1 May 2014
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Thursday 1
May 2014
Morning
Prayer
Psalms 1 and 2
People who set themselves apart from all the turmoil
of the world, who contemplate God, and God’s laws are like trees with good soil
and water that bear fruit, don’t wither but prosper. The wicked are like chaff
– an empty hull – they will not be with God at the end.
A rhetorical psalm asking why some people think they
can break the bond between God and his anointed one (messiah). The psalmist
thinks it is laughable. God is all-powerful and the anointed one is his
begotten son. God’s power could be used to punish and correct. Let humans be
warned to respect God. Those that take refuge in the Lord will be happy.
Leviticus 16: 20 – 34
The instructions for atonement in the holy tents are
specifically outlined. Linen is worn in
the holy of holies. The bodies of the priest and others need to be washed at
various points in the ceremony. Aaron is to pray over the head of a live goat
and lay on it the sins of everyone (the scape-goat) and let it go free into the
wilderness. The date is set for the Day of Atonement each year, which is a
Sabbath of complete rest.
Luke 24: 13 – 27
Two of the disciples are walking on the road to Emmaus
talking about what had happened. A stranger approaches and appears ignorant of
all the events including the women reporting an angel at the tomb and the empty
grave. The stranger interprets the scriptures about the Messiah from Moses to
the present time. He shows them that the prophecies have all been fulfilled.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
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| Jan and Graham's Grapes Armadale WA 2014 L Osburn |
Almighty
God, you have taught us about reverence, respect and how to take time out and
think about you. You have given us your son as messiah and as the one who bore
all our sins as atonement for us. As we take this brief time to contemplate
you, fill us with your calm confidence so that we will be like the well-planted
and watered trees, bearing fruit for your glory through Jesus Christ your Son
our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thursday 1
May April 2014
Evening
Prayer
Psalms 3 and 4
People who say that faith in God is pointless surround
the psalmist. Yet the psalmist prays and the prayers are answered: sleeps and
is sustained by God. There is no fear and the psalmist leaves any reprisals to
God.
The psalmist begins by acknowledging God’s grace and
comfort in the past and asks for prayers to be answered. The psalmist guides
us: when we are upset, we are not to do the wrong thing but take time ponder
what is going on, put aside our self, put our trust in God. If we want a sign from God, the psalmist
recounts that through prayer and right sacrifice the happiness and peace experienced
are the real signs of God’s presence.
Exodus 16: 22 – 17: 7
On the day before the Sabbath the people gathered
double the amount of bread. Moses told them to cook and eat what they needed
and the remainder would not spoil. God had provided so that no one needed to
leave their homes, they must rest. But some people went out. God asked Moses,
“How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and instructions?”(v.28).
Moses had Aaron keep some manna in the holy place so that people in future
generations could see what it was like.
1 Peter 4: 3 – 11
We have already had our wild days. Some of our old
friends get upset that we still aren’t there with them. From now on we are to
be aware that all things will end, to take seriously our discipline and
prayers, to love one another, be hospitable without complaining and, serve one
another with whatever skills we have and use those skills as if we are just
handing on the capacity of God. In this way God will be glorified through Jesus
Christ. God’s is the glory forever.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
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| Jan and Graham's Windmill at Sunset Armadale WA 2014 L Osburn |
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