Greetings! I am writing this on a grey and rainy day in
August so I hope you have managed to get a good break and possibly some
sun, somewhere.
Hartcliffe Contact Centre
I drove up to Hartcliffe early on a Saturday morning a few
weeks ago to help in the centre. I was shown into the kitchen to
dispense coffee and other refreshments and we awaited our first
customer. There was only one, that day, a young man spending time with
his three year old boy. I watched from the hatch while they did jigsaw
puzzles together and noted how quick the boy was and how good the Dad
was with his son. One of the Centre Dads was on duty too and has his son
with him. I chatted over the counter with both the lads, talking about
golf, football and we exchanged ideas on healthy and cheap cooking
recipes amongst other things. I found out a lot about their sad
circumstances and they seemed happy to talk to a "gran". The time passed
quickly and I found it very rewarding. We need more volunteers.
If we get enough it need be only once or twice a year and anyone can do
it who can boil a kettle and is willing to chat and perhaps feed in a
bit of old fashioned wisdom. It really is not far from Bristol West or
City Deaneries and the traffic is not bad on a Saturday morning.
Visit of Bishop Nathan
from Melanesia
It has always been difficult to make contact with Banks and
Torres so it was excellent to get a visit from Bishop Nathan and Selena
his wife. They came on a very wet, windy and rainy weekend and I felt so
sorry for them, providing warm clothing and putting the central heating
on! They were both musical so we had a lot in common and I was very
pleased that so many members came to Marshfield to meet them and to hear
Bishop Nathan talk about the islands, the boat that we provided and
which he uses and about the MU on the islands. I took them to Frenchay
on the Sunday - an average congregation. They would get about 1000 at
their service but they do not have the distractions we have on a Sunday.
The church is the centre of life, as it was many years ago here. I have
an address and telephone number now so it should be easier to stay in
touch now they are home.
Policy Watch
I have just been
reading the last "Policy Watch". From now on this will be incorporated
into the two new magazines which also replace Home and Family, Encompass
and the Prayer Diary. Your Branch Leader has all the details.
There will be social policy news also online in the autumn
and you can access it by sending your e-mail address to
olicy@themothersunion.org
There are good updates in the present edition on child
poverty, parenting, women bishops, commercialization of childhood, and
flexible families, amongst other interesting facts.
AFIA Holidays by Mavis
Brocklehurst
This year for the first time we used Haven Holiday Centre at
Burnham-on-Sea for our venue for seven families that would otherwise not
have had a holiday. Some of these had never experienced one at all. All
seven went from July 11th to 19th - the last week before the prices were
increased.
The feedback has been
very good. The caravans were lovely, the site and facilities especially
the swimming pool were excellent, and the staff kind and friendly.
Access to the beach was only five minutes away and that came together to
make a very satisfactory result.
We do thank all those
who have contributed to this fund. Please keep the funds coming so we
can book equally successfully in January for 2009.
From Julia Lettey
- Please can you send a BIG THANK YOU!
Please can you send a big thank you for all the First Aid
Equipment like bandages etc for Banks and Torres MU and for some amazing
Wall Hangings for the Mothers' Union Training Centre in
West Ankole. I have to
say that I am overwhelmed with the generous response and the hard
working effort put in to encourage our Sisters overseas. It is much
appreciated.
The
Cardiff
Roadshow
A good group of Bristol
MU members went to the Roadshow. I do not know how many took non-members
but I took two recently recruited Diocesan members and they were
impressed by the professional presentation. I was interested in one of
their comments. Jenny picked up on the grandmother who was coping with
many grandchildren as a result of AIDS. She reckoned, and I agree, that
the work of grandparents is not adequately being recognised and
supported by MU.This summer I have noted so many grandparents entertaining
their grandchildren - I was at Clevedon with two of mine and also at
Exmouth with three others. Let me know how you help with yours in term
time and in the holidays and I will bring the subject up at Provincial
Council, which is in mid-September.There
was a new resource on sale at the Roadshow and a number of us bought it
so it will be available for branches to use. This is a DVD which would
be useful for home meetings and ideas for meetings and worship and for
school assemblies on the theme of HOME. Do seek it out and use it.
BRISTOL DIOCESE MOTHERS' UNION RETREAT 2009
This will be held at
Lindors - a Christian Holiday Guild Hotel at St Briavels, Lydney, about
20 miles from Chepstow - on Wednesday 13th May until Friday
15th May and will be led by Rev. Carol Stone. The cost is
£130 and can be paid by instalments and shared transport can be
arranged. Our MU retreats are a time for exploring Faith, Friendship,
and (excellent) food!! - with the added bonus of returning home totally
refreshed after spending time in such beautiful surroundings.
Do join us. Ask your Branch Leader for a revised application
form (now blue)
