MU and me: Jenny MacRobb, connected in prayer
March 30th, 2022
As Mothers’ Union groups across the Diocese begin to meet again, some MU members are offering encouraging stories about why and how they joined. Here, previous MU Diocesan President Jenny MacRobb (pictured left) shares her story.
To begin, I must say why I didn’t join Mothers’ Union for many years. Years ago, MU always conjured up visions of elderly ladies in their best hats and coats, sitting in a formal meeting and staunchly excluding divorced women. This was not for me. How things have changed!At my first Australian council meeting, there were the Australian President, her secretary and treasurer – all at the front in jeans and t-shirts! You no longer had to be a married woman or a mother or a woman. Now, many MU members are men. At my first Australian council meeting, there were the Australian President, her secretary and treasurer – all at the front in jeans and t-shirts! You no longer had to be a married woman or a mother or a woman. Now, many MU members are men.
The late Joyce Erbs persuaded The Rev’d Graeme MacRobb that an MU group was needed when he wanted a group to assist with baptism preparation.
The MU purpose, aims and objectives were right for the task, and membership was open to all who have been baptised in the name of theHoly Trinity and declare support for the aim and objectives of MU. MU is specially concerned with all that strengthens and preserves marriage and Christian family life. We aim to advance the Christian religion in the sphere of marriage and family life. Our objectives are to: Holy Trinity and declare support for the aim and objectives of MU. MU is specially concerned with all that strengthens and preserves marriage and Christian family life. We aim to advance the Christian religion in the sphere of marriage and family life. Our objectives are to:
• uphold Christ’s teaching on the nature of marriage and to promote its wider understanding
• encourage parents to bring up their children in the faith and life of the church
• maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service
• promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children
• help those whose family life has met with adversity.
Through my membership, I have met members from many parts of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu and England. It has been a special time when visiting family in England to be able to spend time in Poole with my branch-linked members. There have been times of trouble when the prayers of members have been a blessing. When our younger granddaughter was a few days old, she was diagnosed with a heart condition and rushed to the Sydney Children’s Hospital. A few phone calls later and I knew members from many places were praying. An MU member came to my daughter’s home and offered to care for the baby’s older sister when we visited the hospital. On another occasion, a parishioner asked if I knew of somewhere she could stay in Melbourne when her husband was taken to hospital. After a call to the Melbourne MU President, accommodation was found and the parishioner arrived to a room complete with welcome package.
It is through our strong emphasis on prayer that I feel connected to the millions of members in so many countries around the world, and privileged to be one of them.