The Spirit of the Lord GOD is working through me,
because the Lord picked me out
and commissioned me for the job.

I have been sent to deliver good news
to all who have been used and abused,
to tend the wounds
of those who are brokenhearted.
I have been sent to preach a message;
a message that means freedom for the detainees,
a message that will break the shackles and release the people.

I have been sent to announce
that now is the LORD’s chosen time;
that the date has been set
for our God to give the enemies of life their just desserts.

I have been sent to bring comfort
to everyone who is grieving.
I am to provide for those who mourn in the holy city;
to deck them out in bright flowers
instead of sombre funeral clothes;
to hand them a glass of bubbly
instead of their bitter cup of tears;
to set them singing and dancing in celebration
instead of collapsing in despair.

They will be called the pillars of integrity,
erected by the LORD,
a magnificent display of what God can do.

They will rebuild what has long laid in ruins,
they will construct something grand from what is now rubble.
They will restore cities that have been destroyed;
places that have known generations of devastation.

This is what the LORD has to say:

“I love the way you do the right thing
and give everyone a fair go.
I hate it when people do the wrong thing
and rip each other off.
I will be true to my word and reward you well;
I will make an alliance with you
that will stand the test of time.

Your descendants will be famous all over the world;
your offspring will be talked about by people everywhere.
Everyone who sees them will know without doubt
that I, the LORD, have set them up for life.”

Because of the LORD, I will sing and dance in celebration;
everything inside me is bursting with joy over my God.
The LORD has decked me out in the splendour
of faithfulness and integrity,
clothes fit to celebrate a dream come true.
I am like a bride and groom dressed for a wedding;
with flowers and jewels and everything done just right.

Indeed, just as the earth brings forth its vegetation,
and just as rich soil causes seeds to sprout and grow,
so too the Lord GOD will produce a bumper crop
of honesty and integrity,
and all the world will see it
and give due credit to God.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

When you brought us home to Zion from exile, LORD,
    we had to pinch ourselves to be sure it wasn’t a dream.

Laughter and singing kept bubbling up in us;
    we were just over the moon!

Even the nations around us had to admit
    that you must have taken our side, LORD.
Indeed, we could only celebrate and thank you
.    for the wonderful things you had done for us.

LORD, we need your help again;
    we are like dry creek-beds in need of rain.

We have worked with sweat and tears;
    let us reap the rewards with celebration.

Let those who laboured with heavy hearts,
    expecting nothing but despair,
come home with pride renewed,
    celebrating unimaginable success.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We turn the spotlight on your greatness, God!
We dance with wholehearted joy over you, our saviour!
You smiled upon us, though we were nothing special,
and the memory of your generosity will last forever.
You have done wonderful and powerful things for us.
There is no other name in the same league as yours.

In every generation, Lord, you shower mercy
to those who treat you with respect.
You have rolled up your sleeves in a show of strength,
and sent packing those who were so full of themselves.

You kicked the power mongers out of office,
and lifted the downtrodden back to their feet.
You put on a feast for those who are hungry,
and slam the door on the rich without giving them a bite.

You give a helping hand to your servant Israel,
and always remember them with tender care.
This is exactly what you promised long ago, Lord,
when you made a vow to Abraham and Sarah
for every generation.”

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Whatever is going on, celebrate.
    Always and everywhere, pray.
        Come what may, express your thanks.

Indeed, as people in union with the Messiah Jesus,
    this is how God wants you to live.

The Spirit is working among you, don’t pour cold water on it.
    When you hear a message from God, don’t despise it.
Whatever is presented to you, check up on it:
    - if it proves to be good, hang onto it.
    - if it is corrupt in any way, don’t touch it.

I pray that the God of peace will personally clean you up and form you into people of thoroughgoing integrity. I pray that your whole beings — spirit, soul and body — may remain healthy and uncompromised when our Lord Jesus the Messiah comes. The One who is calling you is unswervingly faithful, and will personally get the job done.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

    Once there was a man on a mission from God, and his name was John. He gave a first-hand report about the light, spelling it out so that everyone could believe. He wasn’t the light, himself, but he made it his job to draw everyone’s attention to the light.
    John spelt out his position when he was questioned by a delegation of priests and temple officials who had been sent by the religious authorities in Jerusalem. They asked him who he thought he was, and he made no bones about it, but came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
    So they asked, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?”
    “No, I am not,” he replied.
    “Are you the prophet like Moses?”
    “No.”
    So they said, “Who are you then? We need an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
    John answered them with a quote from the prophet Isaiah: “I am the voice in the wilderness shouting, ‘Clear the track for the Lord.’”
    Now this delegation was from the devoutly religious Pharisee party, and they wanted more information. They asked him, “If you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet, why are you baptising people?”
    John gave them his answer, “I am only baptising with water, but rubbing shoulders with you, unrecognised, is the One who is coming to take over where I leave off. I wouldn’t even qualify to lick his boots.”
    This incident took place at Bethany — the one on the other side of the Jordan — where John was baptising.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Let us lift up our hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God,
for you have turned our grief into songs of joy,
and clothed us in salvation and victory.

You planted the earth and all life,
and called a people to be your light in the world.
When they were taken weeping into exile,
you promised through your prophets
to bring them home to Zion, singing and laughing.

Salvation has come in your Messiah, Jesus,
— the one whose coming light
your servant, John, bore witness to.
Filled with your Spirit,
Jesus came proclaiming good news for the poor,
healing for the broken hearted,
and the day of freedom to all who are bound.
He was killed by the proud and powerful,
but with your wonderful power you raised him to life.
In his presence we are filled with expectant hope and joy,
and eager to embrace your eternal covenant.

Therefore with .....

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We thank you for Jesus Christ - the one who embodied your Spirit
and came proclaiming good news for the poor,
healing for the broken hearted,
and the day of freedom to all who are bound.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you joyful thanks at all times, O God,
for you have turned our grief into songs of joy,
and clothed us in salvation and victory.

You planted the earth and all life,
and called a people to be your light in the world.
When they were taken weeping into exile,
you promised through your prophets
to bring them home to Zion, singing and laughing.

Salvation has come in your Messiah, Jesus,
— the one whose coming light
your servant, John, bore witness to.
Filled with your Spirit,
Jesus came proclaiming good news for the poor,
healing for the broken hearted,
and the day of freedom to all who are bound.
He was killed by the proud and powerful,
but with your wonderful power you raised him to life.
In his presence we are filled with expectant hope and joy,
and eager to embrace your eternal covenant.

Therefore, with our hearts lifted high,
we offer you thanks and praise at all times
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

God has made an eternal covenant with us,
promising to make us holy in every way.
In grace and mercy God will keep us free
from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sisters and Brothers,
  your sins are forgiven;
    be at peace.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go now, for you are chosen and sent in the Spirit.
Pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances.
Keep what is good, avoid every kind of evil.
To all in need bear witness that the time has come
when the Sovereign Lord will save his people.

And may God who gives peace make you holy in every way;
May Christ Jesus clothe you with salvation and victory;
And may the Holy Spirit speak through you with the good news of hope.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
   In the name of Christ. Amen.

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net