Everyone is welcome to our meetings held in the Church Hall at 7.30pm on the 3rd Monday of each month. Contact the Mothers' Union secretary for details.
This page reflects on past meetings and looks forward to future ones.
- March 2010
- February 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- August 2008
March 2010
At our AGM in January we reflected on the activities of the branch during the past year. It was the wish of the members present that the branch continue to be run on their behalf by a corporate committee.
We have again been able to make donations to Mothers' Union charities and this year on recommendation we chose the Overseas Fund and the Relief Fund both of which are in financial difficulties. These donations are based solely on the proceeds of our two fundraising events - a homemade cake stall in May and a Beetle Drive in August - we would ask your support at these two events when they come up later in the year.
Our outreach projects continue quietly in the background. We are encouraged by the Diocese to actively support our local hospitals, in our case the L&D, and we make up toilet bags for patients who are admitted as emergency cases and we also send hand knitted and sewn items to the Neo Natal Baby Unit. Although not a Mothers' Union charity we have for some years had a special interest in the Mission to Seafarers at the Tilbury Seafarers Centre and knit fingerless mittens and round hats for distribution to the crews of ships docking at Tilbury. All these gifts are greatly welcomed and in both instances the demand is of course ongoing.
Our usual monthly meetings commence again on Monday 15th February when Nola McCormick, our speaker for the evening, will take us behind the scenes at the European Conference of the Women's World Day of Prayer which this year is on Friday 5th March.
At our meeting on Monday 15th March we warmly welcome Shirley and Mick Ogden who will give a talk entitled "A taste of Kefalonia" based on their experineces since making their home on the island.
February 2010
The last contribution to Outlook, written by necessity for publishing purposes at the beginning of November, for the bumper two months issue, gave little opportunity to dwell on the important, and sometimes somewhat overshadowed, period of Advent follwed by the great festival of Christmas. These seasons have now passed and the Church year continues following the familiar liturgical calendar.
At the beginning of December we again received an invitation from the Union of Catholic Mothers at St Francis of Assisi to join them and participate in their Advent Candle Service. As in previous years, along with represntatives from various churches and denominations within the Shefford area, we were warmly welcomed and following a short but lovely service, enjoyed a time of fellowship and friendship on this most ecumenical occasion.
In common with other organisations within the village our December meeting was a social evening with a bring and share supper and an exchange of small gifts. We enjoyed listening to David Warner entertaining us on the keyboard and joined in a sing along of familiar Christmas songs and carols.
The January meeting is our AGM and the beginning of a new triennium. Our usual monthly meetings commence again on Monday 15th February with Nola McCormic (our speaker for the evening) who will take us behind the scenes at the European Conference of the Woman's World Day of Prayer which this year will be on Friday 5th March.
December 2009
In October we were happy to welcome Bill Duperouzel the administrator for the charity Workaid - some may remember our previous contact with this organisation several years ago.
The charity founded by a small Christian house group in Amersham in 1985 was inspired by Bob Geldoff and Band Aid to help some of the poorest people in the African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Zambia by providing them with literally the tools and skills to become self reliant and able to support themselves and their families.
Donations of redundant kitting and sewing machines, typewriters and tools of every description are collected from numerous points around the country, brought to the new headquarters at the Old Boot Factory in Chesham where they are repaired and refurbished by a team of mostly retired volunteers before being packed and made ready for departure. No details are forgotten, knitting machines are accompanied with wool, sewing machines with haberdashery items and packed in cloth and tools made up into complete kits for every trade, even the freight containers (usually old ones) are converted into rooms and storage areas on reaching their destination, nothing, but nothing is wasted.
Some statistics - last year Workaid sent 782 sewing machines, 381 typewriters, 155 knitting machines, 490 toolkits and 190 other items to 129 projects in Africa to equip disadvantaged people with the tools they need to earn a living.
Bill Duperouzel was very happy to take away with him the items we had collected. A big thank you to those who read or heard of the appeal and responded so generously, be assured everything will be put to good use.
