10 April 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Sunday 10 April 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalm 124

This psalm encourages Israel to say, “If it had not been for the Lord who was on our side” (vs 1 & 2) and then lists what might have happened. Israel blesses the Lord and acknowledges God as the source of help.

John 11: 1 – 16

Jesus is safely away from Jerusalem when he hears that Lazarus is sick. Mary and Martha want him to come and to heal Lazarus. Jesus delays, knowing that Lazarus’s illness will lead to glorifying God. After two days he decides to go and the disciples try to talk him out of it for his safety. He replies that God decides when he will die. He explains that Lazarus is dead. Thomas says, let’s go and if we die, we die with Jesus.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Where the hight is the landing strip
for the Royal Flying Doctor Service
Eyre Highway WA  L Osburn

Holy Lord you are always on our side, and when we die we die with you by our side. In this world of threats, dangers and possible calamities help us bless and acknowledge that wherever we go, we go with Jesus our source of help and strength through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Sunday 10 April 2016

Evening Prayer

Revelation 2: 1 – 11

John is to write to the Ephesians. The letter acknowledges their faith, due diligence in testing apostles and finding the false ones, their enduring patience and bearing up for the sake of Jesus. They are however weary. They have abandoned the love they first had and stopped doing the good works they first did. They need to repent or stop being a church. To their credit they have not been caught up in defiling themselves. They are, if they have ears, to listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

John is instructed to write to the church in Smyrna and let them know these are the words of “the first and last who was dead and came to life” (v.8). Jesus knows their situation that although they are poor they have spiritual wealth. Jesus knows they are being slandered and some will be imprisoned. Jesus asks them to be faithful and consoles them with the promise of the crown of life.

Psalms 116: 11 - 18 and 117

The psalmist asks what shall I return to the Lord for his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation, pay my vows to God, tell people about God and offer thanksgiving and praise.

The second psalm is a global call to praise God.

Acts 9: 22 – 31

Saul begins teaching in the synagogue proving that Jesus is the Messiah confounding the Jews. The Hellenistic Jews plot to kill him. They watch the gates. Saul is let out of the city in a basket. He goes to Jerusalem. The disciples there are afraid of him. Barnabas advocates for Saul telling the story of Saul’s encounter with Christ on the road and how boldly Saul taught about Christ. The believers accept him and send him to Tarsus.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Little plant community on a hard rock
Albany WA  L Osburn

God of glory and grace, even though we are your people and communities some of us are weary and struggling. Some of our communities are being slandered and some are under threat. Help us to repent, to give thanks and praise to you, to help others and to be advocates for the faithful and for you so that we to lift up the cup of salvation, recognise and acknowledge your listening, your love and your promise to us all through Jesus Christ our saviour redeemer and friend. Amen

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