Glasgow & Galloway 2016

Diocese of Glasgow & Galloway

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Glasgow and Galloway 2016

16 Days of Activism

against Gender Violence 2016

Members from across the Diocese marked the 16 Days of activism in a variety of venues.

In Holy Trinity, Ayr, branch members joined together with members from Kilmarnock in a service of prayerful reflection held on Friday 25th November (above).

On the same day in Holy Name, Cumbernauld several MU branches came together, along with other ecumenical groups to join in a service. After the service white ribbons and friendship bracelets were sold. The money raised will be used to buy pants to send to various parts of Africa. These will:

Gain respect for wearers and thus reduce rape.
Enable women to leave hospital after reconstructive gynaecological surgery.
Enable girls to attend school every day of the month.

And at the monthly meeting of Bishopbriggs branch on 14th November, they shared information on the issue of gender violence and the importance of helping people practically and through prayer. A prayer tree was created which was placed in church for the 16 day period, MU members and the wider congregation were asked to write prayers to hang on the tree.

Autumn Council 2016

Thirty-one MU members came together on Saturday 12th November to join in a Eucharist and Autumn Council at St Oswald’s, King’s Park, Glasgow.

Although there is currently no MU branch at St Oswald’s members of the congregation under their Rector Revd. Lesley-Ann Craddock are very supportive of the work of MU.

Our chaplain, Revd. Lucy led all in a short activity exploring ‘Sharing our Faith’ and celebrated the Eucharist. +Gregor attended the service and assisted Lucy. During the service two new members were admitted; Vicky Johnston from Largs and Margaret Thompson from Motherwell.

Members had been asked to submit a cake for a fund raising ‘Bake Off’ competition and this was judged at lunchtime by the Bishop and Vicky. The winning entry (judged on its appearance and taste) was a magnificent chocolate cake baked by our DP Jill. Portions of all the cakes entered were then sold off to raise further funds.

The council meeting followed with contributions from all unit co-ordinators. There are more photos from the day available by clicking here.

The Spring Council meeting will be held at St John’s, Dumfries on Saturday 25th March 2017.

Festival Service 2016

Our Festival Service this year was held in Holy Trinity, Ayr on Saturday 21st May. Over forty members from across the Diocese gathered for the Eucharist celebrated by our chaplain Revd Lucy Ireland followed by a lovely lunch courtesy of the Ayr branch.

It was a most enjoyable day and good to see members attending from across the Diocese.

See more photos from the Festival Service here.

Greetings from Sweden

I send greetings to you all from our friends, the Women of the Church of Sweden.

The Porvoo Link which was established between the Lutheran Church of Sweden and the Scottish Episcopal Church Diocese of Glasgow & Galloway nine years ago closes this year.

A delegation from the Diocese attended a service in Gothenburg Cathedral at which Bishop Gregor preached and Bishop Idris and the former Bishop of Gothenburg who had both signed the initial agreement, spoke about the success of the link and the sadness that the link is closing. A delegation from Sweden will attend a service in November at St Mary’s Cathedral to formerly close the link.

The following paragraph is taken from the Porvoo Agreement:

‘The comprehensive purpose of the partnership is the development of a friendship, a friendship between our dioceses and organizations, but above all a friendship between individuals. Out of this friendship we hope that new understandings and knowledge will grow. The friendship will hopefully last beyond the time designated for the partnership project itself’.

The Women of the Church of Sweden expressed sadness at the link with Mothers’ Union closing. Hope was expressed that the developing relationship with our Sisters in Christ will continue past the official closing of the link in November.

In the meantime a group of our Swedish friends are travelling to Iona in June and have expressed the wish to meet in Glasgow with MU friends on Monday 4th July. Katarina who was one of our guests at Iona will be in the party as well as old and new friends.

Mothers’ Union Glasgow & Galloway have benefited greatly from the link with the Women of the Church of Sweden. The first two to visit Sweden and to attend the Valdens Fest were Enid Scobie and Jeanette Jenkins followed by Wendy Petrie and

Susan Groves, Anne Cook and Margaret Horrell, Esther Muchena and Lesley Lucas. The following twelve of us had the great joy of worshipping and sharing fellowship

with Britta, Katarina and Kristina on Iona in 2015.

Elaine McAlpine, Iris Hodgson (Holy Trinity, Kilmarnock), Lesley Lucas (St Ninian’s Pollokshields) Hilary Moran (St Columba’s Largs), Ruth McLellan, Glynis Cullen (St John’s Dumfries) Joan Thompson, Margaret Gilbert (St Michael’s Helensburgh) Ann

Glenesk, Esther Muchena, Irene Fitchett, Wendy Petrie (St James Bishopbriggs).

Ann x

The picture at the top of this item is of the inside of Gothenburg Cathedral

Commissioning Service

& Spring Council 2016

‘New Beginnings’ was the theme of our Eucharist service held on Saturday 12th March 2016 to mark Spring Council and the commissioning service for our new Diocesan President - Jill Cameron; Vice President - Wendy Petrie and Faith & Policy unit co-ordinator and trustee - Revd. Moira Jamieson.

Twenty-seven members joined in the service at St Mary’s Cathedral in which the celebrant was Bishop Gregor. Our chaplain Revd. Lucy had prepared the service in conjunction with Cathedral staff and it was most uplifting for those present to join in worship at our Mother church.

Revd. Moira (above) led the reflection intertwining the story of ‘Zachariah’ and his new beginning with that of our the new trustee board, in this new triennial, led by our new Diocesan President Jill.

After lunch the day progressed with the Council meeting which included activity reports from unit co-ordinators and branch leaders.

Elaine McAlpine

Diocesan Secretary

New Year - New Triennium

As January heralds a new start to a new year so we, in Glasgow and Galloway, begin our new journey as office holders and a new Trustee Board for our Diocese. Many thanks to Ann Glenesk and former trustees for their prayerful leadership over the past years.

2016 is a very special year for Mothers’ Union as we celebrate 140 years of faithful service to families and communities. So we want to take every opportunity to celebrate the faithfulness of God to us through the years; the faithful witness of our members, past and present; and our determination to continue to trust in God for all that lies ahead for us in the future.

Our Mothers Union Conference this year is entitled Equipped to Serve and will give us an opportunity to support and extend our projects throughout the diocese. We will also meet with other dioceses from Scotland for Trustee Training provided by Mary Sumner House. By sharing our ideas and plans we should be able to move forward with our vision of a world where God’s love is shown through loving respectful and flourishing relationships.

Love and prayers,

Jill Cameron, Diocesan President.