Mothers` Union newsletter - The Diocese of Canterbury

Issue 1/16
United in Prayer
Newsletter
January - March 2016
New Members
Canterbury & Ashford Archdeaconry
St Leonard’s Church, Deal
Christine Knight, Dorothy Sokell,
Muriel Tomaszewska,
Wendy Jackson-Hill, and Re-admitted:
Heather Brodie Hagger
Whitstable Team
Tony Finch, Pat Holland and
Revd Simon Tillotson
Congratulations
Canterbury & Ashford Archdeaconry
St Leonard’s Church, Deal
Golden Wedding, Anne and Frank Kent
90th Birthday, Pat Young
Long Term Membership,
Georgina Curling and Betty Ovenden,
50 years
Holy Trinity Church, Broadstairs Long Term Membership,
Joyce Jenner 60 years
Maidstone Archdeaconry
St Nicholas Church, Allington
90th Birthday, Margaret Sparks
St Paul’s Church, Maidstone
70th Wedding Anniversary,
Betty and Frank Wicken
Worldwide President
Ruby Wedding, Lynne and David Tembey
FROM THE EDITOR…
This edition features members taking up new appointments and feature
some of the wonderful banners around the Diocese. Please continue to send
in any items about banners, be they new ones or celebrating some event.
David Horwood
Front Cover photo: Reproduced courtesy of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, ref.
no. 003355, 1999 Inventory, p89.
A processional Mothers’ Union banner from 1930 held in Canterbury Cathedral. It
shows figures of the Virgin and Child with St Ethelburga and St Anne under an arch and
standing on pink steps, in a combination of hand-worked appliqué and embroidery. On
either side strips of red and gold damask decorated with shells. To the left the arms of
the See of Canterbury, and to the right that of the Mothers' Union. There is a deep gold
tasselled fringe along the bottom. The reverse side is of blue silk brocade with silver/
gold thread lettering.
The Inscription reads:
At the top of the front: MOTHERS UNION
At the bottom of the front: CANTERBURY
In the halos of the Saints: Their names
On the reverse: BE IT UNTO ME / ACCORDING TO /
THY WORD / (a shell) / HIS NAME SHALL / BE
CALLED JESUS
My dear friends,
Let me welcome everyone taking on roles and
responsibilities in the new triennium: we will have an
exciting journey together. It will be good to meet with
you all at Diocesan Council. To those who are
relinquishing their post we send our heartfelt thanks for
such faithful service. We wish, especially, our outgoing
Diocesan President Di Sabel and husband, Leslie joy in
their new home.
We are continuing the 140 years’ legacy of our founder Mary Sumner’s work
in changing lives and building up communities. What more can we do to
show God’s Love in our immediate area and highlight the Mothers’ Union
and its projects? This is a celebration year, and so, along with giving
emphasis to our Founder’s Day of 9th August, I am suggesting members
demonstrate some extra ‘tlc ‘. Show the Love; how you do it is up to you and
it can involve a humble cup of tea!
When you receive this it will be the last few days available to return the
Members’ Consultation on our membership experience and updates will be
shared in 2016.
The Wave of Prayer is in the middle of March. This helps us to concentrate on
developing and understanding our link with Mothers’ Union members in
Nigeria, Tanzania, Sudan and South Sudan as we pray around the need in
these communities. Assistance is given through our donations to the MU
Overseas Fund which is administered by MU at Mary Sumner House and the
Make A Mother’s Day campaign, which offers an alternative or
commemorative gift for Mothering Sunday.
Everything we achieve depends on YOU, our wonderful membership, and you
came up trumps with the recent Away From It All holiday project (see article).
Finally, everyone can fundraise (free) for us when they shop on-line if they
register (free) first at www.easyfundraising.org.uk and register support (for
the) Mothers’ Union Canterbury Diocese Project Fund, and a donation will be
made by the on-line retailer. Do pass it on; certainly worth a look as I was
amazed at how many retailers and service websites have signed up to it.
