nSo now I’m singing your praises\nfrom the bottom of my heart\,\nand no one can shut me up! \nYou are my God\, LORD\,\nand I’m eternally grateful. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\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 no matter how deep we sink in sin and despair\,\nyou hear our cry for mercy and lift us to life. \nFrom the depths of chaos you pulled the newborn earth\nand filled it with love and beauty.\nWhen we tore apart the glory of your creation\nand left innocence slain upon our battlefields\,\nyou continued to reach out to the grieving world\nwith a love more wonderful than any other. \nYour surpassing generosity took flesh in Jesus Christ\,\nwho\, though he was rich\,\ngave up everything\nso that we might lack nothing.\nWhen he was killed\, you raised him\,\nand hope dawned over the dark night of grief.\nFrom him radiates the energy that heals us\,\nand at the touch of his hand\nthe outcasts are reconciled\nand the dead awake to fullness of life. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your Son\, Jesus\,\nfor no matter how deep we sink in sin and despair\,\nhe comes to us and at the touch of his hand\nthe outcasts are healed and reconciled\nand the dead awake to fullness of life. \n©2003 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 no matter how deep we sink in sin and despair\,\nyou hear our cry for mercy and lift us to life. \nFrom the depths of chaos you pulled the newborn earth\nand filled it with love and beauty.\nWhen we tore apart the glory of your creation\nand left innocence slain upon our battlefields\,\nyou continued to reach out to the grieving world\nwith a love more wonderful than any other. \nYour surpassing generosity took flesh in Jesus Christ\,\nwho\, though he was rich\,\ngave up everything\nso that we might lack nothing.\nWhen he was killed\, you raised him\,\nand hope dawned over the dark night of grief.\nFrom him radiates the energy that heals us\,\nand at the touch of his hand\nthe outcasts are reconciled\nand the dead awake to fullness of life. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	If the Lord recorded our sins\, no one could survive\,\nbut God’s capacity for forgiveness is awesome.\nThe Lord will bring mercy and grant full pardon.\nIn Jesus Christ we are lifted to life. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go out\, among the outcast and the grieving\,\nand speak the word of life and hope.\nDo not fear\, but trust in God’s word.\nWatch for the Lord with eager expectation\,\nand be generous with all God has given you. \nAnd may God respond to your every cry with mercy;\nMay Christ Jesus take you by the hand and lift you to life;\nand may the Holy Spirit build you up in faith\, in speech\,\nin knowledge\, in passion and in love. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nThe Table of GriefA sermon on 2 Samuel 1:1\,17-27 & Psalm 130 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAre You Worth More Than a Touch?A sermon on Mark 5: 21-43 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nRevulsion and Contagious LoveA sermon on Mark 5: 21-43 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe God of WinterA Winter Solstice sermon on Mark 5:21-43; 2 Samuel 1:17-27 &  Psalm 130 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp08/2027-06-27/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P08.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300630T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300630T235959
DTSTAMP:20260406T054632
CREATED:20200902T063953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240728T104733Z
UID:10002139-1909008000-1909094399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 8 - 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				  2 Samuel 1:1\, 17-27			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	David returned from a successful campaign against the Amalekite army\, and during a two day break in Ziklag he received news that King Saul had been killed in battle. David composed a song of lament in memory of Saul and his son Jonathan. He called it “The Song of the Bow” and it was written down in the Book of Jashar. David gave orders to his army musicians to teach the song to everyone in Judah. The words went like this: \nIsrael\, your most decorated soldiers\nlie dead on the hills!\nYour glorious heroes have been cut down!\nDon’t let news of this reach the streets of Gath;\ndon’t breathe a word of it in Ashkelon\,\nor the godless Philistine women\nwill mock us in our misery\,\ngloating and dancing with joy. \nA curse on Mount Gilboa\nwhere our heroes’ blood was spilt:\nmay the sun never shine there\,\nand the rain never fall;\nmay it never see a flower bloom again.\nCursed be the place where Saul bit the dust\,\nwhere his polished armour\nwas smeared with blood. \nOur great heroes never flinched under fire:\nwith bow in hand\,\nJonathan’s aim was deadly;\nwith sword in hand\,\nSaul cut the enemy to pieces. \nSaul and Jonathan\, how easy it was to love them!\nLike father\, like son\, in life and in death;\nthey made eagles look slow\,\nand lions look weak. \nWomen of Israel\, cry your eyes out for Saul!\nIt was him you had to thank\nfor your stunning wardrobes\,\nyour designer gowns\nand your elegant jewellery. \nOur finest men have fallen\,\ncut down in the heat of the battle! \nJonathan lies dead on Mount Gilboa.\nMy heart is broken for you\, my brother Jonathan;\nI loved you more than words can say.\nYour love was my greatest delight\,\nmore precious than the love of women. \nThe heroes who filled us with pride have fallen.