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
Living Water
Ovens River
Alpine National Park Vic L Osburn
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