On Friday 21st February MU had lunch at the Golf Club in Saintes. We were warmly welcomed by the team at the restaurant and those coming for coffee could chat and mingle with ease. Those staying for lunch had a great choice and a very pleasant meal. Thanks to Karen and Phil for organising. Sue updated everyone about her recent Safeguarding update from MU and discussed plans for our AGM next month. We also officially said hello to Heather our new Chaplain. We used the MU Prayer diary prayer for that day and enjoyed a very congenial afternoon.

Mothers Union AGM will be on Thursday 13th March Venue: Pat and Alan’s house, address from them or Sue WilcockTime: 10.30am for coffee, meeting starts at 11amBring and share lunch after our meeting.All members of MU welcomeMore information from Sue Wilcock: sue.wilcock@sky.com

We had a lovely bring and share lunch on Tuesday and a wonderful raffle. We had midday and advent prayers, one of our members gave us all an eco gift of dish covers, and we discussed trying to improve our footprint on the environment. Our members raised €95 towards our charities and a good time was had by all.
Our next event will be on Friday 6th December with our coffee morning at Chef Boutonne 10.30am. All welcome.
MU wishes you a very Happy Christmas and every blessing for 2025.
If you would like to know more about MU across the world , please visit: www.mothersunion.org

Please join Mothers Union for a coffee morning this December
When: Friday 6th December
Where: The Church of Christ the Good Shepherd Chef Boutonne
Time 10:30 am
Come and find out some information about MU , enjoy coffee and cake, and buy some cards. All proceeds to go towards MU charities this year, including Away from It All ( AFIA) Holiday Fund.
More details and information from Sue Wilcock or Wanda McKerchar

We had a lovely time in Cognac catching up and having lunch together. Thank you to Karen and Liz for co-ordinating everything.
Our next event will be our Christmas bring and share lunch at Sue and Charlie’s home.
Date: Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Time: Midday
Bring and Share Lunch with Christmas Raffle
Please let Karen or Sue know you are coming.

MU will be having lunch together at WAFU Cognac on Thursday 7th November 2024 at midday.
To book your place contact Karen Burke or Sue Wilcock by Saturday 2nd November.
Where: WAFU Cognac 114 Rue Pierre Latecoere. 16100. Cognac
When: Thursday 7th November Midday

This is just to say a big Thank you to all those who were able to attend or donated to our MU 20th Anniversary events in September.

We had a lovely service on Sunday 8th , which included re-dedication of our MU banner, we had both our oldest member who was President 20 years ago and our newest member present at our service. Afternoon Tea followed on Thursday 12th.
A good time was had by all and the Afternoon Tea including the raffle, raised €290. This, as you know, is particularly for our yearly funding of Away From It All ( AFIA) holidays for a deserving family locally. Well done everyone a fantastic amount!

20th Anniversary Service and Afternoon Tea
MU Poitou-Charentes is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in September 2024
We are having a service of thanksgiving on Sunday 8th September at the Temple Cognac
10.30 am
This will be followed by coffee and cake
All welcome

Our second event that week will be a Celebration Afternoon Tea
Thursday 12th September 2024
Chez Wilcock : 2 rue des Acacias, Fiolle, 17120 Floirac
As many will know we have limited parking only in our garden, so numbers will be restricted and you must book for this event.
The afternoon tea will be provided by Sue and Charlie. There will be a raffle, and donations will be for our MU branch fundraising, including next years AFIA holiday.
All info from Sue Wilcock, MU Chair.
sue.wilcock@sky.com

We had a lovely lunch at the home of Eileen and Mick, we love the variety of the delicious food everyone brings, we had great fellowship, and raised €110 for MU charities, including Away from It All holidays. Our family, who went to La Palmyre this year, have just returned and had a fantastic time.
Many thanks to Eileen and Mick for hosting our summer bring and share lunch.
If you would like to know more about MU in our area please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sue Wilcock MU Chair : sue.wilcock@sky.com

The Holy Communion Service at Chef Boutonne was also a celebration to welcome two new members to our Mothers Union Branch. We had a lovely service , followed by refreshments, and were pleased to welcome Sam Brett and Audrey Williamson as full members. If you would like to know more about MU and it’s worldwide presence then please contact Sue Wilcock Chair MU Poitou-Charentes email: sue.wilcock@sky.com

Mothers Union had their AGM this week and here is the report given by our Chair Sue Wilcock

MU Report March 2024

Mothers Union over the past year, has tried to get back to pre Covid activity, but has also continued to think carefully when and where we have been able to meet together. We have kept up to date via the MU national website and facebook enabling us to understand the work of MU worldwide. We also have a page on the church website, so please look us up.

