30 November 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 30 November 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 11

The psalmist disputes the claim one should run from enemies. The psalmist will stand firm. He says that if the foundation collapses, then all are powerless. The psalmist trusts in the Lord – the firm foundation.

1 Corinthians 3: 10 – 15

Paul compares himself to a master builder who lays the foundations. Other builders decide what materials to use to build but they cannot change the foundation. The foundation Paul lays is Jesus Christ. Each of us chooses how to build from there. Do we use gold, silver, precious stones, wood hay or straw? Day will disclose it. We will be tested and find what sort of building we are. If the building survives we will be rewarded and if it does not, we learn and might be saved to try again.

Collect for Morning Prayer

The stone shed
Harrretville Vic 2014 L Osburn

Holy Lord you are our firm foundation and on Christ we build our lives. Help us today to encourage each other, to bring our best to the construction of ourselves as your temple and part of your eternal church. Help us speak words of faith and worth to each other so that we can rise and become the people you created us to be through Jesus Christ our saviour and your Holy Spirit in our hearts, Amen.

Sunday 30 November 2014

Evening Prayer

Isaiah 1: 1 – 9 (10 – 17)

This is the vision Isaiah saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Domesticated animals know their master but God’s children do not know their God and do not understand. The nation is sinful and has forgotten, despised or forsaken God. How much more punishment is needed to get the people to turn back? If God had not been gracious no one would be left. All the sacrifices are meaningless. God doesn’t want ox blood or rams and especially not on constructed festivals or even solemn occasions if people continue to be sinful. Until this changes God will not hear. Wash your self clean of sin and cease doing evil. Learn to seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan and plead for the widow.

Psalm 12

The psalmist laments the lack of faithful people. People make promises and are unreliable. The poor and the needy suffer as a result but, the Lord is faithful forever and pure. The Lord guards and protects us.

Luke 12: 35 - 48

Jesus tells parables to help us get ready, be prepared for the coming of the Lord. We need to be dressed for action, lamps lit ready to recognise and respond. Then he tells a story of a set of slaves. The master goes away and one does all the duties required – that one is blessed and will be given authority. Another knows what the master wants done and does not do it and in fact does the opposite – that one is cut to pieces and put with the unfaithful. A third slave knows what is needed and does not prepare to do it – that one is punished severely. But the one who did not know what was required and did not do it – that one is punished lightly. To those who have been given much, much will be required.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Roses
Harrretville Vic 2014 L Osburn

Holy Lord, you love us and want us to love and respect you and to love each other. Help us to be your faithful people, to come to you always with openness, and a contrite heart. Be with us now as we reflect on our day and prepare for a new week. Keep us open to you so that we may be guided to do your will and be counted among your faithful through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.