I have always liked that Mothering Sunday is also known as “Refreshment Sunday” – it brings to mind images of cake and good coffee. Mothering Sunday comes exactly halfway through the season of Lent, giving us a time of reprieve from whatever it is that we have “given up” for 6 weeks. It is the pitstop that we need to be refilled with joy and rejoicing, before approaching perhaps the hardest part of our Christian story, the crucifixion.
I also find it interesting that the readings for Mothering Sunday blends some of the complex tensions of this day. In one Paul reminds us in Colossians of the gifts of compassion and kindness. In the other we are at the foot of the cross, with Mary and the disciple John, staying with Jesus in his final hour. So the rejoicing in what we are encouraged to be in Christ, is also held with the way in which Christ made this possible.
Perhaps the line that helps to bring these together is Paul’s encouragement to “bear with one another”. On this day, as we come together to celebrate Mothering in line with our faith in the God of all creation, who died for us – then may we be a refreshment to each other by “bearing with.”
Services on Sunday 15th March – Mothering Sunday
10:00am – Holy Communion – St Mary’s
10:30am – Holy Communion – All Saints
The Week Ahead
Mon 16th March
9:00am – Tiny Tots, All Saints
Tue 17th March
10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms 7:30pm – Lent Group One
Wed 18th March
9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints
2:00pm – Lent Group Two, St Marys’ Parish Room
Thu 19th March
10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s
Fri 20th March
11:00am – Living After Loss, St Mary’s
Sat 21st March
12:00pm – 1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s
Sun 22nd March
8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints
10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’s
10:30am – Cafe Church, All Saints
6:30pm – Passiontide Music & Readings, St Mary’s
Blessings,
Revd Lizzie
St Mary's, Fishponds 