Mothers Union report 2010

Our theme for 2010 was

‘Relationship not Rules’

Mothers’ Union is an international charity whose Vision is to bring about a world where God’s love is shown through loving, respectful and flourishing relationships. The picture on the right is taken from the Annual Review 2010.

Locally we have about 30 members who meet through the year, supporting the work of the Mothers’ Union worldwide through prayer, fellowship, reaching out to others and fund raising. Nationally this means contributing 79% of the income for social outreach, 1.3 billion prayers and at least 2 million volunteering hours.

So what does this look like in Burwell?

During the year 5 new members were enrolled and 7 new Parenting Facilitators were trained in the Diocese (2 of them living in Burwell). New for 2010 was a Harvest Breakfast with speaker, a service of Advent Meditations and a Reflections Evening held in church with displays and prayer stations about the work of the Mothers’ Union.

We raised money for Away From it All Holidays (£235) and Christmas presents for prisoners’ children at HMP Littlehey (£64). We also donated toiletries for the Women’s Refuge. For Lent we ‘Counted our Blessings’ and collected money for everyday items we own (like pens and Bibles) and were fined if we did not make contact with friends and those on our consciences! – this raised a splendid £212.

One of our objectives is to ‘encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children’, so we took a deep breath and started a St Mary’s Children and Young People’s Group to plan for families and children from Baptism to Confirmation. This unwieldy name quickly became shortened to St Mary’s Families’ Group! More of this under the Children and Young People’s Section.

In 2011 we are looking forward to the theme of ‘Faithful Relationship’; a Prayer Walk around Burwell, Breakfasts with speakers and did I forget to mention FUN (which we have a lot of too).

We usually meet twice a month, one afternoon and one evening meeting.  Do come and join us for either one or both.

With Best Wishes from

Susan Baker (Leader), Hazel Williams (Treasurer) and all Mothers’ Union members