25 October 2014
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Saturday 25
October 2014
Morning
Prayer
Psalm 135
This psalm is a song of praise and thanksgiving to
God. It calls upon the priestly tribes of Israel to praise the Lord.
There is a warning too, those who follow the idols of
silver and gold will be like them: have eyes yet not see, have ears yet not
hear have mouths yet not breath.
Nehemiah 1: 1 – 2: 8
Nehemiah is a servant in the palace of Artaxerxes when
he gets news of Jerusalem’s utter destruction. He prays fervently, confesses
the sins of his family and of the people and reminds God of the promise to
Moses that if people return to God he will gather them from the ends of the
earth and bring them to the place God has chosen. When he serves, the king
notices he is glum and asks the cause. Nehemiah prays immediately then
bravely requests and receives permission to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the
city and to take wood from the forest for the beams of the temple gates, the
fortress of the city and the house he will live in.
Matthew 17: 14 – 27
A man whose child has epilepsy approaches Jesus for
healing – the disciples were unable to heal the child. Jesus heals the child
and when the disciples ask why they could not do it Jesus says it is because
they have insufficient faith. Faith the size of a mustard seed could cause a
whole mountain to shift position: nothing would be impossible.
Jesus tells them that he will be betrayed, handed
over, killed and raised again on the third day.
In Capernaum, temple tax collectors approach Peter to
ask if Jesus pays the temple tax. Peter says yes. When he returns, Jesus raises
the matter first. He asks whether a king requires his own children to pay tax
or whether the tax comes from others. Peter replies, “from others”. The
children then are free, but so as not to give offence, Jesus instructs Peter to
go fishing and in the mouth of the first fish he catches will be a coin
sufficient to pay the temple tax for both of them.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Guidance radar and sonar on a fishing vessel Fremantle Harbour WA 2014 L Osburn |
Realistic and practical God, you are alive and guide us. You
show us that while on one hand if we have faith nothing is impossible and also that
we live in a real world one where taxes need to be paid, real betrayal and harm
happens. Through it all you are with us. Help us to always pray so that we
receive your grace and guidance in all we do: serving, fishing, healing, paying
taxes or building a city through Jesus Christ our Your Son our Lord. Amen.
Saturday 25
October 2014
Evening
Prayer
Psalm 136
This psalm proclaims God’s greatness and enduring
love. There is a sense of the overwhelming, overflowing, generosity of God.
Daniel 6: 1 – 14
Daniel is a senior administrator in Darius’ kingdom. He
is efficient, honest and in line to be the chief administrator. A conspiracy
begins against him; all they can use to dishonour Daniel is his religion. The
conspirators go to King Darius and encourage him to make a decree that for 30
days anyone who worships any thing or any one apart from Darius will be thrown
to the lions. Darius agrees. The conspirators find Daniel doing his daily
prayers and report to the King. The King distressed, wants to save Daniel but
the conspirators use the law against the King – the King cannot change his own
edict.
1 Peter 5
Peter
gives direction to the elders in their exercise of oversight, willingly and as
examples of humility for the community. All anxiety is to be laid before God.
Discipline is to be exercised because evil prowls like a lion ready to pounce.
They are to be steadfast in faith like all the Christians most of whom are in
hostile environments. God will restore and strengthen every one of them. They
are to stand fast in the true grace of God.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
Pilot vehicle across the Nullabor Plain SA 2014 L Osburn |
Generous
God of abundant grace you guide and protect your faithful people. You give us
great people of faith and humility as models. Strengthen us in enthusiasm,
discipline, faith, trust and hope in you so that our lives too may be examples
to others and give glory to you through Jesus Christ and your Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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