29 October 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 29 October 2015 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 145

This psalm praises and blesses God for all the great acts of creation, mercy, salvation, awesome acts, steadfast love, compassion, and might. What God has done proclaims the glory of the kingdom. That kingdom will endure forever.

On a more personal level God is faithful, gracious, upholds people while they are falling, raises up people who are oppressed. God provides as required, in time and with justice. God hears, saves and watches us. We will praise the Lord and all living things will bless God forever.

2 Kings 10: 18 – 36

King Jehu uses great cunning to gather all the priests and worshippers of Baal together in one place for a great celebration. He provides them with new vestments. He has his men check that no worshipper of the Lord is present. He commands his men to kill all of them and demolish the building. He does not however, remove the golden claves that Jeroboham erected in Bethel and Dan.

He does not follow the law of God with all his heart. King Hazael begins to conquer some of Israel’s territory. Jehu reigns for 28 years and is succeeded by Jehoahaz his son.

Matthew 19: 16 – 30

A young man calls Jesus “good” and asks Jesus about eternal life. Jesus says there is only one who is good. Eternal life comes through keeping God’s commandments and he recites them. The man says he keeps them. Jesus says if he wants to be perfect, sell all he has, give the money to the poor then follow Christ. The young man withdraws, grieving: he has so much to lose.

Jesus says how hard it is for a rich person to get into the Kingdom of God: as hard as trying the thread a camel through a sewing needle. The disciples become distressed because only the rich can afford to do what is required – no one has a hope if they can’t get in. Jesus says, “for God all things are possible” (v.26).

Peter wants to know what he will get since the disciples have given up everything? Jesus says at the end of all things they will be in positions of glory beside Jesus. Those who leave everything for God will receive eternal life. But many who are privileged now will be last on the list while those last on the list now will be honoured.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Wildflowers
Albany WA L Osburn

 Holy Lord we thank you for all your great gifts through creation and to us. When we think about coming closer to you and living our lives with you daily, help us not to focus on the things we perceive we might lose so that we focus instead on what we will gain and what we have already gained through your love and grace, and to come to you joyfully in thanks and praise through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thursday 29 October 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalm 147

This psalm rejoices in singing praise to a gracious God. God builds up the community, gathers the outcasts, heals the broken-hearted and binds their wounds. This is the same God who created the stars. Sing to God.

God brings the rain that produces grass and feeds the animals and allows birds to sing. God isn’t interested in who is the fastest or strongest but in our reverence.

The city of the faithful is charged to praise the Lord: for itself, the safety of the children, the peace. This God who controls all the weather looks after us. No other God is like our God.

Esther 2: 5 – 23

Mordechai a Benjaminite is one of the people carried away by Nebchadnezzar. He is guardian of his cousin Hadassah or Esther who is an orphan. She is gathered into the King’s harem. Mordechai advises her not to reveal her ancestry. Mordechai walks past the front of the court of the harem to hear how she is. After 12 months she is summoned to the King’s presence. She follows the advice of the king’s eunuch what to take with her. The King loves Esther and makes her queen. He holds a feast in her honour and grants a public holiday.

At the King’s gate, Mordechai overhears two of the King’s eunuchs conspiring to kill him. He reports this to Esther who in turn tells the King. The matter is investigated and found to be true. The men are hanged.

2 Peter 2: 12 – 3: 2

Peter continues his condemnation of false teachers and how you can tell them by their behaviours, greed and lack of substance. He laments those who believe and then fall back into their old life. He encourages the people to remember the words of the prophets and remember the commandments of Christ spoken through the apostles.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Banner
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Wangaratta Vic
L Osburn

Holy Lord we give you thanks and praise for your generous gifts to us. Everything we have, community, safety, solace, healing, stars and rain comes from you. Help us every day to read and recall your works, the words of your prophets and the life and words of Christ so that we may be your people of substance, your calm, your peace and your generosity to your glory through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

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