5 June 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 5 June 2014

Morning Prayer   

Psalms 82 and 84

The first psalm sets a scene of God judging all the other Gods. They lack knowledge or compassion. They will be destroyed. The psalmist petitions God alone to judge the earth.

A day living in the presence of God is better than anything imaginable. A day on to journey to God’s dwelling place is filled with refreshment: “they go from strength to strength” (v. 7).

Numbers 24: 12 – 25

Balaam (diviner from Mesopotamia) reminds Balak (king of Moab) that no matter how much he is paid, only God’s words will come from his mouth. He will return home but before he does he tells Balak what Israel will do. Balaam foretells a great leader with symbols of a king will rise and Moab and the surrounding kingdoms will be no more. Both go home.

John 17: 20 – 26

Jesus prays for all those who will be brought to faith by the disciples – the church universal. He asks that they have God and Jesus in them just as Jesus and God are one so that the world may believe.

Jesus has given to us the glory he received from God so that we all may be one and that we know God loves us just as God loves Jesus. Jesus also prays that we may be with him in glory.

Jesus has started the world knowing God by showing the disciples and making God known so that God’s love, in Jesus may be in them.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Joy and refreshment in a water playground
Central Perth WA 2014 L Osburn

Our God of joyful unity we praise you and give you thanks for the myriad of way you have made yourself known to us and most especially through the gift of Jesus your Son our Lord. Make us open today to feel that unimaginable joy of being one with you in love, so that all your community of faith may be refreshed in our journey to you and in our mission to bring the world to belief in you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Thursday 5 June 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 85 and 87

The first psalm reminds us all of God’s forgiveness and historical evidence of restoring people of faith. The psalmist asks for quiet to listen to God who will speak peace to the faithful and give salvation. “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other” (v.10).

The second psalm is of praise for Zion, the mother city of believers everywhere. It is the basis for the hymn “Glorious things of you are spoken, Zion city of our God.”

Deuteronomy 32: 23 – 38

Moses continues the song describing the wrath of God in all its forms on God’s enemies and the enemies of a faithful Israel.

1 Corinthians 13

Paul continues about the gifts of the spirit and puts love, the love and concern for others as the greatest gift of the spirit. We can identify it. There are behavioural indicators: patience, kindness, lacking envy, not boasting, never arrogant or rude, not insisting on one’s own way, not irritable or resentful, not celebrating wrongdoing but celebrating truth. Love endures. Whereas other spiritual gifts can come and go, most of them will only be fully experienced when we are face-to-face with God. Meanwhile, the three top gifts are faith, hope and love. Of these, love is the principal gift of the spirit.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Luscious ceramic hen. Armadale WA
2014 L Osburn

Fiercely loving God, you love us through and through. You have shown your overwhelming love by sending Christ to die for us and to redeem us. You have sent your Holy Spirit to sustain us and keep your love in our hearts. As we reflect on today, help us remember those times when people demonstrated your love to us and we to others. Fill our hearts with joy and thanks for all these gifts through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and your Holy Spirit. Amen.