17 April 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 17 April 2014 – Maundy Thursday

Morning Prayer

Psalm 55

This psalm again is someone asking for God’s aid when assailed by enemies, but this time the enemies are people who were good friends, companions, colleagues, with whom the psalmist worshipped: the people most trusted. The deep pain of this betrayal is made clear. The psalmist however angry and hurt will lay this burden on the Lord who will sustain. The psalmist will stay calm and trust in God.

Leviticus 16: 2 – 24

This is a description of the early priestly rituals for atoning for personal sins and community sins through sacrifice and the laying of the community’s sins on a goat that was then freed into the wilderness – to escape. No one is allowed into the holy part of the temple without the incense to hide the presence of God. Only the priest is allowed in to this holy space behind the curtain.

Mark 14: 1 – 11

Jesus is in Jerusalem. The Passover festival is coming. The chief priests and elders conspire to arrest and kill him gains momentum. The conspirators want to avoid a riot. Whatever happens cannot be at Passover.

The story shifts to Bethany at Simon the leper’s house. A woman pours expensive ointment from an alabaster jar over Jesus’s head. Jesus accepts this gift as preparation for his burial. There were others who complain about the waste and that the ointment should be sold instead to feed the poor.

Judas goes to the chief priests and offers to betray Jesus. The priests are pleased, offer him money and Judas begins to plan opportunities for the betrayal.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Painting on church wall 
using sgraffito  technique*,
New Norcia Benedictine AbbeyWA 2014 L Osburn

Eternal God you have given us your scriptures. Through them you teach us the significance of events and to know who Jesus is. We are in awe that texts written thousands of years earlier point us to knowing and understanding Christ and his sacrifice for us. Be with us today as we consider the betrayal, and as we sit with that pain and sorrow of broken relationships so that we can fully appreciate Christ’s love and concern for us that sustained him through his passion through Jesus Christ our Lord and the working of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Thursday 17 April 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 136

This is a great song of praise and almost written in “rap form”.  Speak of any of the gifts and marvels of God then add, “… for his steadfast love endures forever”.

The psalm chronicles all the reasons why we should praise the Lord for his steadfast and enduring love.

Exodus 24: 1 – 11

This is a description of the ratification of the first covenant between God and the children of Israel as mediated by Moses. A great vision of a sapphire pavement for God’s throne room is presented.

Colossians 2: 8 – 15  

Paul writes warning us not to get caught up in philosophy and argument but to understand that the whole fullness of God is in Christ. And we therefore are raised with Christ through faith in the power of God. God has made us alive again, no longer dead in sin – our records have been wiped clean.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Whimsically: Keep us the right way up, cheerfully!
A boat in Fremantle Harbour WA
2014 L Osburn

God of glory, God of wonder, and God of grace we praise you and thank you for your promises to us: life giving, free and eternal. May we this night, focus on your sublime gift to us so that we rise in the morning refreshed praising your glorious name and ready to live and work to your praise and glory through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

*sgraffito: the surface of the wall is scraped away to reveal layers of paint below. It is a deliberately rough and stark form of art for the stations of the cross. Close examination of the painting shows the modern western young people turning away from the cross while people of all other cultures and even astronauts, are turning to the cross.