June 2023 | Letter from MWI All Ireland President Olive Rowe.
Greetings to all Methodist Women in Ireland!
I hope you have had a Blessed time over Easter and was able to Celebrate the Risen Saviour. ‘Christ the Lord is risen indeed’ is one of my favourite hymns.
On Thursday 13th April I had the pleasure of visiting Letterbreen MWI Open Night. Walking into the hall I was welcomed by tables decorated with beautiful daffodils and yellow tablecloths. Also on the tables was a lovely little handmade gift made by Valerie Carson, a faithful member of Letterbreen MWI. The guest speaker was Helen D’Arcy from Fields of Life. She spoke on their work and especially on my project for this year, ‘I Am Girl’. A wonderful enjoyable evening.
Early next morning it was off to the airport to go to MWiB Conference in Swanwick at the Hayes Conference Centre. I was invited by the MWiB ladies to attend and I certainly was not disappointed. It was lovely to have my good friend, Carmel Irwin travel with me. MWiB had a very full programme but the highlight for me was the Communion Service on Sunday and listening to and meeting Pam Rhodes on Saturday morning. I was asked to lead one of the morning prayer groups. One lady who took part had never prayed in public before and another shed tears after that prayer time. I came home tired but delighted by the experience, and meeting with so many ladies from around the UK and beyond.
Home for a few days to recharge the batteries and then off to Killarney to join with the Southern ladies of MWI for their 62nd Annual weekend Conference. It’s a long way to Tipperary and it is a long way to Killarney but it was worth every inch of the journey! The theme of their weekend was ‘Nurturing Ourselves, each other and the wider Church Family’.
The Conference was held in the beautiful setting of Castlerosse Hotel. The speaker was Rev Alison Gallagher, Methodist Minister in that area. I was Blessed under her ministry. Caroline and I helped with the music. I really enjoyed the workshop with our Irish Helen Kim Scholar, Heidi Hogan and the British Helen Kim scholar, Madeline Reed. These two girls are amazing with their passion for Jesus, and reaching out to Methodist Women throughout the world. We are also so Blessed to have Wanda Hogan as the Vice President of the Southern MWI, sister of Heidi. Wanda did a terrific job of organizing everything detail for the weekend. A huge ‘thank you’ to all involved in the planning and preparing for the weekend. It was a great success. I am already looking forward to the Southern’s 63rdAnnual Conference.
MWI is delighted to be part of the Methodist Church stand at the Balmoral show from 10th to the 13th. I hope I will have said ‘hello’ to some of you at this show!
New challenges, new ventures, stepping out of the boat with confidence that God is leading our movement in the right direction. Please pray for MWI that God will lead us in the events planned, to reach women throughout Ireland, To Know Christ & To Make Him Known.
Join us for MWI BBQ on Thursday 15th June 2023 at 7pm in the Killyhevlin Hotel Enniskillen and the Fellowship weekend in Drumalis in September. Full details and booking forms available from your Branch secretary or myself.
Events in June:
MCI Conference starting June 8th
15th All Ireland BBQ
Blessings,
Olive
Above images:
Decorations at MWiB Swanwick
Alison Humphries, Olive Rowe with Helen D'Arcy from Fields of Life
Olive Rowe & Pam Rhodes at MWiB Swanwick
Signs of Spring at Letterbreen MWI
Signs of Spring at Letterbreen MWI