18 August 2016
Collects
Prayers developed from the daily readings
Thursday 18 August 2016
Morning Prayer
Psalm
107: 1 – 22
Whether we are lost in a
dry place, imprisoned or sick we are encouraged to “cry to the Lord whose
steadfast love endures forever”.
2
Chronicles 30: 13 – 27
During
the festival all the altars to other gods are destroyed and removed. So many
people come to the Passover festival that not all are able to make themselves
ritually clean. Hezekiah prays for all present, clean or not, and emphasises their
hearts that seek God. The festival is extended for another seven days. Hezekiah
provides the livestock. By the time the
festival is over everyone knows their roles and procedures, the people
including non-Jews from Judah and Israel are refocused on God and the priests
and Levites give thanks.
Acts
19: 21 – 41
Paul is
planning to continue his journey through Macedonia, to Jerusalem and back to
Rome. He sends people on ahead.
Meanwhile
in Ephesus, Demetirus who is a silversmith stirs up the artisans and the people
saying that if Christianity takes hold their business, based around making
figurines of Artemis, will be ruined; the temple to Artemis ignored. A confused
and angry crowd forms. Paul is prevented from attending. A Jew, Alexander
addresses them and is shouted down. Finally the town clerk addresses the crowd.
He reminds them that everyone knows Ephesus is dedicated to Artemis. This
cannot be denied. None of the accused people stole or harmed the temple. If
there is a business issue take it to the proper courts and stop the
demonstration because we are all at risk of being charged with rioting. The
crowd disperses.
Collect for Morning Prayer
Directing us to the path Albany WA L Osburn |
Holy and gracious God, your care for us is eternal and
unbounded. Bring us to you in our hearts. Direct our feet to places where we
can worship you together and feel that great joy and gladness of entering your
presence and that sense of community so that we may join together in prayers
for safety and deliverance for all your people oppressed in this world and give
you thanks for our lives of freedom through Jesus Christ our Lord and redeemer. Amen.
Thursday 18 August 2016
Evening Prayer
Psalm 107:
23 – 43
The psalmist recalls some
of God’s saving and restoring actions – saving sailors and bringing rain to the
desert. We are reminded that faithfulness leads to hope and pride leads to
being brought low. We are to call on the Lord for our great provision.
Song of Songs 7
Again the man describes the
woman and all her features in luscious terms: a cornucopia of delight. She
returns his loves and suggests they go outside into the fields and villages and
see the flourishing of the world.
Romans 12: 9 – 21
Paul
specifies how we are to behave so that we overcome evil with good. The list is
long and detailed. “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably
with all” (v.18).
Collect for Evening Prayer
Banner Holy Trinity Cathedral Wangaratta Vic L Osburn |
Loving God, you want us to be part of the flourishing
of the world, each and every one of us. Help us to love you more and more each
day and to grow in your truth and love so that we have the strength, ability
and grace to bring your joy and peace to all through Jesus Christ your Son our
Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen
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