Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 20 November 2022
A heart for Gender Justice
There is a spiritual art or discipline which teaches us to look accurately our motivations and how we present them. Simply, is our heart really in it? Do we have a heart-felt desire to speak out for the voiceless? Do we pay lipservice to gender justice but cosy up to some important person although that person is a renowned misogynist? Jesus wants us to be ‘true believers’. He said, “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” Luke 12: 34. In today’s world everyone has an opinion. And we treasure them mightily, often to our Faith’s detriment.
Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Proverbs 31:8
Let us pray with all our heart and mind and soul for the people of Sri Lanka. UNICEF found that 70% of the country's families have cut down on food since the start of the year, and stocks of fuel and essential medicines are also fast running out.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 27 November 2022
Season of Advent
O Cornerstone
O Keystone of the Arch,
holding in your being
the opposites of your creation,
come and give us courage
in our bearing and in our striving.
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 9. 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, t h e spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11: 1-2
This week we pray for Anglicans in Nigeria. With 60% of its population living in extreme poverty and 40% under 14 years old there is much for Mothers’ Union to do, guided by the mission and loving concern of Jesus for all the lost and broken.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 4 December 2022
Hope and expectation
O Sovereign Stag
of Hind Embracing,
fresh and whole and eager,
carrying love’s immortal wound,
come to us who are banished, barren, snared;
climb down to free us;
lead us home to headwaters, crags and columbines.
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 10. From Prayer in the Morning, Cairns Publications 1989.
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” Isaiah 2: 3
Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Coventry organises seaside holidays for needy families. Their Facebook page displayed a wobbly “thank you for our holiday we really enjoyed it” written in a Thank You card addressed “To the lovely ladies”. This family has felt the power of Christ’s love.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 11 December 2022
Light and Love
O Salmon
leaping like lightning from the womb,
bursting above cascades of chaos
climbing Love’s deadly ladder,
come and sow your blood and burning water,
at the ancient source of all our sorrow:
drowning, you destroy death;
leaping, you lead us to life:
O Ichthus, come in glory.
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 11. From Prayer in the Morning, Cairns Publications 1989.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined. Isaiah 9: 2
Let us pray for the Diocese of The Murray; for the people near that mighty river which is in so much danger of destruction; for farmers, timber workers, and refugees earning a living at the slaughter works and for the faithful scattered congregations and especially for the work of AMUA in Naracoorte.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 18 December 2022
Wonder and joy
O Morning Star
Splendour of Light Eternal,
O Radiant Dawn, O Dayspring from on High,
shining with the glory of the rainbow,
come and waken us
from the greyness of our apathy
and renew in us your gift of hope.
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 16. From Prayer in the Morning, Cairns Publications 1989.
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.” Luke 1: 46-47
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 25th December 2022
Christmastide
1 The holy Son of God most high,
For love of Adam’s lapsed race,
Quit the sweet pleasures of the sky
To bring us to that happy place.
2 His robes of light he laid aside,
Which did his majesty adorn,
And the frail state of mortals tried,
In human flesh and figure born.
3 Whole choirs of angels loudly sing
The mystery of his sacred birth,
And the blest news to shepherds bring,
Filling their watchful souls with mirth.
4 The Son of God thus man became,
That men the sons of God might be,
And by their second birth regain
A likeness to his deity.
Henry More 1614-87
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
Sunday 20 November 2022
A heart for Gender Justice
There is a spiritual art or discipline which teaches us to look accurately our motivations and how we present them. Simply, is our heart really in it? Do we have a heart-felt desire to speak out for the voiceless? Do we pay lipservice to gender justice but cosy up to some important person although that person is a renowned misogynist? Jesus wants us to be ‘true believers’. He said, “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” Luke 12: 34. In today’s world everyone has an opinion. And we treasure them mightily, often to our Faith’s detriment.
Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Proverbs 31:8
Let us pray with all our heart and mind and soul for the people of Sri Lanka. UNICEF found that 70% of the country's families have cut down on food since the start of the year, and stocks of fuel and essential medicines are also fast running out.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 27 November 2022
Season of Advent
O Cornerstone
O Keystone of the Arch,
holding in your being
the opposites of your creation,
come and give us courage
in our bearing and in our striving.
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 9. 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, t h e spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11: 1-2
This week we pray for Anglicans in Nigeria. With 60% of its population living in extreme poverty and 40% under 14 years old there is much for Mothers’ Union to do, guided by the mission and loving concern of Jesus for all the lost and broken.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 4 December 2022
Hope and expectation
O Sovereign Stag
of Hind Embracing,
fresh and whole and eager,
carrying love’s immortal wound,
come to us who are banished, barren, snared;
climb down to free us;
lead us home to headwaters, crags and columbines.
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 10. From Prayer in the Morning, Cairns Publications 1989.
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” Isaiah 2: 3
Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Coventry organises seaside holidays for needy families. Their Facebook page displayed a wobbly “thank you for our holiday we really enjoyed it” written in a Thank You card addressed “To the lovely ladies”. This family has felt the power of Christ’s love.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 11 December 2022
Light and Love
O Salmon
leaping like lightning from the womb,
bursting above cascades of chaos
climbing Love’s deadly ladder,
come and sow your blood and burning water,
at the ancient source of all our sorrow:
drowning, you destroy death;
leaping, you lead us to life:
O Ichthus, come in glory.
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 11. From Prayer in the Morning, Cairns Publications 1989.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined. Isaiah 9: 2
Let us pray for the Diocese of The Murray; for the people near that mighty river which is in so much danger of destruction; for farmers, timber workers, and refugees earning a living at the slaughter works and for the faithful scattered congregations and especially for the work of AMUA in Naracoorte.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 18 December 2022
Wonder and joy
O Morning Star
Splendour of Light Eternal,
O Radiant Dawn, O Dayspring from on High,
shining with the glory of the rainbow,
come and waken us
from the greyness of our apathy
and renew in us your gift of hope.
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 16. From Prayer in the Morning, Cairns Publications 1989.
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.” Luke 1: 46-47
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 25th December 2022
Christmastide
1 The holy Son of God most high,
For love of Adam’s lapsed race,
Quit the sweet pleasures of the sky
To bring us to that happy place.
2 His robes of light he laid aside,
Which did his majesty adorn,
And the frail state of mortals tried,
In human flesh and figure born.
3 Whole choirs of angels loudly sing
The mystery of his sacred birth,
And the blest news to shepherds bring,
Filling their watchful souls with mirth.
4 The Son of God thus man became,
That men the sons of God might be,
And by their second birth regain
A likeness to his deity.
Henry More 1614-87
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1