More Summer Events

Members of Corbridge with Hexham Deaneries went by coach to Howick Hall early in August. We visited the MU Tree, enjoyed the gardens, had a delicious lunch (and tea, coffee and cake!) before going to the church in the grounds of the Hall, St. Michael and All Angels. We had prayers in the Church and then Helen Cooper gave us a talk about the Kneelers, how the project began, how it was set up and all the people and work involved. As always, Helen was informative and very entertaining. We then had time to look at the kneelers, for some of us it was nor the first time we had seen them but they never fail to amaze with their beauty, variety of subjects and craftsmanship. There was time to walk back to the Hall again and have another cuppa and cake. All agreed it was a lovely day, and the weather was kind to us. A very fitting way to celebrate our founder Mary Sumner.

Ovingham & Hexham members at the base of the tree.

Corbridge and Hexham members before the talk about the kneelers	Chat with Helen Cooper after the talk
Corbridge & Hexham Deanery held a Cream tea St. Oswin, Wylam in July


Holy Nativity Chapel House branch had a very successful day raising money for our Diocesan Projects, their branch and church. We had such a lovely tea we didn't get any photos til the end!


Benwell branch admitted 3 new members today (2 brand new and 1 returning member). We welcomed Rev Chris Minchin, Shirley and Olive into our branch, taking our membership to 16, an increase of 23 percent! We admitted the members in our hub service marking St Margaret of Antioch's day. Anne Marr (MU chaplain) and Anne Blight (Deanery Leader) were present.


St Bart's Branch Annual Afternoon Tea.
On Saturday, 12th July, the sun came out and so did a happy group of people to enjoy the St Bart's Branch Annual Afternoon Tea. There was lots of chatter, and a great atmosphere in the room. The luxury hamper raffle was popular, and the food went down a treat. Thank you to our members who provided a delicious range of savouries and cakes. We also had strawberries and prosecco . We are very grateful to everyone who came along. This year the money raised is providing help to the Women's Refuge as part of the work we are doing to support the MU RISE UP Campaign.

2025 January- March Events

Amble MU Branch celebrate World Day of Prayer at St Cuthberts Church The focus was the Cook islandsand the theme was 'I Made You Wonderful'from Psalm 139:14, serves a beautiful reminder of God's creative work in each of usand His love for diversity


On Saturday 8th March chaplain Anne and Derek represented MU at an Iftar at Newcastle Cathedral. They were invited by Ismail, a Muslim who attends their church as a representative of the Dialogue Society. Their table included representatives from the Turkish and Bangladeshi societies, also the Quakers, Northumbria Police, and Helen - the Reader at the Cathedral who helped to organise the event. The Iftar is the sundown meal which breaks the fast during Ramadan and is usually shared with friends. Delicious Turkish food accompanied many interesting conversations and presentations, including Turkish dance by two young boys.’


Surprise MU Connections
	Dorothy Walker from Chapel House branch has been collecting items for hospital emergency bags. In ASDA she asked to meet the store ‘champion’, Donna Robinson, to enquire about a reduction for the purchases. Donna turns out to be a member of MU in Gateshead and was delighted to offer help. The store has given Dorothy £40 worth of goods for the hospital bags. Donna is to be ordained deacon at Durham Cathedral in summer – so our prayers are with her. She is keen to come and talk to branches about her work and ministry.
Holy Nativity MU
This is Sheila Robson one of our Indoor Members. We were able to bring her to our meeting to celebrate her 90th birthday. Rev Anne Marr took our meeting and talked to us about the Book of Ruth. Everyone enjoyed the afternoon.
Hospital Bags
	Some MU branches in Newcastle have begun to supply emergency hospital bags directly to the emergency departments at the RVI as well as to the chaplaincy. Here is their response. “Many thanks for the ‘brilliant’ emergency toiletries bags – this is such a great service to our patients.” Please Note: MU branches across the diocese have for many years been supplying hospital emergency bags to various hospitals throughout the region. This service continues and is very much appreciated by all the hospitals concerned, including the Newcastle Hospitals Trust (Freeman and RVI). A branch in East Deanery continues a long tradition to supply bags to the Chaplaincy at the Freeman Hospital. For many years branches in West Newcastle deanery also supplied bags to Newcastle General and the RVI; they have recently renewed this commitment and are supplying bags to the RVI. The photograph and caption in the newsletter simply reports the renewal of this service. It also records the chaplaincy appreciation of everyone in MU involved in supplying bags.

