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UID:10001652-1818892800-1818979199@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 16 - 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 Kings 8: (1\,6\,10-11)\, 22-30\, 41-43			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The sacred Ark of the Covenant had been kept on Mount Zion in the City of David. When King Solomon was ready to move it into the newly completed Temple\, he called all the elders and tribal leaders of Israel to come to Jerusalem for the occasion. The priests carried the sacred Ark into the Temple and placed it in the most holy place\, beneath the wings of the cherubim in the inner sanctuary. No sooner had they placed it there than a dazzling cloud filled the Temple. The awesome presence of God was so overpowering that no one could bear to stay inside. Even the priests had to make a hasty exit. \nOutside\, Solomon stood in front of the altar of the LORD and\, with his hands raised high\, he led the gathered people in prayer. He prayed: \n“O LORD\, God of Israel\, you are one of a kind! No other god in the universe is like you. Your love is rock-solid and you never forget the alliance you have made with those who follow you whole-heartedly. You made an alliance with my father David\, and today you have proven true to your word. Everything you promised him you have now put in place. \nO LORD\, God of Israel\, you promised my father that his descendants would occupy the throne of Israel forever\, so long as they stuck to your ways and kept nothing hidden from you. May this be true\, O God\, for my father David was your servant. May you always back up your promise to him. \nBut\, how could you possibly live on earth\, O LORD my God? You could hold the entire universe in your hand\, so how can we expect this little temple I’ve built to have enough room for you! But today I ask you to listen to my prayer\, for I am your servant. Hear me and answer me\, O God. This place bears your name because you have chosen it as the place for people to worship you. So keep your eye on it\, O LORD\, twenty four hours a day. Whenever I turn towards this place to pray\, lend me your ear. I am your servant\, and these people belong to you\, so any time one of us faces this Temple and prays\, hear us from your heavenly home and forgive any offence we have caused. \nAnd don’t stop with just us – foreigners will no doubt hear about you too. Attracted by your reputation and by news of the awesome things you do\, they will come from all sorts of far flung places to live among your people and offer their prayers within sight of this Temple. When they do\, listen to them from your heavenly home and answer their prayers. That way everyone on earth will hear of you and give you the same respect that your people Israel do. They will know that this Temple which I have built carries your authority. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 84			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The place where you live is just exquisite\,\nO LORD\, ruler of all!\nWith everything inside me\, I long to be there;\nI go all weak at the very thought of it.\nI want to be there\, body and soul\,\nsinging my heart out for you\, O God of life. \nEven the birds find a home in your house;\nthere are nests in every nook and cranny\nwhere pigeons and sparrows raise their young.\nBird song and incense rise together\nto honour you\, Sovereign God\, ruler of all.\nHow privileged are those who live in your house;\njoyous songs of praise are forever on their lips. \nThose who have tapped into your strength\nhave got it made.\nThe highway to heaven begins within them;\na direct route to your holy presence. \nThey are like people who can find water in the desert;\nthey drink from life giving springs\nthat no drought can ever dry up.\nThey go from strength to strength\,\nand will see you face to face on your holy mountain. \nO LORD\, ruler of everything\, hear my cry.\nTune in to my prayer\, O God of our ancestors. \nYour presence is our protection\, O God;\nsmile upon us\, your chosen ones. \nA day spent in your presence\nbeats a thousand nights in a five star resort.\nI’d rather scrub floors in your house\, O God\,\nthan rub shoulders with the rich and famous\nbeneath the flashing lights of greed and corruption. \nO LORD our God\, you are the sun that shines on us\nand the shield that keeps us safe.\nYou shower us with generosity and honour\,\nand deny nothing to people of integrity. \nO LORD\, ruler of all\,\neveryone who trusts in you has got it made! