At an RAF base, on holiday, in word, through worship and with free cake, Mothers’ Union members across the Diocese are supporting families in fun, practical ways this month, as the [...]]]>

Mothers' Union free homemade cake stall at RAF Odiham Families Day, 10th August 2011 - with Apache Helicopter doing aerobatics above!

At an RAF base, on holiday, in word, through worship and with free cake, Mothers’ Union members across the Diocese are supporting families in fun, practical ways this month, as the organisation celebrates its 135^th anniversary!

More than 100 homemade cakes were collected by Mothers’ Union members at Old Alresford on Wednesday and transported to RAF Odiham where, with 100s more they served 1000s of RAF personnel and their families at the RAF Odiham Families Day on Wednesday 10^th August. For the second consecutive year a team of Mothers’ Union members made a gift of FREE tea, coffee, squash and cake to families who attended.

The idea for the gift grew out of the desire of local Mothers’ Union members to show their appreciation for the sacrifices made by RAF personnel as they serve tours of duty overseas, especially in Afghanistan, as well as their families. This year’s team of 16 Mothers’ Union members served throughout the day as families circulated watching the flying displays and other attractions.

Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester is also offering Relationship Counselling to support to any Armed Forces family connection with the Diocese that is struggling to cope with the pressures service life places on their family. More information about this pilot project is available here. 

Many of the cakes had been made by the 140 members who gathered on Tuesday 9^th August at Old Alresford to celebrate the 135^th Anniversary of the founding of Mothers’ Union by Mary Sumner. Holy Communion was celebrated in St Mary’s Church by Right Revd Peter Hancock, Bishop of Basingstoke. In his address he Bishop Peter reminded members of the words of Teresa of Avila, that they are the ‘hands of Jesus’ as they support of marriage and family life around the world. Later in the day Rosemary Kempsell, Worldwide President of Mothers’ Union gave a presentation showing how Mothers’ Union members around the world are still living out the original vision of Mary Sumner who founded the organisation at Old Alresford.

Another team of Mothers’ Union supporters are also preparing for the region’s biggest annual project which offers a week’s holiday to families who would otherwise fail to get a break from difficult lives. This year’s break starts on Saturday 13^th August at a new venue for the holiday, Pilgrim Hall in East Sussex. Approximately 19 families will be hosted by a team who provide children’s activities, youth events, a day out, baby sitting, a fancy dress disco and the chance to receive unconditional love whatever their circumstances. For more information click the link here: Mothers’ Union ‘Away From It All’ Family Holiday

More photographs of the Mothers’ Union stall at the RAF Families Day and from the anniversary celebrations at Old Alresford, can be found at our Flickr group

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 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 [...]]]> This year, Mary Sumner Day (9th August) falls on a Sunday.

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 [...]]]> Two useful updates have come out from Mothers’ Union central office today.

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

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 [...]]]>

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