2011 FAITHFUL

RELATIONSHIP

Please join us on the second Thursday each month in the Lady Chapel of Manchester Cathedral 12 to 12.30 p.m. and bring your friends.

Coffee can be obtained afterwards in the Visitors’ Centre.

The Thursday Prayer provides an opportunity for all members in the diocese to unite, using a common theme and praying for a special concern each month.

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The service is a simple one and we hope you will enjoy taking part.

This is the outline of the service:-

Prayer *

Hymn*

Prayer*

Psalm

Reading*

Prayer

Reflection*

Hymn

Collect

Deaneries leading the service are encouraged to involve as many members as they wish and to add additional material as appropriate. The prayers are divided into two sections so that each can cover a different need and all sections with a * are for the Deanery to arrange. The psalm and the collect are both read by all present. The reflection is prepared and needs a reader. The whole service should take approximately half an hour.

If Leaders have any queries please contact the Office 0161 828 1427 or Win Hill 0161 747 2060.

This leaflet is also available to download from www.MothersUnionManchester.org

Material used is from Common Worship © The Archbishops' Council and The Mothers’ Union ©

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In our intercessions we are asked to remember the work of Mothers’ Union throughout the world. Particularly we pray for all in our link dioceses of: o Maseno West, Maseno South and Southern Nyanza in Kenya

o North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

o Zaria in Nigeria

We remember: o Worldwide President – Rosemary Kempsell

o York Provincial President – Lynne Tembey

o Unit Co-ordinators in:

Action and Outreach

Faith and Policy

Administration

Marketing

o Chief Executive – Reg Bailey, and the staff at Mary Sumner House

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The 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.

The Thursday Prayer

Heavenly Father, you have called us apart to share in a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer. Take our prayers, we humbly ask, fill them with your love and power, and use them in the cause of your glorious kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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January 13th Diocesan leadership

Faithful relationship Having faith

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm 43: 1-6

Reading Isaiah 28: 23-29

Prayer

Reflection

Collect

Everlasting God, whose servant Hilary steadfastly confessed your Son Jesus Christ to be both human and divine, grant us his gentle courtesy to bring to all the messages of redemption in the incarnate Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen Hymn 374 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

The Grace

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February 10th Social policy

Faithful relationship Patience, chastity and forgiveness

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm 126

Reading Wisdom 4: 10-15

Prayer

Reflection

Collect Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Valentine triumphed over suffering and was faithful unto death: strengthen us with your grace, that we may endure reproach and persecution and faithfully bear witness to the name of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn 137 Come down, O love divine

The Grace

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March 10th Faith

Faithful relationship A faithful worker

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm 111

Reading Ezekiel 34: 11-16

Prayer

Reflection

Collect

God of peace, who gave such grace to your servant Edward King that whomever he met he drew to Christ: fill us, we pray, with tender sympathy and joyful faith, that we also may win others to know the love that passes knowledge; through him who is the shepherd and guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn Take my life and let it be

The Grace

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April 14th Marketing

Faithful relationship A faithful source

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm 15

Reading 2 Corinthians 5: 14-20

Prayer

Reflection

Collect

Almighty God, the light of the faithful and shepherd of souls, who set your servant Selwyn to be a bishop in the Church, to feed your sheep by the word of Christ and to guide them by good example; give us grace to keep the faith of the Church and to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn 333 All my hope on God is founded

The Grace

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May 12th Away from it All holidays

Faithful relationship A faithful translation

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm 36

Reading Proverbs 8: 22-31

Prayer

Reflection

Collect

God our Father, who gave wisdom and insight to your servant Caroline Chisholme to fathom the depths of your love, and to understand your design for the world you have made; grant us the help of your Holy Spirit that we also may come to the full knowledge of your purposes revealed in your Son Jesus Christ, our wisdom and our life; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Hymn O happy day

