27 June 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Saturday 27
June 2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalm 140
This
psalm is an appeal to be delivered from personal enemies – from violent people
and those who stir things up, those who speak ill, are arrogant and make evil
plots. The psalmist is confident in God’s care.
1 Samuel 20: 35 – 21: 7
Jonathon goes to the field and shoots arrows. He gets
his boy to retrieve them then makes sure he shoots arrows beyond the boy and
says the code phrase that lets David know his life is indeed at risk from King
Saul. Jonathon sends the boy back to the city. In secret David and Jonathon
greet. David prostrates himself. They embrace and both weep. Jonathon vows that
the Lord will be with them both and their families forever. David flees unarmed
to Nob.
In Nob, David goes to the priest and asks for food.
The priest is fearful and asks David his purpose. David says he is on a secret
mission. He pretends he has young men with him and when questioned says none of
them are unclean. There is only holy bread available so unless everyone is
ritually clean they cannot eat it. However, all this is seen by Saul’s chief
shepherd who is there performing a religious ceremony.
Acts
13: 42 – 52
Paul
and Barnabas leave the synagogue and as they go the people ask them to come
again next Sabbath and preach. They do. Crowds gather and jealousy overtakes
some of the Jews who dispute in an extreme way. Paul responds saying that it
was only right they preach to the Jews first and if they reject their testimony
they will go to the Gentiles to whom they are also sent. The Gentiles rejoice.
Key Jewish community leaders are incited to persecute Paul and Barnabas and
drive them from the city. Paul and Barnabas leave and go to Iconium filled with
joy and the Holy Spirit.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Tree top walkway Walpole WA 2014 L Osburn |
Saturday 27
June April 2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalms 141 and 142
Both
psalms are pleas to be delivered from personal enemies. The first includes a
willingness to be justly corrected by the righteous. The psalmist asks to be
assisted to not engage in retaliation of the evil so that the enemies realise
the psalmist is not only correct but also gentle.
In
the second psalm things are not going well for the psalmist and the pleas for
deliverance demonstrate faithfulness.
Sirach 27: 25 – 28: 9
What you do, does come back to you with negative
consequences like throwing a large stone in the air it will hit you on the head
and cause dire injury.
Digging pit traps for others, doing evil, mocking,
abusing, rejoicing in a good person’s downfall being angry and full of wrath
will all be met with the same coming back. God remembers vengeance to others.
Forgive your neighbour, have mercy on people like
yourself. Don’t harbour wrath – if we do it so can God. Remember the end of
your life and set enmity aside. Remember the commandments and don’t be angry
with each other. Overlook faults. Refrain from strife for the sinner sows
discord and disrupts friendships.
James
5
If you
are rich and have defrauded people of their fair wages or rewards, be assured
that God knows. It is as bad as being part of the crowd who had Jesus killed.
For the rest, be patient – like a farmer that waits for the crop to grow – do
not grumble about each other, have instead the endurance of Job. Be honourable
and reliable: let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No”. If you are
suffering, pray. If you are cheerful sing songs of praise. If you are ill, call
for the elders and be anointed. Confess your sins to each other, pray for one
another and be healed because the prayers of the righteous are powerful and
effective.
Finally
if any of you wanders from the truth and is brought back, then that friend has
saved their soul from death.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
We take care for birds crossing in the bush SW WA 2014 L Osburn |
Holy Lord I give you thanks
for this day and all its blessings. May my life always be directed to your
praise and service. Help me reflect on today and identify where you moved me
with love, compassion, cheerfulness, patience and forgiveness. Bring those
moments to my heart so that I may give you praise and ask for your guidance in
the days to come to seek and use more of the opportunities you place before me
to do your will trusting in your love and care through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
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