27 February 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 27 February 2014

Morning Prayer

Psalm 140

This psalm is an appeal to be delivered from personal enemies – from violent people and those who stir things up, those who speak ill, are arrogant and make evil plots. The psalmist is confident in God’s care.

Jeremiah 46: 13 – 26

Jeremiah prophesies of the Nebuchadrezzar’s impending attack on Egypt proclaiming maximum destruction.

Luke 8: 9 – 18

Jesus explains the parable of the sower to the disciples. He then encourages them to listen well and there is an expectation they will pass on the word of God to others – to not hide that light and knowledge, but to shine.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Jan and Graham's tomatoes
Armadale WA 2014 L Osburn

Dearest loving Father, you know us through and through. You know that some of us choose violence, and some choose idols and ignore your prophets. You encourage us to listen, to hear to be like the seed that falls on good soil, to flourish, to flour to shine and to spread your word. Help us you hear you nurturing God so that we can bring your word to all through Jesus Christ and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Thursday 27 February 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 141, 142

Both psalms are pleas to be delivered from personal enemies. The first includes a willingness to be justly corrected by the righteous. The psalmist asks to be assisted to not engage in retaliation of the evil so that the enemies realise the psalmist was not only correct but also gentle. In the second psalm things have not gone well for the psalmist and the pleas for deliverance demonstrates faithfulness.

Genesis 32: 13 – 32

Jacob sends great mobs of animals ahead to Esau with instructions to his servants to say they are gifts from Jacob. He sends his wives and children backwards, to protect them and during the night wrestles with a divine being who only won by damaging his hip. As a result Jacob is blessed and his name changes to Israel.

2 Timothy 3: 1 – 9

Paul talks about the last days and the poor behaviour people will act out. There will always be people who take the instruction and still behave badly. Paul states that their folly will find them out and they will not progress in the faith.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Black Swans at Mandurah Estuary WA 2014
L Osburn

Our loving God who loves justice and peace; thank you for your scripture which shows us the ways of dealing with evil and our fear of retribution. Help us to accept the things we cannot change and the people we cannot influence. Help us too to keep the peace, to be generous and to persevere in the face of what might look like overwhelming odds so that we too may be your blessing to others through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.