Sunday 16 October 2016

17 October 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 


Monday 17 October 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.

Ezra 6: 16 – 7:10

The temple is dedicated and the people celebrate Passover and the festival of unleavened bread. Ezra the scribe who is in Babylon seeks permission to come to Jerusalem.  He travels with others who have skills for working in the temple and arrives in Jerusalem. Ezra plans to study the Law and teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Matthew 15: 1 – 20

Pharisees and scribes approach Jesus asking why his disciples do not wash before eating – it breaks ritual purity laws. Jesus asks why do they break one of the commandments on honouring parents by denying aging parents the wherewithal for life through dedicating that money to the temple. He calls them hypocrites. And quotes scripture on how people honour God with their lips but follow their own constructed laws.  He then says that it is not what goes into people’s mouths that defile them but what comes out of their hearts and mouths and into action.

Collect for Morning Prayer


Wagon wheel and cactus
Mulberry Vale Resort
Broken Hill NSW  L Osburn
Holy and gracious God, you are the one we should worship and your laws are the ones we need to follow. Help up to see through the constructed rituals and rules that become idols and disable our sensibilities and compassion: those that focus on “getting it right” for our benefit rather than loving you and caring for others. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit so that our words and actions are pleasing to you and glorify you through Jesus Christ. Amen.


Monday 17 October 2016
Evening Prayer

Psalm 106: 25 – 50

The ancient people keep shifting allegiance and worshipping other gods. They even conduct live sacrifice of their children. Yet God delivers them, shows compassion. The psalmist asks for God to gather us in to give thanks, glory and praise to God.

Daniel 4: 1 – 18

Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a great tree reaching from earth to heaven that houses and supports people and animals. A celestial watcher decrees that the tree is to be cut leaving only a stump and bound in iron. It remains for a set period of time in a field with animals and grass. He asks Daniel to interpret the dream.

1 Peter 3: 1 – 7

In this section wives and husbands are charged to love and honour each other. Even if the husband is not a believer, the woman by her demeanour and example may bring the husband to Christ without any need for argument.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Sturt Desert Pea
Broken Hill NSW  L Osburn
God of healing, God of power, God of relationships we thank you and praise you. You love us. Your power and love can and does break forth into our lives and our world. Be with us this night. Help us to know that no matter the circumstances you are with us so that we bring all fears to you and step out in courage everyday to love each other through Jesus Christ and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

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