MU Opening Service

A sermon prepared for the opening service of Mothers' Union St. Columba's Branch. 8pm Tuesday 6th October 2009

May the words I speak be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen

There are a couple of things I would like to say from the outset, before I turn our extremely challenging readings.

Firstly, a big thank you to MU members for their very kind donation to the start of my larder when I arrived in June. It was lovely to get a card & some basic provisions.

Secondly , having met Mother's Union member's around the globe – It is an amazing organisation, it is an organisation with so much potential.

As I have looked at photo album's from Uganda and Zambia.

I would love to tell you the stories about MU members in Zambia who walked 15/20 miles simply to meet a team of young people from Ireland,

or about a School Principal who was an enrolling member of MU, who because of her christian commitment has adopted many children who are orphans because of HIV,

or MU members who are providing hospitality in their homes for relatives of patients at a hospital in Uganda,

or Diocesan MU in a very rural part of Zambia are supplying Mosquito nets, basic health care and Bibles in the local language

I also would love to have time to tell you about the amazing witness 2/3 years ago, the impact of the mothers union made to a group of 2-3,000 young people at the kings hall as the mother's union served breakfast and got involved in a practical need.

I would love to share stories about the amazing worship I have encountered when MU members get together and sing at the top of their voices of the love they have for God, and as they dance up the aisle with chickens, flour and even bags of cement on their heads – laying their gifts before God.

I would love to share those with you … but there simply isn't time.

I mention these simply to remind us all, that we are part of an amazing global family and the amazing thing that I have been learning is that no matter where in the world you go you find people who are passionate about God, and eager to make a difference in their community. Within the Anglican church, Mothers' Union is there as a powerful witness to the Gospel in very practical ways.

The two readings which I have chosen for this evenings service should be quite familiar, they are very practical and very challenging:

• Looking at the Epistle reading which speaks for itself
• Present your bodies as living sacrifices
• do Not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
• Think with sober judgement
• One body, many functions
• Let love be genuine
• Love one another with mutual affection
• Rejoice in hope
• Persevere in prayer
• Rejoice with those who rejoice, be patient in suffering
• Live in harmony with one another
• live peaceably with all
• Overcome evil with Good.

Our world today is a strange place

• There are people going hungry when people are throwing food into landfil sites.
• There are those are hurting, who are crying out for love but who are looking everywhere else but to the Church – the one place there should be love and acceptance
• Water is falling from the sky but people are dying of thirst
• people are dying of curable diseases
• People in our prosperous communities are finding it difficult to make ends meet
• Families in rich and poor neighborhoods in this city are experiencing difficulties in relationships, parenting and organising finances.

With this the case we are called to be a light in our communities, with our friends and those we encounter. At the moment I am doing quite a bit of thinking about Joy and about how amazing it is to be a Christian and how that Joy should be expressed in all that we say and all that we do first and foremost as a christian disciple.

Mary's Song – which we know as the Magnificat is an amazing manifesto of joy with what God has done, and what he continues to do in this our generation

• God Looks with favor on the Lowliness of his servant
• His mercy is for those who fear him
• He has shown strength with his arm
• He has brought down the mighty
• He has exalted the lowly
• He has filled the hungry with Good things
• His loving mercy endures forever

There is a huge challenge in society today, for groups like MU who are involved in churches, to be interested in the things which God is interested in, looking out for the stranger and welcoming them in, to be there for each other when sad and difficult times come, to be asking as to what are the needs of the local community and how can we meet them, of supporting the global mission of the church.

Mother's Union members, I know are very involved in this parish and that is great, many churches would fall down without the support of MU members.

The challenge to MU, and the church in general - is how we can reach out, into our friendship groups, into our neighbourhoods and bring the message of good news that Jesus came to bring. In small ways, maybe providing hospitality for those new into the church, maybe simply visiting lonely neigbours or supporting the work of the church in other ways. Or in Bigger ways, of challenging the status quo of our society, of running parental classes of supporting events or whatever

It is crucial that we focus outward as well as inward, to look for those who are not yet included and make them feel welcome, to support each other in fellowship and to help each other grow in their discipleship.

This year as Mother's union begins let us remember the aims and objectives of the organisation

Vision: Our vision is of a world where God's love is shown through loving, respectful, and flourishing relationships.
Aim & Purpose: To demonstrate the Christian faith in action by the transformation of communities worldwide through the nurture of the family in its many forms.

Mission:
To promote and support married life
To encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children
To maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service
To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children
To help those whose family life has met with adversity

The Mother's Union have so much to give in terms of knowledge and experience to this parish and beyond its bounds. My prayer is that over this year and the years ahead that you will continue to work together as part of the body in this place, share your experiences, welcome the stranger and grow in your walk with God.

Let us pray,

May what we do be now and always acceptable in thy sight O lord our strength and our redeemer.
Amen