Following the tragic loss of life in the fire at Bicester Motion: The Revd Peter Wright said: “Our hearts are broken at this devastating news and we hold the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in our prayers. We share in the grief of our Bicester community at this time and offer St Edburg's Church as a place for people to come and find comfort. A service of reflection will be held at 7pm today (Friday 16 May) where we hope people will come together to support each other.”St Edburg’s Church will remain open today and tomorrow. A book of condolence will be available and the South Chapel will have tealights and prayer cards for those who would like them.
The fourth Sunday of Lent was traditionally seen as an oasis in the middle of Lent. It was known as Refreshment Sunday, at least since the 16th century. But you never see it billed as that on church noticeboards. Rather, it is known as Mothering Sunday, unless you buy in completely to the secular idea that it is Mother’s Day. It’s only in England that this happens; in other countries Mother’s Day is another day altogether. But in the Church of England, we quite like a “both…and.. “, rather than an “either….or..”. So for us Mothering Sunday carries several connected meanings. Yes, it is a kind of little “break” in the middle of Lent, a note of celebration in a time of self-discipline. We might even celebrate it with the traditional simnel cake. It is also a time for celebrating Mother Church. The earlier custom was that people away from home (for example, in service) would return to their “mother church”, the parish church where they came from, on that day. It is a reminder that Church is the place where we experience the love of God like that of a mother; caring for us, sustaining, nourishing , supporting. God our Creator is neither male nor female in the human sense, but embodies what we consider the qualities of both. So the Church also displays God’s maternal qualities. So in England, we thought it natural in more recent times to couple all that with an invitation to celebrate the love and care of our own mothers on this particular day. A mother experiences and understands in a very special way the idea of love and sacrifice, through giving birth, nurturing and caring for growing children. Motherhood is a vocation and God gives special gifts of grace to those who respond to that call. As well as praising God for the gift of Mother Church and our Mother Mary, let us praise him once again for our mothers, whether living or departed. And let us pray for all mothers as they face the challenges of their important role. Michael Kingston
The God of second chances and fourth chances and immeasurably more We use the expression ‘second chance’ to describe an opportunity to try again or to start anew after a failure or setback, emphasizing the possibility of redemption and growth. Sunday’s gospel reading talks of a fourth chance. “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9) The man assigned the role of caring for the vineyard represents God’s generosity and passion for giving us opportunities to grow and bear fruit. He redoubles his efforts to nurture the fig tree. The God of immeasurably more gives us not just second chances but as many as we need and trusts in our redeemed future where, unlike earthly fruit that decays, we will produce lasting fruit, and he provides the environment we need to succeed. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other (John 15:16) The fruit that God longs for us to produce is of one variety – the fruit of love.
