NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2014 2 PHOTO GALLERY Pocklington, Advent 2013. Left to right: Geraldine Baker, Linda Tremayne, Mavis Smith and Dot Townley Guess who? ........... No prizes! Hint: Beverley Minster Escrick MU at York Minster April 2014. Left to right: Pamela Yates, Margaret Royle and Margaret Curran 3 CONTENTS Front cover photo. Serving lunch at Kirkella. Left to right: Mary Peach, Kate Durkin, Margaret Brookes, Connie Sleight and Jennifer Todd Photo Gallery 3 Contents 4 President’s Corner 5 Congratulations to Prison Volunteers 7 National Marriage Week in February 8 Wheels Appeal in Action 9 Judy Cooke 12 Memories of Wydale—Autumn 2013 13 110th Birthday, Beverley Minster MU Branch 14 Sowing or Sewing? A Cross in Your Pocket 15 Sowing the Seeds! 16 Seaside Singing at Scarborough 17 The AFIA Caravan 2014 18 Update on the Sheep Trail 19 Membership News 20 MU Member is 100 Years Old 21 Diary Dates 22 4 President’s Corner Dear Friends I am writing this during the week leading up to Palm Sunday, with my thoughts steadily moving forward to the events of Holy Week as I prepare for the services in our Church. Several of our members from the Middlesbrough/Redcar area at- tended an ecumenical service last week held in the Roman Catholic Cathedral, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough (this is where some of you have travelled on two occasions for Lady Day Services). It was entitled ‘The Beatitude Stations of the Cross’ and was led by the Bishop of Middlesbrough, the Archdeacon of Cleveland and the Dean of the Cathedral. It was a moving service with those who were reading moving around the Stations and the congregation watching their progress; it was also thought provoking, not least because of the denominations worshiping together, in the wake of the Archbishops of Canterbury and Westminster’s example. I feel that the seeds are being sown towards Christian Unity. 5 In a similar way, as Mothers’ Union members, we are striving to sow seeds, and of course nurturing the growth, from them in order to bring more people to know about the aims and objects; and the work here and across the world of our organisation and hopefully through that in- crease the membership. Unfortunately we are still without co-ordinators for the Action and Out- reach and the Faith and Policy Units, the work is continuing, overseen by the Vice-presidents of Cleveland and East Riding and helped by mem- bers of trustees and general membership. COULD YOU DO THESE IMPORTANT AND WORTHWHILE JOBS OR DO YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO WOULD DO A SPLENDID JOB? I have received the statistics, collated from the branch figures, sadly the numbers have dropped again. I wonder if you can advise us as to why members are lapsing. I know that some are finding the rising cost diffi- cult to meet; but if branches collect subscriptions in instalments (some already do) then that might help the situation. There are some branches actively recruiting younger members and this is wonderful; it is just what we need—young, fit and enthusiastic mem- bers to be able to take the organisation into the future. There is a new branch opening in Bridlington in May, so thank you to all who are work- ing hard to achieve progress in our Diocese. Congratulations to all those who have enrolled new members this past year and also to the branches celebrating milestones of 90,100 and 110 year anniversaries this year. I continue to enjoy travelling around the diocese, often accompanied by my very supportive and patient husband, Ian; and hope to be able to see many more of you in the near future. With love and prayers to you all Olwyn 6 CONGRATULATIONS! What an exciting day the M.U. members who make up the Pris- on volunteers for Hull Prison have recently had. Stella Vernon, Jean Clark, Emma Clark, Dianne Bell, Faith Spink, and Jean Sergeant make up the Pison Volunteers Team at Hull Prison and the team was nominated by the Hull P.L.A. For the North Division Volunteer Award. Two members were interviewed the other week and they all went to Leeds for the Awards Ceremony. All of them were delighted to win the award for the OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER TEAM PRISON PLAY PROJECT H.M.P. HULL The award was presented by Ed Ball MP and the team now go forward to the National finals. The interviews will take place in London and presentations will be made at the AGM in Birming- ham in June. UPDATE. Mrs Cooke received a phone call from Canon Vernon on Monday 28th April saying that they had been award- ed joint winners at National Level and will receive the award at a ceremony on June 6th 2014..More details of award ceremony in the next newsletter. Congratulations to the 'Super Six'! 