The fourth Sunday in Lent, marking the middle of Lent is Mothering Sunday. Traditionally congregations revisited their Mother Church on this day, and people in service were allowed a day off to visit their families, often picking small posies of flowers as trhey walked home, to give to their mothers, At Christ Church, we celebrate Mothering Sunday with a service of Holy Communion, and small gifts of flowers to mark this special day.

Our service will be followed by light refreshments, as we catch up on news across the parish, so please come and join us.

Our Readings are:

1 Samuel Chapter 1 verses 20- end Hannah gives her son Samuel to the Lord

and John chapter 19, verses 25-27 Jesus being crucified,, entrusts his mother to John

Creator God,
We thank you for your love which shapes us and helps us to grow.
On this Mothering Sunday
we give thanks for women who have been examples of self-giving love,
who have given time, wisdom and care to the nurture of children, their own or others.
We pray for those who find this a difficult day,
who do not have happy memories of their own mothers,
those who grieve for their mothers or for their children,
and those who long to be mothers but cannot be.
We remember mothers in the Bible, giving thanks for the the generosity of Hannah and the care of Jesus even on the cross, giving future care for His mother Mary..
May your Spirit continue to shape us, heal us and guide us today.
Amen