This week’s Worship
Sunday 14th March 2021 Mothering Sunday (2nd Sunday)
9:15 am Family Worship – Croston
11:00 am Holy Communion, Mawdesley
No Worship at Bretherton this Sunday
Wednesday 10am Holy Communion, Croston
** Friday 9am Morning Prayer at Mawdesley **
** cancelled until further notice **
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
This Sunday is the one day of joy in Lent, when flowers often appear in our churches and when people are allowed time off from their Lenten disciplines. Today the Church celebrates Mothering Sunday, which is subtly different from commonly used term of ‘Mothers Day’, our focus is those who live out those maternal characteristics to love, nurture and protect other people, not just their own children.
The Old Testament reading today is about the mothering qualities of those who care for Moses, who was blessed with the love of three motherly women: his birth mother, his extraordinarily brave and resourceful sister and the warm-hearted Egyptian princess. These three women saved his life and helped to put him on the path to becoming the saviour of his people. They showed great love, courage, wisdom and compassion for the crying baby in the bulrushes, they not only gave him a home and an education but unconditional love.
The story of Moses and his three mothers reminds us on Mothering Sunday that the day is not just a celebration of our birth mums.
The day is a chance to reflect on maternal feelings which is a reflection of how God loves each one of us. Isaiah the prophet wrote
”As a mother comforts a child so will I comfort you, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 66.13). The fourteenth century mystic Julian of Norwich, who lived through the challenging times of the Black Death, experienced the motherhood of God through her visions. Mothering Sunday is a good day to share her vision and recognise that although we are distinguished by our gender, God is not. Julian wrote ‘As truly as God is Father, just as truly is he our mother.’
John 19. 25b -27 expresses the unconditional love of Gods Motherhood in one of the most poignant and powerful passages from the Bible. At the foot of Christ’s cross stands his mother Mary, with the disciple whom he loves (John), standing nearby. It is a touching scene striking in its simplicity packing so much into those three verses. Unimaginable rawness of a mother’s grief, her helplessness at having to watch her son die, Christ’s compassion for his mother and for his disciple, even as he is suffering, even as he draws near to death. At times of great crisis, like these past 12 months, thankfully people reach out across barriers to help one another, as wealth and status dissolve in the face of a shared experience. The reading from Colossians provides a reminder to clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. These characteristics should never weigh heavily on our shoulders, neither are they constraining or constricting, they don’t hinder our good work, they will break down barriers between us and other people. As we journey on through Lent we move towards that really big moment – the death of Christ upon the cross. On Mothering Sunday as we look at this horrific scene through the eyes of his mother, the one who gave birth and life to the Messiah we are reminded that she must also witness his death. Whether we are parents or not, may we all on this Mothering Sunday be blessed with that raw, pure quality of unconditional love.
Wishing you every blessing this lent.
With love & prayers. Michael (Rector)
Tel: 01772 600548 mobile:07960309005, email: revmwoods@gmail.com
Resources – 4th Sunday of Lent
1) The 3 bible readings set for this week.
2) Prayer and worship at home for the 4th Sunday of Lent
3) Young Church Mag activity and colouring sheets
Sunday 21st March 2021 5th Sunday of Lent (3rd Sunday)
9:15 am Holy Communion – Croston
11:00 am Holy Communion, Bretherton
No Worship at Mawdesley this Sunday
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Please pray for the families and friends of the recently departed:
Angela Elliott, Stanley Hill, Alan Silcock, John Waring
Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord may light perpetual shine upon them, may they rest in peace and rise in glory.
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Remember
- It is not an obligation to attend church,
you can worship at home. - If you join us for Public worship you must not socialise with people who are not from your household or bubble.
- People should stay at home as much as possible
- You cannot meet other people indoors or in your garden, unless you live with them or they are part of your support bubble.
- You can meet with one person not in your household or support bubble in a public space for exercise.
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Coronavirus Village support groups
Croston COVID-19 Croston Village Support Group
Mawdesley Mawdesley – Coronavirus help each other out.
