17 April 2015

17 April 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 17 April 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalm 106: 1 – 24

The psalmist begins praising God and marvelling at God’s faithful love and great deeds. He then charges that we, like the people of the past – from the Exodus to the time of Aaron – go astray.

Exodus 17: 8– 18: 9

The Amaleks a tribe from the desert, who claim ownership, attack the Israelites at Rephidim. Joshua and his choice of men go out to fight. Moses watches from a hill and when he raises his staff the Israelites prevail and when he lowers it the Amaleks prevail. So Aaron and Hur hold Moses’ arms up until sunset and the battle is over.

Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro arrives with Moses’ wife and his two sons. Jethro hears all the stories of God’s deliverance and help. Jethro, a high priest, rejoices an all the things God is doing for Israel.

Luke 24: 28 – 35

Two of the disciples are walking on the road to Emmaus They pressure the stranger to stay and eat with them. At dinner, at the breaking of the bread they recognise Jesus – then he is gone. They immediately go back to Jerusalem. They hear Peter’s report and tell their own experience.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Desert Creek with Enduring Gum Trees
Stephen's Creek NSW 2015 L Osburn

God of our hope, you work with us, redeem us and deliver us when we have tough times and when we have gone astray. Forgive us our wilfulness, fatigue and self-focus. Help us to acknowledge what we have done, to seek the help of constant friends to hold us up, to work with you, stay open to you and seek your face, so that we can tell the stories of our encounters with you, recall all the times you delivered us and given witness to the evidence that Christ is risen indeed all the days of our lives through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Friday 17 April 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalm 106: 25 – 50

The ancient people keep shifting allegiance and worshipping other gods. They even conduct live sacrifice of their children. Yet God delivers them, shows compassion. The psalmist asks for God to gather us in to give thanks, glory and praise to God.

Joshua 5

All the kings hear of God’s drying of the Jordan to allow Joshua and the people to pass. They lose heart for defence. Meanwhile Joshua insists all males are circumcised since those born on the journey have not been. He insists they rest until healed. God tells them to call the place Gilgal “the round place” since their sins have been rolled away like a stone. The people have a Passover meal with the food from the land. The manna stops.

Joshua, one day standing by Jericho encounters a man with a drawn sword. Joshua enquires the man’s status and learns that he is a commander of the army of the Lord. Joshua worships and commits to obey. The commander says for him to remove his shoes – the ground is holy.

1 Peter 4: 12 – 19

Trials and difficulties are the lot of the Christian. We are not to engage in criminal behaviour or even being a mischief-maker (busy-body). But if we suffer for being a Christian we are to hold firm and behave well. The scriptures tell us that the righteous will be judged first so, make sure we are in order. If we are suffering for doing God’s will, entrust ourselves to our faithful creator and keep doing good.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Morning
Broken Hill NSW 2014 L Osburn

Compassionate and faithful God who wants the best for us, delivers us and rolls away our sins, be with us now when foreign rulers, their actions and the suffering of others trigger our desire to retaliate. Given us the courage to entrust ourselves to you, listen to the higher commander and keep ourselves on holy ground through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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