25 July 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 25 July 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 62 and 63

For God my soul waits in silence: my salvation and my hope come from God. All people and things and powers are temporary. God is our rock and fortress and we shall not be shaken.

As a drought-ravaged land seeks water so our souls seek God. God’s love is better than life. God’s love is like a rich feast. Meditating on God causes our souls to sing.

The psalm ends with a plea for personal security.

Amos 9: 1 – 6

Amos continues to report the word of God on the destruction of Israel. In lyrical prose he leaves us with no doubt that God will seek out, find and destroy Israel. The people will be killed or taken in captivity.

John 8: 1 – 11

Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives. Next morning he goes to the temple. He begins to teach and then the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery and ask Jesus whether she should be stoned according to Mosaic Law. Jesus draws with his finger in the dirt before answering. They pester him for an answer so he stands. He challenges them to throw a stone if they themselves are sin free. He lowers himself again and draws again in the dirt. One by one, elders first they go away. Jesus stands and asks where did they go and is there no one left to condemn her? She says no. He will not condemn her either and she is to go and sin no more.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Eucalypt
Eucla WA 2014 L Osburn

Almighty God, our souls yearn for you. We wait in silence for your loving kindness for your love is like a rich feast. Give us grace to respond to others in your love remembering our temporary and fragile natures so that all may be free from persecution through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Friday 25 July 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 64 and 67

The first psalm is about those who do evil and think no one can see or hear them. God knows. God sees. God will respond. Let the righteous rejoice and take refuge in God.

The second psalm is a blessing. “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us” (v 1). The blessing asks too that our lives be testament to God’s glory. May the whole world sing praise and rejoice.

Ezekiel 35

Ezekiel prophesies against Edom for they continued an ancient enmity, attacked God’s people and sought to annex the land God had given to their own. God will treat these people in the same way they treated the Israelites. Then they will know that God is God.

Romans 3: 9 – 20

Paul clarifies for all that all of us have sinned. The Law tells the Jews what actions break the Law. None of them can keep the Law. So, on our own, no human is without sin before God.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Sunset Armadale
WA 2014 L Osburn

Eternal God, you know us. You know whether we have let go past enmities, injuries and hurts. Be with us this night as we bring all our failings to you secure in the knowledge of your forgiveness won by Jesus Christ your Son and our saviour so that we may rest in your love, wake tomorrow refreshed and live lives that are a testament to you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.