On the evening of Thursday 3^rd December, my husband and I attended a “Blessing the Christmas trees” service at St            Symphorian’s Church,  Durrington.  We entered  the churchto find it beautifully lit up by over 20 Christmas trees and there,   just before the chancel steps,was the St Michael and All Angels  Mothers’ Union themed tree.   The members helped to cut out 78 silver discs about 4inches in diameter - 10cm, for those        modern members! – and in the centre of each disc was the flag of each of the 78 countries which contain Mothers’ Union, and   on the reverse of the disc was a small world map, pin-pointing the location of that country. All this  hard work was completed for us by Sandy Tout.  The tree stood on a blue cloth with a     Mothers Union prayer book, leaflets and a model caravan and little figures forming a family, which represented our AFIA       project.  On the top was a cross with the Mothers’ Union logo.  Sandy had dressed the tree exquisitely and it was a fitting       tribute to the Mothers’ Union and the work it does around the world.

During the service we attended, in the sermon, we were told how many of the community’s organisations had dressed their own trees, how  people, who did not always come into a church, had come to bring and dress a tree, and that people, who did not always come into a church, would make up  the many visitors to the Christmas tree festival. From our tree many people would become aware of the Mothers’ Union and realise that we were, indeed, a Worldwide organisation.

 

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Worth and Poundhill Mothers' Union 'branched' out to the Bluebell Railway for their summer outing.  The trip was followed by a Cream Tea and Heaven Farm. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chichester District held their annual Festival Eucharist on Friday 10th July at St. Mary's Church Walberton.  The Revd Timothy Ward took the service.  The service was very well attended by members and many banners were paraded.  After the service members went to the nearby village hall to enjoy an enjoyable time together

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Janet Webber said that all the families who came to the Family Fun Day a St. John's Polgate on June 13th enjoyed several hours of games, craft activities, races and refreshments. In fact the day was 'what it says on the tin' a really good fun day out for all.   There were ploughman’s lunches and other refreshments put on by  ladies of St. John's. We ended with a short service in the Church and the children - and adults karaoked to some lively Christian songs with a rock band, and watched and sang with a group of large puppets.

This was all done to celebrate the UK Year of the family and we did it proud!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

 

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" The Eastbourne Family Contact Centre in

 

 

E/B is run by Mothers' Union( though not wholly staffed by them). It was taken over 5 years ago and helps children whose parents have split up under very acrimonious situations to meet up and rebuild a relationship with the absent parent, while assuring that no harm can come to anyone involved . We feel that it is important for children to have contact with both parents, but when there has been incidents of domestic violence or abuse  one parent may not want this to happen. we aim to reassure them and hopefully establish a new relationship between children and adults."

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On the 7th April the new Away from it All caravan was officially declared open when Mary Smith, our Diocesan President cut the blue ribbon, followed by a service of Blessing conducted by the Diocesan Chaplin, the Revd Peter Clark.  Representatives from Family Support Work, the local Masonic Lodge, Managers of Children's Centres, local clergy and bout 100 Mothers' Union Members from across the Diocese were present and able to tour the new Caravan. To see more photogaphs please click here