November 2009
At our September meeting we welcomed Elaine Murphy and two of her colleagues from the Mid-shires Search and Rescue Organisation. Established in 1999 it is part of the overall UK framework for search and rescue and covers the Beds. Herts. and Milton Keynes area and occasionally further afield.
The team comprises some 35 volunteers across the area who can be called upon at any time (day or night) to assist the police in locating missing persons when extra resources or additional help is felt necessary. Mid-shires are also members of the Bedfordshire and Luton Emergency Volunteers Executive Committee and as such are on call to assist in any civil emergencies such as flooding or fire, the evacuation of residents, staffing of rest centres, etc.
All the team members are volunteers and provide their own clothing and equipment and attend regular monthly training sessions in basic search theory and search techniques, use of radio communications and general navigation using map, compass and GPS and first aid.
A control vehicle provides not only a base for radio communication but also a welfare section for hot drinks and a bite to eat. Using their skills and expertise Mid-shires volunteers are always on call and ready to assist.
On Monday 19th October our guest speaker will be Bill Duperouzel from the charity Workaid and we welcome our Rector, Graham Newton as our speaker to our meeting on Monday 16th November.
October 2009
The branch continued to meet during the summer months of July and August. In July Margaret and Neil Davis told us about the part they played in training puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Margaret and Neil accepted very young puppies for the initial stage of their training, teaching them basic obedience commands and social skills - experience and endless patience surely a 'must have' - before handing them on for more advanced and specialised training.
In answer to the often asked question of how did they feel about handing back their precious charges, Margaret and Neil said that nothing gave them greater pleasure than seeing their puppies progress to fully fledged Guide Dogs entitled to wear the familiar yellow jacket.
In August numbers at the Beetle Drive were a little down to that of recent years - perhaps the road works and road closure had a bearing on this. Those that did come enjoyed the evening, their luck or misfortune being according to the dice. Many thanks to Doug Geairns who oversaw the proceedings with his usual jovial and good humour.
We begin our autumn programme on Monday 21st September with Elaine Murphy from the Mid Shires Search and Rescue team.
On Monday 19th October our guest speaker will be Bill Duperouzel from the charity Workaid.
August 2009
Slides and Snacks was the title of our social mid season June meeting when we were entertained by David Warner, who forsaking the keyboard on this occasion, gave a slide show of holiday memories both from home and abroad interspersed with his usual amusing quips. Everyone then enjoyed a delicious array of snacks prepared by the committee.
On Monday 20th July we welcome Margaret and Neil Davis who will be telling us about their experiences in training puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Monday 17th August is the date of our ever popular annual Beetle Drive when we welcome friends old and new to a fun evening - no skill required, just the luck of the dice. Do come along and join us, all proceeds to Mothers’ Union charities.
We start our autumn programme on Monday 21st September with Elaine Murphy from Mid Shires Search and Rescue Team.
July 2009
The guest speaker at our May meeting was Revd. Ray Trudgett Anglican Chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers at Tilbury, Thamesport and Sheerness. Ray has been with the organisation for over fifteen years and during that time has been attached to centres in the middle east at Bahrain and Jordan, as well as postings in other areas of the UK.
The Mission to Seafarers is an international agency active in more than sixty countries working in partnership with other agencies and alongside other Christina denominations to care for the welfare of seafarers whatever their faith or nationality.
Most of today's seafarers come from some of the poorest parts of the world, the Philippines and other parts of Asia. Away from home for many months, homesick, lonely, as today's ships often have small multinational crews making communication difficult, facing danger and hardship. Some unscrupulous shipowners allow unsafe vessels to put to sea and it is not unknown for ships to be abandoned leaving crews stranded thousands of miles from home and owed months of back pay.
The mission centres offer a warm and friendly place to relax and the opportunity to call home and buy basic supplies. With ever faster unloading and turn around times crews may not have the chance to come ashore so ship visiting is an important part of each day for every chaplain who takes on board gifts of clothing, newspapers and books in seafarers' own languages as well as vital welfare information.
