13 May 2016
Collects
Prayers developed from the daily readings
Friday 13 May 2016
Morning Prayer
Psalm 35: 1 – 17
This section of the psalm
asks for God to contend with personal enemies: those who fight, who devise
evil, who ensnare, who are malicious witnesses, who repay good for evil and,
who mock. The psalmist asks, “say to my soul ‘I am your salvation’ ” (v.3).
Numbers
27
A
group of women whose father had died of natural causes comes to the tent of
meeting and puts the case that their father’s property should be shared among
them. Moses takes this request to God and women’s rights to property are
established along with a property succession plan.
God
tells Moses that he is to go to a hill that overlooks the Promised Land and
that this is the closest he will get because of his disobedience in the
wilderness when the people needed water. Moses asks about who is to succeed him
and God gives instructions for the commissioning of Joshua before the high
priest. Joshua is commissioned.
Acts
1: 1 – 14
After
the resurrection, Jesus requires the disciples to stay in Jerusalem for the
Holy Spirit to come to them. They ask him about the timing of the restoration
of Israel and he answers that it is not ours to know the timing of God. But,
when the Holy Spirit comes they will be witnesses for Christ throughout the
world. He then ascends into heaven. The disciples are stunned when two men in
white robes ask, why are they standing staring – Jesus has been taken to heaven
and will return in the same way.
They
with the women including Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers returned to
the upper room and all devote themselves to prayer and preparation.
Collect for Morning Prayer
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| Flame tree Armadale WA L Osburn |
Friday 13 May 2016
Evening Prayer
Psalms 35: 18 – 29 and 36
The end of the first psalm
continues the plea for God to contend with personal enemies and vows to praise
God when the psalmist is vindicated.
The second psalm describes
the character of those who are wicked. It then describes the character of God
“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light”(v.9). The
psalm ends in a plea for steadfast love and salvation.
Deuteronomy
32: 39 – 52
Moses’s
song continues recounting the wrath and power of God. He ends explaining to
them that his song is for the future generations. That those living now need to
pass it on so that no one forgets or fails to take God seriously. If they abide
in this knowledge their future is assured.
Moses
prepares to go to Mount Nebo where he will die in view of the Promised Land.
1
Corinthians 14: 1 - 12
Paul
encourages people to strengthen and build their spiritual gifts, not for their
own benefit but for the purpose of strengthening the church. He gives the
example of speaking in tongues – it is speaking with God in a holy way but
unless it is interpreted and builds the church, it is like a musical instrument
that makes no sound and is a bit foreign or alien to others. True prophecy
builds the church. Paul encourages people to build their capacity.
Collect for Evening Prayer
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| Armadale WA L Osburn |
Generous
and loving God you give us life, grace, hope, your Son our Lord, and your Holy
Spirit. Your scriptures remind us that it is here in our lives these gifts are
to be exercised, strengthened and used for your glory – not to be stored or
kept for later. As we reflect on today, help us note the times we boldly used
your gifts and those times where we noticed others courageously exercise your
Spirit so that we might support and strengthen them and be strengthened by
their example through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the your Holy Spirit. Amen.
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