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UID:10001656-1820102400-1820188799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 18 - 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				  Proverbs 22: 1-2\, 8-9\, 22-23			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Given the choice between a good reputation\nand triple-A credit rating\,\ntake the good reputation.\nRespect will earn you what money can’t buy. \nGod created everybody equal;\nand at the end of the day\,\nthe rich and the poor both answer to the same God. \nAnyone who invests in injustice\nwill reap dividends of disaster\,\nand angrily throwing their weight around\nwon’t get them out of trouble. \nIf you really want to maximise your returns\,\nopen your hands\, open your table\,\nshare what you have with those in need. \nDon’t rip off the poor just because they’re easy targets\,\nand don’t use the law to take advantage of them\njust because you can afford better lawyers.\nIf you do\, you’ll find God rising to their defence\,\nand if you’ve stomped them into the mud\,\nthe LORD will stomp you into the mud. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 125			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Those who put their trust in you\, O LORD\,\nare like Mount Dandenong:\nsolid\, calm and dependable. \nLike the mountain watching over the city\,\nso you\, LORD\, watch over you people\,\noffering protection\, now and forever. \nWhere people are committed to playing straight\,\nyou will not let injustice dominate.\nIf it did\, even trustworthy people\nmight let evil through their guard. \nO LORD\, may good things come\nto those who have stayed true\,\nto those who have integrity\nand goodness in their hearts. \nBut as for those who have embraced the ways of corruption\,\nbe it on their own heads if they are swept away\nwhen you bring evil to its final end. \nMay all your people enjoy peace\, O LORD. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  James 2: 1-10\, (11-13)\, 14-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Sisters and brothers\, if you really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ\, how come you still play favourites? If people walk into one of your meetings and you make a fuss of the ones dressed up to the nines and looking a million dollars\, ushering them to the best seats in the house\, while at the same time turning up your nose at those dressed like battlers\, down on their luck\, telling them to stand out in the foyer\, aren’t you practising apartheid\, segregating God’s children? You’re as crooked as a judge who bases your sentence on the length of your skirt! \nGet this straight in your minds\, dear friends. God has turned the world’s opinion polls upside down. Those who have been deprived of what the world values have a huge head-start in the faith stakes. Their names are at the top of the list of those who God has chosen to inherit the riches of the kingdom. All who love God have an equal share in God’s promises\, but you’re insulting some of them by means-testing your welcome. And just think about it — it’s the fat-cats who cut your wages and increase your hours\, isn’t it? It’s the silvertails who use their fancy lawyers to bleed you dry. Aren’t they the ones who even make a mockery of Christ by invoking his name to baptise their positions of privilege? \nIt is quite simple to do the right thing — just fulfil the basic law of God’s realm\, as spelt out in the scriptures: “Love everyone else as you love yourself.” But if you show favouritism to the young and beautiful or the wealthy and powerful\, then you are violating that law and you stand convicted by it. It will show you for what you are — a sinner. You see\, you can’t pick and choose when it comes to the law of God. You can’t claim exemption from one law on the grounds that you’ve kept the rest. You can’t pretend that because you’ve never had an affair you should be regarded as a model of virtue and excused one little murder. God ruled out both sexual betrayal and murder\, and either one puts you outside the law of love. See to it that everything you say and do is consistent with the law of love which sets us free\, for your living of it sets the tone for how you’ll be judged by it. If you’ve been harsh and intolerant in your judgment of others\, you can be sure of copping the same yourself. Mercy and generosity however will outbid judgment every time. \nBrothers and sisters\, what’s the good of claiming to be a person of faith if you never put love into action? Do you think a head full of theoretical faith is enough to save you? You’ve got to be kidding. Think about this: if someone you know has barely got a stitch to wear or a scrap to eat\, and you walk past saying\, “Praise the Lord\, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and fail to offer even a coat or a sandwich\, what good is that? You’ve been worse than useless. Faith that doesn’t express itself in compassionate action is obviously dead — rotting\, putrid and no use to anyone. