Mrs Glenda McSorley,
  Department Co-ordinator

At the Executive Retreat held earlier in the year, we sat and wrote down a list of what we hoped to achieve both short term and long term for MU Sydney and for our individual departments or office.

I listed that I wanted to involve more and more parishes with MU and to encourage our membership to see that they are both valued and valuable as together we work to extend God’s kingdom through MU in Sydney and beyond.

As I look back over my first year, I can see that I have made but a small beginning. Building on Pam’s good efforts I have sought to connect with existing branches and parishes. I have spoken to Rectors and Presidents and members, visited branches and tried to get information and to give information about what is and could be going on. This is a slow work and I have not managed to reach even a quarter of our MU and Caritas membership but I think it is the way for me to start. For I see my primary task as that of encouraging our members, as well as reinforcing the fact that we have something to offer our wider diocese.

We all need to be a little more pro-active. To speak up enthusiastically about MU and of course, we need to address those issues which concern us. We need to continue to PRAY. MU is a prayer resource for our diocese. Great things happen as we pray!

We would never have seen ourselves as a retail outlet and here we are… …our second Christmas at the shop/office and we are not only surviving but impacting on those around us, where God has placed us. Thank you to executive, staff and members alike.

Many people, not just members, come in to purchase Christian Cards and Literature, they buy your beautifully made crafts and coffee and teas. They comment about the cards (still our primary income), they are delighted by the hand-made gifts offered and go away with a little more information about MU and about the saving love of the Lord Jesus which we profess. Families are important and they are the common thread which leads to conversations and connections with the people walking past through the arcade. The extra income generated by the shop allows us to extend and expand our core ministry and the executive is actively looking to this task constantly.

Since we moved to the shop there have been life changing conversations, Gospels handed out and everyday witness to both the public and our fellow arcade shop keepers. This is important and different but wonderful work and contributes to fulfilling our mission statement. Thank you to all those who supported this part of MU Sydney’s Ministry. Thank you for continued prayer, for volunteering, for encouraging each other, thank you to the many members and friends who have and will continue to knit and sew.

May we and many see our Lord Jesus in each word and action as together we serve Him through MU.

Glenda McSorley