Make a Mother's Day 2010
The Mothers’ Union is again running an ethical gift campaign for Mothering Sunday, which this year will be held on Sunday 14th March.
At a time when economic hardship is being felt all over the world, it is important for us to remember those in the poorest countries who literally face a daily struggle for survival. Extreme poverty combined with issues such as rising food prices and the effects of climate change cause hardship which is almost impossible for us to imagine. Like many charities, Mothers’ Union is facing the challenge of meeting even greater needs whilst income levels are falling. Therefore our fundraising campaign is more important than ever.
In 2009 a staggering £187,000 was raised through this campaign, funding life-changing development work around the world. Each make a mother’s day gift enables the Mothers’ Union to improve the lives of mothers and carers, and through them families and communities.
This year, there are 14 ethical gifts to choose from ranging in price from £7 to £168. In addition to your own individual purchase, perhaps your Branch or church group might wish to consider raising funds for one of the more expensive gifts. Whatever gift you choose, you can be sure that your purchase will be helping to make a difference to families in need around the world.
Further details are available on the campaign website – www.makeamothersday.org
Worldwide Council Meeting
A meeting of the MU Worldwide Council took place in February. This included a Eucharist and Commissioning Service on 12th February at which Bishop Ken Clarke was commissioned as the new MU Central Chaplain and the six Representative Members were also commissioned. The photo below shows Mary Thorpe with Bishop Ken Clarke.
Prayer Requests
We encourage all our members and friends to continue to remember the people of Haiti in their prayers.
O God, our refuge and strength,
we hold before you the nation and people of Haiti,
and pray for healing in the midst of tragedy and devastation.
Give comfort to the homeless, the bereaved and the suffering,
courage to survivors,
wisdom to those who seek to help,
and light to all who live in the shadow of death.
This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ,
our rock and our salvation. Amen Church of England Prayer for Haiti
Please also pray for the people of Melanesia - the area has recently been hit by a tsunami from a separate earthquake - and for Sri Lanka following their Presidential Elections.
Commissioning Service - 23rd January 2010 We were delighted to see so many of our members and friends at the Festival Service in which Carolyn was reaffirmed as President and our Trustees were commissioned for 2010-2012.
Mothers' Union theme for 2010 - Relationship not Rules
By focusing on our diverse relationships rather than the rules with which our societies are governed and structured, we are making a clear statement about how we value relationships in the Mothers’ Union. With this in mind we go forward in strength together and not in isolation. More information and downloadable resources are available here.
Mary Sumner's Secret Weapon
Article published in the Church Times, 20th November 2009
The Mothers' Union has long been a neglected asset, argues Cordelia Moyse. In the middle of what the Archbishop of Canterbury calls "a fractious and suspicious ecclesial environment", one does well to consider the Mothers' Union. Since its creation by Mary Sumner in 1876, the Mothers' Union has provided Anglicanism with a great cloud of witnesses ... In seeking to renew Anglican identity at a time of crisis and conflict, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York are looking to engage the Mothers' Union in ways not seen for decades. More ...