Clergy Newsletter
May 2016
Mary Sumner Day, Tuesday, August 9th, 2016
It is 140years since Mary Sumner first invited young mothers to her home to offer support and guidance in raising children in a loving Christian environment. Resources to help parishes/diocese celebrate Mary Sumner Day on Tuesday, August 9th are available at . Diocese are asked to consider hosting an event eg. a festal evensong, prayer walk, praise evening, coffee morning etc. or just including a prayer during services on Sunday, August 7th.
AWAY FROM IT ALL HOLIDAYS.
Times together as a family are precious, yet many families-and often those who have the most stressful lives-never have that time .
Here is where Mothers’Union can help .Some dioceses in Ireland have many years of experience in arranging such short breaks in a very confidential manner. Funds can be limited but we do our best when it comes to a family in need. We have witnessed the joy brought to a family when they return refreshed to carry on.
Clergy like yourselves are in the most ideal position to make Referral’s .The procedure entails you completing a Referral Form and the applicant also has to complete and sign an application form .There will be a contact number and address of the AFIA Coordinator to return it to ,and once the family fit the criteria and the funds allow the coordinator will work closely with the family in a confidential manner to arrange a break that best suits their requirements.
These type of holidays are available throughout Ireland and if your particular diocese is not in a position to be able to help they will put you in touch with another.
One family wrote to us after their break and said “We had a very fractured relationship with all the stresses in life but our peaceful time together, away from everything and being able to enjoy our children made such a difference to being able to carry on. We are so thankful to Mothers’Union for especially thinking of us.”
‘Tea , anyone?’
The results of ‘Mums in May 2015’ are in with an amazing total of over €73,000 being raised. As an All-Ireland triennial fundraiser, it galvanised members from all over the country to get together for fellowship, fun and fundraising. And what a lot of fun we had as we poured tea, baked buns and gathered together. We had a Bishop and an Archdeacon icing cupcakes in Connor as they competed in the ‘Great Connor Bake-Off’ while over in Kilmore Diocese members, husbands and friends donned an amazing array of hats at their Mad Hatter’s Tea-party. The fundraising is important, of course, but getting together socially for friendship and fellowship is at the core of Mums in May.
Alongside the many tea-parties, a brand new book ‘Grace & Flavours’ was published and some 7000 copies sold across the country. The proceeds of this book alone will fund a project to develop MU’s successful Literacy & Financial Education programme in Ethiopia, bringing the gift of literacy and numeracy to adults who never had the opportunity to go to school. It is a gift that is truly life transforming in a part of the world where literacy levels among women average 29% but can be as low as 2% .
The remainder of the funds raised in 2015 will boost the Mums in May Fund which supports Mothers’ Union projects in every diocese in Ireland. For example, it has enabled our renowned Away From It All (AFIA) holiday programme to grow and develop, helping families who are facing difficult times to get the break they so deserve. Thank you to everyone who helped to make Mums in May such a success and for helping us to reach out to so many, both at home and overseas.
Raids and abductions in Gambella, Ethiopia
Mothers’ Union in Ethiopia is mainly based in the Gambella region on the South Sudan border, where the situation has been deteriorating for many months with bomb attacks and various shootings. The community has been on high alert and the situation is volatile. Currently, Gambella hosts 284,000 South Sudanese refugees, mostly of the Nuer ethnic group.
On Friday, 15th April, heavily armed men from the Murle tribe crossed from South Sudan into Ethiopia where they simultaneously attacked 10 Nuer villages. These 10 villages are in Jikow and Nyinenyang, where there are Anglican Church communities and Mothers’ Union Literacy circles.
The attacks lead to the death of 208 civilians, 75 civilians have been wounded, all mainly women and children and 108 children were kidnapped. Food and cattle have also been taken.
The situation in South Sudan is very tense especially among the Nuer communities. The Murle and Nuer have had intertribal conflict in Jonglei State, South Sudan. The Murle have a history of cattle raiding and kidnapping children to raise as their own. At this time, the Ethiopian Government is threatening to fight the Murle which could lead to wider regional conflict.
Pray for those who have been bereaved through this attack; for the safe return of the kidnapped children; that this conflict will not escalate and for wisdom for those in positions of influence and authority.
Loving Lord,we pray for all affected by this atrocity:
may those bereaved or physically harmedknow your comfort and healing;
may the children kidnapped be kept safeand swiftly returned to their families.
May the light of Christ be a beacon of hopein a troubled situation .Amen