Visitors Information re Celebration Day July 25th Newcastle Cathedral

Dear Members,

Not long now until our Celebration Day at the Cathedral – Saturday 25^th July.

Thank you to all of you who indicated expected numbers to be attending the event. We anticipate 180-200 members and visitors.

Thank you also to those who have contributed ideas, stories, photos and to all who have agreed to participate in the service and help with other activities. It is great to know how many people have become involved on the journey.

Timetable:

Arrive from 10.0/10.30 onwards. Coffee/tea available.

10.30-11.45 Time to circulate, see exhibitions and get active.

11.00 Optional Cathedral tour with Olive (MU member and City Guide)

12.00-1.00 Midday Service in the Nave – ending with cutting of Celebration Cake

1.00 Buffet lunch in Cathedral – including GF, Vegetarian, Vegan.

2.00 Optional Cathedral tour with Olive (MU member and City Guide)

3.00-3.30 – clear up and depart.

Exhibitions: The MU Story (north side aisle) and Rise UP (Chapel of the Resurrection)

Table exhibitions (south aisle) – including MU archive books / Branch stories / artefacts / capes and bonnets to try on

Make Paper Boats for the service / Summer Journal distribution / ‘Little boat’ Card Sale table / Add a Stitch to the Upper Coquetdale banner /

Find an answer to ‘What’s a coracle?’

See the St Oswald’s Hospice ‘Peter Rabbit’ bench and find some knitted veggies.

Please feel free to ask any questions about the day.

Please be aware that tourist visitors will also be sharing the space in the Cathedral – wandering around to see what is going on. Please can we offer them smiles and conversations as we meet them? It’s our mission field and we’re very good at engaging in kindly chat.

Please be aware that the Newcastle Pride is also in town. The Pride activities are all at the north end of town away from the Cathedral. It is always a good-humoured event – cheerful and colourful, but the town will be more crowded than usual, so allow a little extra time for travel. When we booked our date a year ago Newcastle Pride was expected to be on their usual weekend but they later changed it to avoid the world cup events. Do enjoy the extra dimension to your day.

Looking forward to seeing on the day,

Anne M

Cards for the 150th Year of Mothers' Union

Download a poster

As part of our celebrations for the 150th anniversary of our wonderful organisation we have some cards and bookmarks available for sale. It is intended that the cards and the original paintings will be featured at the Service in the Cathedral in July. The  cards  come  in  three  designs  which  were  inspired  by the song  “Take  Me Up The Tyne  In  A  Little Boat”,  by Eric  Boswell.  Each  painting features the  “Little Boat”. The song  will  introduce  our  celebration  service.  Boats are  a feature  in the North East’s history, from coracles and ferries to trawlers and colliers. They symbolise the vulnerability of life, also our availability in faith for others Each card is in A5 format and comes packed with an envelope. The cost per card is £!.00 minimum. The 150th anniversary logos are also featured on the inside and reverse  of the  cards.   Profits to our  local Mothers’ Union Projects. The bookmarks also have the three designs and there is a fourth with an image of Mary Sumner with the Mary Sumner Prayer printed on each one. On the reverse is our Diocesan 150th Lantern Logo. They cost 50p each. The cards are not yet printed so it would be useful to have an idea of the demand for them.

Thank you      Barbara Bailes Branch Leader, Holy Cross, Newcastle

Resources for Takeover Sunday

Resources for the Sunday Takeover are now available on the MU website, these can be used and amended for any of your MU focused services over the coming months, including churches where there may not be a relationship with Mothers’ Union currently: 150th Celebrations and Events - Mothers' Union  

Keep checking in for further resources.

Click on this link to access the MSH website. Then click on the ‘National Activities’ box. In the Sunday Takeover paragraph, click on ‘here’ to access the Resources section.

The resources include: (click on the blue to download the file.)

