31 January 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Saturday 31 January 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalm 59

The psalmist is being stalked so that he may be killed. Protection is requested but not the death of those who seek his life – just that they may be brought down and caught up in their own anger.

The psalmist will praise God’s provision of safety and his steadfast love.

Genesis 18: 1 - 22

At Mamre at mid-day Abraham encounters the Lord. Three people appear and Abraham offers food and drink. The Lord says Sarah will have a child. Sarah overhears and laughs to herself. The Lord hears the laugh and what she said to herself and says “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?” Sarah denies laughing from fear. The Lord corrects her.

Abraham walks with the three who are heading to Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord considers telling Abraham is about to happen since Abraham is charged with keeping his household and children righteous. The Lord says the outcry has come from the cities and they are going to see whether the behaviours match the outcry.

Luke 1: 67 – 80

Zecharia utters the words we call the Benedictus. He begins by blessing the Lord for raising up a saviour in the House of David as promised in ancient times in God’s oath and covenant with Abraham. Saving the people allows them to serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness. And he addresses the baby John saying that John will be a prophet of God, going before the Lord to prepare God’s way and give knowledge of salvation to the people by the forgiveness of their sins. Through God’s tender mercy a new dawn bringing light to those who live in darkness, will break and guide us to peace.

John grew, was strong and was in the wilderness until his public life in Israel began.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Rosalie Grace
Wagga Wagga NSW 2014 E Byford

Tender and merciful God you seek to bring us to safety through your steadfast love. Open our hearts and minds so that we can see you in the presence of strangers and hear your message to us in the birth of babies and thus serve you without fear in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord and Your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Saturday 31 January 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 58 and 79

In the first psalm the writer is truly angry about the actions of the wicked and wants their power to be removed and for them to just disappear – permanently! Things are so bad the psalmist wants a reward and vindication for the righteous now and for judgment to come to earth instantly.

In the second psalm Jerusalem has been destroyed and the psalmist in deep, angry grief calls for vengeful punishment of the godless nations that caused the destruction.

Jeremiah 11: 9 – 23

The people of Judah and Jerusalem have broken the covenant and are worshipping as many gods as there are towns. Destruction will come and none of those gods can do anything to prevent it. God tells Jeremiah not to pray for these people or pray on their behalf for on this occasion God will not listen.

God makes it known to Jeremiah that he is the subject of an assassination plot. The people of Anathoth who seek to kill Jeremiah will be punished. The young men will die by the sword and the women by famine.

James 5: 7 – 20

For the rest, be patient – like a farmer that waits for the crop to grow. Do not grumble about each other, have instead the endurance of Job. Be honourable and reliable: let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No”. If you are suffering, pray. If you are cheerful sing songs of praise. If you are ill, call for the elders and be anointed. Confess your sins to each other, pray for one another and be healed because the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.

Finally if any of you wanders from the truth and is brought back, then that friend has saved their soul from death.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Eucalyptus shedding the old bark
Bright-Mt Beauty Road Victoria
2015 L Osburn

Gracious God, through the death and resurrection of Jesus we have a new way. Instead of our personal anger or the experience of your wrath we have patience, endurance, honour and reliability. We know that your way through suffering is prayer, in joy is praise, in illness is your anointing, in confession your healing and in seeking out and bringing others to you is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.