28 May 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 28 May 2015 

Morning Prayer   

Psalm 71

This psalmist is an older person who has had a life of connection with God.  The psalm is of praise and a plea for deliverance from personal enemies. The psalmist promises to use music to proclaim God and praise God.

Ruth 2

Ruth goes to field to glean grain that was not collected as part of the harvest. Boaz a rich landowner and relative of Naomi’s deceased husband, notices her. Boaz knows Ruth’s story and arranges that she is not bothered, gets more grain than normally left for gleaners and can drink the water provided for the workers. Ruth returns with a good amount of grain and Naomi reinforces that she should continue to visit Boaz’s fields.

Acts 2: 37 – 47

The people who hear Peter’s speech at Pentecost feel dreadful and ask Peter what should they do. He answers, “repent… be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ… receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (v. 38).  Three thousand people repent and are baptised. The apostles do great wonders and people form a community, share meals and their belongings, go to the temple, pray, support each other and praise God.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Mt Beauty Vic
2015 L Osburn

 Holy and compassionate God you answer prayers, forgive us when we repent, and welcome us as your children. You know the struggles and hardship of the people of the world. You care for all: your good and faithful people who are suffering and those who do not know you and who are oppressed. Help us today to put in action what we have learned from reading your scriptures and listening to your diligent ministers so that our actions bring abundance to the poor, good news to the isolated and build communities that eat and work and pray and praise you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Thursday 28 May April 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalm 119: 65 – 88

In this section the psalmist says that in the past he had gone astray, then was punished and humbled. These events led to study of the law and following God. Now, others are being arrogant, flout the law and attack him. The psalmist asks for deliverance and promises to keep the faith and be steadfast.

Judges 17: 1 – 18: 6

A man in Ephraim called Micah returns to his mother 1100 pieces of her silver. She blesses him and makes an idol from part of the silver. Micah makes priestly vestments and vessels. He installs his son as priest. In these days there was no king and people did what they thought was right.

Then a young Levite from Bethlehem of Judea comes through town. Micah talks with him and installs him as priest and as a son.

1 Corinthians 15: 35 - 50

Paul, continues with his discussion of resurrection. When we plant a seed it dies and a new plant emerges that looks nothing like the seed. Every creature on the planet has it’s own shape as do all the heavenly bodies – sun, moon and stars, none of them look like the “seed” that began them.

With the resurrection of the dead, what dies is our perishable body and what is raised is our imperishable, spiritual body.

The first man, Adam was born of dust and we have his likeness. The last man is born of the spirit and we have that likeness too. Flesh and blood cannot inherit heaven because it is perishable. The imperishable inherits the eternal.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Home to roost
Lake Mulwala NSW 2015
 LOsburn

Holy and almighty God you have shown us how following our own ways and ideas leads to idol worship and disaster. Help us reflect on our day and see the times we put our concrete thinking, some notion of our own in place of seeking understanding, your guidance and doing your will. Show us how to be humble. Deepen our prayers. Keep us faithful in small things so that we, in your grace nurture and grow in your spirit all of our days through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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