CHRISTMAS APPEAL

Mothers’ Union at St. Francis are again putting together gift bags for the women at local refuges for Christmas. These each need to be identical and so we are asking for cash donations - please give to Jackie or Elaine.

We are also co-ordinating the St Francis contribution to Heaton Churches Together Christmas collection for The Peoples Kitchen.   A box will be at the back of church for socks and chocs or any other suitable items for those who are homeless in Newcastle.

Request for favourite cake/biscuit recipes

The Mothers’ Union committee would like to produce and sell a favourite cake/biscuit recipe book.  The aim would be to raise money for the St Francis Church Development Fund and for it to be a tribute in memory of June Falcus who died in June this year.  June was a long-standing MU member and sold her delicious cakes (along with others) on cake stalls at church festivities for over 40 years.  Dorothy Frankland and June’s daughter Carole are leading this and requesting original tried and tested recipes from all church members to include.  If you have a personal favourite biscuit/cake recipe you would like included please email it to hallbooking60@gmail.com   Until we know the response, we suggest no more than two recipes per person, for now!  Handwritten recipes are also acceptable and can be given to Dorothy.  If you have a photograph of the finished cake/biscuits, please include that as well. 

16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence and Abuse is an annual United Nations campaign from 25th November (The International Day for the Elimination of Violence) to 10th December (The International Human Rights Day). The campaign calls us to raise awareness of this issue and to allow us to reflect, pray and campaign together to build understanding that could lead to changes. Mothers' Union join with 6000 other organizations in 187 countries around the world to support this. 

Domestic abuse is a world wide problem. In our own country 1 in 3 women have experiences abuse in their lives. Mothers' Union use white and purple hearts in groups of 3 as a sign to represent this and our sanctuary has been decorated with purple and white hearts to remind us about this.