The schools are closed for summer, and families are hopefully looking forward to a good break from their normal routines. For some families, this is only possible with support from others.

For many years we have provided a week ‘Away From It All’ for a group [...]]]>

‘AFIA’ Family Holiday Week

13th-20th August 2011

The schools are closed for summer, and families are hopefully looking forward to a good break from their normal routines. For some families, this is only possible with support from others.

For many years we have provided a week ‘Away From It All’ for a group of families, at a houseparty, hosted by a team of Mothers’ Union members and supporters who provide a range of activities and services.

With August nearly here, this years team are enthused and ready for their week with guest families that have been referred by Mothers’ Union members, Home-Start, local medical centres and clergy.

This year there is the added excitement of a new venue. Pilgrim Hall in East Sussex is a Christian Conference/Holiday Centre set in 12 acres with many on-site activities which will hopefully prove a real benefit to team and guests. We have approximately 19 guest families who will be able to have a wonderful time together in this relaxing environment.

The prayers of Mothers’ Union members and the team, underpins all aspects of our AFIA Family Holiday from the administration, to those raising money, through those providing small prizes and toiletries and those who come forward as team members and so, knowing just how prayerful Mothers’ Union members and supporters are, we would ask that you include the following in your prayers over the next few weeks:

Prayers pre-Holiday

Between now and when the holiday starts, please pray for all those involved in leading the holiday, particularly co-Leaders and for the Chaplain and other team members who are joining the project for the first time this year. Please also pray for the planning of children’s groups, quizzes, games night and other evening activities. Most importantly please pray for the guest families, that they will overcome any fear and apprehension they feel before coming, and be able to enjoy the welcome, friendship and ‘tlc’ they will find when they’ve got there.

Prayers during the holiday week

13th Saturday - for the new venue Pilgrims Hall in East Sussex and for the safe arrival of all the team and guests.

14th Sunday - for the Welcome Service, for the whole event that families will spend time meeting old friends and making new ones in the lovely house and grounds.

15th Monday - for the team and children working together in groups throughout the week.

16th Tuesday - for the fun afternoon and for visitors’day

17th Wednesday - for the teenagers and their leaders that they will enjoy new experiences and shared activities, whether on or off-site.

18th Thursday - for good weather and safe travel for the outing.

19th Friday - for the ‘Show and Tell’ Thanksgiving Service and the final evening gathering.

20th Saturday - that the guests leave feeling rested and more positive about the future, for farewells and safe journeys home.

Pilgrim Hall in East Sussex is a Christian Conference Centre with exciting facilities that will give all those who need a vital break from difficult circumstances, a fun and restful weeks holiday.

Full details of what [...]]]> We are delighted to announce that we have a new venue for our Family Holiday Project in 2011.

Pilgrim Hall in East Sussex is a Christian Conference Centre with exciting facilities that will give all those who need a vital break from difficult circumstances, a fun and restful weeks holiday.

Full details of what the Family Holiday includes are here, and you can click on the link to find out more about the facilities at Pilgrim Hall.

The Mothers’ Union Family Holiday will be running between
13th and 20th August 2011.

If you think you know of a family who could benefit from the Mothers’ Union Family Holiday, and they live in the area covered by the mainland parts of the Diocese of Winchester (North Hampshire down to Southampton and stretching West into parts of Bournemouth), please

• Contact us in confidence to obtain the relevant application forms;
• Identify through us, or your local Anglican church, a Mothers’ Union group and contact who will help the family complete the application form, raise money and possibly keep in touch after the holiday;
• If possible, make a donation to, or arrange a fund-raising event for our Family Holiday fund;
• Pray for the family, and ask others to do the same.

(St Leonards is between Ringwood and [...]]]> If you want to explore what Mothers’ Union is doing in contemporary family life here in the UK, then attending our forthcoming information day would be a great place for you to go:

LET’S TALK!

Monday 25th October 10am – 2.30pm
St Leonards & St Ives Village Hall

(St Leonards is between Ringwood and Bournemouth – for map click on link above)

Our Keynote Speaker is from the publications department of Mothers’ Union:

Catherine Butcher
Editor of ‘Families First’ Magazine

Other information available will include:

DVD presentation about the Mothers’ Union Bye Buy Childhood Campaign
Updates on Mothers’ Union projects across the Diocese including a new project supporting the families of those serving in our Armed Forces
Distribution of the latest edition of our regional newsletter ‘Archway’

All are welcome
Coffee is available from 9.30am, but you are asked to bring a packed lunch

If you are interested in discovering why or how you can talk about your passion for Mothers’ Union campaigns on social policy and international family issues using your social networking contacts, read a report from the recent Mothers’ Union conference here

At 10.30am on Monday 9th August , a small group of members gathered at the grave of [...]]]> As the Anglican calendar remembered Mary Sumner, the founder of the Mothers’ Union, members and supporters across the Diocese of Winchester were actively living out her desire to support family life, in a whole variety of ways.

At 10.30am on Monday 9th August , a small group of members gathered at the grave of Mary Sumner, to laid flowers in her memory. Mary Sumner, is buried with her husband Bishop George Sumner, in The Close where they spent the latter part of their lives, at Winchester Cathedral.

A larger group then gathered the same day for prayer, worship and study at Old Alresford, where Mary Sumner founded Mothers’ Union in 1876. In the very room where the first meeting was held, the current Diocesan President of Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester, led approximately 30 supporters through some material that focused on the Mothers’ Union theme for this year ‘Relationship Not Rules’.

Mean while, many more Mothers’ Union members and supporters were hard at work around the Diocese prepararing for two special events taking place over the next fortnight.

The members who had gathered in Old Alresford Place had brought with them nearly 50 cakes to help members from Odiham Deanery provide free tea, coffee and cake to the families of RAF personnel at RAF Odiham’s Family Day on Wednesday 11th August. These were collected up and will be added to by many others in the area, in time to help say ‘thank you’ to RAF families who spend months at a stretch with their loved ones away from home, serving primarily in Afganistan.

A press release for this event is available here: RAF Families Day Press Release

Other Mothers’ Union supporters were putting the finishing touches to arrangements for the Mothers’ Union AFIA Family Holiday, held again this year on the Isle of Wight. This starts on Saturday 14th August and will provide nearly a hundred people with a seaside holiday with their family that they would not otherwise be able to have. A prayer calender for those wishing to support this major project during the week it happens will be available on this website as the holiday starts.

Team members will be welcoming a full house of families, all of whom are in need of this chance to refresh and rebuild their [...]]]> Starting on Saturday 15th August for a week, our biggest Diocesan project will be digging sandcastles, painting faces, watching the sunset and generally having fun on the Isle of Wight.

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.

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 [...]]]>

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.

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 [...]]]>

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)