At our Mothering Sunday service we
particularly focus on Thanking God
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For all that our mums do for us.
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For all those who have mothered us or been like mothers
to us in ways that have helped us in life and in the Church.
(This is especially important to those whose mum has died or not been able to
be there for them.)
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For Jesus' understanding of family life, for God's
mothering qualities i.e. his compassion, care and bringing us to new life and
for the Church that nurtures us in that life .
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During the service we have a special
opportunity to express our thanks to our mums and those who have cared for
us by signing and giving them flowery Mothers Day cards with special
words inside.
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Examples of our
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Mothers Day cards
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These are the words of the Collect, the
special prayer, for Mothering Sunday.
(They call it a Collect because it
collects together the theme of the day and focuses us on God in our
celebrations.)
God of compassion,
Whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary,
shared the life of a home in Nazareth
and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself:
strengthen us in our daily living
that in joy and sorrow
we may know the power of your presence
to bind together and to heal;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever
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History and tradition of Mother's day.
For many years the fourth Sunday of Lent has been celebrated as Mothering
Sunday. It marked a mid season break from fasting as families
were re united.
Traditionally, it was a day when working
children, especially girls in domestic service, were given the day off to
visit their homes and families. This may have been called 'gone a
mothering.'
It's origins may have gone back further in Church
history, thinking about the Church as Mother, nurturing us in our new life
in Christ. This may have been linked with a Bible verse, Galatians 4:26
referring to the heavenly eternal temple (church) of Jerusalem, as the
mother of us all.
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History and tradition of Mother's day.
This may have been linked with a Bible verse, Galatians 4:26 referring to
the heavenly eternal temple (church) of Jerusalem, as the mother of us all.
Centuries ago, most people went to church every
Sunday at their local church, (a daughter church.) Once a year they
returned to the mother church, the main church of the area. This became an
occasion for family reunions. this was probably also called 'gone a
mothering.'
The return to the mother Church may later have been
linked with the day off to see mother and family with a visit to their
original home or mother Church.
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 Bible:
Proverbs 23v22
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