‘Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son! Endless is the victory Thou o’er death hast won.’
Risen Lord Jesus, your resurrection gives us hope. We see that death has been vanquished through the power of love. In the midst of our daily concerns, we turn to you for help. We know that without you we can do nothing. With you beside us in your risen power, anything is possible. May your holy name be honoured. May our lives reflect your glory. Praise to you who has the victory. Amen.
Give praise to God for the successful meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women last month, attended by more than 4,300 representatives from over 600 civil societies including World Federation, and 170 Member States. Praise God for the commitments made to empower rural women. Thank God for women speaking out to end poverty and all forms of violence and injustice on the basis of gender, addressing issues of hunger and food security, technology, education and health, land ownership and sexual and reproductive rights.
Give praise to God for nations that are taking seriously the need to reduce our use of plastics that pollute the oceans and endanger life. Thank God for new inventions that will replace non-biodegradable plastics and clean up our water. Thank God for the World Day of Prayer service last month that will have raised awareness about ‘the gift of creation’ and raised the finances to support many worthwhile programmes around the world.
Give praise to God for peace-building initiatives in the Korean Peninsular, Sri Lanka, Japan and Israel/Palestine, and for peaceful demonstrations of students in the USA urging changes to gun laws. Thank God for the continuing support of the Thursdays in Black campaign and for opportunities in Latin America and elsewhere to teach men and women about the issue of domestic violence.
Give praise to God for women coming together in Units, Regions and Areas to celebrate that we are ‘Chosen People: Called to Proclaim,’ women like the National United Methodist Women Society of Christian Service in the Philippines holding its biennial assembly on April 4-7 for worship, service and study. Pray for the Methodist Women in Britain, meeting similarly this month to consider issues of justice and fairness.
Give praise to God for women of the Federation who have died and gone to glory with Christ. Thank God for their faithful witness and service since they met with the risen Christ and responded to his call. ‘Endless is the victory (Christ) o’er death has won’.
Pray for those whose daily struggle means they find it hard to praise God – those who are grieving, hungry, homeless, oppressed, and living in fear for their lives. Pray that in Christ’s victory over sin and death they discover new and lasting hope.
Pray that you too will continue to glorify Christ by serving Him.
Amen
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