11 September 2015

11 September 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 11 September 2015 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 28 and 29

In the first psalm, the there is an appeal to God to hear the pleas of the psalmist and consider him to be like people who don’t believe and / or those who are deceitful. The psalmist changes focus and reminds us how big and powerful God is who saves and shepherds the people forever.

The next psalm picks up this theme on the almighty power of God just by whose voice water, forests, mountains and fire dance or whirl. The Lord’s power brings people confidence and peace.

1 Kings 9: 1 – 14

God appears to Solomon and says the prayers have been heard and that God will indeed have both heart and eye on Jerusalem. God promises Solomon to be with him and his offspring provided they keep the commandments with integrity of heart and uprightness. If however, they are not faithful but serve other gods then Israel will be cut off and the temple destroyed. Israel will be a taunt, a proverb and a heap of ruins. When people ask why this has happened the answer will be because they have forsaken the Lord their God who brought them out of Egypt.

After 20 years Solomon’s house and the temple are complete. Solomon cedes 20 cities in Galilee to Hiram King of Tyre in exchange for 100 talents of gold. Hiram is not happy with the quality of the cities.

Acts 28: 1 – 16

The shipwreck survivors find they are on Malta. The people are welcoming and generous. While building a fire Paul is bitten by a snake. The Maltese people expect him to die and decide he must have been a murderer. They wait and watch for him to die. When nothing happens they decide he must be a god. The leader of the area gives the survivors accommodation in his home. His father is sick and Paul heals him. Thereafter many people come to be healed. The people are grateful and after 3 months the group sails for Rome. The Maltese people provide the necessary provisions for the ship and crew. They stop on the way and meet communities of believers. When Paul arrives in Rome he is permitted to live by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.

Collect for Morning Prayer

A meal in peace
Harrietville Vic L Osburn

Almighty and compassionate God you bring confidence, peace, provision, food, shelter, support and freedom to live in the community both to those who love and serve you and those in community with them. Help us in the days to come to remember that you repay those who do evil and who deceive. Remind us that you are all powerful and though Paul was surrounded by foreigners and non-believers, people who thought he was a deadly threat, they were the ones who were generous enabling him to do your will. Take away our doubts and fears so that we too may act out of compassion and love, keeping your commandment to love our neighbours and increase the flow of generosity, healing and support in this world you love through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Friday 11 September 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 30 and 32

The first psalm is of praise and thanksgiving for healing and prayers answered. “Weeping may linger for the night but joy comes with morning” (v.5).

The second psalm begins telling us how happy are those whose sins are forgiven. The psalmist recounts how he was unwell and until he acknowledged his sins and confessed. Healing began. He encourages all to offer prayer when distressed and warns us not to be stubborn about it.  Steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.

Job 15: 1 – 16

Eliphaz, Job’s friend, challenges Job countering that Job’s arguments can undo the necessity for people to fear God – which the wise and tradition shows is essential. Eliphaz counters Job’s assertion of wisdom asking how is it that he a human could know the secret knowledge of creation. Eliphaz says that mortals can never be clean before God and God really can’t trust humans*.

2 John

This is a brief letter encouraging the readers to continue in loving God and loving each other and to be wary of false teachers who deny Jesus’s life as a human. The writer calls the denial of Jesus’s humanity the work of the devil. We are not to welcome these people into our homes as teachers because we would be participating in spreading the evil. The writer ends saying he hopes to visit soon and sends greeting from another group of believers.

Collect for Evening Prayer

The path
Blackwood River WA L Osburn

Holy and loving God, you answer our prayers, you forgive our sins, you trust us to do your will and to spread your word faithfully in word and deed. Be with us as we bring our day before you. Help us see where we did your will. Be with us as we repent where we stepped aside from your way and encourage us in your love to make a new start with you in the joy of the new day through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

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*Yet we know from the beginning of this story that that is exactly what God did and we know that God counted Abraham righteous.