Diocese of The Murray

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. 

We hold the Mary Sumner Day Service and Lady Day at a different venue each year to share the driving miles. 

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.