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Derry & Raphoe MU News
June 2020
Note from Diocesan President
“Hope is faith holding its hands out in the dark”
HOPE has many connotations and throughout Covid-19 times we have witnessed many examples of positive and transforming hope. Neighbourliness has come to the fore in communities, our frontline workers and community volunteers, visible and invisible, are supported and appreciated, and it has been heartening to hear
families and individuals speak of how this time has given them quality time with family, reconnected them with nature, with their faith and has restored a variety of relationships.
On this journey we have also walked alongside many who have not been finding isolation easy. Behind the scenes, circumstances can be challenging. Wherever we are on your journey God is with us longing to build us up in hope and confidence.
Hope is that motivating factor that encourages us to get up each morning, to pray, to believe, to listen, to observe and to act. Whether it be in the light or the dark our God of hope is holding his hand out and speaking to each one of us encouraging us. Indeed, so often his encouragement speaks to us without words but through his touch and in turn we touch the lives of others as they touch our hearts.
Our hope is built on a firm trust in God - a God who is good, a strong refuge in times of trouble and who cares for all who hope in him (Nahum1:7). He is faithful and unchanging and he cares for us.
As a practical expression of hope, dig out or look out in the supermarket for packets of seed and plant some annuals eg, nasturtium, poppies, corn marigold etc. – as they bud and bloom, may they remind you of the confident hope we have through Jesus Christ.
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NLT
May you enjoy coming months, scattering seeds of joy, peace, hope and confidence,
Jacqui
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June Midday Prayers
This month’s Building Hope and Confidence Midday Prayers theme is “Building hope in times of trouble”. The daily themes cover hope in times of uncertainty, isolation, sickness, disappointment, sadness and in times of need.
Midday Prayers are live at 12pm on the Mothers Union Facebook page Monday to Saturday - https://www.facebook.com/MothersUnion/ and also on the DAILY HOPE Call Line 0800 804 8044
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News Updates
Please forward Data base forms to Brigid Barrett either via email to [email protected] or post to the Deanery, William Street, Raphoe, Co. Donegal.
We hope you have enjoyed taking photographs this month, tuning in with our Facebook posts and, we are delighted to say that our Derry & Raphoe Mothers’ Union website is back up and running. Please log onto www.derry.mothersunion.ie.
The website has a new section, for the present, entitled Covid – there you will fine many ideas for crafting for family, friends and community plus some creative reflections from isolation. Thank you to those who have contributed so far. Elizabeth’s letter – “Why Papa?” has generated almost 4,000 views with 1,000 engagements since being posted on Facebook on the 12th May. It is a faith filled, powerful and heartfelt insightful look at present times.
This June Newsletter is a bumper Summer edition, so we have included a few activities to occupy the days and sow seeds of hope during coming months. We don’t normally write in summer months, but this year we will be providing a short reflection to accompany the Midday Prayers for July and August.
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Free dial-in worship phone line during coronavirus lockdown
Daily Hope is a free resource for members who live in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. It offers a variety of music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line.
To listen to Mothers’ Union Midday Prayers – choose option 4 and then option 8.
The line – is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind.
________________________________________________________ Mothers’ Union Emergency Appeal
The response to the Emergency Appeal has been very positive. Thanks to your support Mothers’ Union has raised half of its target and secured its future for coming months. Please do continue to encourage support for the Emergency Appeal, so that our long-term future is secure. Donations can be made through our website links or by post.
https://www.mothersunion.org/urgent-appeal
Crafting for our Communities
Have a look at the section on our website www.derry.mothersunion.ie for ideas for crafting projects. At present, it would appear that face coverings would be much appreciated within our communities and
there are many patterns available.
The little hearts and the crochet Scrubs Bear, together with the doctor and nurse would be much appreciated in Nursing Home and Hospital contexts.
For any queries please contact our Projects Contact, Janice Quigley at [email protected] or our diocesan secretary Kathleen Finlay at [email protected] .
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Psalm for June – Psalm 62
I wonder how you got on with memorising Psalm 34.... Even if you didn't manage all 22 verses, were there particular 'stand out' parts for you?
eg phrases that either startled you, challenged you, comforted you, nourished your soul, set you a-pondering or led you to intercede for someone or a particular situation.
'Taste and see that the Lord is good,' I find both challenging and touching.
Our Psalm for June is Psalm 62. If it is too daunting to memorize the whole thing, try these sections: vs.1-2, 5-8, 9-10.
So much of what is written in the Psalms invites us to experience God, not just know about him. If you'd like to share what you discover in this exercise, drop me a line to [email protected]
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Mothers’ Union Derry & Raphoe Facebook Page
The Facebook posts in May have supported positivity, included your creativity and continued to highlight our Wave of Prayer Partners, food banks, grandparenting, parenting, bereavement, crafting, gender based violence including domestic abuse, health and safety, prayer points etc.
You can help us by letting us know your news or passing on stories from your community that would be of interest to Mothers’ Union Members – forward to Doreen at [email protected]
REMINDER – PHOTOS FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION to be with Doreen on or before 31st May.
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Some Online Activities
Go on a tree walk Click on this Wildlife Trust website and choose which of the nesting birds to follow. See if you can find out more about the birds you follow https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/webcams This may not be a tree walk but linked to the great outdoors! For anyone who hasn’t visited Kew Gardens, or even if you have visited, this virtual tour is well worth watching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2tqN6FV6H0 Ever visited Highgrove House? The home of HRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. These gardens are well worth exploring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEwmPdYBNFI&t=100s . For further activities www.mothersunion.org have put together a wealth of resources to help everyone stay up beat during these Covid-19 times. Feel free to download and use the resources found at the below link: The Resources Page
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Calling all birdwatchers amongst us! As we see the world slow down around us, nature takes its chance to make a comeback. While you look out through your windows, or enjoy some time in your gardens, take note of the birds fluttering past. Are there some familiar faces, often hiding away from the sounds of cars and planes, but rejoicing in the calm skies they find themselves in?
