14 December 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 14 December 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 79

Jerusalem has been destroyed and the psalmist in deep, angry grief calls for vengeful punishment of the godless nations that caused the destruction.

1 Thessalonians 5: 1 – 11

We know that Jesus will come and we do not need to know when – just be prepared – not become complacent when we hear news of peace. We are to be steadfast in faith and hope and love. For God has destined us for salvation, not for wrath. Whether we are alive or dead as his people we will be with Him so we are to encourage one another and build one another up.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Sanctuary Island
Deniliquin NSW 2014 L Osburn

God of salvation, you are our strength, our refuge and our hope in times of trouble. In times of peace and in times of war, in times of freedom and in times of oppression give us your grace to be steadfast in faith and hope and love. Strengthen us to encourage and support each other so that we hold fast to your saving love through Jesus Christ our saviour and your Holy Spirit in our hearts, Amen.

Sunday 14 December 2014

Evening Prayer

Isaiah 60: 15 – 22

The New Jerusalem will be the praise of the earth and great wealth and treasure will come to make her great and beautiful.  God will be present in her eternally. The lights will never go out. There will be peace. Former enemies will bless her. When the time is right God will accomplish this quickly.

Psalm 18: 1 – 6 and 48 – 50

David exuberantly praises the Lord for saving him from death at the hands of his enemies. He rejoices utterly in God, the only God.

Luke 7: 18 – 28

John the Baptist sends his disciples to Jesus to ask whether he is the Messiah or should we expect someone else? Jesus reports on his work and asks them to tell John what they have seen and heard. Jesus sends a blessing to John to hold firm in faith. When the disciples leave, Jesus addresses the crowd. He asks what did they go out to see when they went to see John in the wilderness? John was indeed a prophet and the one who is the messenger, the one who comes before the Messiah. Jesus says no one on earth is greater than John and in the Kingdom of God the least is greater than he.

Collect for Evening Prayer

In the garden
Harrietville Victoria 2014 L Osburn

God of wonders we praise you and thank you for all your gifts: our future with you, times of your saving grace, your messengers, the opportunity to repent and your Son our Lord and redeemer. Open our hearts to praise you so that we, appreciating your love, stretch out to others and care for them in the days to come through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.