19 March 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Saturday 19 March 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalm 45

This is an ode to a king’s wedding full of praise and descriptions of beauty, strength and wealth.

Jeremiah 45

Jeremiah has delivered his prophesy about the destruction of the Judeans in Egypt. Baruch the scribe writes Jeremiah’s words and in this brief chapter writes the prophecy Jeremiah gave in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign about himself, Baruch. Baruch will live through the trouble to come.

Matthew 26: 1 – 16

Jesus is in Jerusalem. The Passover festival is coming. He knows he will soon be handed over and crucified. In the background the conspiracy of the chief priests and elders to arrest and kill him gains momentum. The conspirators want it over before Passover to avoid a riot.

The story shifts to a time previously when Jesus was in Bethany and a woman pours expensive ointment from an alabaster jar over his head. Jesus accepts this gift as preparation for his burial. There were others who complain about the waste and that the ointment should be sold instead to feed the poor.

Judas goes to the chief priests and asks how much will they give him to betray Jesus.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Sue’s Bridge
Blackwood River Nanup  WA
L Osburn

Almighty and awesome God, you are our great king, beautiful to behold, strong, and bringing forth abundance. You guide us and we are sometimes worse than stubborn. We are sorry. We thank you for coming to earth and for the suffering you endured for us. Help us now to keep our hearts and minds on your love and grace and walk quietly and faithfully with you in the days to come through Jesus Christ our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saturday 19 March 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalms 46 and 47

God is our strength and refuge and we are to be in awe of him: to be still and know that God is God.

The second psalm is a joyous song of praise beginning with clapping our hands. Our God is awesome ruler of everything, shielding us. God is to be exalted.

Exodus 10: 21 – 11: 10

The ninth plague is dense darkness that covers Egypt but not where the Israelites live. Pharaoh calls Moses and says he can take the men women and children to worship God but not the livestock. Moses says they need them all so they can choose which to sacrifice. Pharaoh gets angry and threatens Moses with death if Pharaoh sees him again. Moses is clear he will not see Pharaoh again. He delivers the message about the final plague – the death of all first-born humans and creatures of the Egyptians. No alarm will be raised – no human or animal will do this killing. Then all Egypt will send the Israelites out.

1 John 5: 3 – 12

God wants us to obey his commandments – and that is not hard with faith and belief in Christ the Son of God. The truth of this is in Christ’s baptism, crucifixion and his spirit. Belief in Jesus places God’s testimony in our hearts and we live life fully.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Sheltering Cave
Cape Le Grand National Park WA
L Osburn

Loving and compassionate God, you sent your Son to place your testimony in our hearts. You shield us and help us live full lives. We thank you for these gifts of grace. Help us obey your commandments and acknowledge always that all good things come from you through Jesus Christ. Amen.

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See just the prayers at #morningeveningprayers