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Ephesians 6: 10-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	If I could say one last thing to you\, it would be this: toughen yourselves up by drawing strength from God. Equip yourself with everything God offers\, because you’ll need it to detect and survive the guerrilla tactics the Devil will use against you. What we’re up against here is not simply human opposition. This is a life-and-death struggle against the corrupt spiritual forces and cosmic powers of evil that are responsible for the destructive chaos which is presently threatening to engulf the world. So arm yourselves with everything God gives you so that you’ll be ready and able to hold your ground when all hell breaks loose. \nIt’s time to stand up and be counted. Kit yourselves out in truth\, righteousness\, peace\, faith and salvation\, and you’ll be ready for anything. Truth is like a belt on which everything else hangs. Justice and righteousness protect your heart like a bullet-proof vest. Your passion for spreading peace will get you through the hard miles like a sturdy pair of boots. Faith is like a riot shield that protects you from the fire bombs and anything else the evil one throws at you. God’s salvation is like a good helmet — even if you do get knocked down\, it will keep your head in one piece! And finally\, when it is time to go on the attack\, there is one indispensable weapon — the word of God — the same weapon the Spirit used to bring us to our knees. \nAnd speaking of being on your knees\, none of this armoury will be any use at all unless you are putting some serious time into prayer. Pray long and hard with the Spirit as your partner and mentor. Keep your eyes and ears open and keep plugging away in prayer for all your comrades in this holy quest. Remember me in your prayers too. I might be an ambassador bearing God’s message\, but my opportunities are rather limited here in the detention centre! So for the opportunities I do get to speak\, pray that I’ll know exactly what to say and that I’ll have the guts to come out with the whole thing\, the whole wondrous mystery of the good news in Christ. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  John 6: 56-69			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum\, Jesus said: \n“Whatever you eat and drink becomes a part of you\, but when you consume my flesh and blood\, not only will I become a part of you\, but you’ll find yourself in me\, becoming a part of me. The God who conceived me is the source of my life and has sent me\, serving me up to you. In much the same way\, I will be the source of life for whoever digests me. Do you see then? This is the real bread which has come from heaven. It’s not like what your ancestors ate in the desert. They still died. This is different. Those who eat this bread will live life without end and without limit.” \nWhen the people who had been following Jesus heard him say these things\, many of them began to say\, “Who can stomach what this man teaches? It is too tough by far.” \nJesus got wind of their complaints and said to them: \n“Are you ready to throw in the towel over this? How would you react if you saw the New Human entering heaven? After all\, that’s where he came from. Real life comes only from the Spirit. Without it you’re nothing. Everything I’ve said to you is life-giving and backed up by the Spirit. But for some of you\, that will make no difference — you’ve already put the shutters up.” \nJesus could tell\, right from the start\, that some wouldn’t have a bar of him once they knew what he was on about. He also knew who would betray him. He spelt it out to them\, saying\, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: like a Father taking his children where they could not go alone\, God is drawing people to me. Otherwise\, no one would come.” \nThis was the last straw for many of those who had followed him. They cleared off and wouldn’t have anything further to do with him. That prompted Jesus to put the question to the twelve: “What about you? You’re free to join them if you want to give up on me too.” \nSimon Peter answered for them: “Lord\, who else could we turn to? Your words have opened our eyes to life without limit. You have won our trust and we are convinced that you are God’s Holy One.” \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				  Joshua 24: 1-2a\, 14-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem. He called a meeting of their leaders — the tribal elders\, the clan chiefs\, the judges\, and the civil officials — and they gathered under the authority of God. Joshua addressed them\, saying: \n“The LORD\, the God of Israel\, wants you to hear this. Treat the LORD with due respect\, and be absolutely fair dinkum and rock-solid in your commitment to doing all that the LORD asks of you. Have nothing more to do with any of the other objects of devotion that your ancestors worked for back in those days\, or when they were in Egypt. Put yourselves wholly at the service of the LORD. But if you are unwilling to serve the LORD\, then you can make up your own minds what you are going to devote yourselves to: the ignorant ways of your ancestors back there in the dark ages; or the trivialities of the culture around you here. But I have made up my mind for myself and for my family; we will devote ourselves to the LORD.” \nWhen Joshua finished his speech\, the leaders replied\, saying: \n“There is no way we would turn our backs on the