21 March 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Saturday 21 March 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalm 50

Almighty God who rules over the entire planet rebukes the people and explains that God does not need sacrifices of animals. God already owns all the creatures and plants of the earth. God instead requires thanksgiving and praise.

For those who do evil, slander others and hate discipline they have no right to recite the commandments.

“Mark this, then you who forget God” (v.23). Those who bring thanksgiving honour God and those who go the right way, God will save.

Exodus 6: 2 – 13 and 6: 28 – 7: 7

God tells Moses to let the Israelites know they will be freed. Moses does but the people cannot hear because they are too oppressed and dispirited. God tells Moses to go back to Pharaoh. Moses counters with –

the people won’t listen, Pharaoh won’t listen either. God agrees that Pharaoh will not listen and that means God will show his power so that all will believe and the Israelites will be freed. Moses and Aaron do as the Lord commands.

Luke 19: 28 – 48

Jesus sends two of the disciples to get a colt from a village. Jesus rides on the colt from the Mount of Olives to the Temple in Jerusalem. People shout blessing and peace. Some Pharisees ask Jesus to instruct the people to be quiet and Jesus says that if he did “even the stones would shout out” (v.40). As Jesus approaches Jerusalem he weeps over the city for its blindness to the way of peace. He prophesies the destruction of the city. He enters the temple and drives out people who are selling things. He teaches in the temple. The people are attentive to his words.

Collect for Morning Prayer

A bloom in the desert
The Pinnacles near Broken Hill
NSW 2015 L Osburn

Holy Lord, God of peace, God of freedom, God of all seen and unseen, lift us out from oppression, fill us with your spirit so that we can see the things that make for peace, walk in your way, bless each other, and spend our lives in thanksgiving and praise to you through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Saturday 21 March 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalm 119: 41 – 64

The earth is full of God’s steadfast love and the psalmist wants to be taught and affirmed and encouraged in understanding and living by God’ statutes. Through this the psalmist will have the words to say to those who taunt and the confidence to give testimony to kings. The psalmist identifies all the ways the commandments and statutes of the Lord enrich life.

Jeremiah 39

The Chaldean army breaches the city walls. Many are killed. The city burns. Zedekiah escapes, is pursued, his sons are killed; he is tortured and taken to Babylon. Jeremiah is given the choice to stay with the newly appointed governor of Judah or be an exile too. He stays. Some of the poor stay and are given land to farm. The Ethiopian who spoke up for Jeremiah is saved.

Hebrews 13: 18 – 25

The writer asks the people for their prayers. Blesses them beautifully and compassionately asking that the God of peace make them complete in everything good so that they may do God’s will and those things that are pleasing in God’s sight. They are asked to pay attention to what is written. He ends with greeting to others and grace.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Tree in a desert creek
Stephen's Creek near Broken Hill
NSW 2015 L Osburn

God of steadfast love and peace, you know the struggles and challenges of this world. Give us the confidence to testify to the powerful, and the patience and the words to counter those who taunt. Bless us and make us complete in everything good so that we may do your will and act in ways that are pleasing your sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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