Thought for the Week from Anglican Mothers Union Australia
Sunday 5 SEPTEMBER 2021
Teaching and learning
Charles Dickens saw social injustice in Victorian England on a huge scale – firsthand - and did his best to right the wrongs. When he wrote his wonderful novels, he believed that education would solve the problem, would lift people out of the mire and save his nation. Mothers’ Union does vital work in promoting the education of women and girls. But humanity is not saved by learning alone, nor by business management, nor…. Our real life needs Soul food, Self-examination and Sincerity.
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Proverbs 4:13
The 2020 Report on International Religious Freedoms states that “In South Sudan in July, a local militia in Jonglei State attacked an Anglican church compound, killing 31 persons, including the church’s dean and 14 women and children.” Hear our prayers, Lord.
Sunday 12 SEPTEMBER 2021
Seedtime and harvest
The weather, the mice, the grasshoppers – so much depends on chance for the sowers and reapers, the planters, pruners and pickers. Our lives, too, are subject to chance: whether we were travelling on a cruise ship at the beginning of the Covid pandemic or born near Bethlehem in 30AD to a family of shepherds or near a creekbed in Central Australia in 1863 or 1963 or 2003. Let us carefully examine the seeds of our Christian life. Let us rejoice in the harvest and plant the fruits of God’s gifts wisely and with abundant generosity.
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10
St Alban’s Cathedral, Pretoria has a unique placement amongst the institutions of government. Members of the congregation will walk a prayer labyrinth at designated times through the precincts which house the offices of decision-makers and government technocrats whose decisions and work impact on the whole of the nation, the walkers upholding and supporting the workers in Prayer.
Sunday 19 SEPTEMBER 2021
Peace and security
Fear may be the most crippling experience of all. Certainly the gospels are continually advocating the importance of trust in the wake of fearful times ahead. In John, chapters 13-15, Jesus prepares his friends for the Way. It is the Way of Trust and Love, of the New Commandment. He does not promise peace without conflict, nor security without attack. What he does promise is His peace which passes all understanding. We live in world of sin and death but we Trust and Love and are saved, not from the results of sin and death but from the fear of their destructive power.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27
In the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham MU members raise awareness of social issues in the UK and worldwide. By acknowledging the need to support prisoners and their families, members focus more on plight of others than on their own fear and so grow in Trust and Love.
Sunday 26 SEPTEMBER 2021
Ageing with dignity
Bodies grow less dignified with age. Often minds do as well. ‘Dignified’ in this case implies a loss of control; a state we don’t have any say in, even if we have given directives. Carers of the aged are trained to respect the client and their ministrations are sometimes appreciated and sometimes not. Dignity is seen today as respect that is due to a person. Another understanding of dignity refers to a quality emanating from the person themselves and has to do with their quality, being worthy, honourable. A naked Eve in the Garden of Eden is described by the poet Milton in Paradise Lost: ‘Grace was in all her steps, Heav’n in her eye, / In every gesture dignity and love.’ Book viii, lines 488-9.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
Proverbs 4:18
As we hold the Anglican Church in Burundi in our mind’s eye and heart’s care, may all that they ask for - peace and reconciliation, advocacy, education, health, literacy and financial education, and community development - lift the dignity and worth of its members.
Teaching and learning
Charles Dickens saw social injustice in Victorian England on a huge scale – firsthand - and did his best to right the wrongs. When he wrote his wonderful novels, he believed that education would solve the problem, would lift people out of the mire and save his nation. Mothers’ Union does vital work in promoting the education of women and girls. But humanity is not saved by learning alone, nor by business management, nor…. Our real life needs Soul food, Self-examination and Sincerity.
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Proverbs 4:13
The 2020 Report on International Religious Freedoms states that “In South Sudan in July, a local militia in Jonglei State attacked an Anglican church compound, killing 31 persons, including the church’s dean and 14 women and children.” Hear our prayers, Lord.
Sunday 12 SEPTEMBER 2021
Seedtime and harvest
The weather, the mice, the grasshoppers – so much depends on chance for the sowers and reapers, the planters, pruners and pickers. Our lives, too, are subject to chance: whether we were travelling on a cruise ship at the beginning of the Covid pandemic or born near Bethlehem in 30AD to a family of shepherds or near a creekbed in Central Australia in 1863 or 1963 or 2003. Let us carefully examine the seeds of our Christian life. Let us rejoice in the harvest and plant the fruits of God’s gifts wisely and with abundant generosity.
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10
St Alban’s Cathedral, Pretoria has a unique placement amongst the institutions of government. Members of the congregation will walk a prayer labyrinth at designated times through the precincts which house the offices of decision-makers and government technocrats whose decisions and work impact on the whole of the nation, the walkers upholding and supporting the workers in Prayer.
Sunday 19 SEPTEMBER 2021
Peace and security
Fear may be the most crippling experience of all. Certainly the gospels are continually advocating the importance of trust in the wake of fearful times ahead. In John, chapters 13-15, Jesus prepares his friends for the Way. It is the Way of Trust and Love, of the New Commandment. He does not promise peace without conflict, nor security without attack. What he does promise is His peace which passes all understanding. We live in world of sin and death but we Trust and Love and are saved, not from the results of sin and death but from the fear of their destructive power.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27
In the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham MU members raise awareness of social issues in the UK and worldwide. By acknowledging the need to support prisoners and their families, members focus more on plight of others than on their own fear and so grow in Trust and Love.
Sunday 26 SEPTEMBER 2021
Ageing with dignity
Bodies grow less dignified with age. Often minds do as well. ‘Dignified’ in this case implies a loss of control; a state we don’t have any say in, even if we have given directives. Carers of the aged are trained to respect the client and their ministrations are sometimes appreciated and sometimes not. Dignity is seen today as respect that is due to a person. Another understanding of dignity refers to a quality emanating from the person themselves and has to do with their quality, being worthy, honourable. A naked Eve in the Garden of Eden is described by the poet Milton in Paradise Lost: ‘Grace was in all her steps, Heav’n in her eye, / In every gesture dignity and love.’ Book viii, lines 488-9.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
Proverbs 4:18
As we hold the Anglican Church in Burundi in our mind’s eye and heart’s care, may all that they ask for - peace and reconciliation, advocacy, education, health, literacy and financial education, and community development - lift the dignity and worth of its members.