Mothering SundayDear All Saints and St MarysI 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 Sunday 15th March - Mothering Sunday10.00am - Holy Communion - St Marys10.30am - Holy Communion - All SaintsThe week aheadMon 16th Mar 10:30am – Tiny Tots, All SaintsTue 17th Mar 10:30am – M4T, St Mary’s Parish Rooms Tue 17th Mar 7:30pm – Lent Group OneWed 18th Mar 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All SaintsWed 18th Mar 2:00pm – Lent Group Two, St Marys’ Parish RoomThu 19th Mar 10:00am – Holy Communion, St Mary’sFri 20th Mar 11:00am – Living After Loss, St Mary’sSat 21st Mar 12:00pm -1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’sSun 22nd March 8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints10:00am –Holy Communion, St Mary’s10:30am – Cafe Church, All Saints6:30pm – Passiontide Music & Readings, St Mary’sBlessingsRevd LizzieVicar of All Saints and St Marys Churches, Fishponds
