A 'Fairy Liquid' advert in a Bob the Builder Mag

Mothers’ Union are working on their commericalisation of childhood campaign (see below for more information) and will soon be producing a resource to help families understand and navigate the commercialisation of childhood. But they want the practical experiences of the impact advertising has on the children in your family, and how you handle them, so that they’re not just spouting theory, but offering practical, lived out ideas that work and will help stop others feeling overwhelmed by the impact of the commercial world!

So what are your

• top tips for dealing (in a practical way) with the influence of marketing and advertising on the children in your family; and/or
• Scenarios when you or the children in your family are particularly influenced by marketing or advertising?

Mothers’ Union are looking for ideas to be submitted by the end of July. If you use the ‘comment’ facility on this blog, all ideas will be passed to our Social Policy Unit at Mothers’ Union.

If you want some ideas about what other people have said before submitting your own, read the comments on the blog of one of our Mothers’ Union members here. But please remember, we want your ideas most of all.

Background:

Helen Goodman, MP, authored a Charter about commercialisation of childhood 3 years ago, but the campaign is ongoing. The points raised in this charter are familiar to all Mothers’ Union supporters who have used the Media Awareness material in the past, and the issues are as urgent as ever. For example, the need to provide support to parents, carers and teachers and accessible resources to help them understand the impact of commercialisation on children and suggest ways they can offset it, for example ways of helping children understand the media (Item 1.5 in the Charter).

To view a summary of the recommendations and a call to sign up to them read http://www.compassonline.org.uk/campaigns/campaign.asp?n=683

Wolvesey in Winchester

If you feel you need to take time-out from your normal schedule to sit with God and receive from him, here’s a really good chance for you to do just that.

You would be most welcome to come and share in the next Mothers’ Union Quiet Day to be held at Wolvesey in Winchester on Wednesday 21st July 2010. The day will be led by Revd Norman Boakes, a member of the Discipleship and Ministry Department of the Diocese of Winchester and a supporter of Mothers’ Union. Revd Boakes will be leading the day using the theme “Relationship not Rules”.

The Quiet Day will start at 10am and finish at 3.30pm and will include a Eucharist. Drinks are provided but you are asked to bring your own sandwich lunch. There are a short flight of stairs to the Chapel where the main sessions of the day will be led.

If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please download our QuietDay_July10_BookingForm and return it to us with a £3.00 donation/person. Places are limited to 50 so please book soon to avoid disappointment. A map is available here: Winchester – Wolvesey

Some people pray occasionally, some in emergencies, some daily, some frequently each day. Everyone is different, but some patterns of prayer bind groups of people together.

Mothers’ Union supporters have a pattern of prayer which makes them stop whatever work or meetings they may be undertaking together at mid-day, and they then prayerfully reflect on their work, on their part in a worldwide organisation, on a particular group of members around the world (using something called the Mothers’ Union ‘Wave of Prayer’) and on the needs of those they know.

Mothers’ Union supporters who want to share in prayer over the next couple of months, might like to use the following downloadable notes to give them a little guidance and direction. You are welcome to share with us by using them as well.

MUMiddayPrayers-May2010

MUMiddayPrayers-June2010

“Politics is the art of living together in community and that is precisely what the Bible is about” says the Mothers’ Union guide to the General Election: “New Vision – New Future”

The 17-page document outlines the policies of the political parties that relate to the Mothers’ Union aims and objectives on marriage and relationships, family life, work/life balance, commercialisation of childhood, gender equality and international development. It also

• urges us to support the Sanctuary Pledge Campaign which calls for the eradication of child detention in the UK – Mothers’ Union is an official partner of this campaign but it needs our individual support as well;
• information on how to make sure we are registered as a voter;
• information about how to get involved in hustings and organise discussion groups;
• biblical references about areas of concern that will help us pray and study as we decide how to caste our vote;
• prayers and a General Election Litany.

Effective prayer should be informed prayer.
Effective voting should be informed voting.
The choice is ours but the example is Christ’s.

The Christian Calendar is now moving into Lent as we mark Ash Wednesday on 16th February 2010. Christian tradition encourages us to examine ourselves honestly, acknowledge our shortcomings, and seek reconciliation with God and with each other where we have compromised our relationships. Mothers’ Union has produced some material for Lent:

Lent-Easter-Meditations2010

As part of this years Mothers’ Union theme “Relationships not Rules” there is also the following prompt to our Lenten thoughts and helps us to turn them to actions: RnotR2010-LentColourChart

Many Mothers’ Union groups like to mark 25th March (known either as “Lady Day” or the “Annunciation of our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary”) with a special service.

At the annunciation, Mary made a free choice to be the bearer of a child who would bring freedom to the entire world. Traditionally, the church has characterised Mary as silent and passive, but in fact, she is a major spokesperson for those who are oppressed. In the Magnificat, Mary tells us that justice is at the heart of the Christian message. She rejoices because of the freedom God offers in lifting the humble high.

This theme was reflected in the Lady Day service written in 2007 which can still be used by groups as the theme reflects the work of Mothers’ Union members as they seek to bring forward justice for families through prayer, projects, and speak out where government policies affect marriage and family life. You can download it here: Lady_Day_Service_2007

Mothers’ Union believes strongly that marriage provides couples, and children of the couple, with the best foundation for a happy, stable family life, and that it follows that stable families provide a positive bedrock for all of us in society.