LORD and devote ourselves to other gods. It was the LORD who broke us free from slavery and did such spectacular things before our very eyes in the land where we had been oppressed. As we travelled\, the LORD looked after us every step of the way and kept us safe from hostile nations. It was the LORD who made room for us by driving out the nations who were occupying this land. Therefore we will serve the LORD\, for the LORD is our God.” \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 34: 15-22			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	O LORD\, you keep a protective eye on those who play a straight bat;\nyou’re never out of earshot if they need you. \nYou grit your teeth and stand against evil though\,\nand you erase from history those who spread it. \nWhen good honest people need help\, you’re there for them\, LORD;\nyou get them out of whatever trouble they’re in. \nYou are especially close to the broken-hearted;\nwhen hope is crushed\, you come to the rescue. \nYour people endure as much suffering as anyone else\, LORD\,\nbut you ensure that they make it through. \nLike a vigilant bodyguard\,\nyou see that not a bone is broken. \nEvil is lethal to those who drink their fill of it;\nthose who despise the straight and narrow will stumble to destruction. \nBut you\, LORD\, are always ready to bail out those who serve your cause;\nno one who runs to you for safety will be handed over to death. \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 you are the giver of honour and grace\nand we are eager for your presence with us. \nThe heavens and the earth cannot contain you\nfor you have created them and hold them in your hand.\nAnd yet you dwell among your people\nand allow even the birds of the air\nto nest in your courts and honour you with their song. \nYou have sent your Holy One\, Jesus Christ\,\nto speak to us your word of Spirit and life.\nThough the forces of evil and death consumed him\,\nhe rose from the grave\nproclaiming your gospel of peace.\nNow he nourishes us with his body and blood\nand arms us with truth\, righteousness and salvation\nthat we might stand firm against the corrupt spiritual powers\nthat would tear down all who seek you with integrity. \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 Holy One\, Jesus\,\nwho nourishes us with his body and blood\nand arms us with truth\, righteousness and salvation\nthat we might stand firm against the corrupt spiritual powers\nthat would tear down all who seek you with integrity. \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 you are the giver of honour and grace\nand we are eager for your presence with us. \nThe heavens and the earth cannot contain you\nfor you have created them and hold them in your hand.\nAnd yet you dwell among your people\nand allow even the birds of the air\nto nest in your courts and honour you with their song. \nYou have sent your Holy One\, Jesus Christ\,\nto speak to us your word of Spirit and life.\nThough the forces of evil and death consumed him\,\nhe rose from the grave\nproclaiming your gospel of peace.\nNow he nourishes us for eternal life\nand arms us with truth\, righteousness and salvation\nthat we might stand firm against the corrupt spiritual powers\nthat would tear down all who seek you with integrity. \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	The Lord is steadfast in love\nand hears the prayers of all who come seeking mercy.\nGod reaches out to us in Jesus Christ\nforgiving our sins\nand nourishing us for life without limit. \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\, and make known the mystery of the gospel.\nKeep alert and pray at all times.\nDraw strength from God’s power\nand so stand firm against all that would corrupt you. \nAnd may God arm you with truth and righteousness;\nMay Christ Jesus give you words of Spirit and life;\nand may the Holy Spirit draw you near to God’s presence\nand bless you with honour and grace. \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\nToo Much to StomachA sermon on John 6:56-69 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen all hell breaks looseA sermon on Ephesians 6:10-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNot Against Enemies of Blood and FleshA sermon on Ephesians 6:10-20 & John 6:56-69 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNo tenemos lucha contra sangre y carneA sermon on Ephesians 6:10-20 & John 6:56-69 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\n‘The words I have spoken are spirit and life’A sermon on Ephesians 6:10-20 & John 6:56-69 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nBiting off more than you can chewA sermon on John 6:56-69 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWith or Without a TempleA sermon on 1 Kings 8:1\,6\,10-11\, 22-30\,41-43 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp16/2027-08-22/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P16.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300825T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300825T235959
