4 December 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 4 December 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 80

This psalm is a prayer for deliverance from national enemies. It compares Israel to a vine. It asks for God’s hand to be on the one at God’s right hand, to give us life, to restore us and to save us.

Isaiah 3: 13 – 4: 6

The Lord will judge the elders and princes who have taken what belongs to the poor and crushed them. The women of Jerusalem will lose everything, their pride, belongings, beauty and honour. So many men will die in battle that seven women will seek marriage by the same man. They will not claim sustenance from him but provide for themselves: at least they are married.

The righteous will remain and prosper once the city has been cleaned. Then God will establish a protective canopy over Mount Zion and its places of assembly.

Mark 5: 21 – 43

Again the crowd gathers. A leader of the synagogue, Jarius approaches. Jarius’ daughter is sick he asks Jesus to some and lay his hands on her. On the way a woman with faith who had been haemorrhaging for 12 years touches his garment. Jesus notices that individual touch, stops, asks who did it and receives the woman, calling her daughter and stating that her faith has made her well.

Meanwhile, news comes that Jarius’ daughter is dead. Jesus says to Jarius “Do not fear, only believe” (v. 36). On arrival at the house the mourners are present and wailing. Jesus sends them out saying that the girl is sleeping. He ushers the parents and a small group of disciples into the room, takes the girl’s hand and gently tells her to get up. She gets up, walks around. Jesus tells them to feed her.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Tiny daisies
Harrretville Vic 2014 L Osburn

Holy and compassionate Lord you are there for us when we seek you out in desperation from enemies, oppressors, illness and illness of our children. Help us not wait until then. Help us to seek you now in faith, to seek your cleansing and restoration so that we may consistently farewell fear and only believe through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Thursday 4 December 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 81

The psalm begins with praise and thanksgiving. It moves on to remembering the gifts of God and how God saved and delivered the people. Finally there is a lament that the people’s hearts are hard, that they are not listening and until they do they will be besieged. God wants to feed us with fine things. The choice is left open.

Isaiah 41: 17 – 29

Isaiah puts God’s case that the poor, the parched, the desolate will be given water and the earth reshaped – trees will grow where there was wilderness. God challenges the other gods to show their capacity and sees there is nothing: they are nothing. God will raise up someone from the north and conquer the land and free it but there is no one in Jerusalem to receive this good news – no one to hear and pass it on.

1 Thessalonians 3

Paul, persecuted knows he could not leave Athens so sends Timothy to the Thessalonians to check how they are bearing up under the persecution. Everyone knew persecutions would occur. Timothy’s report is good news of the Thessalonians' faith and love and that gives Paul immense encouragement and hope that he will get to see them again. He blesses them.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Roses
Harrretville Vic 2014 L Osburn

Holy Lord you have held us in your loving embrace throughout all time. Humans besiege and persecute each other but those who are faithful and steadfast in your love have the capacity to hear the good news, to have hope and be encouraged. In the quiet now, open our ears and hearts to you so that we hear your good news, take it in, and pass on your message of hope, love and restoration through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.