Hello from our Southampton District Methodist Women in Britain’s organising group.
You are probably aware that this group has reformed recently. We have been considering how to keep in touch with, and be supportive for those interested in MWiB.
This image of dandelion seeds touching one another, was used in our meeting to illustrate the hope that across our District we will reach out to one another offering ideas, information and invitations.
One way of keeping in touch with one another is via communications like this [known as Blogs]. We hope that these will become a regular feature across the area and that many of you will be willing to contribute. The content can be reporting something of broad interest, to a meditation or spiritual reflection.
We will be planning a District day next October which will be held in a central church, with car parking and accessibility so that as many as possible from right across the District will be able to attend. Look out for details in due course.
We are also working on providing resources such as fully scripted services which may be useful to you for Local arrangement services or meetings. These will have been put together, and used, by some of our group. Over time we will look to develop a broader resource bank with things such as Prayer Walks. [They can be done from the comfort of your armchair if you wish, rather than walking]. It is also hoped that there will be opportunities for groups to gather for quiet events in different parts of the Circuit from time to time.
We aim to keep you all informed about MWiB events and activities on a wider scale too, for example, any special services arranged by connexional MWiB and the annual conference at The Hayes Conference Centre at Swanwick in Derbyshire.
We look forward to keeping in touch with you all, and hope you will share information with those around you. It would be lovely to increase our numbers. You can help by:
* looking out for our regular newsletter which Alison Judd will send to you if you are on her mailing list. To join in, contact her at amjudd50@gmail.com
* sending ideas for activities that you would appreciate to Hilary
[ hjfe49@gmail.com ] or Alison [see above].
* sending information to us about your groups’ activities [small or large]
* offering to write a blog post to share across the District
So, as we seek to maintain and extend our connections as Methodist Women, I end with this quote from Jack Larkfield for you to consider:
The things that matter most in our lives are not fantastic or grand. They are the moments when we touch one another.
With very best wishes, Hilary Evans [District MWiB Co-ordinator] Blog 1
Hello from the Southampton District Methodist Women in Britain Steering group
Happy New Year from Alison Judd, your Communications Officer.
We aim to send you a blog on the last Friday of each month. Please feel free to share it with others.
Do you celebrate Candlemas?
It always falls on 2 February, 40 days after Christmas. It commemorates the occasion that is recorded in Luke 2: 21ff. Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem according to custom for the rites of purification for Mary and the presentation of their child in the temple. You will remember that two elderly people, Simeon and Anna, recognised the infant Jesus as the promised Messiah.
Simeon declared to Mary and Joseph that Jesus would be ‘a light for revelation to the Gentiles’. Anna praised God loudly and spoke to everyone about the child as their promised redeemer. Later, when John wrote his gospel he began by describing Jesus saying ‘the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world’ John 1:9
No wonder we light candles at Christmas. If you had an Advent wreath, you probably lit one red candle each week and then on Christmas day, lit the central white candle to represent Jesus the Christ. Perhaps you made Christingles, with oranges to represent the world, red ribbon (the blood of Christ), toothpicks full of sweets or dried fruit (symbolising the seasons and God’s gracious provision). Finally, you will have placed a candle at the centre to remember how Jesus dispels the darkness and brings light and hope to our lives.
These are all ways of sharing the good news that Jesus is the true light of the world. Candlemas may mark the end of the Christmas season, and we may already notice the nights getting shorter, but our longing for the true light continues all year. See Singing the Faith 175 Light of the world, you stepped down into darkness’.
I came across a beautiful meditation about candles from the Northumbria Community
written by William Brodrick. It begins ‘We have to be candles,’ and you can find it at www.northumbriacommunity.orgMeditation day 31
It urges us to follow the way of Christ in sharing the true light that brings hope, faith and life to a world that struggles to understand its pain and darkness.
To Ponder
- How do you make use of candles at church/at home/to aid your personal devotions?
- How do you think MWiB can shine the light of Christ across our District?
- How might you ‘be a candle’ today?
- How might we identify with Simeon and Anna?
Blogs District MWiB Blog 2 - January 2026 Alison Judd