MOTHERS’ UNION NOTES
Instead of the Mothers’ Union Annual Meeting held in one location, this year there has been a nationwide tour of the M.U. Roadshow. The multi-media event has visited seven locations and showcased two new resources for members to use. When the meeting was held in one place there was space for about 2000 members. This year about 8,200 seats were available and most had been filled. The venue closest to Dursley was St David’s Hall. Cardiff. Three members from our Branch joined the audience of 1311 from around the West of England.
Mrs Rosemary Kempsell, Worldwide President, introduced the event and began by saying she made no apology for showcasing Mothers’ Union and the best of its work, mostly at grassroots level, worldwide. We heard through talks and interviews and saw on the new DVD “Home” shot on location in Guyana, UK, Melanesia and Uganda how MU workers and members are striving to make homes “a safe haven, a place of refuge, where everyone can truly be themselves”. It was truly inspirational and you will have an opportunity to see the DVD at a future Branch Meeting. I will tell you more about the Roadshow in August’s meeting.
The meeting ended with an informal service when 1311 MU voices rang out in St David’s Hall.
On July 10th because of the inclement weather we met in Jacqui’s house instead of the garden. We began with prayer and a Bible reading. This was followed by an alphabetical music quiz. It was amusing and taxing thinking of songs’ first and second lines beginning with each of the letters of the alphabet. Our recall of popular songs seemed to be those we danced to as “young wives” and not senior MU members! It certainly caused much hilarity.
Tea was delicious and it was lovely to have the opportunity to chat with Skye. We were very well looked after by Jacqui and Ric and I thank them very much for their warm welcome and kind hospitality.
In August we resume our meetings in the Parish Centre and the first one is on Thursday 7th August at 2.30p.m. Mary Sumner Day Picnic is on Saturday 9th August in the Abbey Grounds, Cirencester. The meeting point is at the Bandstand from 3.00p.m. The picnic will end with a short service in the Parish Rooms. Corporate communion is at St Mark’s on 13th August.
Looking to September there is the MU Deanery Flower Festival in St Martin’s N. Nibley. If any one has a photograph of their wedding and is willing to display it please let me have it by the middle of August.
Please remember to save a plant, buy a packet of seeds or something useful for the garden ready for Dursley Deanery’s Winter Garden stall at the “Time for a Holiday” day in the Cathedral on 20th September. More about this event when we meet in August.
Dates for your diary
Thurs 7th Aug Meeting in the Parish Centre at 2-30p.m.
Sat 9th Aug Mary Sumner Day Picnic in the Abbey grounds, Cirencester. Meet at the bandstand from 3-00p.m.
Wed 13th Aug Corporate Communion in St Mark’s at 10-15a.m.
Looking forward to seeing you at the August meeting.
Ann Jackson (Branch Leader)