28 December 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 28 December 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 132: 10 – 18

God will put a descendant of David’s on the throne if his sons keep the covenant and the statutes taught by God. God will sit dwell in Zion and bless her with abundance. The poor will have food and priests will be clothed in salvation and saints sing with joy. A lamp will be set up for God’s anointed one and the crown on his head will be resplendent.

Hebrews 2: 5 - 9 check

As ancient scripture asks – who is man that God cares for us? Christ came, was made less than an angel and now sits at the right hand side of God and because of his suffering and death salvation is made available to all.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Magnolias
Harrietville Vic 2014 L Osburn

Holy God you clothe us all in salvation and open all our hearts to joy. Be with us today as we sit in awe and wonder at your grace and mercy and bring us to a deeper understand of your love for all through Jesus Christ our saviour and your Holy Spirit in our hearts, Amen.

Sunday 28 December 2014

Evening Prayer

1 Samuel 1: 1 – 2, 7b – 20 and 24 - 28

Hannah is one of two wives and is childless. She prays fervently – so much so that the priest Eli, thinks she is drunk. She tells him she is praying. He blesses her and also prays that the Lord gives her what she asks. She successfully bears a son and once he is weaned makes a sacrifice at the temple and gives her son to the Lord in service at the temple.

Song of Hannah

Hannah rejoices for her deliverance from her enemies. There is no one like God. Don’t be arrogant about your achievements. God is the one who does the weighing. You may be a strong warrior now but those who previously stumbled are now stronger.

God brings life and death. God humbles and exalts. God raises the poor from ashes and has them sit in a place of honour. The foundation of the world is God. God guards the saints and silences the wicked. The Lord is the judge.

Luke 2: 41 – 52

Like every year, Mary and Joseph go to Jerusalem for Passover and when Jesus was 12 the group they are with go home. After a day they realise Jesus is not with the group. They return and search for him in Jerusalem then find him at the temple engaged in study and discussion and showing amazing aptitude. When they ask him why he has treated his parents like this he says that they shouldn’t have searched for him. They should have known he needed to be in his Father’s house. He obediently goes home. Mary treasures this event in her heart and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature.

Collect for Evening Prayer

New Norcia Benedictine Community
WA 2014 : Osburn

God of wonders, miracles, gifts and lessons we thank you for wise women like Hannah and Mary. Help us to always keep in mind that you are the one who does the giving, who exalts and humbles so that we in our achievements, our failures and our distress give thanks to you always through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.