29 April 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Wednesday 29 April 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalm 145

This psalm praises and blesses God for all the great acts of creation, mercy, salvation, awesome acts, steadfast love, compassion, and might. What God has done proclaims the glory of the kingdom. That kingdom will endure forever.

On a more personal level God is faithful, gracious, upholds people while they are falling, raises up people who are oppressed. God provides as required, in time and with justice. God hears, saves and watches us. We will praise the Lord and all living things will bless God forever.

Exodus 25: 31 – 40 and 27: 20 – 21

The first section is the design details of the lampstand in the holy place in the tent.

There is to be an olive oil light, perpetually lit outside the curtain that is in front of the covenant.

John 11: 38 – 44

Jesus demands that Lazarus’s tomb be opened. Martha tries to dissuade him because of the stench. Jesus replies that the Glory of God is the purpose of his actions. He prays aloud so others know that he expects God will listen (it is God doing what will happen). He calls Lazarus. Lazarus comes out, he instructs everyone to unwrap him.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Near Rutherglen Vic 2014
L Osburn

 God of creation, mercy, salvation, might compassion and steadfast love you raise the fallen, bring true justice and save us all. You know political crucifixion and death. Help us see you through Lazarus’s eyes as intimate, caring friend and help us also see you with eyes of wonder, seeing your glory and power so that we humbly come out to meet you from our tombs and with joy and awe sing your praises through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We pray today for the souls of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran and for their families.

Wednesday 29 April 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalm 147

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 and feeds the animals and allows birds to sing. God isn’t interested in who is the fastest or strongest but in our reverence.

The city of the faithful is charged to praise the Lord: for itself, the safety of the children, the peace. This God who controls all the weather looks after us. No other God is like our God.

Joshua 22: 13 – 34

Phineas a priest is sent by the Israelites to remonstrate with the departing tribes about their construction of the altar and the severe consequences. The leaders explain that it is an altar, not to be used for sacrifice but to remind future generations that they are part of God’s people. It is a sign of their faithfulness. Phineas reports back. The Israelites are relieved, bless the Lord and call the altar “Witness” for it is a witness that the Lord is God.

1 Corinthians 5

Paul disciplines the Corinthians about their complacency of members of the church who are breaching both Roman and Jewish Law. He compares what is happening to yeast. It only takes a little yeast to make bread rise. It only takes a little complacency, a little evil, to bring harm to the community. The yeast they have been using, malice and evil puffs them up. We should be using the flat bread of sincerity and truth.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Lake Mulwala NSW
2014 L Osburn

Holy and mighty Lord, you build up communities, gather outcasts, heal the broken-hearted and bind their wounds. You refresh us and value our reverence. Your scriptures show us the value of diplomacy in troubling times and that we need to remove our own complacency, malice and evil even if present in the tiniest proportions. Still us now. Calm us this night so that we call on your healing and live lives of sincerity and truth to your glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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