Mothers Union

Mothers' Union at St. Andrew's Paddock Wood

Our Vision is of a world where God's love is shown through loving, respectful, and flourishing relationships.

Our Aim & Purpose is to demonstrate the Christian faith in action by the transformation of communities worldwide through the nurture of the family in its many forms.

Mission:
● To promote and support married life
● To encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children
● To maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service
● To promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children
● To help those whose family life has met with adversity

Values: Mothers' Union is firmly rooted in a voluntary ethos. Its governance, leadership, and programmes are driven by and undertaken through members around the world as they respond to God's call to faith and action.
Beliefs:
● We believe in the value of each individual and their unique qualities
● We believe in the value of relationships. Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself"
● We believe in the value of the family in its many forms as a source of love and support for individuals and the basis for a caring community

MU in Paddock Wood
Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 2pm in the Wallis Room, and we welcome all who are interested.
You can become part of our worldwide organisation to support family life today! Membership is open to anyone, male or female, single or married, providing you have been baptised as a Christian and support our aims and objectives (as above)
Members are individually involved in many aspects of community and church life including:
Little Pickles group - Mondays 9.45 - 11.15 in term time
Family crafts
Fair trade shop

Programme
19 Jan AGM
16 Feb Adele Cross - Burrswood
16 Mar Elizabeth Thomas - Her work in Local Government
20 Apr Alison Callway - "Who do you think you are?"
18 May Tea Party - A Trip down Memory Lane
15 Jun Judy Cuthbert - Why I belong to the MU
20 Jul Sue Wadsworth - Her work at the Crematorium
17 Aug 10-12 Overseas Coffee Morning at 15 The Ridings
21 Sept Craft Afternoon
19 Oct DVD - The Work of the Mothers' Union
16 Nov Tom Chewter - Memories on the Beat
7 Dec Christmas Meeting

For further information contact Barbara Smith (01892) 833564

NATIONWIDE NETWORK PROJECTS
Away From It All - a scheme which organises over 750 holidays a year for families experiencing difficulties and needing a break
Supporting Children & Families Affected by Imprisonment - This project involves our members in 70 prisons in the UK
Media Awareness Project - Helps families understand how the media can affect and influence them
In many countries, women's access to economic resources is limited.
Through grants, the Mothers' Union -
* Assists members to set up local projects (many make a difference to health and poverty levels of the whole community)
* Funds training in - self help; leadership skills; agriculture; child care; nutrition; HIV/AIDS awareness; Literacy
FAMILY ISSUES
The Mothers' Union is active in influencing issues affecting our members worldwide. Legislation & social policy are monitored -
* We seek to get our voice heard in the public debate on marriage & family life
* On a global scale, we are calling for the abolition of Third World Debt

Visit the Mothers' Union web site www.themothersunion.org
or e-mail: the Mothers' Union