Thursday 12 November 2015

13 November 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 


Friday 13 November 2015 
Morning Prayer

Psalm 35: 1 – 17

This section of the psalm asks for God to contend with personal enemies: those who fight, who devise evil, who ensnare, who are malicious witnesses, who repay good for evil and, who mock. The psalmist asks, “say to my soul ‘I am your salvation’ ” (v.3).

2 Kings 18: 1 – 16

In the 3rd year of King Hoshea of Israel’s reign, King Hezekiah begins his reign in Judah. He is the son of Ahaz and his mother is the daughter of Zechariah. He is faithful to God and removes the high places, pillars and sacred poles people use to worship other gods. He destroys the bronze serpent Moses lifted up because people are making offerings to it.

After Israel falls to the Assyrians and their people are taken into exile, King Sennacherib of Assyria captures the fortified cities of Judah. King Hezekiah pays Sennacherib gold and silver.

Matthew 24: 1 – 14

Jesus tells the disciples that the temple will be destroyed. Later on the Mount of Olives the disciples come and ask when will it be that Jesus comes and the age ends? Jesus warns them to be wary of false messiahs. Jesus says there will be many upheavals: wars, rumours of wars, earthquakes and that will only be the beginning. The disciples and the faithful will be handed over, tortured and put to death because they are Christians. People will fall away, betray each other and hate each other. There will be false prophets. Love will grow cold but those who endure in faith will be saved and the kingdom will be proclaimed over the whole earth.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Approaching storm
Alpine National Park Vic L Osburn
God of salvation and hope you promise us a future with you. Be with us this day in our world full of trouble and especially for those of us who can do nothing about the wars, enemies, betrayals and losses. Help us mind our souls, focus on you and remove false places of worship so that we may endure in faith knowing we will be saved and your kingdom of love and peace will come through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.




Friday 13 November 2015 
Evening Prayer

Psalms 35: 18 – 29 and 36

The end of the first psalm continues the plea for God to contend with personal enemies and vows to praise God when the psalmist is vindicated.

The second psalm describes the character of those who are wicked. It then describes the character of God “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light”(v.9). The psalm ends in a plea for steadfast love and salvation.


Ecclesiastes 2: 24 – 3: 9

Humans like to eat and drink and find pleasure in what they do. This is God’s gift. If we do God’s will this is our reward and if we don’t we toil and others benefit.

There is a season for everything and a time for everything: being born and dying, sowing and reaping, fighting and healing, love and hate… and war and peace.

Revelation 5

In John’s vision he sees God holding a scroll with seven seals. An angel asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” (v.2). And no one is found. John begins to weep, but an elder reassures him pointing out that Jesus is the one. John sees a Lamb, standing as if it had been slaughtered going forward. The Lamb takes the scroll. The angels sing praise to Jesus whose blood ransoms people of all nations and times for God. The angels sing how worthy Christ is to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honour glory and blessing. The all creatures everywhere praise God and Jesus.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Holy Lord fountain of life and source of light, you have sent your Son to be our saviour, worthy of all praise and glory. Be with us is our troubles, struggles and distress. Help us shift our focus to you and to your will and receive the blessed assurance we have from Christ that you know who we are and love us and that all is well and all will be well through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Living Water
Ovens River
Alpine National Park Vic L Osburn

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