25 January 2016
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Monday 25
January 2016
Morning
Prayer
Psalms
62 and 63
For God
my soul waits in silence: my salvation and my hope come from God. All people
and things and powers are temporary. God is our rock and fortress and we shall
not be shaken. Steadfast love belongs to God.
As a
drought-ravaged land seeks water so our souls seek God. God’s love is better
than life. God’s love is like a rich feast. Meditating on God causes our souls
to sing.
The
psalm ends with a plea for personal security.
Jeremiah 8: 4 – 17
The
Lord asks Jeremiah isn’t it normal when people fall they get up again and that
when they go astray they come back? But these people are not coming back, not
asking, “What have I done?” Instead they are plunging headlong into trouble.
The scribes are reading the scriptures falsely. They and their families will be
lost. The people are not producing from the gifts given by God – God can find
no fruits to harvest, so God is passing them by. The army is coming. The
snorting of the horses is audible. The snakes are being loosed among the people
and they will bite.
Luke 1: 1 – 12
Luke distils the knowledge
from eyewitnesses and other accounts of the events and circumstances of Jesus’
life for Theophilus.
In the days of King Herod
of Judea a priest, Zechariah whose wife is a direct descendant of Aaron, the
first priest, is Elizabeth. They have no children.
Zechariah’s group is
serving and the temple and he is chosen by lots to enter the sanctuary and
offer incense. An angel of the Lord appears. Zechariah is terrified.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
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| North Mine Shaft Broken Hill NSW L Osburn |
Monday 25
January 2016
Evening
Prayer
Psalms
64 and 67
The
first psalm is about those who do evil and think no one can see or hear them.
God knows. God sees. God will respond. Let the righteous rejoice and take
refuge in God.
The
second psalm is a blessing. “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make
his face shine upon us” (v 1). The blessing asks too that our lives be
testament to God’s glory. May the whole world sing praise and rejoice.
Genesis 13
Abram
leaves Egypt with all he has and returns via the Negeb to the place near Bethel
where he originally set up an altar. Both he and Lot have large flocks. Disputes
arise between their shepherds about grazing areas. Abram and Lot agree to
separate. Lot goes east to the Jordan Valley. Abram is promised the land he can
see from where he is, and offspring as numerous as the dust of the earth. He
travels to the oaks of Mamre near Hebron and builds an altar there.
James 2: 1 – 13
James
challenges us to respect the poor since they too are heirs of the kingdom and
are rich in faith. We are to honour them when they come to our assemblies.
James reinforces that God’s law needs to upheld – not just in parts but
also as a whole. The laws of God are laws that allow liberty for all and mercy
is central to our community.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
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| Sun on the clouds Ceduna SA L Osburn |
Merciful God you want us all to be free
from evil, discrimination and disputes. You can and do search out our hearts
and minds and you know our actions. Bring us to deep humility. Guide us to acknowledge
your power and majesty and give due regard to your capacity to act so that we
bring our lives to you, return to your law of love, treat everyone with
respect, take refuge in you and sing your praise and glory 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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