Ruth’s Blog(MWiB Co-Chair): 20th March 2023
Greetings!
You will have noticed that the title at the top of this page has changed! I am no longer President of MWiB but am sharing the Presidency with Maggie Woods, who was commissioned at Forum and we are now both Co-Chairs. Maggie will look after the South of the country and I will look after the North. We are in constant touch with one another and will share the workload. We have also adopted the new MWiB structure, so that we now have just twelve Trustees who each look after an area and the aim is to have an Ambassador in each District who will communicate with their Trustee, who will then communicate with the Executive Committee. We held a meeting this week of the Trustees and Ambassadors so we have pressed the ‘start button’ which should help us to keep in touch with one another on a regular basis.
The last few weeks since Forum, have been extremely busy. I have been preparing and giving talks about our Colombian experience, raising awareness of the gender and climate change issues and how it is affecting girl’s education there. Michael and I based a service on our experience at our local church, then we gave a talk at one of our previous churches in Padgate, Warrington. Last Saturday, I spoke to the Scotland and Shetland District. It was a very cold and snowy day and I was pleased that I hadn’t to travel, so I was very thankful for ‘Zoom’! It was lovely to meet old friends and to meet new ones. Next weekend, I will be sharing in the Newcastle MWiB Conference at Minsteracres, Consett, so I am praying for good weather as I travel!
One of the highlights of March has been taking part in Daffodil Day at Westminster Methodist Central Hall, organised by the London and Beds, Essex and Herts MWiB Area. There was an abundance of daffodils, which we were invited to take and give to someone else after the event. I was interviewed by Pam Rhodes, along with the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Hamza Taouzzale, Anando Mukerjee, the soloist, Anthony Boateng, the current Methodist Vice-President, Alan Taylor from the Methodist Minister’s Housing Association (as it is their 75th Anniversary), and Neresa Maye, a gospel singer. The theme was ‘Sing to the Lord a new Song’ and the singing, lead by the Central Hall Choir was wonderful!
Pam Rhodes will be speaking at our annual Conference at Swanwick. There are still a few places left if you would like to come and join us; the details are on our website: mwib.org.uk
I am reminded of Psalm 100:1 – ‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord……’ or as the Message puts it, ‘On your feet now – applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.’
Blessings
Ruth
