11 April 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 11 April 2014

Morning Prayer

Psalms 95 and 96

Sing to God songs of praise for all things God has done for us. Be joyful. Make a noise. Do not harden your heart like the Israelites did when they were wandering in the wilderness.

Sing praise to the Lord! Ascribe to God the glory of creation. Let everything, the heavens, the trees, everything sing and praise God.

Jeremiah 43

The “insolent men” accuse Jeremiah of lying and of being influenced to allow the Babylonians to kill the remnant people in Judah. The whole group with Jeremiah and Baruch go to Egypt. On arrival God instructs Jeremiah to take large stones and bury them under Pharaoh’s pavement. He is told to prophesy that King Nebuchadrezzar will come and set up his canopy and throne above these stones and bring destruction and pestilence and death to Egypt. He will sack Egypt.

Matthew 23: 27 – 24:2

Jesus continues his condemnation of the hypocritical Pharisees and scribes who look righteous on the outside but are corrupt on the inside. Of their own admission they say that they too would have rejected the prophets if they came today. They set up rules so that the prophets will continue to be rejected. Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. He prophesies its destruction.

Collect for Morning Prayer

The Heavens
Denmark WA 2014 L Osburn

God of glory and God of might you made everything and you gave us the power to observe, to think and to make decisions. Guide our decisions today. Help us to discern your will and your purpose in our lives so that we too can positively contribute to your glory through Jesus Christ our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Friday 11 April 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 97 and 98

The first psalm celebrates God using the theme of God as sovereign. Let everyone who is faithful rejoice and praise God.

The psalm is a summons to all nations and people to praise the Lord and rejoice in this name. God’s is the victory, God’s is the strength and we are God’s people.

Exodus 10: 1 – 20

Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh again. The next plague will be locusts. Some of Pharaoh’s court counsel to let the Israelites go and worship else the whole country will be ruined. Pharaoh says yes then asks, “Who will go?” When Moses says everyone young and old and their flocks Pharaoh becomes suspicious and says he will only let the men go. Moses leaves then raises this staff and the greatest plague of locusts descends on the country. Pharaoh calls Moses, repents and agrees that the Israelites can go. As soon as Moses raises his staff again and the locusts leave Pharaoh recants. His heart is hardened.

Colossians 1: 18 – 23

Christ is the beginning of all things, the head of the church and the one through whom reconciliation with God is made possible for all.

Collect for Evening Prayer

First Light in the Bush. Armadale WA 2014
L Osburn

Great God of justice, when there are people with hardened hearts and minds, yours is the battle and yours is the victory. You are the creator of everything visible and invisible including great powers. Give us grace to sing your praises and to trust in you so that we demonstrate our faithfulness and your reconciling peace through Jesus Christ or redeemer and saviour. Amen.