MU BRISTOL NEWSLETTER

Dear fellow members,

May I wish you a very happy New Year. It is the last year of the triennium and we look to electing a new team for 2010. Do think whether you would be able to stand for office and to encourage others whom you know have talents. We want to hand on a thriving society to a new and enthusiastic team.

Branch leaders will shortly be getting details of the Annual Meeting to be held in the Fairfield Hall in Croydon. The Service will be held in Southwark Cathedral the evening before and we hope to take a group. There wasn't much response at the Council meeting but I'm sure there are more people who would like to go so give Pam Mills a ring if you are interested.

Overseas aid

This is a letter I received recently from Reg. Bailey. I thought it was worth sharing because you all may receive questions from fellow congregation members or people from `outside'.

Dear Friends

My concern is that some of our own members might think exactly that too, especially in the present economic climate. We have already seen how some members have used the relaunch of Home & Family magazine as Families First as an excuse to terminate their subscription, and I am worried that the publicity attracted by this sort of programme might lead to a diminishing in contributions to the Overseas Fund.

In reality, we have a really good story to tell. Mothers' Union does, by its very nature and organisation, ensure that money does not go anywhere near government or individuals who can subvert the use of our funding programme. Rather it goes right to the heart of the most marginalised communities where our relatively modest sums of support can make a real difference. It is worth reminding ourselves that all of the money we send around the world is sent to Mothers' Union designated accounts that are operated by our members and the team at NISH ensure through our Grants Committees as much as is humanly possible that money is properly accounted for and used effectively

It is not often that we can give thanks for the modesty of our financial resources when compared to the big hitting aid donors, but from necessity we do make, I think, the very best use of every single penny.

I do hope you will take this message out to your members by whatever means are available to you and encourage our members in their membership of Mothers' Union as we reach out into communities around the world and around the corner.

     With warm regards,

     Reg

Bristol Diocese Annual Meeting

I look forward to seeing many of you at the meeting in Swindon on Monday, 27th April. We are lucky to have Bishop Lee to speak to us in the afternoon. Anyone can come, not just office holders.

Uganda Link

The following weekend sees the start of the celebrations which mark the 40th anniversary of the Bristol/ Uganda link. There will be a roadshow exhibition and, if any of you have photos and other memorabilia to go into this exhibition, I'm sure Julia will be delighted to receive them. There will be a service in the cathedral on Sunday, l0th May.

Wave of Prayer

This is our next event and you will be having services in your parishes and deaneries but don't forget, if you are unable to get to any of these, you can join us at the cathedral on Saturday, 21st. Just let us know if you would like lunch at 12.30. We need to know numbers for catering purposes.

Finally, Downend branch is celebrating being 80 years young this year and they are having a service at 3pm on Sunday, 25th January. It would be good if neighbouring branches could support them on that day.

Best wishes,