Mothers' Union
What does the Mothers’ Union do?
The Mothers’ Union is a worldwide organization, with 3.6 million members (women and men, married and single, parents or not) in 78 countries, with a commitment to working towards five objectives:
• Supporting and promoting married life.
• Encouraging and equipping parents in their role to develop the faith of their child.
• Being a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service.
• Campaigning for conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children.
• Helping those whose family life has met with adversity.
In several African countries, Mothers’ Union has set up a Literacy and Development Programme, with the premise that sustainable development and the reduction of poverty is linked to the full participation of women in society. In the countries concerned, more than 38,000 learners have taken part, and over 24,000 women and men have been accredited literate and numerate. The Parenting Programme, having been successful in Britain and Ireland, has been extended to a number of other countries, and in Uganda, the Family Life Programme has been set up to “build relationships, fight poverty, sickness and ignorance”.
In Britain, among many other things, Mothers’ Union supports Away From It All (AFIA), which funds holidays for needy families who would otherwise not be able to go away. Members staff Child Contact Centres, where estranged parents can safely meet with their children, and creches in prisons, for visiting families.
In the Bath Archdeaconry, members produce baby gowns for stillborn babies, and tiny quilts for those born prematurely. The Bath Deanery has produced a cookery book for students, encouraging them to produce cheap, nourishing meals.
St Luke’s Branch, as a group, concentrates on prayer and giving. A number of us meet for prayer before our monthly Communion Service, and two of our members, unable to attend meetings regularly, belong to the Indoor Members’ Prayer Circle, receiving additional prayer material from the Diocese. In 2007 we gave £750 for the work of Mothers’ Union Worldwide and the Emergency Relief Fund, and also supported AFIA and the Childrens’ Society. In addition, individual members are active in many different ways, both in the Church and in the Community.
If you would like any more information, please do ask me.
Maggie Woodford - Branch Secretary
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Mothers’ Union meetings at St Luke’s Church
Monthly Communion Service
The Prayer Group meets in the Church at 10.15am, before the Communion Service (BCP) in the Church at 10.30 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. This is followed by coffee and notices.
Meeting dates 2008
16 January
20 February
19 March
16 April
21 May
18 June
16 July
20 August
17 September
15 October
19 November
17 December
Mothers’ Union Coffee Morning
Saturday 7 June 2008 at 10.30am in St Luke’s Church Centre.