29 October 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Saturday 29 October 2016 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 145

This psalm praises and blesses God for all the great acts of creation, mercy, salvation, awesome acts, steadfast love, compassion, and might. What God has done proclaims the glory of the kingdom. That kingdom will endure forever.

On a more personal level God is faithful, gracious, upholds people while they are falling, raises up people who are oppressed. God provides as required, in time and with justice. God hears, saves and watches us. We will praise the Lord and all living things will bless God forever.

Nehemiah 7: 73 – 8: 12

In the seventh month the people gather to hear Ezra read from the Book of the Law. All people, men women and children who can understand attend. Some of the Levites translate the reading into Aramaic so that the people can absorb the meaning. The people weep when they hear the Law. The leaders (Ezra, Nehemiah priests and scribes) tell the people to not worry, and to celebrate since they know the Law now. They are to eat rich food and drink sweet wine and share with people who have none and rejoice because they understand what is written.

Matthew 20: 17 – 34

Jesus tells the 12 disciples for the third time what will happen to him in Jerusalem: he will be handed over, mocked, flogged, crucified and then raised.

The mother of James and John lobbies Jesus for her sons to have prominent positions in his kingdom. He replies that she does not understand what she is asking. He asks them are they prepared to go through what he is about to go through and they say yes. Jesus then says their positioning is not his to grant – only God’s.

The rest of the disciples are angry about the lobbying. Jesus calms them contrasting the political structure of other nations with the arrangements to come. Those who would be leaders need to serve – be a slave to the rest – just as Jesus came to serve not to be served.

As they leave Jericho to Jerusalem two blind men call to him and when asks what they want say “Lord let our eyes be opened” (v.33). Jesus restores their sight and they follow Him.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Calm Bay
Cape Le Grand National Park
WA  L Osburn

Loving God you want us to know you, know your way, feel your refuge and calm, be raised up and experience your love mercy and compassion. Help us to learn your law, share what we know and what we have, serve others, hear your call to us and feel your calm so that our lives are a constant witness to your love and care for us through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Saturday 29 October 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalm 147

This psalm rejoices in singing praise to a gracious God. God builds up the community, gathers the outcasts, heals the broken-hearted and binds their wounds. This is the same God who created the stars. Sing to God.

God brings the rain that produces grass and feeds the animals and allows birds to sing. God isn’t interested in who is the fastest or strongest but in our reverence.

The city of the faithful is charged to praise the Lord: for itself, the safety of the children, the peace. This God who controls all the weather looks after us. No other God is like our God.

Daniel 9: 1 – 14

Daniel reads Jeremiah and understands how long the exile must be. Distressed he prays a great confession with a fast, and in sackcloth covered in ashes. He acknowledges God’s righteousness and the disobedience of the people. He recognises that what Moses said would happen if the people break the Law, has come to pass.

2 Peter 3: 11 – 18

Peter discusses how we are to act while we wait for a new heaven and earth where righteousness is at home. We are to be at peace and see Jesus’s patience as part of our salvation. We are to read Paul’s letters and take care understanding the difficult sections and chose our own stability. And we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. His is the glory now and forever. Amen

Collect for Evening Prayer

Banksia
Cape Le Grand National Park
WA  L Osburn

Holy and compassionate God you want us to feel your peace and receive your grace. You give us the scriptures, psalms, great people and writers of letters to remind us that your law stands eternal and that Jesus your Son our Lord is the key. Let us bring our thanks and praise and prayers to you, put aside our selves, and put our trust in you so that we can feel your peace and your grace and give glory to Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.