World Day of Prayer Service
This year’s World Day of Prayer service was held at the Sacred Heart Church on Friday 7th March. To set the scene there was ocean music, we wore flower garlands and all present were given a flower to wear.
Mothers’ Union Service for Lady Day, 25th March
The service for Lady Day, held this year at Christ Church Portsdown, was led by Rev Emily Ashworth, Curate at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Crookhorn.
Lady Day, the Feast of the Annunciation, a significant day for Mothers’ Union members worldwide, has been celebrated since 1897. It has grown into an annual event in over 84 countries. We had prayers, three hymns and a bible reading from St Luke’s Gospel.
After the service tea and cakes were served from the small kitchen area at the back of church.
Its theme was “I made you Wonderful” and was prepared by the Christian Women in the Cook Islands, where 200 years of Christianity have been celebrated in the group of 15 islands spread over approx. 800,000 square miles in the Pacific Ocean.
Interspersed in our service of hymns, songs, prayers and scripture readings were stories of the Islanders struggles during COVID-19, their culture being devalued and improvements in obstetirc health care.
Voiced by members of our committee, “Mii” a teenager fearful of catching Covid; “Vainiu” born in 1958 on the Island of Aitutaki who spoke of how her native Mãori language had been discouraged and frowned upon at school, where English was thought to be “superior” and that she had been punished for speaking her indigenous language, made to wear a cardboard sign saying “I am a Mãori speaker” and put in detention. She felt humiliated in front of her class and never forgot the shame of that day. “Dr Dawn” studied for 7 years in Fiji and graduated as a doctor in 2003. She spoke of how worthwhile it felt when she was able to help a child become healthy and thrive.
It was a lovely service, well attended and afterwards we all crowded into a section of the church hall for refreshments.
Mothers’ Union notes
The meeting on 4th February began with prayers and notices.
Our speaker, Connie, is the Lead Chaplain at QA Hospital and she spoke about her experiences in this role.
The Chaplains at the QA provide comfort, support and pastoral care to patients, their families and to the hospital staff.
Their support can be religious or non-religious, with prayer, communion or just listening, providing reassurance to people at their most vulnerable.
They are able to contact other multi-faith leaders in the local community and provide an emergency call-out service.
Connie said it is expected that in the future more chaplains will be inter-faith and non-religious. It is most valuable work, much needed and appreciated by the people they serve.
The AGM was on Tuesday 4th March. There were fourteen members and two visitors present.
Rev Andy Wilson chaired the meeting which was held in the small room at Christ Church Hall.
Our Committee remains the same but we now have a new branch leader, June Finch.
After the meeting we had refreshments, there was a Bring and buy table and MU cards for sale.
The next meeting is on Tuesday 6th May, when the Rev Dr Coleen Jackson will be talking about her time in Rwanda.
