St Paul's MU & Friends (Anglican Mothers Union Australia)We are a mission agency of the Anglican Church of Australia and part of the worldwide Mothers Union with links to 83 countries and over four million members who share one heartfelt vision - to bring about a world where God's love is shown through prayer and loving, respectful and flourishing relationships.
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Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 28 November 2021 Season of Advent O Tree of Jesse and flower of Jesse’s Stem, lifted high as a sign to all the peoples, before whom even the powerful are struck dumb, come and save us, and delay no more. Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 4. From Prayer in the Morning, Cairns Publications 1989. A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, the spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11: 1-2 This week we pray for Anglicans in Sri Lanka – 4% of the population – and particularly those in the diocese of Colombo where there are 121 churches and 10 schools. Roshina Mendis is MU president and Zone A Trustee. We thank God for her focussed and practical ministry. Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia Sunday 5 December 2021 Preparation and expectation O Bright Sun of Justice, Judge of all the world, seeking to straighten what is crooked and put right what is wrong, come with dread power and stark mercy to our reluctant hearts. Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 6. From Prayer in the Morning, Cairns Publications 1989. A voice cries out, “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40: 5 Namibia is the second least densely populated country in the world and home to exotica such as the Kalahari Desert and cheetahs. Mothers’ Union is a vibrant organisation with 2500 members carrying out a wide range of activities to support family life and meet the needs within their community. May they prosper with God’s blessing. Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia Sunday 12 December 2021 Mystery and wonder O Lion Regal in Courage, crushing our blighted bones and hardened hearts, come with one bound and roar, awaken us, your stillborn whelps, to new and vigorous life. Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 7. From Prayer in the Morning, Cairns Publications 1989. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 As we prepare for Christmas festivities, we offer prayers for the people of Madagascar where the economy suffered greatly due to environmental issues and poor agricultural practices and illiteracy is also an important issue. The average fertility rate per woman was greater than 6 and in September 2021 the country was in famine and donors are trying to help people also hit by climate change, pandemic and bad governance. Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia Sunday 19 December 2021 God with us Into this world, this day did come Jesu Christ, both God and man, Lord and Servant in one person, Born of the blessed virgin Mary. I pray you, be merry and sing with me In worship of Christ's Nativity. He that was rich, without any need, Appeared in this world in right poor weed, To make us that were poor indeed, Rich without any need, truly. I pray you, be merry and sing with me In worship of Christ's Nativity. A stable was His chamber; a cratch was His bed; He had not a pillow to lay under His head With maiden's milk that babe was fed, In poor clothes was lapped the Lord Almighty. I pray you, be merry and sing with me In worship of Christ's Nativity. A noble lesson here is us taught, To set all worldly riches at naught, But pray we that we may be thither brought, Where riches is everlastingly. I pray you, be merry and sing with me In worship of Christ's Nativity. 16th century Balliol College, Oxford MS 354 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” Matthew 1:22-23 Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia Sunday 26-31 December 2021 Christmastide I sing the birth was born tonight, The Author both of life and light: The angels so did sound it; And like the ravished shepherds said, Who saw the light and were afraid, Yet searched, and true they found it. The Son of God, th'eternal King, That did us all salvation bring, And freed the world from danger, He whom the whole world could not take, The Lord which heav'n and earth did make, Was now laid in a manger. The Father's wisdom willed it so, The Son's obedience knew no "No," Both wills were in one stature; And, as that wisdom hath decreed, The Word was now made flesh indeed, And took on Him our nature. What comfort by Him do we win, Who made Himself the price of sin, To make us heirs of glory! To see this Babe, all innocence, A martyr born in our defence-- Can man forget this story? Ben Jonson 1572-1637 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 |
