16 November 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 16 November 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 62

For God my soul waits in silence: my salvation and my hope come from God. All people and things and powers are temporary. God is our rock and fortress and we shall not be shaken.

1 Thessalonians 5: 12 – 28

Paul encourages us to build each other as the church: to respect those whose labour is the church and esteem those who are in charge in the church. As a group we are to be at peace building each other up: motivating idlers to action, encouraging the fainthearted and weak, and being patient with everyone. We are never to repay evil with evil. We are to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, listen to prophets and test everything and to hold on to the good.

Paul ends blessing the people, asking for their prayers, spreading his greeting to all and instructing that this letter be read out aloud. He ends with the grace.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Cattle, quiet and producing
Rutherglen Vic. 2014 L Osburn

 Holy powerful and mighty God you are our security. While our souls wait in silence for you. Keep us actively building up your people by love, patience, rejoicing, ceaseless prayer and thanksgiving so that your church – spirit, body and soul – may be ready for you at your coming through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.

Sunday 16 November 2014

Evening Prayer

Judges 5: 1 – 12

This is the Song of Deborah praising God for assistance against enemies – a downpour that stops chariots – and praising the actions of normal people who offer themselves willingly and use what they have to hand. Those who are rulers need to know that people power is in action.

Psalm 90: 1 – 12

This is a group lament. There is a separation from God. Life is hard: 70 to 80 years at the most all toil. The people feel under the wrath of God for their sin.

Matthew 24: 36 - 51

Only God knows when the end will come. We have to be more like good managers who do all the right things when the owner is away and do it consistently. We are not to be like the poor manager who beats others and gets drunk but rushes around just before the owner returns. If the owner comes without warning the poor manager is caught.

We need to be ready for the Son of man will come at an unexpected hour.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Flower in the rough
Rutherglen Vic 2014 L Osburn

Holy God there is no other God like you who wants us to be involved and engaged not sitting as passive recipients of grace or judgement. You want us to take what we have, who we are, what we have been given and like your royal priesthood, your soldiers, be part of this operation that brings peace, love and your kingdom alive in this world. Help us then to celebrate Lord, all our labour for you in our brief lives so that when you come we can confidently run to greet you, through Jesus Christ our Lord and the presence of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.