30 May 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Monday 30 May 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalm 72

This psalm asks that the King be blessed. Justice, righteousness, prosperity for the people and production, defence of the poor and deliverance for the needy and oppressed, are requested. May the king live long and be gentle. Peace, dominion, abundance, compassion are all in this appeal. The psalm ends praising and Blessing God who makes all thing possible.

Ezekiel 25

Ezekiel prophesies woe to the Ammonites, Edomites, Moabites and Philistines for their attitude and treatment of the people and land of Israel.

Acts 6:8 – 7:8

Stephen, the first deacon, who is full of grace and power and did great wonders and signs is falsely accused and brought before the council. False witnesses testify against him yet his face is that of an angel. When asked whether the accusations are true Stephen begins with the story of God appearing to Abraham and tells it up to Jacob the father of the 12 patriarchs.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Old Gatehouse Sydney University
L Osburn

Holy Lord, eternal King you make all things possible. Be with us now in our communities whether we are rejoicing in new leadership, in a time where there are true prophets or suffering in volatile, threatened and dishonest regimes. Help us through all our anxiety and keep us always mindful that you are involved and make all things possible, you overturn fortunes and you give the falsely accused the demeanour of angels and empower them to bring us your truth through Jesus Christ our saviour redeemer and friend. Amen

Monday 30 May 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalm 73

The psalmist begins saying how good God is and then confesses that he is about to lose his belief because of envy of the success, prosperity and apparent freedom from care the wicked possess. It bothers him daily and he is tempted to talk about it but decides it would lead others astray. So he goes into the sanctuary and prays. Through prayer he understands that what appears to be success and freedom is temporary – like a dream. The psalmist recognises his own failings and reaffirms the value of being with God, being guided by God and being valued by God. Even if flesh fails God is our strength, our refuge and we can, with that support tell of all God’s works.

Deuteronomy 12: 1 – 14

When the people cross the Jordan to the Promised Land they are to ensure that no idols or altars or pillars or sacred poles are allowed to remain. They are to go where God sends them, worship God and place the holy things where God says they are to be placed and worship there. They are not to act like they are now according to their own desires but to act according to God’s commandments and to sacrifice, share, live in peace, tithe and donate.

2 Corinthians 3: 7 - 18

Paul argues that if the ministry of the Mosaic law was so glorious that Moses veiled his face to protect the people, how much greater is the glory of the Holy Spirit? For if there was glory in condemnation how much more glory will there be in justification? Since we have such a hope we can act in boldness. Indeed today there are people who have a veil between themselves and the message but when we turn to the Lord the veil is removed. The Lord is now Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, is freedom and all of us with unveiled faces who see that glory have it reflected in us and we are transformed. We move to a new degree of glory and this comes for the Lord, the Spirit.

Collect for Evening Prayer

From the top of Mt Hotham
Vic  L Osburn

Holy Triune God our strength, our refuge and our peace you transform us from glory to glory with your Holy Spirit. Be with us normal believers at all the stages of our lives. Help us to stop all envy, being led by our own desires, or setting up idols and other things to take our attention and energy. Instead guide us to your sanctuary to pray, to recognise our failings and to recommit to go to where you send us and do what you asks us to do so that we may take the veil from our faces, see your glory and be justified and transformed through the power of your Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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