21 August 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 21 August 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 121, 122 and 123

In these three psalms the themes are the eternal faithfulness of God and how he cares for us; the joy and gladness we experience as we enter the house of the Lord with a prayer for safety and peace in Jerusalem, and finally, a prayer for deliverance from those who ridicule and oppress us.

2 Chronicles 30: 13 – 27

During the festival all the altars to other gods are destroyed and removed. So many people come to the Passover festival that not all are able to make themselves ritually clean. Hezekiah prays for all present, clean or not, and emphasises their hearts that seek God. The festival is extended for another seven days. Hezekiah provides the livestock.  By the time the festival is over everyone knows their roles and procedures, the people including non-Jews from Judah and Israel are refocused on God and the priests and Levites give thanks.

Acts 19: 21 – 41

Paul is planning to continue his journey through Macedonia, to Jerusalem and back to Rome. He sends people on ahead.

Meanwhile in Ephesus, Demetirus who is a silversmith stirs up the artisans and the people saying that if Christianity takes hold their business, based around making figurines of Artemis, will be ruined; the temple to Artemis ignored. A confused and angry crowd forms. Paul is prevented from attending. A Jew, Alexander addresses them and is shouted down. Finally the town clerk addresses the crowd. He reminds them that everyone knows Ephesus is dedicated to Artemis. This cannot be denied. None of the accused people stole or harmed the temple. If there is a business issue take it to the proper courts and stop the demonstration because they are all at risk of being charged with rioting. The crowd disperses.

Collect for Morning Prayer

St Paul's Anglican Church
Deniliquin NSW 2014 L Osburn

Holy and gracious God, your care for us is eternal and unbounded. Bring us to you in our hearts. Direct our feet to places where we can worship you together and feel that great joy and gladness of entering your presence and that sense of community so that we may join together in prayers for safety and deliverance for all your people oppressed in this world and give you thanks for our lives of freedom through Jesus Christ our Lord and redeemer. Amen.

Thursday 21 August 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 119: 129 – 152

The psalmist declares a passion for the scripture and the commandments.  There is a request to learn and know them better. There too is recognition that others do not share this zeal and that leads to persecution. There is a plea to be saved from harm.

Song of Songs 7

Again the man describes the woman and all her features in luscious terms: a cornucopia of delight. She returns his loves and suggests they go outside into the fields and villages and see the flourishing of the world.

Romans 12: 9 – 21

Paul specifies how we are to behave so that we overcome evil with good. The list is long and detailed. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (v.18).

Collect for Evening Prayer

Protea Albany WA 2014
L Osburn

Loving God, you want us to be part of the flourishing of the world, each and every one of us. Help us to love you more and more each day and to grow in your truth and love so that we have the strength, ability and grace to bring your joy and peace to all through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen