August newsletter
posted by: Joan Vine | on: Thursday, 21 August 2025, 19:18
Thoughts from your President, Maxine
Welcome to your new look newsletter – can you see much difference? Well, there isn’t a lot, but MSH has had a “Brand Refresh” and the colours are sharper and the font is clearer. We have a new diocesan logo (top left) and the monogram is officially back – fractionally different, but the same familiar MU letters – did it ever really go away? If you produce your own literature, we are asked to use these new features going forward – get them in usable form with guidelines from Secretary Kathryn. You don’t have to throw your old stuff away, these are just for new things and, bear in mind that the MU monogram should only be used in conjunction with the diocesan logo. There are also little illustrations like the ones in this year’s Prayer Diary to add in as you go along.
I’ve been presenting RISE UP certificates at a couple of churches this month – bronze at All Saints, Woodford Wells and silver at St Luke’s, Moulsham, where I also enrolled a new Diocesan Member, Rev Stephanie Gillingham. Lucy Bubb, a long-standing DM had never been officially enrolled, so we “did” her at the same time – it was quite a special event. These presentations have been during Sunday worship and I have been enjoying some different styles of worship and gaining ideas for our MU services.
Jon and I also had a lovely afternoon at the Grays Branch “Tea and Cakes” event for the Summer of Hope appeal – don’t MU members have lovely gardens?!
I'm looking forward to meeting some more of you again soon at our Mary Sumner Day Service when we will worship together, share tea and cakes and have an opportunity to preview the Join Us, Join In Members’ Day material.
All this day, O Lord, let me touch as many lives as possible for thee; and every life I touch, do thou by thy spirit quicken, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I breathe, or the life I live. AMEN
I would like to plug the webinars advertised in last month’s newsletter and the one next week is going to be a good overview of Safeguarding in an MU context (email membership@mothersunion.org if you would like to attend on 7th August at 11am) and I am hoping to show the previous one on the newly relaunched prisons program at our September Friday Evening Zoom meeting. To join Zoom Meeting:-
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83298719598?pwd=NzDR6l4EAe0tI6iGRbdLkgU1ooKc3c.1
Meeting ID: 832 9871 9598
Passcode: 433534
It’s the same code for the next three meetings. In November, we will be joined by Julia Jamieson, our Zonal Trustee, who will tell us a bit about the workings of the Worldwide Trustee Board and her role in particular – should be interesting. Anyone who hasn’t been to one of these yet and would like to join with Barkingside Branch and some of our DM’s, please email on president@muchelmsford.org.uk and I will add you to the circulation list – we’re quite a friendly bunch (in my opinion!) The October meeting is still “to be confirmed” – your ideas are welcome…
Have a lovely restful August
With love and blessings.
Maxine x
150th Anniversary Service 2026
The 150th year Celebratory Service at St Paul’s will now take place on Wednesday 10th June at 5pm. The ticketing system for the service and booking for the 150th Annual Gathering taking place the following day at the Emmanuel Centre, will be going live in the Autumn.
AFIA
A reminder that the AFIA scheme is now offering days out in addition to short breaks for families in need. Our new referral form and AFIA leaflet has been circulated to all branches and is also available from our AFIA rep (afia@muchelmsford.org.uk).
News from Mary Sumner House
For regular updates on central MU work, sign up to the central e-newsletter on this link:
https://mothersuniononline.org/p/1I8Y-G0K/sign-up-to-the-mothers-union-mailing-list
Mary Sumner House is continuing its new webinar series with the following webinars scheduled:
- Domestic Abuse Facts and Fiction 10th September 6pm
- Leading with purpose – 9th October 11:30am
- Modern Day Slavery – 19th November 6pm
- Goal setting and personal vision planning – 11th December 11:30am
If anyone is interested in attending any of these sessions please email membership@mothersunion.org
Dates for the dairy
- Safeguarding Webinar - Thursday 7th August, 11am
- Mary Sumner Day – 9th August – Waltham Abbey. Service from 2pm followed by refreshments.
- Domestic Abuse, facts and fiction, Webinar – Wednesday 10th September, 6pm
- Friday Evening Zoom – Friday 26th September, 7.30pm
- Provincial Gathering in Oxford - 27th September. Visit ticketsource.co.uk/mothers-union to book tickets. Event pack now available on request.
- AGM – 17th November from 10:30 in the Chapter House
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