Southampton District Methodist Women’s District Day
on 10th October 2026 was held at Chandler’s Ford Methodist Church focussing on the theme ‘Stones and Silence; rising in rubble’.
Rev’d Rachel Bending, Chair of Southampton District encouraged interaction from the gathered group of fifty or so, mainly women, around a central display representing ‘rubble’. Various kinds of ‘rubble’ which many, if not most of us, live with were explored, and reflected upon. This led on to an exploration of the biblical story of the woman accused of adultery, using an image from the Methodist art collection by Clive Hicks-Jenkins (pictured above), to consider the ways in which the story is often told, but then wondering together what might be the ‘back’ story, and what might have happened in the ongoing story after the part of it that we read. This developed a much fuller picture of the event, bringing to life the probable perspectives of those who were there, Jesus, the woman and those in the gathered group of locals.
Contemplating the relevance to our own times and reflecting on the kinds of ‘rubble’ with which we live and seek to respond illustrated the resilience and persistence of women to keep striving and to cope in their individual situations.
Workshops followed which gave options to consider further the roles and tasks of women, and how we can support one another. The SHE [Start Her Enterprise] was featured and is the District partnership project for 2026/7. The christian charity Restored focussed on what makes healthy relationships, based on their work with women and churches to support women who have experienced forms of abuse. Rachel provided craft materials so that responses to the morning could be created, and opportunity to hear something of the World Federation Assembly which took place last August in New Zealand also featured.
Closing worship picked up on the theme added responses from the workshops to the display and drew all present together in communion where they fed bread and wine to one another. Something special and rare infused the atmosphere during this time, hard to describe, almost electric, giving a sense of everyone together in thought and action. A day to treasure, and one that will remain in the memory for a very long time.