7 Mothers’ Union Members of the Church of Ascension with St Thomas’s Branch and their special day during National Marriage Week in February One of our members, Judy, who is an expert at card making, set us with the task of making marriage anniversary cards. We had a wonderful 2 hours putting our own designs and creation together which made an attractive display for the Church for everyone to enjoy. Is this an idea for other branches to follow to celebrate mar- riage? At lunch time Stephen, our vicar, took us out and we had lunch together in a garden centre where we had a happy time chat- ting about our marriages and the beautiful cards we had made. We had enjoyed a truly extra special day. Isobel Gooder, Branch Leader 8 Wheels Appeal in Action ............ The figures below give an indication of how far Mothers’ Union Community Development Coordinators travelled on their wheels to support families in their neighbourhoods in 2013. Morogoro, the Provincial CDC in Tanzania, travelled 3531 km in one year using buses, motorbike, lorry and by walking. Jocelyne is CDC for the Diocese of Antananarivo, Madagasgar. She trav- elled about 600 km to the Diocese of Toliara, which doesn’t have a CDC, to provide training and support. It took her 12 hours on poor roads and she took a mini bus, as a car is too expen- sive. Vanessa (name changed to protect her identity), the Provincial CDC in Myanmar, travelled 593 km by plane from Yangon to Rakhine state to de- liver training on microcredit to vul- nerable communities. 9 Betty Oruru is CDC for the Diocese of Lango in Uganda and travelled over 3500 km by bicycles, motor vehicles and motor cycles. She visited 36 parishes across her own Diocese. One of the main reasons for this was to raise awareness of, and bring about a reduction in Gender Based Vio- lence. She also travelled to the Provincial office in Kampala twice and to other Dio- ceses such as Northern Uganda, Mbale and Luwero in order to share training and learning. Aimee Masika is CDC for the Diocese of North Kivu, DR Con- go. She travelled 282 km from Butembo to Goma and had to take a Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) aircraft as it is too unsafe to travel across her Diocese by road due to the ongoing conflict in the region. 10 Alice is CDC for the Diocese of Marsabit, Kenya. She oversees an area the size of England and travelled 15,000 km last year. But reaching some areas is made difficult by harsh climate, long distances, poor roads and tribal conflicts. Nonetheless, she is determined to help these communities establish change and empower women within a traditionally male dominated culture. www.mothersunion.org MU registered charity number 240531 Le Church, Le Tour 2014, Le Welcome to Yorkshire Saturday 5 July—Leeds to Harrogate—191 Km Sunday 6 July—York to Sheffield—198 Km 11 Judy Cooke The Mothers’ Union in Hull Deanery lost a very com- mitted, loyal and inspirational member with the death of Judy Cooke. She had been a faithful member of the Ferriby and Swanland branch for many years and for over 20 years Judy was the correspondent for the Indoor Members across Hull Deanery. Judy kept in touch with the members with Birthday and Christmas cards and, with the help of her branch members and her husband Alan, she held an annual afternoon tea party in her home for as many mem- bers who could attend. For the Mothers’ Union 125th anniversary branches were challenged to raising an extra £125. Judy rose to this challenge and with Alan as quizmaster ran a quiz night. Up to this day that quiz has been held each year raising over £5,000 for Mothers’ Union Projects worldwide. We give thanks to God for Judy’s life, her faith, her example of perseverance and courage in extreme dif- ficulty and we keep Alan, all her family and many friends in our prayers. Editor's note: Obituaries are not normally included although an exception was made in this case - for obvious reasons. 12 Memories of Wydale Autumn 2013 For me, the 'Miracle of Silence' as over 30 mem- bers explored the various 'Prayer Stations' around Wydale both inside and out. Yes, over half-an- hour of silent prayer. Wow! As always the Retreat was special, and I par- ticularly appreciated the prayer cards with the colourful butterfly design. Olwyn Cooke, Rev. Sam Foster and Hilary Bolton Definitely need to thank Muriel for all her efforts.. Retreat very enjoyable in general.. Free expressions Church is a bit of a mystery for many members but Sam is a real star and her work needs broadcasting as widely as possible.