Although not a Mothers' Union charity it is an organisation our branch has had an interest in for nearly ten years and indeed visited the centre at Tilbury a few years ago. We are one of tech many groups and individuals that knit hats and fingerless mittens that are much appreciated by seafarers not used to the colder weather in the northern hemisphere. Some 300 hats per week are handed out at the centre, bright yellow being a very popular colour! Ray was very pleased to accept a large bag of hats and mittens and to have the opportunity to thank personally our knitters.
Our June meeting will be a mid-season social evening and on Monday 20th July we welcome Margaret and Neil Davis who will be telling us about their experiences in training puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Monday 17th August is the date for our ever-popular annual Beetle Drive when we welcome friends old and new to a fun evening. Do come along and join us, all proceeds to Mothers' Union charities.
June 2009
The speaker at our April meeting was the Revd. Elizabeth Bradley, Chaplain to the Luton & Dunstable Hospital. Elizabeth has been chaplain at the hospital for seven years, her role covering both staff and patients. Every ward is visited every week and she is assisted by voluntary chaplains from various denominations and a team of twelve ward visitors. The capel is beautifully decorated with flowers, has a team of four organists and willing 'wheelers' take patients wishing to attend the Sunday service from the wards to the chapel.
Elizabeth sits on a number of committees dealing with matters as diverse as clinical and research ethics, bereavement policy, emergency planning and pastoral care.
The Mothers' Union encourages its members to actively support their local hospitals with donations of suggested gifts that are known to be welcomed and appreciated. Using our personal resources (or any that can be got from other means eg. family and friends) we regularly make up and send batches of toilet bags for emergency admission patients. The Maternity Unit is a Level 3 Unit taking patients from a very large area and the neo-natal unit, shortly to be expanded, welcomes the hand-knitted blankets, garments and sewn items we send. Elizabeth was delighted to accept two large bags of baby items in support of this ongoing outreach work.
Elizabeth concluded her talk by sharing with us some of her very memorable experiences with people she has come into contact with.
On Monday 18th May we welcome the Anglican Chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers at Tilbury Revd. Ray Trudgett and our June meeting will be a mid-season social evening.
Monday 17th August is the date for our ever-popular annual Beetle Drive when we welcome friends old and new to a fun evening. Do come along and join us, all proceeds to Mothers' Union charities.
May 2009
We were delighted to welcome a number of visitors to our March meeting who came along to listen to our guest speaker Jenny Moody MBE talk about her work and development with the Luton Women's Aid Centre.
Jenny began her talk by tracing the history of the Centre which she founded some 37 years ago when as a social worker she was confronted with instances of abuse towards two women and was unable to offer either of them any practical support, the official thinking of the time lacking in sympathy and understanding of such situations. With determination and a little help she set up a small refuge which ran for some ten years before unexpected intervention by the late Princess Diana enabled a second house or refuge to be opened. Jenny quoted statistics that were truly appalling and irrespective of social status or age, the youngest girl of just 16 and the eldest a woman of 85. Interspersed with her talk she read a few short poems written by some of the victims that were very moving in their content especially one entitled ‘I Got Flowers Today'
Bringing us up to date we were told about the latest addition to the complex in Luton, Brenda Hose, and were taken on a virtual tour of the buildings and its facilities.
Voilence against women takes on many forms, physical, mental, sexual with devastating and sometimes fatal results. Jenny Mood, now with help from others, enlightened official thinking and a nationwide network of refuge centres continues to work tirelessly for her chosen cause.
On Monday 20th April our guest speaker will be Revd. Elizabeth Bradley, Chaplain to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital and on Monday 18th May we welcome the Anglican Chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers at Tilbury Revd. Ray Trudgett.
We are having a homemade cake stall outside the library on Saturday morning 16th May, all proceeds to Mothers' Union charities.
The Committee
April 2009
Our February meeting was a rather informal evening. Instead of a guest speaker the members took the floor and participated in an impromptu session entitled 'Memories are Made of This'. Everyone was asked to bring along an item that held special memories for them and to share their stories. So many memories - old, new, happy nostalgic, some rather poignant. Memories spanning the years and spanning the world from the quintessentially English to the far reaches of the southern hemisphere. It was amazing to discover the stories behind the items so generously brought along.
