15 August 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 15 August 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 104: 1 – 25

Great hymn to the creator: clouds, sea, mountains, water, grass, and creatures, wine … the list goes on.  In wisdom God has made it all.

2 Chronicles 26: 16 – 27: 9

As King Uzziah ages he becomes proud and enters the temple to a place where only the consecrated priests go. Azariah the priest goes in after him with 80 other priests. Azariah explains. Uzziah becomes angry with the priests and a leprous disease breaks out on his forehead. The priests hurry him out. He has to live away from the palace and can never again come to the temple.

His son, Jotham manages the royal household and on Uzziah’s death becomes king. Jotham is loyal to God and the kingdom prospers.

Acts 17: 15 – 21

Paul waits in Athens. He is disturbed by the amount of idol worship and thus argues his position in the synagogue and in the marketplace. Some philosophers debate with him. Some think he has cobbled together slivers of knowledge but they are inquisitive to know what he has to say. They invite him to speak at the Areopagus (a council that keeps and administers law).

Collect for Morning Prayer

Ros and Sherryl's focus table for worship
on the theme of creation
St Mark's South Hurstville 2014 L Osburn

Holy Lord, you have created all there is including nations and powers. We are right to seek you and to be inquisitive about you. Help us to always have an open mind and heart to you and never to be so proud that we think we can summon you. May we always approach you humbly and with reverence so that our actions encourage others to inquire and approach you with respect through Jesus Christ our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Friday 15 August 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 104: 26 – 37

This part of the psalm reinforces that all things natural and man made rely on the mercy of God for their existence and sustenance. The psalmist prays that the earth be returned to its sin free state. Bless the Lord.

Song of Songs 2

The woman is enraptured by love. She warns other women not to awaken love until it is ready. She describes a spring visit using playful and luscious language to convey the meeting of the lovers.

Romans 10: 14 – 21

Paul, having just said that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, now questions how that can occur unless the good news of Jesus is proclaimed. He talks about the world needing people to be sent for this task.

He returns to his focus on the Jews who have been sent messengers of the good news including Moses and Isaiah and yet are not calling on Jesus as Lord. Paul says that Israel continues to be a contrary people.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Jan and Graham's garden
Armadale WA 2014 L Osburn

Loving, tender God, your creation shows your love for us. Your sacrifice shows your love for us greater than any lover, more luscious than spring. Open our hearts and voices to tell others about you so that they may awaken to your love and call upon your name through your Son Jesus our Lord.