The Grace

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June 9th Thursday Prayer

Faithful relationship The Christian faith

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm 82

Reading John 21: 15-19

Prayer

Reflection

Collect

Most merciful redeemer, who gave to your bishop Richard a love of learning, a zeal for souls and a devotion to the poor; grant that, encouraged by his example, we may know you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly, day by day, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit are alive and reign, one God, now and forever. Amen

Hymn 420 O Jesus I have promised

The Grace

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July 14th MUenterprises Limited

Faithful relationship Constant and true

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm 20

Reading Proverbs 3: 1-8

Prayer

Reflection

Collect

Almighty God by whose grace we celebrate again the feast of your servant Swithun; grant that, as he governed with gentleness the people committed to his care, so we, rejoicing in our Christian inheritance, may always seek to build up your Church in unity and love; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn A new commandment I give unto you

The Grace

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August 11th Care and nurture of children

Faithful relationship Committed in love

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm 146

Reading Matthew 25: 31-end

Prayer

Reflection

Collect

Merciful God, you have compassion on all that you have made and your whole creation is enfolded in your love. Help us to stand firm for your truth, to struggle against poverty, and to share your love with our neighbour, that with your servant

Florence, we may be instruments of your peace: through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen Hymn Let there be peace on earth

The Grace

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September 8th Administration

Faithful relationship Reliability

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm from Judith 16

Reading Micah 5: 2-4

Prayer

Reflection

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, who stooped to raise fallen humanity through the child-bearing of blessed Mary; grant that we, who have seen your glory revealed in our human nature and your love made perfect in our weakness, may daily be renewed in your image and conformed to the pattern of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Hymn Be still, for the presence of the Lord The Grace

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October 13th Parenting

Faithful relationship Dedication

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm 3

Reading 2 Corinthians 4: 7-15

Prayer

Reflection

Collect

Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Esther John triumphed over suffering and was faithful to death: strengthen us with your grace, that we may endure reproach and persecution and faithfully bear witness to the name of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Hymn 453 Stand up, stand up for Jesus

The Grace

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November 10th Indoor Members’ Prayer Circle

Faithful relationship Commitment

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm 112

Reading 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11

Prayer

Reflection

Collect

God all powerful, who called Martin from the armies of this world to be a faithful soldier of Christ: give us grace to follow him in his love and compassion for the needy, and enable your Church to claim for all people their inheritance as children of God; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Hymn 485 Thy hand, O God, has guided

The Grace

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December 8th Action and Outreach

Faithful relationship Steadfast in faith

Prayer

Hymn

Prayer

Psalm 97

Reading Ephesians 1: 3-14

Prayer

Reflection

Collect

Almighty and Everlasting God, who stooped to raise fallen humanity through the child bearing of blessed Mary: grant that we, who have seen your glory revealed in our human nature and your love made perfect in our weakness, may daily be renewed in your image and conformed to the pattern of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Hymn To God be the glory

The Grace

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Midday Prayers

Jesus, Lord of life, by the power of your word and through your actions of love, call us to be your disciples. Give us strength to be different, to stand up for justice and peace and be signs of your reconciling love for all. God of grace, enable your servants to carry out your mission on earth through the work of Mothers’ Union worldwide. Today we pray for the people and work of ** We pray for all members. May God be with them in every part of their lives, encouraging and leading them, sheltering and strengthening them so they may work to your praise and glory. Amen. Faithful and loving God, who called Mary Sumner to work for the renewal of family life; inspire us to follow her example and respond to your call to new adventures, new possibilities and new visions for the work of Mothers’ Union around the world. May we always see the world through the eyes of Christ, speak to those we meet with the words of Christ, and take with us on our journey the peace of Christ. Amen.

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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.

The Indoor Members’ prayer

Loving heavenly Father, Lord of all the world, you know the secret thoughts of every heart and hear the prayers of all. You have chosen us to work for you and be as one in prayer. Guide us in our prayerful task and strengthen us to do your will. Uphold us in our weakness and our doubt, that those for whom we intercede may truly come to know your healing peace and love. We ask this in Jesus’ name, your only Son, our Lord. Amen.

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Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1: 38