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UID:10002060-1783209600-1783295999@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 9 - 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				  Genesis 24: 34-38\, 42-49\, 58-67			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Abraham’s trusted servant addressed Rebekah’s family\, saying: \n“I work for Abraham and he has sent me here. The LORD has set my boss up very nicely. He has become a very wealthy man\, with huge holdings of livestock\, investments in silver and gold\, a large workforce\, and convoys of transport animals. My boss and his wife Sarah became the parents of a son in their old age\, and they have signed over their entire fortune to him. My boss has given me the job of finding a suitable wife for his son\, but he made me promise that I would not let him marry one of the local Canaanite girls. Instead he has sent me to find a wife for his son from here among his own relatives. \n“So\, when I pulled up at the waterhole here today\, I prayed that the God of my boss would put me on the right track. I said\, ‘O LORD\, I have arrived here at this waterhole where the young women come to collect water. I will ask the first one who comes for a drink\, and she will offer me a drink and offer to draw water for my camels as well. LORD\, let her be the one you have chosen to be the bride of my boss’s son.’ \n“Even before I finished my prayer\, Rebekah came out to fill her water container. After she had gone down to the waterhole and collected her water\, I asked her for a drink. Without hesitation she offered me a drink from her water container and then offered to draw more water for my camels. So I accepted the drink and she watered my camels. Then I asked her whose daughter she was\, and she told me that her father was Bethuel\, the son of Nahor and Milcah. I knew then that she came from among my boss’s relatives\, so I put on her the ring and the jewellery he had sent. Then I bowed my head and gave thanks to the LORD\, the God who my boss Abraham worships. The LORD had put me on the right track so that I could find a suitable wife for my boss’s son from among his own people. \nNow then\, let me know whether you will do the right thing by my boss. Or if not\, tell me straight\, so that I will know which way to turn.” \nSo the family called Rebekah and asked her\, “Are you willing to go with this man?” \n“I am\,” she said. \nSo they farewelled their sister Rebekah\, and sent her off with Abraham’s servant and his drivers. They also sent with her the family servant who had been her childhood nanny. They gave Rebekah their blessing\, saying to her\, \n“Sister\, may you become the mother of millions;\nmay your descendants triumph in everything they do.” \nWith that\, Rebekah and the servant girls who were going with her got up and were seated on the camels. They set off\, following Abraham’s servant as he headed for home; mission accomplished. \nNow Isaac was living in the southern part of Canaan\, near a waterhole called ‘the Eye of God’. One evening as he was out walking to unwind at the end of the day\, he looked up and saw the convoy of camels approaching. Rebekah saw him in the distance\, and quickly slipped off her camel and asked the servant\, “Who is that man coming towards us?” \nThe servant replied\, “That’s him\, Master Isaac.” \nSo she made herself ready\, with her veil over her face. The servant told Isaac all about the success of his mission. Then Isaac met Rebekah and took her home and she became his wife. As the new leading woman of the tribe\, she was given the home that had belonged to Isaac’s late mother\, Sarah. Isaac loved Rebekah greatly\, and she was a comfort to him as he grieved the death of his mother. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton Laughingbird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 45: 10-17 (alt)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	O chosen daughter\, bride of the king\, listen to my advice:\nleave your father’s home and don’t look back\nfor the king is wild with desire for you.\nWhat more could you want? Abandon yourself to him!\nWedding gifts will arrive from every nation\,\nthe wealthy outdo each other with their presents. \nThe inner beauty of your bride\, O king\,\noutshines even her wedding gown\,\nwoven with gold and sparkling with jewels.\nIn dazzling beauty she is brought to you\nwith her chosen bridesmaids at hand.\nJoy and laughter process in with her\,\nand the whole palace erupts with elation. \nSoon you will have children\, continuing your family line\,\nand the thrones of the earth will be theirs.\nNo one will ever forget you\,\nyour fame will inspire generation after generation\,\nand songs will be sung in praise of you forever and ever. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR  Song of Solomon 2: 8-13 (alt)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I await the voice of my lover!