15 September 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Monday 15 September 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 37: 1 – 17

There are people who do evil and prosper. Their presence is a challenge to us to choose faith, to do good things, to stay calm, to not get angry or envious of their wealth. Stay with the Lord and be patient. It is their story and God’s job if they continue to reject God.

Habakkuk 1: 1 – 11

Habakkuk asks God how long will we cry out for help against a ruthless enemy, a fierce impetuous nation that marches through the earth, seizing everything whose warriors are swifter than leopards and more menacing than wolves. They gather captives like sand and scoff at rulers and kings. Habakkuk asks how can God allow such treachery when the wicked destroy the righteous and when the evil one gathers the righteous in a net like fish? Is the evil one to keep destroying without mercy?

Matthew 4: 12 – 22

After Jesus’s temptation by the evil one and when he hears of John the Baptist’s arrest he withdraws to Capernaum, which in itself, fulfils a prophecy of Isaiah’s. There he begins his ministry. He meets Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew and the Zebedee son’s James and John and calls them to come with him and fish for people. They leave their nets, boats and families and follow Jesus.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Kookaburras in Gum Tree Building a Nest.
Kookaburras have a distinctive laughing call
heard over great distances.
Lake Mulwala NSW 2014 L Osburn

Holy and Almighty God you have been with your faithful people in times when ruthless enemies sweep through the earth and take those you love and those who faithfully proclaim you Lord of all. Help us now to reject the temptations of the evil one and to take time to hear your call to us. Enable us to act in ways that build a future based on your love and mercy through Jesus Christ who died for us. Amen.

Monday 15 September 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 37: 18 – 41

This portion of the psalm continues with examples of God’s retribution for the wicked and protection and salvation for the faithful and the meek.

1 Maccabees 1: 1 – 19

After Alexander the Great’s conquering reign and death the kingdom was divided up and the Seleucid’s reigned over Israel.

Antiochus Epiphanes is ruler and with the assistance of people, who compromise the Mosaic Law, begins a program of making Israel Hellenist and abandoning Jewish traditions. Antiochus, feeling secure, invades Egypt.

Ephesians 1: 1 – 14

Paul begins blessing God and saying how God, chose us before the creation of the world, has adopted us, redeemed us through Christ and forgiven us through grace. Through Christ we know God’s plan to gather us all, and for us to live praise and glorify God. As believers we are given the Holy Spirit as seal of God’s promise through Christ of our redemption and our inheritance.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Sand castles
Cape Le Grand National Park WA
2014 L Osburn

Holy and gracious God, you are the one who faithfully and steadfastly loves us and is gracious to us through the ages. Kings and mighty rulers come and go but you have loved us since before time. Help us to identify and acknowledge those moments we focused on you, your love and grace and were faithful to you today so that we, seeing these victories of your Holy Spirit in our lives, we may grow in strength, in love and in action. May our lives always be to your praise and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.