Grace and Peace to you all
Marianna Poliszczuk, Mothers’ Union President in the Diocese of Canterbury
Note: Don’t forget to read your Faith and Policy Watch leaflet to keep up
to date with what the Mothers’ Union are doing.
Diocesan Contact List
Diocesan President
Marianna Poliszczuk
01622 751243
E-mail: [email protected]
Diocesan Administrator
Susan Bradley
01303 864289
Wingmore, Brady Road,
Lyminge CT18 8EU
E-mail: [email protected]
Diocesan Treasurer
Sue Thomas
3 Woodstock Road,
01795 422810
Sittingbourne ME10 4HH
E-mail: [email protected]
Diocesan Chaplain & Godmother
Revd Lesley Valiant 01843 293964
E-mail: [email protected]
General Trustee & Godmother
Margaret Horwood
General Trustee & Godmother
Daniele Ligneau-Wilton
01227 454230
E-mail: [email protected]
General Trustee
Jean Sweetman
General Trustee
Valerie Brown
01843 293004
E-mail: [email protected]
General Trustee
Rita Pengelly
07843 613744
E-mail: [email protected]
General Trustee
Christopher Cook
01622 670240
E-mail: [email protected]
Diocesan Membership
Gary Byrne
01795 428023
E-mail: [email protected]
Indoor Members
Marjorie Wyatt
Emergency Prayer Chain
Beth Walton
Maidstone Archdeaconry Literature
01227 455080
01622 728233
01227 456532
01580 765701
Representative
Families First & Diocesan
Rosemary McArragher
01622 831007
Newsletter Distribution
Marylyn Collins
01227 367651
Diocesan Newsletter Editor
David Horwood
01227 455080
E-mail: [email protected]
Action and Outreach - Overseas
Daniele Ligneau-Wilton
01227 454230
E-mail: [email protected]
Social Policy Officer
John Sweetman
01622 728233
E-mail: [email protected]
Canterbury & Ashford
Archdeaconry President
Margaret Horwood
01227 455080
E-mail: [email protected]
Maidstone Archdeaconry President
Jean Sweetman
01622 728233
E-mail: [email protected]
Diocesan Website:
Mothers’ Union Website:
www.muenterprises.org/canterburymu
www.mothersunion.org
Registered Charity No. 250124
Canterbury & Ashford Archdeaconry
St Dunstan’s Church, Canterbury
We enjoyed a very entertaining and informative talk
from our member Sue Palmer in September, with some
of her collection of generally old shoes to show us. She
wove a fascinating story around each pair, cleverly
weaving aspects of the Mothers’ Union
into each tale. Starting with a pair of
dainty little shoes Mary Sumner’s mother
might have worn, ending with a surprise
final box to open, (giving away no
secrets here!) Each story was followed by a relevant prayer
or reflection, giving us plenty of food for thought. A really
novel way of telling the work of the MU! Sue would be happy
to bring her talk to other Branches but is only available in
the evenings. Contact Sue [email protected]
Liz Parsons
St Michael & All
Angels Church,
Harbledown
Ginny Glithero (second
from right) celebrated her
21st birthday with a parish
tea in Harbledown and
raised £415 for the
Diocesan Project Fund and
a future Away From It All
holiday.
Di Sabel
New Appointments
Nikki Sweatman is to be the new Provincial
President for Canterbury Province. We look
forward to celebrating her installation at our
Festival Service on Saturday 23rd April in
Canterbury Cathedral, at the same time as
commissioning our new Diocesan President
and Trustee Board for Canterbury Diocese.
Canterbury & Ashford Archdeaconry
St Leonard’s Deal
Four new members were enrolled at
the opening service of St Leonard's
branch in Deal on 8th September by
Diocesan President Di Sabel:
In the picture you see from left to right Wendy
Smithson Branch Leader, Wendy Jackson-Hill,
Dorothy Sokell, Christine Knight, Muriel
Tomaszewska, the Reverend David Flewker, and
Heather Brodie who was welcomed back into the
branch.
