Our October meeting was held at the home of Peter and Janet Likeman on a beautiful sunny Autumn morning. We were welcomed with coffee biscuits and delicious cakes and friendly chat continued as we welcomed each other and were pleased to see that Maureen Flynn had returned safely from her visit to her brother in South Africa .

Included in correspondence for our consideration was an invitation to join our friends at All Saints Mothers’ Union for their Patronal Festival Service on Wednesday November 1st at 2.30pm and we were invited to take our MU banner for the procession.

Also in November, on Tuesday November 21st at Salisbury Cathedral, we have our service “16 Days of Activism against Domestic Violence “ Gifts for the Women’s refuge will be collected in church on Sunday November 19th

Looking ahead to 2024 suggestions for speakers and topics for our in house meetings included, Asking if the nurse responsible for elderly care at the White Horse Health centre would be willing to come and talk to us; Inviting the Revd Joanna Naish to come and talk to us about her fund raising cycle ride from Tisbury to Iona, and Taking part in the MU Metamorphosis sessions which describes Mothers’ Union approach to change and transformation. We also discussed the possibility of changing the date and day of our MU outing to avoid the August holiday season.

The Virtual Baby project begins after half term and some of our members have already promised dates for helping with this project.

Jenny and Veronica have made enquiries and collected menus for a Christmas lunch at the Woolpack in Beckington These were distributed to those present with a request that orders and deposits be returned to Jenny and Veronica by the end of October,

Rosie then distribute a quiz for our consideration called the “Odd One Out” Twenty varied questions certainly tested our memories and intelligence and was won by Jenny who received a bag of “Celebrations” as a reward. Well done Jenny!

We enjoyed a time of friendly social chat before prayers: For the Autumn Season, The work of MU around the world and prayers for those in our own village needing special help at this time. This included praying for Clive Jocelyn and their family, Praying for our member Dorothy and her son Ashley as they move to their new home in Winchester , and praying for members of our congregation at Holy Trinity who are unwell or in hospital. We finished by praying together Mary Sumner’s personal prayer and saying the Grace. We thanked Janet for her hospitality before going out into the continued Autumn sunshine.

We next meet at All Saints Church on Wednesday November 1st at 2.30pm complete with our MU banner.

Enid Holbrow