Issue 4/20 October - December 2020 Newsletter Building Hope and Confidence New Members Maidstone Archdeaconry St Andrew’s, Barming Heath Marlene Parks Enrolling took place in the garden with just 5 members present. Congratulations Canterbury & Ashford Archdeaconry Ospringe Fellowship 60th Wedding Anniversary Dorothea & Rodney Thorpe St Martin and St Paul’s Canterbury 50 years’ membership of MU Jennifer Llewellin - see also memories of her 50 years, in this newsletter. Note; Jennifer has been our Diocesan President and Richard Llewellin was at one time Bishop of Dover. Golden Wedding Anniversary Felicity & Roger Loram FROM THE EDITOR… We are still in a difficult situation, but happier times must be ahead. Until then, unfortunately, this newsletter will again be a pdf digital copy only. David Horwood Front Cover Photo: One of the caravans used back in August where the diocese was able to provide holidays under the AFIA scheme to two families on the Warden Springs Caravan Park on the Isle of Sheppey. See Rita Pengelly’s article in this newsletter. Dear friends We are slowly rebuilding. If during these lockdown and shielding months you have had a surprising outcome from an unexpected activity please share your news with a picture. In difcult times we continue our action and outreach to families in need through AFIA holidays and support to unaccompanied refugee children. Thank you to everyone who has made face coverings (as pictured). Branches may now plan to meet inside our reopened churches; wearing masks for worship following all covid19 safety measures and guidance from central Mothers’ Union. It is good to know small social groups have been meeting distanced and outdoors. Hurrah for human interactions! Will you all join in a zoom call on 4th November? – there are 100 places and time is not restricted! I am sorry we are not meeting in person. The meeting will have good news stories from around the diocese and an update of how we can participate in 16 days of Activism. In that context letters have been sent to MPs and Bishops with regard to the progress through parliament of the Domestic Abuse Bill. The Mission & Ministry Team of the Diocese has worked hard to produce a range of resources to help us all to listen to God and one another afresh this Autumn: Listening & Discerning on the Way Together with Bishop Rose who says “We want to hear what God is saying to our children and young people - their voice is vital in capturing all that God is saying to his people”. Those listening questions are contained within the Together in Prayer centre pages prepared by our MU Chaplain. We are planning for both a real and virtual Advent service in the Cathedral. The Advent speaker is Revd Dr Emma Pennington, Canon Missioner, who is the Diocesan Ambassador for The Children's Society working with vulnerable young people and children within our communities. This is a very difcult time for the Mothers’ Union and the members of staf at Mary Sumner House. Dedicated workers and MU members of staf have had to accept either voluntary or compulsory redundancy, because the charity can no longer support all the paid staf, despite the generosity of all the members worldwide, who gave so generously to the appeal. We hold them in our prayers. We send the warmest wishes from all Trustees to you and your families as we head towards Christmas. This certainly hits home: 'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen.' Bobby - age 7 Grace and Peace Marianna Poliszczuk Diocesan President, email: [email protected] 1 Around the Diocese St Stephen’s, Canterbury Held their annual Fish & Chip Supper on Tankerton slopes after getting them from Ossie’s. 15 members and the Archdeaconry President Rita & Simon Pengelly took part and sat the required distance apart, to enjoy a sunny blustery meal. Margaret Horwood, Branch Leader St Martin and St Paul’s Canterbury There are 2 events that are part of our MU programme each year, and we did wonder if we would manage to gather for either of them, due to Covid 19. Well it takes a lot to stop the Mothers’ Union as you well know, so with one or two changes and tweaks the branch programme went ahead. In July a group of about 20 adults and 5 children met on a quiet part of Tankerton seafront. Pre- ordered Fish and Chips were collected from a nearby shop and a lovely “socially – distanced “ evening of eating and chat went ahead. Some folk went for a walk, others had a swim and the rest just enjoyed being out in the fresh air meeting one another. With Rita and Simon Pengelly joining us making it an extra special evening. The weather was perfect, and there was a lovely sunset to end the day. Mary Sumner Day was a Sunday this year, so ideal for making the most of our founder. The branch leader was invited to lead the intercessions at our 10.30 service, and our Curate Hannah talked about Mary Sumner in her sermon, calling her one of the Church of England “superheroes”. Then in the afternoon 22 adults, 8 children and a 4 month old baby met in a beautiful garden for another “socially-distanced” gathering and tea. We have been so lucky to have had these opportunities, and those who felt able and happy to meet up and chat face to face have been able to do so. Sue Spillett, Branch Leader 2 Around the Diocese Memorable moments during my 50 years’ membership of the Mothers' Union. I joined the Mothers' Union at the height of apartheid in South Africa. Some of the first people I met in Johannesburg were two Mothers' Union workers: Evelyn Mahlatsi and Jo Emery. What moved me to join was the work that I saw going on at grassroots level sponsored and financed by the Mothers' Union. Within a week or two of joining, I was invited to take part in a training exercise in the African Soweto Township. For me this was a first-hand experience of what the Worldwide Mothers' Union could achieve. Here under canvas over 100 women had gathered to take part in a training that would help them in their role as mothers, and often breadwinners because so many of their husbands were in a different part of the country working in the Gold Mines for 11 months of each year. Also, in this training the MU workers encouraged discussion in child care and nutrition with practical cooking demonstrations. Coming back to this country I wondered how I would find the MU here in England. Richard's first parish was Waltham Cross in North London and here I discovered a very dedicated MU branch. First Tuesday of the month was Prayer Circle; second Tuesday of the month was sewing circle (the entire production of this group became each year an overflowing stall at the church autumn fair). Third Tuesday of the month was the regular MU meeting. Fourth Tuesday of the month at 9:30 in the morning we had music and movement for the young mothers coming away from the school gates. What I remember so vividly about this branch was that each of these meetings or gatherings was chaired by a different member of the MU committee. It was my first experience of truly shared leadership. When we moved to Harpenden there were already quite a few young mothers in the congregation. They were the ones who asked the question "How can the Mothers' Union help me as a wife and mother?" So it was that 28 young women joined the Mothers' Union one Sunday morning at the main Eucharist. We had regular discussion groups; we took part in the Town pageant with an MU float. Some of them, with their husbands, became part of the parish marriage preparation group. What I recall is that their membership encouraged them to be a full part of the Christian community. Another highlight was when a coach load of MU members from South Africa came to stay in our homes for a week while they were on a visit to this country. Two memorable encounters come to mind. One South African stayed with the Jones family and their four little girls. After supper she asked if she could join the family for their family prayers. Rather embarrassingly the parents looked at each other and said "Well, we don’t usually pray as a family at night", to which the South African visitor replied "Don’t worry, I’ll show you how!”. The other memorable story is about Gertrude. Gertrude was a servant to a white family in Johannesburg. She was staying with June and George in their home in Harpenden. 3 On the first morning of Gertrude's stay, June ran the bath for her and laced it with bubbles, switched on the radio, and put a cup of tea for her on the stool beside the bath. For June this was a perfectly straightforward action for her guest, but for Gertrude it was something that caused her to burst into tears, because for her it was a complete role reversal: back at home Gertrude would be doing exactly the same thing for her employer: at that time it would have been inconceivable that a white woman would run a bath for a black employee. June and Gertrude hugged each other. It was the MU that gave Harpenden an opportunity to share their home with people from a different race and culture.