BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//LaughingBird - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:LaughingBird X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://laughingbird.net X-WR-CALDESC:Events for LaughingBird REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Australia/Melbourne BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20250405T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20251004T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20260404T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20261003T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20270403T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20271002T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20280401T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20280930T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20290331T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20291006T160000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+1100 TZOFFSETTO:+1000 TZNAME:AEST DTSTART:20300406T160000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+1000 TZOFFSETTO:+1100 TZNAME:AEDT DTSTART:20301005T160000 END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260524T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260524T235959 DTSTAMP:20260408T130623 CREATED:20230821T021207Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240520T005921Z UID:10002048-1779580800-1779667199@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:The Day of Pentecost - Year A 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 1st Reading: Acts 2: 1-21 \n \n\n \n \n \n On the Feast Day of Pentecost all the believers were together in one place. Suddenly\, as if out of nowhere\, there was a sound like a raging cyclone - and nothing could be heard above it anywhere in the house. And then the Holy Spirit burst in among them like a bushfire\, with sparks and fireballs leaping out to engulf every one there. With fire in their guts and the Holy Spirit unleashing their tongues\, they began to speak of God in languages they had never learned. \nNow in Jerusalem at that time\, there were faithful Jewish pilgrims from all over the world. The wild noise among the believers quickly drew a crowd. What they heard bewildered them because everyone\, no matter where they were from\, heard their native language being spoken by the believers. Almost unable to believe their ears\, they asked: \n“Don’t all these people come from Galilee? How come we can all hear them speaking our own native languages? Some of us are Parthians\, some Medes\, others Elamites. There are people visiting here from Mesopotamia\, Judea and Cappadocia\, Pontus and Asia\, Phrygia and Pamphylia\, Egypt and the Cyrenene occupied parts of Libya. There are immigrants from Rome\, both ethnic Jews and converts. Some here are even Cretans and Arabs! But these Galileans are speaking all our languages and telling us about the extraordinary things God has done.”  \nThey were all in a spin\, unable to make head nor tail of what was happening. They kept asking one another what was going on and what it could all mean. Others though\, just sneered and said\, “They’ve been on the turps. They’re just a bunch of drunks.”  \nPeter stood up with the other eleven and addressed the crowd as loudly and clearly as he could: \n“Men and women of Jerusalem\, locals and visitors\, listen up and I’ll let you in on what this is all about. If you think that these people are drunk\, you are wrong. Think about it - the pubs aren’t even open this early in the morning. No\, what is happening here was explained long ago in the words of the prophet Joel:  \n“This is what I will do\nwhen time reaches its climax\, God declares:  \nI will pour out my Spirit on everyone. \nYour sons and your daughters\nshall speak as prophets.\nThe young among you will see visions\,\nand the old will dream dreams.  \n  I even have men and women among those\nwhose rights no one cares about\,\nand in those days\nI will pour out my Spirit upon them too;\nand they shall proclaim my justice.  \n  I will perform miraculous signs in the sky above\nand awesome wonders on the earth below\,\nblood\, and fire\, and clouds of smoke.  \n  The sun will go black and the moon blood-red\nbefore the dawning\nof the awesome and glorious day of the Lord.  \n  And everyone who cries out to the Lord\nshall be saved.