14 November 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 14 November 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 34

This is a psalm of thanksgiving and praise and one that teaches people to love and fear the Lord, to avoid evil and to seek peace. The psalmist teaches, “the Lord redeems the life of his servants” (v22).

Susanna 1 - 33

Susanna the young wife of a wealthy man is the victim of two older men who are judges in the community and sexual offenders. They try to force her consent and threaten her with death by constructing a false accusation. She refuses consent and would rather die than sin. The men accuse her of having a young male lover in the garden, take her to trial and have her unveiled before the whole community.

Matthew 24: 1 – 14

Jesus tells the disciples that the temple will be destroyed. Later on the Mount of Olives the disciples ask when will it be that Jesus comes and the age ends? Jesus warns them to be wary of false messiahs. Jesus says there will be many upheavals: wars, rumours of wars, earthquakes and that will only be the beginning. The disciples and the faithful will be handed over, tortured and put to death because they are Christians. People will fall away, betray each other and hate each other. There will be false prophets. Love will grow cold but those who endure in faith will be saved and the kingdom will be proclaimed over the whole earth.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Dog Fence
SA 2014  L Osburn
It keeps the wild dogs (dingos) out or grazing land

 Holy and loving God you know first hand about persecution for who we are and what we believe. Be with us today wherever we are in the world. Stand beside us in the time of trial, whether those are small barbs or great injuries. Help us keep the faith, love one another and endure through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord and Your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Friday 14 November 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 119: 17 – 40

In this section of the psalm is the plea to be taught and to be shown how to live out the commandments daily; how to read and understand scripture. There is a plea for protection against ridicule or harm by others because of our desire to be with and know God.

Wisdom 2: 12– 24

The godless plot to hurt and harm the righteous to put God on trial and see if God will rescue them. But they do not understand, they are blind and cannot discern the secret purpose of God, the wages of holiness or the prize for blameless souls. Instead, since it was through evil – envy – death entered the world, these people will experience true death.

Revelation 5

In John’s vision he sees God holding a scroll with seven seals. An angel asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” (v.2). And no one is found. John begins to weep, but an elder reassures him pointing out that Jesus is the one. John sees a Lamb, standing as if it had been slaughtered going forward. The Lamb takes the scroll. The angels sing praise to Jesus whose blood ransoms people of all nations and times for God. The angels sing how worthy Christ is to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honour glory and blessing. The all creatures everywhere praise God and Jesus.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Between a rock and a hard place
This is along the Great Australian Bight SA
where the desert meets the Southern Ocean
2014 L Osburn

Holy and Almighty God, you sent your Son Jesus to be the ransom for the sins of the world, to pay the price for us and for our enemies. We praise you for your grace and glory and love. Help us this night to renew our focus on you and to take time to connect so that when we are pressed on every side we stay blameless in your sight and your beloved children through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.