\nTheir weapons\, once feared\,\nare tossed on the scrap heap! \n©2000 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			\n				  2 Corinthians 8: 7-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Everything you people put your hand to turns to gold. You seem to be the best at everything. You have outstanding faith. You’re articulate. You have great knowledge and insight. Your energy and enthusiasm seem boundless. Even in love you seem to outshine everyone else. So then\, we are hoping that you will also come out tops in generosity\, as you contribute to the relief fund for the church in Judea. \nI’m not trying to force you into anything. I’m simply telling you about the generosity of others so that you’ll know where the benchmark is. I will be watching to see how your love measures up. Of course\, if you really want a standard to aspire to\, think about the extravagant offering of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich in everything\, but he gave it all up for you. He accepted poverty in order to make you rich. \nSo if you want my advice on this matter\, here it is: it is time to put your money where your mouth is. You talked big last year about how willing you were to help when you first heard about the need. Now it’s time to show that you’re not all hot air. It is time to dig deep and show everyone that you are as generous with your actions as you are with your promises. I’m not concerned about how much actually ends up in the hat when you pass it around. It’s more a question of how what you give compares with what you have. No matter how eager you are\, no one expects you to give what you don’t have. \nPlease don’t think that I am trying to make life a bed of roses for others by putting the squeeze on you. You have got plenty at the moment\, and they’re doing it tough. Next time it might be the other way around. It’s like swings and roundabouts — it all balances out after a while. As the scriptures say\, \n“Those with the most let nothing go to waste\,\nand those with the least will not go without.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 5: 21-43			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus arrived by boat back on the Jewish side of Lake Galilee. A huge crowd gathered to meet him on the beach\, and a man named Jairus – a respected leader of the synagogue – was among them. Jairus fell on his knees at Jesus’s feet and begged him repeatedly\, “My precious little girl is on the verge of death. Come and lay your hands on her and make her well\, so that she will live.” Jesus agreed and went with him. Much of the crowd tagged along\, all jostling and pushing\, trying to be near him. \nHiding in the crowd was a woman suffering from prolonged bleeding. For the previous twelve years her condition had meant that everyone treated her as defiled and contagious. She had spent all her money on doctors and healers who had prescribed everything under the sun. Despite all their remedies and promises\, her problem just kept getting worse. She had heard about Jesus and was sure that he was her last chance. Unnoticed\, she pushed her way through the crowd and managed to touch the edge of his coat. She was thinking to herself\, “Surely even touching this man’s clothes will be enough to make me well.” \nSure enough\, the moment she did it\, she felt the bleeding stop. She could feel a real change in herself and she knew that she was finally free of the illness. Jesus felt something too\, a sudden release of energy from within. He spun around\, looking at the crowd\, and asked\, “Who touched me?” \n“Who hasn’t?!” his followers asked incredulously. “If this crowd get any closer they’ll have to hoist you onto their shoulders\, so there’s not much point in asking who touched you.” \nBut Jesus knew that it was something more than that and kept looking around to see who it was. The woman knew he meant her\, and she knew that she was going to be found out. Shaking with fear\, because she had defiled everyone she had touched\, she fell at his feet and spilled out the whole story. But Jesus lifted her by the hand and said to her\, “Daughter\, you took a risk of faith and it has paid off for you. Welcome back to the world of the healthy! May peace\, health and happiness be yours\, and may your illness be gone for good.” \nAs he was saying this\, some people arrived from Jairus’ home and said\, “It’s too late. Your daughter is dead. It’s no use bothering the teacher now.” \nBut Jesus heard what they were saying\, and said to Jairus\, “Don’t give up. Trust me.” \nHe sent the crowd on their way and wouldn’t let anyone come with them except Peter and the brothers\, James and John. When they arrived at the home of the synagogue leader\, it was in a state of chaos. Everywhere there were people crying\, and you could hardly move for funeral directors\, neighbours\, and people bearing condolences and casseroles. Jesus didn’t mince his words: “That’s enough. The child is not dead. She’s only asleep.” \nBut they rubbished him. They knew she was dead. Unperturbed\, Jesus took charge of the situation and kicked them all outside. Taking only the child’s parents and his three companions\, he went into the room where the child was laid out. He clasped her hand tenderly and said to her\, “Talitha koum!” which is Aramaic for “Little girl\, get up.” That was all it took – she was up and walking around\, as healthy as she had been for the previous twelve years! Of course everyone there was blown away – overcome with joy and amazement. Jesus gave them strict instructions not to breathe a word of this to anybody. Then he said\, “The girl’s probably hungry. Find her something to eat.” \n©2000 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 1: 13-15; 2: 23-24			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God is not the author of death.\nGod created all things so that they might live.\nDeath never brings a smile to God’s face. \nThe natural way of the earth is to generate life.\nThe forces of nature are not destructive or poisonous.\nThe kingdom of death does not govern the planet. \nA life lived in truth and integrity is immune to death\,\nbecause God created us for life without limit;\npermanent and incorruptible\, just like God. \nBut the devil got jealous and screwed it all up.\nHis greed and envy infected the world with death\,\nand for those who side with him\, it will prove fatal. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Lamentations 3: 23-33 (canticle)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Your love and loyalty never die\, LORD.