7 April 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 7 April 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalm 90

This is a group lament. The psalmist asks that we be satisfied in the morning with God’s steadfast love so that we may rejoice and be glad everyday.

There is a separation from God and a plea that there be as many days connected to God as there have been separation. The psalmist asks for God’s compassion on the people and that the work of human hands may prosper.

Leviticus 16: 20 – 34

The instructions for atonement in the holy tents are specifically outlined.  Linen is worn in the holy of holies. The bodies of the priest and others need to be washed at various points in the ceremony. Aaron is to pray over the head of a live goat and lay on it the sins of everyone (the scape-goat) and let it go free into the wilderness. The date is set for the Day of Atonement each year, which is a Sabbath of complete rest.

Luke 24: 13 – 27

Two of the disciples are walking on the road to Emmaus talking about what had happened. A stranger approaches and appears ignorant of all the events including the women reporting an angel at the tomb and the empty grave. The stranger interprets the scriptures about the Messiah from Moses to the present time. He shows them that the prophecies have all been fulfilled.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Open door
Mission to Seafarers
Gladstone Qld  L Osburn

Gracious and loving God, through the death and resurrection of Christ you wash away even the vaguest whiff of sin and give us cause to celebrate your steadfast love. Help us take a break from our material concerns, immerse ourselves in your scriptures, do actions that help us focus and connect with you – rituals that are in the tradition we belong to – so that we can atone and experience your extravagant grace and love, be fully satisfied, arise refreshed, rejoice and be glad through Jesus Christ our saviour redeemer and friend. Amen.

Thursday 7 April 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalm 119: 89 – 104

The psalmist expresses faith in God’s word – commitment to God and the law. The psalm also shows the effect of the scriptures on the psalmist through meditation, understanding and a guide for life.

“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my misery” (v.92).

Exodus 16: 22 – 17: 7

On the day before the Sabbath the people gather double the amount of bread. Moses tells them to cook and eat what they need and the remainder will not spoil. God provides so that no one needs to leave their homes, they must rest. But some people go out. God asked Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and instructions?”(v.28). Moses has Aaron keep some manna in the holy place so that people in future generations can see what it was like.

1 Peter 4: 3 – 11

We have already had our wild days. Some of our old friends get upset that we still aren’t there with them. From now on we are to be aware that all things will end, to take seriously our discipline and prayers, to love one another, be hospitable without complaining and, serve one another with whatever skills we have and use those skills as if we are just handing on the capacity of God. In this way God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. God’s is the glory forever.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Boronia in the Deanery Garden
St Alban's Cathedral
Griffith NSW   L Osburn

Holy and mighty God, you listen to our prayers and are with us when we sit with you unimpeded by the world’s demands and noise. Be with us tonight as we reflect on our day to examine did we leave our troubles to you? Did we take time to be with you? Did we follow the commandments especially love one another? Were we as hospitable and generous with our skills as we could have been? And did we do this not for us but reverently and humbly for your glory through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

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