Our Mothers’ Union branch at East Bergholt and Brantham continues to grow with new members each year. We have monthly meetings on the second Thursday of the month; meeting at 2pm so that members on the school run can get to the school gates on time.  This year we have had to find larger venues for our social events, which are so popular with our church friends.

Our monthly meetings are just one aspect of Mothers’ Union. All our work is underpinned by prayer and we meet on the first Wednesday of the month at 9.30 in St Mary’s church East Bergholt for Holy Communion. Daily midday prayers and our special Wave of Prayer service in July are ways in which we hold the work of Mothers’ Union in prayer. 

One recent branch project was making Christmas cards for prisoners in Highpoint prison. For this project we had a drop-in meeting, held over several hours and we made 585 cards. It was also a time of wonderful fellowship as we all worked together to reach out to a group of people who often do not receive any cards at Christmas.  This was just one of many activities and outreach programmes that we engage in, which have enabled our members to reach out to over one thousand people in 2024.

Our members are also involved in a number of campaigns, all aimed at supporting families.  In 2024 our branch was awarded a Bronze award for the work we undertook to raise awareness of the issue of domestic abuse.  This included placing posters in toilets around our villages to give those affected by domestic abuse a phone number so they could call for help and advice.  We donated 'Moving in Bags' to the Ipswich Women's refuge.  We also created a display entitled 'The Souls of our Shoes', giving a voice to those who have been abused, which was placed in both churchs over a period of four weeks.

 

For more information our branch contact is Jeanette Appleton - please contact by email.