\nYour generous mercy never runs dry.\nThey are created new every morning\nand you are as trustworthy as the solid rock. \nSo I keep telling myself that you are all I need\nand that I can still trust you to come through for me. \nYou are good to those who hang in there for you\, LORD;\nto those whose hearts continue to search for you. \nThe life for which you save us\, LORD\,\nis worth patiently waiting for. \nIt is a good thing to shoulder unfair burdens\nwhile we are still young;\nto put up with solitary confinement\nif that is what the LORD has imposed;\nto eat dust\nwithout giving up hope;\nto turn the other cheek with courage\nand cop the insults that are dished out. \nI can’t believe\nthat the Lord will write us off forever. \nThe Lord might be dishing out grief to us now\nbut not willingly. \nThe Lord’s rock-solid love\nwill pour forth compassion for us\nfor the Lord does not take pleasure\nin causing trouble or pain. \n©2014 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR   Psalm 30			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I’ll be singing your praises\, every chance I get\, LORD\,\nbecause you got me out of deep trouble\nand spared me the gloating of my enemies. \nI pleaded for help\, LORD God\,\nand you stepped in and healed me. \nThey were nearly ready to pronounce me dead\nbut your brought me back\, LORD;\nyou put me back on my feet\nwhen I was about to be carried to the morgue. \nSo I’m singing your praises\,\nand I’m encouraging everyone to do the same;\nto name you with joyful thanks. \nWe manage to get you angry at times\,\nbut it blows over in a moment\nbecause your mercy keeps on keeping on.\nWe may have an evening of bitter tears\,\nbut by morning your mercy has us smiling again. \nI was guilty of taking your goodness for granted;\nI thought I had it made.\nYou had put me on top of the world\nbut I got all too full of myself.\nYou stepped aside – made me stand alone —\nand I turned to jelly! \nI realised how much I needed you\, LORD\,\nand in my panic I begged you for mercy. \n“What good is my blood to you?” I cried.\n“How will it help if I’m in the grave?\nCan a corpse sing your praises?\nWill a gravestone publicise your goodness?\nGive me another chance\, LORD.\nPlease\, LORD\, bail me out one more time.” \nAnd sure enough\, you did\, LORD.\nYou turned my tears to laughter;\nyou set my dragging feet dancing;\nyou dusted me off and dressed me up for a party.\nSo now I’m singing your praises\nfrom the bottom of my heart\,\nand no one can shut me up! \nYou are my God\, LORD\,\nand I’m eternally grateful. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\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 no matter how deep we sink in sin and despair\,\nyou hear our cry for mercy and lift us to life. \nFrom the depths of chaos you pulled the newborn earth\nand filled it with love and beauty.\nWhen we tore apart the glory of your creation\nand left innocence slain upon our battlefields\,\nyou continued to reach out to the grieving world\nwith a love more wonderful than any other. \nYour surpassing generosity took flesh in Jesus Christ\,\nwho\, though he was rich\,\ngave up everything\nso that we might lack nothing.\nWhen he was killed\, you raised him\,\nand hope dawned over the dark night of grief.\nFrom him radiates the energy that heals us\,\nand at the touch of his hand\nthe outcasts are reconciled\nand the dead awake to fullness of life. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your Son\, Jesus\,\nfor no matter how deep we sink in sin and despair\,\nhe comes to us and at the touch of his hand\nthe outcasts are healed and reconciled\nand the dead awake to fullness of life. \n©2003 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 no matter how deep we sink in sin and despair\,\nyou hear our cry for mercy and lift us to life. \nFrom the depths of chaos you pulled the newborn earth\nand filled it with love and beauty.\nWhen we tore apart the glory of your creation\nand left innocence slain upon our battlefields\,\nyou continued to reach out to the grieving world\nwith a love more wonderful than any other. \nYour surpassing generosity took flesh in Jesus Christ\,\nwho\, though he was rich\,\ngave up everything\nso that we might lack nothing.\nWhen he was killed\, you raised him\,\nand hope dawned over the dark night of grief.\nFrom him radiates the energy that heals us\,\nand at the touch of his hand\nthe outcasts are reconciled\nand the dead awake to fullness of life. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	If the Lord recorded our sins\, no one could survive\,\nbut God’s capacity for forgiveness is awesome.\nThe Lord will bring mercy and grant full pardon.\nIn Jesus Christ we are lifted to life. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Commission & Benediction			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Go out\, among the outcast and the grieving\,\nand speak the word of life and hope.\nDo not fear\, but trust in God’s word.\nWatch for the Lord with eager expectation\,\nand be generous with all God has given you. \nAnd may God respond to your every cry with mercy;\nMay Christ Jesus take you by the hand and lift you to life;\nand may the Holy Spirit build you up in faith\, in speech\,\nin knowledge\, in passion and in love. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nSermons\n\n\n\nSermons will open in new tabs from our SYCBaps church website. \n\n\n\n\nThe Table of GriefA sermon on 2 Samuel 1:1\,17-27 & Psalm 130 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nAre You Worth More Than a Touch?A sermon on Mark 5: 21-43 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nRevulsion and Contagious LoveA sermon on Mark 5: 21-43 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe God of WinterA Winter Solstice sermon on Mark 5:21-43; 2 Samuel 1:17-27 &  Psalm 130 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp08/2030-06-30/
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