After prayers and notices The Revd Helen Newman gave a talk on the local charity hospice LOROS. This organisation cares for some 2,500 people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Whilst talking about a difficult subject, The Revd Newman nevertheless inspired the group with the wonderful help given both to patients, families and carers. The meeting ended with a blessing.
The Church of England in North-West Rutland
Mothers’ Union Reports
The Mothers’ Union meeting on 14 March was well attended and started with communion taken by Charlotte Osborn as Iain was sadly indisposed. Charlotte gave us a most thought provoking talk to consider on our journey through Lent. The next meeting is in Oakham Church Hall on Thursday 11 April.
Our Monthly Meeting on Thursday 13 December was a celebration of Christmas with communion and readings, with tea and cakes. We were very pleased to have The Revd Stephen Griffiths join us for the first time. Patsy Clifton was admitted as member of the Mothers’ Union, and was greeted with a round of applause. It was sad to hear the news that…
Our eagerly awaited Christmas meeting was not a disappointment! In fact, it was a wonderful occasion: a Holy Communion Service, provided by our newly consecrated Bishop of Loughborough. The week before, a goodly number of people had made the pilgrimage to Canterbury to witness Guli’s Consecration. Now 32 of us were privileged to be given communion by Guli, assisted by Robin Robson.…
We welcomed Jill Cannings from Uppingham Mothers’ Union as our speaker in November. She told us of her involvement with the PCDC. This stands for “Practical Compassion for Destitute Children”. Her talk was punctuated by Biblical quotations, the first being “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God” The PCDC was set up, in Palestine, 20 years…
Deanery Meeting – 11th October at St Mary the Virgin Church Ketton Some of the MU Oakham members went to Ketton to join other Deanery members in a quiet morning. The day started with refreshments and an informal chat with other members. This was followed by a hymn: Be still, for the presence of the Lord. Psalm 46 was also touched upon:…
Charlotte Osborn entitled her talk My journey to Ordination, with the subtitle From Pew to Pulpit. She suggested that we consider each of our decades, i.e. until we reach the three-score-years-and-ten, as days of the week. Sunday would be the first decade, 0-10 years, Monday 10-20 years, Tuesday 20-30 years, and so on. Since childhood, Charlotte has been aware of how God…
The meeting which took place on the 8th June was in Church as the Hall was unavailable. Our speaker was Mrs Helen Bush who took Reflections as her subject. Some of the reflections were first day at school, first time in Church, Harvest and Christmas Eve. There were reflections on the natural world using some of the psalms and other Bible passages.…
Our May meeting was hosted by members from the Uppingham Group & we were joined by others from Oakham, Ketton, North Luffenham & Corby. During the church service we had a talk given by Vicki from North Yorkshire & Maggie from Hereford both members of a team from The Alive Group who were spending time in the Uppingham & Belton areas during…
The title of Robin Robson’s talk was “The Life of a Reader”. This role goes back a long way in the Church of England. In 1561, it was established under Archbishop Parker. Candidates were invited who were, “no brawlers, not drunkenly, or jesters, but of good morals, submissive, with benevolent intentions, those who would speak plainly and audibly.” The Readers were appointed…
For our March meeting, after Communion the Revd Wim Zwalk gave a very inspiring talk about his family history from the twentieth century onwards. This covered the dangerous years of the rise of Nazism in Germany and more importantly in Holland, which is where most of Wim’s family were. Nearly eighty members of his family were murdered during the early years of…
We had a fascinating and informative talk at the Mothers’ Union meeting in February, when Anne Blackett spoke on “Love and marriage in the 17th Century. Anne and a colleague decided to mount an exhibition on 17th Century marriage, at Woolsthorpe Manor. The historical records dealt with the yeomanry and the gentry, i.e. money and class. Usually a young man’s father would…
The hearty portions of fish and chips were particularly welcome on such a damp and dreary day, as it was, on the first MU meeting of the New Year. Committee members had kindly provided good selection of hot and cold desserts, so an excellent lunch was enjoyed by all. This was followed by the AGM, which was chaired by Pamela Woods in…
As is our custom, the meeting before Christmas was a Holy Communion Service, followed by “entertainment or games”. The former was conducted by the Reverend Brian Nicholls, ably assisted by our member Reader, Robin Robson. The latter was a surprise! Readings by our Committee members. These ranged from John Betjeman’s view of Winter to Mrs. Balthazar’s account of her one, scary, long…
Mothers’ Union met this month as part of a Deanery Quiet Morning at St Peter and St Paul Uppingham. The morning began with Holy Communion celebrated by the Rector; Canon Rachel and was well attended by the three branches from Uppingham, Ketton and Oakham. The service was followed by a coffee break which provided members with an opportunity to purchase cards, diaries and badges…
Uganda, with Mission Direct, was the title of the fascinating talk given by Dr Sian Cheverton, to the Mothers’ Union, in July. Mission Direct is a group of volunteers helping communities in need. The community itself decides what it needs, to make a difference, e.g. build a well, a new school, road repairs etc. Essentially, the outsiders do not impose ideas on the local community. Sian…
Our last monthly meeting on the 9th of June was celebrated with a Strawberry Tea in the Church Hall. We all enjoyed the meringues, scones with cream, and of course strawberries and also cups of tea. But first of all we had some summer readings, both poems and prose, read by individual members. Meg reminded us of the forthcoming annual joint Mothers’…
This was an outstanding event, read on. The need. Many children from impecunious backgrounds receive a free school lunch. This may be the main, sometimes only, meal of the day. However this does not occur during half-term and holidays. The solution. Kettering Mothers’ Union bid successfully for part of a legacy to establish a ‘holiday lunch club’ for these children. Our local…
MU members from Oakham, Uppingham and Ketton met in Ketton Church on 13 April to celebrate 140 years of service to Families and Communities by the Mothers Union. Staff and pupils of Ketton Primary School opened the Service with hearty singing of a selection of hymns and songs. Our thoughts were centred on the parable of the mustard seed. The Curate at…
The Reverend Canon Julie Hutchinson presided at the celebration of Holy Communion, at our March meeting. It was good for us to join together in this act of worship. Following it, Julie gave us a talk on her life, and her service in the ministry. Julie’s life had a powerful start. Like Hannah, in the book of Samuel, Julie’s mother vowed to…
“Are all organs the same ……. or are some different?” (with apologies to St Mary’s Organist!) This is the way Kevin Slingsby started his “Musical Afternoon” to a full house of 25 at the last MU meeting. He explained that all organs are different, ranging from the very small home organ to the Atlantic City organ in the USA which has seven…
How to encourage members to attend an AGM? Serve fish and chips, with delicious puddings to follow. That is what the Mothers’ Union did on Thursday, 14th January and a successful meeting ensued! Pamela Woods went through the accounts, which were adopted. Meg Dyer gave a review of last year’s events, and the Committee were elected en block, with two new members…