13 February 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Saturday 13 February 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalms 101; 102: 1-11

The first psalm is a statement of commitment to justice and to work hard to live a righteous life. The portion of the second psalm is a lament. The psalmist is unwell and in great pain unable to eat or sleep and tormented by others who suggest God has deserted him.

Jeremiah 24

This is Jeremiah’s vision of the baskets of figs. Those who were taken in exile to Babylon were the good figs. They will recognise God and God will watch over them and they will prosper, they will return to God and eventually return to Judah. The bad figs are those remaining in Judah and Egypt who will be destroyed.

Luke 11: 5 – 13

Jesus explains the responsiveness of God: knock and you will receive. We know that if we ask for something and persist people will respond – if not out of friendship out of the persistence. We know too that when our children ask for something we don’t give them something harmful – they don’t always get what they want. God’s responses are much more than human responses.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Surfing Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos
Riding the wind on tree-tops in a storm
Mulwala NSW   L Osburn

Compassionate God who listen to and answers our prayers, who has a purpose for our lives and who is with us no matters what has happened; help us keep praying, help us to listen, for we depend on you. We praise your great and glorious name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saturday 13 February 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalm 102: 12-28

This second portion of the lament turns into a hymn of prayer and praise to God. God will look after us; hears our prayers and is eternal.

Genesis 38: 12 – 30

Judah’s troubled family life goes on. His daughter dies, he fails to give his surviving daughter-in-law to his youngest son as promised, she tricks Judah by pretending to be a prostitute and when she is found out and threatened with death reveals the father’s identity. Judah admits his fault. Twins are born: Perez and Kerah.

Hebrews 2: 10 – 18

Jesus’s life, suffering, death and resurrections are for humans. His real presence and real suffering made him the faithful high priest to make the atonement sacrifice. His suffering for our salvation helps us when we are being tested.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Gang Gang (Black Cockatoo)
Harrietville Vic  L Osburn

Almighty God who sent your some to live with us, suffer and be our atoning sacrifice; hear us when we call to you, guide us and protect us, all the days of our lives we ask through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

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