The gift of free tea, coffee, squash and cake, grew out of a desire by local Mothers’ Union members to [...]]]> On Wednesday 11^th August at RAF Odiham’s Family Day, Mothers’ Union members from across the Diocese of Winchester distributed free drinks and homemade cake to the family members of serving personnel at the base.

The gift of free tea, coffee, squash and cake, grew out of a desire by local Mothers’ Union members to show their appreciation for everything the RAF gives our country, and the sacrifices made by its personnel and their families as they serve tours of duty overseas.

The event attracted more than 2000 people to share in all sorts of family activities and events, including a flying display featuring the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Home made cakes were the big feature of this feeding of thousands. Thanks to the generosity of many people in local Anglican churches around Odiham, Hartley Wintney and Yateley, and Mothers’ Union supporters from across the Diocese of Winchester, these were given away free, with absolutely no charge or donations to the charity being taken.

Venerable Ray Pentland, RAF Chaplain-in-Chief receiving a free copy of 'Families First' (the magazine resourcing family life published by Mothers' Union) accompanied by Revd Colin Weir, Padre RAF Odiham

18 Mothers’ Union members were able to help serve at this event, but many more had been involved in baking the cakes. Over the previous two days, approximately 100 additional full sized cakes had been collected from as far afield as Southampton, Brockenhurst and Winchester as Mothers’ Union supporters in different parishes had responded with great willingness to this chance to show their appreciation to a sector of the armed services.

1000s of pieces of cake were given away (we ran out of our 1500 paper plates and distributed the rest on platters and paper napkins), 1500 hot drinks were served, and litres of soft drink concentrate were used. Mothers’ Union members were also able to give away 250 free copies of ‘Families First’, the magazine that aims at encouraging stong marriages, good parenting, and an active faith – produced by Mothers’ Union enterprises. Many expressed their surprise at the generosity being shown, and the quality and variety of the cakes (especially the supply of allergy-free cakes), and the up-to-date, helpful material in the magazine.

After all this, just as in the Biblical story of the feeding of the 5000, there was some food left over. The few remaining cakes have been stored carefully and will be used on the Mothers’ Union Family Holiday, and to provide a welcome to mourners at the funeral of a Royal Marine in Yateley. Both of these events take place next week.

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.

The calendar can be found by [...]]]> Mothers’ Union has been privileged to be included in the Church of England’s online Advent calendar. The initiative, called Why are we waiting?  Has a filmed message for each day in Advent from dioceses and Christian development charities. Mothers’ Union will be the featured charity on 23^rd December.

The calendar can be found by following this link.

http://www.whywearewaiting.com/

This is likely to be the last posting on this website before Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus into a family which faced several strains – not least the pressures on teenage parenthood for Mary and life as refugees. Where-ever you are reading this message, and whatever your circumstances, may your Christmas be blessed by God with peace and joy.

A selection of prayers from the Mothers’ Union, suitable for use on Christmas Day, are available to download here: MU_ChristmasDay_Prayers and the Mothers’ Union Christmas Message is available here: MU_Christmas_Reflection_2009

Aren’t they eye catching?

If you want to help us, help communities all over the world to improve family life, please help us by displaying one of the three [...]]]> Do you have somewhere you could promote Mothers’ Union by putting up and A4 or A3 sized poster that says what it is we do?

Aren’t they eye catching?

If you want to help us, help communities all over the world to improve family life, please help us by displaying one of the three new posters now available. If you lead a local Mothers’ Union group you should already have received news of these new posters, but we’d love to see them springing up all over the place: churches, doctors surgeries, libraries, village halls and community centres – anywhere you can think of.

Supplies cost a nominal sum (usually £1) to cover postage and discourage wastage and are available by contact the Central Services Section of Mothers’ Union head office on 020 7222 5533.