27 September 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Sunday 27 September 2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalm 99
Song of praise to God, who rules, is awesome, loves
justice and fairness and will stand by us. God listened to Moses and Aaron.
They kept Gods decrees. God forgave them and avenged wrongdoing. We are to
praise and worship God.
Mark 11: 27 – 33
In the temple Jesus’s authority to teach is
questioned. Jesus answers with a question (which was the standard method of
debate). Jesus asks whether they think John’s baptism was from heaven or from
men? The chief priests, preachers of the Law and elders answered, “We don’t
know”. Jesus then refuses to tell them his authorisation.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Denmark WA L Osburn |
Holy, holy
Lord we bring our lives and doubts and fears to you knowing you will hear us.
Turn our challenging, our doubts and our fears into opportunities to reconsider
our lives and choices. Remind us that John said, “Repent!” and that was from
you. Remind us too that Jesus said to love you and each other so that we align
our lives to you and walk however haltingly to your holiness through Jesus
Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
Sunday 27 September 2015
Evening
Prayer
Esther 9: 23 – 32
The Jewish people have cause to celebrate. Haman had
plotted against the Jews and cast “Pur” that is the lot to destroy them. Esther
came before the king, revealed she was Jewish and this results in the
destruction of Haman and his whole household. The lots “Purim” fell on him. Because
of this event and the promulgation of the news by Queen Esther and Mordechai to
all the people two days’ celebration occurs every year. The command of Queen
Esther cemented Purim in the Jewish calendar*.
Psalm
19: 7 – 14
God’s
commandments are magnificent. They are right, they delight the heart, they are
simple, they are more precious than gold. And the commandments warn us – but
can we ever truly detect all our own faults? He finishes with:
“Let
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O
Lord my rock and my redeemer.”
James 3: 13 – 4: 7a
If we are wise, that wisdom
will be obvious in our deeds done in humility. But if we harbor bitter envy and
selfish ambition we must not boast about it.
The wisdom that comes from
heaven is pure, peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, impartial
and sincere. When we sow in peace we harvest in righteousness.
James outlines the challenges
of being godly and living in the world. Conflict and harm come because we want
something and cannot have it. We have either not asked for it or we ask wrongly
because we are going to use it for ourselves – our own wants and not God’s
purposes.
James likens this to adultery
– we are cheating on God. God yearns jealously for the spirit he made that dwells in us
and he gives us grace when we are humble, not arrogant and not
seeking our own cravings. So seek God, be humble and repent.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
Crested pigeon Mulwala NSW L Osburn |
O
Lord our rock, redeemer saviour and friend you want us to be real, to be
authentic, to be humble, to forgo our cravings and instead to seek you and your
purpose. Take our words and meditations of our hearts and align them to your
purpose so that we may live lives of wisdom, peace, love, consideration,
gentleness, mercy, impartiality and sincerity all our days through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Please leave a comment or feedback.
*
On Purim at some point the story of Esther is read or acted out and the
children shake rattles each time the name of Haman is heard. Hamentaschen – small filled cakes in the shape
of a tri-cornered hat are eaten. The story is told that Haman wore a hat like
this. Hamentaschen is Yiddish for Haman’s pockets and these are pockets with
filling. The celebration is great fun for children celebrating life and
freedom. In the evening often a more somber remembrances of all who have died
in pogroms and the Holocaust are conducted.
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