The Sumner Family with Mary Sumner seated to the left

Mary Sumner is remembered in the Anglican Lectionary as the founder of Mothers’ Union, which started at Old Alresford in the Diocese of Winchester in 1876. There is much more information about her linked to our page here: Mary Sumner

In the companion volume to Common Worship called ‘Exciting Holiness’ the readings set are:

Proverbs 24:3,4,12-14
A responsorial form of and excerpt from Psalm 119
Hebrews 13:1-5
Luke 11:9-13

The collect for Mary Sumner Day is:

Faithful and loving God,
who called Mary Sumner to strive for the renewal of family life:
give us the gift of your Holy Spirit,
that through word, prayer and deed
your family may be strengthened and your people served;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Mary Sumner’s own prayer which she used daily, is an example to us all in whatever ministry we seek to share the gospel:

All this day, O Lord,
let me touch as many lives as possible for thee;
and every life I touch,
do thou by thy spirit quicken,
whether through the word I speak,
the prayer I breathe,
or the life I live.
Amen.

The first is the latest update about Social Policy issues as the Mothers’ Union connects with current reports and issues affecting family life, including parental leave.

Rachel Aston, Head of Social Policy at Mothers’ Union, and speaker at this weeks Mary Sumner Day event at Old Alresford Place, is asking for feedback on the ‘Every Family Matters’ report commissioned by Iain Duncan Smith.

Information on both these issues can be found by clicking on this link: Policy_Watch_August_2009

Rachel Aston will be speaking on the ‘Commercialisation of Childhood’ at Old Alresford Place near Winchester this Sunday 9th August. Follow the link to this previous post for full details and a location map: Mary Sumner Day 2009

There is also news of how Mothers’ Union provided Relief Fund grants in Sudan, DR Congo and Uganda in the wake of violence by the Ugandan based Lords Resistance Army, which has since eased. The Relief Fund grants support the emergency needs of those caught up in natural and man-made disasters, including the current draught conditions in Kenya. More information can be found in this link: Relief_UpdateApril _July_09

Old Alresford Place

Mary Sumner founded Mothers’ Union in Old Alresford in 1876. Each year she is remembered in the Anglican Calendar on 9th August, which this year falls on a Sunday.

To mark the day, the Diocese of Winchester have kindly made available to Mothers’ Union some of the facilities at Old Alresford Place, the rectory in which the first meetings were held. In combination with the neighbouring church of St. Mary’s there will be a series of activities through the afternoon in which you can participate:

12 noon – Service with Communion
St.Mary’s Church, Old Alresford led by the Rector, Revd Phil Collins
(People travelling to this service may use the toilet facilities at the Christy Hall, Old Alresford which is 200 yards along the B3046 behind the Village Green. These will be available from 11.15am until just before the service starts.)

1.00pm – Cheese Ploughman’s Lunch
in Old Alresford Place ( Cost £10.00 – places limited to 40, so please book)
Alternatively people may picnic in the grounds
(or in St. Mary’s Church if wet)

2.00pm – “A Charter for Childhood”
a talk in the Mary Sumner Room by Rachel Aston, Social Policy Officer
at Mary Sumner House (Head Office of Mothers’ Union)
Places are limited to 50, so please book

3.30p.m – Tea and Cake
(£4.00 – booking required please)

A service of Compline will conclude the day in St. Mary’ Church at 4.30pm

A collection will be taken during the day to be shared between the Mothers’ Union AFIA Family Holiday and the refurbishment in memory of Mary Sumner of the South Transept in St. Mary’s, Old Alresford.

To book those parts of the day you wish to take part in, please contact Old Alresford Place on 01962 732518.

Plenty of parking is available opposite the church and at Old Alresford Place – click the link below for a location map
Old Alresford Place