Prisons

Mothers’ Union cares for families in many different circumstances. Families who find

themselves with a family member or friend in prison can suffer being ostracised by

association. Visiting a friend or family member in prison can be daunting.

Supported by the Prison Chaplain, Mothers’ Union in the Bristol Diocese are involved in a

project to welcome visitors to HMP Ashfield on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. We offer a

friendly face, a coffee, tea and biscuits and the opportunity to chat if required. Many visitors

have travelled long distances and are very grateful for our welcome.

In addition to welcoming , specially designed and made Easter cards and Christmas cards are

delivered to all prisoners at Ashfield, and a number of blank cards for prisoners to send out

are also included.

October 8 th -14 th is Prisons Week and we are asked to pray for Prison Chaplains, Educators in

prisons, family members of prisoners, and those who work in prisons and we ask for God’s

blessing on all Mothers’ Union prison initiatives, especially here at Ashfield. We pray for

men and women in prison and those in young offenders institutions. Help us to remember,

Loving Lord, that they are all your children and pray that they may be given opportunities

for rehabilitation and assistance to rebuild their lives.

Deuteronomy 31:8 ‘The Lord…will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not

be discouraged.’ May these words encourage all people who have faith and are in prison,

and may they have access to the word of God. Amen

Jacky Fredrickson MU Diocesan President Bristol

Wave Of Prayer

Hello! Our wave of prayer is coming up 7th-9th September. This is the special time in the year that we are prayed for across the world, and we have the opportunity to pray for our sisters and brothers in our link Dioceses across the world too.

You may plan to hold or attend a Wave of Prayer service in your own community, many thanks go to our prayer team, led by Linda Rawlings and Rev Sarah Wyman for preparing this thoughtful act of prayer and worship.

Now if you are not able to attend an in-person service, we are holding a virtual service on Zoom and the link is below. It is right in the middle of our wave of prayer days: Friday 8th September at 11am and everyone is very welcome to join us.

You should have already received the service sheet from either Linda or Sarah who sent these out some while ago. If you would like a copy please contact either of them, or me, and we will be happy to forward one to you. However, it is fine just to tag along without the service sheet if you want to.

I do hope that we get a good collection of people, it will be lovely to see you. The power of this wave of prayer is great as it travels around the world. MSH midday prayers will also be mentioning us through these days.

With my love and prayers

Jacky

Prayer for Mary Sumner Day 2023

God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who sent Your Son into this world to be our saviour and

redeemer, we offer this prayer in His name. We give you Thanks O Lord for the Mothers’ Union, especially this day for our founder, Mary Sumner, whom we remember and commemorate today.

As Mary Mother of Jesus gave birth to Your Son, whose teaching would span the world, Mary Sumner gave birth to more than her own son and daughters, also to the Mothers’ Union spreading not just Your word but practical aid in Your name.

Mary fostered mutual support amongst mothers of her community. Strengthen and guide all those who follow her example today, weather or not they are MU members, providing mutual support to one-another and helping those in need, of any faith or none.

Father, as we are each a part of Your spiritual family, Mary brought practical, emotional and spiritual support to mothers and families of all social groups. Bless the MU today as it upholds this legacy.

The women and men of the MU help in areas of conflict and poverty. They aid literacy and numeracy, so that the impoverished can improve their situations not only through direct aid but by education. Bless the Mothers’ Union as its members seek to touch lives everywhere for You as Mary Sumner did generations ago, more than a lifetime for us, perhaps just a heartbeat for You, our Father.

Jesus tells us of the mustard seed, that grows into a tree. We thank you Lord for tending the seeds of faith that Mary Sumner planted. By Your grace that tiny seed, planted in a village in Hampshire has been nurtured by generations of gardeners, grown strong roots and it’s seeds carried throughout the world to be sown far afield. We pray those who continue to tend and nourish those seeds as they grow and by Your grace, thrive.

Father God, the Mothers Union has been called the church’s secret weapon. We pray that You will give Your soldiers the armament of compassion, the strength of Your word and the protection of shield that cannot be breached, prayer in the name of Your Son.

We ask for Your blessing on the church and all it’s affiliate organisations. We pray for its leaders globally, nationally and locally and for each MU diocesan and branch leader.

The Mothers’ Union was begun with hope for the future. Oh Lord, help us to keep that hope alive in ourselves and bring hope to families who feel they are in hopeless or dangerous situations and places.

Healer and comforter, although we must never forget that true healing comes only from you, let us remember the men and women, like those of the Mothers’, Union who bring comfort and support in Your name wherever You send them.

Father we ask for the healing power of Your love, the comfort of Your grace and the strength of Your Holy Spirit for those known and unknown to us who are in need of your touch through our compassion.

Loving Lord, We thank you for your love so freely given.

Amen.

The Mary Sumner 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.