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 7: 24-37			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus moved on to the district around the city of Tyre\, and stayed in a house where he didn’t think anyone would be able to find him. He stuck out like a sore thumb though\, and the word got around in no time. He’d barely had time to take the weight off his feet when there was a woman bowing and scraping before him\, begging for help. She wasn’t even Jewish\, but came from the part of Syria known as Phoenicia. She had a daughter who was deeply disturbed by some demonic force\, and she begged Jesus to set her free from it. But Jesus said to her\, “First things first. You can’t snatch food out of the children’s mouths and throw it to the dogs.” \nBut she didn’t give up. “Sir\, even dogs know to sit under the table when the children are eating because there is always plenty of scraps for them.” \nJesus was won over. “You’re absolutely right! Your words have carried the day. Go home. The demons are gone. Your daughter is free.” \nSo she hurried home and sure enough\, her daughter was relaxing on the bed and the demonic torment was completely gone. \nJesus moved on again\, leaving the district of Tyre and heading back towards Lake Galilee via Sidon. As he passed through the district of the Ten Towns\, some people begged him to stop and lay a healing hand on a man who was stone deaf and had such a severe speech impediment that he could hardly make himself understood. Jesus took the man aside\, away from the eyes of the crowd. In the customary way\, Jesus put his fingers in the man’s ears and then spat on his finger and touched the man’s tongue as he prayed for him. Looking heavenward\, Jesus gave a deep groan and said\, “Effatha!” which is the Aramaic word for “Open up.” \nAnd it happened\, just like that. The man’s ears began to hear perfectly and his speech became steady and clear. \nJesus gave them strict instructions to keep this to themselves\, but he was wasting his breath. The more he tried to hush it up\, the more energetic the grapevine got! Everyone was just so blown away by the things he did\, that they told anyone who would listen. “You should see the things he can do – wonderful things. He even restores hearing to the deaf and the power of speech to the dumb!” \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				  Isaiah 35: 4-7a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Encourage those who are fearing the worst;\ntell them not to give in to their fears but to hang in there.\nAssure them that God is at hand;\ncoming to pay back oppressors what they deserve;\ncoming to rescue you\, to set you free! \nWhat a day that will be!\nEyes long blind will open to colour and light!\nEars long deaf will hear music and laughter!\nLegs long paralysed will dance like brolgas!\nTongues long tied will sing like lyrebirds! \nFor reviving rains will fall on dry dusty land\,\nand rivers will flow in the desert.\nHard-baked salt pans will become inland lakes\,\nand cool water will gush up between scorching rocks. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 146			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You are the best\, LORD!\nWith all my heart I sing your praises.\nI will never stop talking you up;\nI won’t stop spruiking your goodness till the day I die. \nThere is no one but you that we can depend on\, LORD;\nnot experts\, not leaders\, no one.\nNo human being can give what we most need;\nno matter what their plans and schemes promise\,\nthe minute they’re gone\, their promises die with them. \nBut we hit the jackpot when we look to you for help\, LORD;\nwhen we put all our hopes in you – the God of our ancestors.\nYou are the one who made earth and sky\,\nwho poured out the seas and filled them with life.\nYou are true to your word no matter what;\nwhen people are ground into the dirt\, you bring about justice;\nwhen people are left to starve\, you come with food. \nYou\, LORD\, set the prisoners free.\nYou\, LORD\, open the eyes of those who can’t see.\nYou\, LORD\, put the downtrodden back on their feet. \nYou\, LORD\, love those who do the right thing.\nYou\, LORD\, keep a caring eye on the asylum seekers.\nYou stick up for those who have no one else to stick up for them\,\nbut you make the schemes of the corrupt backfire on them. \nTake charge forever\, LORD\,\nrule from your sacred Mountain for all time.\nYou’re the best\, LORD. We’re with you all the way! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you embrace your people now and forever\nand promise the Kingdom to all who love you. \nThe universe came into existence at your command\nand rich and poor alike have you as their maker.\nThrough Moses you taught your people\nto provide for the welfare of those in need\,\nand through the prophets you thundered against our injustice\nand called for repentance in word and deed. \nIn your son\, Jesus Christ\,\nyour love and healing mercy\nreached beyond the bounds of our prejudice\nand demonstrated your compassion\nfor all who are needy\, afflicted or vulnerable.\nThough he was killed by those who sow injustice\,\nyou raised him to new life\nthat he might sow in us the seeds of faith\,\nfilling our communities with love and justice\nand bringing forth a rich harvest of good works. \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 Christ\,\nthrough whom your love and healing mercy\nreached beyond the bounds of our prejudice\,\nand who is now sowing in us the seeds of faith\,\nthat we might bring forth a rich harvest of good works. \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 embrace your people now and forever\nand promise the Kingdom to all who love you. \nThe universe came into existence at your command\nand rich and poor alike have you as their maker.