30 January 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Saturday 30 January 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalm 72

This psalm asks that the King be blessed. Justice, righteousness, prosperity for the people and production, defence of the poor and deliverance for the needy and oppressed, are requested. May the king live long and be gentle. Peace, dominion, abundance, compassion are all in this appeal. The psalm ends praising and Blessing God who makes all thing possible.

Jeremiah 11: 9 – 23

The people of Judah and Jerusalem have broken the covenant and are worshipping as many gods as there are towns. Destruction will come and none of those gods can do anything to prevent it. God tells Jeremiah not to pray for these people or pray on their behalf for on this occasion God will not listen.

God makes it known to Jeremiah that he is the subject of an assassination plot. The people of Anathoth who seek to kill Jeremiah will be punished. The young men will die by the sword and the women by famine.

Luke 1: 67 – 80

Zecharia utters the words we call the Benedictus. He begins by blessing the Lord for raising up a saviour in the House of David as promised in ancient times in God’s oath and covenant with Abraham. Saving the people allows them to serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness. And he addresses the baby John saying that John will be a prophet of God, going before the Lord to prepare God’s way and give knowledge of salvation to the people by the forgiveness of their sins. Through God’s tender mercy a new dawn bringing light to those who live in darkness, will break and guide us to peace.

John grows, is strong and is in the wilderness until his public life in Israel begins.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Mount Buffalo to Porepunkah
Vic  L Osburn

Wonderful and merciful God, nothing is impossible for you. Nothing can destroy the relationship you have with your faithful people and no powers in heaven or earth can stop the destruction of people who deliberately turn away from you. Only you listen and only you have sent prophets to prepare the way for new beginnings. Keep us faithful. Push aside from our attention those thing that are not from you so that we may worship you without fear in righteousness and holiness all our days through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Saturday 30 January 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalm 73

The psalmist begins saying how good God is and then confesses that he is about to lose his belief because of envy of the success, prosperity and apparent freedom from care the wicked possess. It bothers him daily and he is tempted to talk about it but decides it would lead others astray. So he goes into the sanctuary and prays. Through prayer he understands that what appears to be success and freedom is temporary – like a dream. The psalmist recognises his own failings and reaffirms the value of being with God, being guided by God and being valued by God. Even if flesh fails God is our strength, our refuge and we can, with that support tell of all God’s works.

Genesis 18: 1 - 22

At Mamre at mid-day Abraham encounters the Lord. Three people appear and Abraham offers food and drink. The Lord says Sarah will have a child. Sarah overhears and laughs to herself. The Lord hears the laugh and what she said to herself and says “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?” Sarah denies laughing from fear. The Lord corrects her.

Abraham walks with the three who are heading to Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord considers telling Abraham what is about to happen since Abraham is charged with keeping his household and children righteous. The Lord says the outcry has come from the cities and they are going to see whether the behaviours match the outcry.

James 5: 7 – 20

Be patient – like a farmer that waits for the crop to grow. Do not grumble about each other, have instead the endurance of Job. Be honourable and reliable: let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No”. If you are suffering, pray. If you are cheerful sing songs of praise. If you are ill, call for the elders and be anointed. Confess your sins to each other, pray for one another and be healed because the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.

Finally if any of you wanders from the truth and is brought back, then that friend has saved their soul from death.

Collect for Evening Prayer

At home under the trees
Harrietville Vic L Osburn

Almighty God you are our strength, refuge and our cause for giving thanks. Being with you at home, under a tree, walking, waiting or in a sacred space is what we most need. We give you thanks for Abraham who models for us generosity, faithfulness, respect and welcoming strangers. We give you thanks for Sarah who like us needed to learn patience. Help us to talk about what we believe to others, cheerfully giving you thanks and praise, and not to give voice to our doubts lest we lead others astray. Help us to tell you our concerns knowing that you listen and respond and in that we in prayer, reflection and repentance are welcome back. Help us too to teach others how to pray, reflect, repent and return so that we are real friends to our neighbours through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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