At midday around the world, MU members pray for the Mother' Union. Below are the prayers that will be offered during the current month.
Midday Prayers 2023: February
Transformation of society

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Monday: Transformation of society
 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
Isaiah 1:17
 
O Lord, open my eyes
that I may see the need of others,
open my ears that I may hear their cries,
open my heart so that they need not
be without succour.
 
Let me not be afraid to defend the weak
because of the anger of the strong,
nor afraid to defend the poor
because of the anger of the rich.
 
Show me where love and hope and faith are needed,
and use me to bring them to these places.
Open my eyes and ears that I may, this coming day,
be able to do some work of peace for thee.
Amen
©Alan Paton

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Wednesday: Homelessness to shelter
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests,
but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20
 
May God, who had nowhere to lay his head,
have mercy on all with no place to call their home.
 
God of Justice
Have mercy on those who sleep...
on the streets or in hostels
on the floor or on a sofa,
in store rooms or offices,
and those who know their friends'
hospitality is at breaking point.
 
Help us build a fairer society,
where having no home does not exclude
anyone from work and health and respect.
Help us to build a society where all may 'dwell in safety'.
 
Shelter us, O Lord, and give us the compassion and
knowledge to help others in their search for shelter.
Amen
Education for Justice
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Friday: Loneliness to community
 I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.
‘When you did this to one of the least
of my brothers and sisters you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 25: 35,40
 
God of family and community,
draw us near to the lonely and isolated
that they may find a place of welcome,
purpose for their days,
and company to enrich their lives.
Amen
 
God of compassion,
be close to those who are ill, afraid or isolated.
In their loneliness, be their consolation;
in their anxiety, be their hope;
in their darkness, be their light;
through him who suffered alone on the cross,
but reigns with you in glory,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
©Church of England
Tuesday: Poverty to riches
If anyone has material possessions
and sees a brother or sister in need
but has no pity on them,
how can the love of God be in that person?  1 John 3:17
 
God of compassion,
your eyes are turned to the poor and needy. 
Turn our gaze to see the need around us.
Give us a vision of an equal society
where poverty has no place.
 
God of justice,
your face is set against poverty.
Shake us out of our comfort.
Challenge us to counter injustice
whatever the cost to ourselves.
 
God of hope,
your kingdom will come in its fullness.
Envision us to act and pray.
Inspire us to work for an equal society
of fullness of life for all
that poverty may be overcome.
Amen 

​Thursday: Refugees to settlers
My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,
in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Isaiah 32:18
 
May God,
whose family fled to Egypt,
have mercy on all refugees.
May God who left his home in glory
champion their cause
and settle them in peace.
 
O God,
you bring hope out of emptiness
energy out of fear
new life out of grief and loss.
As Mary returned to mourn
yet found unspeakable joy,
so comfort all who have lost their homes
through persecution, war, exile,
or deliberate destruction.
Comfort all who have lost their homes
through the ravages of natural disasters.
 
Give them security, a place to live,
and neighbours they trust to be with,
a new sign of peace to the world.
Amen
Janet Morley (adapted)
 
Saturday: Untaught to educated
Always remember what you have been taught,
and don't let go of it.
Keep all that you have learned;
it is the most important thing in life.
Proverbs 4:12-13 (NCV)
 
O God: You have blessed humanity with
inquiring and able intellects.
 
Yet, the fundamental tools of
reading, writing and mathematics
are still denied to many of us
who are poor,
who are female,
who belong to ethnic
or religious minorities,
who have mental
or physical disabilities.
 
Let those of us
who have been graced with education
take responsibility – in our hearts and in our actions –
for the education of all people,
no matter where they live or who they are,
that they may share
in the pleasure of learning
and the power of knowing.
Amen
Susan Valdes-Dapena​
Final Blessing
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen