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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20271010T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20271010T235959
DTSTAMP:20260406T063242
CREATED:20200930T042053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241110T091030Z
UID:10001666-1823126400-1823212799@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 23 - 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				  Job 23: 1-9\, 16-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After hearing the attempts of his friends to explain his suffering\, Job said: \n“I continue to complain bitterly;\nGod is still kicking me while I’m down. \nIf only I knew where I could find God\,\nI’d pound on the door and demand a hearing.\nGod would have to listen to me state my case\nand argue my innocence.\nLet’s see what God would have to say to that!\nThen I could get God’s answer clear in my head. \nWould God simply pull rank and rule me out of order?\nI don’t think so. Surely God would listen.\nSurely if an honest bloke like me gets a fair hearing\,\nGod would judge in my favour\nand clear my name once and for all. \nBut I can’t find God anywhere.\nI look up\, down\, forwards\, backwards – nothing.\nI think I catch a glimpse to the left\, but no;\nI rush to the right\, but God vanishes like a mirage. \nMy hope and courage are almost gone;\nGod has left me a frightened wreck.\nGod has let a dark cloud close around me\,\nbut my protest will not be silenced!" \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 22: 1-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God\, my God\, why the hell have you turned your back on me?\nHow come in my most desperate hour\,\nyou are nowhere to be found? \nI called you all day\, God\, over and over;\nI tossed and turned all night\,\nbut I still didn’t hear back from you. \nAren’t you supposed to be our one and only?\nAren’t you the one we’ve always voted for?\nOur ancestors put their trust in you\nand you never let them down.\nThey cried out for help and you stepped in;\nyou saved them from disaster and shame. \nSo what about me?\nShouldn’t I still be treated as a human being\,\neven if I feel like a worm –\nlooked down on\, loathed\, stomped on? \nEveryone who sees me sticks the boots in;\nthey turn up their noses and dismiss me with a sneering joke;\n“Why don’t you see if God’s on your side?\nSurely if you’re a mate of God’s then God will help you out!” \nWhat’s the story God?\nYour hands eased me from my mother’s womb;\nYou kept me from harm as I suckled at her breast.\nAs a baby\, I rested trustingly in your arms;\nYou’ve been my God since the day I was born. \nDon’t quit on me now.\nAll hell is about to break loose\nand there is no one else I can turn to. \nI’m surrounded by enemies\nlike a mob of wild bulls.\nAngry\, snorting\, stampeding beasts;\nthey charge at me\, all horns and pounding hoofs. \nI’m chucked out like a bucket of dirty water\,\nand I’m so smashed up I can barely move a muscle.\nMy heart has gone to jelly\,\na quivering useless blob.\nMy throat is as dry as a salt pan\,\nand my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.\nAnd you? You have left me for dead\ncovered in dust and flies. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Hebrews 4: 12-16			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The word of God is no dead letter — it is full of life and constantly at work. It is as sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel\, and anyone who pushes against it will be cut to the bone. With great precision it opens us up\, layer by layer\, uncovering what really makes us tick and diagnosing the state of our hearts. You can’t hide your true self from God’s word any more than you hide your body from a surgeon while lying naked and unconscious on the table. No matter who you are\, your life is an open book to God. \nAs exposed as this makes us feel\, it is all the more reason to stand firm in the faith we’ve already put our hands up to. After all\, the one who will present us to God and speak on our behalf — our great high priest — is Jesus\, and as God’s own Son we can be sure he has God’s ear. We can also be sure that he can relate to the realities we have to live with\, because he has already been through everything we have to go through — weakness\, doubts and torments — and all without selling out to sin. What more could we want in a high priest?! So let’s not be timid. Whenever we’re in need of help\, let’s walk right up to the throne of God and ask\, for our God is extravagantly welcoming and generous — only too happy to wipe our debts and help us out. