2 December 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Tuesday 2 December 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 77

The psalmist is deeply distressed, not sleeping at night, feels alienated from God and wonders whether God has gone. He decides to remember all the blessings of the past and the evidence of God’s enduring protection. He ceases moaning and instead gives thanks.

Isaiah 2: [1 – 5] and 6 - 18

An age of peace will come and people will stream to know the Lord. The word of the Lord will come out of Jerusalem, there will be judgment and war shall cease. Isaiah turns to the people of Jacob who are following idols. They may be rich and powerful now with powerful international allies but all this will pass away. They will be humbled and the idols shall utterly pass away.

Mark 4: 21 – 41

Jesus tells parables to assist people to understand “the Kingdom of God”. First we won’t know how it happens but we will see the results just as we plant seed, water it and a plant grows which we then harvest. Second its coming is like the mustard bush it can start from a tiny seed but provide much for many.

Jesus says to the disciples, “Let us go across to the other side”. They cross in a boat. Jesus sleeps soundly. A storm comes up and the disciples fear the boat will be swamped. They wake Jesus and accuse him of not caring. He tells the wind and sea to cease.  Calm immediately occurs. Jesus asks the disciples why they were afraid and “Have you still no faith?” (v.40). The disciples filled with awe wonder who is Jesus that the wind and sea obey him?

Collect for Morning Prayer

The Abbey Benedictine Community
Jamboree NSW 2012 L Osburn

Holy and compassionate God you know our troubles, our struggles and the things that give us sleepless nights. You ask us to have faith, even a tiny seed of faith, to hold it in our hearts, water it with hope and wait for it to grow. Be with us we pray on our journey so that we may remain your calm and faithful people and be part of the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Tuesday 2 December 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 78: 1 - 15

The psalmist encourages people to tell the stories of God and his relationship with the people to their children, in parables, the old sayings, the history, decrees and miracles so that they will not be stubborn or rebellious.

Isaiah 40: 18 – 31

God makes miraculous changes in the landscape: rivers in bare heights, fountains in valleys, pools and springs in the wilderness, trees in the desert. The challenge is now to the gods of other nations to prophesy the future – there is no case to bring, the other gods are nothing. God has stirred up someone to take over the country. God looks in Jerusalem for someone to tell but there is no one to hear since all are busy worshipping other gods.

1 Thessalonians 2: 1 - 12

Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he and his companions had the courage to bring the gospel to them even though they had been treated badly in Philippi. He asks them to remember their experience of his honesty and integrity and that he worked at his own trade to pay his own way. Each person who Paul and his companions dealt with were treated with respect and encouraged to live a godly life.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Rosellas
The Abbey Benedictine Community
Jamboree NSW 2012 L Osburn

Redeeming and loving God you want us to tell the stories we know of your love and care for us and especially the good news of your word. Help us to tell the gospel, to be people of integrity and to respect and encourage all to live lives in Christ so that we are open to your voice, ready to hear you and actively prepared for the age of peace to come through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.