The Mothers' Union is a Christian organisation which promotes the well-being of families worldwide.
We achieve this by:
There has been a branch of the Mothers' Union at All Saints' for over 100 years. (We celebrated our centenary in 2006). The branch is the largest in the Halifax & Calder Valley Deanery. We have about 60 members of wide ranging ages. With such a large branch I could not manage without the help and support of a dedicated and hard working committee, as well as the members who attend and support the meetings and events which we organise.
Purpose
What does it mean to be a member of The Mothers' Union? As members of the Mothers' Union we are concerned with everything that affects family life and being able to support each other when we experience not only the joys of family life, but also in times of disappointment and adversity. The Mothers' Union aims to encourage parents to bring up their children in the faith and life of the Church.
Meetings
We meet once a month, usually on the last Thursday, for worship, prayer and fellowship, usually with a guest speaker. We have lots of fun, the meetings are never boring. We have craft evenings, an occasional outing, share a meal together. Members also have the opportunity to meet other members at various events organised both locally and nationally.
National and Global Concerns
We raise money for various Mothers' Union projects not only locally but world-wide. It is a privilege to be part of a family which stretches around the globe (the Mothers' Union has more than 3.6 million members), with members from all kinds of backgrounds that share our commitment to marriage and family life. The Mothers' Union, brings many issues to the attention of politicians and representatives at the United Nations, such as child and world poverty, HIV / Aids related issues, the list is endless.
The Mother's Union as part of our Church Family
Outside the Mothers' Union, some of our members are responsible for organising and running the three Parent andToddler Groups that meet each week during term time at Skircoat Green and Copley. Others help by preparing refreshments for the mothers and toddlers. Others are involved in the Sunday Club and the Crèche; are members of the prayer ministry team; another three of our members organise the coffee morning held each Thursday at the church hall; others belong to house groups and help in the preparation and serving of meals in the kitchen at Alpha courses. Our members have many skills which contribute to the smooth running of our church here at All Saints'.
We are always looking for new members! If you are interested and would like to know more, please have a word with me.
Sarah Killingback (Branch leader)
If you would like to find out more, please speak to: Sarah Killingback - Halifax 384727
ALL SAINTS MOTHERS' UNION BRANCH LEADER'S REPORT-AGM 26 NOVEMBER 2009
The end of another milestone in All Saints' Mothers' Union as I step down after 6 years as Branch Leader. When I took over as Branch Leader, I did so with some reservations, because so many of the leaders before me had so much to offer. Others in the past have had wonderful gifts. So I wondered what on earth I was doing taking on such a responsible post. But in early January, after I had officially taken office, I received an e-mail from Jean Thurman, who had been leader before me, in which she gave me her favourite bible passage, which had meant a lot to her ever since she began to help at Northowram church where we both had worshipped and had connections. The passage from Romans 11 being:
So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
Do you remember this Jean. It has given me much encouragement over the last 6 years and I hope the gifts which I did not think I had, have been seen here at All Saints'. So first let's see what is happening in the Mothers' Union:
World-wide:
We are privileged to be members of a Christian organisation, with more than 3.6 million members, in over 78 countries. The backbone of the Mothers' Union is you, and the other 3.6 million members, its world-wide network of grassroots members. From all backgrounds and countries, members are united in their commitment to supporting marriage and family life.
Whilst Mothers' Union has over 300 paid workers around the world, from many cultures and customs, speaking many languages, they have first-hand experience of the problems their neighbours face.
Mothers' Union work enables people to gain essential skills, encourage self-help projects, run training seminars. The Literacy and Development Programme enables people to become literate and numerate as well as ongoing skills in health, hygiene, HIV/AIDS and poverty alleviation. Let's not forget the Mothers' Union campaigns and lobbies on a number of world-wide issues, parental rights, debt relief, child poverty.
Wakefield Diocese:
The Mother and Toddler Group at New Hall Prison continues to be a success. Visitors cannot praise the Mothers' Union enough for the work done for the women in the unit. Also the Visitors Centre is open five days a week and continues to be a success.
Family Days in the Visitors Centre. The mums are able to have their children and carer for a whole day visit with games, a buffet lunch, tea, coffee and squash are provided throughout the day. But there are only seven of these days in the year, in each of the school holidays.
At Freshers' Fayre at Huddersfield University this year, Mothers' Union members again provided plenty of food which the students appreciated. 500 Grub on a Grant Recipe Books were given out, although they could have given out twice as many!
In September each year we have our Wave of Prayer. Links continue with our prayer partners around the world, in Willochra, The Murray and Adelaide in Australia. Karamoja in Uganda, Soroti and Kumi, but unfortunately Tamale in Ghana is the only link where the Wakefield Diocese have had no news recently.
AFIAH - this year several families, 26 people in total, who would not have been able to afford a holiday, have been able to have an Away From It All Holiday, thanks to the generosity of the Mothers' Union. These families are very grateful.
The Loving for Life Marriage Preparation Course to train facilitators was held on the 27/28 October at the Holiday Inn, Brighouse. Jean Thurman and Dawn Trafford have been on this course and I hope that they are able to put this into practice here at All Saints.
At this point our congratulations, go to Jean Thurman on her appointment from January 2010, as Vice-president in the Mothers' Union here in the Wakefield Diocese. Jean our love and prayers go with you.
Our own Branch:
We have much to be thankful for as a branch of the Mothers' Union. We are the largest branch in the Deanery.
On the 4 March 1906,22 ladies were enrolled at All Saints' the start of the Mothers' Union here 103 years ago. Now we have 63 members of varying ages. A healthy state to be in, when some branches are having to close due to lack of new members. I said last year, times are changing, but one thing is important, that we continue to worship, pray, meet together for fellowship and for its focus to be concerned with the aims of the organisation.
Here at All Saints' members' faith shines out in so many ways in the things you do. Especially in our three Toddler Groups, and being part of the team who organise the activities on Sundays with our children and young people, the Prayer Ministry Team, reading and leading intercessions, the creche, assistance with the Alpha course, the Thursday coffee morning at the church hall, and at the St Augustine's Centre, here in Halifax, where some of us are involved giving support to asylum seekers and the homeless and their families.
The Mothers' Union at All Saints' is not about me as Branch Leader. Leading the Mothers' Union here would not be possible without you. Your support, encouragement and your contribution to the life of the church family at All Saints1 is amazing. The love of Christ is overflowing here at All Saints'.
Your support in many of the events and services that have taken place during the last 6 years, do you remember :
The Year of the Family
Lady Day Services at the Halifax Parish Church
The Centenary week-end celebrations in 2006
The Deanery Summer Festival Service this year.
Our regular January Coffee Mornings, with the now famous
Brian Roberts, Bacon Butties, a great favourite with the
men too who come along.
The Wave of Prayer each September
Silent Auctions
Harvest Suppers for the whole church & our own branch
Catering for Steve's installation
but most of all our monthly meetings together with fellowship,
worship, prayer and with a speaker on a topical issue.
As you know, it has taken a year for prayers to be answered for a new leader.
Steve, you can breathe a sigh of relief, for in 1954, the Rev Barnett, then Vicar of All Saints', who was in fact a bachelor at the time, took on this important role, because no one came forward to be leader. It was not until 1967 on his departure that someone took up the mantle.
If you remember, Robert Freeman, the Archdeacon of Halifax, who was our preacher at our Centenary Service, commented that our service reflected not the past, but the future.
So let's look to the future, who knows what the future holds. From January 2010, we have a new leader in Sarah, a member for only 2 years, a new committee and perhaps a new vision.
As the Lord called Abraham, Genesis 12 v2,
I shall bless you, and make your name great, that it will be used in
blessings.
As Abraham was called by the Lord, this new team, have a calling and I hope each one of you like Abraham will:
Not to have
But to give
Not to acquire status
But to serve
Not to be elite
But to be the first universalist
To leave the known for the unknown
To be a wanderer in the promised land
Called to be blessed
Much more than he was called,
To be a blessing.
Is this what calling means?
To be a people on the move,
Not clinging to the tried,
The safe,
The known,
But travelling
Responding to the half-heard voice.
So every blessing to all that they do here in All Saints' Mothers' Union.
I could not have managed the task without my team. Some are standing down after giving their talents and time generously for so many years.
So as a mark of my personal appreciation for your help and support, can Betty who has acted a Secretary, Margaret Conway, Joan Moss and Marion Smith please accept these gifts.
Also to Sarah Killingback, Christine Henderson, Wilma MacGregor and Dawn Trafford, who are staying for a further period, please also accept these gifts as a token of my appreciation for your help and support.
But I must not forget all the members here who have supported and encouraged me, thank you.
Since Steve arrived last year, we at All Saints' have been blessed by his ministry. Thank you Steve for being with us this evening. I personally have appreciated your support and for letting me get on with things.
As far as the Mothers' Union is concerned, I would appreciate your continued support and prayers as I take on for a further 3 years chairperson of the Halifax & Calder Valley Deanery.
When I took office 6 years ago, I sent each member a letter which ended with the words of a well known hymn, little did I know that it would be appropriate to end with it!
Sister, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you,
Pray that I may have the grace
To let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey
We are travellers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.
I have had some difficult periods to get through but the Lord has always been there with me. You have all been a real blessing too and sharing my load with me. What a journey we have had together, it's one I won't forget!
Jean Brooke, Branch Leader
