Thursday 28 May 2015

29 May 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 


Friday 29 May 2015 
Morning Prayer   

Psalm 69: 1 – 16

This psalmist is a lowly servant of the Lord and through zeal has done something that causes him to be the butt of jokes and ridicule. The psalmist is fasting and in sackcloth. He pleads for deliverance and praises God.

Ruth 3

Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law needs to ensure Ruth’s security. As a widow, a kinsman should become her husband and care for her. Naomi instructs Ruth to go to the threshing floor where Boaz will be working, eating and sleeping. She instructs Ruth to wait until he is asleep then sleeps with him. When he wakes, Ruth tells him that she believes him to be the nearest kinsman. Boaz recognises that she is an honourable woman and following the traditions, not running after younger or richer men. Boaz thinks that there might be someone else who is a nearer kinsman. Before dawn, Ruth leaves thus protecting Boaz and her own reputation.

Ruth returns to Naomi with grain Boaz has given her. Boaz goes to the city. Naomi reassures Ruth that Boaz will sort things out for her immediately.

Acts 3: 1 – 16

Peter and John go to the temple. At the gate called Beautiful is a lame beggar who asks for alms. Peter utters the famous words: ‘Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (v. 6).

The people in the temple hear about the miracle and flock. Peter tells them they did not do this on their own – from their own piety but through the name of Christ. God, the God of Abraham glorified Jesus who you crucified. “You killed the Holy One, the Author of Life who God raised from the dead” (v.15). By faith, through using Jesus’s name this man’s health is restored.

Collect for Morning Prayer


Water for the irrigated farms downstream
Lake Mulwala NSW 2015 L Osburn
God of grace you want us to be safe, healed, and free to praise you. Be with us today in the decisions we make – in our day-to-day lives where we are your ministers. Help us to step out, to act and to be generous in courage knowing that it is you working in our lives to heal, provide and restore so that our lives bring praise to you now and forever through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.


Friday 29 May April 2015
Evening Prayer

Psalm 69: 17 – 23 (24 – 30) 31 – 38

The psalmist praises the Lord and is suffering from insults and dishonour. When he goes for counsel and support the response is bitter, and heart-breaking – no real compassion. The psalmist is very angry, he wants God’s wrath to destroy and punish, but he leaves that anger with and for God. The psalmist praises God, who unlike a God in the form of a bull, will listen. The psalmist ends in praise and a plea to God to come quickly.

Judges 18: 7 - 31

The five Danite spies continue their journey and find people with wealth in peace relatively unprotected. They report and raise a force of 600 men. They return to Micah’s home, leave the army at the gate, enter and take the idol and items of worship. When the priest protests they offer him to be priest to a whole clan not just one family. He accepts and goes with them.

Micah raises the alarm and follows with defenders. He questions the Danites who tell him to hold his peace for fear of being overheard by hot-tempered men in the group. Micah retreats.

The 600 men proceed and take the peaceful valley, burn down the city and kill everyone. They set up the idol and the priest for themselves.

1 Corinthians 15: 51 – 58

Paul says, we will not all die; we will be transformed. We will put on an imperishable body. Sin is the thing that gives death any power and the law lets us know our sins – so we feel guilt, that sting of death. But Jesus gives us the victory over death so we can be steadfast in our faith and continue the work of the Lord since it is not in vain.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Moon over the lake
Lake Mulwala NSW
2015 L Osburn
Holy and all-powerful God you have already won the victory over death for us through Jesus our saviour. We experience heart-break, fear and oppression in our world. Be with us Lord this night. Remind us that you in Christ, have already transformed death so that we may continue our work of spreading your love, your truth and your grace confident that what we do is not in vain through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.







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