Wednesday 16 March 2016

17 March 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 17 March 2016
Morning Prayer

Psalm 40

The psalmist tells the whole congregation of how God delivered him from desolation and being stuck. He sings a new song of praise telling of God’s innumerable deeds.

God listens even when no sacrifice is offered. God wants us to fulfil the Law and do God’s will.

The psalmist asks for more aid: past sins assail him and people want to take his life, to hurt and ridicule him. He prays for those who do God’s will and repeats the request for deliverance.

Jeremiah 42: 7 – 22

It takes Jeremiah 10 days to have a clear message to tell the people. His prophecy is that if they stay the Babylonians will treat them mercifully. Their communities will be established and grow. If however, they go to Egypt they will be overtaken by the Babylonians, killed, encounter famine and illness and die. Jeremiah is very clear about the prophecy and knows the people do not obey what God says. He is aware that they have decided to go to Egypt.

Matthew 23: 13 – 26

Jesus delivers his indictment on the scribes and Pharisees who are operating on the form and display and the superficial in worship and their daily lives but not on the core of God. They tie people up in rules and forms of worship, of tithes for produce but not tithing justice, mercy or faith. As a result they have their priorities wrong. He charges them to get their internal house in order: to clean up their internal lives and step away from valuing and revering the appearance of belief.


Collect for Morning Prayer

Kookaburra in the morning
Blackwood River WA  L Osburn
 Merciful and loving God you ask that we love you with all our hearts, minds and strength. Help today to do this deeply and reverently in all our actions and not be distracted by things or processes or places as if they can deliver your goodness. Keep our hearts and minds turned to you so that we honour you and deliver your freedom and your love to others through Jesus Christ our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.






Thursday 17 March 2016
Evening Prayer

Psalms 42 and 43

The psalmist longs for God. In deep distress his soul thirsts for God. He recalls the times in the past he has been part of the celebrations. He is in the depths of despair, oppressed by an enemy. The psalmist tells his soul to hope in God for a time of praise will come – God is our help.

Again ungodly people oppress the psalmist. God’s light and truth are requested. They will lead us back to worship, to joy and praise. The psalmist tells his soul to hope in God. A time of praise will come – God is our help.

Exodus 9: 13 – 35

The next plague on Egypt is hail. The hail is the heaviest ever experienced. All creatures and people left outside die, the flax and the barley crops are ruined. Some Egyptians who heed the warning get their people and livestock to shelter. The others die. The Israelite land of Goshen has no hail. Pharaoh admits he is wrong and allows the Israelites to go and worship. Moses is wise and gets himself out of the city before he stops the hail. As soon as the hail stops, Pharaoh changes his mind again. His heart is hardened.


Ephesians 2: 11 – 22

This communication is to all who are not of the Jewish nation – all people from the other nations of the world. In and through Christ we have been made one group of people who have direct access to God and to God’s mercy and saving grace. Through Christ’s death on the cross all separation and hostility are gone. We are citizens with the saints and “built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God” (v.22).

Collect for Evening Prayer

Beside still waters
Beedelup National Park WA  L Osburn
Loving and compassionate God, we thank you that you care for us all and for those who take you seriously. We praise you for coming to us, living with us and suffering death on the cross to make it clear that we are all yours, all part of your kingdom and all members of your great eternal company. Help us this evening to come quietly to your dwelling place in our hearts, to take a precious moment to be with you and to be refreshed and consoled through Jesus Christ to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.


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