Faith in action: Persevere when you pray and be close to God, says Catherine Kyte

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, once said of Mothers’ Union: ‘The Mothers’ Union campaigns excellently, it nurtures wonderfully, but above all and beneath all, it prays – thank God’.

And he’s absolutely right – we do! Everything we undertake in the name of Mothers’ Union; our projects and initiatives, our campaigning for social justice, our care for one another, all are built on a foundation of prayer. And once up and running, are supported by an ongoing reliance on prayer.

So far so true! But if we’re honest, many of us would admit to finding it hard to always know what to pray and to know how to pray, whether in our own personal times or with others. When we read in the Bible directions such as pray continually, or pray and don’t give up we can sometimes see this as an impossibility rather than an inspiration! It’s not that we don’t believe in the power of prayer or the willingness of God to answer, it’s just that the actual mechanics of engaging meaningfully in the process can often prove to be a challenge. Or am I the only one who has surreptitiously looked at my watch during a time of prayer, finding to my dismay that only five minutes have gone and I can’t think of one more thing to say?

Of course, we all know people who seem to have a real gift of praying and whose prayers are inspiring and effective – and I’ve met many of you through my work with Mothers’ Union. But God values every faltering attempt as much as the articulate offerings of the gifted.

So the aim behind Praying with Purpose is to make it as easy as possible for everyone to naturally engage in prayer, and to find it encouraging and meaningful. It does this by offering different ways for both groups and individuals at home to create a prayer time which is accessible and enjoyable.

Praying with Purpose consists of a number of resources which you can use to select prayer suggestions to put together a “bespoke” prayer time for a particular need. At the heart of these resources are templates for prayer times into which you can incorporate your chosen ideas. These follow a pattern, which starts by building faith, giving thanks for answered prayer, intercession for

Sometimes praying can be really hard, but God appreciates all our efforts, says Catherine Kyte

DON’T BE LOST FOR WORDS

God values every faltering “ attempt as much as the articulate offerings of the gifted

current needs and ends with blessing. The emphasis is on variety in praying so that everyone who participates can feel both comfortable and inspired to pray!

At the beginning of the prayer time, there’s opportunity to encourage each other with Bible verses and quotes about prayer as you get ready to bring your specific prayers to God. (I especially like the quote from Martin Luther who said that prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness).

The next step makes space to share any answers to prayer from previous times, and new and ongoing prayer needs. If you’re praying for a project or initiative, it’s good for those involved in it to provide up to date information, especially if they’re not able to join you for prayer. Keep a note of answered prayers and you’ll have the joy of seeing the list grow over the weeks.

Step three is where you get down to actually praying for specific needs of the moment. Here we’ve given a number of creative ideas for intercessions. For example, you could write prayers for your community initiatives or concerns on post-it notes and stick them on a map of your local area. If possible, display the map as a reminder to pray – and as a prayer is answered you could replace the post-it note prayer with a prayer of thanks. If you use different colour notes for requests and answers, the reasons for thanks will be even more noticeable!

To end the prayer time there are some examples of Biblical blessings to choose from (or use your own), which you could expand to reflect the specific work or situation you’ve been praying for.

Another prayer template in the resources is based on the Lord’s Prayer. It seems particularly apt to use the answer Jesus gave to the disciples’ plea for him to teach them how to pray – a plea we still make to him today.

We hope that as groups and individuals become comfortable to pray in these ways, and experience answers to their prayers, faith and confidence to pray will flourish. Also that you will feel free to adapt the resources provided and to use your own prayer ideas. Praying with Purpose is intended to be a “living” resource; growing and changing as new ideas from those who use it are included.

A prayer insert is free with this edition of Connected, and you can find the Praying with Purpose resources on the Mothers’ Union website: www.mothersunion.org/ praying-with-purpose

CREATING A COMMUNITY OF WALKING FRIENDS

The wellbeing benefits of the countryside are no secret, and Redmarley member Becky Phillips wants to make sure they are available for everyone

Country walks have been vital to people’s routines during COVID-19, and that has continued since lockdowns have been eased. Becky Phillips, a member of Mothers’ Union Redmarley branch in north Gloucestershire, is keen to bring the benefits of communing with nature in the Herefordshire borders to more than her immediate circle.

