We are now able to offer funding for relationship counselling to a small number of couples where at least one of the couple are currently serving in the Armed Forces.

Using a [...]]]> Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester is pleased to be piloting a new project to support the families of armed forces personnel.

We are now able to offer funding for relationship counselling to a small number of couples where at least one of the couple are currently serving in the Armed Forces.

Using a group of qualified therapists we can offer up to 6 sessions free of charge to those who are unable to pay for themselves. If the couple could contribute something towards the cost, this would enable us to help more couples.

At present, we are only able to make the offer to couples with some connection with the Winchester Diocesan area (covering parts of Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire). The “connection” can be that of birth, residence, posting or family residing within the Diocese.

If you wish to apply for this service, we ask that you contact the Armed Forces’ Christian Union (email office@afcu.org.uk, tel 01252 311221). Your application will be treated in the strictest confidence, although please note that AFCU will have to carry out a simple, basic check (NOT with your unit) that you and/or your spouse is serving. Applications can be taken from the spouses of serving folk even if they wish to attend sessions alone.

The project came about through the awareness of members in this Diocese of the number of military bases in our region, and contact with some forces families through other Mothers’ Union projects. One member, supported by the Mothers’ Union Trustees of this diocese, has worked closely with the Armed Forces Christian Union and senior chaplaincy staff, supported throughout the by Lord and Lady Dannett.

General Lord Dannatt and Lady Dannatt have expressed their “absolute delight at the launch of this pilot scheme” to provide funding for relationship counselling to armed forces personnel, and “wish it every success”.

Lady Dannatt’s own experiences as a counsellor and wife of the past head of the Armed Forces, have encouraged her to draw attention to the difficulties facing the families of our country’s Armed Forces and the lack of support currently available. She is convinced that making available professional relationship counselling is one of the ways in which we can help, and is particularly pleased that Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester has linked up with the Armed Forces Christian Union to try and make this possible.

He was also very clear that faithful relationships are equally important in the development and nurture of our individual and collective faith journey.

Throughout the Bible God loves that [...]]]> Jesus was very clear that faithful relationships are the model and structure for living together in harmony as: families, friends, neighbours, communities, nations and internationally.

He was also very clear that faithful relationships are equally important in the development and nurture of our individual and collective faith journey.

Throughout the Bible God loves that which he has made and one of the main ways God expresses this love is through constant fidelity to his creation. We see this in God’s acts:

• in his fidelity to Israel at all times
• in his making of a covenant
• in his fidelity to individuals and families throughout their lives
• in his sending leaders and prophets to preach the Kingdom of God and its values
• in the sending of his only Son to die, rise and save us.

Through and in all these different faithful relationships, we have both an identity and a purpose. As Christians these are entirely defined by our values as given to us by God, through the Bible, in the history and traditions of our churches and in the societies in which we live daily. Through and in all these different relationships we learn how to recognise and experience God’s faithful presence - right now, every moment, wherever we are. We believe that God is always present and faithful in our lives, whether or not we can see him. We also believe that God’s presence is a positive good even if we do not always understand how or why, especially when life presents us with many difficulties and tragedies.

Faithful Relationship is the Mothers’ Union theme for 2011, and there is a wealth of material for small groups to use. Download, and look through the material below to see what might be useful for your personal reflections, church, small group or Mothers’ Union event.

A. Faithful Relationship 2011 – Theme Rationale

B. Qualities of Faithfulness – a chart and prayer guide to help you assess the quality of your relationship with God and others

C. Faithful_Relationship_Prayers

D. Reflections on “The Rock” – Bible Study ideas and prayers

E. Faithful Relationship – Scripture Texts

F. Peter Bible Study – from faithless to faithful

G. Mary Magdalene Bible Study – faithful follower of Christ

H. Mary Magdalene in Art – a study focusing on pictures by Titian and Sandys

I. The rainbow – a symbol of faithful relationship includes ideas for craft, prayer and spiritual reflection and an Indian Legend

J. Symbol of the Rock – reflection with symbolic act

K. Symbol of Bread and Wine – eucharistic reflections and inspiration for creative worship

M. Faithful Men and Women of the Bible with Bible references

N.Eucharistic_Service_in_word_text (editable .doc file)

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 North Hampshire Child Contact Centre has been initiated by, and the management committee is made up of, members from the North Hampshire Downs [...]]]> This weekend sees the opening of the North Hampshire Child Contact Centre in Hook. It will be opening on the first and third Saturday’s of March to its first clients.

The North Hampshire Child Contact Centre has been initiated by, and the management committee is made up of, members from the North Hampshire Downs Mothers’ Union. They live in the villages just outside Basingstoke and the Child Contact Centre is being held at Hook near M3 J5 and the mainline train between Basingstoke and Fleet. Both Basingstoke and Fleet have child contact centres with waiting lists.

