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Please click this link for the Mother's Union website www.themothersunion.org Evening Group - The Next Generation
Monthly Update
Maryon opened the meeting with prayers for the disabled, their families, carers – professional and volunteer – here, and elsewhere in the world. She read an appropriate and telling passage from St Paul, writing to the Corinthians. St Paul himself suffered from an unspecified condition, giving him ‘sharp physical pain’. He appealed to the Lord for help, and was told: ‘My Grace is all you need – power comes to strengthen our weakness’. Maryon then asked for our help in prayer for those who are known to us to be sick and led us in the hymn Father, I place into your hands the things that I can’t do. Debbie Lumsdon was then introduced, and I feel very humble in trying to record her picture of the wonderful work and aims of the Dame Hannah Rogers Trust. Dame Hannah Rogers, a member of a well-known land-owning family, lived 200 years ago. She was light years ahead of her times in her concern for the disadvantaged and disabled at a time when these unfortunates were shamefully neglected. When she died, she left £10,000 – a vast sum in those days – to provide care and education for these needy and misunderstood little beings, and a school was established. In 1956, with the help of the Round Table in Devon, the Trust raised an incredible £26,000 to expand their work, and a new school was built – the first of its kind in the whole country. The aim was to help grievously disabled children – and the terrible impact on family life, sadly having a devastating effect on marriage and siblings. Dame Hannah’s is unique in providing special education therapy and medical support for young people aged 5 - 18. Education is as in a normal school, but as we were told, ‘It just takes longer’. Residential care is provided on a weekly or termly basis, and young people locally may attend as day students. There are appropriate staffing levels, well supported by physio-, hydro- and speech therapy. In spite of the horrific standards of disability – some can only communicate by pressing a button, or even blinking an eye – there is a great feeling of happiness. The staff and voluntary workers are so absolutely dedicated and love their work, and they are all finely tuned to interpret and communicate with their charges. All activities have to be in wheelchairs, needing great physical effort by all, but these are outward-looking activities, including poultry-keeping – eggs collected by the manual workers. Amazingly, funds are raised to help other charities! To finish this section on a joyful note, Debbie described a happy occasion for our young heroes in the form of a ‘prom’– the Americans’ end-of-school event which has become popular in this country. Logistics to transport the young guests from Ivybridge to Seale Hayne were complicated and difficult – accomplished in small vans only taking two wheelchairs at a time. The girls wore pretty dresses, the boys bow ties – contrasting with their usual practical clothes. Dedicated carers, also wearing their finery, manoeuvred the wheelchairs around the ballroom with much verve and a lot of laughter. This is their introduction to Seale Hayne, the property acquired to train young people in work to fit them for the outside world. Hannah’s at Seale Hayne is a complex of buildings and extensive grounds formerly occupied by Plymouth University’s agricultural college. Funding has been granted for innovative services to transform the lives of people who use them. Young people have training in many areas – forms of commercial activities, catering, animal husbandry, and much more. All will get certification. It is hoped to overcome some of the prejudice against employing the disabled. Seale-Hayne is abuzz with many varied activities. There is a forge, recording studio, artists’ workshops, performing arts and music in the Great Hall, and a café bar with delicious food. A calendar of events involves Christmas Fairs, live bands, piano recitals, balls and conferences. Our speaker was eloquently thanked by Phyl Marsh, expressing our admiration for this wonderful work and the dedicated band of people involved. Megs Kiddle gave advance news of the Deanery Festival on Friday 24th September at 2.30pm at St. Luke's Church, Buckfastleigh, to welcome a distinguished visitor from Uganda, Mrs Vivian Kityo. This will involve a lunch – but not a cream tea, since it was thought that our visitor would already have had a large number! Our prayers for young people attending the Perrot Hill camp were asked for by Maryon, then Veronica had the pleasant task of presenting a bouquet to Enid Wright, on the occasion of a special birthday, and the meeting closed with prayers and a blessing. Jean Simpson
Evening Group - The Next Generation SEPTEMBER EVENING MEETING: The Mothers Union "Next Generation" meeting on the evening of Wednesday 1st September is the first in a new series of evening events for 2010/11. Meetings take place from 7:30 to 9:00 in the Fellowship Room (Chudleigh Parish Church) and are open to all existing Mothers Union (MU) members plus anyone else who is interested in finding out about the MU (men are included too!) - perhaps with a view to becoming a member! On 1st September, the evening will begin with an informal communion, led by Rev Martin Kiddle. This will be followed by short talks from a number of existing MU members covering areas such as the work of the MU, the reasons why they are a member and how our activities here in Chudleigh can contribute to the MU's worldwide purpose and activities. Finally, of course, there will be refreshments! Please come along on 1st September if you can, and don't worry if you are new to the MU! We would love to see you. Make a note of the FIRST WEDNESDAY of every month (excluding December, April and August) as a regular date in your diaries. Don’t miss out on what will be a fascinating series of speakers and friendly fellowship! Elaine Dunn 854027
More September dates: Jenny Buckle Sylvia Jenkins, MU Deanery President, has told us that Jenny Buckle has invited us to a meeting at Denbury Church Cottage on THURSDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER at 4.00pm, when Marigold Seager-Berry will be speaking. Sylvia wants to know approximate numbers (01626 353086), so please contact her and let her know if you are interested in going. It may be best if we shared lifts etc, so please contact Nicky Over on 852668 if you would like or can offer a lift.
Vivian Kityo Members of the Totnes Archdeaconry branches of the MU (which includes Chudleigh) are invited to an event on FRIDAY 24th SEPTEMBER, when we will have the chance to meet Mrs Vivian Kityo from Uganda, and hear about her work among young women there. This will also give us an opportunity to learn more about the MU in Uganda. The event will take place at 2.30pm in St Luke’s Church, Buckfastleigh, and if you are interested in going, once again please contact Nicky Over so that we can co-ordinate transport. Chudleigh MU is responsible for taking some fruit salad, so if anyone can contribute, please also let us know.
Our Vision
Vision: Our vision is of a world where God's
love is shown through loving, respectful, and flourishing relationships.
The Mothers' Union Prayer Bringing the world home!
Yet that ideal still remains an unfulfilled dream for too many in our global family. Today:-
These numbers are shamefully high, and can seem overwhelming, yet all of these people need "home" Mothers' Union is an international Christian charity devoted to doing all it can to make a better world for families. To read more, download a copy of our Annual Review 08/09 - Click the link below. Mothers' Union Annual Review 2008/9
Programme for 2010Meetings:
For details of future Evening Meetings, contact Elaine Dunn, 01626 854027
Contact Details
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![[Under Construction]](images/undercon.gif)
At
the July meeting of Chudleigh Mothers’ Union, our speaker was Debbie Lumsdon –
supporter for relatives with disabled children at the Dame Hannah Rogers School
at Ivybridge in Devon.
Whatever
your personal circumstances, whether you already have a home or whether you
are still searching -home is an ideal everyone can embrace.