On our Mothers’ Union Global Day of Action, the first day of the #16DaysOfActivism and International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, local Mothers’ Union members and Church family including our Vicar, Revd James Knowles, and Curate, Revd Chris Webster, gathered for our ‘Rise Up against domestic abuse’ Service at All Saints’ Church in Eastbourne.
The homily read was taken from Restored Red Chair resources (Restored are a Christian Charity working with Survivors of Domestic Abuse in our Churches nationwide) ‘A message for the International Day to End Violence Against Women’ – very powerful. Next we marched quietly with our banners up Grange Road to the Town Hall at the top of Grove Road, and held a 3 minutes silence at 1.03pm to remember those 1 in 3 women who are affected worldwide by domestic abuse during their lifetime –
We have re-established links with the Refuges in East Sussex: One of our Mothers’ Union members commented: ‘I was shocked and saddened to hear that all of the Women’s Refuges in East Sussex are full. It’s sad to think of so much fear and unhappiness especially at this special time of the year. I heard a news report later in the week about the way financial pressures are causing stress in many relationships as people struggle to pay their bills, never mind being unable to provide for Christmas. I know the toiletries we collected and the £10 vouchers we have provided for the women will show them that we care about their plight.
I know that the All Saints’ congregation have provided toiletries in time for Christmas. Meanwhile I am spreading the news that East Sussex’s Refuges are full and in need of prayer and suitable housing for the women and children to move on into.’’ At our Global day we collected toiletries and £260 – changed into 26 x £10 vouchers for the Women. Staff have invited us to share craft and cookery sessions in one of the Refuges in the Spring!
Picture – Sue Lockhart