11 August 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Tuesday 11 August 2015 

Morning Prayer   

Psalms 95 and 96

Sing to God songs of praise for all things God has done for us. Be joyful. Make a noise. Do not harden your heart like the Israelites did when they were wandering in the wilderness.

Sing praise to the Lord! Ascribe to God the glory of creation. Let everything, the heavens, the trees, everything sing and praise God.

2 Samuel 18: 5 – 18

David tells his three commanders, Joab, Abishai, and Ittai to deal gently with Absalom for David’s sake. The battle takes place in the forest of Ephraim. David’s forces defeat Israel with great loss of life, but the forest claims more victims than the sword.

Absalom, riding a mule in the forest catches his head in branches and the mule goes on leaving Absalom hanging there. A man reports to Joab who asks why he did not strike Absalom. The man replies that he had heard David’s instruction and did not dare raise his hand against the king’s son moreover, if he had, he did not trust that Joab would protect him. Joab is curt. He spears Absalom three times then his men attack and kill Absalom.

Joab sounds the trumpet and David’s forces cease pursuing the Israelites. Joab has a pit dug, puts Absalom’s body in it and erects a large cairn of stones like the pillar Absalom erected in King Valley for himself.

Acts 16: 11 – 24

Paul and Silas are in Philippi, which is in Macedonia and at the time a Roman colony. They go to a place of prayer and meet Lydia. Lydia listens, is baptised as are all her household. Paul and Silas stay in her home.

There is a slave, a girl who follows Paul and Silas telling everyone they are prophets of the Most High God and are bringing salvation to all. She does this for many days. Paul orders the spirit of divination from her. She then can no longer make money for her owners. The owners become angry and take them before the magistrate.

Paul and Silas are charged with being Jews in a Roman colony, stripped, flogged and gaoled with their feet held in stocks.

Collect for Morning Prayer

When the lake emptied
Mulwala NSW 2015 L Osburn

God of greatness, God of glory you would have us sing your praise in all circumstances. You know there are people in this world who will misuse power for their own interest. Be with us and protect us when we encounter them and keep our hearts open to you so that we may sing your praise and give you the glory through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Tuesday 11 August 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 97 and 98

The first psalm celebrates God using the theme of God as sovereign. God guards the lives of those who are faithful and delivers them from the wicked. Let everyone who is faithful rejoice and praise God.

The psalm is a summons to all nations and people to praise the Lord and rejoice in this name. God’s is the victory, God’s is the strength and we are God’s people. God comes to judge the earth with righteousness and equity.

Proverbs 15: 16 – 33

This is a series of short sayings.

Poverty is difficult, a cheerful heart, a bowl of vegetables with love and fear of the Lord feeds us in a way treasure and hatred cannot.

The hot-tempered or lazy have trouble. Those slow to anger and who work have less strife.

Being wise and honouring your mother makes both parents glad.

Take counsel: seek advice when planning things.

The apt answer and well-timed word is a joy.

God protects the house of the proud less than the widow’s boundaries.

Evil plans are not part of God.

People who are greedy for unjust gain bring trouble to their families.

The righteous person considers what they will say and the wicked person lets evil pour out.

If we accept admonition we gain understanding and wisdom. If not we end up despising ourselves.

Romans 9: 14 – 24

God has the right to have mercy where God chooses to have mercy. God too can harden the hearts of those God chooses (like Pharaoh). God, like a potter, has the right to shape the clay any way and to use that clay to offer people a path to salvation. God has offered mercy and the riches of the kingdom to people of all nations.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Making a Stole for a Deacon.
Mulwala NSW 2015 L Osburn

Great God you are our sovereign and we are participants in our lives choosing to act in ways that bring us closer to you. Guide our thoughts, words, hearts, plans and actions in our days to come so that we bring love, joy, gladness, and peace to those around us and so that our lives bring praise to you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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