28 June 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 28 June 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalm 50: 14 – 24

God requires thanksgiving and praise as our sacrifice.

For those who do evil, slander others and hate discipline they have no right to recite the commandments or be part of God’s covenant.

“Mark this, then you who forget God” (v.23). Those who bring thanksgiving honour God and those who go the right way, God will save.

Acts 13: 1 – 12

In Antioch, a group of Christians gather. The Holy Spirit says to the group to send Barnabas and Saul (who is now Paul) out as a mission. They travel to a few places then come to Cyprus, arrive in Salamis and go to Paphos. Here the find a false prophet named Bar-Jesus (aka Elymas) with the proconsul Serguis Paulus. The proconsul wants to hear the word of God. Elymas, tries to oppose the message and turn the proconsul away from the faith. Paul, with the power of the Holy Spirit looks at Elymas and discerns that he is full of deceit and villainy. Paul declares that the hand of the Lord is against Elymas. Elymas stops being able to see and now needs to be led around. The proconsul, seeing what had happened believes and is astonished at the teachings about the Lord.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Sculpture of a fisher
Fremantle harbour WA 2014 L Osburn

Holy and almighty God through your great grace you have set us free. Keep us honest, authentic and obedient to you all our days so that the world may say of us that our lives are examples of your amazing grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday 28 June 2015

Evening Prayer

2 Samuel 2: 1 – 7 and 3: 1

David consults the Lord about where he is to go. God tells him to go to Judah, specifically to Hebron. David takes his whole household. The people of Judah make him king.

He hears that the people of Jabesh-gilead buried King Saul. He sends a message honouring their loyalty and blessing them because of the love and faithfulness to their king. He wishes them strength and tells them that the house of Judah has made him king.

A long battle continues between the house of David and Saul. David’s house grows in strength and influence.

Psalm 30

This is a psalm of praise and thanksgiving for healing and prayers answered. “You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent” (v.11).

2 Corinthians 7: 2 – 16

Paul asks the Corinthians to have space in their hearts for him since he has wronged no one.  He reinforces that they are in his heart and united with him. His time in Macedonia has been difficult and comforted by the arrival of Titus and his news that the Corinthians want to set things straight and be seen as united with Paul. Paul rejoices not because they felt grief but that they earnestly repented and want to confirm they are being faithful. As a result they have proved themselves guiltless.

Paul says he boasted to Titus about the Corinthians and Titus’s visit confirms the boasting to be true. Titus’s heart goes out to the Corinthians since they welcomed him in fear and showed their faith and obedience. Paul has total confidence in them.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Anchor on a fishing boat
Fremantle harbour WA 2014 L Osburn

Hold Lord you show us through the lives of your people and apostles how to work through difficulties. You show us that even a king first offers respect. You show us your apostle, in love, checks the behaviour of the believers and through repentance and recommitment is assured of their stability and faithfulness. Be us in all the challenges we have this week to equally approach others in respect, to have the courage to challenge in love and to give thanks to you in all things through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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