As Mothering Sunday approaches, Julia Tum, President of the Mothers’ Union in our diocese has written a timely reflection on its valuable work with sisters and brothers at home and abroad.
“It has been a wonderful three months for the Mothers’ Union (MU) across the world, within Leeds Diocese and in all of our Branches throughout this Diocese,” writes Julia.
“We have been focusing on all aspects of life which have ‘mothering’ as their central tenet. In early January we held services focusing on set prayers for our “Wave of Prayer” where we prayed for, in particular, those Members in our link dioceses of Ogbomoso and Etche in Nigeria, Kibungo in Rwanda, Hanuato’o in the Solomon Islands and Lesotho.
Their way of life, their culture and their problems are so different to ours and MU organise many initiatives - for example parenting and literacy courses. In Hanuato’o 96% of the population are Christian and 70% are under 30.
There are female-headed households due to Covid-19. Lesotho has one of the world's highest rates of HIV-Aids infection and this has resulted in a large number of child-headed households because both parents have died of the disease.
They are the new mothers in our world. These families continue to face Gender-Based Violence leaving them dysfunctional and they are headed and mothered by desperate children.
On the first Friday in March, churches across the globe enjoyed a service written by women in the Cook Islands….it was a moving time together and we were able to read out the stories written by four women who live there willing to share their experiences.
On Saturday 15 March we held a wonderful, inspiring and truly enabling Commissioning Service at Wakefield Cathedral.
Bishop Nick led the Service and Bishop Smitha, Bishop of Huddersfield, gave an emboldening sermon encouraging all MU Members to sing out to everyone about the MU and to raise its profile. This can only be achieved with the strength of the Holy Spirit and God’s grace and through our prayers.
Continuing through this month on 25 March MU across the globe celebrated the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary …. more commonly known as “Our Lady’s Day” and even more contemporarily as ‘Lady Day’.
Churches across Leeds Diocese held services to reflect and to give thanks for the courage of Mary to say “YES”. We can look inwardly to see how we as MU Members may have failed to have our ears fully open to hear God, and should respond without doubt and fear.
The service encouraged us all to step out with open hearts. Many of the services across the Diocese included all members re-dedicating their MU Membership and re-considering the aims and vision of this mighty organisation.
On the Saturday before Mothering Sunday Halifax Minster are hosting a wonderful event experience called the Festival of Women. The Mothers’ Union have a stall there plus Women's Aid and Pennine Domestic Abuse Partnership.
These are agencies who the MU works with in partnership. Mothers Union raises awareness of domestic abuse and also collects items for the Refuges ….a place of safety where the women turn to when the abuse and controlling behaviour becomes too unbearable. Initiatives in Leeds Diocese include volunteering in New Hall Prison, feeding the homeless in Leeds, donations of love to Baby Banks, knitting mittens for those young children arriving at school with hands too cold to hold a pencil; knitting twiddle muffs for those in residential homes, leading craft activities in residential homes and so so much more.
Mothers’ Day celebrates all mothers everywhere….male or female, young and old. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday He predicted that if the people were quiet the stones that he walked on would ring out and shout the news that He had arrived. One week later following His crucifixion He rose from the dead and He is certainly now with us for ever.
How much more can we do to continue His work on earth, as His hands and feet?
We can pray for MU Members across the world, we can sing out and follow services created by women from other countries; we can be moved by prayer and strengthened in God’s service, we can let the joy of Jesus fill our hearts, we can continue to support and progress the many initiatives undertaken across this diocese led by MU and with our partners, and just in the same way that Mary, mother of Jesus said “YES” to Angel Gabriel we can say “YES” to where God is leading us to.
Happy Mothering Sunday to everyone!
Join us, join in…we are changing lives.”