One night Paul had a vision of a Macedonian man urgently beckoning him from across the sea and calling, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

The vision confirmed to us that God was calling us to expand our horizons into Europe and to preach the good news there. We immediately began making inquiries about booking our passage across. We managed to get berths on a ship sailing from Troas. It made a direct run for Samothrace, and then on to Neapolis the next day. From there we took the road inland to the Roman garrison-town of Philippi. Philippi is a major regional city in that part of Macedonia, and we stayed there for several days.

We heard that there was a spot on the riverside just outside the city where people gathered for prayer, so on the Sabbath day we went down there. A group of women gathered there and we sat and talked with them for some time. Among those who were keen to hear what we had to say was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira. She was a worshipper of God and ran a business dealing in top-quality textiles. The Lord gave her an open heart and mind and she responded eagerly to the message Paul shared with them. She and her whole household were subsequently baptised. She put the hard word on us, saying, “If you think my faith in the Lord is for real, then come and stay in my home for a few days.”

We hadn’t been planning to stay, but she talked us into it.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Lord God, bless us generously;
smile on us kindly;
show yourself to everyone, everywhere
as the one who saves us with power.

Everyone has reasons to praise you, O God,
absolutely everyone should be singing your praises.

The whole world should celebrate you with joyful song,
for you are even-handed with all people
and your guidance is there for every nation.

Everyone has reasons to praise you, O God,
absolutely everyone should be singing your praises.

The land has produced a bumper harvest;
a clear sign of your goodness to us, God.

Keep it up, God, keep it coming;
the whole planet will honour you for it.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

I had a vision in which one of the angels spirited me away to the top of an enormous mountain and showed me an astonishing view. I could see the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. I noticed that the city did not have a temple. It didn’t need one, because the Lord, the mighty God, and the Lamb, are themselves its temple. The city also had no need of light from the sun or moon, because it was lit up with the glory of God, and the Lamb was its shining light. That city will light the way for every nation on earth, and all rulers and leaders will credit it with their glory. Its gates will stand open in welcome as long as it is day, and the night will never fall there. People will come from every corner of the earth, bringing into the city the honours and riches of their homelands. Nothing degraded will get past the gate though, and neither will anyone who deals in corruption and delusion. Only the people who are listed in the Lamb’s book of life will get in.

Then the angel showed me the river where the water of life flows. It cascaded from the throne of God and of the Lamb — crystal clear and sparkling like diamonds — and ran down the middle of the city’s main street. Mighty trees stood either side of the river — the tree of life! All year round it produces its fruits, twelve kinds in all, and its leaves are the source of healing for the nations of the world. Never more will there be anything in the city that is given over to evil. Everything will be marked out and dedicated to God and to the Lamb. God’s throne will be there, and God will be clearly seen by all who come there to serve and worship. The guarantee that they are in God’s safekeeping will be written all over their faces. Never again will night fall on them, and never again will they need sunlight or lamplight to overcome the darkness. The Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign with God forever and ever and ever.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Jesus said to his disciples, “Those who love me will faithfully live out the things I’ve taught. My Father will love them, and we will come on over and move into their lives. Those who don’t love me don’t live by what I teach, and what you hear me teach is not just coming from me; it’s coming from the Father who sent me.

“I’ve told you all this while I’m still here with you. When I’m gone, your new defence counsel — the Holy Spirit who the Father will send on my behalf — will take over, teaching you everything and keeping all I’ve said fresh in your minds. The gift I’m leaving with you is peace; my kind of peace, not the mere easing of hostilities that the rest of the world offers. So don’t go dropping your bundle or getting all fearful. You heard me say that I’m going away, and that I’m coming back to you. If you really love me you’ll be glad that I’m going to be with the Father, because the Father is the greatest. Now, I’ve let you in on all this before it happens, so when it does happen, you’ll know you can trust me.”

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Jesus was in Jerusalem during one of the Jewish religious festivals. Not far from the gate in the city wall that leads to the sheep sale yards, there is a decorative pool. The Hebrew name for the pool is Beth-zatha, and because it was renowned as a place of healing, many disabled people camped out in the five alcoves which surrounded it. Some were blind, others crippled or paralysed, and still others suffering from various illnesses. One day Jesus came across a man among them was who had been flat on his back for thirty-eight years. Realising how long he had been waiting there, Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be made well?”

The sick man replied, “Sir, I don’t have anyone to help me into the pool when the angel stirs up the waters. I try to get in every time, but someone else always beats me to it.”

Jesus said to him, “Stand up, gather up your belongings, and walk.”

At that very moment the man was restored to full health. He gathered up his things and headed off on his own two feet. The day when this happened was a Sabbath.

©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 lead us to the holy city
where the water of life flows from the throne of the lamb.

It was you who stirred up the waters of chaos
and with a word, brought forth the earth
and blessed it with generous harvests.
Through the law and prophets
you lead all peoples with justice.

In your child, Jesus,
you have made your home with us,
and spoken your words to us.
In him, you have revealed your ways
and opened our hearts to know your salvation.
Though he was killed by those who love falsehood,
you raised him to glory
and made him our temple and our light.
You have sent your Holy Spirit to us,
to teach us everything,
reminding us of the ways of Jesus,
and anointing us to bring healing to the nations.

Therefore with .....

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

We thank you for your Holy Spirit
who reminds us of the ways of Jesus,
and leads us to the holy city
where the river of the water of life flows
from the throne of the lamb.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

(Preface reformatted for use apart from communion)

We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for you lead us to the holy city
where the water of life flows from the throne of the lamb.

It was you who stirred up the waters of chaos
and with a word, brought forth the earth
and blessed it with generous harvests.
Through the law and prophets
you lead all peoples with justice.

In your child, Jesus,
you have made your home with us,
and spoken your words to us.
In him, you have revealed your ways
and opened our hearts to know your salvation.
Though he was killed by those who love falsehood,
you raised him to glory
and made him our temple and our light.
You have sent your Holy Spirit to us,
to teach us everything,
reminding us of the ways of Jesus,
and anointing us to bring healing to the nations.

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.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Do not let your hearts be troubled,
and do not let them be afraid,
for through Christ, the lamb of God,
your names are written in the book of life.

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

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Go now and walk in the light of God’s glory.
Love Christ
and keep his word.
Do not let your hearts be troubled,
but lead others to the waters of life.

And may God’s face shine on you with favour;
May Christ Jesus mark you out as his own;
And may the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth and peace.

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

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net