Thought for the Week from Anglican Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 24 November 2019
Challenging gender-based violence
Violence against someone of the opposite gender signals a belief that that person is an inferior being, is of a lower order of creation. It can also be assumed that the perpetrator also believes that animals and every living thing on earth is also ‘available’ for rape and pillage. But that is another discussion. Although for Christians the primary texts are Genesis1: 28 and 1John 4:8 – the God created male and female in God’s image and that God is Love. God is our Loving Creator. If we Christian live and speak this, we can with all authority challenge gender-based violence.
Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Proverbs 31:8
As members in Sri Lanka focus on empowering women and marriages, they intend to act with love and compassion in a non-judgemental way as Jesus did, putting prayer and listening to God at the centre of their work.
Sunday 1 December 2019
Season of Advent
O Living Word
proceeding from the mouth of God,
penetrating to the ends of the earth,
come and pierce us with the sword of truth
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 1.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Isaiah 52:7
Members in Namibia are living sacraments of Jesus’ love and compassion. They are at the interface of need in their communities ‘bringing physical and spiritual comfort’.
Let us praise the Lord for the faith of our sisters.
Sunday 8 December 2019
Expectation
O Wisdom
dwelling in the womb of God,
generating and nurturing the earth through the nights of darkness,
come and cherish in us the seed of wisdom
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 2.
In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Jeremiah 33:15
Cyclones, climate change, HIV/Aids are among the challenges members in Vanuatu face along with drug abuse and lack of job opportunities for women. May Holy Wisdom shine in the hearts and minds of our members, especially in this Season of Advent.
Sunday 15 December 2019
Light
O Morning Star
Splendour of Light Eternal,
O Radiant Dawn, O Dayspring from in 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.
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
May the Light of Christ shine into the darkness of the vulnerable in South Korea’s society. These ‘little ones’ are the focus of the support given by members. Orphans and the unemployed and homeless are given hope.
Thanks be to God.
Sunday 22 December 2019
Christmas
The shepherds sing; and shall I silent be? My God, no hymn for Thee?
My soul’s a shepherd too; a flock it feeds
Of thoughts, and words, and deeds.
The pasture is Thy Word; the streams Thy grace,
Enriching all the place.
Shepherd and flock shall sing, and all my powers
Out sing the daylight hours;
Then we will chide the sun for letting night
Take up his place and right;
We sing one common Lord; wherefore He should
Himself a candle hold. George Herbert (1593-1633)
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9: 6
Sunday 29-31 December 2019
Reflection
Among the oxen (like an ox I’m slow)
I see a glory in the stable grow
Which, with the ox’s dullness might at length
Give me an ox’s strength.
Among the asses (stubborn I as they)
I see my Saviour where I looked for hay;
So may my beastlike folly learn at least
The patience of a beast.
Among the sheep (I like a sheep have strayed)
I watch the manger where my Lord is laid;
Oh that my baa-ing nature would win thence
Some woolly innocence. C.S. Lewis
But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19
Challenging gender-based violence
Violence against someone of the opposite gender signals a belief that that person is an inferior being, is of a lower order of creation. It can also be assumed that the perpetrator also believes that animals and every living thing on earth is also ‘available’ for rape and pillage. But that is another discussion. Although for Christians the primary texts are Genesis1: 28 and 1John 4:8 – the God created male and female in God’s image and that God is Love. God is our Loving Creator. If we Christian live and speak this, we can with all authority challenge gender-based violence.
Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Proverbs 31:8
As members in Sri Lanka focus on empowering women and marriages, they intend to act with love and compassion in a non-judgemental way as Jesus did, putting prayer and listening to God at the centre of their work.
Sunday 1 December 2019
Season of Advent
O Living Word
proceeding from the mouth of God,
penetrating to the ends of the earth,
come and pierce us with the sword of truth
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 1.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Isaiah 52:7
Members in Namibia are living sacraments of Jesus’ love and compassion. They are at the interface of need in their communities ‘bringing physical and spiritual comfort’.
Let us praise the Lord for the faith of our sisters.
Sunday 8 December 2019
Expectation
O Wisdom
dwelling in the womb of God,
generating and nurturing the earth through the nights of darkness,
come and cherish in us the seed of wisdom
Jim Cotter ‘Cries of Advent’ No 2.
In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Jeremiah 33:15
Cyclones, climate change, HIV/Aids are among the challenges members in Vanuatu face along with drug abuse and lack of job opportunities for women. May Holy Wisdom shine in the hearts and minds of our members, especially in this Season of Advent.
Sunday 15 December 2019
Light
O Morning Star
Splendour of Light Eternal,
O Radiant Dawn, O Dayspring from in 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.
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
May the Light of Christ shine into the darkness of the vulnerable in South Korea’s society. These ‘little ones’ are the focus of the support given by members. Orphans and the unemployed and homeless are given hope.
Thanks be to God.
Sunday 22 December 2019
Christmas
The shepherds sing; and shall I silent be? My God, no hymn for Thee?
My soul’s a shepherd too; a flock it feeds
Of thoughts, and words, and deeds.
The pasture is Thy Word; the streams Thy grace,
Enriching all the place.
Shepherd and flock shall sing, and all my powers
Out sing the daylight hours;
Then we will chide the sun for letting night
Take up his place and right;
We sing one common Lord; wherefore He should
Himself a candle hold. George Herbert (1593-1633)
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9: 6
Sunday 29-31 December 2019
Reflection
Among the oxen (like an ox I’m slow)
I see a glory in the stable grow
Which, with the ox’s dullness might at length
Give me an ox’s strength.
Among the asses (stubborn I as they)
I see my Saviour where I looked for hay;
So may my beastlike folly learn at least
The patience of a beast.
Among the sheep (I like a sheep have strayed)
I watch the manger where my Lord is laid;
Oh that my baa-ing nature would win thence
Some woolly innocence. C.S. Lewis
But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19