6 January 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Tuesday 6 January 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalms 18: 1 – 31

David exuberantly praises the Lord for saving him from death at the hands of his enemies. The images used are like a volcanic eruption. David is ecstatic with what he can do with God’s help. He rejoices utterly in God, the only God: our God.

“This God – God’s way is perfect; the promise of the Lord proves true” (v.30).

Isaiah 38: 9 – 20

Hezekiah is deathly sick and recovers. He talks of facing death, how he is like woven cloth when finished is cut from the loom. Now he is healed he will walk humbly, knowing the illness was for his benefit. God keeps Hezekiah safe. Hezekiah will praise God all the days of his life in the temple of the Lord.

John 4: 27 – 38

The disciples return and find Jesus talking with the woman at the well. She leaves her water jar and goes to town to ask people to come and check for themselves whether Jesus is the Messiah. The disciples urge Jesus to eat and Jesus replies that he has food to eat. His food is to do God’s will and finish God’s work. He says, they need not wait until harvest – the harvest is now. Both sowers and reapers rejoice at the harvest. Others have sown the seeds and the disciples are now part of reaping the benefits to gain people eternal life.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Seedling
(Eggplant, Aubergine)
Mulwala NSW 2014 L Osburn

Saviour God who through all the ages has provided people whose lives teach us about your power and love for us. As we go into your world today, let us be alert to opportunities to bring people to you and also by the example our lives, sow seeds of interest in you so that many more people can experience your love and grace and come to eternal life with you through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Tuesday 6 January 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalm 18: 32 – 38 (39-44) 45 - 52

David continues his great psalm of praise for deliverance from enemies and as the warrior king he had to be, describes his supremacy in the battle. He is more subdued at the end, blessing God, extoling God’s name, praising God for his steadfast love and care.

Isaiah 66: 12 – 23

A New Jerusalem of peace and comfort will be established. The Lord will come with fire and execute judgement on all. God will gather people of all nations. God will set a sign among the people and send those who survive to far-flung countries. The people will be brought to God’s holy mountain – just like the people currently bring grain offerings to the temple. Some of the ones who come will be made priests. The new heaven and new earth will endure and all humans will worship God.

Ephesians 4: 1 – 16

Paul urges us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. We are to be humble, gentle, patient and bearing with each other in love. We are to keep unity with the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and nurturer of us all. To each of us grace has been given by Christ to do different things. We can be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, preparing people to serve God so that we all can be united in faith and knowledge of Jesus and be mature in our beliefs.

We will stop being infants and tossed by all different ideas and instead, speaking the truth in love grow into Christ as each part of Christ’s body does its work, joined together by the ligaments of love.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Crimson Rosella
Harrietville Vic 2014 L Osburn

Holy and almighty God we look forward to the day when the world is united in your love. Help us today to hear your voice, respond to your call, and diligently be the people you need us to be so that through your grace we may grow and mature in faith, encourage others and build a new world of peace and comfort through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.