\nThrough Moses you taught your people\nto provide for the welfare of those in need\,\nand through the prophets you thundered against our injustice\nand called for repentance in word and deed. \nIn your son\, Jesus Christ\,\nyour love and healing mercy\nreached beyond the bounds of our prejudice\nand demonstrated your compassion\nfor all who are needy\, afflicted or vulnerable.\nThough he was killed by those who sow injustice\,\nyou raised him to new life\nthat he might sow in us the seeds of faith\,\nfilling our communities with love and justice\nand bringing forth a rich harvest of good works. \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	When we fail to keep even one point of God’s law\,\nwe become accountable for all of it\,\nbut God’s mercy triumphs over judgment\,\nsetting us free and giving us a faith that is active for good. \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 now\, and invest your lives in the works of faith.\nMake a name for yourselves for generosity and compassion.\nFulfil God’s holy law\nby putting love into action as eagerly for others\nas you would for yourselves. \nAnd may God be your defender and provider;\nMay Christ Jesus dispel all that disturbs or disables you;\nand may the Holy Spirit make you rich in faith\nand loving and merciful in action. \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\nWas Jesus a racist?A sermon on Mark 7:24-37 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Prayer-shaped Investment StrategyA sermon on Proverbs 22 & James 2 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBe OpenA sermon on Mark 7:24-37 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPoverty\, borders\, and the Meaning of FaithA sermon on James 2:1-17 & Mark 7:24-37 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nComing Out From Under the TableA sermon on Mark 7:24-37 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Contagion To Open Up ToA sermon on Mark 7:24-37 by Doug Morrison-Cleary\n\n\n\nPlaying FavouritesA sermon on James 2:1-17 & Mark 7:24-37 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp18/2027-09-05/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300908T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20300908T235959
DTSTAMP:20260406T022645
CREATED:20200909T041706Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241007T003547Z
UID:10002149-1915056000-1915142399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 18 - 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				  Proverbs 22: 1-2\, 8-9\, 22-23			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Given the choice between a good reputation\nand triple-A credit rating\,\ntake the good reputation.\nRespect will earn you what money can’t buy. \nGod created everybody equal;\nand at the end of the day\,\nthe rich and the poor both answer to the same God. \nAnyone who invests in injustice\nwill reap dividends of disaster\,\nand angrily throwing their weight around\nwon’t get them out of trouble. \nIf you really want to maximise your returns\,\nopen your hands\, open your table\,\nshare what you have with those in need. \nDon’t rip off the poor just because they’re easy targets\,\nand don’t use the law to take advantage of them\njust because you can afford better lawyers.\nIf you do\, you’ll find God rising to their defence\,\nand if you’ve stomped them into the mud\,\nthe LORD will stomp you into the mud. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 125			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Those who put their trust in you\, O LORD\,\nare like Mount Dandenong:\nsolid\, calm and dependable. \nLike the mountain watching over the city\,\nso you\, LORD\, watch over you people\,\noffering protection\, now and forever. \nWhere people are committed to playing straight\,\nyou will not let injustice dominate.\nIf it did\, even trustworthy people\nmight let evil through their guard. \nO LORD\, may good things come\nto those who have stayed true\,\nto those who have integrity\nand goodness in their hearts. \nBut as for those who have embraced the ways of corruption\,\nbe it on their own heads if they are swept away\nwhen you bring evil to its final end. \nMay all your people enjoy peace\, O LORD. