30 December 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Wednesday 30 December 2015 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 148 and 149

These two psalms call on every part of creation to praise and glorify God.  Parts call for dance and celebration of victories over enemy nations.

Isaiah 63: 1 – 9

Isaiah sees God coming robed in splendour and covered in red. God explains that like treading wine in a press and being splashed with the juice, vengeance has been delivered to those who do not acknowledge God. Isaiah praises God for all the kindness to Israel and God replies that surely they are God’s people and God saves them with his presence and redeems them. God lifts them up and carries them.

John 2: 1 – 12

At a wedding in Cana where Mary, Jesus’ mother is present the wine runs out. She tells Jesus who though reluctant to reveal himself asks the servants to fill some barrels with water and draw it out to serve. It is better wine than served previously. The disciples put their faith in him.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Home
Harrietville Vic L Osburn

Almighty God we praise you and our confidence is in you. When things go wrong, when enemies surround us, even domestically, help us to call on you as Mary did. Strengthen us to do as you tell us and to know that you have already saved and redeemed us so that we are able to experience your uplifting grace and your great comfort through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday 30 December 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 144 and 150

The first psalm is of a king who has prepared for war, he calls on God to be the strong deliverer. He expresses humility not just for himself but all people, asks for God to be with them in routing the enemy. The psalmist will sing praises, the youth and the land will flourish, there will be peace and all happiness will be restored once the battle is won.

The last psalm is of joyful and exuberant praise – instruments, dancing. “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord” (v.6).

Isaiah 30: 1 – 14

Isaiah calls the people rebellious children for making a plan that is not God’s plan and is against God’s will therefore adding to their existing sin. Protection and shelter from the Pharaoh will be the cause of their humiliation. There will be no help or profit from this source.  They will go through the desert – a land of trouble and distress with burdened animals for no outcome. Egypt’s help is worthless. Isaiah will write down his prophecies so that the record is clear. The people want smooth, nice and easy prophetic words they don’t want to hear God’s words – the Holy One of Israel. They reject God and put their faith in oppression and deceit. The plan and they will collapse catastrophically like a shattered pot in such small pieces you can’t use then to lift a coal from a fire or dip water out of a cistern.

Ephesians 1: 15 – 23

Paul says that ever since he heard about the Ephesians he has given thanks and praise to God. Paul prays that they receive wisdom and revelation to know God better, that their eyes can be enlightened to see the hope of their glorious inheritance and God’s power. God’s power was exerted in Christ to raise him from the dead, seat him at God’s right hand and place all things under Christ’s feet to be the head of God’s church.

Collect for Evening Prayer

On the Silver City Hwy
Broken Hill NSW
L Osburn 

Holy Lord you are the strong and sure deliverer. You are the one powerful enough to rout the enemy within our midst. May we receive your wisdom, come to know you better and reject rebellion against your will so that we can truly see the glorious inheritance we have from you, acknowledge your great power and boldly, joyfully and exuberantly sing your praises through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

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