Monday 28 September 2015

29 September 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 


Tuesday 29 September 2015 
Morning Prayer

Psalm 69: 1 – 16

This psalmist is a lowly servant of the Lord and through zeal has done something that causes him to be the butt of jokes and ridicule. The psalmist is fasting and in sackcloth. He pleads for deliverance and praises God.

1 Kings 17

Elijah, the prophet appears and tells King Ahab there will be no rain for three years because the God of Israel (not Baal) controls the rain. He then goes east of the Jordan River on God’s instruction where the ravens bring him food and he drinks from a flowing wadi. When the water dries up he goes to Zarephath, part of Sidon, where God says a widow has been commanded to feed and house him. He goes to the gate of the city, finds a widow collecting sticks and asks her for water and then food. She only has enough meal for one last cake. He asks her to make him a little one and prophecies that her grain and oil stores will be supplied until the end of the drought.

The widow’s son becomes ill and ceases breathing. She complains to Elijah – what has he done to her that all her sins have resulted in the death of her child. Elijah picks up the child, takes him upstairs, cries out to God then stretches himself on the child three times. The boy revives. The woman is now convinced that Elijah is a man of God.

Matthew 9: 14 – 26

Disciples of John the Baptist ask Jesus why they and the Pharisees fast but Jesus’s disciples do not. Jesus talks about respecting the new ways and the old ways and not forcing them together. He also says that there will be a time when the disciples fast – at the moment they are still with the bridegroom.

A leader in the synagogue approaches for his daughter has died and asks Jesus to lay hands on her so she may live. Jesus goes and on the way a woman touches the fringe of his coat so she may be healed. Jesus stops, recognises the touch, acknowledge the woman and her faith and heals her. He then tells the mourners to depart and enters the synagogue leader’s home, takes the girl by the hand and she gets up. There is rejoicing everywhere. Jesus recognises and heals women and girl children.


Collect for Morning Prayer

Jesus before Pilate
New Norcia Benedictine Community WA L Osburn

Gracious and loving God you provide food, safety, health and new life even to those who are considered the least in our communities. We thank you for your prophets and healers of every age who take the risks to challenge us, confront us, and brings us back from destruction and death. We thank you especially for your Son Jesus who showed us in concrete ways your overwhelming love for us all. Help us today to reach out to you and to call out with our whole hearts to you so that we too may spread your love, your healing and new life to those we meet through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.


Tuesday 29 September 2015
Evening Prayer

Psalm 69: 17 – 23 (24 – 30) 31 – 38

The psalmist praises the Lord and is suffering from insults and dishonour. When he goes for counsel and support the response is bitter, and heart-breaking – no real compassion. The psalmist is very angry, he wants God’s wrath to destroy and punish, but he leaves that anger with and for God. The psalmist praises God, who unlike a God in the form of a bull, will listen. The psalmist ends in praise and a plea to God to come quickly.

Job 27

Job now makes two solemn oaths to God again claiming his innocence, integrity and righteousness saying, “my heart does not reproach me for any of my days” (v. 6).

He wishes God’s response to the wicked to be done to his enemy. The enemy remains un-named. He says if God turns from the godless, they will have no hope. They might have children but they will be lost in wars, pestilence and famine. They might have wealth but someone else will ultimately get it. Change will come like a wild wind and they will flee at its hissing and power.

Colossians 1: 9 – 20

Paul tells of his prayers that we may have knowledge of God’s will in spiritual wisdom and understanding so that we lead lives worthy of God, bear fruit and be made strong through His power so that we can endure all things with patience and joyfully give thanks. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and put us in Christ, His Son’s kingdom. Paul explains the oneness of God and Christ and this section is the beginning of our creed, the acknowledgement of God as creator of all things visible and invisible and God’s reconciliation with us through the cross.

Collect for Evening Prayer

For everyone
Harrietville Vic. L Osburn
Holy Lord creator of all things seen and unseen you are always there for all of us whether we acknowledge you or not. You love us and provide for us. When we turn to you through Christ we becomes aware of your love for everyone and humbled. We grow in patience and love, freed from darkness and seek reconciliation with you for all people through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. For this we thank you Lord. Amen.



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