4 June 2016
Collects
Prayers developed from the daily readings
Saturday 4 June 2016
Morning Prayer
Psalm
80
This
psalm is a prayer for deliverance from national enemies. It compares Israel to
a vine. It asks for God’s hand to be on the one at God’s right hand, to give us
life, to restore us and to save us.
Ezekiel
30: 20 – 31: 12
Ezekiel
receives the word from God that Egypt has been weakened and will not be able to
defend against Nebuchadrezzar. Then begins the eulogy of Egypt outlining how
fair and wonderful she was and how proud she was – far over-reaching and
therefore she has been handed over to a terrible nation who has cut her down
and destroyed her.
Acts 7:
54: 8: 3
Stephen,
the first deacon, falsely accused and is before the council who become enraged
at being called stiff-necked. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit gazes up. He
sees the glory of God and Jesus at God’s right hand. He speaks out aloud what
he sees. The council members cover their ears, drag him outside of the city and
stone him. One of the witnesses is the young man Saul. Stephen prays as he is
being stoned, “Lord receive my spirit.” He kneels and cries in a loud voice,
“Lord do not hold this sin against them.” He dies. Saul approves and
participates in persecuting Christians entering houses and dragging men and
women to prison. Devout people bury Stephen and lament. The disciples scatter
and the apostles stay.
Collect for Morning Prayer
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| Wonga Pigeon Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Saturday 4 June 2016
Evening Prayer
Psalm
81
The
psalm begins with praise and thanksgiving. It moves on to remembering the gifts
of God and how God saved and delivered the people. Finally there is a lament
that the people’s hearts are hard, that they are not listening and until they
do they will be besieged. God wants to feed us with fine things. The choice is
left open.
Deuteronomy
19
In
setting up the community the people are instructed to set up 3 cities a
reasonable distance from the main population centres so that those who commit
manslaughter (not murderers) can flee to for refuge. Murderers will be handed
over from these cities – it is only for those where the death is accidental. As
the population and territory expands set up three more cities.
If
someone commits murder it is a capital offence. And if someone brings false
witness and is found to have done so their punishment is to be what they were
asking for the accused. The community and the judges need to be firm for those
who bear false witness: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
2
Corinthians 6: 14 – 7: 1
Paul
counsels not to be mismatched with an unbeliever. Righteousness and lawlessness
is no match just as darkness does not match light. There is no agreement
between the temple of God and idols. The Lord wants us to be separate from the
unbeliever focusing on God and not the unbelief or the idols. When we do we are
God’s children and welcomed. Since we have this promise, let us clear ourselves
of defilement in our body and spirit and make ourselves holy in our reverence
for God.
Collect for Evening Prayer
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| A haven and refuge Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Wonderful caring God you have
established a refuge, protection for the innocent and justice. You want to feed
us with good things and to have us as your children and you give us the choice
to accept this offer. Help us see that we will always be besieged until our
hearts shift and our focus turns to you so that we may clear our souls, make
ourselves holy and accept your loving offer through the power of your Holy
Spirit and Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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