DTSTAMP:20260406T095101
CREATED:20200908T033145Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240922T095505Z
UID:10002147-1913846400-1913932799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 16 - 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 Kings 8: (1\,6\,10-11)\, 22-30\, 41-43			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The sacred Ark of the Covenant had been kept on Mount Zion in the City of David. When King Solomon was ready to move it into the newly completed Temple\, he called all the elders and tribal leaders of Israel to come to Jerusalem for the occasion. The priests carried the sacred Ark into the Temple and placed it in the most holy place\, beneath the wings of the cherubim in the inner sanctuary. No sooner had they placed it there than a dazzling cloud filled the Temple. The awesome presence of God was so overpowering that no one could bear to stay inside. Even the priests had to make a hasty exit. \nOutside\, Solomon stood in front of the altar of the LORD and\, with his hands raised high\, he led the gathered people in prayer. He prayed: \n“O LORD\, God of Israel\, you are one of a kind! No other god in the universe is like you. Your love is rock-solid and you never forget the alliance you have made with those who follow you whole-heartedly. You made an alliance with my father David\, and today you have proven true to your word. Everything you promised him you have now put in place. \nO LORD\, God of Israel\, you promised my father that his descendants would occupy the throne of Israel forever\, so long as they stuck to your ways and kept nothing hidden from you. May this be true\, O God\, for my father David was your servant. May you always back up your promise to him. \nBut\, how could you possibly live on earth\, O LORD my God? You could hold the entire universe in your hand\, so how can we expect this little temple I’ve built to have enough room for you! But today I ask you to listen to my prayer\, for I am your servant. Hear me and answer me\, O God. This place bears your name because you have chosen it as the place for people to worship you. So keep your eye on it\, O LORD\, twenty four hours a day. Whenever I turn towards this place to pray\, lend me your ear. I am your servant\, and these people belong to you\, so any time one of us faces this Temple and prays\, hear us from your heavenly home and forgive any offence we have caused. \nAnd don’t stop with just us – foreigners will no doubt hear about you too. Attracted by your reputation and by news of the awesome things you do\, they will come from all sorts of far flung places to live among your people and offer their prayers within sight of this Temple. When they do\, listen to them from your heavenly home and answer their prayers. That way everyone on earth will hear of you and give you the same respect that your people Israel do. They will know that this Temple which I have built carries your authority. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 84			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The place where you live is just exquisite\,\nO LORD\, ruler of all!\nWith everything inside me\, I long to be there;\nI go all weak at the very thought of it.\nI want to be there\, body and soul\,\nsinging my heart out for you\, O God of life. \nEven the birds find a home in your house;\nthere are nests in every nook and cranny\nwhere pigeons and sparrows raise their young.\nBird song and incense rise together\nto honour you\, Sovereign God\, ruler of all.\nHow privileged are those who live in your house;\njoyous songs of praise are forever on their lips. \nThose who have tapped into your strength\nhave got it made.\nThe highway to heaven begins within them;\na direct route to your holy presence. \nThey are like people who can find water in the desert;\nthey drink from life giving springs\nthat no drought can ever dry up.\nThey go from strength to strength\,\nand will see you face to face on your holy mountain. \nO LORD\, ruler of everything\, hear my cry.\nTune in to my prayer\, O God of our ancestors. \nYour presence is our protection\, O God;\nsmile upon us\, your chosen ones. \nA day spent in your presence\nbeats a thousand nights in a five star resort.\nI’d rather scrub floors in your house\, O God\,\nthan rub shoulders with the rich and famous\nbeneath the flashing lights of greed and corruption. \nO LORD our God\, you are the sun that shines on us\nand the shield that keeps us safe.\nYou shower us with generosity and honour\,\nand deny nothing to people of integrity. \nO LORD\, ruler of all\,\neveryone who trusts in you has got it made! