23 June 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Tuesday 23
June 2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalms 124, 125 and 126
If it had not been for the Lord the enemy forces would
have attacked and overwhelmed us like a flood. Blessed be the Lord. Our help is
in the name of the Lord.
Those who trust in God shall never be moved. God will
surround and support us. The psalmist prays for blessing on the faithful and
that evil be kept away from us.
When we are restored we are full of joy and praise and
others notice that our God has done great things for us. So we ask to be
restored, that those in tears reap joy and those who weep and sow seeds come
back with an abundant harvest.
1 Samuel 18: 17 – 30
Saul, deliberately risks David’s life in battle. He
offers his eldest daughter to David. David says his family is not worthy. Saul
says David’s worth is in faithfully fighting God’s battles. When the time comes
the daughter is given in a political marriage.
Saul’s other daughter Michal loves David. Saul sees
this as a way to draw Philistine attention to David in battle. Again David says his family is unworthy and
cannot provide the requisite gift. Saul demands evidence of the death of 100
Philistines. David provides the evidence within the set time. He is married to
Michal. Saul becomes more afraid of David. David’s successes in battle continue
and his fame spreads.
Acts 12: 12 – 25
Peter, who has been freed from prison by an angel now
realises it is not a dream and goes straight to the house of Mary the mother of
John. Rhoda, the maid answers the outer gate, sees Peter and is so overjoyed
she runs inside without opening the gate. The people inside tell her she is
crazy. She insists. Peter keeps knocking. Eventually they go and answer the
gate and of course there is a fuss and Peter has to quiet them.
The next morning, Herod Agrippa has the prison guards
killed on account of Peter’s escape. Herod then goes to Caesarea. He is unhappy
with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They seek reconciliation. On the day it is
to be ratified Herod is robed and on his platform. The people praise him as
if he is a God. Immediately he dies.
Christianity grows and Barnabas and Saul return to
Jerusalem and bring with them John (aka Mark).
Collect for
Morning Prayer
New orchid Karri Forest Nanup WA 2014 L Osburn |
Tuesday 23 June
April 2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalms 127, 128 and 129
Unless the Lord is with us in what we do our labour is
in vain. Rising early, working late and being anxious about things are not part
of God’s plan.
Those who walk with God are blessed to have the
freedom to eat our own produce, prosperity sufficient for women to be creative
and children to flourish. It is a blessing to see our grandchildren.
God has preserved us from all assaults in the past.
The psalmist asks that those who are enemies of God not prevail.
Sirach 22: 6 – 18
We are warned that learning, discipline and becoming
intelligent gives us resolve so that we can withstand crises. We are warned to
steer away from fools, those who might as well be asleep and who can spatter us
when they shake themselves off. They will make us weary. They are harder to
carry than sand, salt and an iron rod.
We may weep for the dead who have left the light. For
those who choose to leave intelligence behind, the mourning lasts their lifetime.
James 1: 19 – 2: 7
James writes that we should be quick to listen, slow
to speak and slow to anger because anger does not bring righteousness. We need
to apply what we learn from scripture to our lives – caring for others is part
of the mission.
Finally he challenges us to respect the poor since
they too are heirs of the kingdom and are rich in faith. We are to honour them
when they come to our assemblies.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
Cruising pelicans Lake Mulwala NSW 2014 L Osburn |
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