22 April 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Tuesday 22 April 2014 

Morning Prayer   

Psalm 112

This is a psalm of blessing. It blesses those who fear the Lord and gives a list of their characteristics: security, righteousness, wealth, generosity, unafraid of evil, firm faith, secure in the Lord, generously giving to the poor and shunned by the wicked.

Isaiah 60: 12 – 21

The new Jerusalem will be the praise of the earth and people will come to it and send gifts: great wealth and treasure to make her great and beautiful.  God will be present in her eternally. The lights will never go out. There will be peace. Former enemies will bless her. When the time is right God will accomplish this quickly.

John 20: 19 – 31

On the evening of that first day when Mary sees Jesus, the disciples gather in a room and the door is locked. They are afraid. Jesus stands before them and allows them to touch his wounds. He gives them the Holy Spirit.

Thomas is not there. The disciples tell him what had happened. A week later they gather again. Jesus appears again. Jesus offers Thomas the same opportunity as the disciples. Thomas immediately says “My Lord and my God”. Jesus blesses those who will believe without seeing. Jesus does other signs but they have not been recorded.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Cape Le Grand National Park WA
2014 L Osburn

Loving Lord, you kept revealing yourself to the disciples and others so that they could believe and understand. You took these lessons at their pace and you gave them more, your Holy Spirit. Help us today and every day to hold you in our hearts so that we, like the new Jerusalem can shine with your glory and act like a beacon for others through Jesus Christ our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 113

Praise the Lord. God cares for the poor and raises them up. God cares for the childless and gives them experiences of motherhood. God lifts the grieving to joy.

Exodus 12: 21 – 36

This section gives greater detail of the Passover – the actions of the people and what they are instructed to tell their children and grandchildren about the Passover observance. It tells of Pharaoh’s insistence that the people leave and leave a blessing for him behind. The people ask the Egyptians for gifts and they are given them. Their bread is unleavened at the time of their departure and they leave with everything they can – all their flocks.

1 Peter 1: 10 – 17

The ancient prophets talked about the presence and suffering of Christ. They did not do it to help themselves but for us, the people who come to know about Christ after his resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The charge to us is to get ready, be disciplined, set our hopes on Christ: to not get caught up in how we were before we found out about Christ, or all those things that took our attention or seemed important. Instead be holy in all our conduct “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (v.16).

Collect for Evening Prayer

Cape Le Grand National Park WA
2014 L Osburn

Holy God, your care for us through the ages is overwhelming. Your gifts to us are eternal. Be with us now as we reflect on our day. Help us be aware of the times we were holy and disciplined and strengthen us to build our capacity to honour through setting our hope on you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.