Our branch did continue to meet virtually for some coffee mornings this year. We actually had five virtual coffee mornings as geographically we are still separated and this seems a great way to keep in touch. We were also able to plan some face-to-face meetings, which began with our AGM and bring and share lunch in March.

We managed five other meetings in 2023. The first a bring and share lunch, in one of our members beautiful gardens again, a chance to meet together, have fellowship, and raise a little money towards sending a family away on holiday. We continue to support AFIA ( Away from it All) holidays and other MU projects in our branch.
The second event was a boat trip in Saintes, with lunch, and the trip back. It was a lovely day and a good time of fun and fellowship was had by all who attended. In September we had an afternoon tea, which was our main fundraiser this year.

Due to the continued generosity of members, and friends of our MU branch, we were able to send one family away this year. This was achieved through the AFIA scheme, which we support, and we raised all the funds to send the family away. The family this year was a part of one of our members local communes. The family, it transpired was definitely in need of a holiday. Dad had to stay home to work and look after the animals, but mum and two girls enjoyed a week away at La Palmyre. Members of our branch went above and beyond this year, helping this family achieve their holiday. I have permission to report Mum was undergoing treatment for cancer care, and one of our members facilitated her receiving that medical care whilst away, and taking her to a long days outpatient appointment, whilst entertaining the girls. This holiday we found out was the only formal holiday the girls have ever been on, they enjoyed it immensely and are still talking about it. We are very sad to report that mum is now receiving end of life care. We are very grateful for all the donations to our AFIA holiday scheme, and this years experience shows how much it is needed and appreciated.

Our members continue to support both local and international projects. We individually answered the call to provide donations for projects worldwide, and members support food banks and Restos du Cœur, through donations at our services. We also donated to the recent MU Christmas appeal which helped Savings and Skills training for women in Tanzania and we continue to pray for this initiative.

In October we were able to participate in a service for Harvest at Cognac and it included a rededication, and acceptance of a new member, Wanda McKerchar, to our MU branch. It was very well attended, and we all enjoyed fellowship followed by cake! Finally in November 2023 we were able to have a bring and share lunch, with a festive theme.

We join with other members in Europe to say farewell to our European President Tonie Chandler, who has just retired and wish her every blessing in the future. We welcome our new European President Kikki Merritt as she takes up her new appointment with her dedication in Spain, at the beginning of June. We have also been in contact with Deborah Chapman, MU’s European Chaplain, and look forward to a closer connection to our European branches.

As I’ve highlighted before, we are a small group, but we’d love to expand, so if you’d like to join us, and help uphold the MU aim of sharing our Christian faith by helping transform communities, then do not hesitate to get in touch. Don’t forget MU is present in 84 countries, our members are not all mothers, or even women! We are here to share God’s love, by encouragement, support and practical help in family life.
We look forward to continuing to do that in 2024.
Please get in touch or find out more from www.mothersunion.org

Sue Wilcock MU Branch Chair

MU will be meeting for lunch on Thursday 29th February 2024 at 12 noon. Friends and partners welcome.
Venue: WAFU Restaurant 114 Rue Pierre Latecoere, 16100 Cognac
More details from Sue Wilcock email: sue.wilcock@sky.com
or Karen Burke email: familleburke1@gmail.com
PLEASE BOOK PRIOR TO THE DAY

On Tuesday 28th November our MU branch had a lovely bring and share lunch. We had our midday prayers and then spent time and fellowship together. Many thanks to all who came. Our Christmas raffle made €90 towards our fundraising for AFIA holidays and other MU projects. If you would like to know more about our MU branch then please speak to Sue Wilcock our Chair, Karen Burke our Secretary or Brigitte Alexandre our Treasurer.

This was our Harvest Festival on Sunday October 8th at Cognac. This included our Rededication Service for Mother's Union members and our Warden Wanda McKerchar became a member. It was followed by a Bring and Share lunch. We all had a great time.

Our branch is the only one in France and we would love to welcome new members. MU is present in 84 countries, our members are not all mothers, or even women! We are here to share God’s love, by encouragement, support and practical help in family life. We support lots of the work that MU do worldwide. Our branch here in France support the AFIA (Away From it All) holiday scheme, sending a family away for a week’s holiday, whom otherwise would not be able to enjoy a holiday. We do a small amount of fundraising for this as well as virtual coffee mornings, bring and share lunches, a quiet day of reflection, and trips out together. We worship together once a year with our MU service where members who are geographically separated meet up to re-dedicate themselves to MU and to their faith through Christ. You can find out more about the work of MU by going to: www.mothersunion.org