17 August 2016
Collects
Prayers developed from the daily readings
Wednesday 17 August 2016
Morning Prayer
Psalm 106: 1 – 24
The psalmist begins praising God and marvelling at
God’s faithful love and great deeds. He then charges that we like the people of
the past – from the Exodus to the time of Aaron – go astray.
2
Chronicles 29: 31 – 30: 12
Hezekiah
calls for the people to now come and sacrifice since the temple is restored. So
many come there are insufficient prepared priests and the Levites who are
diligent in their preparations assist. Thanks are given for the miraculous
speed with which the temple has been restored.
Hezekiah,
after consultation decrees that Passover will be celebrated, though late, and
sends a message throughout all Israel. In it he claims that if the people
return to God, mercy will flow and the exiles will return. In some localities
the message is scorned and ridiculed. In others some come to celebrate and in
Judah God softens the people’s hearts and they come.
Acts
19: 1 – 20
When
Apollos is in Corinth Paul returns to Ephesus and finds people baptised who
have not experienced the Holy Spirit. They had been baptised with the rite of
John the Baptist. Paul baptises them in Jesus’ name and they receive the Holy
Spirit.
He
speaks for three months in the synagogue and when rejected speaks in the middle
of the day in a lecture hall. There are many miracles performed.
False
exorcists come and copy Paul’s work. In one case a spirit being exorcised says
“Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are you?” and attacks the exorcists who
flee wounded.
As the
power of the Holy Spirit is known people believe, confess and repent. The word
of the Lord grows and spreads.
Collect for Morning Prayer
Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral Wangaratta Vic L Osburn |
Holy and
merciful God, you welcome us back to you when we come prepared, repentant and
ready to genuinely worship you. We give you thanks for fast restoration of our
places of worship, for healing of our spirits, and for safe return of your
people with hearts softened through your grace. May we like Hezekiah, find a
way to invite your people to return to you. May we like Paul, assist them to
experience your Holy Spirit through Christ so that we may all be united again
to your praise and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Wednesday 17 August 2016
Evening Prayer
Psalm 106: 25 – 50
The ancient people kept shifting allegiance and
worshipping other gods. They even conducted live sacrifice of their children.
Yet God delivered them, showed compassion. The psalmist asks for God to gather
us in to give thanks, glory and praise to God.
Song of Songs 6
The woman reveals to her
friends that her lover is always with her.
The man then describes the
woman in terms of the most productive, verdant rural scenes where everything is
healthy blossoming and beautiful.
The woman takes her mind to
the place her lover dwells and imagines standing beside him in his chariot.
Others ask for the woman’s
attention and she refuses.
Romans 12: 1 – 8
Paul
appeals to all to come to God and offer our lives and abilities to God in
accordance with the faith we have now and our capabilities. We are to be
transformed and renewed.
Paul
says we need not till wait until we have “met certain criteria” to show that we
are better than we currently are, to earn this place in the world’s terms. We
are to come now and use the current gifts we have and according to the current
level of our faith. All of us have a place.
Collect for Evening Prayer
At Eurobin Vic L Osburn |
Loving,
welcoming, accessible God, you love us always and are with us always. You love
us as we are and you know our abilities and our limitations: mind, body and
soul. Help us to turn our eyes to you, to seek you and want to stand beside you
so that we, using our gifts and with the faith we have, can bring glory and
honour and praise to you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen
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