14 February 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Saturday 14 February 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalms 108 and 109: 20 - 30

The first psalm begins with praising God, giving thanks and acknowledging God’s faithfulness. It moves on to ask for a victory and recognises that if God does not go with us there are no victories.

The portion of the second psalm is a prayer for deliverance “Let them curse, but you will bless”.

Genesis 26: 18 – 33

Isaac keeps moving in Gerar digging up old wells of Abraham but the locals claim the water as theirs and he moves on. King Abimelech, an adviser and army commander arrive, acknowledge that God is with Isaac and negotiate an understanding for peace. They depart. Isaac’s newest well, named Shibah, flows with water. Beer-sheba the city stands there.

Luke 5: 27 – 38 (39)

Jesus invites a tax collector, Levi to follow him and he does. Levi sets a banquet for others including tax collectors. Jesus defends that being with sinners is why he is here, that there is a new way. He makes the comparison of old and new fabric: old and new wine and old and new wineskins. Each has its own appropriate container. Like wine, those who are used to the old way prefer it – that doesn’t make the new way or the new wine wrong.

Collect for Morning Prayer

The Kiewa Valley
Victoria 2015 L Osburn

Holy Lord you bring us a new way to deal with our imperfections, a new way to come to you. You bless us, you make room for us, and you make us stronger as we pursue your peace. Open us to your love today so that we go with you in all our tasks, all our challenges and live lives of peace and praise through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Saturday 14 February 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalm 119: 105 – 128

This psalm is full of powerful one-liners. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”; “You are my hiding place and my shield”; “Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes”; “Truly I love your commandments more than gold, more than fine gold”.

Jeremiah 20: 7 – 18

Jeremiah faithfully tells the people of their impending doom and they humiliate and deride him. But he cannot stop. He experiences the Lord as a dread warrior within; he knows God will prevail. It is tough for Jeremiah. He laments that he was born and that his vocation is to be such a fierce prophet, feared, denounced and shamed by his people.

1 Timothy 1: 12 – 20

Here Paul testifies that he was a great sinner; a blasphemer, a persecutor and person of violence and that Christ’s great grace, and patience now fills him with faith and love. He honours and praises the “King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God”.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Eastern Rosellas
Harrietville Victoria 2015
L Osburn

Oh Lord like a warrior you fight to save us from sin and your weapons are: your word that lights the path, your shield where you hide us, your steadfast love, your laws and commandments, your grace, your patience and the fire of your love in our hearts. Be with now as we consider how great you are so that our hearts feel that fire, our faith is rekindled and we live our lives rejoicing through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.