At our meeting in March we warmly welcomed Jenny Moody MBE who spoke about her work and development with the Luton Women's Aid Centre. Jenny was presented with her award in recognition of founding this centre, and her continuing work for its success. Violence against women is a subject often in the forefront of today's society and much discussed in the media.
On Monday 20th April our guest speaker will be Revd. Elizabeth Bradley, Chaplain to the Luton & Dunstable Hospital.
March 2009
At our AGM in January we reflected on the activities of the branch during the past year and it was the wish of the members present that the branch continue to be run for the final year of the current triennial on their behalf by a corporate committee.
We have again this year been able to make donations to Mothers' Union charities. These donations are based solely on the proceeds of our two fund raising events - a homemade cake stall and a Beetle Drive - and we would ask you to please support these two events when they appear on the calendar later in the year.
Our outreach projects continue quietly in the background. We support the L&D hospital by making up toilet bags for patients who are admitted as emergency cases and send hand knitted and sewn items to the Neo Natal Baby Unit. We have a special interest in the Mission to Seafarers at the Tilbury Seafarers Centre and knit fingerless mittens and round hats for crews of ships docking at Tilbury. In both instances the demand, of course, is ongoing.
Our usual monthly meetings commence again on Monday 16th February when we had an evening entitled ' Memories are Made of This'.
At our next meeting on Monday 16th March we will be welcoming Jenny Moody MBE who will speak about her work with the Luton Women's Aid Centre. Jenny was presented with her MBE in recognition of founding this centre in Luton, and her continuing work for its success.
February 2009
The last contribution to Outlook written by necessity for publishing purposes at the beginning of November for the double two-month issue gave little opportunity to dwell on the important period of Advent and the festival of Christmas. These seasons have now passed and the Church year continues following its familiar liturgical calendar.
At the beginning of December we again received an invitation from the Union of Catholic Mothers at St Francis of Assisi to join them for their Advent Candle Service. As in previous years, along with representatives from various churches and denominations within the Shefford area, we were warmly welcomed and following the short but lovely service enjoyed a time of fellowship and friendship on this most ecumenical occasion.
In common with other organisations in the village our December meeting was a social evening with a bring and share supper and an exchange of small gifts. We all enjoyed a carol singing session accompanied by David Warner on the keyboard.
The January meeting is our AGM and our usual monthly meetings commence again on Monday 16th February with a session entitled 'Memories Are Made of This'.
December 2008
The guest speaker at our October meeting was Flora Harding from Flitwick who spoke on the Mothers' Union theme for this year 'Time for Relationship'.
Flora defined time as being a continuous and indefinite progress of existence and relationship as being an association or connection with.
She gave examples of personal relationships, based on everyday experiences, within the immediate family. The relationship between parents and children, and how those relationships change as children progress from tiny tots to difficult teenagers finding their feet in an adult world. The relationship with grandparents and older members of the family group. She reflected on personal relationships with our wider family in the church and fellow members of the mothers' Union, this special worldwide organisation which unlike other women's groups is founded on prayer. Relationships with colleagues and neighbours and strangers met by chance.
The well known passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes citing a time for everything provided the basis to think about relationships with situations, often beyond our control, and how we view and react to them from a Christian perception.
Flora concluded her talk by leading an informal discussion.
On Monday 17th November we welcome our Rector, Graham, as our guest speaker. Our December meeting will be a social evening.
November 2008
We were pleased to welcome a number of visitors to our September meeting who came to listen to David Cope speak about the Teso Development Trust, a UK based Christian charity working through the Church of Uganda to support development projects in Teso, a region in the north eastern area of that country.
David first became interested in the Teso Development Trust through Nora Reams, a late member of our congregation. Initially he was involved in the Human and Animal Health Care Project. Many will remember the famous meat raffles in church, the proceeds of which were used to purchase a cross breed Friesian cow from neighbouring Kenya, the herds of cattle kept by the villagers not primarily for their milk and meat but for prestige purposes e.g. a dowry often being calculated in cows.