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Numbers 11: 24-30 (alternative 1st reading) \n \n\n \n \n \n Acting on the LORD’s instructions\, Moses sent for seventy of Israel’s most respected and influential tribal elders and had them assemble in a circle around the Sacred Tent while he went inside. The LORD came down\, hidden in cloud\, and spoke with Moses. As they talked\, the LORD touched the seventy elders with the same spirit that was at work in Moses. During the short period of time that the spirit rested on them\, they were all shouting words of prophesy. \nTwo of the seventy elders who Moses had sent for were named Eldad and Medad. They had not made it to the Sacred Tent\, but the spirit touched them just like the others and they began shouting words of prophesy right where they were in the camp. A young man ran and reported this to Moses\, saying “Eldad and Medad are shouting like prophets in the camp!” \nJoshua son of Nun\, who served as right hand man to Moses\, said\, “You can’t let them do that\, Boss. Have them stopped.” \nBut Moses replied\, “Why? Are you worried about protecting my position? I only wish that the LORD would give the same spirit to all the people so that the whole lot of them would become prophets!” \nAfter that\, Moses and the tribal elders all returned to the camp. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 104: 24-34\, 35b \n \n\n \n \n \n O LORD\, what a wildly fabulous world!\nWorking hand in hand with wisdom\nyou have made\nan earthful of wonderful creatures.  \nJust look at the deep wide sea\,\nswarming with life beyond our imagining\,\nfrom coral to crayfish\, from mussels to marlin. \nShips plough the waves\,\nwhile mythical monsters cavort in the depths. \nLike seagulls at a picnic\,\nevery creature looks to you for food. \nThey gather around in eager expectation\,\nand gorge themselves when you open your hand.  \nIf you turned your back\, they’d be panic stricken;\nif you withdrew your Spirit\nthey would have nothing to breathe\,\ntheir bodies would quickly crumble. \nBut when you breathe your spirit into them\,\nlife sprouts up fresh and fragrant again\nand the earth itself is revived. \nGlorious is all you do\, LORD\,\nmay you be honoured forever.\nMay everything created be a joy to the LORD. \nOne look from the LORD makes even the earth quiver;\none touch and even the mountains erupt. \nWith every breath I will sing to the LORD;\nas long as there is life in me\,\nI will give honour to my God in song. \nEven my unspoken thoughts I offer to the LORD\,\nfor the LORD is a delight to me.  \nMay wickedness be wiped from the earth\,\nmay enemies of life no longer be found. \nO bless the LORD\, everything within me.\nPraise the LORD!  \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n If you hear people say\, “For better or for worse\, we’ll do what Jesus wants\,” you can take it as read that they couldn’t have said that if the Holy Spirit was not a force in their lives. \nWhen it comes to spiritual abilities\, there is a huge variety\, but you can trace them all to the same Spirit. There are all sorts of different ways of doing the Lord’s work\, but it’s the same Lord who is served in all of them. Some people get enthused and energised about one thing\, some about another\, but it is the same God who fires the passions in both. \nThe Spirit is at work in everyone\, and that work takes shape in each person in a way that will be of benefit to all. In one person you see it expressed in the ability to give wise advise; that ability has been given through the Spirit. In another person you see the ability to draw on a wealth of knowledge for the benefit of others; that too comes from the Spirit. Another person is able to keep trusting God when everyone else starts doubting\, and of course faith like that comes from the Spirit. Someone else has a gift that enables them to heal the sick\, and you guessed it\, the same Spirit again! Someone else can work miracles\, someone else can tell you what God wants you to hear. Another has the uncanny ability to discern what sort of spirit is behind whatever’s going on. Another is gifted with the ability to speak strange languages and still another with the ability to translate them. All these gifts\, and more still\, are triggered off in people by one and the same Spirit. The Spirit takes account of each person’s unique potential and decides accordingly how best to equip them. \nThe Church is a single body — the body of Christ. In some ways it is just like your own body; it is made up of many different parts\, each with their own jobs to do\, but it is still one body. When we were baptised\, we became part of Christ’s body. The Holy Spirit integrated us all into this one body and so now we are first and foremost identified with the body\, rather than with our individual characteristics. Whatever your nationality\, and whatever your occupation or background\, you all tap into the one Spirit for your life\, just as all the cells in the body are nourished in the same way through their relationship to the whole. