Women's Group
Vicky Brooke, a group member,writes:
Looking back over recent times, there have been some changes to this group. Having started as the ‘Mothers’ Union’ a couple of years ago, we found we had not been able to engage with the wider Mothers’ Union community or take part in any of their mostly daytime events. We also realised that for the congregation at St Michael's, despite protestations that ‘you don't have to be a mother to join’, the title ‘Mothers’ Union’ had put off a number of people from sampling what was on offer. As a result we decided to be honest about what we are – and that is a women's group - so we re-designated ourselves in late 2009.
We meet from 8 to 10pm on the first Wednesday of the month usually in the Parish Hall. All are welcome at any of our meetings, the dates of which are set out below.
The first part of the meeting is a relaxed informal opportunity to get to know each other a little better, unlike Sunday mornings when we tend to be busy, often preoccupied and sometimes have time for only a quick ‘hello’.
Our Wednesday meetings are a chance to have a more relaxed conversation, to solicit support, to give support and encouragement, or just talk. The second part of our meeting focuses on either an invited speaker or one of us will choose a topic dear to our hearts for discussion. We try to let people know in advance what this element of the meeting will be through e-mails and the pew sheets. At some point in the evening there is a time for prayer.
For those who have not been before, we currently have about 12 regular members and – in order to dispel some popular misconceptions – we cover quite a few decades, we are not all married or mothers, nor do we spend all our time talking about babies!
In 2009 we also hosted the Festival Mass Lunch and more recently a Lent Lunch in the Church Hall. We’ve discussed a range of topics including ‘what Christmas means to me’, preparing for death, assisted suicide, forgiveness and tolerance.
If you'd like more information or would like to join us, do come along to a meeting or contact the Parish Office.
Meeting dates for 2011
(meetings take place on Wednesdays usually in the Parish Hall, beginning at 8pm with drinks and nibbles)
January 12th - 17 Mayfield Avenue
February 2nd
March 2nd - Gabriel Room, Parish Hall
April 6th
May 4th
June 8th
July 6th
September 7th
October 5th
November 9th
December 7th