Diocesan Council 11 Oct 2024

The Diocesan Council on October 11th was fairly well attended. The Speaker was Deb Lee, President of Carlisle MU and Zonal Trustee Elect for the next Triennium. Deb spoke about Carlisle Diocese and ways to meet the falling membership.

You can download the Reports for Council here


Our President, Margy Tasker Brown introduced the meeting.	Andrew Davison came to thank us for our support and prayers following his kidney transpalnt a year ago.

Deb Lee, Zonal Trustee Elect spoke about the next Triennium and the hopes of the new Worldwide President Elect, Kathleen Snow.	This is a vital message and we need to embrace this if we are to increase our membership

Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday is a day to celebrate Something Wonderful – the motherly love of God in our lives. Mother church is called to be the hands and feet and voice of Christ in the world – be it by tending the sick, feeding the hungry, welcoming the weary or befriending the stranger. Mary Sumner prayed to touch as many lives as possible with God’s love. So in Benwell and Scotswood we celebrated with a symbolic gift of 40 lunch plates – to support the spirit of mothering in making ‘Something Wonderful’ in the community.

Here is Leahan Garratt of Benwell and Scotswood MU, Shirley Irving, an Anna Chaplain and catering volunteer, and Revd Chris Minchin – with one of 4 boxes of plates ready for service. Looking on were 70 very smiling hungry faces!

Internet Branch

Christmas food First Internet Branch

For the fourth year running the First Internet Branch provided a complete Christmas Day Menu of food for the families at Harbour Refuge. We were supported financially by member from Ponteland and St Columba`s branches plus donations from many who are not MU members but wanted to help with the project which they felt was so worthwhile.

This year for the first time we supplied both Harbour Refuges, North Tyneside as usual, but also, by request, the Northumberland Refuge too. This meant that we actually provided food for 26 family units in total.


Friends and members ready to fill the bags	Bags ready to be delivered to the Refuges	Each bag contained a complete Christmas Day menu

Commissioning

Happy New Triennial – as we journey on together with Mothers’ Union members world-wide into our current 3-year commitment, during which we shall be celebrating 150 years since Mary Sumner founded Mothers Union.
Our Commissioning Service for this triennium was held in Newcastle Cathedral on 25th January, by invitation of the Dean, the Very Reverend Lee Batson, and attended by our newly appointed Provincial President, Christine Sharp.
And what a wonderful commissioning service it was. Our choir were in tuneful accord; Margy re-told a story from Acts; our banner was lifted high by Malcom Cairns; images of all the other MU banners were projected onto two screens; Dean Lee Batson preached and he commissioned all the officers and trustees; and Catherine Groves, archdeacon of Lindisfarne, presided. (Catherine had become a grandmother the day before so the event was extra special for her; she promised to become a member in celebration of the event.)
A number of visitors to the Cathedral joined in the worship and engaged in conversation; the café was full of Mothers’ Union members; and by no means least – we remembered all those who never made it despite their good intentions, many of them prevented by bad weather and unexpected, restricted rail and bus transport. Our new Provincial President, Christine Sharpe, was delighted with everything.
A big thank you from MU goes to all involved in the planning and events of the day – including the amazing team of vergers who set all the chairs and managed the magic technology. All that remains is for us to go forward in faith into whatever circumstances life leads us, rejoicing in 150 years of Mothers’ Union world-wide, and to spread the good news of God’s love in the words we speak, the prayers we breathe and the lives we live.