Taking shape

Becky was inspired by Mothers’ Union’s series of webinars in autumn 2020. ‘We asked people what they were concerned about – worry about those who were lonely and isolated came up frequently,’ Becky said. A walking group idea took shape, but Becky and her fellow members decided emphasising companionship and the pleasure of the walk was less daunting than asking participants to join because of isolation or loneliness.

Becky, who has been a Mothers’ Union member for two years, and is a part-time archivist at Gloucester Cathedral, said: ‘We are hoping to grow the walks in a pyramid format – two or three Mothers’ Union members trying out a walk, and then asking a friend or two to join. Then they invite a friend, the friends invite another friend, and so on. That makes it more personal.’

Becky joined Mothers’ Union after she moved back to rural north Gloucestershire, and her mother and grandmother were members. ‘I found such a warm welcome and felt so comfortable, it really worked for me,’ she said. ‘I love the fact that that we start each meeting with worship and Mothers’ Union is overtly Christian, which is important to me.’

“There is a pent up need for community

Grow a community

Becky hopes to appoint walk leaders to try out routes, embrace all age groups and make links with groups like the Ramblers.

‘Some people will want a short stroll and others will prefer a four mile hike through the woods,’ she said. ‘Nature knowledge and interests would be welcome too. Someone could say, ‘let’s go for a walk in the forest and I can show you some gorgeous trees’, or spot different bird species.’

The restrictions of 2020 have left people with a hunger for interaction, Becky said. ‘There is a pent up need for community.’

FINDING PEACE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

Coming together to enjoy nature is important, says Zonal Trustee and Provincial President June Butler

Getting your head showered - as they say in Northern Ireland when talking about a country walk - has always been a bit of compulsion for Mothers’ Union Zonal Trustee and Provincial President June Butler.

Walking is something she has always enjoyed and this year she is putting her interest to good use by doing a sponsored 21kms in each of Ireland’s 12 dioceses. ‘Over three days I will walk three lots of 7kms in different parts of the diocese,’ said June, who lives in Saintfield, County Down. June, a former civil servant, who during her career, organised elections in Northern Ireland, frequently walks with friends and fellow MU members, or on her own.

June enjoys the Antrim coast near Giant’s Causeway, Portballintrae and Bushmills, and she cites the Portrush to Portstewart area, including Whiterocks beach, as particular favourites.

The Mountains of Mourne are also a treasured spot, but June also confesses to adoring city walks. She attended the United Nations as an observer for Mothers’ Union in 2017 and 2019, and walked extensively in New York at the weekends during her visit.

Rambling became a special solace during the pandemic, and like many people, June will keep that up once restrictions become less rigorous.

In summer 2020, one of the winning poems in the All-Ireland Mothers’ Union competition celebrated getting away from the hurly burly and finding peace in the countryside.

June will be walking 21kms in “each diocese in Ireland in 2021

‘My dream is that we can get to the point where we are reaching out to the parents at the school gate, and we would be able to say we have got a pushchair friendly walk that they can join. We can let it evolve and we will be open to everyone.’ To join in the Walk and Talk, contact Becky via communications@mothersunion.org

DISLOCATION

I walk unyielding pavements by the roads past nature clipped, pruned, mown, confined by hedges, fences, walls and wire past soaring trees with tarmac round their roots their seeds adrift on stony ground.

I think about a dark brown path soft underfoot that leads me up the hill through lush wild woods the brackish ponds the smell of green all round the sun that spotlights curling ferns through leafy gaps in beech and thorn and then legs aching breathing short the top is reached, the fallen tree its roots exposed, the bench nearby and there the open country stretched away and Strangford gleaming in the mist-filled light.

A car goes roaring past too fast exhaust fumes linger, air is stale I turn for home on dusty paths.

Valerie Reilly, Belfast Cathedral MU, Connor