11 December 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 11 December 2015 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 95 and 96

Sing to God songs of praise for all things God has done for us. Be joyful. Make a noise. Do not harden your heart like the Israelites did when they were wandering in the wilderness.

Sing praise to the Lord! Ascribe to God the glory of creation. Let everything, the heavens, the trees, everything sing and praise God.

Isaiah 46: 1 – 47: 4

The idols of Babylon have fallen. They are the same idols that were heavy to carry around and were a burden on the people. God however carries us. God made us, sustains us, and rescues us. God will do as God pleases. God’s righteous is coming near. God will grant salvation to Israel. Babylon will be humiliated. The Lord, the Almighty is the Holy One.

Mark 8: 14 – 26

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.

The next day in Bethsaida he heals a blind man. Jesus sends him home saying do not go into the village.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Turtle and creation
Indigenous art New Norcia
Benedictine Community WA  L Osburn

All praise and glory be yours almighty God. You are the god of all creation who carries us, who feeds us, who heals us and who took upon yourself the burden of our sin to the cross. Help us see the signs in everything you have done so that we may calmly and faithfully live through all the challenges of this life – even trivial ones – and be joyful through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Friday 11 December 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 97 and 98

The first psalm celebrates God using the theme of God as sovereign. Let everyone who is faithful rejoice and praise God.

The psalm is a summons to all nations and people to praise the Lord and rejoice in this name. God’s is the victory, God’s is the strength and we are God’s people. God comes to judge the earth with righteousness and equity.

Isaiah 9: 18 – 10: 11

Wickedness burns like fire. Woe to those who make unjust laws and oppress others. Their wealth and privilege will not protect them. Woe to the Assyrian (Cyrus) who is the instrument against a godless nation. God says all kings are God’s commanders. Haven’t the great idol-worshipping cities fallen? Shall the God not deal with idol-worshipping Jerusalem in the same way?

Revelation 14: 1 - 12

John sees the Lamb on Mount Zion surrounded by the redeemed faithful and played to by harpists: a new song.

An angel cries out for all to fear God, give God glory, worship God who made everything, for the time of judgement has come. A second angel cries out that Babylon has fallen. A third angel cries out anyone worshipping the beast will experience God’s fury. This calls for patient endurance of those who obey the commandments and are faithful to Jesus.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Heavenly musicians and choristers
With faces of some children who attended school at
New Norcia Benedictine Community
WA   L Osburn

Holy and mighty God you are the strength, you are our strength and we are your people. Help us to be confident in your judgement and response to those in our world who do wicked things, who serve out injustice and who oppress, so that we faithfully obey your commandments, follow Jesus and praise you singing the new song of the redeemed all our days through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

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