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 10: 17-31			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus was just about to hit the road when a man ran up with his hat in his hand and asked\, “Good Teacher\, what do I have to do to receive the limitless life that God gives?” \nJesus said to him\, “What are you calling me good for? Only God is really good\, not any of us. What must you do? You know the commandments: ‘Don’t murder. Be faithful in marriage. Don’t steal. Don’t tell lies about anyone. Don’t cheat anyone. Treat your parents with respect.’” \nThe man replied\, “Teacher\, I’ve kept all these rules ever since I was a youngster.” \nJesus looked him straight in the eye and\, filled with love for him\, said\, “You still haven’t found what you’re looking for though\, have you? Come and follow me and you’ll find it. First though\, go and flog off everything you own\, give the proceeds to charity\, and then\, with all your investments in heaven\, you’ll be free to find what you are looking for.” \nYou could have knocked the bloke over with a feather. The colour drained out of his face and he turned and walked off feeling sick at the very thought of giving up all the trappings of his success. \nJesus looked around at his followers and said\, “Some people seem to have everything\, but for them it is nearly impossible to get into the culture of God.” \nHis followers thought they must have been hearing wrong\, but Jesus pressed the point: “Embracing the culture of God is not the easiest thing in the world anyway\, but for the rich\, it is about the most difficult thing you can imagine. You’d have more chance of getting a container ship through the eye of a needle than getting a person who’s loaded into the culture of God.” \nHis followers were totally flabbergasted. “Can anyone at all be saved then?” they asked. \nJesus looked them in the eye and said\, “If people had to do it themselves\, then no\, it would be beyond us. But it’s not beyond God. God can do anything.” \nPeter was trying to sort this out in his head. “Look\,” he said. “We turned our backs on everything we had and followed you.” \nJesus cut in and said\, “Look\, I wouldn’t kid you about this. Everyone who has had to give up house or land\, brothers\, sisters\, mother\, father or children in order to cast their lot in with me and with my message will be more than compensated. Hundreds of homes will be open to them\, and they’ll have more brothers and sisters and mothers and children than they can poke a stick at! Of course they’ll need them\, because they’ll be persecuted a hundred times more too! Then in the coming new age they’ll get the biggest bonus of all – life without limit! Once again you can see that God is turning the world on its head – many of those on top now will be at the bottom\, and those at the bottom now will then come out on top.” \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				  Amos 5: 6-7\, 10-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Find your way back to the LORD if you want to save your lives.\nOtherwise all hell will break loose like a raging bushfire.\nEverything you hold sacred will go up in smoke.\nThere will be nothing anyone can do to control it. \nWhy? Because you have poisoned justice\,\nand trampled goodness and integrity into the dirt.\nYour hatred burns out of control against honest judges.\nYou can’t stand those who speak the whole truth. \nYou have made yourselves rich by riding roughshod over the poor\,\nripping them off blind with stacked odds and crooked charges.\nYou have built yourselves grandiose mansions with the proceeds\,\nbut you’ll never get to live in them.\nYou have established exclusive vineyards for yourselves\,\nbut you’ll be history before the first glass is poured. \nI have kept count of your many crimes.\nI know the full extent of your atrocities.\nYou are a nightmare to anyone who tries to do what is right.\nYou bulldoze your interests through the courts\nwith bribes and threats\,\ncrushing the needy in your path. \nBut those who’ve made a killing will be silenced\,\nfor such evil times sow the seeds of disaster. \nSet your sights on doing right\, and not evil.\nIt is your only chance to save your lives.\nYou have always made out that God is on your side.\nSee if you can turn things around and make it come true. \nReject evil and embrace what is good and right.\nClean up the courts so that justice can prevail.\nMaybe even now the LORD\, the God who rules over everything\,\nwill be generous enough to spare a few of you. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 90: 12-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Teach us to value each and every day\, LORD\,\nso that we will be wise enough to make the most of them. \nIt’s time for a change\, LORD.