Also at this service, Georgina Curling and Betty
Ovenden received their 50 years’ long service
certificates. Wendy Smithson
The Whitstable Team
Three new members, Pat
Holland, Revd Simon Tillotson
and Tony Finch were enrolled at
All Saints Church, Whitstable on
20th September.
In the photo are Patricia Paige,
Margaret Horwood
(Archdeaconry President), Revd
Simon Tillotson, Pat Holland, Tony Finch and Di Sabel (Diocesan President).
Canterbury & Ashford Archdeaconry - Margaret Horwood Archdeaconry President
Firstly, you will see that we have changed our name as from 1st January, when
the two Archdeaconries join together, so we welcome all the members of the
Ashford Archdeaconry and look forward to working together over the next
three years. We have had one branch close and become a fellowship, several
turning into team led branches and one large branch considering becoming a
fellowship due to lack of people coming forward to take on the posts of
secretary and treasurer. I ask that you pray that we will continue to grow in
numbers and in fellowship and give your support to the new Trustee Board as
they find their feet. If you are not able to do anything physically, your prayers
are most valuable as this is the centre of our organisation.
Together in Prayer
January – February – March 2016
Revd Vanessa Ashman – Faith Advisor
for Ashford Archdeaconry
“At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to
put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.” (Ephesians
6:16 GNT)
As we welcome in a new year it is a good time to consider how
strong our faith is and whether we always are faithful?
St Paul says we should always have our faith as a shield to
protect us. It will protect us through the difficult times.
 Doubt. You start asking yourself, “Did God really say? Can I
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

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really trust God? Isn’t that just your interpretation?”
Discouragement. “You’re never going to get any better. Your
life won’t change. Don’t even try.”
Delay. You ask yourself, “Why is this taking so long?”
Difficulty. You ask yourself, “Why is this so hard?
Depression. You tell yourself, “It’s not worth it.” You don’t
even feel like making an effort.
Put on the Shield of Faith. It’s the only protection you have
against doubt, discouragement, delay, difficulty, and
depression. Trust God and his word.
Living Lord help us to trust in you no matter what we see,
hear, or feel about the world around Us. And through our faith
may we be a conduit to those we meet in our daily walk with
you. Amen
Together in Prayer
January – Fear
God is...a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Picture a boat lashed by huge waves, and frightened disciples
who think they are going to drown. They forgot that they had
just experienced the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.
They were on their own and not expecting Jesus to rescue
them.
Yet as the night advanced and things looked hopeless, ‘...Jesus
went to them, walking on the sea’ (Matthew 14:25).
Jesus called Peter to come to Him. Peter cautiously stepped out
of the boat and walked toward Him. But there’s always a
moment after you step out in faith when you hear, ‘What if I’m
not up to this?’ Peter heard it, and the waves began to engulf
him. Panicked, he called and Jesus immediately rescued him.
Peter wasn’t drowning; he was learning and growing! When you
walk by faith, even your failures will lead to success. So step
out with Jesus; He won’t let you drown.
Look to Jesus in your time of fear; when He takes away the
lesser it’s always to give you the greater.
Loving Lord we give you thanks that you are always there for
us. Help us in the times when our faith is weak and give us
that strength through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to lift
your shield of faith to protect us. Amen
Please remember in your prayers:
Thursday 14th January Finance and Diocesan Services
3.00 pm - 5.00 pm at Tunstall,
Sittingbourne
Thursday 19th January Trustee Board Meeting 10.00 am 1.00 pm Diocesan House Boardroom
Saturday 23rd January Canterbury Archdeaconry Quiet Day
at Holy Trinity Church, Margate
Thursday 28th January Cathedral Prayer Time, 12 Noon
St Gabriel’s Chapel
Together in Prayer
February – Delay
But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly,
steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be
fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will
surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a
single day!" (Habakkuk 2:3).
Even as we make a decision to follow the dream God places in
our hearts, we can expect a delay. God may not fulfil your
prayers immediately because this is another step toward
building our faith.
