30 July 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Wednesday 30 July 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 72

This psalm asks that the King be blessed. Justice, righteousness, prosperity for the people and production, defence of the poor and deliverance for the needy and oppressed are requested. May the king live long and be gentle. Peace, dominion, abundance, compassion are all in this appeal. The psalm ends praising and blessing God who makes all thing possible.

Hosea 2: 14 – 3: 5

God proposes to win Israel back to sow the fields again, to have pity and to call Israel his people.

Hosea is required to buy his wife and care for her but not have intercourse with her.

God, having restored Israel will leave her without a king or leadership for a while and then Israel will seek God and a king of David’s house.

John 9: 1 – 17

Jesus and the disciples encounter a blind man. The disciples ask whose sins cause the man to be blind, his own or the sins of his parents? Jesus answers neither. The man is blind so that God’s glory can be revealed. Jesus heals the man. People who know the man question him and take him to the Pharisees to verify the healing. In questioning the man who now sees, says he thinks Jesus is a prophet.

Collect for Morning Prayer

A school of ? - just below the surface
Bussleton WA 2014 L Osburn

Compassionate and generous God, you have redeemed us all and opened up the way to healing, clear vision and direction. Help us to identify what we can give back out of your abundance so that we become vehicles of your blessing and compassion for others through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Wednesday 30 July 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 73

The psalmist begins saying how good God is and then confesses that he is about to lose his belief because of envy of the success and prosperity and apparent freedom from care the wicked possess. It bothers him daily and he is tempted to talk about it but decides it would lead others astray. So he goes into the sanctuary and prays. Through prayer he understands that what appears to be success and freedom is temporary – like a dream. The psalmist recognises his own failings and reaffirms the value of being with God, being guided by God and being valued by God. Even if flesh fails God is our strength, our refuge and we can, with that support tell of all God’s works.

Ezekiel 37: 15 – 28

God tells Ezekiel to get two sticks. On one he is to write the houses of Judah and the other the houses of Israel, and join them together to make one stick. Ezekiel is to explain that God will reunite Israel and Judah under God’s rule and one Prince of the house of David.

Romans 5: 1 – 11

Paul reminds us that our faith brings peace and access to God’s grace. Our sufferings and concerns build our capacity for faith and hope. Hope does not disappoint. We are reconciled to God through the death of Jesus and that happened while we were separated, enemies, before we ever repented. So, now we are reconciled we are saved and that is something to celebrate.

Collect for Evening Prayer

The joyous climb
Bussleton WA 2014 L Osburn

Gracious God, you have done everything to enable us to be united with you. As we come to you in faith, prayer and hope fill us with the joy of reconciliation so that we may live our days celebrating your love through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.