Celebrating 100 years of the St John's MU

Current St John's MU members with Bishop & Mugisa Isingoma

This month we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Mothers’ Union at St John’s Seven Kings.

Our celebrations will include a display of Flowers, a Mothers’ Union exhibition, a display of the St John's Mothers' Union archive, a National Marriage Week display, a Celebration Service, and an afternoon tea. We have invited many past members and friends of the MU and church to our celebrations on Saturday 14th February, where we will also be joined by representatives from Mothers’ Union in the Chelmsford Diocese. The displays and exhibitions can be viewed from 10.00am while the Celebration Service begins at 2.00pm and will be followed by Afternoon Tea.

Mothers' Union is a Christian organisation with more than 3.6 million members in 79 countries worldwide. The Mothers’ Union seeks to: promote and support married life; encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children; maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service; promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children; and help those whose family life has met with adversity.

The backbone of Mothers' Union is its worldwide network of grassroots volunteers. Whatever their individual backgrounds, members are united in their commitment to supporting marriage and family life. They give their time to generously help others, whether by running local projects, supporting international campaigns, or fundraising.

That has certainly been the case here at St John’s with the Playgroup, Pram Club and Contact Centre all owing their origins to the Mothers’ Union and, in the case of the latter two, continuing to be run through the commitment of members. Other events such as the summer Tea Afternoons and the Book Stall have consistently raised significant funds for Mothers’ Union projects in the UK and overseas. We have also sustained a long-term partnership with the Mothers’ Union branch in Warradale, Australia which at one time involved a pan-continental pancake race. People will be able to find out much more about these and many other Mothers’ Union activities at St John’s by visiting the exhibition on 14th February.

Mothers’ Union has a wonderful vision of a world where God's love is shown through loving, respectful, and flourishing relationships. Its aim is to demonstrate the Christian faith in action by the transformation of communities worldwide through the nurture of the family in its many forms. This Anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all that the Mothers' Union is and does both here at St John's and throughout the world.

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Mavis Staples - Hard Times Come Again No More.