Autumn Meeting & AGM 2024
As we approach the end of another year and this time a triennium too, it seems appropriate to reflect on what we have achieved and where we need to focus now. Our autumn meeting and AGM gave us an opportunity to do this.
Val Bolan chaired the meeting. After opening prayers provided by members of Tilehurst St Michael branch, the more formal part of the meeting began with the presentation of the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023. These were accepted. The Trustees are in the process of appointing a new independent examiner and are awaiting receipt of references before a final decision is made.
We heard updates from Trustees on the work of the four units: Fundraising and Communication; Action and Outreach, Prayer and Spirituality and Finance and Admin. Jenny Searle announced the winner of the Noticeboard Challenge 2024. Penny Rickards, the Crowthorne branch leader, was presented with their prize which was two vintage mugs from 1988 commemorating one hundred years of MU in Oxford diocese.
These reports show that we are maintaining our membership numbers and that we continue to deliver a wide spectrum of charitable works. However, our leadership is thin on the ground. Unless we are able to recruit more people from the membership to fill certain vital roles, including:
Action & Outreach Coordinator; Prayer & Spirituality Coordinator; Finance & Admin Coordinator;
Focus Editor; and Treasurer,
we shall have to stop doing some of the things we have come to expect as part of the fabric of MU in the Oxford diocese.
We then had a truly wonderful session provided by Parababble, a group of Christians who bring the gospel message to audiences of all ages in an entertaining way using puppets, songs and sketches. This is an inspiring way to bring the Christian message, particularly to children. For half an hour we were all transported back to childhood.
Then we had a presentation by Jenny Searle on what has been happening in MU across Britain and Ireland as part of the Transformation Now programme. After midday prayers, led by Rev. Lady Denise Brown, Maria Skoyles gave us an update on the Dorcas Dress project: its sewing hubs have spread across the world and there is a growing partnership (which started here in Oxford diocese) with Mothers’ Union.
During our lunch break there were short meetings for diocesan members and branch leaders and we had plenty of time to browse the displays showing our work as well as the MUe stall and the Memorial Book. In the afternoon, Rev. Mary Harwood, our MU chaplain, presided over a service of holy eucharist. There was a retiring collection which raised £290. Half of this (£145) will go to the diocesan project fund and half to our link diocese in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help with their fight against the Mpox epidemic. Mothers’ Union has no direct way to send this money to our link diocese so we will be sending the money via UNICEF.
When we emerged at the end of the service, the sun had come out and it sped us on our way back home with a spring in our step, smiles on our faces and fond memories of our time together.
Full reports of the proceedings can be found on our website: www.muoxford.org.uk. If you need hard copies, please contact the office.
Jenny Searle
The Autumn Meeting & AGM was held at Benson Parish Hall on 15th October 2024
Papers available below:
