Mothers' Union News

News and Forthcoming Events

On Monday, 25th March, our Deanery Lady Day Service was held at St Chad’s, Wybunbury. Margaret Smallman was commissioned as the next Deanery Leader, by Revd Bill Baker, the Rural Dean. This was a lovely service, attended by members from around the Deanery and we all enjoyed a Bring & Share lunch after the service. We all pray for God’s continued blessing on Margaret, as she undertakes this challenging role!

Two events in May will keep everyone busy – our fundraising afternoon tea at St Luke’s on May 8th at 2pm, followed by a talk at our meeting on May 15th, by our own member, Mrs Muriel Platt on her experience at Shallowford House, Norton Bridge.

Sue Squirrell

Branch Programme

Trip to Salford Quays

Members and friends enjoyed a day out at Salford Quays and Ordsall Hall on Monday, 23rd July (together with members of the Ladies Evening Group). We were very lucky with the weather as it was dry and bright all day!

Enrolment Service

We welcomed 2 new members and 1 member who re-joined at the Enrolment Service on Wednesday, 5th October 2011. The service was conducted by Revd Ken Sambrook. Pictured (L-R) are Mrs Muriel Platt, who first joined in 1961 in Lichfield Diocese; Mrs Daphne Gregory (new member), Revd Ken Sambrook, Mrs Dorothy Butler (new member) and Mrs Sue Squirrell (Branch Leader).

Mary Sumner's Afternoon Tea

Members of Nantwich Deanery enjoyed Afternoon Tea at St Matthew's Church Hall, Haslington, Crewe on Mary Sumner’s Day (August 9th). Pictured are some of the members enjoying the refreshments and also some of the cakes! The afternoon raised £80 for the Holidays Away Project and also £30 for the Food Parcel for the local family who benefitted from this initiative.

Annual General Meeting 2011

The new Committee was approved at the AGM on Wednesday, 16th February at St Mary's Church Hall. Sue Squirrell did a Presentation about Mothers' Union and the work of the branch. Previous Committee members were thanked for their work, with a basket of flowers, and the meeting finished with refreshments and a piece of 'MU' cake (pictured) - Delicious!

New Branch Leader!

On Wednesday, 2nd February 2011 Mrs Sue Squirrell was commissioned as the new Branch Leader for St Mary’s Wistaston. A lovely service was conducted by Revd Mike Turnbull and Revd Ken Sambrook and Sue was supported by members of the Mothers’ Union and congregation. Pictured are (from left to right): Louise Mumford (Deanery Leader), Mrs Jenny Shirt (acting Leader), Mrs Sue Squirrell and Revd Mike Turnbull.

Enrolment

5 new members were enrolled at the Mothers’ Union Membership Service at St Mary’s, Wistaston on 10th October, together with 2 members who have transferred from another branch/diocese. Pictured are:
Revd Mike Turnbull, Olwen Shone, Sue Squirrell, Louise Mumford (Deanery Leader), Sarah Turnbull, Joan Cadman, Ann Stubbs and Revd Ken Sambrook.

They were welcomed by current members of the Mothers’ Union and the congregation

Literacy & Development Programme

The Mothers’ Union Literacy and Development Programme is celebrating its 10th anniversary to achieve a recognised level of literacy and numeracy since 2000 in Burundi, Malawi and Sudan.

Over a £1 million of Mothers’ Union money and £800,000 of partnership fund-ing has been spent, some of which was from Comic Relief, who have now given another grant of nearly £1 million! to cover the next 5 years for this work to continue. More than £5,000 had been raised by Families First readers (Britain’s best selling Christian magazine) through this Lent with the ‘Country Blessings’ fund raiser scheme.

The programme trains adults in reading, writing and arithmetic skills, helping some of the world’s poorest people to find long-term solutions to tackle the poverty on which they live. The programme has achieved the following:-

Over 74,000 people, the majority of the women, have taken the course, with over 53,000 achieving accreditation which means that in those countries literacy rates have risen from 68% to 79%
Led to communication skills of all kinds, for example: better partnership and co-operation between men and women is promoted and relation-ships improved
The women are participating in household and community decisions, which leads to more confidence in the women to find solutions relating to issues of health and hygiene, gender inequality, women’s rights, income generation and HIV/AIDs
Able to set up their own businesses
Realising the importance of schooling for their children
Able to give the correct doses of medicine
When dealing with money they know the correct money is given and re-ceived

Jenny Hall (Deanery Promotions Rep)

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Branch Programme

The Work of Mothers' Union in Nantwich Deanery