\nI see him coming\, running through the alpine bush\,\nleaping rocks and logs\,\nas surefooted as a wallaby\,\nmuscles rippling like a mountain thoroughbred. \nLook\, now he arrives\, there by the garden wall\,\nhis eyes scanning the windows\,\nsearching the balcony\,\neager to catch a sight of me. \nMy lover calls out for me alone\, saying: \n“Come now\, my darling\, my lovely one\,\ncome away with me. \nThe outdoors will welcome us\,\nfor the cold wet winter has released its grip.\nWildflowers explode with colour\nand the air is filled with song;\nBellbird calls ring through the bush\nlike the summons to a wedding.\nBerries and grapes ripen with promise\nand every flower adds it fragrance\nto the wafting breeze. \nSo come\, my darling\, my lovely one\,\ncome away with me.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Romans 7: 15-25a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Sometimes I can’t make head nor tail of my own behaviour. I want to do what is right\, but instead I find myself doing things I absolutely despise. Even as I do them\, I am telling myself I don’t want to. Clearly then I know they are wrong\, so I am not trying to excuse myself by arguing that the law is stupid. The fact is that I don’t have what it takes to control everything I do. Somewhere inside me\, sin has corrupted the system. When I look inside myself and see the selfish desires that live there\, I know they are all rotten to the core. While I have no trouble making up my mind to do what is right\, I still can’t do it. I fail to follow through on my good intentions\, and instead find myself doing something crooked — the exact thing I wanted so much to avoid. Now if what I actually do is not what I am intending to do\, then clearly I have lost control of what I am doing. Something inside me — namely sin — is sabotaging the system and wreaking havoc. \nSo\, in my experience it seems to be an inescapable fact of life that when I intend to do what is good\, corruption is lying in wait\, ready to sneak under my guard. God’s instructions on how we should live appeal to me greatly. I love them with all my heart and mind. So the various parts of me are receiving the right instructions from my mind\, but I experience another set of instructions trying to override them. I can see that my body is being controlled by a crippling addiction to sin. How completely and utterly screwed up I am! Is there anybody who can set me free from the addiction that has such a deadly grip on my body? Thank God there is! Jesus the Messiah\, our Lord\, can set us free! \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus said to the crowd\, “What is it with people these days? They are like a bunch of kids pointing the finger at each other in the school yard\, chanting: \n‘We were ready to laugh and play with you\,\nbut you told us to get serious.\nWe asked you over to do homework together\,\nbut you told us to lighten up.’ \n“When John the Baptiser was around\, he was a teetotaller\, and would often go without food; and people accused him of being a fanatic and a wowser. Then the New Human came\, always ready to share a meal and a drink\, and what do they say about him? They say he’s a pisspot\, a slave to his stomach\, and that he’s too close to people whose lifestyles are beyond the pale! But at the end of the day\, wisdom will have proved herself in practice.” \nThen and there\, Jesus broke into prayer\, saying\, “Father\, Lord of earth and sky\, thank you for keeping the religious experts and the sophisticated intellectuals in the dark about these matters\, while at the same time making them as plain as day to the average toddler. But of course\, Father\, such reckless generosity is typical of the way you like to do things!” \nThen\, turning to the crowd again\, Jesus said\,“My Father has put the whole show in my hands\, and it all hangs on the strength of our relationship. No one really knows what makes the Son tick except the Father\, and no one really knows what makes the Father tick except the Son. Anyone else can only know if the Son chooses to let them in on it. \n“If you are worn out and overloaded\, come to me\, and I will let you put your feet up. Come and work for me\, and take a leaf out of my book. I am gentle on people\, and down-to-earth. With me your whole being will be able to relax. The job I will give you is piece of cake. The load I will ask you to bear is a feather-weight.” \n©2002 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				  Zechariah 9: 9-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It is time to celebrate\, people of Jerusalem.\nSing and dance and party\, O Holy City!\nLook\, here comes your king;\nthe one who has won the great victory!\nHe doesn’t big-note himself\,\nbut comes riding on a simple donkey\,\nand a baby one at that! \nHe will rid the land of heavy armaments\,\nand clear Jerusalem of military vehicles.\nHe will confiscate weapons and destroy them\,\nand forge a lasting peace between nations.\nHe will rule from one end of the earth to the other\,\nand the whole world will take orders from him. \nHear what I\, the LORD\, have to say to you:\nmy alliance with you has been sealed in blood\,\nso I will rescue those who have been detained\nand set them free from the dry and dusty hell-holes. \nTake heart\, you prisoners. Your prayers are answered.