\nHasn’t this gone on long enough?\nFor pity’s sake\, it’s time to give us a break. \nLet a new day dawn\nand give us our fill of your love and loyalty\,\nso that our lives may be full of smiles and laughter\ntill the end of our days. \nGive us more days of happiness\nthan the days of suffering you sent.\nMay the years where evil reigned\nbe cancelled out by years of joy. \nMake your actions clear to those of us in your service;\nlet your children see your strength in all its glory. \nPut us in your good books\, O Lord our God\,\nand give us a rich return for all our labour —\nmay the work of our hands turn to gold! \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 you have suffered with us\nand tasted despair that we might taste mercy and grace. \nYour living and active word created all things;\nand everything lies exposed before your eyes.\nWhen our forebears put their trust in you\nyou rescued them\, for all things are possible for you. \nYou sent your Son\, Jesus\, into the world\,\npreaching your message and calling everyone to follow.\nHis word cuts to the core of all things\,\nexposing the addictions that bind us and blind us\nand hold us back from investing all we have in serving you.\nWhen Jesus was brought down to the dust of death\,\ndying in the horror of abandonment\,\nyou raised him to life again\,\nand through him we have the confidence\nto come into your presence\nand look to your grace for our life. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your Son\, Jesus\,\nwhose word cuts to the core of all things\,\nexposing all that holds us back from serving you\,\nand through whom we have the confidence\nto come into your presence\,\nlooking to your grace for our life. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you have suffered with us\nand tasted despair that we might taste mercy and grace. \nYour living and active word created all things;\nand everything lies exposed before your eyes.\nWhen our forebears put their trust in you\nyou rescued them\, for all things are possible for you. \nYou sent your Son\, Jesus\, into the world\,\npreaching your message and calling everyone to follow.\nHis word cuts to the core of all things\,\nexposing the addictions that bind us and blind us\nand hold us back from investing all we have in serving you.\nWhen Jesus was brought down to the dust of death\,\ndying in the horror of abandonment\,\nyou raised him to life again\,\nand through him we have the confidence\nto come into your presence\nand look to your grace for our life. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus\, the Son of God\, was tempted in every way that we are\,\nand is now at the throne of grace\npresenting to God our case for mercy.\nTherefore\, we can approach God's throne in confidence. \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 in the confidence of people who have found mercy.\nFollow Jesus\,\nkeeping the commandments\,\nletting go of all that binds you to the ways of this world\,\nand investing everything in God’s realm. \nAnd may God come close to you and keep you safe;\nMay Christ Jesus reward your faithfulness a hundredfold;\nand may the Holy Spirit be your help in time of need. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2000 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\nWhat Do Grace\, Love and Mercy Cost?A sermon on Hebrews 4:12-16 & Mark 10:17-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCourage and VulnerabilityA sermon on Hebrews 4:12-16 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGrace\, or the Power of PossibilityA sermon on Job 23.1-9\, 16-17; Psalm 22.1-15 & Mark 10.17-31 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nImpossible?A sermon on Job 23:1-9\,16-17 & Mark 10:17-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen Courage Fails\, Seek CompassionA sermon on Job 23:1-9\,16-17 by Neville Callum\n\n\n\n#FirstWorldProblems?A sermon on Mark 10:17-31 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nThe Word that Lays us BareA sermon on Hebrews 4:12-16 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat the hell\, God?A sermon on Job 23.1-9\, 16-17; Psalm 22.1-15; Hebrews 4:12-16 & Mark 10:17-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nClinging to Competitive GriefA sermon on Mark 10:17-31; Job 23.1-9\, 16-17; Psalm 22.1-15; & Hebrews 4:12-16 by Nathan Nettleton
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/bp23/2027-10-10/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/P23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20301013T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20301013T235959
DTSTAMP:20260406T063242
CREATED:20200930T042053Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241110T091030Z
