Friday 3 June 2016

3 June 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 3 June 2016
Morning Prayer

Psalm 78: 16 – 38

This portion of the psalm recounts the complaints against God when the Israelites are in the desert with Moses. Water is produced from rocks, food falls from heaven, both bread and birds. They have little faith and yet when they repent, God forgives.

Ezekiel 30: 1 – 19

Ezekiel prophesies the total destruction of Egypt and all her allies by Nebuchadrezzar.

Acts 7: 44 – 53

Stephen, the first deacon, falsely accused and before the council, continues his rendering of the story of the people of God. He tells of how the tent of testimony travelled with the people through the wilderness, came to the new land with Joshua and was placed in the temple Solomon built. Yet God does not live in places made by humans. Stephen goes on to call the council a “stiff-necked people”

Collect for Morning Prayer

Two female crimson rosellas
Harrietville Vic L Osburn
 Wonderful God you forgive us time and time again and bring us to a new place, new awareness and new joy. Keep us mindful that when we repent you travel with us so that we give thanks for what we have, only take what we need and turn from being stiff-necked into your faithful, holy and joy-filled people through Jesus Christ our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.




Friday 3 June 2016
Evening Prayer

Psalm 78: 39 – 70

The psalmist shows how short the memories of humans are and how fickle. The Israelites in the desert did not remember or take into account the miracles of God that enabled their freedom. They had little faith. God held on and made decisions about the future of the people and who would lead them, for example choosing the line of Judah rather than the line of Joseph: choosing David and Mt Zion. Whether humans are faithful or not, God still guides them.

Deuteronomy 17: 14 – 20 and 18: 9 – 22

When the people go to the new land they may set up a king but God will choose the person from among the people and never from another country. The king needs to keep God as the primary concern not wealth or horses or wives.

When the people arrive in the new land they are not to adopt customs from the other people who live there. They are not to consult spirits, use soothsayers, use divination or be a sorcerer. As Moses asked that people not directly encounter God because it is too overpowering there is an agreement that prophets be chosen.  The people are to abide by the prophets and a true prophet who speaks in the name of the Lord will be known since his prophecies will prove true. False prophets – people who presume to speak in God’s name will die.

2 Corinthians 6: 1 – 13

Paul urges people to accept the grace of God since now is the time when that grace will be revealed. There is no obstacle for anyone and indeed Paul and others have been through great hardship to get rid of obstacles. They have been treated as imposters and dying and sorrowful but yet here they are true, alive and joyful. Now is the time to open your hearts also.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Crimson Rosella
Harrietville Vic L Osburn
God of grace, you guide us even through our times of faithlessness and fickleness. When we turn our focus on you we turn to the truth, to life and to joy. Give us humility tonight to recognise our ongoing transition and growth through the challenges that come from within ourselves, the non-believing community and our sense of the impossibility of existing in your overwhelming presence. Remind us of those who have gone before and who suffered hardships to make it possible to get your good news to us s that we just accept your grace, accept your love and leave our concerns to you through the power of your Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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