4 May 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Monday 4 May 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalms 11 and 12

The psalmist disputes the claim one should run from enemies. The psalmist will stand firm. He says that if the foundation collapses, then all are powerless. The psalmist trusts in the Lord – the firm foundation.

The psalmist laments the lack of faithful people. People make promises and are unreliable. The poor and the needy suffer as a result but, the Lord is faithful forever and pure. The Lord guards and protects us.

Exodus 31

God tells Moses the names of particular people who have the crafts skills to design and construct what is required in the tent of meeting and the Ark of the Covenant. God reinforces the Sabbath as a day of rest and gives Moses the tablets of stone on which the covenant is written.

John 12: 20 – 33

Philip asks Jesus to meet with some Greeks and Jesus responds that now is the time for him to be glorified, fall, and die. He says that whoever loves their life shall lose it, those that hate their life shall keep it for eternal life and, those who follow Jesus will be with him and God will honour.

Jesus’s soul is troubled and he prays for God’s name to be glorified. God replies in a voice like thunder so that others know it is God.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Great Red Tingle Tree
Walpole WA 2014 L Osburn

Reliable and steadfast God, you know us our hearts and minds and abilities. Give us courage to stand firm in our faith today, to trust you and to follow through on our promises to love you and serve our neighbours so that all people can hear your voice in our actions and glorify you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday 4 May 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 13 and 14

These psalms are laments for personal deliverance from enemies, from harm and from a cynical age. The psalmist remains faithful proclaiming God’s deliverance of Israel and care for the poor.

Judges 2: 6 – 23

While the elders who had been with Joshua are alive the people remain faithful to God. Afterwards they start worshipping Baals and other gods. God raises up judges who bring them back but when the judges die the people behave worse than before.

If any people of other nations remain in the land after Joshua died, the Lord does not drive them out. God stops assisting the people in battles.

1 Corinthians 7: 12 – 24

Paul encourages people to live peacefully as Christians even if their spouses do not believe for the children will be holy. If the unbeliever separates from the marriage – let it be. The believer is not bound. “It is to peace that God has called you” (v.15).

We are to be Christian in our current roles and positions, the way we are. We do not have to make any bodily signs like circumcision. We have all been bought for a price and that is Christ. So, no matter our position slave or free, man or woman we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Chestnut tree and nuts
Free burgh Vic 2015 L Osburn

God of deliverance, you know we are concerned about right behaviour and remaining faithful in multicultural and pluralist communities. Help us to remember that it is to peace we are called. Strengthen us to remain faithful and celebrate our holiness won through Christ’s sacrifice so that we accept that where we work and what we do, is where you need us to be through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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