8 May 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 8 May 2014 

Morning Prayer   

Psalms 20 and 21: 1 – 7 (8 – 13)

The first psalm begins as a bidding prayer asking that the King’s prayers be heard and answered. God is the one in the community trusts, not men or chariots. The second psalm takes this theme of the power being with God and the King’s dependence on God in all things.

Leviticus 25: 1 – 24

When the Israelites enter the land they are promised they are to care for it and make sure that every 7^th year is a rest year for the land. And every 49^th year there shall be a jubilee when no crops are sown. The people live on what has been stored and what the land naturally produces. They are to return. When they buy and sell land, they are not buying the land. The land is God’s. They are only buying the right to the land for 49 years.

John 10: 1 – 18

Jesus compares himself to a shepherd. There is only one shepherd for the sheep. Anyone else is a thief. The sheep know the shepherd they follow and the shepherd goes ahead first.

To get to good pasture, to get to safety the sheep can only go through and with the shepherd – so he is the gate, or the way.

Jesus isn’t just any hired hand shepherd, he is the Good Shepherd and will lay his life down for his sheep… moreover he lays his life down to bring all sheep into safety. He ends saying that his laying down of his life is a free choice and he has the power to take it up again.

Collect for Morning Prayer

"Hear the sheep in the early morning" Armadale WA
2014 L Osburn

Almighty God you are trustworthy, steadfast and show us the way to live in peace with each other, care for the land, sustain ourselves and enter your kingdom. You want good things for us and so laid down your life for us. We praise you and thank you.  Give us your grace today to do what is right and what brings peace, care and sustenance to all for the glory of your kingdom through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thursday 8  May April 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 24 and 26

The Lord of hosts is the King of glory, is the focus of this psalm. The world and everything in it is God’s. Those who aspire to heaven are the pure and righteous.

The second psalm is from a person who is faithful and has integrity and who has been falsely accused. The psalm asks God to look inside and to bring redemption.

Exodus 22: 20 – 23: 3

“Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than The Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction” (v.20). Then follows a series of commands to treat aliens well, care for the poor, widows and orphans. Compassion is required. God and the people’s leader should not be cursed. Make an offering from all production quickly. Dedicate your heirs to God. Be just and honest: no false reports, no malicious witness, no joining in with the crowd to do something you know is wrong, no siding with the majority to pervert the course of justice and no partiality in judgements – even for the poor.

1 Corinthians 2: 1 – 11

Paul explains that when he came to Corinth he was afraid because he is not an eloquent speaker and all he had was the demonstration of the Spirit and power. Paul is not to be revered, God is. Leaders and the wise in broader society do not understand what God’s wisdom is revealing. The key is the human spirit; it is the thing that makes humans human. Only the Spirit of God is able to know what is truly God.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Mandurah Waves (Indian Ocean) WA
2014 L Osburn

Holy God, you are the King of glory and your spirit knows us well. You have given us guidance in the ancient texts that show us the right spirit in human hearts. Only your Spirit and its work in our lives, helps us hear and respond to you, to your way and to your wisdom. As we examine our day help us see the choices we made, aid us to listen to your Spirit and bring those choices to you, so that tomorrow we can rise refreshed, restored and step out again to do your will and bring glory to you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.