18 August 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Monday 18 August 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 107: 1 – 22

Whether we are lost in a dry place, imprisoned or sick we are encouraged to “cry to the Lord whose steadfast love endures forever”.

2 Chronicles 28: 16 – 29: 11

King Ahaz, after all these raids and more invasions calls upon the King of Assyria for help. Instead Assyria also oppresses Judah. Ahaz distressed, fails to turn back to God. He worships the gods of Damascus, closes the temple and destroys all the utensils or worship there. He builds altars to other gods all over Judah. When he dies the people bury him but not in the tomb of the kings.

Ahaz’s son Hezekiah begins to rule when he is 25. He is faithful to God. In his first year he reopens the door of the temple and repairs them. He assembles priests and Levites, admits the unfaithfulness of the forefathers and charges them to faithfully and diligently serve the Lord, to be his ministers and to make offerings to him.

Acts 18: 1 – 17

Paul travels to Corinth where he finds Aquila and Priscilla who are Jews from Rome. Claudius Caesar has expelled all Jews from Rome. Paul works with Aquila making tents and preaches at the synagogue. When Silas and Timothy arrive Paul is being unsuccessful with the Jews and so turns to proclaim the good news to the rest of the people. The church in Corinth begins. Paul has a dream where he is told no harm will come to him. The Jews take Paul before the proconsul on religious grounds. The proconsul rejects the case since it has nothing to do with Roman Law. The Jews beat Sosthenes, an official of the synagogue, in front of the tribunal and the proconsul pays no attention.

Collect for Morning Prayer

The Old Pier at Eucla WA 2014 E Byford

Unlimited and steadfast God, you provide us with freedom to worship you and recognition that there is no power on earth that can separate you from us. Be with us now, especially those of us who are besieged, desperate and distressed. Help us to stop, to step away from sin, frantic action and looking in all the wrong places and instead to focus on you. Soften our hearts so that we call to you only through Jesus Christ our Lord, redeemer and saviour. Amen

Monday 18 August 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 107: 23 – 43

The psalmist recalls some of God’s saving and restoring actions – saving sailors and bringing rain to the desert. We are reminded that faithfulness leads to hope and pride leads to being brought low. We are to call on the Lord for our great provision.

Song of Songs 4

The man describes the woman like a beautiful locked garden. He compares her to the beauty and fragrance of the place. He calls to her to come from Lebanon and be his bride.

Romans 11: 13 – 24

Paul accepts that some Jews will not accept the gospel and that opens the opportunity for the people from other nations to be reconciled to God. When Jews believe it strengthens the whole. Paul uses a metaphor of an olive tree. God is the rootstock and believers the branches. Non-believing Jews are like pruned branches. Faithful Christian people from other nations are like grafted on branches from a wild olive. We are not to be proud of being a branch. We need to be proud of the rootstock and keep strong in the faith. We too can be pruned. And any Jewish person is easier to graft back in.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Red Tingle Trees

The walkway (middle of picture) is 40 metres above the ground

Valley of the Giants Walpole WA 2014 L Osburn

God of miracles, you can calm wild seas and save sailors and make deserts bloom. Call us to you, help us throw away our pride and come to your love so that we may feel that strong attachment to you, as strong as a mature branch on an ancient olive tree knowing we are with you, fed and nurtured and sustained by you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.