14 April 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Monday 14 April 2014

Morning Prayer

Psalm 21

This is a song of thanksgiving for the victory and establishment of the king. The psalm then talks of how tough God will be on his own enemies. The psalm ends singing praise to God.

Lamentations 1: 1 – 12

Jerusalem is compared to a young woman now grieving like a widow, empty, friendless, loveless and children taken.  She remembers her days of glory and compares that to the current state – this causes her to groan. In the past, she paid no attention to the future and the things she did wrong were inside her skin. She has become worthless. “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?” (v.12).

Mark 11: 27 – 12: 12

The chief priests scribes and elders ask Jesus by what authority he does his ministry. He asks, did John the Baptist’s ministry come from God? If they say no, the people will rebel and if they say yes, then they need to accept God’s authority given to Jesus. They say they do not know. Jesus says neither will he answer.

He tells a parable of the vineyard put into the hands of tenants – but they seize and beat agents sent to collect the owner’s share of the produce. Some they kill. So the owner sends his son and they kill him too. When the owner comes what will he do to the tenants?

Jesus quotes a verse from a psalm about the rejected stone being the one that holds the walls of the city together.

The chief priests scribes and elders realise Jesus is talking about them and leave.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Paperbark Tree Mandurah Estuary
WA 2014 L Osburn

Liberating God your commandments are clear that we should love you with all our heart, mind and strength. You sent Christ to help us know you are with us wherever we are: not just in one city, not in a form of worship or sacrifice. Our relationship with you is “in our skin”, available to all, by grace, won through Jesus’s death and resurrection. Be with us in what we do today. Help us stay true to you so that we may love you with our heart, mind and strength through Jesus Christ our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Monday 14 April 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 25

In this psalm, the psalmist commits his life and actions to God. He asks for forgiveness, guidance, education and safety from distress and enemies. He requests integrity and uprightness while he waits.

Lamentations 2: 8 – 19

This lament describes in full horror the destruction of Jerusalem. The walls are down and the city in ruin, leaders are among the crowds, rudderless. Prophets are found false, older women are mourning and immobile. Children are fainting from starvation and young women are dead on the ground. All demolished without pity.

2 Corinthians 5: 14 – 21

We are urged on by Christ’s death to know that he died for us all. Those who accept Christ are a new creation. We need to see them in this new way, letting go all their past. Making a fresh start.

Christ reconciles the world to God and does not count our errors. We are the ambassadors taking that message out to all and so we appeal to everyone to be reconciled with God through Christ.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Eucalypt Shedding its Bark
Armadale WA 2014 L Osburn

Gentle saving God, you have reconciled us to you through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Be with us now as we sit with our own memories and conscience, and as we sit with the memories of others. Help us with integrity and uprightness to pass on your most generous grace so that we may again feel truly reconciled to you and offer that freedom to others through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.