Mothers Union

 

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St Dunstan’s Branch

St Dunstan’s MU Branch includes members from Butleigh, Baltonsborough, West Pennard, Keinton Mandeville and Lydford, and West Bradley with Lottisham Churches. We meet on the second Thursday of each month at Baltonsborough Church room. We also have outings to other churches and special visits such as the Bishop’s Palace and Lytes Cary. There is always help with transport and everyone is more than welcome – whether as a member or visitor.

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Throughout all our work, prayer sustains and strengthens. A ‘Wave of Prayer’ goes round the world as members pray together every day at midday wherever they are for the people and work of Mothers’ Union for international issues affecting families.

2018 Diary Events

Monthly meetings are held at Baltonsborough Church Room on the second Thursday of each month at 2:30 pm. We open with a short Prayers session and we have Speakers on subjects that inform members about MU projects at Home and abroad and also matters of interest to members. We then have tea and biscuits and any administration matters may be discussed followed by members sharing conversation and news.

Dates of Interest:

St Dunstan’s Branch Mother’s Union Meetings

  • 12th April at 2:30 pm  – Talk by Revd. Chris Hopkins at Baltonsborough Church Room
  • 10th May at 2:30 pm –  Talk by Miss Mary Cryer (Former Archbiship’ Secretary) at Baltonsborough Church Room
  • 14th June – Outing to Kilver Court (to be confirmed)

Tuesday, 18th September Mother’s Union Annual General Meeting 2018.

Will be held in Swansea, South Wales

Mother’s Union – Retreat, to be held at Ammerdown (near Radstock)

Mothers Union

In 2016, Mothers’ Union Celebrated 140 years since being founded by Mary Sumner as a support network for families. We still see that wherever we work in the world the need to support families is greater than ever. In over 80 countries the 4 million member of the MU share a vision – to bring about a world where God’s love is shown through loving, respectful and flourishing relationships.

It is by working together that family life can be strengthened and communities transformed.

  • We are women, but men are members as well.
  • We are not limited in our age range.
  • We campaign to protect children in society.
  • We support local clergy and churches.
  • We care for you, your family & community.
  • We are married, but also some are single or divorced.
  • We support our MU scheme of holidays for those in need.
  • Some of us are carers or working so may be diocesan members.
  • We give goods to the women’s refuges and local safe houses.
  • We are mothers but can ‘mother others’ and not have children ourselves.

Cathedral Prayers

Cathedral Prayers are held on the third Thursday of each month in the Lady Chapel in Wells Cathedral from 11.30 to midday.

18th October at 11:30am – Our Deanery will be leading the service at Wells Cathedral in the Lady Chapel.

St Dunstan’s Mothers’ Union is a Branch Within the Mothers’ Union Diocese of Bath & Wells.

Projects in the Mothers’ Union Diocese, which help to support family life, are:

  • Away From it All Holidays (AFIA) Anyone in financial or emotional need can apply. A variety of holiday options are offered to those meeting certain criteria. In 2015, holidays were provided for 31 people, ranging from families to single people. Often such a break can be the turning point in peoples’ lives.
  • Child Contact Centres The MU has three centres: in Clevedon, Nailsea and Frome, which are accredited by the National Association of Child Contact Centres. Each centre provides a free service where an estranged parent can spend time with their children in a safe and neutral environment.
  • Baby Gowns and Knitted Items are provided to hospitals in the Diocese for premature and stillborn babies. Knitted items are also provided to Children’s Centres for young teenage mothers and to residential and nursing homes.
  • Outreach Practical or financial help is on hand wherever it is needed.
  • Parenting courses are provided by trained facilitators.
  • Women’s Refuges MU members collect a variety of items, particularly toiletries, children’s toys and clothes, for women’s refuges across the Diocese.

The Mothers’ Union Bath and Wells Diocese is linked with the following Mothers’ Union Dioceses overseas:

  • False Bay in South Africa
  • Shinyanga in Tanzania
  • Umuahia and Ijebu in Nigeria
  • Vellore in India

Mothers’ Union Worldwide

Mothers’ Union Branches raise funds for MU worldwide projects. In 2015, the Mothers’ Union Bath & Wells Diocese sent £31,000 to the Mothers’ Union Worldwide Fund which helped to provide programmes to support family and community life. These programmes include:

  • Literacy and Financial Education
  • Community Development
  • Family Life
  • Parenting

To find out more about what’s going on in the Diocese visit http://www.mubathandwells.org