4 January 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 4 January 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalm 147: 1 – 11 

This psalm rejoices in singing praise to a gracious God. God builds up the community, gathers the outcasts, heals the broken-hearted and binds their wounds. This is the same God who created the stars. Sing to God.

God brings the rain that produces grass, feeds the animals and allows birds to sing. God isn’t interested in who is the fastest or strongest but in our reverence.

John 5: 19 - 25 

Jesus says he models what he does on God, through his relationship with God. God loves Jesus and shows him what God is doing. God will show greater works than Jesus has done so far. Raising the dead – giving life – and judging are two main things Jesus has been given to do. Whoever does not honour Jesus does not honour the father.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Harrietville Vic
2014 L Osburn

Holy and magnificent God your creativity and compassion are beyond our comprehension. Strengthen our relationship with you so that we may be part of your continuing creation, building community, gathering outcasts, healing the broken-hearted and binding the wounds of the injured through Jesus Christ our saviour and your Holy Spirit in our hearts, Amen.

Sunday 4 January 2015

Evening Prayer

Isaiah 44: 1 – 8 and 21 - 23

God says that the Spirit will be poured out on a thirsty land so that the offspring of the people will commit to God and be blessed. This is the promise that God is about to do something new, forgive the people and change the world. They will not only survive the changes but prosper, be restored and commit themselves and their children to God.

Remember instead we have a real, living, forgiving God who has redeemed us. Let us break out in praise and thanksgiving.

Psalm 104: 11 – 25

Great hymn to the creator: clouds, sea, mountains, water, grass, and creatures, wine … the list goes on.  In wisdom God has made it all.

2 John

John warns against giving hospitality to people who do not proclaim Jesus. We are to live and work with love at the centre of our actions and also discern whom we support so that we do no lose the faith we have worked hard to gain.

Collect for Evening Prayer

In the wild
Rutherglen Vic 2014 L Osburn

Wonderful God, your world is full of the delights of your creation and you have changed the world by sending your Son to live and work with us. Be with us now as we take a moment to centre ourselves again on Christ and the love you have for us so that we may discern your truth and live lives of faith and thanksgiving through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.