Letter for May 2023 from MWI All Ireland President Olive Rowe.

23 Apr

Greetings to all my friends in MWI.

As you read this we will have celebrated Easter. Christ the Lord is Risen indeed!

As I write, we are very busy with lambing – lots of new life every twenty-four hours. It is in Jesus that we have new life – that experience of forgiveness in our hearts.

My term as President is fast approaching the end of my first year. It certainly has been an experience, so different in some ways to what I had expected, with some surprises along the way. One thing that I find very difficult to understand is the number of “ladies’ groups” meeting in Methodist premises who do not associate themselves as members of Methodist Women in Ireland. Yes, they are Methodist Women but they don’t seem to accept that actually they all come under the same umbrella as MWI.

To me this is sad, even if we all unite as Methodist Women in Ireland we still are small in number compared to ladies’ groups in other dominations. There are many issues that, as Methodist Women in Ireland we need to speak out on but we need numbers to make it more effective. I would love to know why groups are this so that it could be addressed to enable MWI to lead into the future.

This wonderful organization has been handed down to us by our mums and grand mums so please help us to hand it on to our daughters, granddaughters and nieces. I would love to hear your views. My email address is: oliverowe2020@gmail.com.

Methodist Women is open to all women in every society of the Methodist Church. We share fellowship with each other through local groups, District gatherings and Connexional events.

We are members of World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women. Our aims are

(a) To enable members through Fellowship with each other to deepen their personal commitment to Jesus Christ

(b) To relate the teaching of Jesus Christ to life in the home, the Church, the Community and the world.

(d) To provide a link with the women of other churches in Ireland and throughout the world. Our motto is “To Know Christ & To Make Him Known”

As well as chairing meetings, leading MWI church services, I have had the pleasure of visiting MWI ladies, some who are confined to their homes. One such lady is Mrs Edith Wilson from Churchhill Methodist Church. I spent time with her, chatting, drinking tea, reading from the Bible and praying. Mrs Wilson is mother-in-law to our North Western Vice President, Mrs Maeve Wilson. Ladies, like Mrs Wilson play a very important role in the life of MWI by continually praying for the work of MWI, and for safe travel as we go from place to place, and we appreciate that so much. Prayer is so important to the life of MWI, and its future.

On 12th March I had a lovely day in Belfast. Speaking at Glengormley MWI service where we lifted high the name of Jesus through Praise, Worship and Word. Thank you to Rev Sam and Linda McGuffin for a great welcome and a beautiful dinner. In the afternoon I represented MWI at Connor Mother’s Union Diocesan Festival Service. The music was amazing from the choir of Lancaster Bible College Pennsylvania USA. This was an unforgettable experience and to complete my day I was able to pay a short visit to our MWI sister and All Ireland Missionary Convener Ms Elizabeth McWatters. We thank God for Elizabeth and for the way He is taking care of her health. Her faith is unwavering and an inspiration to me. Thank you Elizabeth for your support and encouragement.

Please remember the following dates and pray for all the ongoing events:

10th – 13th May Balmoral Show Outreach
13th May General Executive Portadown
14th May MWI Service Londonderry
29th May MWI Gathering with our Polish friends
8th June Methodist Conference
15th June All Ireland BBQ Killyhevlin Enniskillen
15th – 17th September fellowship Weekend Drumalis with special guest Rev Maureen Hassard.
Get your booking form from your branch contact or secretary.

Much Love,