Mothering Sunday

The first Sunday without public worship

Having set up a blog I thought it was about time I sat down to write something. But where to start? It has been such an extraordinary week. I am writing this early evening on Mothering Sunday. The sun is still shining, and it really has been a glorious day. Our garden has had little attention since last summer but even in its somewhat neglected state the primroses have broken through and flower with life and hope amidst the borders in need of attention.

Of course, today has been the strangest of days. There Have been moments of feeling bereft, times of joy spending unexpected times with family and times of normality and everyday living in the midst. My day began just after 6am when my teenage son arrived in the bedroom to wish me happy Mothering Sunday and to tell me that the cat had a mouse in the Kitchen! He thought the Mouse was probably dead but he wasn’t sure and just thought he should let me know!

I went over to church just before 8am and sat in my stall and prayed Morning prayer.  I felt a great sadness at the empty pews, knowing the loss many of you would also be experiencing at home. For a while I sat and shed tears for the loss evident in so many ways, and for so many. I recalled the people and situations I had been particularly asked to pray for and I acknowledged the pain, the fear and the uncertainty in many of these situations. Through the tears, familiar words from the Old Testament reading set for Morning prayer spoke deeply to me:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
   and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God. (Isaiah 43.1-3

Then I called to mind the many amazing things that have happened this week. The extraordinary examples of kindness and compassion I have seen. The unexpected conversations I have had. The Skills that I have been acquiring (with quite a lot of help from my husband) in using digital media. If you had told me a few weeks ago that I would set up a YouTube Channel and stream services so you could watch them at home, I would have found it hard to believe! And yet, this evening as I am writing this, our Mothering Sunday Service has been viewed 185 times. We seldom have that number in Church!

I have been greatly moved by the lovely messages in response. I am glad that it brought some comfort and hope in what I know are difficult times.

Today as a family we spent time in the garden. Clearing leaves (long overdue!) and planting seeds. We have set up a table under the living room window and brought the seeds inside to germinate. Growing our own fruit and veg has been a source of much joy over the years and this Mothering Sunday I was particularly grateful for the time spent with my family sowing seeds and clearing the leaves. There is much that is uncertain at the moment and its easy to feel overwhelmed by it all. Never has it been more important to call to mind and notice the moments of joy, and to give thanks.

It is almost 7pm now so I am off to light a candle and place it in our front window to join in the national day of prayer and action as we remember those who are sick or anxious and all involved in our Health Service. We were reminded by our Archbishops this week that The candle shines as a sign of solidarity and hope in the light of Christ that can never be extinguished.

I will leave you now with a couple of the prayers on the Church of England Website.

Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.

Gracious God,
give skill, sympathy and resilience
to all who are caring for the sick,
and your wisdom to those searching for a cure.
Strengthen them with your Spirit,
that through their work many will be restored to health;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.