5 July 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 5 July 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalm 16

This psalmist praises and blesses God and states his delight in faithful people. The psalmist commits to support people of faith and uses personal testimony of how God has enriched his life.

Acts 13: 13 – 17, 37 – 41

Paul and his company continue their journey. John returns to Jerusalem. In Antioch, the officials of the synagogue ask them to speak. Paul does so and gives a brief history of the Israelites from the exodus.

Paul proclaims that through Jesus’s death and resurrection forgiveness of sins is possible in a way not possible through the Law of Moses. He then quotes Habakkuk and tells those who scoff to be amazed for in their day unbelievable things will be done.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Mulwala Irrigation Canal:
Bringing life giving water to western farms.
2015 L Osburn

Praise and thanks to you Lord of all. You gave us your son Jesus who died so that we might be forgiven. Be with us all the days of our lives. Help us in our thoughts, words and deeds to tell our personal testimony of how you have enriched our lives so that others may be amazed by what you do in our lives for your glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday 5 July 2015

Evening Prayer

2 Samuel 5: 11 – 13, 17 – 25

King Hiram of Tyre sends messengers, carpenters, masons and cedar to David and builds his house. At that point David accepts that he has been made king. He takes on more wives and concubines. His family grows.

The Philistines raid Rephaim. David prays and asks God whether he should engage them and will he win the battle. The Lord gives him the Philistines in battle.

The Philistines come again another time and David again prays. This time God tells him not to face them directly but to come around to their rear and come up to them opposite a particular set of trees. When David hears the sound of marching in the tops of the trees they are to be alert for the Lord has gone out before them to strike down the army. David does as he is told and clears the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

Psalm 123

In this psalm we seek God’s mercy. We look up as a servant does to the hand of the master or mistress. The plea is for deliverance from those who have contempt and who scorn us.

2 Corinthians 13: 4 – 13

Christ was crucified in weakness but lives by God’s power. Paul too is weak and will work with the Corinthians and live with Christ in God’s power. Paul asks the Corinthians to examine themselves. Are they living in faith? Is Jesus Christ in them? That will be the test.

He prays they will be strong and do nothing wrong. He will come in truth. He will be happy if they are strong and he can be weak with them. He writes this letter so that when he comes he does not have to use his authority strongly.

He ends saying to them to put things in order, seek to agree with each other and live in peace. He prays that the God of peace is with them: may they greet each other with a holy kiss. All the saints send their greetings. He ends with a blessing.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Juvenile King Parrot looking to her mother to be fed
Harrietville Vic 2014 L Osburn

Gracious and loving Lord your faithful people seek your hand, your guidance and take action with you. They make themselves weak before you and doing so, being obedient, listening to you, they go forward in your power. Help us at all time to seek you first, listen to you and put our lives in order so that we, and all your people, may be blessed through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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