Diocese of Monmouth Mothers’ Union
Thirty members of the Diocese travelled to the Annual General Meeting. The opening service held at Southwark Cathedral followed the theme, ‘Relationships in a Changing World’. The Preacher was Mrs Margaret Sentamu.
The following day we gathered at Fairfields Hall in Croydon. A delay whilst an extra row of seats was put in – encouraging that so many attended from all over the UK and Ireland that this was necessary. The theme was ‘Bringing the world home!’
Rosemary Kempsell, our Worldwide President, called her talk ‘Threads of Blue’ and told us of the work going on around the world and her travels to Uganda, Kenya and the Province of the West Indies (this meant six countries and a jam-packed scheduled but it was also a time of both giving and receiving great encouragement).
The Unit Co-ordinators from Mary Sumner House gave a presentation outlining the involvement of their different units on the work being done both at home and overseas.
Make a Mother’s Day: 654 Branches/Churches/Individual Supporters contributed £185,745.60.
Mary Sumner house alterations are now completed, the conference rental providing an additional £200,000 income to the Charity.
Reg Bailey, our Chief Executive, interviewed Provincial Presidents from Tanzania, Southern Cone, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. Leila Austin from the West Indies aptly said “Mothers’ Union are a people of God gathered together in one unbroken circle, speaking with one voice, in a place where there are no doors, no walls, no fences, so that anyone who wants to is welcome to join our circle of love”.
The closing worship was led by Bishop Richard Inwood, Chaplain.
Finally – a Message from the Conference to ALL Mothers’ Union members.
Thank you to YOU for
- committing to membership during the year
- Making a Mother’s Day by contributing and fundraising
- caring about the spirituality of children
- caring about the poor, stigmatised and rejected
- believing, like us, that marriage can be ‘loving for life’
- giving shed loads of goats (as well as cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, bees & fish)
- successfully campaigning to get flexible working for all parents
- for praying over 1.3 billion intercessory prayers
- for giving £2,054,085 to help families across the world
We think you’re AWESOME!
Sheila Wells, Mothers Union Diocesan Secretary