Prayer Diary - Mothers' Union

Prayer Diary2021Uniting members in prayer andfellowship around the worldFormerly known as Families Worldwide1

CONTENTS3-4Worldwide President’s letter5Prayer Diary Introduction6Quarterly Reflection: United in Prayer7Our Impact: Mothers’ Union Vicoba20Quarterly Reflection: Power of Prayer33Our Impact: Combatting “holiday hunger”in Down & Dromore, Northern Ireland734-35 Membership map36Our Impact: Community Transformationthrough Literacy and Agriculture38Quarterly Reflection: Persistence inPrayer52Quarterly Reflection: The Joy of Prayer53Our Impact: Sewing machines fordisadvantaged women in Rwanda3353Prayer Diary 20217121621JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilThe Prayer Diary is a Mothers’ Unionmembers’ resource supplement,published once a year and distributed,as part of the annual membershipsubscription, to members and friends inBritain and Ireland. Overseas membersand friends can receive a PDF copy viaemail from local provinces or online atwww.mothersunion.org. The Prayer Diaryis translated into French, Spanish mberOctoberNovemberDecemberContact:Mothers’ Union, Mary Sumner House,24 Tufton Street, London, SW1P 3RBT: 020 7222 5533E: ditor: Beth LanksfordDesign: Arca CreativePrint: Halcyon Print Management LtdRegistered Charity Number: 240531While every effort is taken to ensure theaccuracy of dates and comments, Mothers’Union cannot accept responsibility for anyloss, damage or inconvenience causedthrough any error or omission.Worldwide President: Sheran HarperChief Executive: Bev JullienThe paper used in this publication wasproduced using wood fibre from sustainableforests and is chlorine free.The Prayer Diary is published by Mothers’ Union all contents are copyright 2020www.mothersunion.org

WORLDWIDE PRESIDENT’S LETTERMy dear friends,We listened! Here’s the action!As usual, there is always something exciting popping up in the life ofMothers’ Union each year. This is great as it gives us new opportunitiesto share and celebrate with each other in a rich and inspiring way.So, 2021 is no different as I introduce to you our brand new inspirationalannual Prayer Diary which captures the depth of prayers from FamiliesWorldwide and merges it with new initiatives; such as additionalreflections, and stories of our impact around the world.Prayer is central to our lives andwork, and I recommend this PrayerDiary to be a faithful companion inyour life as a member and in yourcommitment to lifting others upin prayer. Keeping it within reachor next to your comfy chair willhelp you to be more intentionalin setting aside time to pray asa global family, as together weexperience some of the mostprofound insights and prayers thatwill strengthen our connection withGod and each other, and encourageour faith.There’s still more news! Followingmonths of research andconsultation, a new membershippublication has now been developed to serve you all in a new way,providing every member in Britain and Ireland with opportunities toshare even more stories of the difference you are making to lives in yourparishes and communities, as you motivate and inspire one another togrow God’s Kingdom together.I invite you to join me in looking forward with great anticipation to thisnew twice-yearly membership publication, which will be released inspring and autumn 2021 and will replace Families First. You are receivingthis annual Prayer Diary at the end of 2020 so we can start 2021 strong3

WORLDWIDE PRESIDENT’S LETTERin prayer and togetherness, with hands linked across the oceans anddistances near and far.The work of MU in Britain and Ireland and worldwide is trulyamazing, changing lives and bringing lasting transformation. The newmembership publication features members and puts their work in thespotlight under our three global themes: peace and safety, self-relianceand gender justice. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly driven homethe importance in these three areas.There will also be reflective articles such as prayerful pieces and articlesfrom members, leaders and partners of Mothers’ Union; updates onour policy and advocacy work; a mini review of the year and maps andgraphics to help bring the huge impact members make around the worldto life. Of course there will be other bits and pieces that showcase events,encourage others to join, and give ideas for meetings. I believe this newpublication will certainly help Mothers’ Union to grow and deliver God’swork for years and years to come.My grateful thanks to each and every member and friend for your loveand support for Families First and Families Worldwide; thank you to all whogenerously contributed to making these publications a pleasure to readand a reason to celebrate the difference Mothers’ Union makes; and tofaithful staff who worked hard to make it all a huge reality.The year 2020 has been one of surviving the challenges of the COVID-19pandemic, finding new ways of working and coping, and recognisingthat our God is alive and still performs miracles. I pray that 2021 willbring with it bright new beginnings, a renewal and revival in eachand every heart, home, community and nation. May 2021 be a year ofprosperity as together we rebuild hope and confidence in every sphereof our lives and in our Mothers’ Union.With my love and God’s blessings as always,SheranWorldwide President4www.mothersunion.org

