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UID:10001644-1816473600-1816559999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 12 - 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 11: 1-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The onset of spring seems to arouse powerful men\, and military campaigns were usually undertaken after the winter ended. One year\, King David sent out the Israelite army under the command of Joab and his officers. They decimated the Ammonite army and marched on their capital city\, Rabbah. \nDavid himself had his feet up in Jerusalem while his troops laid siege to Rabbah. Late one day\, after an afternoon siesta\, David wandered out onto his rooftop balcony. Looking down into the homes of his neighbours\, he spied a woman undressing to take a bath. He couldn’t take his eyes of her beautiful body. His lust got the better of him\, and he sent a servant to check out who she was. The servant reported back\, saying\, “Your Majesty\, her name is Bathsheba\, the daughter of Eliam. She is married to Uriah the Hittite who is presently serving in your army.” \nDavid was unperturbed and hastily arranged for his guards to grab her and bring her to him. She was escorted into the palace and left alone with the King. He had sex with her and then sent her home again. If he wanted to get away with it\, he had picked the wrong time of the month. A few weeks later he received a message from Bathsheba saying\, “I am pregnant with your baby.” \nDavid hatched a scheme to cover his tracks. He contacted Joab and arranged for Uriah the Hittite to be sent as a courier with military reports for the palace. When Uriah arrived\, David made a great show of asking him all about the war and how Joab and the troops were getting on. Then he said to Uriah\, “You’ve earned some leave. Go home\, enjoy a night with your wife\, and I’ll send you back in a day or two.” \nUriah left and David even had the palace kitchen send food and wine around to his house. But Uriah didn’t go home to his wife. He spent the night in the barracks of the palace guard. When David heard about it in the morning he sent for Uriah and said\, “I gave you some leave\, Soldier. You’ve been on a tough assignment. Why didn’t you go home?” \nUriah replied\, “It wouldn’t be fair to my mates. They’re all out there in tents – the whole army\, Joab and the other commanders\, and even the sacred Ark. How could I go home to eat and drink and sleep with my wife when they’re still roughing it? On a stack of bibles I swear to you\, I couldn’t do it.” \nDavid was getting desperate. He said to Uriah\, “I need you to stay here another day and then tomorrow you can take a delivery back to Joab.” \nSo Uriah hung around in Jerusalem as instructed. David invited him to dinner and made sure that his glass was never empty. By the time Uriah left that evening\, he was quite drunk\, but he still didn’t go home to his wife. He slept on a stretcher in the barracks again. \nDavid had only one card left. In the morning he sent Uriah back to the front with a dispatch for Joab. It included a royal order saying\, “Send Uriah to attack the enemy’s strongest defence post. Then\, pull back the rest of the troops so he’ll be stranded and killed.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Heartless\, mindless scum kid themselves\nthat there is no God. \nThey are corrupt and callous.\nThe things they do would make you sick.\nThere is not an ounce of good among them.  \nThe LORD scans the human race\, one at a time\,\nlooking for any who are still wise;\nfor even one who still has a heart for God. \nBut it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack!\nThey’ve all lost the plot.\nEveryone is caught up\nin their own perverse ways.\nEvery last one of them.  \nDon’t they know where all this will get them?\nThey never look to the LORD for anything;\nthey chew up God’s people and spit them out.  \nBut it will soon be their turn to cringe in fear\,\nbecause God sides with those who play straight. \nIf you think you can trample\nthe dreams of the battlers\,\nWatch out! The LORD will be there for them.\nWe can hardly wait to hear the songs of freedom\nas justice marches down from God’s mountain!  \nWhat a day it will be\nwhen the LORD redistributes the wealth\nand God’s people are compensated\nfor their suffering! \nOur ancestors will rise up with joy!\nThe streets will fill with singing and dancing! