Meeting Reports: November 2018 Meeting:  Holy Land Trip (February 2018) At our November meeting Brenda Cottle from Harpenden gave us an interesting and enthusiastic talk on their I holy Land Trip, led by Embrace Charity, when a party of 30 - half St. John's, half St. Peter & St Paul, Deddington, Oxford diocese, with the Revd. Annie Goldthorp - toured the Holy Land. The first day the party visited Bethlehem Arab Society Rehabilitation hospital to see work done to help victims of the fighting, and there they walked through a physio ward where they could see the views and the dividing wall. The Church of the Nativity built on the spot where, according to legend, Jesus was born in a stable or cave is now undergoing complete renovation. It is a beautiful church of Greek/Russian Orthodox influence with wall paintings still being uncovered. Friday 9th. February was tree -planting day when the party helped to plant 450 olive trees. If the Palestinians don't keep a piece of ground on their side of the wall planted, then the Israelis will take possession of it, hence the need to plant the trees. They learned from a Palestinian husband and wife, both teachers, just how difficult everyday life in Palestine can be. Water is only supplied twice a month, with water containers on the roof, and washing done only when the water is turned on. Electricity is cut off at random by the Israeli authorities. Life is hard, but the Palestinians are determined to stay in their country so somehow, they manage. Next stop was Nazareth, the Church of the Beatitudes, the place of the Sermon on the Mount and a boat trip to where they took Communion by the Sea of Galilee. As well as seeing many important sites in the area, the party gained a very good insight into the lives of the Palestinian people, and the constant pressures they arc under from a situation which has, unfortunately, been impossible to solve for so many years. October Meeting: Labyrinth in Prayer We were pleased to welcome the return of Jill Thompson to our October meeting for a talk on her I,aunde Abbey combined ‘Labyrinth in Prayer’ and ‘Quilting’ retreat. The history of labyrinths goes back a long; wav and the oldest known one is on the floor of the Cathedral in Chartres, and can only be seen, or walked, when the chairs have been cleared away. The difference between a labyrinth and a maze is that you can walk a labyrinth from the beginning to the centre and then to the end, moving along the paths at your own pace, whereas a maze is not straightforward but a puzzle from beginning to end. The original purpose of a labyrinth was for prayer and contemplation. The members of the retreat visited Norwich Cathedral where there is a jubilee labyrinth that was constructed in 2002 for the Queen's jubilee with money donated by the people of Norwich. When they were not visiting and walking labyrinths, the members stitched their own labyrinth quilts and Jill brought hers along for us to see. It was beautifully made in shades of blue with the paths in stone colour and a central flowcr.

Contacting the Mothers' Union

The Ouse Valley Deanery Group of the Mothers' Union extends a warm welcome to members and non-members alike. If you would like information about joining the group or future meetings, please contact Hazel Scott on 01234 781 559 or Jackie Biggs on 01234 782 517.