The Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, met with members of the Mothers Union at St Barnabas Anglican Church, Osu, this morning. In a time of conversation and prayer, Archbishop Sarah heard about the work of the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Accra and across the Church of Ghana, and blessed and encouraged them in their ministry.
Read the Archbishop’s address:
The Lord be with you! It is an absolute joy to be with you this morning. I have had such a wonderful welcome coming to Ghana. It feels as though I am at home. However, it is only when I come and meet you, the Mothers’ Union, that I know I am at home. Alleluia!
We have had wonderful Bible readings for the time that I have been here, we have been talking about what is the Kingdom of Heaven like. What is the Kingdom of Heaven like? It is like a mustard seed. Alleluia! It is like a pearl. Alleluia! It is like treasure buried in a field that somebody gave up everything they had to own it. Alleluia!
And it is for me, the Mothers’ Union is a bit like that, the mustard seed. Now you will know that in the time the gospels were written, the mustard seed did two things. The first thing it did was get in all the cracks and it went everywhere. Everywhere. The second thing it had the ability to grow into a large tree, strong tree. And in that tree, all the birds of the field had their homes. The Mothers’ Union is like the Kingdom of God, it is like the mustard seed – you get everywhere! Alleluia!
And also, you are like that tree that grows strong, that enables every bird of the earth to be gathered in. Alleluia!
We have heard this morning that your work is critical, not just to the Anglican Communion, not just the church in Ghana, but to all communities. That by getting everywhere, by growing into that strong mustard seed, you transform lives. The work that you do, with families, with young people, the work that you do when people are most in need and need your compassion and help, you make a difference. I hope that you know that, that you make a difference. That you have the ability to be that mustard seed in which people can all find homes.
I often say that in the Anglican church, if you want something done, you ask the Mothers' Union!
And I want to say how grateful I am for what you do. You put flesh onto the word. You put flesh onto what it looks like to step forth in Christ's name, to be salt and light in the world. You have the ability for others to encounter the love of God through what you do and I am grateful.
But we need to remember that if the mustard seed wants to grow big and strong, it needs to have deep roots. Make sure that your own roots, the roots of the Mothers' Union here in Ghana, go deep into Christ. Build on him, know that you are loved and saved by Jesus Christ and that enables our tree to grow strong and you to continue you to do you works. And I encourage you, build your roots deep into Christ.
What is the Kingdom of God like? It is like a pearl, that a merchant gives up everything he owns to possess. How to pearls begin? They begin like grit. Mothers' Union, sisters, be like the grit that grows into something wonderful. Be persistent, to speak out when you see that children and young people cannot read and write out, speak out and do something about it. Speak out when you see violence against women and do something about it. Where you see women are disadvantaged, and young men and young girls, speak out and do something about it. Be that persistent grit. Because from that, the Kingdom of God grows. The pearl, that a merchant will give up anything they own to possess. Alleluia!
And we have heard, that life is not always straightforward, that as a Mothers' Union you are going to have to adapt and change. The pressure on our families and on our young people are becoming more not less. And therefore, we have to change. We have heard about the challenges that you face, such as teaching people to read and write and speak English. There are challenges.
When Mary was told by the Angel that she was going to give birth to Jesus, before she responded we are told that she wrestled. From that moment of hearing to the moment of obedience, Mary wrestled. And Mary was only able to say, 'according to your will', because she had heard the words of the Angel, that she was highly faithful and that God was with her. You could only change, you could only face the challenges that will come in front of you, if you hear the words of God, that says you are highly favoured and God is with you.
So this morning, as we celebrate 150 years of the Mothers' Union, as we celebrate 100 years of the Women's Fellowship, let us again hear God's call on each one of us to follow him, to recommit ourselves to the work of the Mothers' Union and our calling. But let us not only hear his call, let us hear his promise, that we are highly favoured. And let us respond like Mary, according to your will. Alleluia!
Let may the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make his face to shine upon you, may the Lord grant you his peace. The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. And the people said, Alleluia!
