7 March 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 7 March 2014

Morning Prayer

Psalm 19

This is one of the great hymns to God. The whole of creation shows the glory of God. God’s laws bring wisdom and vision. Instruction and correction are given. The psalmist asks to be kept away from accidental or deliberate breaking of God’s commands and ends with “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Jeremiah 23: 23 – 40

Jeremiah reveals God’s knowledge of all things and displeasure in prophets who: tell of their dreams and use their own interpretations and claim their dreams were from God or who take other’s prophesies and dress them as their own using a phrase of the day, in this case “the burden of the Lord”.

Luke 10: 38 – 11:4

Jesus visits the house of Martha and Mary. Martha labours and Mary listens. Jesus makes Martha aware of her worries and distractions and suggests listening is a better option. Jesus is asked and teaches the disciples the Lord’s Prayer.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Cross made from parts of metal tools
New Norcia Benedictine Community WA
2014 L Osburn

Holy and mighty God, you have given us many gifts and wonders. Help us to listen to you; to hear you and obey you. Help us accept that sometimes our wants and desires need to take a place at the back of the queue. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, redeemer and friend who showed us how to listen and to pray. Amen.

Friday 7 March 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 119: 1 – 16

This portion of the psalm celebrates those who know and follow the laws of God. The psalmist asks to be taught and to be assisted to follow these laws.

Genesis 37: 25 – 38: 11

Some of Joseph’s brothers plot to sell him to a caravan of traders. Reuben however, returned to the pit to retrieve Joseph he was already gone. The brothers covered Joseph’s coat in goat blood and returned to their father claiming the young man was dead – in reality he was alive in Egypt.

The next section deals with Judah and the circumstance surrounding the death of his two eldest sons.

Hebrews 1: 13 – 2: 9

The writer argues the case for accepting Jesus as the bringer of our salvation. We know Jesus was human and and his words, his wonders and miracles were to guide us to salvation. This is the task of the angels. So we had better pay attention and not pass up this chance for salvation. And as ancient scripture asks – who is man that God cares for us? Christ came, was made less than an angel and now sits at the right hand side of God and because of his suffering and death salvation is made available to all.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Fishing fleet Fremantle WA  2014
L Osburn

Lord our redeemer and strength; you gave us the gift of salvation through the life and suffering and death of your Son Jesus Christ. We thank you, and praise you. Help us every day to bring our lives and ourselves to you, so that we may feel your security and be confident to spread the news of your salvation and grace to others through Jesus Christ or Lord. Amen.