In this step of faith-building we may ask the question, "When,
Lord? When are You going to answer my prayer?"
We hate to wait. We don't like to wait at doctor's, or in traffic
jams, or at restaurants, or for Christmas presents, or for
anything else. But what we hate worst of all is waiting on God.
Have you ever been in a hurry when God wasn't? We're ready,
but God isn't. God wants to work on us before He answers our
prayer.
 Noah waited 120 years from the time he started building the
ark until it began to rain.
 Abraham was told he would be the father of a great nation
and didn’t have a child until he was 99.
 Joseph spent years in prison before God raised him up and
he became the ruler God wanted him to be.
Waiting teaches us to trust in God. We learn that His timing is
perfect. A delay is not a denial, many times we think God is
saying, “No”, but He is saying, “Not yet”.
Loving Lord Thank you for listening to our prayers and in
those times of waiting for your answer sustain us and help us
to have faith in your timing and to not give up. Amen.
Please remember in your prayers:
Friday 1st February
Copy deadline for Newsletter
Thursday 25th February Cathedral Prayer Time, 12 Noon St
Gabriel’s Chapel
Together in Prayer
March – Trust
God Smiles When We Trust
By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned
about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. . . . As
a result, Noah became intimate with God. (Hebrews 11:7)
Imagine this scene: One day God comes to Noah and says, “I’m
disappointed in human beings. In the entire world, no one but you
thinks about me. But Noah, when I look at you, I start smiling. I’m
pleased with your life, so I’m going to flood the world and start over
with you and your family. I want you to build a giant ship that will
save you and the animals.” There were three problems that could have
caused Noah to doubt:
First, Noah had never seen rain because prior to the flood God
irrigated the earth from the ground up (Genesis 2:5-6).
Second, Noah lived hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean.
Even if he could learn to build a ship, how would he get it to
water?
Third, there was the problem of rounding up all the animals and
then caring for them.
But Noah didn’t complain or make excuses. He trusted God
completely, and that made God smile. Trusting God completely means
having faith that God knows what is best for your life. You expect him
to keep his promises, help you with problems, and do the impossible
when necessary. The Bible says, “He takes pleasure in those who
honour him, in those who trust in his constant love” (Psalm 147:11). It
took Noah 120 years to build the ark, Yet Noah kept on trusting God.
Loving Lord Thank you for helping us learn to trust and be forever
faithful in all that we say and do. Thank you that you forgive us when
we fail. Pour down your Holy Spirit upon us to strengthen us as we
journey with you. Amen
Please remember in your prayers:
Tuesday 8th March
Diocesan Council, 10.15 am - 1.00 pm at
St Paul’s Church Canterbury, followed by
lunch in St Paul’s Centre, 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm
Wednesday 16th Wave of Prayer Services supporting our
Friday 18th March
links with Nigeria, Tanzania, Sudan and
South Sudan
Thursday 31st March
Cathedral Prayer Time, 12 Noon St
Gabriel’s Chapel
Together in Prayer
Maidstone Archdeaconry - Promoting the Mothers’ Union in Maidstone
Maidstone MELA is an International Festival of music, culture, food and
drink, which takes place on the second Sunday in September each year in
Mote Park, Maidstone. Mote Park is a huge recreational area on the eastern
edge of Maidstone, and our town is very blessed to have been bequeathed
such a wonderful area of park land for public use.
The MELA gives opportunities for many charities to
promote their activities and good work. For most of
the 13 years that the MELA has been held, the
Maidstone Archdeaconry of the Mothers’ Union has
erected a promotional stall where we are able to show
to all who come some of the many worthy activities
which the Mothers’ Union runs, both world-wide and
locally.
“No Pay to Play” games are
a favourite with families
This year our stall contained details about the Welcome Packs we donate to
the Trinity Foyer (a centre for some 40 teenagers who have left home or
been “turfed out”); the Welcome Gifts and items we provide for Willowbrook
Place (a home in Maidstone for teenage mothers from the whole of Kent) and
also our ‘Away From It All’ holidays for needy families.