The volunteers to support the project have come from the village church congregations and from local school connections. This has enabled outreach by Mothers’ Union members to other supporters, and from the whole community (led by the Mothers’ Union) to the communities across the area.

The Child Contact Centre’s sole purpose is to enable parents, and sometimes grandparents, to rebuild relationships with children residing with estranged former partners. Contact is usually ordered by the courts. Those who have volunteered to help with sessions have been specially trained to facilitate resident parents who are reluctant about letting estranged partners have access to their children, and also care for children who may be very torn over which parent to please.

The North Hampshire Child Contact Centre would welcome your prayers for its volunteers and clients as it starts providing this vital and much needed service to the local community.

More information about how the project has been set up will be available on this website soon, and in the summer edition of our Diocesan Newsletter ‘Archway’.

The Christian Calendar is now moving into Lent as we mark Ash Wednesday on 16th February 2010. Christian tradition encourages us to examine ourselves honestly, acknowledge our shortcomings, and seek reconciliation with God and with each other where we have compromised our relationships. Mothers’ Union has produced some material for Lent:

Lent-Easter-Meditations2010

As part [...]]]>

The Christian Calendar is now moving into Lent as we mark Ash Wednesday on 16th February 2010. Christian tradition encourages us to examine ourselves honestly, acknowledge our shortcomings, and seek reconciliation with God and with each other where we have compromised our relationships. Mothers’ Union has produced some material for Lent:

Lent-Easter-Meditations2010

As part of this years Mothers’ Union theme “Relationships not Rules” there is also the following prompt to our Lenten thoughts and helps us to turn them to actions: RnotR2010-LentColourChart

Many Mothers’ Union groups like to mark 25th March (known either as “Lady Day” or the “Annunciation of our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary”) with a special service.

At the annunciation, Mary made a free choice to be the bearer of a child who would bring freedom to the entire world. Traditionally, the church has characterised Mary as silent and passive, but in fact, she is a major spokesperson for those who are oppressed. In the Magnificat, Mary tells us that justice is at the heart of the Christian message. She rejoices because of the freedom God offers in lifting the humble high.

This theme was reflected in the Lady Day service written in 2007 which can still be used by groups as the theme reflects the work of Mothers’ Union members as they seek to bring forward justice for families through prayer, projects, and speak out where government policies affect marriage and family life. You can download it here: Lady_Day_Service_2007

Mothers’ Union believes strongly that marriage provides couples, and children of the couple, with the best foundation for a happy, [...]]]> Valentine’s Day this year falls on Sunday, the last day of National Marriage Week 2010. It gives churches the opportunity to celebrate God’s gift of love and marriage, and the commitment that both involve.

Mothers’ Union believes strongly that marriage provides couples, and children of the couple, with the best foundation for a happy, stable family life, and that it follows that stable families provide a positive bedrock for all of us in society.

In 2002 Mothers’ Union produced a service that could be used in churches who wish to celebrate National Marriage Week: Marriage Week Service You are welcome to download and use the material.

At least one such service is being run in the Diocese this Sunday 14th February, at St. Peter’s Yateley (10am) where Lou Scott-Joynt (Trustee of Relate and Mothers’ Union member) will be the guest speaker.

Alongside this Mothers’ Union recognises the difficulties that face marriages, and that relationships do break down, causing great distress to all those affected. It therefore seeks to recognise the issues involved, works to provide people with mechanisms to help relationships under stress, and heal the wounds that are left behind.

If you want to read more information about Mothers’ Union support for marriage and family life please look at our central website: Mothers’ Union Marriage Week 2010

To make these as easily accessible as possible some of the main ones are attached to the links below (and should open in a new window), the rest [...]]]> There is a range of study material available for any person or group wishing to explore further this years Mothers’ Union theme: the Cost of Relationship.

To make these as easily accessible as possible some of the main ones are attached to the links below (and should open in a new window), the rest are available by going to the “members” section of www.themothersunion.org and following the link to ‘Theme for 2009′.

• The rationale for the theme
• Collection of prayers and reflections on the theme
• A Bible Study on the Good Samaritan
• Bible Characters
• Jesus’ Values
• Cost of Relationship Service

The theme which Mothers’ Union is concentrating on in 2009 is the ‘Cost of Relationship.’ The phrase raises many questions:

The Head of our Diocesan Faith and Policy [...]]]>

The theme which Mothers’ Union is concentrating on in 2009 is the ‘Cost of Relationship.’ The phrase raises many questions:

• What is meant by cost exactly?
• Relationship to whom?
• Is the church or Mothers’ Union asking for my money?
• How can relationship be costly?

The Head of our Diocesan Faith and Policy Unit has been looking for some answers, and invites you to start exploring them with her in the next issue of ‘Archway’.

‘Archway’ is the Newsletter of Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester, which is free to members living in the Diocese and compliments information available on this website. The next issue will be available to visitors and distributed to group leaders at our Diocesan Meeting on 31st March (more details of which are available by using the events tag on the left).