Tuesday 12 January 2016

13 January 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 


Wednesday 13 January 2016
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).

Jeremiah 2: 20 – 34 (35 – 37)

This section is an indictment of the people who are busy pursuing other gods and worshipping idols. They have forgotten who they are, what God has done and are acting like female donkeys on heat. When things go wrong they come to God expecting to be saved. They are sinning. They will be as disappointed with Egyptian gods as they were with Assyrian gods.

John 6: 60 – 71

On hearing the teaching about Jesus being the bread of life and having to eat his flesh and drink his blood many disciples said the teaching was too hard and unacceptable. Jesus addresses their sense of offence and talks about life being of the Spirit and the flesh being meaningless. Jesus’ words are spirit. Jesus’ words are life. This is why Jesus said no one can come to Jesus unless the father enables them. Some disciples leave Jesus over this. Jesus asks the 12 disciples whether they want to leave too. Peter answers, to whom would they go? Jesus has the words of eternal life and they know that Jesus is the Holy One of God.

Jesus agrees that he has chosen the 12 but adds that one will oppose and betray him.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Lemon scented magnolia
Harrietville Vic L Osburn

Holy Lord you are our salvation. You are the spirit of life within us and the reality of Jesus, fully human on earth with us. By your grace bring us closer to Christ every day and keep us blind and deaf to human constructed idols and aspirations so that our souls are focused on you, our saviour, redeemer and friend through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.





Wednesday 13 January 2016
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.

Genesis 2: 4 – 25

Before plants there was no rain just streams of water feeding the earth. It was from the dust of the earth that humans were formed. The breath of life was breathed into the first person. The first human was in a fertile place fed by four rivers with trees and plants for food. And in the centre of this garden was a tree of life and knowledge of good and evil.

The first human was to care for the garden (to till it and keep it), eat anything except from the tree of life. The man needed a helper and the animals were brought to him for names. None was a suitable helper. Woman was formed out of the same rib-stock as the man – same flesh and bone.

Colossians 1: 21 – 29

Paul says that those of us who were estranged from God and doing evil are now reconciled, restored and blameless before God through the crucifixion. This will continue provided we fully and steadfastly continue in our faith. That is what Paul’s mission and suffering were for: to ensure we, from all nations are strong and mature in the faith. In particular he wants us to know the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in us.


Collect for Evening Prayer

By the river in the evening
Ovens River Harrietville Vic
L Osburn
Holy God fountain of life and light, you made us to work in your world to labour and to protect it and to help each other to do so. Banish all things that get in the way of us being close to you. Bring us to the experience of reconciliation, restoration and blamelessness through contemplating the crucifixion and, enable us to grow strong and mature in the faith to your glory through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.




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