10 April 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 10 April 2014

Morning Prayer

Psalms 92 and 93

In the first psalm God’s faithfulness and steadfast love is praised. On this occasion the King’s enemies have failed in some other place and are no more. Everything has been restored. The righteous people prosper.

In the second psalm God’s greatness is praised – more powerful than floods, more powerful than the seas. God’s commandments are sure and God lives in holiness

Jeremiah 42: 7 – 22

It takes Jeremiah 10 days to have a clear message to tell the people. His prophecy is that if they stay the Babylonians will treat them mercifully. Their communities will be established and grow. If however, they go to Egypt they will be overtaken by the Babylonians, killed, encounter famine and illness and die. Jeremiah is very clear about the prophecy and knows the people do not obey what God says. He is aware that they have decided to go to Egypt.

Matthew 23: 13 – 26

Jesus delivers his indictment on the scribes and Pharisees who are operating on the form and display and the superficial in worship and their daily lives but not on the core of God. They tie people up in rules and forms of worship, of tithes for produce but not tithing justice, mercy or faith. As a result they have their priorities wrong. He charges them to get their internal house in order: to clean up their internal lives and step away from valuing and revering the appearance of belief.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Pelican Denmark WA
2014 L Osburn

Merciful and loving God you ask that we love you with all our hearts, minds and strength. Help today to do this deeply and reverently in all our actions and not be distracted by things or processes or places as if they can deliver your goodness. Keep our hearts and minds turned to you so that we honour you and deliver your freedom and your love to others through Jesus Christ our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thursday 10 April 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 94

The psalmist calls people to remember that God does can and will act for the righteous. We are all reminded that nothing is hidden from God who formed all ears, all types of eyes. Will God not be able to see or hear what we are up to? The psalmist writes that disciplined believers are blessed, that the Lord is there for them and consoles. The Lord helps.

Exodus 9: 13 – 35

The next plague on Egypt is hail. The hail is the heaviest ever experienced. All creatures and people left outside die, the flax and the barley crops are ruined. Some Egyptians who heed the warning get their people and livestock to shelter. The others die. The Israelite land of Goshen has no hail. Pharaoh admits he is wrong and allows the Israelites to go and worship. Moses is wise and gets himself out of the city before he stops the hail. As soon as the hail stops, Pharaoh changes his mind again. His heart is hardened.

Ephesians 2: 11 – 22

This communication is to all who are not of the Jewish nation – all people from the other nations of the world. In and through Christ we have been made one group of people who have direct access to God and to God’s mercy and saving grace. Through Christ’s death on the cross all separation and hostility are gone. We are citizens with the saints and “built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God” (v.22).

Collect for Evening Prayer

Pelicans Denmark WA
2014 L Osburn

Loving and compassionate God, we thank you that you care for us all and for those who take you seriously. We praise you for coming to us, living with us and suffering death on the cross to make it clear that we are all yours, all part of your kingdom and all members of your great eternal company. Help us this evening to come quietly to your dwelling place in our hearts, to take a precious moment to be with you and to be refreshed and consoled through Jesus Christ to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.