MOTHERS' UNION: The Gloucestershire Diocese of the Mother's Union, of which we are one branch, had it's annual meeting and summer council meeting in the Chapter House at Gloucester Cathedral at the end of June.

The whole event was very interesting and informative, especially the unit reports which showed many aspects of the MU of which most people are unaware. The Prayer and Spirituality reported that more than 100 people attended the day, including visitors from South India. Retreats are held several times a year, the next one on September at Glenfall House in Cheltenham.

There are monthly cathedral prayers in the cathedral led by various Deaneries, our turn being in August.

The new M U service book was introduced to allow more flexiblity at the opening of monthly branch meetings and at their prayer meetings.

There is an indoor members' section for those no longer able to get to their meetings.

The MU is very active in the local communities and there is to be a Drugs Awareness Day on September 21 at Sir Thomas Rich's School 10am to 3.30pm, £3.00 cost for the day.

There are parenting courses for those accredited to lead them in their own parish/benifice.

The new overseas Family Life Programme is to be launched soon and there is a literacy programme at present and topics such as Aids/HIV will be launched in September in Uganda and a non-African country. A vast amount of money is sent for emergencies that the local MU administers.

The "away from it all" group has so far arranged for five families to have much-needed holidays and two more are being considered.

The Haven project enjoyed an outing to the West Midland Safari Park in the Easter holidays and there is an actiivity day planned for Thursday, August 29, 11am to 3.30pm in Chedworth Village Hall. Helpers are still required.

A new Gloucester diocese website has been set up and makes interesting viewing, though it is still being advanced.

Our next branch meeting will be held on July 26 at 2.45pm at Childswickham Church when the speaker will be Ron Chaston on his "Railway Reflections"

The August dates are to be announced and the September meeting will be on 23rd, when the speaker will be Rosemary Morris on "Savage Beasts - Noble Savages", also in the church. From October onwards the meeting will be held in the Childswickham Memorial Hall at 2.45pm

Phone 01386 853615 for information.