13 December 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 13 December 2015 

Morning Prayer   

Psalm 18: 1 - 17

David exuberantly praises the Lord for saving him from death at the hands of his enemies. The images used are like a volcanic eruption.

2 Corinthians 5: 11 – 6: 1

Paul says that he so reveres Jesus that he tries to persuade others. Jesus knows Paul, and Paul wants to let the Corinthians know him so they can use his story to answer challenges from others. If Paul is crazy, he is crazy for God. And if Paul is sane it is for the sake of the Corinthians to help them know that when Christ died, he died for all so that all now have died to themselves and live with the risen Christ.

Those who accept Christ are a new creation. We need to see them in this new way, letting go all their past. Making a fresh start. All this is from God. As Paul works together with God he urges the people not to take God’s grace in vain.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Yellow iris
Harrietville Vic  L Osburn

Holy almighty, loving God, by your grace Christ died for us saving us from sin and eternal death and turning us into a new creation. Help us to see everyone in this new way and to celebrate as David did your great liberation so that we never ever take your grace in vain but honour, glorify and magnify you always through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Sunday 13 December 2015

Evening Prayer

Isaiah 51: 9 – 16

Isaiah calls for God to awake and like in the ancient times fight and restore the people. He calls to the people to not be afraid of human oppressors – the oppressed shall be released. God has put words into Isaiah’s mouth. God has hidden the people in the shadow of the same hand that stretched out the heavens. “You are my people”.

Psalm 18: 18 – 26

David recounts that with the loyal God is loyal. With the blameless God is blameless. But with the crooked, God appears perverse.

John 3: 22 – 36

Jesus and the disciples go out into Judah and Jesus is baptising people. Meanwhile John the Baptist is also baptising in another place. John’s disciples come to John to tell him about what Jesus is doing. John says first, no one can receive anything unless it comes from heaven. Second that he already told everyone that he is not the Messiah. John compares himself to the best man at a wedding: he isn’t the bridegroom and he rejoices. His joy is fulfilled. John knows too that like the best man, his power and influence has to decrease.

John says explicitly that Jesus is above all, is sent by God, gives freely of the Spirit, tells the truth and is not believed. Those who believe know that God is true. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. The Son brings eternal life to those who believe.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Sunset
Armadale WA   L Osburn

Holy and wonderful God you are indeed worthy to be praised. Your hands that created everything hold us and keep us safe. Your will, pure and blameless gave us your Son to be our Messiah and you have placed us all in Jesus’s care. Help us had over to you all our cares, worries, fears and sin so that we may again be made pure, loyal and blameless in your sight by your grace and through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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