Our stall was run by ten members from Maidstone branches and we bring
simple games to amuse the children while others in our team chat with their
parents to tell them that Mothers’ Union is much more than a club and to
hand out brochures.
MELA is attended by more than 10,000 people and it is great to meet up
with people of many nationalities and to share how God’s love and joy
extends throughout the world. The Festival has a wonderful atmosphere and
often we meet up with folks we haven’t seen for years. We warmly invite MU
members from all over Kent to come and sample MELA next year on Sunday
11th September between 12 noon and 6.00 pm and maybe spend some time
helping on the MU stall. John Sweetman
Quiet Day at Staplehurst
A lovely Quiet Day was
enjoyed on 16th September,
in Staplehurst, organised by
Margaret Bradford and lead
by Sue Spillett, with
wonderful warm hospitality
from Sue Hollis.
Di Sabel
AFIA Holiday 2015 at Pilgrim Hall, Uckfield
Sometimes what you need is someone to show they care. During August the
local Mothers’ Union did just that when we took over a stately home turned
conference centre for an all-inclusive, supported holiday. After a process of
selection there were 40 children and 20 adults; all families whose lives have
hit more than a rough patch. Great friendships build up between the children
and adults during the week away and their confidence in sharing with each
other cannot be underestimated in its potency for healing. The waiting staff at
Pilgrim Hall are all young Christian foreign language students and most
certainly we were very different from the usual delegates and more noisy at
meal times.
We do fun crafts
with the families
and have
afternoon sessions
in the heated
swimming pool;
even in the rain.
This year there
were many more
improving
swimmers and
encouraged first timers. The grounds of Pilgrim Hall with croquet lawn, tennis
court and golf are a great resource with space for parachute games, scavenger
hunt and home-made kite flying. Some children have never been to the
seaside and so were thrilled to be taken by coach to Eastbourne for the day,
to paddle and watch the Punch and Judy man. The Mothers’ Union members
were generous in transferring their Tesco shopping vouchers to cover the
entrance costs to Drusillas Park Zoo, making it another successful day out to
talk about when back at school.
In 2016 the Mothers’ Union is 140 years old and we continue in the ideals of
Mary Sumner to transform lives by being Christian witnesses in our
community and worldwide. And, of course, as part of our local projects in this
Canterbury Diocese we are fundraising and collecting equipment for the
future Away From It All holiday. Thank you for your support,
Marianna Poliszczuk
Copy for the next Newsletter to be with the Editor, David Horwood, by Friday 1st
February 2016. Please let me know what is happening in your area. Send to: 27
Abbey Gardens Canterbury CT2 7EU or email: [email protected].
Those Who Have Died
Canterbury & Ashford Archdeaconry
Archdeaconry Member
Joyce McCulloch
St Leonard’s Church, Deal
Alice Clarke & Freda Hopper
St Michael & All Angels Church,
Betty Small
Harbledown
Maidstone Archdeaconry
St Nicholas Church, Allington
All Saints and St Phillip’s Church
Iris Jackson
Marguerite Hart
Dates for your Diary
Thursday 14th January
Finance and Diocesan Services 3.00 pm 5.00 pm at Tunstall
Tuesday 19th January
Trustee Board Meeting 10.00 am - 1.00 pm
Diocesan House Boardroom
Saturday 23rd January
Canterbury Archdeaconry Quiet Day at Holy
Trinity Church, Margate
Thursday 28th January
Cathedral Prayer Time, 12 Noon St Gabriel’s
Chapel
Friday 1st February
Copy deadline for Newsletter
Thursday 25th February
Cathedral Prayer Time, 12 Noon St Gabriel’s
Chapel
Sunday 6th March
Mothering Sunday
Tuesday 8th March
Diocesan Council, 10.15 am - 1.00 pm at St
Paul’s Church Canterbury, followed by lunch
in St Paul’s Centre, 1.00 pm - 2.00 pm
Wednesday 16th March Friday 18th March
Wave of Prayer Services supporting our links
with Nigeria, Tanzania, Sudan and South
Sudan
Thursday 31st March
Cathedral Prayer Time, 12 Noon St Gabriel’s
Chapel
Monday 4th April
Lady Day Services in the Archdeaconries
Saturday 23rd April
Festival Service for the Commissioning of
Diocesan President, Trustees, Provincial
President for Canterbury Province and
including parading with banners, in
Canterbury Cathedral
Autumn Market
It was great to see members enjoying the Market, and an enormous well done and
thank you to all who took part by preparing things for sale, manning the stalls and
buying items. You will be pleased to know that at our stalls we raised the following:
Cakes and biscuits, £55.40;
Raffle £88.41;
Books £66.40;
Gifts and Crafts £141.70;
Refreshments £94.30;
Bottle Tombola £83.02;
Toiletries £115.80;
Produce and Preserves £85.72;
Donations £35.00
minus cost of Hall £56.25
leaving us with a total of £709.50.
