26 November 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Wednesday 26 November 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 65 and 70

Psalm 65 is a glorious hymn of praise to God, who forgives us, saves us, satisfies our souls and creates the world and everything in it. In particular it gives praise the food we receive at harvest time.

Psalm 70 is a plea for help in time of urgent need. It asks for those who seek harm to be confused and turned back and those who seek God to rejoice and give praise.

Malachi 1

The people of Edom, the ancestors of Esau are bringing for sacrifice just any creature. They take no effort. They are doing the actions but without the effort or the commitment. They are neither fulfilling the letter or the law nor its spirit. It is like sniffing at God. It dishonours and despises God. It is a form of cheating God.

Mark 2: 1 – 17

Jesus is in Capernaum and the people hear he is at home. They gather. Men bring a friend who is paralysed. They go to the roof and dig a hole through it and lower the man down to Jesus. Jesus applauds their faith and forgives the man’s sins. Scribes sitting, watching ask in their hearts, not out loud, how Jesus gets this authority and is he being blasphemous? Jesus perceives and responds asking which is easier to forgive sins or to say “Stand up and take your mat and walk” (v. 9)? So Jesus says this too. The man gets up and walks. Everyone is amazed and glorifies God.

Walking by the sea Jesus sees Levi a tax collector and says, “Follow me”. Levi (known as Matthew) follows. Later at Levi’s home Jesus has dinner with disciples, tax collectors and sinners. When the scribes see this they ask the disciples how is this possible? Jesus on hearing this responds saying, he has come to save sinners not the righteous.

Collect for Morning Prayer

The Bicycle
Harrietville Vic 2014 L Osburn 

Holy amazing and wonderful God you have provided us with a beautiful world, you forgive us, you heal us and you love us. Help us never to think that close enough is good enough, or God won’t mind if we short-change the giving of ourselves: our hearts, our minds, our souls and our strength. Help us by prayer and action carry our burden through crowds up a roof, break through a ceiling to bring someone else to God so that they may be restored and in so doing demonstrate our faith through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday 26 November 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 66

A great song of praise to God: “Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth” (v 1).  The psalmist lists the gifts of God and particularly that prayers are answered. God is a God of steadfast love.

Wisdom 10: 15 – 11: 10

It was wisdom that entered Moses and enabled him to stand against Pharaoh and show great signs. Wisdom guided the people and destroyed their enemies. It was wisdom in the voices of the people and children that sang praise to God. Wisdom prospered the work of Moses. God protected them and they were able to fight off their foes. When they were thirsty God provided water – life-giving water. God warned and tested these people in mercy. The ungodly, God condemned.

Revelation 12: 1 - 6

John sees the figure of a pregnant woman clothed in the sun, the moon at her feet, stars crowning her head. She cries and gives birth to a son. A seven-headed red dragon steals the baby and delivers him to God’s throne. The woman flees to the wilderness, to a place prepared by God where she is nourished.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Sunset
Lake Mulwala 2014 L Osburn

Holy God you are the creator, the redeemer and the spirit of wisdom. We praise you and give you thanks. As we reflect on today, help us see and acknowledge your many-faceted presence so that we may recognise your steadfast love and open our hearts to joyfully praising and thanking you as the children did beside the Red Sea through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.