11 May 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 12 May 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalm 33

This psalm is a great hymn of praise to God citing evidence including creation, oversight of nations, strength beyond that of people or war-horses, the steadfast love that delivers our souls from death. The psalm ends saying our souls wait for the Lord, our hearts are glad because we trust and with an appeal for God’s steadfast love to be with us.

Numbers 24: 12 – 25

Balaam (diviner from Mesopotamia) reminds Balak (king of Moab) that no matter how much he is paid, only God’s words will come from his mouth. He will return home but before he does he tells Balak what Israel will do. Balaam foretells a great leader with symbols of a king will rise and Moab and the surrounding kingdoms will be no more. Both go home.

John 17: 20 – 26

Jesus prays for all those who will be brought to faith by the disciples – the church universal. He asks that they have God and Jesus in them just as Jesus and God are one so that the world may believe.

Jesus has given to us the glory he received from God so that we all may be one and that we know God loves us just as God loves Jesus. Jesus also prays that we may be with him in glory.

Jesus has started the world knowing God by showing the disciples and making God known so that God’s love, in Jesus may be in them.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Pure joy: surfing the wind
Lake Mulwala NSW  L Osburn

Our God of joyful unity we praise you and give you thanks for the myriad of ways you have made yourself known to us and most especially through the gift of Jesus your Son our Lord. Make us open today to feel that unimaginable joy of being one with you in love, so that all your community of faith may be refreshed in our journey to you and in our mission to bring the world to belief in you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Thursday 12 May 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalm 31

This powerful psalm is on the theme of taking refuge in God and has the words “Into your hand I commit my spirit”. The second part asks for God’s grace and the final part praises God and encourages us to love the Lord, “be strong and let your heart take courage” (v. 24).

Deuteronomy 32: 23 – 38

Moses continues the song describing the wrath of God in all its forms on God’s enemies and the enemies of a faithful Israel.

1 Corinthians 13

Paul continues about the gifts of the spirit and puts love, the love and concern for others as the greatest gift of the spirit. We can identify it. There are behavioural indicators: patience, kindness, lacking envy, not boasting, never arrogant or rude, not insisting on one’s own way, not irritable or resentful, not celebrating wrongdoing but celebrating truth. Love endures. Whereas other spiritual gifts can come and go, most of them will only be fully experienced when we are face-to-face with God. Meanwhile, the three top gifts are faith, hope and love. Of these, love is the principal gift of the spirit.

Collect for Evening Prayer

The window and the sky
St Andrew's by the lake
Lake Mulwala NSW  L Osburn

Fiercely loving God, you love us through and through. You have shown your overwhelming love by sending Christ to die for us and to redeem us. You have sent your Holy Spirit to sustain us and keep your love in our hearts. As we reflect on today, help us remember those times when people demonstrated your love to us and we to others. Fill our hearts with joy and thanks for all these gifts through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and your Holy Spirit. Amen.

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