• Service outline – based on a Service for the Word but with a suggested Eucharistic Prayer if needed for a Holy Communion service, suggested bible passages, hymns, additional prayers and some suggested creative ways to pray. With thanks to Canon Brian and colleagues in Monmouth for providing the intercessions.
• Talk outline – focused on the work of Mothers’ Union in Britain and All Ireland and globally.
• National programmes flyer – highlighting the national programmes and how to get involved.

Provincial Service in Manchester Cathedral celebrating 150 years of MU.

How Newcastle helped bring Mothers’ Union to light.

Celebration Midday Service at Newcastle Cathedral

Prayers for the 150th Year of Mothers' Union

Download a copy for your own use or at your branch: Click Here

PRAYERS for 150 Years of Mothers’ Union 2026  

to be placed in the time capsule and for use in meetings

Mothers’ Union 150^th Anniversary Prayer, Diocese of Newcastle

Lord of Light and Life,

we thank you for the vision of Mary Sumner,

for 150 years of The Mothers’ Union,

and for all the members who

have come and gone over this time.

Though diverse in many ways,

we are one in our desire to bring to others

the comfort and hope that should be felt by everyone.

Fill us with your Holy Spirit

that we may live in the ways of Mary Sumner,

with compassion and commitment.

Be our beacon of light as we journey on,

and help us to spread love, joy and peace

throughout this diocese and across the world;

in Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Mothers Union 150^th Anniversary Provincial Prayer for the Province of York

Lord of all life,

we give you thanks for the 150^th anniversary of the Mothers’ Union.

We bless you for the vision of Mary Sumner

to share the love of Jesus in support of family life.

We praise you for the mission and service

of the Mother’s Union across the world.

As we continue in the vision of our founder in this land,

we especially offer to you our work of outreach in prisons

and campaigns against domestic abuse,

gender-based violence and modern slavery.

We pray that you will pour out your Spirit upon us,

to bless, renew and refresh

the work of the Mothers’ Union in the Province of York.

Together and dispersed, may we bring glory to Jesus

and hope to our communities.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Mary Sumner Prayer Card and Logo available to download

Our Hopes for the 150th Anniversary 2026

Our Hopes in Newcastle Diocese for the 150^th Anniversary 2026

(also the diocesan ‘Year of Sharing’)

Many thanks for your commitment and prayers and for the many stories and photos about your branches.

Update and Reminder of suggestions for branch activities

On our website www.munewcastle.org.uk  (Resources for displays/talks)

• 12 posters covering the history of MU in Newcastle Diocese
• ‘How Newcastle helped bring MU to light’ (a 10 page story)
• Prayers for 150^th year – Newcastle’s and the York provincial prayer
• PowerPoint: A Brief history of MU in Newcastle Diocese
• Printable cards with Mary Sumner’s Prayer and lantern logo

MU CAPSULE. This will be handed over to us from Carlisle Diocese on Sunday 10^th May at 2.00pm in Hexham Abbey. We will hand it on to Durham Diocese on Sunday 17^th May at 1.00pm in St Mary and St Cuthbert Church Hall, Chester-le-Street (parking available). Sheila Auld has written a prayer for the capsule and for us to use during the year.

‘MU on SUNDAY’ - MU members are asked to contribute to one Sunday service, eg Mothering Sunday or Mary Sumner Day (9^th August) which falls on a Sunday this year. Perhaps leading intercessions? Signing Mary Sumner’s Prayer? Speaking about MU? (The PowerPoint on the website can be used for an illustrated talk.) Giving out MU prayer cards?

LIGHTING THE WAY. Our Central Gathering on Saturday 25^th July in Newcastle Cathedral 10.00-2.00. This is our BIG Diocesan Celebration for 150^th anniversary for members and friends. Exhibitions and Celebratory Midday Prayer. Coffee and lunch provided. Bring a friend. All welcome.

Fund-raising events for MU Projects – an opportunity to engage others.

The 150^th Prayer Book - ‘Lighting the Way’ (150 prayers from across the globe) is available from MSH at £5.99. Jackie Moore’s prayer is included.