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Ephesians 6: 10-20			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	If I could say one last thing to you\, it would be this: toughen yourselves up by drawing strength from God. Equip yourself with everything God offers\, because you’ll need it to detect and survive the guerrilla tactics the Devil will use against you. What we’re up against here is not simply human opposition. This is a life-and-death struggle against the corrupt spiritual forces and cosmic powers of evil that are responsible for the destructive chaos which is presently threatening to engulf the world. So arm yourselves with everything God gives you so that you’ll be ready and able to hold your ground when all hell breaks loose. \nIt’s time to stand up and be counted. Kit yourselves out in truth\, righteousness\, peace\, faith and salvation\, and you’ll be ready for anything. Truth is like a belt on which everything else hangs. Justice and righteousness protect your heart like a bullet-proof vest. Your passion for spreading peace will get you through the hard miles like a sturdy pair of boots. Faith is like a riot shield that protects you from the fire bombs and anything else the evil one throws at you. God’s salvation is like a good helmet — even if you do get knocked down\, it will keep your head in one piece! And finally\, when it is time to go on the attack\, there is one indispensable weapon — the word of God — the same weapon the Spirit used to bring us to our knees. \nAnd speaking of being on your knees\, none of this armoury will be any use at all unless you are putting some serious time into prayer. Pray long and hard with the Spirit as your partner and mentor. Keep your eyes and ears open and keep plugging away in prayer for all your comrades in this holy quest. Remember me in your prayers too. I might be an ambassador bearing God’s message\, but my opportunities are rather limited here in the detention centre! So for the opportunities I do get to speak\, pray that I’ll know exactly what to say and that I’ll have the guts to come out with the whole thing\, the whole wondrous mystery of the good news in Christ. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  John 6: 56-69			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	While teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum\, Jesus said: \n“Whatever you eat and drink becomes a part of you\, but when you consume my flesh and blood\, not only will I become a part of you\, but you’ll find yourself in me\, becoming a part of me. The God who conceived me is the source of my life and has sent me\, serving me up to you. In much the same way\, I will be the source of life for whoever digests me. Do you see then? This is the real bread which has come from heaven. It’s not like what your ancestors ate in the desert. They still died. This is different. Those who eat this bread will live life without end and without limit.” \nWhen the people who had been following Jesus heard him say these things\, many of them began to say\, “Who can stomach what this man teaches? It is too tough by far.” \nJesus got wind of their complaints and said to them: \n“Are you ready to throw in the towel over this? How would you react if you saw the New Human entering heaven? After all\, that’s where he came from. Real life comes only from the Spirit. Without it you’re nothing. Everything I’ve said to you is life-giving and backed up by the Spirit. But for some of you\, that will make no difference — you’ve already put the shutters up.” \nJesus could tell\, right from the start\, that some wouldn’t have a bar of him once they knew what he was on about. He also knew who would betray him. He spelt it out to them\, saying\, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: like a Father taking his children where they could not go alone\, God is drawing people to me. Otherwise\, no one would come.” \nThis was the last straw for many of those who had followed him. They cleared off and wouldn’t have anything further to do with him. That prompted Jesus to put the question to the twelve: “What about you? You’re free to join them if you want to give up on me too.” \nSimon Peter answered for them: “Lord\, who else could we turn to? Your words have opened our eyes to life without limit. You have won our trust and we are convinced that you are God’s Holy One.” \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				  Joshua 24: 1-2a\, 14-18			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem. He called a meeting of their leaders — the tribal elders\, the clan chiefs\, the judges\, and the civil officials — and they gathered under the authority of God. Joshua addressed them\, saying: \n“The LORD\, the God of Israel\, wants you to hear this. Treat the LORD with due respect\, and be absolutely fair dinkum and rock-solid in your commitment to doing all that the LORD asks of you. Have nothing more to do with any of the other objects of devotion that your ancestors worked for back in those days\, or when they were in Egypt. Put yourselves wholly at the service of the LORD. But if you are unwilling to serve the LORD\, then you can make up your own minds what you are going to devote yourselves to: the ignorant ways of your ancestors back there in the dark ages; or the trivialities of the culture around you here. But I have made up my mind for myself and for my family; we