Nikki Sweatman
OUR GLORIOUS BANNERS
The word ‘banner’ is derived from the French word ‘banniere,’ and even
further back to the word: ‘band,’ referring in this case to, ‘a group of people
having a common interest or purpose.’ The words and images printed on a
banner represent the essence of the group to which it belongs.
Of course banners are not a phenomenon of Mothers’ Union in the twentyfirst century! Having successfully rescued the Israelites from Egypt, and
then guided them across the Red Sea into the desert, we read in the book of
Exodus 17.15: that ‘Moses built an altar and called it ‘The LORD is my
Banner.’ And David willed us all on in Psalm 20.5 when he wrote: ‘and in
the name of our God set up our banners!.’
The message given on a banner is twofold: It draws us together, as the
supporters of our organisation, defining us within our purpose and goals,
and it reaches out to those who are not yet committed to our cause, inviting
them to discover more about us, with a possible view to joining our ‘band.’
What is the message that WE, as Mothers’ Union members want to give to
the wider community through our banners? Could it be:
Our Vision: of a world where God's love is shown through loving, respectful
and flourishing relationships?
Our Mission: to demonstrate the Christian faith in action by the
transformation of communities worldwide through the nurturing of the
family in its many forms?
Many thanks to our banner designers and makers, to everyone who proudly
parades them, and for the message clearly presented on each one: That our
faith IS reflected in the work of our hands!
Extract from an article by Susan Roberts,
President of Mothers’ Union Diocese of St Albans
This magazine is produced by Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Canterbury. All items must come
with a note of the contributor’s name and contact details. The editor reserves the right to edit or not
publish anything received. Items are not intended to represent the official position of the Church of
England, nor the official position of the Mothers’ Union.
Glorious Mothers’ Union
Banners
Holy Trinity
Church,
Margate
Minster Abbey, Isle of Sheppey
St Andrew’s Church, Barming
This is Rita Pengelly flying the banner for Canterbury MU and receiving her medal
having taken part in the Richmond Park 5k & 10k Run/Walk in October. Joining a
team of Mothers' Union staff, members and supporters, Rita walked the 10k
course, and contributed to TeamMothersUnion raising over £4500. Rita said
afterwards; “imagine my surprise and delight as I was crossing the finishing line
there, to cheer me on, were the team from Mary Sumner House. They waited and
bless them waited (quite a time actually) especially as I was the last one to finish.
So please if you can come, come and see, come and be made to feel special,
come and help raise money for this amazing life changing organisation that I am
so proud to be part of. Wouldn't it be wonderful if in 2016 we could field 140,
runners or walkers, in this celebration year? I think we can! See you next year!”
Glorious Mothers’ Union
Banners
St Stephen’s
Church,
Canterbury
All Souls’ Church, Cheriton
St Mary and
St Ethelburga
Lyminge
All Saints’ Church,
Whitstable
Our Diocesan Banner