2 February 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Tuesday 2 February 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalm 77

The psalmist is deeply distressed, not sleeping at night, feels alienated from God and wonders whether God has gone. He decides to remember all the blessings of the past and the evidence of God’s enduring protection. He ceases moaning and instead gives thanks.

Jeremiah 13: 1 – 17

Jeremiah reports how God tells him to get a new linen belt, wear it, not wash it, they go bury it, and then retrieve it. The belt is ruined and useless. The people of Israel and Judah are bound to God but they are not listening.

Jeremiah is to tell people to fill all the wineskins with wine. The people will respond that they already know that wineskins need to be full of wine. God however will fill everyone, people, kings and prophets with a form of drunkenness and they will smash against each other. There will be no pity or mercy or compassion to keep God from destroying them. Jeremiah warns them a last time and if they do not respond he will weep for them.

Luke 2: 8 – 21

Shepherds in the fields looking after sheep are met by an angel and surrounded by the glory of the Lord. They are terrified. The angel tells them not be afraid but to receive good news of great joy for everyone. In the town of David a saviour, the anointed one is born. The sign is that he is wrapped in cloths and lying in a food trough. Then the sky breaks into singing words of praise to God and proclaiming peace to the world.

The angels leave. The shepherds decide to go to Bethlehem. They find the baby as directed and they spread the news. Mary treasures this event in her heart. The shepherds go away rejoicing.

On the eighth day, the baby is circumcised and named Jesus as the angel said before his conception.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Madonna and Christ Child
New Norcia Benedictine Community
WA  L Osburn

 Holy almighty and gracious God you give us many chances to give thanks, rejoice and spread the word that Christ the saviour is come. Help us when we feel alone, alienated, surrounded by people who fight and when we are filled with terror and fear. Strengthen us to shift our focus to your blessings, your protection and to simply go to the manger and treasure the moment of being with the Christ child so that we may be liberated from our distress, our trouble and the mundane routines we currently bear and instead focus on your glory and your eternal blessing through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tuesday 2 February 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalm 78: 1 – 15

The psalmist encourages people to tell the stories of God and the caring relationship with the people to their children, in parables, the old sayings, the history, decrees and miracles so that they will not be stubborn or rebellious.

Genesis 19: 12 – 29 (30 – 38)

The two messengers ask Lot does he have any other relatives and tell him to get them out of the city for the messengers are about to destroy it. Lot tells his future sons-in-law but they think he is joking. At dawn the messengers tell Lot to hurry and leave with his family. When they hesitate the men grab his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and lead them safely out of the city. The angel tells them to flee and not to look back. Lot negotiates to flee to Zoar. By daybreak the cities and the vegetation are gone. Lot’s wife who had looked back was turned into a pillar.

Abraham sees the destruction – he is safe and Lot is saved.

Lot and his daughters live in a cave, afraid to go to Zoar and thinking that they are the only people left in the world. The daughters conspire to get their father drunk, sleep with him and conceive children to secure their future. This they do in turns. The sons are Moab, father of the Moabites and Ben-Ammi, father of the Ammonites.

Philippians 1: 12 – 20  

Paul chained and in prison, wants everyone to know that his circumstances have led to the gospel being advanced. The prison guards know that Paul is a prisoner for Christ. The faithful are speaking out more courageously and fearlessly. Some do it out of ambition and some do it in love and defence of the gospel. The motives do not matter so long as the gospel is being proclaimed. Paul rejoices and knows he will not be ashamed but will have the courage to deal with whatever comes, even if that is death, because he will exult Christ.

Collect for Evening Prayer

At A Deaconing
Gladstone Qld   L Osburn

Merciful God you have cared for us since the beginning of time and all your care points to brining us in closer relationship with you. Especially your greatest gift to us began with a tiny baby Jesus Christ your son our Lord who has freed us from rebellion and the imprisonment of our souls. Make of us vessels of your saving grace so that by ours lives and actions we too can bring people to your safety and care and proclaim and exult you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

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