Service of Thanksgiving
In 2015 we celebrate 100 years since the laying of the foundation stone
for Mary Sumner House. In August two Open Days were held at Mary
Sumner House during which there was an act of rededication of the
House and a reaffirmation of our Mothers’ Union membership.
The worship from these days can be used and adapted for Mary Sumner
Day and for other occasions for thanksgiving through the year.
Call to worship
The plans of the Lord stand firm,
the purposes of his heart through all generations
Psalm 33:11
God of history and eternity,
Lord of every generation,
we come to worship with glad and thankful hearts.
Let us praise his name together. Amen
Opening hymn: The Church’s one foundation
The Church's one foundation
is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the Word.
From heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.
Elect from every nation,
yet one o'er all the earth;
her charter of salvation,
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses,
partakes one holy food,
and to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued.
Yet she on earth hath union
with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
like them, the meek and lowly,
on high may dwell with thee.
Samuel Wesley, 1810-1876
Opening prayers
Lord, as we thank you for your goodness
we pray for the many across the world
who have never visited the House
and yet they call it home.
We gaze back down the century
with gratitude to all from near and far
who willingly gave from their means
to turn vision into reality.
We reflect on all that this structure
has held throughout the years.
The laughter and joy, discussions and plans;
challenges faced and problems shared;
those who have visited, worked and prayed.
God of every generation,
help us, in our time, to continue the work
for which this House was built.
To gladly share the love of Christ
and to build God’s Kingdom on earth.
Amen
New Testament Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-7
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and
precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus
Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.
But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Rededication of Mothers’ Union membership
Lord, you have been our dwelling-place
throughout all generations.
May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us –
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:1, 17
God of the past, the present, and the future,
today we have gathered to celebrate and to rejoice:
to give thanks for all the years of service achieved
through the building of Mary Sumner House;
and to rededicate and reaffirm ourselves to your
purposes for Mothers’ Union; for your praise and glory.
Amen
As members of Mothers’ Union:
We pray that we will continue to be a people
who honour and worship your name.
Lord, may it be done according to your goodness and grace.
We pray that we will continue to be a people
who seek and follow your will.
Lord, may it be done according to your goodness and grace.
We pray that we will continue to be a people
who reach out to the world with your love.
Lord, may it be done according to your goodness and grace.
God of the past, the present, and the future,
we rededicate and reaffirm ourselves to your service.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
Lord, may it be done according to your goodness and grace.
Amen
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
Thanksgiving prayers
As we thank God for his provision of Mary Sumner House, so we also give thanks for
the work carried out within its walls, on behalf of Mothers’ Union throughout the
world.
We pause to reflect on Mary Sumner House
We give thanks for our facilities and conference rooms;
our chapel as a welcome place of prayer,
and for the daily care of our building.
We pause to reflect on our Action & Outreach Unit
We give thanks for our grassroots empowerment;
for diversity in projects and programmes;
practical help and emergency relief.
We pause to reflect on our Finance & Central Services Unit
We give thanks for wise stewardship of our finances;
efficient administration of resources and staff support;
for information sharing and distribution.
We pause to reflect on our Fundraising & Communications Unit
We give thanks for encouraging membership growth;
for efficient technology, challenging the media and
increasing funds to support our mission around the world.
We pause to reflect on our MU enterprises company
We give thanks for creativity in design;
income from trading and for membership sharing
through Families First and Families Worldwide magazines.
We pause to reflect on our Faith & Policy Unit
We give thanks for our faith and worship resources;
for the centrality of prayer in all we do.
We give thanks for our campaigns and policy work
to challenge social injustices with a clear voice.
We pause to reflect on our members and staff
We give thanks for our members and staff;
for our enthusiasm and commitment;
and for all that we do in God’s name to spread the Gospel.
May we continue to enrich family life
for future generations.
Amen
Closing hymn: Lord for the years
Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,
urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided:
Lord for the years, we bring our thanks today.
Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us,
speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,
teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us:
Lord of the word, receive your people's praise.
Lord, for our world where men disown and doubt you,
loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain,
hungry and helpless, lost indeed without you:
Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.
Lord for ourselves; in living power remake usself on the cross, and Christ upon the throne,
past put behind us, for the future take us:
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.
Timothy Dudley-Smith
Final blessing
All praise be to God, by whose power
the vision for this House became reality;
whose faithfulness has led us through the years
and whose Spirit inspires for what lies ahead.
Like living stones, precious in his sight,
go in peace to proclaim his mighty acts.
Thanks be to God.
Amen