On the Fourth Sunday in Lent (10 March), which is also Mothering Sunday, we’ll gather for two morning services: a service of Holy Communion at 9am followed by a service of Morning Worship at 10.30am. Revd Tim Scott will preside and lead, and Natalie Burwell, one of our church wardens, will preach.

Mothering Sunday, which coincides with Laetare Sunday – a day of celebration in the midst of the season of Lent – invites us to celebrate and give thanks for a number of things. Firstly, it is a celebration of church; in fact, the day was originally a time to return to your ‘mother church’. On Sunday, we will give thanks for our church, St Mary’s, and for all the churches which have shaped and formed us throughout our lives. We’ll also celebrate all mothers, as well as those who have shown us mothering care. 

For many, Mothering Sunday can be a difficult day where grief and sorrow stand alongside thanksgiving. Our services seek to hold a range of emotions and to give us space to bring both our joy and our sadness to God. We hope you will feel able to come and to receive the love of God, however you approach the day. For those unable to join us in person, we’ll livestream the 10.30am service to our Facebook page. We hope to see you this Sunday at St Mary’s!