24 January 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Saturday 24 January 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalms 56 and 57

The first psalm speaks of trust in God who is our salvation and who is with us when we fear the actions of other people. It ends in praise and commitment to faith.

The second psalm again is an appeal for aid against enemies who are compared to lions. The psalm shifts to praise. The psalmist wakes each morning to sing God’s praise, to uplift the soul and to ask God to be exalted in the world: to let God’s glory shine.

Genesis 12

Abram hears God and goes forward to Canaan taking Sarai, Lot and all he owns. He sets up an altar at Shechem and another between Bethel and Ai. He moves on towards the Negeb. There is a famine so he moves again to Egypt.

Sarai is beautiful and out of fear for his own safety, Abram requires her to pose as his sister. She is taken to the Pharaoh’s house and Abram is given livestock and slaves. The Pharaoh’s house is plagued and afflicted. Pharaoh realises the cause is Sarai. He banishes Sarai, Abram and all his possessions.

John 8: 48 – 59

Jesus’s words in the temple challenge the Jews who are listening and seek to stone him. He tells them: he honours God and they do not honour him, not that he seeks his own glory, only God’s; those who keep his word will not taste death – and they scoff asking is he greater than all the prophets and patriarchs who have died? They ask who does he claim to be and he answers, God will glorify him. Jesus knows God and does his will. He also says that Abraham rejoiced that he would see Jesus. Finally Jesus says “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am” (v.58).

Collect for Morning Prayer

The old road and the new road through the desert
SA 2014 L Osburn

 Glorious God, you have a plan and a path for all of us. Be with us when we leave the familiar and safe. Remind us to ask you for help, recommit to you and praise you so that we return to your promise, let your glory shine and experience your freedom through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Saturday 24 January 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 60 and 61

The disaster has struck. The people of the country are suffering. God has set up a banner for the faithful to rally behind. This psalm is an appeal to God to be with us in the challenge ahead. The psalm ends with “With God we shall do valiantly” (v12).

The second psalm is a prayer for protection. God is describes as a rock, a shelter, a hiding place and a great bird under whose wings we are protected.

Jeremiah 7: 21 – 8: 3

God, through Jeremiah makes it clear that it is not the sacrifice that shows commitment to God. Obeying God and walking in God’s way is what counts. But the people do not hear. They follow their own counsel and ignore the prophets.

The sacrifices being conducted are in the wrong place and offensive to God. God never requires the sacrifice of children. Destruction will come and the bones of the people will be in the open and spread before the stars or whatever they worshipped and sacrificed to. Those remnants of this evil people will be driven away. They will prefer death.

James 1: 16 – 27

Every generous gift and act of giving is from God. Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. Anger does not produce righteousness. Welcome with meekness the word that can save your soul.

Be doers of the word. Look into the perfect law of God and persevere – act. If you think you are religious and do not bridle your tongue, and deceive your heart then your religion is worthless. Religion that is pure before God, cares for orphans and widows in distress, and keeps us unstained by the world.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Streaky Bay Sunset
SA 2014 L Osburn

Generous and loving God, you want us to be safe and successful. You have given us your word, your way and your son. Help us to obey you: to listen, to say nothing in anger and to welcome Jesus with meekness so that we focus on what we do to assist others in your love through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.