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Acts 2: 1-21 (alternative 2nd reading) \n \n\n \n \n \n On the Feast Day of Pentecost all the believers were together in one place. Suddenly\, as if out of nowhere\, there was a sound like a raging cyclone - and nothing could be heard above it anywhere in the house. And then the Holy Spirit burst in among them like a bushfire\, with sparks and fireballs leaping out to engulf every one there. With fire in their guts and the Holy Spirit unleashing their tongues\, they began to speak of God in languages they had never learned. \nNow in Jerusalem at that time\, there were faithful Jewish pilgrims from all over the world. The wild noise among the believers quickly drew a crowd. What they heard bewildered them because everyone\, no matter where they were from\, heard their native language being spoken by the believers. Almost unable to believe their ears\, they asked: \n“Don’t all these people come from Galilee? How come we can all hear them speaking our own native languages? Some of us are Parthians\, some Medes\, others Elamites. There are people visiting here from Mesopotamia\, Judea and Cappadocia\, Pontus and Asia\, Phrygia and Pamphylia\, Egypt and the Cyrenene occupied parts of Libya. There are immigrants from Rome\, both ethnic Jews and converts. Some here are even Cretans and Arabs! But these Galileans are speaking all our languages and telling us about the extraordinary things God has done.”  \nThey were all in a spin\, unable to make head nor tail of what was happening. They kept asking one another what was going on and what it could all mean. Others though\, just sneered and said\, “They’ve been on the turps. They’re just a bunch of drunks.”  \nPeter stood up with the other eleven and addressed the crowd as loudly and clearly as he could: \n“Men and women of Jerusalem\, locals and visitors\, listen up and I’ll let you in on what this is all about. If you think that these people are drunk\, you are wrong. Think about it - the pubs aren’t even open this early in the morning. No\, what is happening here was explained long ago in the words of the prophet Joel:  \n“This is what I will do\nwhen time reaches its climax\, God declares:  \nI will pour out my Spirit on everyone. \nYour sons and your daughters\nshall speak as prophets.\nThe young among you will see visions\,\nand the old will dream dreams.  \n  I even have men and women among those\nwhose rights no one cares about\,\nand in those days\nI will pour out my Spirit upon them too;\nand they shall proclaim my justice.  \n  I will perform miraculous signs in the sky above\nand awesome wonders on the earth below\,\nblood\, and fire\, and clouds of smoke.  \n  The sun will go black and the moon blood-red\nbefore the dawning\nof the awesome and glorious day of the Lord.  \n  And everyone who cries out to the Lord\nshall be saved.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 20: 19-23 \n \n\n \n \n \n It was a Sunday – the first day of the week – when the tomb was found empty. That same evening\, the disciples met together. They locked all the doors of the house where they were meeting because they were afraid of being tracked down by the religious authorities. Suddenly\, Jesus appeared and stood among them saying\, “Good evening to you all!” \nHe proceeded to show them the deep scars in his hands and side. The disciples\, of course\, were over the moon at seeing the Lord again. Jesus spoke again\, saying\, “All the best to you. God sent me into the world\, and in the same way\, I’m sending you.” \nHaving said that\, he breathed a big breathe onto them and said\, “Receive the Holy Spirit; all of you. If you forgive anyone who has sinned\, then their sins are forgiven. If you withhold forgiveness for any sins\, they remain unforgiven.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR John 7: 37-39 (alternative gospel reading) \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus was speaking to the crowds in the Temple on the big final day of the sacred festival. Rising to his feet\, he cried out\, “If any of you have a raging thirst that will not go away\, come to me. Any of you who will trust me\, come and drink deep. The scriptures promised this\, saying\, ‘Rivers of life-giving water will well up from deep within you.’” \nJesus was referring to the Holy Spirit who was soon to be given to those who put their trust in him; but at this time no one had yet received the Spirit\, because the moment of glory for Jesus had not yet come. \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 amazed us with your deeds of power. \nWith your own hands you shaped the creation\nand filled the earth with your wonders.\nYou breathed into us and we rose from the dust;\nthe face of the earth came alive.\nFrom the cloud you spoke to Moses\nand through your prophets you promised\nto pour out your Spirit on all flesh. \nIn these last days you sent your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nto speak your words of mercy and peace.\nThough he was killed\, you raised him to new life\,\nand now he comes to all who are thirsty\,\npouring out the new wine of the Spirit\,\nintoxicating us with visions and dreams\,\nawakening within us your marvellous gifts\nof wisdom\, faith\, healing\, prophesy and discernment\,\nand firing our tongues with everlasting songs of joy. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2002 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 you thanks for your son\, Jesus Christ\,\nwho pours out the new wine of your Spirit\,\nintoxicating us with visions and dreams\,\nand awakening within us your marvellous gifts\nof wisdom\, faith\, healing\, prophesy and discernment. \n©2002 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 amazed us with your deeds of power. \nWith your own hands you shaped the creation\nand filled the earth with your wonders.\nYou breathed into us and we rose from the dust;\nthe face of the earth came alive.\nFrom the cloud you spoke to Moses\nand through your prophets you promised\nto pour out your Spirit on all flesh. \nIn these last days you sent your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nto speak your words of mercy and peace.\nThough he was killed\, you raised him to new life\,\nand now he comes to all who are thirsty\,\npouring out the new wine of the Spirit\,\nintoxicating us with visions and dreams\,\nawakening within us your marvellous gifts\nof wisdom\, faith\, healing\, prophesy and discernment\,\nand firing our tongues with everlasting songs of joy. \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©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n Hear the words of Christ:\n“If you forgive the sins of anyone\, they are forgiven them.”\nTherefore know for sure\nthat everyone who calls on the name of the Lord\nwill be saved. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go out into the world\,\nsent as Christ Jesus was sent\,\ngifted and empowered for the common good.\nDream dreams\, pursue visions\nand speak of God’s goodness\nin the words of those who would hear. \nAnd may God give hope to your dreaming;\nMay Christ Jesus set rivers of life flowing within you\,\nand may the Holy Spirit unite you as one body and set you ablaze with joy. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2002 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\nBreaking through old divisionsA sermon on Acts 2: 1-21\, John 14: 8-17\,25-27 & Genesis 11: 1-9 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Invitation of the Pentecost MiraclesA sermon on Acts 2:1-21 by Andrew Woff\n\n\n\nSpirit DrinkersA sermon on John 7: 37-39 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLanguages of ReconciliationA sermon on Acts 2:1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPentecostA sermon on Acts 2: 1-21; 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13 & John 20: 19-23 by Gilbert Joyce\n\n\n\nPentecost: Gifted and SentA sermon on Acts 2: 1-21 by Gilbert Joyce\n\n\n\nUnderstanding the Language of PentecostA Sermon for the Feast of Pentecost by Lina Toth (Andronoviene)\n\n\n\nFilled with the SpiritA sermon on Ephesians 5:18 by Joel Sierra\n\n\n\nMuch Needed Miracles of CommunicationA sermon on Acts 2: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/a40/2026-05-24/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/40.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290520T000000 DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290520T235959 DTSTAMP:20260408T130623 CREATED:20230821T021207Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240520T005921Z UID:10002049-1873929600-1874015999@laughingbird.net SUMMARY:The Day of Pentecost - Year A 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 1st Reading: Acts 2: 1-21 \n \n\n \n \n \n On the Feast Day of Pentecost all the believers were together in one place. Suddenly\, as if out of nowhere\, there was a sound like a raging cyclone - and nothing could be heard above it anywhere in the house. And then the Holy Spirit burst in among them like a bushfire\, with sparks and fireballs leaping out to engulf every one there. With fire in their guts and the Holy Spirit unleashing their tongues\, they began to speak of God in languages they had never learned. \nNow in Jerusalem at that time\, there were faithful Jewish pilgrims from all over the world. The wild noise among the believers quickly drew a crowd. What they heard bewildered them because everyone\, no matter where they were from\, heard their native language being spoken by the believers. Almost unable to believe their ears\, they asked: \n“Don’t all these people come from Galilee? How come we can all hear them speaking our own native languages? Some of us are Parthians\, some Medes\, others Elamites. There are people visiting here from Mesopotamia\, Judea and Cappadocia\, Pontus and Asia\, Phrygia and Pamphylia\, Egypt and the Cyrenene occupied parts of Libya. There are immigrants from Rome\, both ethnic Jews and converts. Some here are even Cretans and Arabs! But these Galileans are speaking all our languages and telling us about the extraordinary things God has done.”  \nThey were all in a spin\, unable to make head nor tail of what was happening. They kept asking one another what was going on and what it could all mean. Others though\, just sneered and said\, “They’ve been on the turps. They’re just a bunch of drunks.”  \nPeter stood up with the other eleven and addressed the crowd as loudly and clearly as he could: \n“Men and women of Jerusalem\, locals and visitors\, listen up and I’ll let you in on what this is all about. If you think that these people are drunk\, you are wrong. Think about it - the pubs aren’t even open this early in the morning. No\, what is happening here was explained long ago in the words of the prophet Joel:  \n“This is what I will do\nwhen time reaches its climax\, God declares:  \nI will pour out my Spirit on everyone. \nYour sons and your daughters\nshall speak as prophets.\nThe young among you will see visions\,\nand the old will dream dreams.  \n  I even have men and women among those\nwhose rights no one cares about\,\nand in those days\nI will pour out my Spirit upon them too;\nand they shall proclaim my justice.  \n  I will perform miraculous signs in the sky above\nand awesome wonders on the earth below\,\nblood\, and fire\, and clouds of smoke.  \n  The sun will go black and the moon blood-red\nbefore the dawning\nof the awesome and glorious day of the Lord.  \n  And everyone who cries out to the Lord\nshall be saved.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Numbers 11: 24-30 (alternative 1st reading) \n \n\n \n \n \n Acting on the LORD’s instructions\, Moses sent for seventy of Israel’s most respected and influential tribal elders and had them assemble in a circle around the Sacred Tent while he went inside. The LORD came down\, hidden in cloud\, and spoke with Moses. As they talked\, the LORD touched the seventy elders with the same spirit that was at work in Moses. During the short period of time that the spirit rested on them\, they were all shouting words of prophesy. \nTwo of the seventy elders who Moses had sent for were named Eldad and Medad. They had not made it to the Sacred Tent\, but the spirit touched them just like the others and they began shouting words of prophesy right where they were in the camp. A young man ran and reported this to Moses\, saying “Eldad and Medad are shouting like prophets in the camp!” \nJoshua son of Nun\, who served as right hand man to Moses\, said\, “You can’t let them do that\, Boss. Have them stopped.” \nBut Moses replied\, “Why? Are you worried about protecting my position? I only wish that the LORD would give the same spirit to all the people so that the whole lot of them would become prophets!” \nAfter that\, Moses and the tribal elders all returned to the camp. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Psalm 104: 24-34\, 35b \n \n\n \n \n \n O LORD\, what a wildly fabulous world!\nWorking hand in hand with wisdom\nyou have made\nan earthful of wonderful creatures.  \nJust look at the deep wide sea\,\nswarming with life beyond our imagining\,\nfrom coral to crayfish\, from mussels to marlin. \nShips plough the waves\,\nwhile mythical monsters cavort in the depths. \nLike seagulls at a picnic\,\nevery creature looks to you for food. \nThey gather around in eager expectation\,\nand gorge themselves when you open your hand.  \nIf you turned your back\, they’d be panic stricken;\nif you withdrew your Spirit\nthey would have nothing to breathe\,\ntheir bodies would quickly crumble. \nBut when you breathe your spirit into them\,\nlife sprouts up fresh and fragrant again\nand the earth itself is revived. \nGlorious is all you do\, LORD\,\nmay you be honoured forever.\nMay everything created be a joy to the LORD. \nOne look from the LORD makes even the earth quiver;\none touch and even the mountains erupt. \nWith every breath I will sing to the LORD;\nas long as there is life in me\,\nI will give honour to my God in song. \nEven my unspoken thoughts I offer to the LORD\,\nfor the LORD is a delight to me.  \nMay wickedness be wiped from the earth\,\nmay enemies of life no longer be found. \nO bless the LORD\, everything within me.\nPraise the LORD!  \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n 2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13 \n \n\n \n \n \n If you hear people say\, “For better or for worse\, we’ll do what Jesus wants\,” you can take it as read that they couldn’t have said that if the Holy Spirit was not a force in their lives. \nWhen it comes to spiritual abilities\, there is a huge variety\, but you can trace them all to the same Spirit. There are all sorts of different ways of doing the Lord’s work\, but it’s the same Lord who is served in all of them. Some people get enthused and energised about one thing\, some about another\, but it is the same God who fires the passions in both. \nThe Spirit is at work in everyone\, and that work takes shape in each person in a way that will be of benefit to all. In one person you see it expressed in the ability to give wise advise; that ability has been given through the Spirit. In another person you see the ability to draw on a wealth of knowledge for the benefit of others; that too comes from the Spirit. Another person is able to keep trusting God when everyone else starts doubting\, and of course faith like that comes from the Spirit. Someone else has a gift that enables them to heal the sick\, and you guessed it\, the same Spirit again! Someone else can work miracles\, someone else can tell you what God wants you to hear. Another has the uncanny ability to discern what sort of spirit is behind whatever’s going on. Another is gifted with the ability to speak strange languages and still another with the ability to translate them. All these gifts\, and more still\, are triggered off in people by one and the same Spirit. The Spirit takes account of each person’s unique potential and decides accordingly how best to equip them. \nThe Church is a single body — the body of Christ. In some ways it is just like your own body; it is made up of many different parts\, each with their own jobs to do\, but it is still one body. When we were baptised\, we became part of Christ’s body. The Holy Spirit integrated us all into this one body and so now we are first and foremost identified with the body\, rather than with our individual characteristics. Whatever your nationality\, and whatever your occupation or background\, you all tap into the one Spirit for your life\, just as all the cells in the body are nourished in the same way through their relationship to the whole. \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR Acts 2: 1-21 (alternative 2nd reading) \n \n\n \n \n \n On the Feast Day of Pentecost all the believers were together in one place. Suddenly\, as if out of nowhere\, there was a sound like a raging cyclone - and nothing could be heard above it anywhere in the house. And then the Holy Spirit burst in among them like a bushfire\, with sparks and fireballs leaping out to engulf every one there. With fire in their guts and the Holy Spirit unleashing their tongues\, they began to speak of God in languages they had never learned. \nNow in Jerusalem at that time\, there were faithful Jewish pilgrims from all over the world. The wild noise among the believers quickly drew a crowd. What they heard bewildered them because everyone\, no matter where they were from\, heard their native language being spoken by the believers. Almost unable to believe their ears\, they asked: \n“Don’t all these people come from Galilee? How come we can all hear them speaking our own native languages? Some of us are Parthians\, some Medes\, others Elamites. There are people visiting here from Mesopotamia\, Judea and Cappadocia\, Pontus and Asia\, Phrygia and Pamphylia\, Egypt and the Cyrenene occupied parts of Libya. There are immigrants from Rome\, both ethnic Jews and converts. Some here are even Cretans and Arabs! But these Galileans are speaking all our languages and telling us about the extraordinary things God has done.”  \nThey were all in a spin\, unable to make head nor tail of what was happening. They kept asking one another what was going on and what it could all mean. Others though\, just sneered and said\, “They’ve been on the turps. They’re just a bunch of drunks.”  \nPeter stood up with the other eleven and addressed the crowd as loudly and clearly as he could: \n“Men and women of Jerusalem\, locals and visitors\, listen up and I’ll let you in on what this is all about. If you think that these people are drunk\, you are wrong. Think about it - the pubs aren’t even open this early in the morning. No\, what is happening here was explained long ago in the words of the prophet Joel:  \n“This is what I will do\nwhen time reaches its climax\, God declares:  \nI will pour out my Spirit on everyone. \nYour sons and your daughters\nshall speak as prophets.\nThe young among you will see visions\,\nand the old will dream dreams.  \n  I even have men and women among those\nwhose rights no one cares about\,\nand in those days\nI will pour out my Spirit upon them too;\nand they shall proclaim my justice.  \n  I will perform miraculous signs in the sky above\nand awesome wonders on the earth below\,\nblood\, and fire\, and clouds of smoke.  \n  The sun will go black and the moon blood-red\nbefore the dawning\nof the awesome and glorious day of the Lord.  \n  And everyone who cries out to the Lord\nshall be saved.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n John 20: 19-23 \n \n\n \n \n \n It was a Sunday – the first day of the week – when the tomb was found empty. That same evening\, the disciples met together. They locked all the doors of the house where they were meeting because they were afraid of being tracked down by the religious authorities. Suddenly\, Jesus appeared and stood among them saying\, “Good evening to you all!” \nHe proceeded to show them the deep scars in his hands and side. The disciples\, of course\, were over the moon at seeing the Lord again. Jesus spoke again\, saying\, “All the best to you. God sent me into the world\, and in the same way\, I’m sending you.” \nHaving said that\, he breathed a big breathe onto them and