MU Eucharist at Christchurch
7th January
This was our first meeting as new members of Christchurch, Portsdown branch.
At a Eucharist service in the church, everyone was welcomed by the Vicar, Revd. Andy Wilson.
Sheila King (Deanery Co-Ordinator) read the Purpose, Aim and Objects of the Mothers’ Union and following her, the Revd Elizabeth Grove, Portsmouth Diocesan President, led all members existing and new in affirming their commitment to the MU and admitted two new members, Rosemary and Christine.
Next, Branch Leader Ros Molloy, welcomed St George’s ladies into their branch.
We had the Mothers’ Union hymn, which I admit was new to me and finished with a favourite As With Gladness Men of Old.
Afterwards we had mugs of tea and some delicious homemade cakes, and chatted together seated at tables set out at the back of the church.
Subs Day Coffee Morning
29th January
On a bright, sunny, but cold day about twenty ladies gathered in the large hall at All Saints, Denmead for our Subs Day coffee morning.
There was a Raffle (which raised £31) and Norma and Dianne had a large selection of MU Merchandise, including lots of new cards and cards for Easter. We enjoyed tea & coffee and cake & biscuits.
The 4 ‘R’s
4th February
Our February meeting began with a short service consisting of a hymn, prayers and a reading from Genesis.
We had a most impressive Bring & Buy table and Norma had a selection of cards for sale.
Our speaker, Judith, talked about the 4 ‘R’s - Reduce, Re-use, Re-cycle, Reclaim for Energy.
Reduce: we were urged to use less ‘single use’ plastic. When carrier bags started to be charged for their use was reduced greatly. Lots of us now use fold-up cloth bags instead.
Wetherspoons, for example, have withdrawn plastic straws and in Waitrose you need to use your own travel mug at their takeaway drinks machines.
Use solid soap to wash and shower with. Companies are changing their packaging and are stopping use of plastic film on tins, but there is still a lot of plastic on supermarket shelves.
Judith said it would be better to buy eggs in cardboard boxes, cooking oil in glass bottles and washing powder in cardboard boxes instead of liquid in plastic containers.
In Sainsburys there are re-usable nets for loose veg replacing the small plastic bags.
Re-use: the best option. Ice cream and margarine tubs can be used to store soups etc in the freezer. Grow seeds in old yoghurt pots.
Re-cycle: Glass and plastic bottles, printer ink cartridges, milk bottle tops, inhalers, biros, felt tip pens, empty toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes can all be recycled in various places. Black plastic cannot be recycled. The National Trust use compostable wrapping.
Reclaim: Many items can be reclaimed to make energy.
A most informative talk and a very topical one.
AGM
3rd March
This was our ex-St George’s members first AGM at Christchurch Portsdown branch.
Our branch leader Ros Molloy took the meeting, sitting with her was Revd Andy Wilson.
The minutes of the last AGM were read and accepted. A new Secretary and two new committee members were elected.
Afterwards there was tea & coffee and a raffle.
Janet Johnson
