Thought for the Week from Anglican Mothers Union Australia
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 10 January 2021
Mothers’ Union worldwide
The Philippians lived amid the bustling of traders and travellers passing through between ‘Italy’ and ‘Turkey’. It was probably like any large shopping centre: noisy, full of cheap/expense stuff, tempting. It’s a big and ever-present task to be blameless and innocent in the midst of consumer envy, promotional ladders – for the Philippians – and us. Mothers’ Union as an organisation is as subject to perversions as any other so it behoves each member to hold fast to the Word of Life, to honestly examine their motives and thus to shine like a star.
May you be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labour in vain. Philippians 2: 15-16
Vicoba is a Credit and Savings programme in Tanzania. All MU Vicoba groups report that members are primarily using their loans to start small businesses that benefit their families. We give thanks for this initiative and pray that those participating remain blameless and innocent in their deals; shining like stars.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 17 January 2021
Christian fellowship
How many times have you heard the snide comment, ‘See these Christians, how they love one another’? How many times have you experienced dis-fellowship? We Christians are frail human being and subject to worldly temptations, perhaps even more so, than our fellows who do not profess Christ. Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians serves as a reminder that it was always thus, but that we need to stop ourselves in our disruptive traps, with God’s help.
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11
Helen, from the Anglican Cathedral in Zanzibar, practiced Christian Fellowship when she took out a loan from Vicoba. She used it to dig a well at her home accessing fresh water to fatten livestock and grow vegetables. Additional income from this business was used to access health insurance for her group and their families. Peace and love abound when resources are shared.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 24 January 2021
Heart for the poor
There’s a physicality about Christianity that means heartfelt generosity must be coupled with action. What is felt in the heart is also to be felt in the pocket and in the muscles. The poor must be fed, visited. The poor are our neighbours, when we live nearby, when we clean and wash, sacrifice ourselves, our souls and bodies. They are Christ. ‘When I need a neighbour, where you there?’, Sydney Carter wrote paraphrasing Matthew 25:31ff. Mothers’ Union members are to be neighbours: heart, soul and body.
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and will be repaid in full. Proverbs 19:17
In the diocese of Down & Dromore, Nth Ireland MU connects with church programmes for the vulnerable and isolated. Children normally fed meals at school, are hungry during the holidays so hot meals are served. A camp on the green has free packed lunch and fun exercises. There’s school uniform recycling. Poverty is real and relative. The love of Jesus is shared.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 31 January 2021
Light of the world
Christ whose glory fills the skies,
Christ the true, the only light,
Sun of righteousness arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night:
Dayspring from on high, be near:
Daystar, on my heart appear.
Contemplate each line of Charles Wesley’s hymn; learn it by heart; say it morning, noon and night until it instils its wisdom within your very being. Then join with Simeon as Christ is with you and your eyes see Our Lord’s salvation.
“for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentile and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2: 30-32
The MU in Ringmer, Sussex, UK has provided a light for young single mothers in Rwanda, who had been abandoned by their families. The Light of Christ shone in members’ heart when they a of the mothers’ plight. Treadle sewing machines (90 UK pounds ea.) would enable the mothers to make and sell goods and be able to feed their children (and themselves). The Light of Christ was glowing in Ringmer as news of the project and a coffee morning on its behalf raised 2,000 UK pounds!!! Praise the Daystar.
Sunday 10 January 2021
Mothers’ Union worldwide
The Philippians lived amid the bustling of traders and travellers passing through between ‘Italy’ and ‘Turkey’. It was probably like any large shopping centre: noisy, full of cheap/expense stuff, tempting. It’s a big and ever-present task to be blameless and innocent in the midst of consumer envy, promotional ladders – for the Philippians – and us. Mothers’ Union as an organisation is as subject to perversions as any other so it behoves each member to hold fast to the Word of Life, to honestly examine their motives and thus to shine like a star.
May you be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labour in vain. Philippians 2: 15-16
Vicoba is a Credit and Savings programme in Tanzania. All MU Vicoba groups report that members are primarily using their loans to start small businesses that benefit their families. We give thanks for this initiative and pray that those participating remain blameless and innocent in their deals; shining like stars.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 17 January 2021
Christian fellowship
How many times have you heard the snide comment, ‘See these Christians, how they love one another’? How many times have you experienced dis-fellowship? We Christians are frail human being and subject to worldly temptations, perhaps even more so, than our fellows who do not profess Christ. Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians serves as a reminder that it was always thus, but that we need to stop ourselves in our disruptive traps, with God’s help.
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11
Helen, from the Anglican Cathedral in Zanzibar, practiced Christian Fellowship when she took out a loan from Vicoba. She used it to dig a well at her home accessing fresh water to fatten livestock and grow vegetables. Additional income from this business was used to access health insurance for her group and their families. Peace and love abound when resources are shared.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 24 January 2021
Heart for the poor
There’s a physicality about Christianity that means heartfelt generosity must be coupled with action. What is felt in the heart is also to be felt in the pocket and in the muscles. The poor must be fed, visited. The poor are our neighbours, when we live nearby, when we clean and wash, sacrifice ourselves, our souls and bodies. They are Christ. ‘When I need a neighbour, where you there?’, Sydney Carter wrote paraphrasing Matthew 25:31ff. Mothers’ Union members are to be neighbours: heart, soul and body.
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and will be repaid in full. Proverbs 19:17
In the diocese of Down & Dromore, Nth Ireland MU connects with church programmes for the vulnerable and isolated. Children normally fed meals at school, are hungry during the holidays so hot meals are served. A camp on the green has free packed lunch and fun exercises. There’s school uniform recycling. Poverty is real and relative. The love of Jesus is shared.
Thought for the Week from Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 31 January 2021
Light of the world
Christ whose glory fills the skies,
Christ the true, the only light,
Sun of righteousness arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night:
Dayspring from on high, be near:
Daystar, on my heart appear.
Contemplate each line of Charles Wesley’s hymn; learn it by heart; say it morning, noon and night until it instils its wisdom within your very being. Then join with Simeon as Christ is with you and your eyes see Our Lord’s salvation.
“for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentile and for glory to your people Israel.” Luke 2: 30-32
The MU in Ringmer, Sussex, UK has provided a light for young single mothers in Rwanda, who had been abandoned by their families. The Light of Christ shone in members’ heart when they a of the mothers’ plight. Treadle sewing machines (90 UK pounds ea.) would enable the mothers to make and sell goods and be able to feed their children (and themselves). The Light of Christ was glowing in Ringmer as news of the project and a coffee morning on its behalf raised 2,000 UK pounds!!! Praise the Daystar.