\nYou are free to find refuge and shelter within our walls.\nI\, the LORD\, promise you today\nthat I will compensate you double for all that you lost. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 145: 8-14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, you are generous and compassionate\,\nslow to anger\, and rich in love and loyalty. \nYou are good to everyone\, LORD\,\nand you care deeply about all you have created. \nEveryone and everything will thank you\, their creator\,\nand all who are loyal to you will sing your praises. \nAs your people\, we will promote the glory of your reign\,\nand broadcast the news of your power for good. \nWe will tell everyone about the great things you have done\nand about the magnificent splendour of your reign. \nYou will reign forever and ever\, LORD\,\nyour rule is in place for all generations to come. \nEverything you say can be relied on\, LORD\,\nand everything you do is generous and loving. \nWhen people fall\, you put them back on their feet;\nwhen people are crushed\, you stand them tall again. \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 with the passion of a lover\nyou have delivered us from slavery to sin and death. \nYou are the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth\,\nand it is your Word that brings life into bloom.\nYou called your servant Rebekah to leave family and country\,\nand\, from the offspring of her loving union with Isaac\,\nyou brought forth a people to delight in your ways. \nYou sent among us your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nand in him you revealed yourself to us.\nThough we were burdened and wearied by sin\nand unable to dance to your song\,\nin gentleness and humility\nhe lifted our burdens\nand showed us the way of wisdom.\nWhen he was killed\,\nyou raised him to life\,\nrescuing us from our bodies of death\nand giving us rest for our souls. \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 that though we were burdened and wearied by sin\,\nand unable to dance to your song\,\nin gentleness and humility\nyour Son Jesus has lifted our burdens\nand showed us the way of wisdom. \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 with the passion of a lover\nyou have delivered us from slavery to sin and death. \nYou are the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth\,\nand it is your Word that brings life into bloom.\nYou called your servant Rebekah to leave family and country\,\nand\, from the offspring of her loving union with Isaac\,\nyou brought forth a people to delight in your ways. \nYou sent among us your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nand in him you revealed yourself to us.\nThough we were burdened and wearied by sin\nand unable to dance to your song\,\nin gentleness and humility\nhe lifted our burdens\nand showed us the way of wisdom.\nWhen he was killed\,\nyou raised him to life\,\nrescuing us from our bodies of death\nand giving us rest for our souls. \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	Who will deliver us from this body of death\,\nand from the law of sin at work within us?\nThanks be to God\, through Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lifts the heavy burden of sin we are carrying\nand gives rest to our souls. \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 now at the call of Christ.\nTake his yoke upon you and learn from him;\nDance when he sings and mourn when he cries.\nBe generous in your hospitality to all. \nAnd may God greatly bless you;\nMay Christ Jesus reveal the fullness of God to you;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit lift your burdens and give you rest. \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\nUnmasking SinA sermon on Romans 7:15-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPaul speaks to the Consumer CultureA sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 & Romans 7:15-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nStressed Out? Come To MeA sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 & Romans 7:15-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCome To Me\, All You Who Are Beating Yourselves UpA sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 & Romans 7:15-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFrom Heavy Heart to a Sense of HopeA sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 & Romans 7:15-25 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nThey Started It!A sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30  by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nHow did I end up at South Yarra Baptist? OR How knitting became my hobby?A sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 by Liesl Filippi\n\n\n\nRest for Restless SoulsA sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 & Romans 7:15-25 by Curtis W. Freeman
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap09/2026-07-05/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laughingbird.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/P09.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290708T000000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20290708T235959
