6 September 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 6 September 2015 

Morning Prayer   

Psalm 138

This is a song of praise and deliverance and ends with the psalmist faithfully claiming, “the Lord will fulfil his purpose for me”.

Acts 15: 36– 16: 5

Paul and Barnabas agree to re-visit the communities of believers. After discussion Paul makes the journey with Silas and Barnabas takes Mark with him to Cyprus. Paul and Silas visit communities and on the way collect Timothy whose mother was Jewish and father is Greek. Timothy is circumcised and they continued touring Asia Minor.

Collect for Morning Prayer

In Jan's garden
Armadale WA L Osburn

Magnificent creator Lord you made us, and all that there is. Strengthen us to live our lives to your purpose not to our own so that we, in small ways, are also proclaiming your word and your glory wherever we are through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Sunday 6 September 2015

Evening Prayer

Esther 2: 1 – 11 and 15 – 17

The Persian King Ahasuerus who banishes his queen for disobedience, appoints commissioners to seek out young women for his harem. One will become the new queen.

Esther is the cousin of Mordechai whose great grandfather had been taken from Israel with King Jeconiah.  Esther has no parents and Mordechai is her guardian. Esther is one of the young women gathered by the commissioners. She wins the favour of the chief eunuch Hegai. She with the other young women is prepared for 12 months. In that time Mordechai walks out side the harem building each day to see how she is faring. Esther tells no one her heritage.

When it is Esther’s turn to go to the king she takes nothing with her. The king loves Esther more than any other woman and makes her queen.

Psalm 146

This psalm is one of praise to God who is trustworthy – more than princes: more than mortals. Our God sets prisoners free and cares for orphans and widows.

Mark 8: 1 – 22

Jesus, still in the area of the Decapolis has a crowd who have been with him for three days. In compassion he asks the disciples what food they have – seven loaves and a few small fish. Jesus gives thanks, breaks it and feeds the 4000 men.

Jesus and the disciples cross the sea by boat. Pharisees question him and ask for a sign. Jesus sighs. He asks why this generation asks for “a sign”; no sign will be given to it.

Jesus, in the boat hears the disciples saying they only have one loaf of bread to share. Jesus warns then to be cautious of the “yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod”: the need to have a sign. They question Jesus on what he means. He asks why are they talking about having no bread? He reminds then of how he fed the masses twice with 12 and 7 baskets of food remaining respectively.

They arrive in Bethsaida.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Sculpture of a fisherman
Fremantle harbour WA
L Osburn

Holy gracious and generous Lord, you love us and provide for us in abundance. Give us calmness and strength when failing rulers, communities and hardship surrounds us. Help us not to ask for or expect signs and miracles. Helps us instead to see what we have, work with that, share and ultimately see the abundance we have from you so that we can fully appreciate how trustworthy and loving you are through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Please leave a comment or feedback.