will devote ourselves to the LORD.” \nWhen Joshua finished his speech\, the leaders replied\, saying: \n“There is no way we would turn our backs on the LORD and devote ourselves to other gods. It was the LORD who broke us free from slavery and did such spectacular things before our very eyes in the land where we had been oppressed. As we travelled\, the LORD looked after us every step of the way and kept us safe from hostile nations. It was the LORD who made room for us by driving out the nations who were occupying this land. Therefore we will serve the LORD\, for the LORD is our God.” \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 34: 15-22			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	O LORD\, you keep a protective eye on those who play a straight bat;\nyou’re never out of earshot if they need you. \nYou grit your teeth and stand against evil though\,\nand you erase from history those who spread it. \nWhen good honest people need help\, you’re there for them\, LORD;\nyou get them out of whatever trouble they’re in. \nYou are especially close to the broken-hearted;\nwhen hope is crushed\, you come to the rescue. \nYour people endure as much suffering as anyone else\, LORD\,\nbut you ensure that they make it through. \nLike a vigilant bodyguard\,\nyou see that not a bone is broken. \nEvil is lethal to those who drink their fill of it;\nthose who despise the straight and narrow will stumble to destruction. \nBut you\, LORD\, are always ready to bail out those who serve your cause;\nno one who runs to you for safety will be handed over to death. \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 you are the giver of honour and grace\nand we are eager for your presence with us. \nThe heavens and the earth cannot contain you\nfor you have created them and hold them in your hand.\nAnd yet you dwell among your people\nand allow even the birds of the air\nto nest in your courts and honour you with their song. \nYou have sent your Holy One\, Jesus Christ\,\nto speak to us your word of Spirit and life.\nThough the forces of evil and death consumed him\,\nhe rose from the grave\nproclaiming your gospel of peace.\nNow he nourishes us with his body and blood\nand arms us with truth\, righteousness and salvation\nthat we might stand firm against the corrupt spiritual powers\nthat would tear down all who seek you with integrity. \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 Holy One\, Jesus\,\nwho nourishes us with his body and blood\nand arms us with truth\, righteousness and salvation\nthat we might stand firm against the corrupt spiritual powers\nthat would tear down all who seek you with integrity. \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 you are the giver of honour and grace\nand we are eager for your presence with us. \nThe heavens and the earth cannot contain you\nfor you have created them and hold them in your hand.\nAnd yet you dwell among your people\nand allow even the birds of the air\nto nest in your courts and honour you with their song. \nYou have sent your Holy One\, Jesus Christ\,\nto speak to us your word of Spirit and life.\nThough the forces of evil and death consumed him\,\nhe rose from the grave\nproclaiming your gospel of peace.\nNow he nourishes us for eternal life\nand arms us with truth\, righteousness and salvation\nthat we might stand firm against the corrupt spiritual powers\nthat would tear down all who seek you with integrity. \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	The Lord is steadfast in love\nand hears the prayers of all who come seeking mercy.\nGod reaches out to us in Jesus Christ\nforgiving our sins\nand nourishing us for life without limit. \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\, and make known the mystery of the gospel.\nKeep alert and pray at all times.\nDraw strength from God’s power\nand so stand firm against all that would corrupt you. \nAnd may God arm you with truth and righteousness;\nMay Christ Jesus give you words of Spirit and life;\nand may the Holy Spirit draw you near to God’s presence\nand bless you with honour and grace. \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\nToo Much to StomachA sermon on John 6:56-69 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen all hell breaks looseA sermon on Ephesians 6:10-20 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNot Against Enemies of Blood and FleshA sermon on Ephesians 6:10-20 & John 6:56-69 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nNo tenemos lucha contra sangre y carneA sermon on Ephesians 6:10-20 & John 6:56-69 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\n‘The words I have spoken are spirit and life’A sermon on Ephesians 6:10-20 & John 6:56-69 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nBiting off more than you can chewA sermon on John 6:56-69 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWith or Without a TempleA sermon on 1 Kings 8:1\,6\,10-11\, 22-30\,41-43 by Nathan Nettleton
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