28 July 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 28 July 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalm 71

This psalmist is an older person who has had a life of connection with God.  The psalm is of praise and a plea for deliverance from personal enemies. The psalmist promises to use music to proclaim God and praise God.

Hosea 4: 1 – 9

The context is after the death of Jeroboam II. God indicts Israel. The people are disloyal, following other gods, treacherous with each other, causing harm and grief to people and to the environment. The priests and prophets are stumbling and misleading. God is stepping back from them. He will forget them and their children.

John 9: 18 – 38

The Pharisees call the parents of the man whose sight Jesus restored. They verify the man had been born blind. The parents will not be tricked into saying Jesus is the Messiah since if they do they will be excluded from the synagogue. Instead they indicate their son is an adult, he is competent to answer questions and he was there when Jesus healed him; ask him.

The Pharisees interrogate the man again. They accuse him of being a disciple and say don’t know where Jesus comes from. The man tells them this is a puzzle since we know God does not listen to sinners only those who worship and obey. He tells them that never has a blind person been restored to sight, it follows that if Jesus were not from God he could do nothing. The Pharisees reject the message and the man and drive him out of the synagogue.

Jesus hears and seeks out the man who believes and worships him.

Collect for Morning Prayer

The path between
Albany WA  L Osburn

Nurturing and protecting God, without you we stumble; we blindly hurt each other and everything around us. You hear the pain of those who believe, and you come to us. Help us feel the security of restoration with you so that we like the man who can now see, worship at your feet safe in the knowledge that you are here with us and play and sing to your praise and glory through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Thursday 28 July 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalm 119: 65 – 88

In this section the psalmist says that in the past he had gone astray, then was punished and humbled. These events led to study of the law and following God. Now, others are being arrogant, flout the law and attack him. The psalmist asks for deliverance and promises to keep the faith and be steadfast.

Ezekiel 38: 14 – 23 and 39: 21 – 29

Ezekiel prophesies about a great swarming army coming to a peaceful Israel for destruction. But God will utterly destroy the invaders in a cataclysmic way. As a result everyone will know that God is Lord and Israel is restored. God’s spirit will be poured out on God’s people.

Romans 5: 12 – 21

Paul explains that through Adam sin entered the world and all are covered by it. The Law just made the sins more clear: identifiable, countable. Thus sin multiplied. But Christ’s death and resurrection brings us justification for all through grace. Grace abounds that we may have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect for Evening Prayer

New leaves
Albany WA  L Osburn

Merciful and gracious God, the sinful behaviours of humans are appalling and they are as numerous as a great swarming army. But you sent your son Jesus to live with us, to die for us and to destroy the power of sin forever. We do not have the power to do this, only you. Help us to reflect on how wondrous is your gift of grace so that we may humbly and deeply worship you and give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

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