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Ephesians 3: 14-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Because of the overwhelming goodness of all God has done for us in Christ\, I fall on my knees in gratitude. I pour out prayers of thanks and praise to the God who conceived us\, to this God in whom every people of every place find their life and their true identity. \nI offer up prayers for you too. God overflows with rich and vibrant life\, and I’m praying that through God’s Spirit this overflow will be channelled into you\, to put new steel into every fibre of your being. I pray that through your trust in Christ\, he may put down roots in your heart\, and that you may put down roots in his love. You can’t have your feet on any firmer ground than that! \nI’m also praying that you and all God’s beloved people might somehow be able to fathom the astonishing extent of the mysteries God has opened to us\, even though they stretch from the depths of the earth to the outer reaches of the galaxy\, from horizon to horizon\, and from here to eternity! And finally I’m praying that you will be intimately acquainted with the love of Christ — a love that goes far beyond anything we can get our heads around. For it is that love that will pump you full of life\, the rich and vibrant life of God. \nSo now\, credit where credit’s due — all glory to God. It is God whose Spirit\, working powerfully within us and through us\, is capable of things beyond our wildest dreaming — things so extraordinary we’d have never even thought to ask for them. So all the accolades belong to God. \nIn the church\, glory to God!\nIn the messiah\, Jesus\, glory to God!\nIn every generation\, glory to God!\nIn every age\, from now to forever\, glory to God!\nAnd so say all of us! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  John 6: 1-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Shortly before the annual Passover\, a sacred Jewish festival\, Jesus took a trip over to the other side of Lake Galilee. As usual\, a sizable crowd followed him. Indeed\, every time he helped a sick person\, people said it was a sign\, and growing numbers began to follow his every move. After beaching the boat\, Jesus headed up the hill with his closest followers. As they sat down\, they looked back and sure enough\, there was the crowd coming up to join them. Jesus put a question to Philip: “Where can we buy bread to feed all these extra guests?” \nHe actually knew what he was going to do\, but he wanted to see how far he could stretch Philip’s thinking. Philip replied\, “Even if there was a bakery out here\, you’d need to take out a mortgage to pay for a slice each!” \nAnother of the disciples\, Simon Peter’s brother Andrew\, spoke up: “There is a lad over here with five bread rolls and a couple of fish. It’s a drop in the ocean for this mob though.” \nJesus said\, “Get everyone to sit down\,” and they did. The grassy clearing where they sat was quite spacious\, and it needed to be — there were close to five thousand people there. Jesus took the bread rolls\, and after giving thanks to God\, he began handing them out among the people sitting on the grass. He did the same with the fish\, and somehow there was enough to go around. More than enough in fact. When everyone had eaten their fill\, he sent his disciples to gather up the leftovers\, saying\, “Don’t let anything go to waste!” \nHaving started with only five bread rolls\, they gathered up twelve shopping bags full of bits that people couldn’t eat! When it began to dawn on people what he had done\, they started saying\, “It’s a sign! He’s got to be the great prophet who God promised to send into the world.” \nJesus realised that they were getting carried away and that if he wasn’t careful they’d be starting a revolution and proclaiming him king\, whether he liked it or not. Discretion seemed the better plan\, so he slipped off and went bush by himself. \nThat evening his disciples went back down to the lake. Jesus hadn’t come back but darkness had fallen\, so they loaded the boat and pushed off toward Capernaum. A squall blew up and they’d been pushing through rough waters for about an hour when they saw Jesus walking across the waves\, not far from the boat. It scared them half to death\, but Jesus called out to them\, “Look who I am. There’s no need to be afraid!” They pulled themselves together and were keen to bring him on board\, but suddenly the boat ran aground — in the exact place they had been heading for! \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				  2 Kings 4: 42-44			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	During the famine\, a man arrived from Baal-shalishah\, bringing a sack of food as the required offering to God from the first fruits of his harvest. He gave the offering to Elisha\, as God’s representative. The sack contained twenty loaves of barley bread and some fresh ears of grain. Elisha told his servant to give it to the hungry people outside so that they could eat. But his servant said\, “There’s a hundred people outside. How am I supposed to give this to them without it seeming like a cruel joke?” \nBut Elisha stood his ground\, saying\, “Give it to the people and let them eat. It will be enough for them all and they’ll have some left over. We have the LORD’s word for it.” \nSo the servant handed it out to the people. They all ate and there was some left over\, just as the LORD had promised. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 145: 10-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, everyone and everything will thank you\, their creator\,\nand all who are loyal to you will sing your praises. \nAs your people\, we will promote the glory of your reign\,\nand broadcast the news of your power for good. \nWe will tell everyone about the great things you have done\nand about the magnificent splendour of your reign. \nYou will reign forever and ever\, LORD\,\nyour rule is in place for all generations to come. \nEverything you say can be relied on\, LORD\,\nand everything you do is generous and loving. \nWhen people fall\, you put them back on their feet;\nwhen people are crushed\, you stand them tall again. \nEveryone looks to you for what they need\,\nand you meet their needs when the time is right. \nYou open your hands\nand satisfy the desires of every living thing. \nJustice marks everything you do\, LORD\,\nand generous love colours your every deed. \nWhen honest hearts cry out to you\, LORD\,\nyou are right there alongside them. \nYou satisfy the desires of those who respect you;\nyou hear their cries and rescue them from death. \nYou watch out for those who love you\, LORD\,\nand wipe out corruption when it threatens. \nYour praises will be always on our lips\, LORD\,\nand with all who live\,\nwe will single out your name for the highest honour\nforever and ever. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor we are overwhelmed\nby the length and breadth\, height and depth\nof your mysteries\, your glory\, and your love for us in Christ. \nYou brought forth the earth and the heavens\,\nand from tiny fragments you created a rich abundance\nto nurture and strengthen all who look to your hand.\nYou have given yourself generously to your people\,\ndespite their eagerness to crown every new hero\nand corrupt themselves before idols\nof wealth\, sex and power. \nIn your Son\, Jesus\,\nyou have given us the saviour we longed for.\nThough he was crucified by the corrupt\,\nyou raised him to life and he comes to us again\,\nstriding over chaos and death\,\ndispelling our fears with a love beyond comprehension\,\nstrengthening us in our inner beings\,\nand bringing us safely to the land of our destiny. \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\,\nwho comes to us\, striding over chaos and death\,\nfeeding us with your abundance\nand making known to us\nthe length and breadth\, height and depth\nof your mysteries\, your glory\, and your love for us in Christ. \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 we are overwhelmed\nby the length and breadth\, height and depth\nof your mysteries\, your glory\, and your love for us in Christ. \nYou brought forth the earth and the heavens\,\nand from tiny fragments you created a rich abundance\nto nurture and strengthen all who look to your hand.\nYou have given yourself generously to your people\,\ndespite their eagerness to crown every new hero\nand corrupt themselves before idols\nof wealth\, sex and power. \nIn your Son\, Jesus\,\nyou have given us the saviour we longed for.\nThough he was crucified by the corrupt\,\nyou raised him to life and he comes to us again\,\nstriding over chaos and death\,\ndispelling our fears with a love beyond comprehension\,\nstrengthening us in our inner beings\,\nand bringing us safely to the land of our destiny. \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	With a love that surpasses knowledge\,\nChrist comes to us saying\, “Trust in me. Do not be afraid.”\nThough we have nothing to offer but our broken selves\,\nhe brings forth an abundance of mercy beyond our imagining. \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 into the world.\nSeek God\, and the wisdom of God.\nHide yourself from the corruptions of power and adulation.\nEntrust whatever you have to Christ\nfor with him\, there will always be more than enough. \nAnd may God strengthen you in your inner beings.\nMay Christ Jesus dwell in your hearts through faith.\nand may the Holy Spirit plant your roots deeply\nin the abundant richness of God’s 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\nIs Gratitude a Performance Enhancing Drug?A sermon on Ephesians 3:14-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPaul’s PrayerA sermon on on Ephesians 3:14-21 by Alan Marr\n\n\n\nAbundance & CorruptionA sermon on 2 Samuel 11: 1-15 & John 6: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nTaking By ForceA sermon on 2 Samuel 11: 1-15 & John 6: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nConfronting a RapistA sermon on 2 Samuel 11: 1-15 & John 6: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBread That Breaks RulesA sermon on John 6: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nToxic ChosennessA sermon on 2 Samuel 11: 1-15 & John 6: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp12/2027-07-25/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300728T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300728T235959
