Mothers' Union is the largest international Christian organisation with over 4 million members in 83 countries across the world.
Within this worldwide organisation we are part of the Anglican Province of Canterbury and based in the South West of England above Bristol, bordered by Wales in the West and the Cotswold Hills to the East.
Led by our Diocesan President, Doreen McLellan for the triennial 2022-2024 we have 27 branches across 8 deaneries and about 650 members working towards the Mothers' Union vision to strengthen and preserve family life and marriage, by our Christian faith through practical action.
This practical action can be seen through the giving of self, in prayer, in voluntary work, and in helping those less fortunate than ourselves in whatever ways we can.
Following the links, please take the time to discover how we respond to our Mothers' Union vision of a world where God's love is shown through loving, respectful, and flourishing relationships.
Are you a Facebook user? If so, please join the Mothers' Union Diocese of Gloucester facebook page.(Search in Facebook groups for MOTHERS' UNION GLOUCESTER DIOCESE)
Every day, the prayers from our Prayer Diary are published, together with the Wave of Prayer. Also any items of interest to Mothers' Union members which appear on the Church of England social media sites.
The national Mothers' Union website is a source of information about the worldwide organisation, national projects, monthly prayers and resources for members.
http://www.mothersunion.orgMidday Prayers are live on their Facebook page at 12:00 noon daily.
https://www.facebook.com/MothersUnion
Doreen was formally commissioned as our Diocesan President at the Lady day service in 2022 in Gloucester cathedral , alongside the Trustees and Speakers. Revd. Liz Palin was also commisioned as our chaplain.
Dear Fellow Members
He is risen, He is risen indeed! Alleluiah.
It seems a long time since we said the above, probably because Easter was early this year and, as I write this, we ae still in April. I hope that you all had a good Eastertide and have been able to enjoy some of the drier and warmer weather that we have had lately. It has been lovely to see some sunshine and to see the trees coming into leaf.
Our news in the Diocese is that, after a long gap, we now have a new Diocesan secretary. Her name is Gemma McLean-Mair and there is a short piece in Roundabout to introduce her. Do drop in the office to meet Gemma but please, whether speaking to her face-to-face or on the phone, remember that she is learning the ropes and it will take a little while for her to master everything. We already apprediate the support she is giving to us in the office. I am grateful too for those who have come into the office to halp and support me while we have not had a secretary.
In February Philip and I spent a week in Madeira with friends and one of the things we did was to attend the English church in Funchal on the Sunday morning. Our friends have spent many holidays in Madeira so knew where the church was located -I don't think we would have found it. There was a good congregation, many of whom live on the island, but there were others, like us, just there on holiday. They made us very welcome and were very friendly.
It is always good to attend different churches and see how things are the same and how they differ, although it was good to attend a service in English as it was easier to follow! I remember doing a course many years ago in Rochester Diocese and, as part of that, we were instructed to attend services in churches with a different tradition to our own as they would have much to offer that wecould use in our own churches. It certainly took us out of our comfort zones but was a valuable exercise - but one I tend to only practice now when I am away from home!
As we look forward to Summer I hope that you will be able to enjoy all that the season brings.
With love and prayers,
Doreen