18 January 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 18 January 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalm 119: 129 - 136

The psalmist declares a passion for the scriptures and the commandments.  There is a request to learn and know them better and to keep them.  The psalmist is so passionate he cries because the law is not being kept.

John 4: 1 – 14

The Pharisees hear that Jesus and his disciples are baptising more people than John. They are already hostile to John so they now turn their focus on Jesus. Jesus leaves Judea and returns to Galilee via Samaria. Jesus, tired sits by a well and the disciples go to buy food.

A Samaritan woman comes to draw water from the well and Jesus asks for water. Jews did not associate with Samaritans. The woman is understandably shocked and says so. Jesus responds that if she knew what God gives and who he is she would be asking him for living water – that which gushes up from within a person and brings them eternal life.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Rainforest stream
SW WA 2014 L Osburn

Holy Lord we thank you for the spirit and passion you give us to know you and love you better. Inspire in us the longing to know Christ, to receive the living water and to act in such ways that mobilise and encourage others who also desire your love and truth through Jesus Christ our saviour and your Holy Spirit in our hearts, Amen.

Sunday 18 January 2015

Evening Prayer

Deuteronomy 10: 12 – 11: 1

Moses continues his address to the people before they begin to enter The Promised Land. The people are to love and serve the Lord with all their heart and soul and keep the commandments. Do not be stubborn; God can’t be bribed. God is just and cares for widows, orphans and strangers. God is the only one to worship. Remember all of God’s great deeds and be faithful and loyal to God.

Psalm  47

This psalm is a joyous song of praise beginning with clapping our hands. Our God is awesome ruler of everything, shielding us. God is to be exalted.

1 John 2: 3 – 11

The writer encourages us not to sin but if we do we have an advocate: Jesus Christ. If we say we are faithful but do not obey the commandments we are liars, there is no truth in us and we are in the darkness. If we obey then we should walk as Jesus walked.

If we say we are “in the light” but hate a fellow believer we are in the darkness, we are blind and do not know where we are going.

Collect for Evening Prayer

The road through the mountains
From Mt Hotham Victoria 2015 L Osburn

Wonderful God, you give is light, joy and promise. Help us as we strip away the stubborn parts of ourselves so that we may love you fully and completely, care for and value our fellow believers, and bring your justice, peace and freedom to this world through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.