Worship & Prayers for The 150^th Anniversary of the Mothers’ Union

Opening Rite

If you’re at home you might wish to light a candle, make sure you are sitting comfortably and take a few deep breaths to still yourself. 

The Lord is here  His Spirit is with us

Prayers of Penitence

We ask God to forgive us and transform us in heart and mind:

Merciful God,  your love sees failings -and forgives.  Your love feels pain -and wipes away our tears. Your love knows grief - and comforts the sorrowful. Your love sees sin - and still loves the sinner.

Forgive us when we fail to live lives that reflect your love. Forgive us the many times when we take for granted all that you have done for us. Transform us, through your Spirit, and empower us to serve you this day and all days.

© John Birch

May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen

The Collect  

You might like to keep a few moments of silence

Eternal God, whose love is revealed in the mystery of the Trinity: help us, like your servant Mary Sumner, to find in our human loving a mirror of your divine love and to see in all your children our brothers and sisters in Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved.  Sons and daughters are indeed a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.  Happy is the one who has their quiver full of them.  They shall not be put to shame when they speaks with their enemies in the gate.

Hebrews 13.1-5

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honour by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’

The Gospel According to Luke                                          chapter 10.38-end

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord   Praise to you O Christ

Reflection

Luke shows how two women can teach disciples how to seize the moment and focus on the word of Jesus. He and his disciples continue their journey and find hospitality in the home of Martha and Mary. Perhaps they are named because they are well-known disciples. Martha is the householder: there is no mention of any men. The sisters are typical of the independent women in the Jesus movement, such as Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Chuza (Luke 8.2-3); Dorcas (Acts 9.36-43); and Lydia (Acts 16.14-15). By accepting hospitality from women, Jesus shows that, like the compassionate Samaritan in his story last week, he too is prepared to cross social boundaries. Like Abraham in this week’s Old Testament reading, Martha understands her obligations as a host. She is understandably annoyed by her sister’s willingness to leave all the work to her. But Mary is showing a different kind of hospitality. Unlike Sarah, who remained hidden behind Abraham (Genesis 18.10), Mary comes into the open, where she can listen to the words of her guest. By sitting at Jesus’ feet, in the characteristic position of a disciple, she honours Jesus as a visiting rabbi whose word is worthy of her full attention – especially, Luke is saying, what Jesus teaches about loving God and being a neighbour.  Martha and Mary demonstrate two types of hospitality that compete with each other for the limited resources of time and attention. When Jesus commends Mary’s desire to welcome his teaching at this moment as ‘the better part’ (v.42), he is not saying that household duties are an inferior form of discipleship. But it’s important for him to draw Martha’s attention to the anxious activity that is currently distracting her. We are perhaps left wondering about the kinds of hospitality we offer, and the nature of our response to Jesus at each moment and in every encounter.

Reproduced with permission www.rootsontheweb.com 2002-2021  

The Mothers’ Union Prayer

Loving Lord, we thank you for your love so freely given to us all. We pray for families around the world. Bless the work of the Mothers’ Union as we seek to share your love through the encouragement, strengthening and support of marriage and family life. Empowered by your Spirit, may we be united in prayer and worship, and in love and service reach out as your hands across the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Praying for the Earth                                       Waste production and litter

We give thanks for the material things of life. Help us to use them wisely, and to dispose of them thoughtfully. In business and as individuals, help us to reduce what we waste, and to remember that as the earth is our only home, nothing is altogether thrown away. Amen

From the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer for the Church

Porvoo Communion:  Diocese in Europe (Church of England) Diocese of Visby (Church of Sweden) Diocese of Copenhagen (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark)

Anglican Communion: The Church of South India (United) Moderator: The Most Reverend K Reuben Mark

Diocese of Møre: Deanery of Southern Sunnmøre: parishes of Volda, Austefjord and Hornindal

Newcastle Central Deanery: Benefice of Newcastle St Andrew Vicar: Mike Hills  Reader PTO: Michael Brown

For those to be ordained

Katherine Vacher-Day to serve at Longbenton St Bartholomew & Longbenton St Mary Magdalene

Lydia Padfield to serve at Walkergate St Oswald & Byker St Mark

From our Parish Prayer Cycle this week 

Pray for all residents of Jenifer Grove, Heathdale Gardens, Mitcham Crescent and Cannock Drive

For the sick and those being cared for in hospital or at home      

For those in residential care    

For those who have recently died

Sam Coldham and Linda Pallister

For those whose year’s minds are this week 

June Falcus, Robert Sidney-Wilmot, Elizabeth Oakley, Dorothy Chamberlaine, Joan Robson, James Hawkesley Ireland, Edith Lenygon, Gertrude Grice, Ethel Rosemund, Alf Lacey, John Stothard, Sydney Hughes and Jack Carr

You might like to end your prayers with The Lord's Prayer  

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Conclusion

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the  Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

Let us bless the Lord! Thanks be to God!