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  James 2: 1-10\, (11-13)\, 14-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Sisters and brothers\, if you really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ\, how come you still play favourites? If people walk into one of your meetings and you make a fuss of the ones dressed up to the nines and looking a million dollars\, ushering them to the best seats in the house\, while at the same time turning up your nose at those dressed like battlers\, down on their luck\, telling them to stand out in the foyer\, aren’t you practising apartheid\, segregating God’s children? You’re as crooked as a judge who bases your sentence on the length of your skirt! \nGet this straight in your minds\, dear friends. God has turned the world’s opinion polls upside down. Those who have been deprived of what the world values have a huge head-start in the faith stakes. Their names are at the top of the list of those who God has chosen to inherit the riches of the kingdom. All who love God have an equal share in God’s promises\, but you’re insulting some of them by means-testing your welcome. And just think about it — it’s the fat-cats who cut your wages and increase your hours\, isn’t it? It’s the silvertails who use their fancy lawyers to bleed you dry. Aren’t they the ones who even make a mockery of Christ by invoking his name to baptise their positions of privilege? \nIt is quite simple to do the right thing — just fulfil the basic law of God’s realm\, as spelt out in the scriptures: “Love everyone else as you love yourself.” But if you show favouritism to the young and beautiful or the wealthy and powerful\, then you are violating that law and you stand convicted by it. It will show you for what you are — a sinner. You see\, you can’t pick and choose when it comes to the law of God. You can’t claim exemption from one law on the grounds that you’ve kept the rest. You can’t pretend that because you’ve never had an affair you should be regarded as a model of virtue and excused one little murder. God ruled out both sexual betrayal and murder\, and either one puts you outside the law of love. See to it that everything you say and do is consistent with the law of love which sets us free\, for your living of it sets the tone for how you’ll be judged by it. If you’ve been harsh and intolerant in your judgment of others\, you can be sure of copping the same yourself. Mercy and generosity however will outbid judgment every time. \nBrothers and sisters\, what’s the good of claiming to be a person of faith if you never put love into action? Do you think a head full of theoretical faith is enough to save you? You’ve got to be kidding. Think about this: if someone you know has barely got a stitch to wear or a scrap to eat\, and you walk past saying\, “Praise the Lord\, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and fail to offer even a coat or a sandwich\, what good is that? You’ve been worse than useless. Faith that doesn’t express itself in compassionate action is obviously dead — rotting\, putrid and no use to anyone. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 7: 24-37			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus moved on to the district around the city of Tyre\, and stayed in a house where he didn’t think anyone would be able to find him. He stuck out like a sore thumb though\, and the word got around in no time. He’d barely had time to take the weight off his feet when there was a woman bowing and scraping before him\, begging for help. She wasn’t even Jewish\, but came from the part of Syria known as Phoenicia. She had a daughter who was deeply disturbed by some demonic force\, and she begged Jesus to set her free from it. But Jesus said to her\, “First things first. You can’t snatch food out of the children’s mouths and throw it to the dogs.” \nBut she didn’t give up. “Sir\, even dogs know to sit under the table when the children are eating because there is always plenty of scraps for them.” \nJesus was won over. “You’re absolutely right! Your words have carried the day. Go home. The demons are gone. Your daughter is free.” \nSo she hurried home and sure enough\, her daughter was relaxing on the bed and the demonic torment was completely gone. \nJesus moved on again\, leaving the district of Tyre and heading back towards Lake Galilee via Sidon. As he passed through the district of the Ten Towns\, some people begged him to stop and lay a healing hand on a man who was stone deaf and had such a severe speech impediment that he could hardly make himself understood. Jesus took the man aside\, away from the eyes of the crowd. In the customary way\, Jesus put his fingers in the man’s ears and then spat on his finger and touched the man’s tongue as he prayed for him. Looking heavenward\, Jesus gave a deep groan and said\, “Effatha!” which is the Aramaic word for “Open up.” \nAnd it happened\, just like that. The man’s ears began to hear perfectly and his speech became steady and clear. \nJesus gave them strict instructions to keep this to themselves\, but he was wasting his breath. The more he tried to hush it up\, the more energetic the grapevine got! Everyone was just so blown away by the things he did\, that they told anyone who would listen. “You should see the things he can do – wonderful things. He even restores hearing to the deaf and the power of speech to the dumb!” \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				  Isaiah 35: 4-7a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Encourage those who are fearing the worst;\ntell them not to give in to their fears but to hang in there.\nAssure them that God is at hand;\ncoming to pay back oppressors what they deserve;\ncoming to rescue you\, to set you free! \nWhat a day that will be!\nEyes long blind will open to colour and light!\nEars long deaf will hear music and laughter!\nLegs long paralysed will dance like brolgas!\nTongues long tied will sing like lyrebirds! \nFor reviving rains will fall on dry dusty land\,\nand rivers will flow in the desert.