27 September 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Saturday 27 September 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 68: 1 – 20

A psalm of praise to a practical God, our God. We are provided with the practical necessities homes, care for orphans and widows, water, food, crops, protection, peace and God’s presence – relationship.

Joel 2: 12 – 24

The people are called to repentance, to rend their hearts not their clothes. They are called to fast from the smallest baby to the highest priest. God answers with a remission of the plague and the coming of early rains so that food, oil and wine production can begin again.

Matthew 8: 23 – 34

Jesus gets in a boat and while on the lake a storm front hits. Jesus is asleep but the disciples, afraid for their lives wake him. He tells them they have little faith – since he is with them. Gets up and tells the storm to stop. It stops. The disciples are amazed.

On the shore two people who live around the tombs and possessed by demons recognise Christ as the Son of God and recognise his power. The demons ask to be released from the humans and put into the grazing pigs. The pigs rush down the slope and drown themselves. The herder runs to town to report the event and the townspeople beg Jesus to leave.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Support beams Sue's bridge
Blackwood River WA
2014 L Osburn

Powerful and compassionate God you love us and protect us from plagues, storms, and demons: nothing is too great for you. And you ask us to open our hearts to you, to be calm and confident in our relationship with you: you are with us. Keep our hearts open to you today so that we in our daily practical tasks build and strengthen our relationship with you through Jesus Christ our Lord, companion and friend. Amen.

Saturday 27 September 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 68: (21 – 23) 24 – 35

This section of the psalm moves first to the fierce protection God provides for his people and then to a procession and celebration of God and the people of Israel, united in Jerusalem at the temple.

1 Maccabees 3: 1 – 26

Judas Maccabeus takes command of the army, puts on a breastplate and begins a campaign to rid the land of those who broke the Law and those who troubled the faithful people. He wins a battle against Apollonius governor of Samaria and though greatly outnumbered, with the aid of God wins a great battle against Seron the commander of the Syrian army. “It is not the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from heaven” (v.19).

Ephesians 6: 10 – 24

Paul advises us to put on the armour of God and to know that our enemies are not flesh and blood people. The enemies are the cosmic powers of darkness and spiritual forces of evil: not people. Our armour therefore is the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes to proclaim the gospel, a shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit. We are to pray in the spirit at all times and pray for fellow Christians everywhere.

He ends asking for prayers for him and introducing Tychicus who will bring the letter to them and blesses the Ephesians.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Farm Tool Crucifix
New Norcia Benedictine Community WA
2014 L Osburn

Holy and Almighty God you protect us and want us to be united with you and each other. You call us to the great campaign. This night, help us review our armour: that we read and know your truth, that we love you and love others as you love us, that we are willing to proclaim your gospel and step out in faith confident in the salvation you won for us and in the strength of your Holy Spirit, so that we may in the days to come faithfully do your will and bring your peace and glory to our world through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.