Pew Sheet, Sunday the 30th of March, 2025 The 4th Sunday of Lent / Mothering Sunday

Welcome to today’s Mothering Sunday service in which we will be using our new ‘All Age’ service booklet. We will also be welcoming members of the Mother’s Union as they bring their banner for a blessing during the service. The ‘MU’ as it is affectionately known, has existed since 1876 when Mary Sumner, the wife of a Hampshire rector set up a group to support mothers at a time when there was little formal support for families, which were often very much larger then of course. One of the strengths of the MU was that it brought together women of different social classes including the rich and the poor at a time when childbirth, and childhood itself, was much more dangerous than it is today, irrespective of who you were, or how much money you had. It is a striking example of an early inclusive group which these days, even admits men into its ranks; and continues to support mothers and families all over the world from those quite humble beginnings. I am sure that our members would love to talk to you about their work afterwards, and perhaps even encourage you to come along to a meeting if you are interested in joining them.

Families are at the heart of the Church for we are all one family – the family of God, and we are all of us, large or small, young or old, God’s children, though it is easy to forget this sometimes. Even those of us who live alone or have no children of our own – of whom I am one – can know the love, support and care of others in the Church, or should do so, at least in theory. But we cannot ignore the fact that for many, the word ‘family’ may conjure up unhappy, anxious, or fearful memories, and the word ‘Church’ even less happy ones, which is why the Church of England is striving to make efforts to ensure that our churches are safe places for all, and why safeguarding should be at the heart of all that we do. Churches should not only be sacred spaces, they should also be safe spaces for all of us, including our children and young people, as well as our vulnerable, frail, or elderly adults as well.

Admittedly, we have a long way to go on this, particularly at a national level, but as we give thanks for our mothers and grandmothers today, and for all those, who like the members of the Mother’s Union (male and female alike!) work to support families and family life across the world, let us give thanks for all those who strive to give our children and young people the best possible start in life, including of course, their teachers, professional carers; and all who assist us with our children’s ministry to ensure that our children can feel welcome and included in the family of God’s people in this place. Our children are not simply ‘tomorrow’s Church’ but are full members of God’s Church here and now, and God delights in them just as much as he delights in us.

The very definition of a family has changed almost beyond recognition since Mary Sumner’s time, with reconstituted families (those including children from two or more marriages) where children are brought up together as step-sisters and brothers, same sex families, or an increasing number of childless families in which couples do not have children for one reason or another, but are still very much a family unit, and should be equally welcomed in our churches. Likewise, those who remain single for any reason. Each of us is a beloved child of God and we are all equal in God’s sight. God loves us because of our diversity not in spite of it, which is why each of our mothers is unique, and uniquely loved by us all!

Collect

God of love, passionate and strong, tender and careful:
watch over us and hold us all the days of our life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Samuel 1:20-end

In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked him of the Lord.’

The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, ‘As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and remain there for ever. I will offer him as a Nazirite for all time.’ Her husband Elkanah said to her, ‘Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only may the Lord establish his word.’ So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, ‘Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.’ So she left the child there for the Lord.

Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

John 19:23-27

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic. Now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfil what the scripture says,

“They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Post Communion Prayer

Loving God, As a mother feeds her children at the breast, you feed us in the sacrament with the food and drink of eternal life. Help us who have tasted your goodness, to grow in grace within the household of faith: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This Week’s Events

Monday (John Donne, Priest, Poet, 1631)

Bell Ringing, 7.30pm in St Laurence. Contact Jan on 07835 461361.

Julian Prayer Group, 8pm in St Mary’s Addington and on Zoom: ID: 996 4332 0665 and password: Julian.

Tuesday (Frederick Denison Maurice, Priest, Teacher of the Faith, 1872)

Zoom In Morning Prayer, 9.00 am, Meeting ID: 539 3978774 password: TuaR0T or contact Sue on [email protected] (The 0 in R0T is a zero not an ‘O’)

Evening House Group, contact Jo on 07803 942 687 for more information.

Wednesday

Morning Coffee, 10.00-11.45am in the St Laurence Room.

Midweek Holy Communion, 12.00 noon, St Laurence.

Thursday

Daytime House Group, contact Jo on 07803 942 687 for more details.

Friday

Junior Choir at 6.30 pm followed by full Choir Practice at 7.30pm. Contact Derry on [email protected] if you would like to join in this term.

Coming Up:

Julian Prayer Group, 7th April - 8pm in St Mary’s Addington and on Zoom: ID: 996 4332 0665 and password: Julian.

Lent Lunches:

The final Lent lunch will take place in the St Laurence Room this coming Wednesday. Please do contact Liz Van de Poll if able to help with catering.

SCHOOL GOVERNORS

We still need Foundation Governors for both Winslow and Great Horwood Schools. Please consider whether you might be able to serve both them and the parish in this way, and talk to Steve if you feel able to help out.

EASTER LILIES

The flower arrangers will be including lilies in their flower displays in church for Easter. If you would like to make a contribution towards the cost of the lilies in memory of a loved one, please give your donation to Chris or Cathy Ryalls or to Liz van de Poll; and print the name of the loved one to be remembered on the sheet on the desk by the south door of the church. Thank you.

The Pop-up Vaccine Clinic is returning to Winslow on Wednesday, April the 16th at Winslow Public Hall from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm and will be offering Covid boosters to anyone who is eligible to receive them. No appointment is necessary, just turn up and enjoy some free refreshments as you do so. Also in attendance will be Age UK, Carers Bucks, and the continence nurses who will be happy to answer any queries or questions you might have about those issues. Other dates will be announced for May and June in due course.