UID:10002155-1918080000-1918166399@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 23 - 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				  Job 23: 1-9\, 16-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	After hearing the attempts of his friends to explain his suffering\, Job said: \n“I continue to complain bitterly;\nGod is still kicking me while I’m down. \nIf only I knew where I could find God\,\nI’d pound on the door and demand a hearing.\nGod would have to listen to me state my case\nand argue my innocence.\nLet’s see what God would have to say to that!\nThen I could get God’s answer clear in my head. \nWould God simply pull rank and rule me out of order?\nI don’t think so. Surely God would listen.\nSurely if an honest bloke like me gets a fair hearing\,\nGod would judge in my favour\nand clear my name once and for all. \nBut I can’t find God anywhere.\nI look up\, down\, forwards\, backwards – nothing.\nI think I catch a glimpse to the left\, but no;\nI rush to the right\, but God vanishes like a mirage. \nMy hope and courage are almost gone;\nGod has left me a frightened wreck.\nGod has let a dark cloud close around me\,\nbut my protest will not be silenced!" \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 22: 1-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	God\, my God\, why the hell have you turned your back on me?\nHow come in my most desperate hour\,\nyou are nowhere to be found? \nI called you all day\, God\, over and over;\nI tossed and turned all night\,\nbut I still didn’t hear back from you. \nAren’t you supposed to be our one and only?\nAren’t you the one we’ve always voted for?\nOur ancestors put their trust in you\nand you never let them down.\nThey cried out for help and you stepped in;\nyou saved them from disaster and shame. \nSo what about me?\nShouldn’t I still be treated as a human being\,\neven if I feel like a worm –\nlooked down on\, loathed\, stomped on? \nEveryone who sees me sticks the boots in;\nthey turn up their noses and dismiss me with a sneering joke;\n“Why don’t you see if God’s on your side?\nSurely if you’re a mate of God’s then God will help you out!” \nWhat’s the story God?\nYour hands eased me from my mother’s womb;\nYou kept me from harm as I suckled at her breast.\nAs a baby\, I rested trustingly in your arms;\nYou’ve been my God since the day I was born. \nDon’t quit on me now.\nAll hell is about to break loose\nand there is no one else I can turn to. \nI’m surrounded by enemies\nlike a mob of wild bulls.\nAngry\, snorting\, stampeding beasts;\nthey charge at me\, all horns and pounding hoofs. \nI’m chucked out like a bucket of dirty water\,\nand I’m so smashed up I can barely move a muscle.\nMy heart has gone to jelly\,\na quivering useless blob.\nMy throat is as dry as a salt pan\,\nand my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.\nAnd you? You have left me for dead\ncovered in dust and flies. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Hebrews 4: 12-16			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	The word of God is no dead letter — it is full of life and constantly at work. It is as sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel\, and anyone who pushes against it will be cut to the bone. With great precision it opens us up\, layer by layer\, uncovering what really makes us tick and diagnosing the state of our hearts. You can’t hide your true self from God’s word any more than you hide your body from a surgeon while lying naked and unconscious on the table. No matter who you are\, your life is an open book to God. \nAs exposed as this makes us feel\, it is all the more reason to stand firm in the faith we’ve already put our hands up to. After all\, the one who will present us to God and speak on our behalf — our great high priest — is Jesus\, and as God’s own Son we can be sure he has God’s ear. We can also be sure that he can relate to the realities we have to live with\, because he has already been through everything we have to go through — weakness\, doubts and torments — and all without selling out to sin. What more could we want in a high priest?! So let’s not be timid. Whenever we’re in need of help\, let’s walk right up to the throne of God and ask\, for our God is extravagantly welcoming and generous — only too happy to wipe our debts and help us out. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Mark 10: 17-31			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus was just about to hit the road when a man ran up with his hat in his hand and asked\, “Good Teacher\, what do I have to do to receive the limitless life that God gives?” \nJesus said to him\, “What are you calling me good for? Only God is really good\, not any of us. What must you do? You know the commandments: ‘Don’t murder. Be faithful in marriage. Don’t steal. Don’t tell lies about anyone. Don’t cheat anyone. Treat your parents with respect.’” \nThe man replied\, “Teacher\, I’ve kept all these rules ever since I was a youngster.” \nJesus looked him straight in the eye and\, filled with love for him\, said\, “You still haven’t found what you’re looking for though\, have you? Come and follow me and you’ll find it. First though\, go and flog off everything you own\, give the proceeds to charity\, and then\, with all your investments in heaven\, you’ll be free to find what you are looking for.” \nYou could have knocked the bloke over with a feather. The colour drained out of his face and he turned and walked off feeling sick at the very thought of giving up all the trappings of his success. \nJesus looked around at his followers and said\, “Some people seem to have everything\, but for them it is nearly impossible to get into the culture of God.” \nHis followers thought they must have been hearing wrong\, but Jesus pressed the point: “Embracing the culture of God is not the easiest thing in the world anyway\, but for the rich\, it is about the most difficult thing you can imagine. You’d have more chance of getting a container ship through the eye of a needle than getting a person who’s loaded into the culture of God.” \nHis followers were totally flabbergasted. “Can anyone at all be saved then?” they asked. \nJesus looked them in the eye and said\, “If people had to do it themselves\, then no\, it would be beyond us. But it’s not beyond God. God can do anything.” \nPeter was trying to sort this out in his head. “Look\,” he said. “We turned our backs on everything we had and followed you.” \nJesus cut in and said\, “Look\, I wouldn’t kid you about this. Everyone who has had to give up house or land\, brothers\, sisters\, mother\, father or children in order to cast their lot in with me and with my message will be more than compensated. Hundreds of homes will be open to them\, and they’ll have more brothers and sisters and mothers and children than they can poke a stick at! Of course they’ll need them\, because they’ll be persecuted a hundred times more too! Then in the coming new age they’ll get the biggest bonus of all – life without limit! Once again you can see that God is turning the world on its head – many of those on top now will be at the bottom\, and those at the bottom now will then come out on top.” \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				  Amos 5: 6-7\, 10-15			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Find your way back to the LORD if you want to save your lives.\nOtherwise all hell will break loose like a raging bushfire.\nEverything you hold sacred will go up in smoke.\nThere will be nothing anyone can do to control it. \nWhy? Because you have poisoned justice\,\nand trampled goodness and integrity into the dirt.\nYour hatred burns out of control against honest judges.\nYou can’t stand those who speak the whole truth. \nYou have made yourselves rich by riding roughshod over the poor\,\nripping them off blind with stacked odds and crooked charges.\nYou have built yourselves grandiose mansions with the proceeds\,\nbut you’ll never get to live in them.\nYou have established exclusive vineyards for yourselves\,\nbut you’ll be history before the first glass is poured. \nI have kept count of your many crimes.\nI know the full extent of your atrocities.\nYou are a nightmare to anyone who tries to do what is right.\nYou bulldoze your interests through the courts\nwith bribes and threats\,\ncrushing the needy in your path. \nBut those who’ve made a killing will be silenced\,\nfor such evil times sow the seeds of disaster. \nSet your sights on doing right\, and not evil.\nIt is your only chance to save your lives.\nYou have always made out that God is on your side.\nSee if you can turn things around and make it come true. \nReject evil and embrace what is good and right.\nClean up the courts so that justice can prevail.\nMaybe even now the LORD\, the God who rules over everything\,\nwill be generous enough to spare a few of you. \n©2012 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 90: 12-17			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Teach us to value each and every day\, LORD\,\nso that we will be wise enough to make the most of them. \nIt’s time for a change\, LORD.\nHasn’t this gone on long enough?\nFor pity’s sake\, it’s time to give us a break. \nLet a new day dawn\nand give us our fill of your love and loyalty\,\nso that our lives may be full of smiles and laughter\ntill the end of our days. \nGive us more days of happiness\nthan the days of suffering you sent.