Mary Sumner’s prayer:

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.

MU Prayer

Loving Lord
we thank you for your love
so freely given to us all.
We pray for families around the world.
Bless the work of the Mothers’ Union
as we seek to share your love
through the encouragement, strengthening and support of marriage and family life.
Empowered by your Spirit,
may we be united in prayer and worship,
and in love and service reach out as your hands across the world.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Mothers' Union

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WELCOME - CROESO

Who are we?

Established in 1876 by Mary Sumner, we are now a world-wide organisation of 3.6 million members in 78 countries.

Our membership

Membership is open to both men and women, married or unmarried, who support our aims and objectives and who have been baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity. Members join a branch (we have 83 branches in St Asaph Diocese) or, if they are unable or do not wish to attend branch meetings, they can become Diocesan members.

Why the title “Mothers’ Union”?

This was the name originally chosen for the small group of founder members and it has been retained to the present day because the mother figure symbolises the family itself.

What are our aims and objectives?

We are committed to serving society through a shared belief in the importance of family values. Everything we do is underpinned by prayer and we have a wave of prayer continually going round the globe 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What do Mothers’ Union members do?

Our work world-wide has an impact locally, nationally and internationally. We run projects and activities in the United Kingdom as well as having Mothers’ Union workers abroad in countries such as Africa. Here in St. Asaph Diocese we follow a three-year cycle of projects -

In Year 1 - we meet a local need - for example, providing toiletries, food, bedding etc. for the homeless.
In Year 2 - we raise funds for one of our own charities - “Away From It All” - holidays for needy families recommended to us by social
workers or by clergy.
In Year 3 - we assist our brothers and sisters overseas - for example by helping to buy a cow or a goat to enable families to become self-supporting or we contribute towards the cost of a car or boat for our Mothers’ Union workers to travel round their huge dioceses

Our links abroad

Our overseas projects enable us to help people in countries such as Sudan and Malawi to improve their standard of living through the Mothers’ Union literacy circles. St. Asaph Diocese itself is linked with the Dioceses of Riverina and Newcastle in Australia and with the Dioceses of Mbale, Northern Mbale and Bukedi in Uganda. Occasionally we have the pleasure of welcoming a fellwow member from one of these countries to visit us.

Our work for the local community

In 2009 we held a family Fun Day when families from all over the diocese enjoyed a day of fun and friendship. The grown-ups found plenty of activities to interest them or just relaxed while the children discovered the thrill of making things, watching bees in a hive, stroking owls, singing etc. and generally having the freedom to run about in perfect safety and experience the joys of childhood once more.

In 2010 we hope to host similar smaller family days in three different venues around the diocese and in 2011 to repeat the bigger Fun Day - Watch this space for further details.

Further information

If you would like more information, please contact either
our Diocesan President, Mrs Carol Chamberlain on 01978 313773
or our Diocesan Secretary, Mrs Dorothy Jones on 01978 812102
who will be very pleased to answer your questions.

The Diocese of St. Asaph