DTSTAMP:20260407T222645
CREATED:20230821T024425Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230821T024427Z
UID:10002061-1878163200-1878249599@laughingbird.net
SUMMARY:Proper 9 - 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				  Genesis 24: 34-38\, 42-49\, 58-67			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Abraham’s trusted servant addressed Rebekah’s family\, saying: \n“I work for Abraham and he has sent me here. The LORD has set my boss up very nicely. He has become a very wealthy man\, with huge holdings of livestock\, investments in silver and gold\, a large workforce\, and convoys of transport animals. My boss and his wife Sarah became the parents of a son in their old age\, and they have signed over their entire fortune to him. My boss has given me the job of finding a suitable wife for his son\, but he made me promise that I would not let him marry one of the local Canaanite girls. Instead he has sent me to find a wife for his son from here among his own relatives. \n“So\, when I pulled up at the waterhole here today\, I prayed that the God of my boss would put me on the right track. I said\, ‘O LORD\, I have arrived here at this waterhole where the young women come to collect water. I will ask the first one who comes for a drink\, and she will offer me a drink and offer to draw water for my camels as well. LORD\, let her be the one you have chosen to be the bride of my boss’s son.’ \n“Even before I finished my prayer\, Rebekah came out to fill her water container. After she had gone down to the waterhole and collected her water\, I asked her for a drink. Without hesitation she offered me a drink from her water container and then offered to draw more water for my camels. So I accepted the drink and she watered my camels. Then I asked her whose daughter she was\, and she told me that her father was Bethuel\, the son of Nahor and Milcah. I knew then that she came from among my boss’s relatives\, so I put on her the ring and the jewellery he had sent. Then I bowed my head and gave thanks to the LORD\, the God who my boss Abraham worships. The LORD had put me on the right track so that I could find a suitable wife for my boss’s son from among his own people. \nNow then\, let me know whether you will do the right thing by my boss. Or if not\, tell me straight\, so that I will know which way to turn.” \nSo the family called Rebekah and asked her\, “Are you willing to go with this man?” \n“I am\,” she said. \nSo they farewelled their sister Rebekah\, and sent her off with Abraham’s servant and his drivers. They also sent with her the family servant who had been her childhood nanny. They gave Rebekah their blessing\, saying to her\, \n“Sister\, may you become the mother of millions;\nmay your descendants triumph in everything they do.” \nWith that\, Rebekah and the servant girls who were going with her got up and were seated on the camels. They set off\, following Abraham’s servant as he headed for home; mission accomplished. \nNow Isaac was living in the southern part of Canaan\, near a waterhole called ‘the Eye of God’. One evening as he was out walking to unwind at the end of the day\, he looked up and saw the convoy of camels approaching. Rebekah saw him in the distance\, and quickly slipped off her camel and asked the servant\, “Who is that man coming towards us?” \nThe servant replied\, “That’s him\, Master Isaac.” \nSo she made herself ready\, with her veil over her face. The servant told Isaac all about the success of his mission. Then Isaac met Rebekah and took her home and she became his wife. As the new leading woman of the tribe\, she was given the home that had belonged to Isaac’s late mother\, Sarah. Isaac loved Rebekah greatly\, and she was a comfort to him as he grieved the death of his mother. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton Laughingbird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 45: 10-17 (alt)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	O chosen daughter\, bride of the king\, listen to my advice:\nleave your father’s home and don’t look back\nfor the king is wild with desire for you.\nWhat more could you want? Abandon yourself to him!\nWedding gifts will arrive from every nation\,\nthe wealthy outdo each other with their presents. \nThe inner beauty of your bride\, O king\,\noutshines even her wedding gown\,\nwoven with gold and sparkling with jewels.\nIn dazzling beauty she is brought to you\nwith her chosen bridesmaids at hand.\nJoy and laughter process in with her\,\nand the whole palace erupts with elation. \nSoon you will have children\, continuing your family line\,\nand the thrones of the earth will be theirs.\nNo one will ever forget you\,\nyour fame will inspire generation after generation\,\nand songs will be sung in praise of you forever and ever. \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  OR  Song of Solomon 2: 8-13 (alt)			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	I await the voice of my lover!