Being of the teaching profession, David was naturally drawn to the educational aspect of the charity TESS (Teso Educational Sponsorship Scheme) set up in 2004. In Uganda primary education is free although the compulsory purchase of school uniform, books, lunches, etc. make it out of the reach of many children, especially girls and orphans. At the end of primary education there is an examination and only those with the highest grades are admitted into secondary education, which is not free. TESS endeavours to find sponsors for those children who have attained good grades but where there is no money to allow them to continue their education. The sponsorship scheme is administered in the UK by Margaret Stevens and currently has 260 students of which 230 are girls, traditionally the least likely to proceed beyond basic education. Many of these students are orphans and have endured desperate and terrible hardships in their short lives.
The popular Murder Mystery evenings staged by David and friends fund sponsorship for a boy named Michael that David has met on a previous visit to Teso. The need for sponsorship is obviously ongoing, so that is the brightest and neediest children can have the chance of education.
At the end of November, David is planning to go to Uganda to help with the 2008 Retreat and meet the sponsored students. It will be a combination of Christian teaching in the mornings followed by advice on practical development projects and careers guidance all based on the theme 'help other people'.
David is staying on over the Christmas period and hopes to host a traditional English Christmas! Travelling under the status of a charity David is allowed excess baggage allowance on the aircraft and is more than happy to take a supply of such items as felt tipped pens, writing and sketch pads, handicrafts of all types, etc. etc. all as last year - a wish list will be available soon!
Our October meeting is on Monday 20th October when Flora Harding will speak on the Mothers' Union theme for this year 'Time for Relationship[' and on Monday 17th November we welcome theRector.
October 2008
The branch continued to meet during the summer months and in July our guest speaker was Mike Chapman a Community Support Officer from the Luton Branch of Bedfordshire Sight Concern. Accompanying Mike was a partially sighted young lady 'learning the ropes' with a desire to work with young people.
After giving us some facts and figures and a background of Sight Concern and its work with the partially sighted Mike spoke about some of the most common malfunctions of the eye that cause the sight to fail in varying degrees. As a practical demonstration we were invited to try on spectacles simulating these conditions.
Mike told us of his role as a Community Support Officer and displayed a variety of aids and some very ingenious gadgets to assist the partially sighted. At the end of the evening we all apreciated how very precoius is the gift of sight.
Our August meeting was as usual our ever popular Beetle Drive when fund raising just means enjoying a fun evening. We were delighted to welcome a number of friends and our compere for the evening was a very genial Bob Ashby with his very colourful whistle. Our grateful thanks to him and to all who supported the evening.
Our autumn programme starts on Monday September 15th when David Cope will be speaking about the TESO Development Trust in northern Uganda. Our church has had an interest in TESO for many years and we look forward to hearing the latest news from there and David's planned trip at the end of the year.
Our October meeting is on Monday 20th October when Flora Harding will speak on the Mothers' Union theme for this year 'Time for Relationship'.
August 2008
Our June meeting was a mid season summer social evening - Tarts for Tea-time. We sampled a selection of delicious tarts with our tea and enjoyed entertainment provided by David Warner at the keyboard. David played a selection of popular songs from the shows, his special forte, and later we joined in a sing along of some old popular classic songs.
The Mothers' Union are holding a sweries of Road Shows around the country this year instead of a rally at a central point. Our nearest venue was the Walker's Stadium at Leicester and three of our committee joined the coach party attending from our Diocese.
Some committee members also represented the branch at the Diocesan Annual Meeting held at the end of June at St Mary's Church Marshalswick, when the guest speaker was Bishop Richard of Bedford.
Our July meeting on Monday 21st returns to the usual format when Sue Fever from Sight Concern Bedfordshire will be our guest speaker.
Monday 18th August is our traditional Beetle Drive, the second of our fund raising events, when we hope to welcome friends both old and new to this fun evening.