25 December 2014
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Christmas Day
Thursday 25
December 2014
Morning
Prayer
Psalms 132: 10 – 18
God indicates that if David’s offspring keep the commandments
then the dynasty will last. For God has chosen Zion as the dwelling place.
Micah 4: 1 – 8
In the last days the mountain of God’s temple will be
raised and people of all nations will come to it. They will come to be taught.
The Lord will judge disputes and wars will cease. The need for soldiers will
end and people will sit safely in their own homes without being oppressed. The
weak and the lame will be restored and the exiles will be a nation.
Kingship will come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
Matthew 1: 18 – 2: 6
Mary, Jesus’s mother is engaged to Joseph but before
they come together she is found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph
is righteous and does not want Mary to be stoned so he plans to marry and divorce
her quietly. But an angel comes to him and tells him not to worry, to call the
child Jesus and that this baby will save his people from their sins.
This fulfils a prophecy. Joseph does as the angel
instructs.
After Jesus is born in Bethlehem Magi from the east
come to Jerusalem searching for the King of the Jews. Herod the Great calls the
priests and teachers of the Law to identify where the child may be. They quote
Micah and indicate Bethlehem in Judea.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Madonna and Child New Norcia Benedictine Community WA 2014 L Osburn |
God of wonders, miracles, grace and love we thank you for
the birth of our saviour Jesus Christ and we pray for the coming of the time
when the whole world is able to seek your teaching, live in peace and be freed
from oppression through the kingship
of Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.
Christmas Day
Thursday 25
December 2014
Evening
Prayer
Psalm 138
This is a song of praise and deliverance and ends with
the psalmist faithfully claiming, “the Lord will fulfil his purpose for me”.
Micah 5: 2 – 5a
This is Micah’s prophecy that from Bethlehem in Judea
will come the one whose origins are ancient and will rule. Until that time
Israel will be abandoned. This will be the shepherd of the flock and his
greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. He will be their peace.
1 John
4: 7 – 21
John
entreats us to love one another for love comes from God. God shows love to us
through sending Christ, God’s only Son that we might live through him, that
Jesus has atoned for our sins. We need to love one another and God lives in us
when we love one another.
We know
that we live in Jesus since we have been given his Spirit. When we acknowledge
that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in us and we in God.
God is
love. When we come to the judgement day there will be no fear for perfect love
drives away fear. Fear has to do with punishment. So those who fear have not
been made perfect in love.
We love because
God first loved us. If we say we love God but do not love others, we are liars.
Because if we do not love those we see, how can we love God who we cannot see?
We have been given this commandment: if we love God we are to love each other.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
New flower Armadale WA 2014 L Osburn |
Generous
and Loving God through the gift of your Son and Holy Spirit you have given us
the capacity to fully love and forgive, spark those fires of love within us now
and all the days of our lives so that your purpose for each and every one of us
is fulfilled through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
May you and your family be blessed with the joy, peace and love of Christ's birth.
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