Hay & Llanigon Mothers Union
We were blessed with fine weather for our Diocesan Festival at Brecon Cathedral on the 4th June. Seven members attended from our Branch and our banner was carried by June with great dignity and white gloves.
The cathedral was full with members having travelled from all parts of the Diocese. We were delighted to welcome Mrs Salmon, the Welsh Provincial President. Prior to the service the Trustees (of which I am one) enjoyed lunch at the Diocesan Centre with our guest preacher, the Archbishop of Wales, our new Bishop, the Archdeacons of Brecon and Gower, the Acting Dean, the Succentor and our M.U. Chaplin.
We were welcomed to the service by the Acting Dean, Canon Nigel Hall. During the singing of the first hymn ’Lift high the cross’ - 44 banners were carried up the aisle and presented at the High Altar. I always enjoy seeing the M.U. banners from the parishes in the Diocese where my parents and Martin supported the work of the Mothers’ Union.
The theme of the M.U. this year is ’ Time for Relationships’ and this was the theme of our Service which had been prepared by Rev. Tim Williams, our Chaplin. Candles were lit by our Diocesan President, Ruby, and the Archidiaconal Vice-Presidents, Kay and Helen, for ourselves as individuals, for our communities, and for our relationship with God. The Lessons were read by our Diocesan Treasurer and Secretary - the first from Ecclesiastes - ’A time for everything’, and the second from St. Luke’s gospel with the account of the boy Jesus in the Temple.
The address was given by the Most Revd. Dr Barry Morgan, the Archbishop of Wales. He spoke about relationship, beginning with the relationship between Jesus and his mother, which must have been difficult and heart-breaking for Mary, at times, as she watched her beloved son going down paths which she would not have chosen for him. The Archbishop stressed how we as Christians, should accept and try to understand people of other faiths, and other branches of society.
The Blessing was given by our Bishop, the Rt. Revd. John Davies, who looked resplendent in his robes and his new mitre which had been made for him by Croft Design of Much Wenlock (where we have ordered a new green altar frontal for St. Mary’s in memory of Canon Ivor Davies).
We were inspired by the singing of hymns and the organ music played by the deputy organist of the cathedral, Meirion Wynn Jones. The walls and pillars seemed to tremble!
Ruby, our President, thanked everyone who had contributed to the service, and Mary, Provincial President, said how much she had enjoyed being with us.
This was the first time that the M.U. Branches throughout the Diocese had been able to worship together at the Festival in the Cathedral. What a joy it was!
Our next M.U. event is at Wenlock (Gwyneth’s house) at 7 pm on Tuesday 24th June, when M.U. members from Llyswen will be joining us. There will be a raffle and a Bring & Buy stall. All are welcome.
We also look forward to our Summer Outing on Tuesday15th July when we will visit Colwall Church, near Ledbury, where our founder, Mary Summers, was married in 1848. A M.U. member will meet us there and tell us all about that happy day. After the talk we shall enjoy afternoon tea with the M.U. members from Colwall. We shall leave Hay car park at 1.30 pm on the Dial-a-Ride bus.
Diana Jones