DTSTAMP:20260406T054629
CREATED:20200907T111624Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240825T124244Z
UID:10002143-1911427200-1911513599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 12 - 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 11: 1-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The onset of spring seems to arouse powerful men\, and military campaigns were usually undertaken after the winter ended. One year\, King David sent out the Israelite army under the command of Joab and his officers. They decimated the Ammonite army and marched on their capital city\, Rabbah. \nDavid himself had his feet up in Jerusalem while his troops laid siege to Rabbah. Late one day\, after an afternoon siesta\, David wandered out onto his rooftop balcony. Looking down into the homes of his neighbours\, he spied a woman undressing to take a bath. He couldn’t take his eyes of her beautiful body. His lust got the better of him\, and he sent a servant to check out who she was. The servant reported back\, saying\, “Your Majesty\, her name is Bathsheba\, the daughter of Eliam. She is married to Uriah the Hittite who is presently serving in your army.” \nDavid was unperturbed and hastily arranged for his guards to grab her and bring her to him. She was escorted into the palace and left alone with the King. He had sex with her and then sent her home again. If he wanted to get away with it\, he had picked the wrong time of the month. A few weeks later he received a message from Bathsheba saying\, “I am pregnant with your baby.” \nDavid hatched a scheme to cover his tracks. He contacted Joab and arranged for Uriah the Hittite to be sent as a courier with military reports for the palace. When Uriah arrived\, David made a great show of asking him all about the war and how Joab and the troops were getting on. Then he said to Uriah\, “You’ve earned some leave. Go home\, enjoy a night with your wife\, and I’ll send you back in a day or two.” \nUriah left and David even had the palace kitchen send food and wine around to his house. But Uriah didn’t go home to his wife. He spent the night in the barracks of the palace guard. When David heard about it in the morning he sent for Uriah and said\, “I gave you some leave\, Soldier. You’ve been on a tough assignment. Why didn’t you go home?” \nUriah replied\, “It wouldn’t be fair to my mates. They’re all out there in tents – the whole army\, Joab and the other commanders\, and even the sacred Ark. How could I go home to eat and drink and sleep with my wife when they’re still roughing it? On a stack of bibles I swear to you\, I couldn’t do it.” \nDavid was getting desperate. He said to Uriah\, “I need you to stay here another day and then tomorrow you can take a delivery back to Joab.” \nSo Uriah hung around in Jerusalem as instructed. David invited him to dinner and made sure that his glass was never empty. By the time Uriah left that evening\, he was quite drunk\, but he still didn’t go home to his wife. He slept on a stretcher in the barracks again. \nDavid had only one card left. In the morning he sent Uriah back to the front with a dispatch for Joab. It included a royal order saying\, “Send Uriah to attack the enemy’s strongest defence post. Then\, pull back the rest of the troops so he’ll be stranded and killed.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Heartless\, mindless scum kid themselves\nthat there is no God. \nThey are corrupt and callous.\nThe things they do would make you sick.\nThere is not an ounce of good among them.  \nThe LORD scans the human race\, one at a time\,\nlooking for any who are still wise;\nfor even one who still has a heart for God. \nBut it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack!\nThey’ve all lost the plot.\nEveryone is caught up\nin their own perverse ways.\nEvery last one of them.  \nDon’t they know where all this will get them?\nThey never look to the LORD for anything;\nthey chew up God’s people and spit them out.  \nBut it will soon be their turn to cringe in fear\,\nbecause God sides with those who play straight. \nIf you think you can trample\nthe dreams of the battlers\,\nWatch out! The LORD will be there for them.\nWe can hardly wait to hear the songs of freedom\nas justice marches down from God’s mountain!  \nWhat a day it will be\nwhen the LORD redistributes the wealth\nand God’s people are compensated\nfor their suffering! \nOur ancestors will rise up with joy!\nThe streets will fill with singing and dancing! