St Mary the Virgin -

Mothers Union

Mothers' Union

As a global movement of Anglican women, the Mothers' Union supports local churches with the prayers and activities of its branch members, as well as being a worldwide campaigning charity. Particularly concerned with the plight of women in the world, its projects include literacy and healthcare education and campaigning against violence against women and the trafficking of women. Membership in the U.K. is around 110,000.

The aim of the MU is to strengthen and preserve marriage and family life through Christianity.

In order to carry out this aim, the MU's objectives are:

To uphold Christ's teaching on the nature of marriage and promote its wider understanding.
To encourage parents to bring up their children in the faith and life of the Church.
To maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service.
To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children.
To help those whose family life has met with adversity.

Individual branches are usually based on parishes or small groups of parishes. These are then linked in turn to their deanery and then the diocese.

The M.U. emphasises the importance of prayer underpinning its work. Each year it organises a Wave of Prayer. Each diocese is given a set day to pray for other dioceses, and within each diocese each branch is given a specific time to pray. This gives members a sense of unity in prayer for one another as the wave of prayer moves from branch to branch and from diocese to diocese.

Another sign of unity is the Mothers' Union Prayer. Originally composed by Mary Sumner for her parish women's meeting and revised a number of times, this prayer often concludes worship together in branch meetings. The current version of the prayer is as follows:

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

Bottesford Branch Mothers' Union

Branch Secretary Mrs Eileen Boyce

Branch Treasurer Mrs Judith Wells

Our local branch meets on the first Wednesday of the month (apart from August) in St. Mary's Church, Bottesford, beginning at 2.30 p.m. and has a full and varied programme throughout the year.

We currently have 7 members and our officers are as above. If you would like to know more, then why not come along to one of our meetings, or contact one of our officers. Alternatively you can contact the Benefice Office for further details.

Provisional Programme 2010

March 25th Deanery Festival - St. Mary's Church Melton Mowbray.

April 7th - Old Bottesford - with Mrs. M . Wardby

April 28th Wave of Prayer - 1.30pm

May 5th - "Going for Gold" - with Mrs. F. Stapleton. Frances will talk about her experiences with The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

June 2nd - To be Confirmed.

JULY - NO MEETING

AUGUST - NO MEETING

September 1st

and

October 3rd - Passion Play - Oberamagau with Mrs. Judith Wells.

November - To be Confirmed.