Team members will be welcoming a full house of families, all of whom are in need of this chance to refresh and rebuild their family life with a holiday by the sea-side. For a broader idea of this important project please follow the link to: Family Holiday

We know from past experience that the week can provide healing, encouragement, strength, new friendships and a new awareness of Christ for many sharing the holiday experience. However, there can also be difficulties, for which and through which they all need God’s protection.

All those not directly involved in the project are encouraged to pray daily through the week for its success. There are suggestions below for specific prayer for each day, but please do remember to hold the team, particularly the co-leaders Helen and Ernie, constantly in your prayers. In particular be aware that at the last minute the holiday’s chaplain has been unable to attend due the need for an operation, and therefore Ernie will be fulfilling the role of both Team Leader and Chaplain!

Prayers for the Family Holiday 2009:

Sat 15th Aug  – pray for the safe arrival of team and Guests, the B-B-Q
Sun 16th Aug – pray for the Welcome Service, for the parents that they may find time to relax, for the sandcastle competition
Mon 17th Aug – pray for the team and children working together in Groups
Tues 18th Aug – pray for the Fun Afternoon and for Visitors’ Day
Wed 19th Aug – pray for the Outing
Thur 20th Aug – pray for new found friends and fellowship
Fri 21st Aug – pray for the Talent Night
Sat 22nd Aug – pray for farewells and safe journeys home

Thank you – in anticipation. God Bless.

Mothers' Union relief distribution in Muhabura, Uganda to refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo in February 2009

Members of the Mothers’ Union in the Winchester region will be pleased to know that a new edition of ‘Archway’ is due out at the end of July. It will be distributed at our forthcoming Information Evening, to be held at St. Boniface Church, Chandlers Ford at 6.00pm on Wednesday 22nd July.

Features in the forthcoming issue include:

• news of Relief Fund grants to two of our link diocese, Masasi in Tanzania and Muhabura in southern Uganda, and a visit to the Diocese of Winchester by the Bishop of Muhabura and his wife, Right Revd Cranmer and Mrs Hope Mugisha;
• the announcement of our new Diocesan President for 2010-2012;
• information about this years AFIA Family Holiday on the Isle of Wight, including your prayer diary for the week;
• news from Shyogwe Diocese in Rwanda about Mothers’ Union work there which is supported by members in the Lyndhurst area of this diocese;
• more information about Street Pastors and prison chaplaincy, as previously featured on this website;
• photograph’s from our Mothers’ Union Festival Service in April, with a summary of the address given by Right Revd Michael Scott-Joynt, Bishop of Winchester;
• news of what has been happening among some of your local groups, including some fantastic picnic photographs from Ringwood and Odiham as they celebrated National Family Week in May.

If you live in the region covered by the Diocese of Winchester, and think all this sounds interesting, but you are not a member of Mothers’ Union, please take time to read more about us on this website, and then contact us if you would like to become a member.

Our Family Holiday 'puddleduck' mascot dressed for the 2008 "Olympic" theme!

The theme set for activities at our AFIA Family Holiday week on the Isle of Wight this year is “Heroes”. Events, competitions, and dressing up will all be focused on this theme during the course of the week.

The holiday team are now collecting toiletries to be provided for people’s rooms and small gifts which can be used as prizes for the competitions. The gifts can be suitable for adults or children, but they must not include bottles or chocolates.

AFIA stands for ‘Away From It All’ and the Mothers’ Union Family Holiday aims to do just that; give families who would otherwise not receive the respite from difficult circumstances which they need, a weeks holiday! The Family Holiday takes place on the Isle of Wight, this year between 15th and 22nd August, and forms our largest Diocesan-wide project. More information about our Family Holiday project is available on this website via the ‘Projects’ link at the very top of the page (shortly).

If you wish to contribute to the teams’ request for toiletries or gifts, they can be delivered at either of our Diocesan Meetings over the next few months;

• 31st March, Crosfield Hall, Romsey (10am – 2.30pm)
• 22nd July, St. Boniface Church, Chandlers Ford (6-9pm)