Prayers for dioceses, presidents and MU workers; daily prayers on ‘The gift of relationship’
1 – 5 Uganda: Northern Uganda and Dorine; Lango and Esther, Betty & Rebecca; Madi & West Nile and Sally & Alice; Canada: Keewatin; Fredericton and Adele; Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island and Margaret; Ireland: Derry & Raphoe and Kay
6 – 10 Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia: Dunedin; Uganda: Nebbi and Beatrice; West Indies: Belize and Lorna; Canada: Montreal; Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador; Central Africa: Eastern Zambia and Vaida & Joyce; Ireland: Connor and Moira
11 – 15 Indian Ocean: Mauritius and Rosaline & Francess; Seychelles and Helene; Nigeria: Esan and Theresa; Ikka and Mercy; Kenya: Kajiado and Mary, Catherine & Salome; Ireland: Kilmore, Elphin & Aldagh and Joy
16 – 20 Rwanda: Butare and Florence; Kigeme and Virginie & Esther; Southern Africa: Port Elizabeth and Mazoe; Kenya: Embu and Susan & Nancy; Nigeria: Oleh and Elizabeth & Comfort; Jerusalem & The Middle East: Members in Ethiopia; Canterbury: Derby and Agnes
21 – 25 Aotearoa, New Zealand & Polynesia: Waiapu; Nigeria: Ijebu and Florence; Igbomina and Janet; Canada: Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (formerly Cariboo); Niagara and Laurie; Calgary; Ireland: Cashel & Ossory and Phyllis
26 – 31 Nigeria: Kafanchan and Grace; Abuja and Nkasiobi; Kaduna and Comfort & Cheto; Kenya: Eldoret and Mary & Leah; Canada: Edmonton; Huron; Rupert’s Land and Bonnie; Ireland: Cork, Cloyne & Ross and Avril and Jennifer
October – The gift of relationship
Monday: Sharing smiles
Generous God,
we thank you for your gift of relationship;
the entwining of our lives together.
We cherish your gift of relationship;
united as one body with Christ as our head.
A friendly smile makes you happy,
and good news makes you feel strong.
Proverbs 15:30
Take a moment in silence to thank God for those
who have brought cheer and laughter into your life.
Loving Lord,
We thank you for those who have lifted our spirits
by sharing a smile of friendship;
who have eased a situation
with a look of understanding.
We thank you for those who have lifted our spirits
by sharing a moment of humour;
who have highlighted the absurd
and revelled in it with us.
Loving Lord,
help us to keep our gaze outward
that we may be ready
to lift the spirits of the downcast.
Amen
Tuesday: Holding hands
Generous God,
we thank you for your gift of relationship;
the entwining of our lives together.
We cherish your gift of relationship;
united as one body with Christ as our head.
Be joyful with those who are joyful.
Be sad with those who are sad.
Romans 12:15
Take a moment in silence to thank God for those
who have shared in your times of joy and sorrow.
Lord of all circumstances,
draw us close to those who hurt;
join us together that we may
share the sorrow and lessen the pain.
Lord of all circumstances,
draw us close to those who rejoice;
join us together that we may
share the delight and increase the joy.
Loving Lord,
help us to be so united
that we truly share
in each other’s lives.
Amen
Wednesday: Walking in step
Generous God,
we thank you for your gift of relationship;
the entwining of our lives together.
We cherish your gift of relationship;
united as one body with Christ as our head.
Two people will not walk together
unless they have agreed to do so.
Amos 3:3
Take a moment in silence to thank God for those
who have walked with you in joint endeavours.
We praise you, Lord of relationship,
for those who work alongside us;
sharing tasks and sharing vision.
Loving Lord, we thank you for each other;
our partners in service and purpose.
We praise you, Lord of relationship,
for those who walk alongside us;
pressing onwards for mutual goals.
Loving Lord, we thank you for each other;
our partners in service and purpose.
Loving Lord,
show us the way
to work with each other
in joint tasks and service.
Amen
Thursday: Speaking words
Generous God,
we thank you for your gift of relationship;
the entwining of our lives together.
We cherish your gift of relationship;
united as one body with Christ as our head.
To give an appropriate answer is a joy;
how good is a word at the right time!
Proverbs 15:23
Take a moment in silence to thank God for those
whose words have blessed your life .
Living Word,
give us your compassion
to speak words of comfort
to the troubled.
Lord, give us words of life.
Living Word,
give us your courage
to speak words of challenge
to the compromised.
Lord, give us words of life.
Living Word,
give us your insight to
speak words of encouragement
to the weary.
Lord, give us words of life.
Loving Lord,
give us your words
of guidance and blessing
to share with each other.
Amen
Friday: Heart to heart
Generous God,
we thank you for your gift of relationship;
the entwining of our lives together.
We cherish your gift of relationship;
united as one body with Christ as our head.
Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8
Take a moment in silence to thank God for those
who love and accept you just as you are.
How thankful we are for those
who know our faults and weaknesses
yet still embrace us with their love.
Lord, help us to love one another
as you have loved and forgiven us.
How blessed we are by those
who see our selfish ways
yet still accept us in their love.
Lord, help us to love one another
as you have loved and forgiven us.
Loving Lord,
give us your love
to accept each other
unconditionally.
Amen
Saturday: Face to face
Generous God,
we thank you for your gift of relationship;
the entwining of our lives together.
We cherish your gift of relationship;
united as one body with Christ as our head.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;
then we shall see face to face.
1 Corinthians 13:12
Take a moment in silence to thank God for his promise
of future perfect relationship.
One day, Lord,
the clouds will part,
shadows fade
and we will see you face to face.
On that day,
what we grasp through faith,
and instances of your love
will culminate in perfect union
as we see you face to face.
And until that day,
look on us with favour
and bless us with your grace.
Give us a foretaste of the joy to come
when shadows fade
and we see you face to face.
Amen
From The Mothers’ Union web site