\nI see him coming\, running through the alpine bush\,\nleaping rocks and logs\,\nas surefooted as a wallaby\,\nmuscles rippling like a mountain thoroughbred. \nLook\, now he arrives\, there by the garden wall\,\nhis eyes scanning the windows\,\nsearching the balcony\,\neager to catch a sight of me. \nMy lover calls out for me alone\, saying: \n“Come now\, my darling\, my lovely one\,\ncome away with me. \nThe outdoors will welcome us\,\nfor the cold wet winter has released its grip.\nWildflowers explode with colour\nand the air is filled with song;\nBellbird calls ring through the bush\nlike the summons to a wedding.\nBerries and grapes ripen with promise\nand every flower adds it fragrance\nto the wafting breeze. \nSo come\, my darling\, my lovely one\,\ncome away with me.” \n©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Romans 7: 15-25a			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Sometimes I can’t make head nor tail of my own behaviour. I want to do what is right\, but instead I find myself doing things I absolutely despise. Even as I do them\, I am telling myself I don’t want to. Clearly then I know they are wrong\, so I am not trying to excuse myself by arguing that the law is stupid. The fact is that I don’t have what it takes to control everything I do. Somewhere inside me\, sin has corrupted the system. When I look inside myself and see the selfish desires that live there\, I know they are all rotten to the core. While I have no trouble making up my mind to do what is right\, I still can’t do it. I fail to follow through on my good intentions\, and instead find myself doing something crooked — the exact thing I wanted so much to avoid. Now if what I actually do is not what I am intending to do\, then clearly I have lost control of what I am doing. Something inside me — namely sin — is sabotaging the system and wreaking havoc. \nSo\, in my experience it seems to be an inescapable fact of life that when I intend to do what is good\, corruption is lying in wait\, ready to sneak under my guard. God’s instructions on how we should live appeal to me greatly. I love them with all my heart and mind. So the various parts of me are receiving the right instructions from my mind\, but I experience another set of instructions trying to override them. I can see that my body is being controlled by a crippling addiction to sin. How completely and utterly screwed up I am! Is there anybody who can set me free from the addiction that has such a deadly grip on my body? Thank God there is! Jesus the Messiah\, our Lord\, can set us free! \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	Jesus said to the crowd\, “What is it with people these days? They are like a bunch of kids pointing the finger at each other in the school yard\, chanting: \n‘We were ready to laugh and play with you\,\nbut you told us to get serious.\nWe asked you over to do homework together\,\nbut you told us to lighten up.’ \n“When John the Baptiser was around\, he was a teetotaller\, and would often go without food; and people accused him of being a fanatic and a wowser. Then the New Human came\, always ready to share a meal and a drink\, and what do they say about him? They say he’s a pisspot\, a slave to his stomach\, and that he’s too close to people whose lifestyles are beyond the pale! But at the end of the day\, wisdom will have proved herself in practice.” \nThen and there\, Jesus broke into prayer\, saying\, “Father\, Lord of earth and sky\, thank you for keeping the religious experts and the sophisticated intellectuals in the dark about these matters\, while at the same time making them as plain as day to the average toddler. But of course\, Father\, such reckless generosity is typical of the way you like to do things!” \nThen\, turning to the crowd again\, Jesus said\,“My Father has put the whole show in my hands\, and it all hangs on the strength of our relationship. No one really knows what makes the Son tick except the Father\, and no one really knows what makes the Father tick except the Son. Anyone else can only know if the Son chooses to let them in on it. \n“If you are worn out and overloaded\, come to me\, and I will let you put your feet up. Come and work for me\, and take a leaf out of my book. I am gentle on people\, and down-to-earth. With me your whole being will be able to relax. The job I will give you is piece of cake. The load I will ask you to bear is a feather-weight.” \n©2002 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				  Zechariah 9: 9-12			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	It is time to celebrate\, people of Jerusalem.\nSing and dance and party\, O Holy City!\nLook\, here comes your king;\nthe one who has won the great victory!\nHe doesn’t big-note himself\,\nbut comes riding on a simple donkey\,\nand a baby one at that! \nHe will rid the land of heavy armaments\,\nand clear Jerusalem of military vehicles.\nHe will confiscate weapons and destroy them\,\nand forge a lasting peace between nations.