7 August 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 7 August 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 90

This is a group lament. There is a separation from God and a plea that there be as many days connected to God as there have been separation. The psalmist asks for God’s compassion on the people and that the work of human hands may prosper.

The psalmist asks that we be satisfied in the morning with God’s steadfast love so that we may rejoice and be glad everyday.

Hosea 9: 1 – 12 (13 – 17)

Hosea tells of the consequences of Israel’s rejection of God and particularly those parts of Israel where the people are worshipping a fertility God. There will be destruction, invasion, people taken to Egypt, crop failures, death of children and failed pregnancies. Everything in life will fail. The people will wander the nations.

John 11: 55 – 12: 11

Passover is coming and everyone is wondering whether Jesus will come to the festival.

Six days before the festival Jesus arrives at Mary, Martha and Lazarus’s home. They dine together. Mary anoints Jesus’s feet with a costly perfume. Judas Iscariot complains about the waste of resources that could be used for welfare. At this point the writer of the gospels tells us the complaint is not genuine since Judas steals from the common funds. Jesus honours Mary’s gift. Ministry to the poor is part of what we will continue to do: gifts don’t remove our duty of care for others.

A crowd gathers both to see Jesus and Lazarus. The chief priests plan to kill Jesus and Lazarus since the people believe in Jesus on account of both of them.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Morning Armadale WA
2014 L Osburn

God of the here and now, your presence fills us with joy, overwhelming praise and thanksgiving pouring onto you all we have and all we are. Keep us aware that you are here with us every moment so that we never experience the destructive power that comes from your absence and so that we live lives of joy and thanks and praise through Jesus Christ, Emanuel our Lord. Amen.

Thursday 7 August 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 119: 89 – 104

The psalmist expresses faith in God’s word – commitment to God and the law. The psalm also shows the effect of the scriptures on the psalmist through meditation, understanding and a guide for life.

Lamentations 2: 11 – 22

The city is in ruin, children starve, people are dead or dying and enemies rejoice and ridicule. It is clear that the prophets were false and misleading. Even though God warned long ago. No one is spared, neither new baby nor priest in the temple.

Romans 8: 9 – 17

Paul says that when the Spirit of God dwells in us we are no longer led by selfish passions. The spirit energises us. We have a great debt. Through no action of our own God has adopted us. When we cry Abba (Daddy) it is our spirit recognising this gift, that we are with Christ, God’s children.

Collect for Evening Prayer

The great leap!
Busselton WA 2014 L Osburn

Nurturing loving energising God, you relieve us of all the things that lead us to destruction. You guide us to life and life in its fullness. You guide us too to read your word and learn from the experiences of your people of faith across the centuries. We praise you for the gift of adoption through the death and passion of Christ. Keep our hearts and minds open and reminded that we are your precious children, all of us, so that we too can assist others to come into your care and love through Jesus Christ, Amen.