DKEA Mothers’ Union Festival Services
This May, the Mothers’ Union held their annual Festival Services in St Columba’s Church, Drumcliffe, Co. Sligo and St Bartholomew’s Church, Billis, Co. Cavan. The theme of both services was Ordinary Women – Extraordinary God.
During the service five inspiring videos were shown highlighting the outworkings of faith in everyday lives. In the first video, Mary Bourke, a retired school teacher in Collooney, Co. Sligo spoke of the changes that retirement brought and the time it gave for something different. This included the opportunity to undertake a part-time course to deepen her knowledge of the bible. During this time, a verse from Isaiah 43:18; ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’, was especially important to Mary. She has since started a ladies bible study in Collooney and together with Jean Glenfield, and has been doing bible studies with Mothers’ Union groups across the Diocese. Her story is a testament to God’s faithfulness and dependability when we step out to do something new for Him.
In the second video, Hazel Speares shared her experience as a co-ordinator for Team Hope in Co, Cavan. In her video, Hazel spoke of the hard work of Team Hope volunteers which start in January every year! A visit to Kosovo, was an important moment in Hazel’s life as she saw the joy of children for whom a filled shoebox is the only gift they may ever receive.
Next, Janette Waller shared her journey from the Isle of Wight to Rector’s wife in Kildallon. She spoke of her Christian journey as a set of arrivals from a non-Christian upbringing with Christian values to finally making that commitment to ask Jesus into her life at the age of 30. A verse which has been important to her is John 10:9; ‘I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture’. Janette told of how this verse helped her understand what it meant to be saved and how God has always given her a green pasture.
The forth video showcased the Virginia Prayer Shawl ministry which started in 2009. Initially they thought that they would not be distributing many shawls but soon found that that was not true. So many people need prayer and find comfort in the shawls when they receive them. To date they have given out over 170 shawls. Rev. Faith Sithole, chaplain of the prayer shawl ministry group spoke of the warm fellowship and time of communion, friendship, togetherness and cake.
The final video highlighted the work of Jennifer Bullock and the Annagh Social Farm which was created over 10 years ago. Jennifer and her husband invite adults with intellectual disabilities to the farm for a cup of tea and a chat before heading out to feed the animals, collect eggs and check the sheep in the fields. Creation care and conservation work is also an important part of what they do on Annagh farm. They have an orchard, a sensory garden, a fruit maze which needs to be cared for and maintained. Annagh Social farm was one of the first social farms on the island of Ireland and they now have two bases – one in Derrylin in Co. Fermanagh and one in Aughnacloy in Co. Tyrone. They have faced many challenges along the way but firmly believe that God is in the midst of all the workings of Annagh Social farm as a great comforter and guide. The collection at both Mothers’ Union festival services was taken for the work of Annagh Social farms.
In his sermon, Bishop Ferran preached from Mark 14 v 3-9 and spoke of the power of beautiful actions done for others in the name of Christ who has given His all for each one of us. Referring to the videos that had been shown during the service, Bishop Ferran spoke about the women all across our Diocese who are doing beautiful things for the Lord just by doing what they can. He challenged us all to think of the beautiful things that we can do in response and in gratitude for what Christ has done for us.
The services were a wonderful opportunity to focus on the foundations of our Christian faith and think about the ways in which we can honour Christ in the places He has put us – among our friends, neighbours, families and communities – doing beautiful things for Him.