\nHe will rule from one end of the earth to the other\,\nand the whole world will take orders from him. \nHear what I\, the LORD\, have to say to you:\nmy alliance with you has been sealed in blood\,\nso I will rescue those who have been detained\nand set them free from the dry and dusty hell-holes. \nTake heart\, you prisoners. Your prayers are answered.\nYou are free to find refuge and shelter within our walls.\nI\, the LORD\, promise you today\nthat I will compensate you double for all that you lost. \n©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net \n\n\n			\n	\n		\n\n		\n			\n				  Psalm 145: 8-14			\n		\n\n		\n		 \n \n	LORD\, you are generous and compassionate\,\nslow to anger\, and rich in love and loyalty. \nYou are good to everyone\, LORD\,\nand you care deeply about all you have created. \nEveryone and everything will thank you\, their creator\,\nand all who are loyal to you will sing your praises. \nAs your people\, we will promote the glory of your reign\,\nand broadcast the news of your power for good. \nWe will tell everyone about the great things you have done\nand about the magnificent splendour of your reign. \nYou will reign forever and ever\, LORD\,\nyour rule is in place for all generations to come. \nEverything you say can be relied on\, LORD\,\nand everything you do is generous and loving. \nWhen people fall\, you put them back on their feet;\nwhen people are crushed\, you stand them tall again. \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 with the passion of a lover\nyou have delivered us from slavery to sin and death. \nYou are the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth\,\nand it is your Word that brings life into bloom.\nYou called your servant Rebekah to leave family and country\,\nand\, from the offspring of her loving union with Isaac\,\nyou brought forth a people to delight in your ways. \nYou sent among us your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nand in him you revealed yourself to us.\nThough we were burdened and wearied by sin\nand unable to dance to your song\,\nin gentleness and humility\nhe lifted our burdens\nand showed us the way of wisdom.\nWhen he was killed\,\nyou raised him to life\,\nrescuing us from our bodies of death\nand giving us rest for our souls. \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 that though we were burdened and wearied by sin\,\nand unable to dance to your song\,\nin gentleness and humility\nyour Son Jesus has lifted our burdens\nand showed us the way of wisdom. \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 with the passion of a lover\nyou have delivered us from slavery to sin and death. \nYou are the Creator and Lord of heaven and earth\,\nand it is your Word that brings life into bloom.\nYou called your servant Rebekah to leave family and country\,\nand\, from the offspring of her loving union with Isaac\,\nyou brought forth a people to delight in your ways. \nYou sent among us your child\, Jesus the Christ\,\nand in him you revealed yourself to us.\nThough we were burdened and wearied by sin\nand unable to dance to your song\,\nin gentleness and humility\nhe lifted our burdens\nand showed us the way of wisdom.\nWhen he was killed\,\nyou raised him to life\,\nrescuing us from our bodies of death\nand giving us rest for our souls. \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	Who will deliver us from this body of death\,\nand from the law of sin at work within us?\nThanks be to God\, through Jesus Christ our Lord\,\nwho lifts the heavy burden of sin we are carrying\nand gives rest to our souls. \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 now at the call of Christ.\nTake his yoke upon you and learn from him;\nDance when he sings and mourn when he cries.\nBe generous in your hospitality to all. \nAnd may God greatly bless you;\nMay Christ Jesus reveal the fullness of God to you;\nAnd may the Holy Spirit lift your burdens and give you rest. \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\nUnmasking SinA sermon on Romans 7:15-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nPaul speaks to the Consumer CultureA sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 & Romans 7:15-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nStressed Out? Come To MeA sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 & Romans 7:15-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nCome To Me\, All You Who Are Beating Yourselves UpA sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 & Romans 7:15-25 by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nFrom Heavy Heart to a Sense of HopeA sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 & Romans 7:15-25 by Alison Sampson\n\n\n\nThey Started It!A sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30  by Nathan Nettleton\n\n\n\nHow did I end up at South Yarra Baptist? OR How knitting became my hobby?A sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 by Liesl Filippi\n\n\n\nRest for Restless SoulsA sermon on Matthew 11: 16-19\, 25-30 & Romans 7:15-25 by Curtis W. Freeman
URL:https://laughingbird.net/occasion/ap09/2029-07-08/
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