Why not reflect on this Bible verse as you take some time to birdwatch? Matthew 6:26-27 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” We would love to see your pictures of the wildlife in your area, and you can keep in touch with us by uploading them to social media and tagging us @mothersunion or posting them on our members Facebook group. Alternatively forward the photos to [email protected]
________________________________________________________ Bereavement Resources
The Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland has put together a comprehensive booklet providing advice for people who have experienced a bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Two other booklets are also available in this series – one dealing with practicalities and the other a children’s story helping children to cope with the death of a loved one. These excellent resources can be downloaded at https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/covid-19-bereavement-resources
The HSE website at https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/mental-health/covid-19/bereavement-and-grief-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic.html also contains a number of valuable and practical supports.
For further support, there are links to phone or online mental health support services. ________________________________________________________
2020 DATES
ALL EVENTS are postponed or cancelled until further notice. Moving forward we shall be following the best advice available to Health Authorities and the Church of Ireland, given prevailing circumstances at the time. 2020 Please note Mary Sumner Day in The Celtic Prayer Garden will not take place this August, as planned and Clonmany Show has been cancelled for 2020.
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Health and Wellbeing
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Grandma’s Apron Tina wrote this poem in memory of her grandmother – it should rekindle many memories for you…..
The strings were tied, it was freshly washed, and maybe even pressed.
For Grandma, it was everyday to choose one when she dressed. The simple apron that it was, you would never think about;
the things she used it for, that made it look worn out.
She may have used it to hold some wildflowers that she'd found. Or to hide a crying child's face when a stranger came around.
Imagine all the little tears that were wiped with just that cloth. Or it became a potholder to serve some chicken broth.
She probably carried kindling to stoke the kitchen fire.
To hold a load of laundry, or to wipe the clothesline wire. When canning all her vegetables, it was used to wipe her brow.
You never know, she might have used it to shoo flies from the cow.
She might have carried eggs in from the chicken coop outside.
Whatever chore she used it for, she did them all with pride. When Grandma went to heaven, God said she now could rest.
I'm sure the apron that she chose, was her Sunday best.
-by Tina Trivett-
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MU Wordsearch
Mary Sumner AFIA Worldwide Bible Vanuatu Families Madagascar Cross Tanzania Diary Nigeria Tea Food Poverty Mums Praying May Enabling Cake Campaigning Love Knitting MULOA Member Projects Coffee
________________________________________________________ MALTESER CHEESECAKE
Treat yourself to a chocoholic’s dream!
200g digestive biscuits 100g margarine 175g icing sugar 250ml whipping cream 200g Philadelphia Cheese 2 large packets Maltesers
Melt margarine, crush the digestive biscuits and mix together. Press into a loose base tin and place in the fridge to chill. Whip icing sugar and cheese together. In a separate bowl, whip cream and add crushed Maltesers. Combine both mixtures and spread over biscuit base. Chill until firm.
________________________________________________________ Attachments accompanying this Newsletter
Derry & Raphoe MU News – June 2020 Midday Prayers for June 2020 Grief and Bereavement during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Covid Crafts
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Prayerful Art
Many thanks to Alicia Clarke who has created this beautiful activity for us based on our June Midday Prayers verse – mindfully pray as you colour and let the text speak to you: The Lord is good, a strong refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who hope in him. From Nahum 1:7
“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7
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Sweeties Quiz Unravel the anagrams to find the name of a sweet or chocolate bar
Example: ATTKKI - Kit Kat
1. RRAAMSB (4,3) _______________________________________
2. BJALBEYEILS (5,6) _______________________________________
3. EICCRNHU (8) ________________________________________
4. CRLOKEVCO (5,4) ________________________________________
5. LOOP (4) ________________________________________
6. RDITFRE (7) _________________________________________
7. TRHEGTIFEA (5,5) ________________________________________
8. XITW (4) ________________________________________
9. OEESHR (6) _________________________________________
10. SSEMIART (8) _________________________________________
11. SWNIUMGE (4.4) _________________________________________
12. SLEVER (6) _________________________________________
13. KSSRENCI (8) _________________________________________
14. THHSIGKIRLEUTD (7,7) _______________________________________
15. SESEARMLT (9) ________________________________________
16. RYAEGLRUASB (6,5) ________________________________________
17. SDEORULLIXYMT (5, 8) _______________________________________
18. YTNOUB (6) ________________________________________
19. DKIIAYLRM (5,4) ________________________________________
20. AHNOMRTA (8) ________________________________________
Fireside Quiz created by Mrs Liz Armstrong, Strabane Mothers’ Union – Thank you!
Thank you for your continued support for Mothers’ Union. Further details of Mothers Union activities
can be found at www.derry.mothersunion.ie; www.mothersunion.ie or at www.mothersunion.org
https://www.facebook.com/Mothers-Union-Derry-Raphoe-840082302681390/
Derry and Raphoe Mothers’ Union ‘Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC100834’ (Derry & Raphoe - XR 76024 & CHY 5161)
Mothers’ Union in Ireland is recognised as a Charity by the Revenue Commissioners, 5161 Registered Charity Number –20007331 (Charity Regulatory Authority)
