Download a PDF here This is a simple printable version – a two-sided single sheet. All you need is a hymn book.
MU WAVE of PRAYER Service 2024
in Newcastle Diocese
The Mothers’ Union Wave of Prayer between 30th Nov and 2nd Dec features five dioceses together with Newcastle Diocese: Zonkwa in Northern Nigeria, Barrackpore in North India, Bo in Sierra Leone, Central Buganda in Uganda and Mpumalanga in South Africa. Newcastle Diocese is also linked with Botswana, where MU plays a significant role in the community.
This simple liturgy, with optional hymns, may be used at any time during the Kingdom season, Advent, Christmas or Epiphany and can be adapted to include other prayers for local or global situations.
(Please have 3 candles ready to light)
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Welcome to our time of worship.
In a time of world-wide uncertainty and turmoil, we come together to unite our prayers with our Mothers’ Union sisters and brothers across the world. We give thanks for all that has been and pray for all that will be.
May Christ the King be among us, as the inspiration to encourage us, the companion to guide us, and the divine power to safeguard and sustain us in all circumstances.
Lord, lighten our darkness (Advent-tide)
Like a candle flame,
flickering small in our darkness,
uncreated light shines through infant eyes.
All: God is with us, come to save us, alleluia.
Light one candle – a sign of waiting
‘Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be my light.’ Micah 7.8
Hymn Longing for light (Christ be our Light)
Or Thou whose almighty word
Gospel: John 1.1-3 ‘In the beginning was the Word; and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning, and through Him all things were made.’
Prayers for Light in life’s dark places
Lord of Light, bring the Wisdom of your Word, the Light of your Love and the Spirit of Truth into our relationships with one another across the boundaries of race, culture and faith.
Help your people to reflect your light into the dark corners of the world, unfolding your gospel in word and action. Bring comfort to those in pain, hope to those who live in fear or persecution and a guiding hand to those who are lost. Bless the work of teachers and community workers as they shine a light on literacy and future opportunities.
We pray for Mothers’ Union members in Mpumalanga in South Africa and their campaigns against gender-based violence.
Prayers for those in the dark places of gender abuse…
We pray for our brothers and sisters throughout the world
who live in situations of abuse and violence.
Give them hope in their hopelessness;
help them find strength in their weakness;
grant them freedom from their oppression;
transform their brokenness into wholeness;
and heal their wounds, visible and invisible.
Grant us all the courage and wisdom, grace and humility,
to act at all times with compassion and care.
And grant all, who are harmed by abuse or coercion, peace through justice.
This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Lesley Bayley, Mothers’ Union, Ireland)
RISE UP prayer
We pray for those experiencing the darkness of gender abuse
for your compassion as we seek to RESPOND –
for your wisdom as we become better INFORMED –
for your gentleness as we try to SUPPORT –
for your strength as we hope to EMPOWER –
and for the mark of your Holy Spirit
that UNITES us together to work and PRAY unceasingly,
until situations change
and freedom, life and love are restored to all.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, lighten our days (Christmas-tide)
Light of the world
you stepped down into darkness,
opened our eyes, let us see
beauty that made our hearts adore you,
All: hope of a life spent with you
Light a 2nd candle – a sign of the Incarnation
‘Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.’ Isaiah 60.1
Hymn: Thou didst leave thy throne
Or Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us.
Gospel: John 1.4-5
‘In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not understood it.’
Prayers for the Light of Christ’s presence
Lord of Light, be born into the hearts and minds of all who hold responsibility for the welfare of others and community life.
As we travel from one triennium to the next, we give thanks for all that has been achieved. We also give thanks for the service and witness of our worldwide President, Sheran Harper.
We pray for Mothers Union members and their work in Bo in Sierra Leone.
We pray for MU members in Central Buganda in Uganda.
Bring the Light of hope and peace to families & children in need, to refugees, asylum seekers, and to those entrapped by conflict or natural disasters……
Strengthen those who seek to bring relief and practical help...
Bring the comfort of your understanding and peace to those for whom Christmas holds difficult memories…
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
Lord, lighten our ways (Epiphany-tide)
Brightest and best of the suns of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
star of the east, the horizon adorning,
All: guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Light the 3rd candle – a sign of transformation
‘Lift up your eyes and look around:
then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart will rejoice.’ Isaiah 60. 4
Hymn: O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,
OR Brightest and best of the suns of the morning,
Gospel: John 1.14 ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’
Prayers for a new Triennium
As Mothers’ Union enters a new triennium, we pray for all who will take up new posts of responsibility and service, especially our new Worldwide President, Kathleen Snow, our Zonal Trustee, Deb Lee, and York Provincial President Christine Sharpe.
We pray for MU members in Zonkwa, Northern Nigeria and in Barrackpore in North India. Bless Mothers’ Union members in our link Diocese of Botswana and help MU members everywhere to be agents of your transforming love.
We pray for communities across the world facing the challenges of climate change and our exploitation of your gifts of creation.
Help MU to transform old attitudes and to encourage initiatives to safeguard the environment for families in the future.
Prayers for our Communities
Bless the mission and ministry of this church… our clergy and all with responsibility…esp…
Bless the many MU projects across Newcastle Diocese…esp
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer
Mothers’ Union Prayer
Loving Lord, we thank you for your love so freely given to us all. We pray for families around the world. Bless the work of the Mothers Union as we seek to share your love through the encouragement, strengthening and support of marriage and family life. Empowered by your Spirit, may we be united in prayer and worship, and in love and service reach out as your hands across the world. In Jesus name. Amen
OR
Mary Sumner’s 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
Hymn:
Hills of the north rejoice OR I the Lord of sea and sky OR Tell out my soul
Loving Lord, may your love surround us.
May your grace flow through us and from us.
May our members know encouragement
from you and from one another.
May we know our value in your sight.
May the One who is the same
yesterday, today and forever,
renew us, inspire us and equip us.
In Jesus name, we pray. Amen
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all now and evermore. Amen.