5 November 2016
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Saturday 5 November
2016
Morning
Prayer
Psalms 15 and 16
The first psalm lists the
moral characteristics of people who are permitted in the temple. People who
tell the truth, care for their neighbour and behave ethically.
The second psalm praises
and blesses God and delights in the faithful. The psalmist commits to support
people of faith and uses personal testimony of how God has enriched his life.
Nehemiah
13: 15 – 31
Nehemiah
prays that God will remember him for his good deeds including his insistence
that the Sabbath not be compromised even if that meant closing the city gates
at dark and not opening them until the day is over and his fierce advocacy against
mixed marriages since the women and their children will bring in their own
gods.
Matthew
22: 15 – 33
Pharisees
and Herodians try to trick Jesus by asking is it lawful to pay tax to the Roman
Emperor. Jesus calls them hypocrites and asks for a coin. Jesus asks whose head
is on the coin and whose title – Jewish coins were minted with no images on
them. It is the Emperor’s head. Jesus says give to the Emperor what is his and
to God what is God’s. They are amazed.
Sadducees
come to Jesus saying there is no resurrection. Using a law about brothers being
required to marry the widow of another brother, they construct a scenario where
this happens seven times. They want to know who is the true husband in the resurrection.
Jesus tells them they are wrong in their understanding of the resurrection – no
one marries or is married, instead all are like angels. Further, he quotes
scripture where God says, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the
God of Jacob” they are and God is. God is the God of the living not
the dead. The hearers are astounded.
Collect for Morning Prayer
Rhododendron's in the garden Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Almighty
God you are the God of the living, all creation is yours and all blessings come
from you. Help us we pray to keep our concerns to the here and now, to tell the
truth, to care for our neighbours, to be ethical, to be faithful and steadfast
in this moment, and to bring our doubts and concerns to you so that we too are
amazed and astounded by the way your love works in our lives through Jesus
Christ Your Son our Lord and Your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
Saturday 5
November 2016
Evening
Prayer
Psalm 17: 1 – 13 (14) 15
- 16
The psalmist is a
faithful and devout person who has been beset by wicked enemies. God’s
protection and care is requested. God is asked to overthrow the wickedness. The
psalmist wants relationships restored: him with God, the people with God and
with him.
Daniel
12
Daniel
hears from the angel further tribulations and trials to come and the
resurrection but not of everyone: some will go to everlasting life and some to
everlasting contempt. The timing is unclear. Daniel is to keep quiet about this
vision and Daniel is reassured that he will rise for his reward at the end of
days.
Revelation 2: 18 – 29
John is to write to the church in
Thyatira (home of Lydia the dealer in purple cloth). The people are praised for
their faith, service and patient endurance. However there is a woman who is a
false prophet and has swayed some to idolatry. She and her followers will not
survive. But those who are faithful are to have no more burdens placed on them.
Instead at the end they will have authority, will be with Christ the morning
star.
Collect for Evening Prayer
New dawn on the lake Lake Mulwala NSW L Osburn |
Holy and
almighty God you are the restorer of relationships and Jesus is the morning
star, the one we look to as we wait for your new dawn. Be with us all in times
of difficulties and trails. Help us to be faithful, patient and enduring in our
service to you, and to avoid any type of idolatry so that when you look within
us we will fully know your reassuring love, your joy and your peace through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
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