said\, “Receive the Holy Spirit; all of you. If you forgive anyone who has sinned\, then their sins are forgiven. If you withhold forgiveness for any sins\, they remain unforgiven.” \n©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n OR John 7: 37-39 (alternative gospel reading) \n \n\n \n \n \n Jesus was speaking to the crowds in the Temple on the big final day of the sacred festival. Rising to his feet\, he cried out\, “If any of you have a raging thirst that will not go away\, come to me. Any of you who will trust me\, come and drink deep. The scriptures promised this\, saying\, ‘Rivers of life-giving water will well up from deep within you.’” \nJesus was referring to the Holy Spirit who was soon to be given to those who put their trust in him; but at this time no one had yet received the Spirit\, because the moment of glory for Jesus had not yet come. \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 amazed us with your deeds of power. \nWith your own hands you shaped the creation\nand filled the earth with your wonders.\nYou breathed into us and we rose from the dust;\nthe face of the earth came alive.\nFrom the cloud you spoke to Moses\nand through your prophets you promised\nto pour out your Spirit on all flesh. \nIn these last days you sent your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nto speak your words of mercy and peace.\nThough he was killed\, you raised him to new life\,\nand now he comes to all who are thirsty\,\npouring out the new wine of the Spirit\,\nintoxicating us with visions and dreams\,\nawakening within us your marvellous gifts\nof wisdom\, faith\, healing\, prophesy and discernment\,\nand firing our tongues with everlasting songs of joy. \nTherefore with ..... \n©2002 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 you thanks for your son\, Jesus Christ\,\nwho pours out the new wine of your Spirit\,\nintoxicating us with visions and dreams\,\nand awakening within us your marvellous gifts\nof wisdom\, faith\, healing\, prophesy and discernment. \n©2002 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 amazed us with your deeds of power. \nWith your own hands you shaped the creation\nand filled the earth with your wonders.\nYou breathed into us and we rose from the dust;\nthe face of the earth came alive.\nFrom the cloud you spoke to Moses\nand through your prophets you promised\nto pour out your Spirit on all flesh. \nIn these last days you sent your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nto speak your words of mercy and peace.\nThough he was killed\, you raised him to new life\,\nand now he comes to all who are thirsty\,\npouring out the new wine of the Spirit\,\nintoxicating us with visions and dreams\,\nawakening within us your marvellous gifts\nof wisdom\, faith\, healing\, prophesy and discernment\,\nand firing our tongues with everlasting songs of joy. \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©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Declaration of Grace / Absolution \n \n\n \n \n \n Hear the words of Christ:\n“If you forgive the sins of anyone\, they are forgiven them.”\nTherefore know for sure\nthat everyone who calls on the name of the Lord\nwill be saved. \nSisters and Brothers\,\n  your sins are forgiven;\n    be at peace. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n Commission & Benediction \n \n\n \n \n \n Go out into the world\,\nsent as Christ Jesus was sent\,\ngifted and empowered for the common good.\nDream dreams\, pursue visions\nand speak of God’s goodness\nin the words of those who would hear. \nAnd may God give hope to your dreaming;\nMay Christ Jesus set rivers of life flowing within you\,\nand may the Holy Spirit unite you as one body and set you ablaze with joy. \nWe go in peace to love and serve the Lord\,\n   In the name of Christ. Amen. \n©2002 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\nBreaking through old divisionsA sermon on Acts 2: 1-21\, John 14: 8-17\,25-27 & Genesis 11: 1-9 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nThe Invitation of the Pentecost MiraclesA sermon on Acts 2:1-21 by Andrew Woff\n\n\n\nSpirit DrinkersA sermon on John 7: 37-39 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nLanguages of ReconciliationA sermon on Acts 2:1-21 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPentecostA sermon on Acts 2: 1-21; 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13 & John 20: 19-23 by Gilbert Joyce\n\n\n\nPentecost: Gifted and SentA sermon on Acts 2: 1-21 by Gilbert Joyce\n\n\n\nUnderstanding the Language of PentecostA Sermon for the Feast of Pentecost by Lina Toth (Andronoviene)\n\n\n\nFilled with the SpiritA sermon on Ephesians 5:18 by Joel Sierra\n\n\n\nMuch Needed Miracles of CommunicationA sermon on Acts 2: 1-21 by Nathan Nettleton URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/a40/2029-05-20/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/40.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR