Friday 15 May 2015

16 May 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 


Saturday 16 May 2015 
Morning Prayer   

Psalm 38

The psalmist is dreadfully ill, so much so that friends stand a bit further away and people who seek harm spread rumours. The psalmist stays quiet, trusting God, praying and asking for God’s salvation.

Deuteronomy 1: 22 – 45

Moses continues his address to the Israelites about their lack of faith and trust in God about the entry to the Promised Land. They do not go when instructed and sit around fearfully. They repent and then presume to charge into battle even though God spoke to Moses and he told the people not to go without God. They are beaten, return and weep before God. Their defeat is a logical consequence of their lack of faithfulness.

John 15: 26 – 16: 11

Jesus tells the disciples that when the Spirit comes it will be a spirit of truth and that they are to testify about Jesus because they have been with him. He then tells them how hard things will be: they will be ejected from the synagogue and killed by religious people who believe they are doing God’s will.


Collect for Morning Prayer


Wedge-tail eagle
Deniliquin NSW 2014 L Osburn
Holy Lord, with you it is easy to trust. Without you we fear, repent, jump in without thinking and do more harm than good. Help us to stay quiet, listen to you and seek out your Spirit of truth so that we can demonstrate by our faithfulness that you died to conquer the sins of everyone and give thanks through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.


Saturday 16 May April 2015
Evening Prayer

Psalm 39

The psalmist is mortally ill and perceives his illness to be punishment from God. He decides to be calm and quiet in the presence of people who would bring him more grief. He asks to know how much time he has left. Humans are like passing guests, aliens. The psalmist asks for a little relief so that he can smile before he dies.

Judges 9: 1 – 22, 50 – 57

Abimelech one of Gideon’s sons goes to his kin and asks them to call the tribes and make him king. They do. He hires some unsavoury people, goes home and kills all but one of his brothers, Jotham who is hiding. Jotham goes to a hill and tells an allegorical story about the plants asking other plants to be their king. All refuse except the bramble that is prepared to shelter them if they come in good faith and if not to burn, and them with it.

Jotham then says that if the people are making Abimelech king in good faith and are happy about the treatment they have done to Gideon’s household then by all means have him as king. If not, let there be a conflagration from Abimelech to the lords of the tribes and vice versa. Jotham runs away.

Within 3 years Abimelech has a campaign and in one town a woman throws a millstone on his head from a tower. He asks the young man who carries his armour to kill him so that a woman did not kill him. Abimelech dies. All his warriors go home.

1 Corinthians 11: 2 – 16

Paul has a lengthy discussion of the pros and cons of wearing something on your head in public worship. There appears to be differing customs for men and women and competing positions on humbling oneself. He ends saying that there is no formal custom.


Collect for Evening Prayer

Sanctuary Island
Deniliquin NSW 2014 L Osburn
Holy Lord, you have given us your laws and minds, prayer and your Holy Spirit to discern which actions are correct for our circumstances. When we are challenged, help us to bring these matters to you, discern your will, act in good conscience and encourage others to do the same so that we may find your peace even in great diversity through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.


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