19 March 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Morning Prayer

Psalms 45

This is an ode to a king’s wedding full of praise and descriptions of beauty, strength and wealth.

Jeremiah 30: 10 – 22 (23 – 24)

Jeremiah prophesies that Israel will be returned, her grievous hurt will be healed and she will be restored as a nation.

Luke 13: 10 – 21

Jesus heals a woman who does not ask for healing, in the synagogue on the Sabbath. She has been bent over for 18 years. The ruler of the synagogue criticises. Jesus responds by called them hypocrites for animals are freed of their bonds on the Sabbath to go about and to eat. This woman is freed from her bondage. This small act and the presence of God that it reveals, is juxtaposed with the mustard seed and the yeast: something little that makes a big change.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Climbing Rose New Norcia
Benedictine Community WA 2014 L Osburn

Splendid God, we feel great joy when we hear of your saving and healing grace. We feel excitement about the coming of your kingdom like we feel about a magnificent king’s wedding. Help us this day to do what we can to free those in bondage, those caught in the grip of something that is not you. Help us to value the small things we do that allow your presence to be experienced even in tiny ways in the confidence that we hasten your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 46 and 47

God is our strength and refuge and we are to be in awe of him: to be still and know that he is God.

The second psalm is a joyous song of praise beginning with clapping our hands. Our God is awesome king of everything, shielding us. He is to be exalted.

Genesis 44: 1 – 17

Joseph orders that the money his brothers repaid for the grain be again restored to their sacks and that his own divination cup be placed in Benjamin’s sack. After the brothers leave the steward is told to catch up with them and search for the cup. The brothers protest their innocence and say whoever took the cup should die but the steward says, no just a slave. They find the cup in Benjamin’s sack. They all return to Joseph where Judah steps forward to advocate.

Hebrews 8: 7 – 13

Jeremiah prophesied the new covenant, won by Jesus. In this covenant God puts the laws into our minds and writes them on our hearts. Everyone shall know the Lord.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Fishing Fleet at Rest Fremantle Harbour
WA 2014 L Osburn

Caring God, you love us through and through, every one of us. There is no need to fear, there is plenty of reason to rejoice. Help us review our day and thank you for all your blessings and mercies so that we may rise afresh tomorrow to work to your praise and glory through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.