3 August 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 3 August 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 78: 1 – 15

The psalmist encourages people to tell the stories of God and his relationship with the people to their children, in parables, the old sayings, the history, decrees and miracles so that they will not be stubborn or rebellious.

Matthew 15: 1 – 9

Pharisees and scribes seek Jesus to challenge him on why his disciples do not wash their hands before eating. Jesus responds asking why the Jews break the commandment of honouring the mother and the father by giving the wealth that should have been used for the parents’ support to the temple. Jesus called them hypocrites and recites Isaiah on how people honour God with words but their hearts have another direction and their worship is in vain.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Sculpture of fisher
Fremantle Harbour WA 2014 L Osburn

Holy Lord, great defender of truth, your relationship with people of faith guides us on how to live faithfully with you. Give us the courage to live our lives with integrity so that the words of our mouths, callings of our heart and our actions in this world are all acceptable in your sight through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the presence of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Sunday 3 August 2014

Evening Prayer

Genesis 31: 43a and 44 – 32: 2

Jacob and his father-in-law Laban set up a covenant between them. In their own languages they name the place. For Laban, he seeks to ensure Jacob will not maltreat his daughters and that Jacob takes no other wives so that Laban’s descendants are provided for. Jacob wants assurance that Laban will not go beyond this place to seek to harm Jacob. They pray for God to witness this covenant.

Jacob and his family go on their way and are met by angels. He names the place Mahanaim, meaning angels.

Psalm 145: 14 – 21

God is faithful, gracious, upholds people while they are falling, raises up people who are oppressed. God provides as required in time and with justice. God hears, saves and watches us. We will praise the Lord and all living things will bless God forever.

Romans 10: 17 – 11: 6

Paul explains that the Jews have been told and told about the good news and that scripture shows this. It isn’t too hard for them to understand since people from other countries can grasp it. It is by God’s grace that people – Jews and people from other countries – come to know and come to faith. It is not by good works; otherwise it would not be grace.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Fremantle Harbour
WA 2014 L Osburn

God who liberates our lives and souls, by your grace open our ears, eyes, hearts and minds to you and to your message to us through your scriptures so that we may negotiate our way through this broken world and bring your glorious freedom to all through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.