Happy Mother's Day! - CFN Newsletter Week 119

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 119

> Let your Mum know she's appreciated!
> News:
> Christian remand fostering centres closed
> Charity applauds Chancellor's minimum wage move
> Teenagers in abortion backlash
> Sites:
> Youngsters plan Stations of the Cross art
> Help your church use technology wisely
> Marriage MOT: Appreciating Mum
> You've got to laugh: Christian home?
> Members' Zone latest

OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS WEEK

The Passion of The Christ will prove even more of a talking point over the next few weeks, as Mel Gibson's blockbuster comes to cinemas all over the UK. Two booklets exploring the story of Jesus' death and resurrection are available from CPO - True or False? and Experience the Passion of The Christ.

At last count, more than 120,000 had been ordered in advance for use by churches. Order online at
http://www.cpo-online.org or call 01903 263354.

Dear All

Spoil your mums this weekend! We've got plenty of content to help you, plus news from the Mothers Union and lots more to help your relationships, your spiritual life and more.

And don't forget - check under Resources for my review of The Passion of The Christ, plus how your church can use the opportunity this film provides to bring Easter to life in a fresh way. If your church has a special screening or outreach planned, mail us!

Let us know what you'd like to see on CFN this Spring!

God bless

Russ Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk

PS Christian Family Network is here to direct you to the best in parenting, marriage and family resources; to link you up with other Christian families up and down the UK; and to help you make the most of life as a follower of Christ - at home, at work, at school and college, at play and online.

Your feedback, positive and negative, enables us to develop CFN in the way that is most useful for you - so please tell us if we're off the rails or on the button!

And don't forget - if we can pass on material (sample copies of Families Together, leaflets) which will help you tell your friends and your church about CFN, just mail Lyn Bedford at marketing@christianmedia.org.uk and she'll be glad to help you out.

FESTIVALS

"Thanks Mum - you’re one in a million!"

"It’s often been said that there is nothing like a mother’s love," write Care for the Family in their latest newsletter.

"Mother's Day this weekend will once again provide the opportunity to say 'thank you' to our mums. This year, as well as telling your mum how special she is, think about encouraging all the hard-working mums you know in your neighbourhood, churches and wider family. After all, every mum appreciates being thanked for the work they do - especially if their child is too young to buy a card or gift themselves.

"It’s also important to remember those who have lost their mother - or perhaps, even a son or daughter. Mother's Day can also be painful for those who haven’t been able to have children - either because of infertility or remaining single. Take a moment to think how you can support those who may be uncomfortable celebrating Mother's Day - sometimes a simple act or kind word can make all the difference in the world.

"Let’s use this time to affirm every mum on Mother's Day. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Do you know someone whose children are living away and won’t be home for Mother's Day? Plan to invite them over for a meal - and ask them to bring some recent photos of their son or daughter, so you get to know a little about them, too.
  
• Remember those who are single parent mums - if they have young children, could you help them make or buy a card and show them what to write?
  
• Don’t forget that a mother never stops being a mum. Can you make time to include an elderly person who is unable to see their family this Mother's Day?
  
• If you are organising a celebration in your church, please be sensitive and include women who may want children, but have been unable to have them for whatever reason.
  Mother's Day is a day for every mum to be appreciated and valued! Everybody likes to be acknowledged for a job well done - is there a mum you know who deserves to be praised?
  
  
• How do you celebrate Mother's Day? Mail us with your ideas!

> THIS WEEK'S NEWS

> Christian remand fostering centres closed

Government procedures branded as “impractical” have forced CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) to shut down two of their successful remand fostering centres.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> Children's charity applauds minimum wage for 16 and 17s

NCH has called Gordon Brown's Budget announcement that there will be a minimum wage for 16 and 17-year-olds “excellent news”.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp for the full story

> Teens in abortion backlash

A recent magazine survey overwhelmingly demonstrated a ‘growing backlash against abortion’ among teenagers according to Student Lifenet.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> MARRIAGE MOT

> Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members' Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk

Appreciating Mum!

It’s Mother’s Day in the UK next Sunday. Perhaps this is a good time for husbands to reflect on what their wives give to their children. They spend around nine months nurturing the baby within their own bodies – both a wonderful and a very exhausting experience. Then comes the years of putting aside their own needs to ensure the youngsters are fed, clothed, nurtured and taught about life, sleepless nights, dirty washing and anxiously waiting for them to come in at night.

Then at the end of it all the child leaves home and the mother has to learn that despite all their efforts they are no longer needed in the same way.

Husbands - what would you like to say to your wife to show how much you appreciate all they have given to bring your children up? Perhaps wives would like to use this same opportunity to appreciate the love and support their husbands have given them.

If you haven’t any children, then why not tell each other how much you appreciate each other anyway? How special it is to know you’re loved and valued, whether it’s for what you do or simply who you are! And let’s not confine such encouragement to Mother’s Day.

Why not every day?!?

> EVENTS

> YOU'VE GOT TO LAUGH ...

After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.

His father asked him three times what was wrong.

Finally, the boy replied: "That vicar said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home. I don't want to go, I want to stay with you!"

> CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
(MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp

> Advice

> Kate's Marriage advice - Appreciate Mum!
> Ravi Zacharias on rediscovering the art of wonder

> Resources

> How you can get involved and make a difference in your child's school
> MU launches new campaign to combat family breakdown
> ... and you think your family's got problems!

> News

> Christian remand fostering centres closed
> Charity applauds Chancellor's minimum wage move
> Teenagers in abortion backlash

> Top sites this week

> Youthful art for Good Friday
> Harness technology wisely for your church
> US Catholic Bishops on films and faith
> Play musical instruments you've never heard of!

> Events: Care for the Family tours and day events in 2004 plus more of what's on near you

> Webwatch Index: more than 600 sites at your fingertips

> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 1,000-page plus archives

Christian Family Network, Christian Media Centre, Garcia Estate, Canterbury Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 1EH, UK (01903 821082; subscriptions 01903 602136)

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