\nHard-baked salt pans will become inland lakes\,\nand cool water will gush up between scorching rocks. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 146			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	You are the best\, LORD!\nWith all my heart I sing your praises.\nI will never stop talking you up;\nI won’t stop spruiking your goodness till the day I die. \nThere is no one but you that we can depend on\, LORD;\nnot experts\, not leaders\, no one.\nNo human being can give what we most need;\nno matter what their plans and schemes promise\,\nthe minute they’re gone\, their promises die with them. \nBut we hit the jackpot when we look to you for help\, LORD;\nwhen we put all our hopes in you – the God of our ancestors.\nYou are the one who made earth and sky\,\nwho poured out the seas and filled them with life.\nYou are true to your word no matter what;\nwhen people are ground into the dirt\, you bring about justice;\nwhen people are left to starve\, you come with food. \nYou\, LORD\, set the prisoners free.\nYou\, LORD\, open the eyes of those who can’t see.\nYou\, LORD\, put the downtrodden back on their feet. \nYou\, LORD\, love those who do the right thing.\nYou\, LORD\, keep a caring eye on the asylum seekers.\nYou stick up for those who have no one else to stick up for them\,\nbut you make the schemes of the corrupt backfire on them. \nTake charge forever\, LORD\,\nrule from your sacred Mountain for all time.\nYou’re the best\, LORD. We’re with you all the way! \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n	\n\n\n\nPrayers\n\n\n	\n\n		\n			\n				  Eucharistic Preface			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Let us lift up our hearts.\nWe lift them to the Lord.\nLet us give thanks to the Lord our God.\nIt is right to give our thanks and praise. \nIt is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you embrace your people now and forever\nand promise the Kingdom to all who love you. \nThe universe came into existence at your command\nand rich and poor alike have you as their maker.\nThrough Moses you taught your people\nto provide for the welfare of those in need\,\nand through the prophets you thundered against our injustice\nand called for repentance in word and deed. \nIn your son\, Jesus Christ\,\nyour love and healing mercy\nreached beyond the bounds of our prejudice\nand demonstrated your compassion\nfor all who are needy\, afflicted or vulnerable.\nThough he was killed by those who sow injustice\,\nyou raised him to new life\nthat he might sow in us the seeds of faith\,\nfilling our communities with love and justice\nand bringing forth a rich harvest of good works. \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 Christ\,\nthrough whom your love and healing mercy\nreached beyond the bounds of our prejudice\,\nand who is now sowing in us the seeds of faith\,\nthat we might bring forth a rich harvest of good works. \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 embrace your people now and forever\nand promise the Kingdom to all who love you. \nThe universe came into existence at your command\nand rich and poor alike have you as their maker.\nThrough Moses you taught your people\nto provide for the welfare of those in need\,\nand through the prophets you thundered against our injustice\nand called for repentance in word and deed. \nIn your son\, Jesus Christ\,\nyour love and healing mercy\nreached beyond the bounds of our prejudice\nand demonstrated your compassion\nfor all who are needy\, afflicted or vulnerable.\nThough he was killed by those who sow injustice\,\nyou raised him to new life\nthat he might sow in us the seeds of faith\,\nfilling our communities with love and justice\nand bringing forth a rich harvest of good works. \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	When we fail to keep even one point of God’s law\,\nwe become accountable for all of it\,\nbut God’s mercy triumphs over judgment\,\nsetting us free and giving us a faith that is active for good. \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 now\, and invest your lives in the works of faith.\nMake a name for yourselves for generosity and compassion.\nFulfil God’s holy law\nby putting love into action as eagerly for others\nas you would for yourselves. \nAnd may God be your defender and provider;\nMay Christ Jesus dispel all that disturbs or disables you;\nand may the Holy Spirit make you rich in faith\nand loving and merciful in action. \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\nWas Jesus a racist?A sermon on Mark 7:24-37 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Prayer-shaped Investment StrategyA sermon on Proverbs 22 & James 2 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nBe OpenA sermon on Mark 7:24-37 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPoverty\, borders\, and the Meaning of FaithA sermon on James 2:1-17 & Mark 7:24-37 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nComing Out From Under the TableA sermon on Mark 7:24-37 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nA Contagion To Open Up ToA sermon on Mark 7:24-37 by Doug Morrison-Cleary\n\n\n\nPlaying FavouritesA sermon on James 2:1-17 & Mark 7:24-37 by Nathan Nettleton
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