\nMay the years where evil reigned\nbe cancelled out by years of joy. \nMake your actions clear to those of us in your service;\nlet your children see your strength in all its glory. \nPut us in your good books\, O Lord our God\,\nand give us a rich return for all our labour —\nmay the work of our hands turn to gold! \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 you have suffered with us\nand tasted despair that we might taste mercy and grace. \nYour living and active word created all things;\nand everything lies exposed before your eyes.\nWhen our forebears put their trust in you\nyou rescued them\, for all things are possible for you. \nYou sent your Son\, Jesus\, into the world\,\npreaching your message and calling everyone to follow.\nHis word cuts to the core of all things\,\nexposing the addictions that bind us and blind us\nand hold us back from investing all we have in serving you.\nWhen Jesus was brought down to the dust of death\,\ndying in the horror of abandonment\,\nyou raised him to life again\,\nand through him we have the confidence\nto come into your presence\nand look to your grace for our life. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Short Preface (for insertion into Eucharistic prayers with fixed prefaces)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	We give thanks for your Son\, Jesus\,\nwhose word cuts to the core of all things\,\nexposing all that holds us back from serving you\,\nand through whom we have the confidence\nto come into your presence\,\nlooking to your grace for our life. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  General Prayer of Thanksgiving			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)\n\nWe give you all thanks and praise\, O God\,\nfor you have suffered with us\nand tasted despair that we might taste mercy and grace. \nYour living and active word created all things;\nand everything lies exposed before your eyes.\nWhen our forebears put their trust in you\nyou rescued them\, for all things are possible for you. \nYou sent your Son\, Jesus\, into the world\,\npreaching your message and calling everyone to follow.\nHis word cuts to the core of all things\,\nexposing the addictions that bind us and blind us\nand hold us back from investing all we have in serving you.\nWhen Jesus was brought down to the dust of death\,\ndying in the horror of abandonment\,\nyou raised him to life again\,\nand through him we have the confidence\nto come into your presence\nand look to your grace for our life. \nTherefore\, with our hearts lifted high\,\nwe offer you thanks and praise at all times\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\,\none God\, for ever and ever.\nAmen. \n©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Declaration of Grace / Absolution			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus\, the Son of God\, was tempted in every way that we are\,\nand is now at the throne of grace\npresenting to God our case for mercy.\nTherefore\, we can approach God's throne in confidence. \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 in the confidence of people who have found mercy.\nFollow Jesus\,\nkeeping the commandments\,\nletting go of all that binds you to the ways of this world\,\nand investing everything in God’s realm. \nAnd may God come close to you and keep you safe;\nMay Christ Jesus reward your faithfulness a hundredfold;\nand may the Holy Spirit be your help in time of need. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2000 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\nWhat Do Grace\, Love and Mercy Cost?A sermon on Hebrews 4:12-16 & Mark 10:17-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCourage and VulnerabilityA sermon on Hebrews 4:12-16 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nGrace\, or the Power of PossibilityA sermon on Job 23.1-9\, 16-17; Psalm 22.1-15 & Mark 10.17-31 by Garry Deverell\n\n\n\nImpossible?A sermon on Job 23:1-9\,16-17 & Mark 10:17-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhen Courage Fails\, Seek CompassionA sermon on Job 23:1-9\,16-17 by Neville Callum\n\n\n\n#FirstWorldProblems?A sermon on Mark 10:17-31 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nThe Word that Lays us BareA sermon on Hebrews 4:12-16 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nWhat the hell\, God?A sermon on Job 23.1-9\, 16-17; Psalm 22.1-15; Hebrews 4:12-16 & Mark 10:17-31 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nClinging to Competitive GriefA sermon on Mark 10:17-31; Job 23.1-9\, 16-17; Psalm 22.1-15; & Hebrews 4:12-16 by Nathan Nettleton
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