2 October 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 2 October 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 77

The psalmist is deeply distressed, not sleeping at night, feels alienated from God and wonders whether God has gone. He decides to remember all the blessings of the past and the evidence of God’s enduring protection. He ceases moaning and instead gives thanks.

Ezra 2: 64 – 3: 8

The people return from exile and give free will offerings for the construction of the temple. The altar is constructed first and the priests and Levites make offerings as prescribed by Mosaic Law. They celebrate the Festival of the Booths and 2 years after their arrival begin the foundation work for the temple.

Matthew 10: 1 – 15

Jesus appoints 12 of the disciples and gifts them with the authority to cast out unclean spirits, cure every disease and every sickness. His charge to them is that since they receive this gift without having to pay, neither should the people pay for the healing. They are to approach towns and houses in peace, if accepted offer blessings of peace but if rejected they are to be peace. They are to go as they are, without extra clothes or encumbrances.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Sculpture of a fisherman
Fremantle Harbour WA
2014 L Osburn

Gracious and generous God, your message is about our freedom. We may be alienated or exiled but through our free choice we can return to you. You grant us abilities to use for others: to pass it on. May we today freely give our abilities, given by your grace, so that the lives of others are made better through us, your peace flows through the world and we begin building the foundations for your kingdom through Jesus Christ who gave His life for us. Amen.

Thursday 2 October 2014

Evening 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.

1 Maccabees 4: 37 – 61

Judas, seeing that the enemies are crushed goes with his brothers to the ruins of the temple. They are distressed at what they see and mourn. They sent a group to fight the remaining enemy in the citadel, cleanse the sanctuary, dismantle the profaned altar and store the stones They build a new altar. Then begins the rebuilding and refurbishment. When completed all celebrate and Judas declares an annual celebration of the temple. Finally they fortify the city walls and set up a garrison to protect Jerusalem.

Colossians 2: 1 – 7

Paul wants us to be encouraged and united in love, to have assured understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery: Christ. As we have received Christ we are to continue to live our lives, rooted, established and ground in Christ and to give thanks.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Taking flight
Mandurah Estuary WA 2014 L Osburn

Holy and Almighty God you have provided your faithful people with the strongest foundations for life with you: the story of your relationship with us told through tradition, the temple and your presence and most of all through Christ. Lift our hearts in celebration, thanks and praise to you Holy Lord for all these gifts of your love through Jesus Christ our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.