Nov. 2019 Prayer List- English
Click here to: See Prayer List with Pictures and Maps. You can also use an automatic translation tool through this link. It’s the best way to read the List!!
Focus on Women in Ministry
Unity Synod of 1957 approved the ordination of women in the Moravian Church.
I believe in Jesus, who appeared first to Mary Magdalene and sent her to spread the amazing message, “Go and tell the Good News of Resurrection and Salvation to the people.” Verse 9 from A Unity Creed (see Mark 16: 9)
3 Unity provinces (of 24) currently have women as Chair of Provincial Elders: Roberta Hoey of Britain, Elizabeth Miller of North America Northern Province, Phyllis Smith Seymour of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. 2 Mission Provinces (of 5) have women as chairs: Tania Sanchez in Cuba and Sara Jensen in Labrador. Pray for our Unity leaders and the process of electing them.
Pray for our ordained sisters as they face challenges common to many women, but may feel more pressure to serve as models: work-life balance, handling family and ministry. Give them peace to care for themselves as they care for others. Give strength to those facing illness, and endurance and hope to those in difficult situations.
Many ordained sisters provide critical service in congregations but their provinces will not call them unless their husbands are the officially called pastor.
Be with sisters building bridges within the church, between the Moravian Church and other denominations, and to communities outside the church.
Be with sisters building bridges within the church, between the Moravian Church and other denominations, and to communities outside the church.
-Sister Rhoinde Mijnals-Doth in the Netherlands builds bridges with Dutch and Surinamese immigrants.
-Sister Suzanne Parker-Miller leading advocacy programs for justice in NC education.
-Pastor Erdmute Frank in Herrnhut, Germany serves as an outreach minister for guests in Herrnhut and on the Unity Women’s Desk Advisory Board. Pray for her ministries.
-Sister Angelica Regalado serves the Hispanic immigrant community in Winston-Salem, NC. through the Estamos Unidos Ministry (lower left in large group photo further above).
-At the Tricklebee Cafe, Sister Christie Melby-Gibbons (above photo right) serves neighbors in the Sherman Park area of Milwaukee (USA) offering healthy food to those who struggle to pay.
-In England, Sister Claire Maxwell is a pioneer minister in the London area as well as congregation minister. Sister Sandy Smith is hosting a new fellowship in Midsommer Norton. The PEC in Britain requests prayers for ordained women working in many contexts in England & Northern Ireland in Congregational and Pioneer ministry.
-Sister Claudia Mai is the Director of Unity Archives in Herrnhut. Bless this ministry.
Ordained sisters serve as pastoral counselors, deaconesses for the elderly and in hospice care.
Many ordained sisters travel between towns and even continents serving family and the church.
In Suriname, there are currently 15 ordained women in ministry. One works predominantly in education. One is a youth pastor. One is retired. The others serve in congregational ministry. There are also about 40 women working as lay pastors in Suriname, preaching, helping with funeral services, teaching for confirmation, and providing other pastoral services.
In the East West Indies, almost half the ordained pastors are women. They ask for prayers that congregations respect all pastors as servants of the Lord.
In Britain, there are four ordained women, one student pastor and two students in training. There are two female bishops, one in service and one retired from active service. Congregations also rely on six retired ordained sisters. Pray for retired ordained sisters. Bless their continued witness.
In Tanzania, 180 female evangelists and ordained sisters gathered in October for the first Female Pastors’ Conference. Pray for continued opportunities for these women and their ministries.
Remember sisters in many countries who may be discerning their call to service and leadership in the Church. Pray for all sisters who are new in their ministries. Leslie Cox, has accepted a call to serve as pastor of Mayodan Moravian Church, ordained by Bishop Carol Foltz on Sept. 8.
Many women complete their theological studies and must wait a long time for a call and ordination. Give them patience and peace in this time. Open the hearts of provincial leaders and congregations to affirm those called to ordained ministry.
Prayers for all the bishops of the Unity, and especially for our female bishops: Kay Ward and Blair Couch from Northern Province, USA, Carol Foltz from Southern Province, USA, Elizabeth Torkington (Britain) and Sarah Groves (Northern Ireland).
Remember the many lay sisters serving as evangelists, lay pastors, Christian educators, teachers, nurses, and administrators. Remember our sisters in all the provinces that have not mentioned here by name: in Africa, Europe, South Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the Moravian work in Star Mountain, Palestine.
Pray for the synod to be held in Nicaragua in November and for reconciliation and for unity among the sisters of various congregations. Remember our sisters studying theology in Honduras and bless their service to our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember all those studying with UWD scholarships.
The UWD leaders in the Caribbean and Latin American Region are planning a consultation for provincial coordinators in this region, so they can improve communication and work ever more effectively for the sisters in these provinces. Pray for blessings in this endeavor.
Pray for the UWD Advisory Board meeting November 12 to consider scholarship and loan applications and continue planning the Unity Women’s Consultation in North Carolina- Sept 2022.
The UWD is accepting applications for scholarships for North American Provinces for 2020-2024. One scholarship will be awarded to a Northern Province woman and one to a Southern Province woman. Applicants should be high school seniors graduating in spring 2020, active in a Moravian congregation or outreach ministry, committed to service through community or church, highly motivated. Recipients will receive $1000 per year for four years of undergraduate study. Applications will be posted on the Unity Women’s Desk website Dec. 1, 2019 or you can email julie.unitywomen@gmail.com. They will be due Feb. 1, 2020.