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Ephesians 3: 14-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Because of the overwhelming goodness of all God has done for us in Christ\, I fall on my knees in gratitude. I pour out prayers of thanks and praise to the God who conceived us\, to this God in whom every people of every place find their life and their true identity. \nI offer up prayers for you too. God overflows with rich and vibrant life\, and I’m praying that through God’s Spirit this overflow will be channelled into you\, to put new steel into every fibre of your being. I pray that through your trust in Christ\, he may put down roots in your heart\, and that you may put down roots in his love. You can’t have your feet on any firmer ground than that! \nI’m also praying that you and all God’s beloved people might somehow be able to fathom the astonishing extent of the mysteries God has opened to us\, even though they stretch from the depths of the earth to the outer reaches of the galaxy\, from horizon to horizon\, and from here to eternity! And finally I’m praying that you will be intimately acquainted with the love of Christ — a love that goes far beyond anything we can get our heads around. For it is that love that will pump you full of life\, the rich and vibrant life of God. \nSo now\, credit where credit’s due — all glory to God. It is God whose Spirit\, working powerfully within us and through us\, is capable of things beyond our wildest dreaming — things so extraordinary we’d have never even thought to ask for them. So all the accolades belong to God. \nIn the church\, glory to God!\nIn the messiah\, Jesus\, glory to God!\nIn every generation\, glory to God!\nIn every age\, from now to forever\, glory to God!\nAnd so say all of us! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  John 6: 1-21			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Shortly before the annual Passover\, a sacred Jewish festival\, Jesus took a trip over to the other side of Lake Galilee. As usual\, a sizable crowd followed him. Indeed\, every time he helped a sick person\, people said it was a sign\, and growing numbers began to follow his every move. After beaching the boat\, Jesus headed up the hill with his closest followers. As they sat down\, they looked back and sure enough\, there was the crowd coming up to join them. Jesus put a question to Philip: “Where can we buy bread to feed all these extra guests?” \nHe actually knew what he was going to do\, but he wanted to see how far he could stretch Philip’s thinking. Philip replied\, “Even if there was a bakery out here\, you’d need to take out a mortgage to pay for a slice each!” \nAnother of the disciples\, Simon Peter’s brother Andrew\, spoke up: “There is a lad over here with five bread rolls and a couple of fish. It’s a drop in the ocean for this mob though.” \nJesus said\, “Get everyone to sit down\,” and they did. The grassy clearing where they sat was quite spacious\, and it needed to be — there were close to five thousand people there. Jesus took the bread rolls\, and after giving thanks to God\, he began handing them out among the people sitting on the grass. He did the same with the fish\, and somehow there was enough to go around. More than enough in fact. When everyone had eaten their fill\, he sent his disciples to gather up the leftovers\, saying\, “Don’t let anything go to waste!” \nHaving started with only five bread rolls\, they gathered up twelve shopping bags full of bits that people couldn’t eat! When it began to dawn on people what he had done\, they started saying\, “It’s a sign! He’s got to be the great prophet who God promised to send into the world.” \nJesus realised that they were getting carried away and that if he wasn’t careful they’d be starting a revolution and proclaiming him king\, whether he liked it or not. Discretion seemed the better plan\, so he slipped off and went bush by himself. \nThat evening his disciples went back down to the lake. Jesus hadn’t come back but darkness had fallen\, so they loaded the boat and pushed off toward Capernaum. A squall blew up and they’d been pushing through rough waters for about an hour when they saw Jesus walking across the waves\, not far from the boat. It scared them half to death\, but Jesus called out to them\, “Look who I am. There’s no need to be afraid!” They pulled themselves together and were keen to bring him on board\, but suddenly the boat ran aground — in the exact place they had been heading for! \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				  2 Kings 4: 42-44			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	During the famine\, a man arrived from Baal-shalishah\, bringing a sack of food as the required offering to God from the first fruits of his harvest. He gave the offering to Elisha\, as God’s representative. The sack contained twenty loaves of barley bread and some fresh ears of grain. Elisha told his servant to give it to the hungry people outside so that they could eat. But his servant said\, “There’s a hundred people outside. How am I supposed to give this to them without it seeming like a cruel joke?” \nBut Elisha stood his ground\, saying\, “Give it to the people and let them eat. It will be enough for them all and they’ll have some left over. We have the LORD’s word for it.” \nSo the servant handed it out to the people. They all ate and there was some left over\, just as the LORD had promised. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 145: 10-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, everyone and everything will thank you\, their creator\,\nand all who are loyal to you will sing your praises. \nAs your people\, we will promote the glory of your reign\,\nand broadcast the news of your power for good. \nWe will tell everyone about the great things you have done\nand about the magnificent splendour of your reign. \nYou will reign forever and ever\, LORD\,\nyour rule is in place for all generations to come. \nEverything you say can be relied on\, LORD\,\nand everything you do is generous and loving. \nWhen people fall\, you put them back on their feet;\nwhen people are crushed\, you stand them tall again. \nEveryone looks to you for what they need\,\nand you meet their needs when the time is right. \nYou open your hands\nand satisfy the desires of every living thing. \nJustice marks everything you do\, LORD\,\nand generous love colours your every deed. \nWhen honest hearts cry out to you\, LORD\,\nyou are right there alongside them. \nYou satisfy the desires of those who respect you;\nyou hear their cries and rescue them from death. \nYou watch out for those who love you\, LORD\,\nand wipe out corruption when it threatens. \nYour praises will be always on our lips\, LORD\,\nand with all who live\,\nwe will single out your name for the highest honour\nforever and ever. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor we are overwhelmed\nby the length and breadth\, height and depth\nof your mysteries\, your glory\, and your love for us in Christ. \nYou brought forth the earth and the heavens\,\nand from tiny fragments you created a rich abundance\nto nurture and strengthen all who look to your hand.\nYou have given yourself generously to your people\,\ndespite their eagerness to crown every new hero\nand corrupt themselves before idols\nof wealth\, sex and power. \nIn your Son\, Jesus\,\nyou have given us the saviour we longed for.\nThough he was crucified by the corrupt\,\nyou raised him to life and he comes to us again\,\nstriding over chaos and death\,\ndispelling our fears with a love beyond comprehension\,\nstrengthening us in our inner beings\,\nand bringing us safely to the land of our destiny. \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\,\nwho comes to us\, striding over chaos and death\,\nfeeding us with your abundance\nand making known to us\nthe length and breadth\, height and depth\nof your mysteries\, your glory\, and your love for us in Christ. \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 we are overwhelmed\nby the length and breadth\, height and depth\nof your mysteries\, your glory\, and your love for us in Christ. \nYou brought forth the earth and the heavens\,\nand from tiny fragments you created a rich abundance\nto nurture and strengthen all who look to your hand.\nYou have given yourself generously to your people\,\ndespite their eagerness to crown every new hero\nand corrupt themselves before idols\nof wealth\, sex and power. \nIn your Son\, Jesus\,\nyou have given us the saviour we longed for.\nThough he was crucified by the corrupt\,\nyou raised him to life and he comes to us again\,\nstriding over chaos and death\,\ndispelling our fears with a love beyond comprehension\,\nstrengthening us in our inner beings\,\nand bringing us safely to the land of our destiny. \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	With a love that surpasses knowledge\,\nChrist comes to us saying\, “Trust in me. Do not be afraid.”\nThough we have nothing to offer but our broken selves\,\nhe brings forth an abundance of mercy beyond our imagining. \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 into the world.\nSeek God\, and the wisdom of God.\nHide yourself from the corruptions of power and adulation.\nEntrust whatever you have to Christ\nfor with him\, there will always be more than enough. \nAnd may God strengthen you in your inner beings.\nMay Christ Jesus dwell in your hearts through faith.\nand may the Holy Spirit plant your roots deeply\nin the abundant richness of God’s 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\nIs Gratitude a Performance Enhancing Drug?A sermon on Ephesians 3:14-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPaul’s PrayerA sermon on on Ephesians 3:14-21 by Alan Marr\n\n\n\nAbundance & CorruptionA sermon on 2 Samuel 11: 1-15 & John 6: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nTaking By ForceA sermon on 2 Samuel 11: 1-15 & John 6: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nConfronting a RapistA sermon on 2 Samuel 11: 1-15 & John 6: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBread That Breaks RulesA sermon on John 6: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nToxic ChosennessA sermon on 2 Samuel 11: 1-15 & John 6: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton
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