PRAYER DIARYJoined-up prayerJoin Mothers’ Union members worldwide as we supportfamilies and projects around the globe in prayer.Prayer is central to our work as Mothers’ Union and each day, at midday,members all over the world pause to pray. The Wave of Prayer is a continuousexpression of our commitment in prayer to each other, which runs throughoutthe year and encompasses all the places in which we are represented.You can use these daily prayers to join this 24/7 Wave of Prayer around the globe,praying for the dioceses in turn. The calendar is divided into three-day sectionswhen we pray for a group of dioceses. On one day of the week there is a Bibleverse which you can reflect on and take the opportunity to pray for aspects of thework of Mothers’ Union worldwide to which you are drawn at the time.As we play our part in sustaining the Wave of Prayer,we can do so with confidence, knowing our prayershave meaning and power. We can be encouraged,too, by knowing that throughout the world there areothers who, in the same way, are praying for us. Andnow that the annual Prayer Diary is translated intoFrench, Spanish and Swahili it’s even easier for us topray for each other.We always thankGod for all of youand continuallymention you inour prayers.1 Thessalonians 1:2Jesus, Lord of life, by the power of your word and through your actions of love, call usto be your disciples. Give us strength to be different, to stand up for justice and peaceand be signs of your reconciling love for all.God of grace, enable your servants to carry out your mission on earth through thework of Mothers’ Union worldwide.Today we pray for **see the Wave of Prayer diary.We pray for all members.May God be with them in every part of their lives, encouraging them and leadingthem, sheltering and strengthening them so they may work to your praise and glory.Amen5

QUARTERLY REFLECTIONUnited in PrayerJanuary-MarchWritten by Thembsie Mchunu, Mothers’ Union Trustee forZone EScripture: Where two or three gather in my name, theream I with them. (Matthew 18:20)Most people from Mozambique,Zimbabwe and other neighbouringcountries have been able to support theirfamilies with the work that they weredoing in South Africa. Since COVID-19,many workplaces have been closed andthose workers are not allowed to comeinto South Africa to look for somethingelse to do.Even within the country, we are facinga high rate of crime, including robbery,car hijacking, and burglary etc. Youngpeople are looking for ways of gaining anincome quickly. In homes there is a lot offinancial or material tension which leadsto physical and sexual abuse. Life isreally difficult in our zone. Communitiesin Sudan and South Sudan are alsofacing poverty, which means domesticviolence is increasing.Heavenly Father, we praise your nameand worship you as you are still God evenin bad times. You taught us that ‘the bodyis united though it is made up of manyparts. Therefore if one part suffers, everypart suffers with it.’ (1 Corinthians 12:12and 26). As Mothers’ Union membersaround the world, we come united inprayer with your promise that ‘where6two or three come together in your name,there you will be with them.’ Please healevery human being and reveal that eachone of us is made by your image. Lord inyour mercy, hear our prayers!Prayer points The whole world is in turmoil due toCOVID-19. Our zone is facing a high rateof unemployment since many workplacesare closed. Please pray for workplaces toreopen safely. For those suffering from gender-basedviolence and domestic violence. For crime to decrease in our zone andaround the world.www.mothersunion.org

Our impactMU Vicoba GroupsVicoba is our Credit and Savingsprogramme in Tanzania. We have over5,000 participants in 218 groups. Fromthe savings that groups have accumulatedand the credit that they are accessingfrom each other, all MU Vicoba groupsreport that members are primarily usingtheir loans to start small businessesthat benefit their families. For example,Daisy is an MU Vicoba group member inthe Diocese of Masasi. She used a loan tostart a business processing flour. Fromthe profit of her flour business, she wasable to start two further income streams– making and selling soap and coconutoil. With Daisy’s increased income, she isable to support her two children with animproved household diet, paying schoolfees and buying school materials.Another MU Vicoba member, Helen, fromthe Anglican Cathedral in Zanzibar, tooka loan from her group and used it to digRejoice and reflecta shallow well in her home, enabling herfamily to simultaneously access freshwater and to start two small businesses– fattening livestock and irrigating shortcycle vegetable crops that she sells inthe market. Helen and her MU Vicobagroup have used the additional incomefrom their businesses to access nationalhealth insurance for each group memberand their families. Now, Helen can alwaysafford to take her children to the clinicwhen they fall ill.Daisy and Helen are just two examples ofthe many MU Vicoba members that havestarted businesses, which support theirfamilies.1-2 January 2021Friday 1stIf this is to be a Happy New Year, a year of usefulness, a year in which we shall live to makethis earth better, it is because God will direct our pathway. How important then, to feel ourdependence upon Him! Matthew Simpson, 1811-1884Saturday 2ndLoving Lord, as we take the first steps along the path of this new year, we rejoice in the factthat you will be our constant companion through the ups and downs of all that lies ahead.We rejoice in your promise to never leave or forsake us.Wave of Prayer1-3 January: All Mothers’ Union trustees and staff throughout the world7