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This Diocese covering the South East region of South Australia is 52,426 sq. km. and is bounded in the North by the Murray River, and extends westward into the outer suburbs of the Capital City, Adelaide, and to the south east corner of the State and the Southern Ocean. It includes the Fleurieu Peninsula, Riverland, Adelaide Hills, Murraylands and includes 17 Parishes or Pastoral Districts. It takes its name from the Murray River, Australia's most important River, which flows through the Diocese before reaching the sea.
Industries include sheep and cattle husbandry; extensive vineyards; fruit growing; timber; and fishing as well as tourism. We have a great diversity of life styles ranging from outer metropolitan areas, to seaside towns on the Fleurieu Peninsula to the large towns in the Lower South East and Upper Murray with farming communities in between. With an 80% rural content, the Diocese is faced with the social and family challenges produced by ongoing economic changes and weather patterns. The other 20% of the Diocese faces similar challenges created by the rapidly expanding suburban sprawl where many light industries are found. This Diocese has a strong MU involvement. MU continues to provide opportunity for prayer, friendship and fellowship across the vast area of the Diocese with branches in 9 parishes with 107 members including several Diocesan Members. Like many other Dioceses around the world we have members who are ageing and distances between branches is not easy to handle as age progresses especially in very hot weather. We achieve so many positive outcomes between us all for our local area and also for Mothers Union worldwide. |
Forthcoming Events 2024:
Friday 9th August - MARY SUMNER DAY and AGM
To be held at Christ Church Strathalbyn
Morning cuppa from 10.30am Service at 11am. Father Daniel will conduct our service.
BYO lunch followed by a guest speaker from A C Care in Murray Bridge. Please bring along a donation to go to the work of A C Care in the form of household cleaning or personal cleaning items to be used with their work with the homeless.
This will be followed by a short AGM and Council meeting. It is not a voting year but of course if anyone wants to offer to take on a position now is the time to let me know.
September 23rd.... Monday.... exec meeting
at Jocelyn's home at 10.30am
November 18th....Monday....
St Aidans, 14 Homestead drive, St Aberfoyle Park
Morning cuppa 10.30am followed by a service at 11am.
This year we have decided to focus on The Wave of Prayer and our Linked Diocese. If any of you have travelled to Lui in South Sedan, Embu in Kenya, Orlu or Awori in Nigeria or Medak in India please let Caroline or myself know so that we can add personal interest to the presentation.
More information to follow but mark it in your diary now.
Friday 9th August - MARY SUMNER DAY and AGM
To be held at Christ Church Strathalbyn
Morning cuppa from 10.30am Service at 11am. Father Daniel will conduct our service.
BYO lunch followed by a guest speaker from A C Care in Murray Bridge. Please bring along a donation to go to the work of A C Care in the form of household cleaning or personal cleaning items to be used with their work with the homeless.
This will be followed by a short AGM and Council meeting. It is not a voting year but of course if anyone wants to offer to take on a position now is the time to let me know.
September 23rd.... Monday.... exec meeting
at Jocelyn's home at 10.30am
November 18th....Monday....
St Aidans, 14 Homestead drive, St Aberfoyle Park
Morning cuppa 10.30am followed by a service at 11am.
This year we have decided to focus on The Wave of Prayer and our Linked Diocese. If any of you have travelled to Lui in South Sedan, Embu in Kenya, Orlu or Awori in Nigeria or Medak in India please let Caroline or myself know so that we can add personal interest to the presentation.
More information to follow but mark it in your diary now.
The Work of AMUA in the Diocese of The Murray
The Families Equip program has been a huge success for many years and in the past few years has grown immensely. We have 12 trained facilitators as well as other dedicated supporters. The 5 week course has been held in various locations with people participating ranging in age from young mums to grandmothers. We have had an all men group and have several trained male facilitators so the course in not 'mums' only. There is a wonderful feeling that this program is one of the most outstanding things we do. Participants are encouraged, affirmed and supported in a non judgemental way not only by facilitators but by each other too. We are there to facilitate discussions.
Baptism involvement with leaflets for parents & godparents, cards or small gifts for the child has been carried out for years. Various forms of cards have been used to remember with a visit where possible, the baptism anniversary of children Baptised in our churches. . Some branches make their own cards, sometimes we use the colourful card available through AMUA and some from Mary Sumner House.
Knitting continues to produce wonderful items, mainly beanies for Mission to Seafarers, rugs for the needy and Care Angels. One branch hung knitted angels on the rectory fence for the community to take, others have been handed out in hospitals, who knows where they will go in future. Mary, Joseph and the donkey have also been knitted by many branches. These items travel from home to home throughout the district each day during Advent and end their journey at the Christmas services. This gives people a reason to visit someone they may not have otherwise visited spreading a little cheer and love. The knitted figures have also travelled to other places while in the care of the family eg: the playground, shopping trolley, hospital visiting trolley, picnics, all places where their appearance creates conversation regarding The Christmas Story. Facebook photos continue the theme into many homes.
Working with other organisations allows us to help family life in so many ways. eg. donating clothing, blankets, kitchen and laundry items, toiletry packs, promoting 'expect respect' to school children, Shrove Tuesday pancakes, op shops, cooked meal donations, Christmas hampers, CPSW support, picture scrap books, refugee home maker boxes.
We hold the Mary Sumner Day Service and Lady Day at a different venue each year to share the driving miles.
Baptism involvement with leaflets for parents & godparents, cards or small gifts for the child has been carried out for years. Various forms of cards have been used to remember with a visit where possible, the baptism anniversary of children Baptised in our churches. . Some branches make their own cards, sometimes we use the colourful card available through AMUA and some from Mary Sumner House.
Knitting continues to produce wonderful items, mainly beanies for Mission to Seafarers, rugs for the needy and Care Angels. One branch hung knitted angels on the rectory fence for the community to take, others have been handed out in hospitals, who knows where they will go in future. Mary, Joseph and the donkey have also been knitted by many branches. These items travel from home to home throughout the district each day during Advent and end their journey at the Christmas services. This gives people a reason to visit someone they may not have otherwise visited spreading a little cheer and love. The knitted figures have also travelled to other places while in the care of the family eg: the playground, shopping trolley, hospital visiting trolley, picnics, all places where their appearance creates conversation regarding The Christmas Story. Facebook photos continue the theme into many homes.
Working with other organisations allows us to help family life in so many ways. eg. donating clothing, blankets, kitchen and laundry items, toiletry packs, promoting 'expect respect' to school children, Shrove Tuesday pancakes, op shops, cooked meal donations, Christmas hampers, CPSW support, picture scrap books, refugee home maker boxes.
We hold the Mary Sumner Day Service and Lady Day at a different venue each year to share the driving miles.