In 2002 Mothers’ Union produced a service that could be used in churches who wish to celebrate National Marriage Week: Marriage Week Service You are welcome to download and use the material.

At least one such service is being run in the Diocese this Sunday 14th February, at St. Peter’s Yateley (10am) where Lou Scott-Joynt (Trustee of Relate and Mothers’ Union member) will be the guest speaker.

Alongside this Mothers’ Union recognises the difficulties that face marriages, and that relationships do break down, causing great distress to all those affected. It therefore seeks to recognise the issues involved, works to provide people with mechanisms to help relationships under stress, and heal the wounds that are left behind.

If you want to read more information about Mothers’ Union support for marriage and family life please look at our central website: Mothers’ Union Marriage Week 2010

The theme Relationship not Rules embraces this turning point in roles, experience and gifts, and gives us an opportunity to celebrate the relationships we have, and are continuing, to build. 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.

Mothers’ Union’s vision is to see a world where God’s love is shown through loving, respectful, and flourishing relationships. To do this, we have a set of beliefs based on the value of relationships, and the example Jesus set us in living out our faith through our relationships. More background information about the theme is available to Mothers’ Union members on the central website: Theme for 2010

There is a wealth of material available by following that link, but since this theme has significance for everyone and should have uses outside Mothers’ Union groups, some of the material is available here. Click on the links to download information and inspiration for prayer, small group work, bible study and other activities in your family and community. (We’ve used the file name RnotR2010 as shorthand for Relationships Not Rules in 2010.

RnotR2010-IntroductoryRationale An introduction to the theme RelationshipsNotRules and the material available for you to use.

RnotR2010-Blessings_Challenges_Chart A simple sheet for individuals to use to reflect on the relationships in their lives, the challenges and blessings they are bringing. A few questions will help you realise that you don’t have to face the challenges alone, and may identify where you can seek help and support. We were designed for relationship, not for acting alone.

RnotR2010-GroupMeditation_John15 A group meditation centred around a shared meal or refreshments and based on a study of Jesus’ command to love each other.

RnotR2010-BibleStudy_John8 A Bible study suitable for individuals or groups, based on Jesus’ words and actions when a group of Pharisees brought a woman to him who had been caught in adultery.

RnotR2010_Prayers A large selection of prayers and reflections relating to the theme that can be used in worship or private prayer.

RnotR2010- RulesandLawsinBible_and_Mothers’_ Union Material that makes a great resource for a local group of Mothers’ Union members to explore both the Bible and the way they approach their membership of Mothers’ Union.

RnotR2010_service – a full order of service with liturgy and readings designed to help people reflect on their relationships in the light of Biblical teaching.

A map of Uganda showing the location of Kitgum and Muhabura

Every family is formed by a network of relationships where some members have particularly close relationships, and the same is true of the Mothers’ Union family; each diocese which has Mothers’ Union members is linked closely with a small group of other Mothers’ Union diocese around the globe, so that they get to know each other particularly well. They can they pray for each other, and if appropriate support each other in more practical ways, and occasionally with visits. Each small group of diocese are also at the centre of the daily prayers of all members for a few days each year, forming what we call our ‘Wave of Prayer’.

Mothers’ Union members in the Diocese of Winchester are linked in this way with fellow members in Kitgum (Northern Uganda), Muhabura (South Western Uganda), Masasi (Southern Tanzania) and Kajo-Keji (Southern Sudan). Together we are at the centre of the ‘Wave of Prayer’ from 21st – 25th January each year.

During that week Mothers’ Union groups in churches across the Diocese of Winchester will be meeting to pray for members in their partner Diocese. An order of service that can be used for these prayers can be downloaded by clicking on this link: MUWinchester_WaveOfPrayerService2010

There are several things to remember if you are arranging such a service this year:

• We are just entering a new triennial of leadership in the Mothers’ Union, but being early in January much updated information is not yet available to us especially regarding the names of leaders and workers. The most up to date information we have on countries is available by following the links attached to the place names above, and by looking at a copies of ‘Families Worldwide’ which will have featured them over the last few months.
• Historically we also have a link with Algoma in Canada which is why they are mentioned in the service sheet, but recently there has been no information as to whether there are any Mothers’ Union members active there.

On Monday 11th January, Archbishop Deng from the Episcopal Church of Sudan and Archbishop Rowan Williams will be meeting with PM Gordon Brown to discuss the ongoing necessity for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Sudan. Kajo-Keji is in Southern Sudan and directly affected the peace agreement and the forthcoming elections this April and a crucial referendum in January 2011. There will be a statement later that day which will try and feature on this website and the situation and information should help inform our prayers for the Diocese of Kajo-Keji.

In the next couple of weeks we will also seek updated information about situations in our other link Diocese and feature them on this website, so please visit us regularly to keep up to date.

But we all know that a bit of Christmas Shopping is also required this month so how about this tip to raise money for Mothers’ Union at the same time. If you make your purchases online it might be worth trying this link:

A large number of major retailers including Mothercare, M&S, Thorntons, Waterstones and HMV will donate between 5% and 12% to Mothers’ Union when you make a purchase online. Start shopping at: www.buy.at/mothersunion

During the next few weeks, you may like to make use of the reflections and prayers attached here: MU_Advent_Reflections_Prayers09 in either your personal quiet times with God, in small groups or corporate worship.