This is a letter from Linda Ginn, our Diocesan President, to all MU members in Suffolk:
Dear Members of the Mothers’ Union in St. Eds and Ips. 26th February 2022
As MU members, we have pledged to show Christian care for families, here and worldwide, especially thinking of those whose lives have met with adversity. This is our time.
Our Daily Bread reading for today says, “…. because of Jesus, all believers, regardless of their background, are reconciled to God and called “members of His household” [family], (Ephesians 2:19). We are all members of God’s household, and some of our wider family In Ukraine are hurting.
Membership brings incredible rights and privileges. We can “approach God with freedom and confidence” (Ephesians 3:12) and enjoy unlimited, unhindered access to God. We are part of this larger family, a community of faith, supporting and encouraging one another…. (Ephesians 2;19-22). As we watch what is happening around the world, fear and doubt can keep us from fully accessing the benefits of being part of God’s family.
But along with these rights and privileges we also have responsibilities…
As MU members we are people of faith. We are not powerless in the face of the Enemy: our Archbishops write that “The horrific and unprovoked attack on Ukraine is an act of great evil”.
We can pray - placing our trust in Jesus Christ, the author of peace,
- we pray for an urgent end and withdrawal of Russian forces,
- we can call for a public decision to choose the way of peace and of international conference to secure long term agreements for stability and lasting peace,
- we can also give our support to the call from Pope Francis for a global day of prayer and fasting for peace on Ash Wednesday, 2nd March” (Archbishops, 26.2.22).
We can sign the global open letter against this war and join with others from around the world calling for this war to end. Sign up to the open letter with your email address and name: https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/stop_the_war_loc/?zAqHxqb
We can encourage, support and inspire our clergy, our MU members and Fellowship Groups to take a stronger stand in our local churches. The Archbishop of Canterbury has invited us to make this Sunday a day of prayer for Ukraine, Russia and for peace.
A Prayer for Ukraine
God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war and peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you will hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Amen. (Archbishops Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell (2022)).
Mary Sumner's Personal Prayer
All this day, O Lord
Let me touch as many lives as possible for thee;
and every life I touch,
do thou by thy Spirit quicken,
whether through the word I speak,
the prayer I breathe,
or the life I live.
Amen
Image by Jonoro from Pixabay