Mothers' Union Projects 2019
Click on the titles below to find out about our activities
New members always welcome; a warm welcome to new member Pat as she joins the St Richard's branch
Those boots were made for walking; Mothers' Union member pledges to walk 1000 miles
News from earlier this year ...
Mothers' Union Commissioning Service
Heather Bruce and Mary Sumner carrying the St Richard’s Mothers’ Union along with 30 other banners at the ‘Diocesan Festival Service’ with The Commissioning of Diocesan Officers for the term 2019 – 2022 which was held recently at Chichester Cathedral.
The service with was led by The Right Reverend Dr Martin Warner, Bishop of Chichester. During The Commissioning the Diocesan President, Kathryn Anderson, and members of the MU Trustee Board stood before the Bishop to accept their office in the Mothers’ Union.
The Bishop addressed the officers and the congregation saying “We have come together here to worship God and to commission Kathryn and the newly elected Trustee Board to office for the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Chichester. This is a joyful and important occasion. The office carries great responsibility for the Mothers’ Union is a worldwide organisation whose members seek to express the Christian faith by the transformation of communities worldwide through the promotion of stable marriage, family life and the protection of children.”
During the service The Reverend Helen Rose who is the newly appointed Diocesan MU Chaplain read the Gospel according to Mark and at the end of the Prayers of Intersession, all said Mothers’ Union 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.
Refreshments were served following the service which gave everyone a chance to meet Kathryn and the new Trustee Board members.
Prayer Bookmarks
Our Mothering Sunday Service was held at All Saints Church this year. During the service people were encouraged to light a candle in memory of their Mother and to take one of the Mothers’ Union prayer bookmarks. Cori English who volunteered to make the prayer bookmarks said ‘A prayer was chosen by St Richard’s Mothers’ Union Branch members at their last meeting and we decided on blue ribbon as that is the Mothers’ Union colour. It was quite an honour to make the prayer bookmarks for such a special service.’
The prayer on the reverse reads: “Loving Lord, Thank you for all Mums and for the joy of family life. Let your love be present in every home. Amen”
Easter Chicks
Heather Bruce, our Branch Contact, has been busy knitting Easter Chicks to raise money for our Benefice Baptism Project. Each chicken contained a cream egg and were attractively displayed in a wicker basket. People snapped them up straight away and thanks to their generous donations we raised a total of £80. This should enable us to buy at least twelve Toddlers’ Bibles in addition to Baptism and Anniversary Cards.
‘Our golden coloured Easter Chicks have proved a great hit and has been a fun way of providing some funds for our branch Baptism fund’ said Heather whose needles have been clicking madly, ‘they are quite simple but fiddly to make and with a delicious treat inside they have been hopping off to new homes faster than you can say cheep, cheep!’
Supporting the new Families@4 Service
St Richard’s Mothers' Union are supporting Reverend Mitch to get a new 
family service off the ground. He has been keen to develop links with families within the Benefice, especially those who have had their children baptised and following discussions with parents, has introduced the new service every second Sunday at 4pm – a time which apparently suits families in today’s busy world. The Mothers' Union organise food for the children and provide home-made cakes with tea/coffee for the parents which we serve after the service.
We start the service with a couple of tuneful hymns; an interactive sermon; activities based around the sermon theme and lastly prayers with more singing during which time we quickly transform the activity tables into dining tables with an attractive spread of sandwiches, cocktail sausages, veggie sticks, biscuits and drinks. It is so lovely to see the children tucking in appreciatively!
Find out more about Families@4 everyone is welcome so please do come along and give it a try!