Midday Prayers

Everyday we pray for Mothers Union through our Midday Prayers

Midday Prayers and Wave of Prayer are included as an option on the Church of England Daily HOPE phone line. The free phone line also includes materials also available digitally by the Church of Englands Communications team and a recording of the Church of England weekly national online service. We know that a majority of Mothers Union members are not connected to the internet or have weak internet connections. Therefore, we are delighted that they will now be able to listen in fellowship to our prayers which unite our movement and its 4 million members every day.

The Daily HOPE phoneline number is free and available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 (for Mothers Union midday prayers please press option 5 and then option 9)

If you have online access please do join us daily at 12:00 (BST) on our Facebook page for our Midday Prayers

Newcastle MU

A group of MU members meet on the first Thursday of the month for Midday Prayers in the St Georges Chapel at the Cathedral. Eucharist takes place at 12.30 should you wish to stay. The group often meets in the Cathedral cafe for refreshments before or afterwards.
If you would like to join them then contact Anne Blight

Monthly Midday Prayers in St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle. led by VP Anne Cairns in February

Why not Join us Join In next month?

Midday Prayers are available to download in an easy printable double sided A4 format by clicking on the month.

2026

March Midday Prayers

February Midday Prayers

January Midday prayers

2025

December Midday Prayere

October Midday Prayers

September Midday Prayers

Mary Sumner Day Service Mary Sumner Day Resource Pack

MU Services

Mothers' Union Services

For branches wishing to celebrate Holy Communion on the theme of ‘Transformation Now’ there is an optional Order of Service and also a supplementary sheet of suggested readings, prayers and hymns. The Order of Service is also available as a printed booklet which can be borrowed from the Chaplain. Also available for branch use are the MU blue vestments and communion vessels.

The services can be down loaded below:

MU Weekday Eucharist Service An Order of Service for a MU midweek Holy Communion with the theme of ‘Transformation Now’

Notes on MU Eucharist A supplementary sheet of suggested prayers, reading and hymns to accompany the service

MU Vessels, Vestments & Gifted items Information about the MU vessels and vestments that can be borrowed by branches.

MU Service for Enrolment of Branch Leader a service sheet for enrolment- can be adapted

Mary Sumner Prayer with Signing

You can watch the VIdeo here

Rose Ayling-Ellis helped to bring sign language to our screens and our awareness. I am not very good with sign but I’m trying to learn and I would love us all to be able to sign Mary Sumner’s prayer for our 150th anniversary celebrations.

I am more than happy at meetings to teach the signs and what they mean in ‘modern’ words. Two branches have already tried it out. Meanwhile, here is the prayer, read slowly so you can watch the hand movements. To be authentic, you can switch the sound off and lip read. Have fun – giving it a go is more important than ‘perfection’. Anne M

Notes about the prayer in sign. The signs in the video clip are the nearest in meaning, rather than literal translation which can be confusing, especially with ‘old style’ or ‘poetic’ language. A deaf person may interpret the signs as follows: Today, God, may I meet many people for you; and every person I meet, by God’s spirit, be enlivened/motivated/inspired, because of the word I speak, the prayer I breathe, or the way I live. Amen

Another useful note: Sign may be used left-handed as well as right-handed. The ‘dominant’ hand leads the signs. Left-handed sign is a mirror images of right-handed sign.

Wave of Prayer Service for 2025

A suggested service for our Diocesan Wave of Prayer this year. It is in the traditional format we have used in the previous 3 years. It can be used in Advent, at Christmas or Epiphany to fit around the many other services and events at this time of year.

Click here to Download the service

Amongst the many services to attend if you are able are the White Ribbon services in Morpeth and Ponteland.

During the 16 Day of Activism against Gender-Based Violence there will be a display in the Cathedral (in the Chapel of the Resurrection – where the MU banner stands). On Thursday 4^th December, Midday Prayers in the Cathedral (led by MU) and the Cathedral midday Eucharist will focus on this issue.

Update on the conflict in Sudan

For the past two years, there has been conflict in Sudan, killing thousands, displacing millions from their homes, and creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. In the past four days, the civil war has escalated further with the latest confrontation between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) increasing fears of disruption to much-needed aid deliveries.

Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast had been a haven for hundreds of thousands of displaced people. The city is the base of the Provincial Office of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, with Archbishop Ezekial Kondo and his team relocating there when the conflict broke out in April 2023. Port Sudan also serves as an interim seat for Sudan’s military-allied government.

Until now, Port Sudan had avoided bombardment and was regarded as one of the safer cities in the war-torn country. Unfortunately, attacks on Port Sudan began on Sunday 4 May, after the SAF’s military base was attacked in drone strikes. In addition, the airport, the port, and a hotel were also targeted with explosions affecting power and water supply after a major power station was hit in the Sudanese city. Fires have been reported, and flights out of the airport have been cancelled.

Hewaya and Faiza, MU Community Development Coordinators, have shared updates with Naomi Herbert, MU’s Acting Head of Literacy & Strategic Partnerships, about these drone attacks. As a result of the current conflict Hewaya and Faiza are refugees in Cairo, Egypt. They have been in contact with Epitsam, MU Coordinator in Port Sudan, who expressed her real concern that the violence would escalate further, and wreak havoc on the city that is currently a refuge to tens of thousands of displaced Sudanese citizens.

Pray for Sudan? 

Our sisters and brothers in Sudan, particularly in Port Sudan, would appreciate us praying for them, and for peace at this time. Use the following prayer pointers:  

For an end to this conflict, with no more destruction and deaths
For aid and provisions to reach people and communities in the greatest need
For strength and resources for the people who are displaced, that they may find safety, shelter, and a place to call home
For healing of trauma and mental health concerns, particularly the people who have lost family, friends and loved ones in the war

May your comfort be felt by all those affected, and may you multiply their limited resources to meet the great needs they face. 
Amen.

Lady Day,Mothering Sunday, Lent and Holy Week Resources

2025 Resources from MSH click on the name to download to new window

Lady Day Prayers

Lady Day Service

Mothering Sunday Sermon

Mothering Sunday Prayers

Lent - Ash Wednesday Reflection

Family Lent Calendar

Holy Week Prayers

Holy Week Activity

Resources from MSH

New resources from MSH: Reported from the chaplains’ group

Click here for MSH Resources

Prayer for Sudan

The situation in Sudan is extremely dire and many MU members are now refugees fleeing for their lives. MU chaplaincy group has sent out a report on the situation and a prayer which members can use in branches. Both are pdf documents and on our own diocesan website. See Here for Prayers and Here for Sudan News

Grandparents Day - Sunday 6^th October

A grandparents day service has been written and can be accessed on the national MU website by typing ‘grandparents day’ in the search box or copying the following link into your browser:

Grandparent Service sheet

Blue Christmas – an Advent Service

A Blue Christmas service creates a reflective, compassionate space for those who find the Christmas season difficult.

A Blue Christmas branch service has been written for a church service should clergy wish to use it. It will be on the MSH website after Grandparents Day. Type ‘Blue Christmas’ into the search box on the MU website to find it.

It is important to remember that not everyone feels joyous during the Christmas season. By hosting a service like this, faith communities acknowledge and support those who find the season particularly hard, offering them a place of peace, encouragement and hope.

A blue and green logo

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RISE UP Prayers

Download a PDF here

16 Days of Activism

Prayer and Worship resources for 16 days of activism can be found on the national MU website.

A simple daily reading and prayer for those who wish can be downloaded here.

What is happening in Mothers' Union in Newcastle Diocese for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence and Abuse?

1. White Ribbon Day is 23rd November. A service to remember those who have died this year from domestic abuse, will be held on this date at Trinity church Gosforth high St at 2.30pm

2. December Midday Prayers for Advent in the Cathedral (Thursday 5th December at 12.00) will focus on gender abuse. There will be a display in the Cathedral Chapel of the Resurrection. The Cathedral Eucharist at 12.30 will also include prayers on the theme.

3. Mothers’ Union are asking members to hold 1 min. silence at 1.03 on Global Day. This could be individually by members at home or as a group. If the date and time is not right, then choose another time during the 16 days.

4. Rise Up Resources are available on the MU central and Newcastle Website.

Please take a photo of any activities you or your branch are involved with and send it for our website or face book page, so we can let people know what we are doing. Please remember to get permission from all people on photographs.

Blue Christmas -an Advent Service