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.