Bretherton Via Bretherton WI (01772 601495)
email bethertoonwi@btinternett.com
John McDougal 4x4x48: Run
4 Miles every 4 Hrs for 48 Hrs for MNDA
Congratulations to John and the team not only did they complete the challenge they did an extra 4 miles to make it equivalent to a double Marathon. Currently they have raised more than £6000 for the charity – Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA). They will leave the funding page open over this weekend, should you wish to make a personal donation please follow the link below:
https://gofund.me/920083de
Lenten resources
I hope you have been able to join in with the Lenten daily reflections ‘Read Mark and Learn’.
The reflections are published daily on each of our churches facebook pages and a digital version has been circulated with previous bulletins.
#LiveLent national campaign
It is based on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book for 2021, Living His Story by Hannah Steele, published by SPCK
- You can engage with this online by signing up at: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/livelent-2021-church-resources-gods-story-our-story
You can also download the free app #LiveLent from your app store or use the daily hope phone number 0800 804 8044. - ‘Looking Out in Lent’ our weekly online Lent course based on Marks Gospel continues on Wed. 17th March at 7 pm when we consider the ‘Contrast between the kingdom and the world’.
Bishop Phillip uses Mark 10, 35-45 to reflect on how we can Transforming society (Justice). You can watch the Video here https://youtu.be/6cjmvyuj4Ws if you get chance before the meeting.
We use Zoom for this and it will last for no more than 40 mins to join the meeting use this link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73872890711?pwd=TWlpNHA5QlFPeWVseHNNMTdvZ1JzUT09
Meeting ID: 738 7289 0711, Passcode: J9X1Ld - Thursday 7 pm Lent talks at Blackburn Cathedral
Each Thursday during Lent at Blackburn Cathedral there will be a brief talk from one of the Cathedral clergy on the theme of ‘God’s story, our story’ followed by a chance for questions and conversation. The whole session will last no more than 30 minutes. The event will be on Zoom, and the ‘talk’ part will be uploaded to YouTube afterwards. Please email: missioner@blackburncathedral.co.uk for the Zoom link. - How Deep the Father’s Love. Bishop Philip will lead a Quiet Morning for Lent on Saturday March 27th from 9.30am until 1pm. Each half hour will be dedicated to one of the Seven Last Words from the Cross which means people can leave and join on the half hour as they wish.
To book email hunter@blackburn.anglican.org - We hope to start confirmation preparation leading to a service in early July. Due to restrictions this will begin online using Zoom. Children must be in year 6 or above at School, but I hope there will also be a group for older candidates.
If anyone is interested please contact the Rector.
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If you are isolating at home this resource may be helpful especially if you do not access the services online
This resource may be helpful for those who are unable to return to church services at the moment, or for anyone who is feeling isolated or lonely and who doesn’t have access to the internet.
There are also the daily prayer resources on the Church of England Website where you can download apps at:
Church of England Daily Prayer
Facebook & YouTube Online Worship
This week’s Diocesan worship comes from the Freedom Church on the Mereside estate in Blackpool and is led by the Blackpool Ministry Experience team., it can be accessed via: https://youtu.be/cF8TLqCSoRk
This weeks Church of England worship led by Bishop Rachel Treweek, from Gloucester Cathedral. We’ll hear from people sharing their experiences of mothering, and we’ll also be joined by Pam Rhodes, who will be preaching for Mothering Sunday. The online service can be watched from 9 am: https://www.facebook.com/thechurchofengland
or via YouTube: https://youtu.be/KTRgEDSUkMk
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Please do continue to support the Food Banks
The Food Banks all net-work with each other to reach all parts, including small villages and outlying houses. We now have a small store of supplies in Croston (Contact the COVID-19 Croston Village Support Group if you know of someone in need.)
The ‘main’ Foodbank is in need of items such as;
Food: Long life milk, Long life juice, tinned meat, Sugar (especially the small bags), Coffee (small jars), Tinned veg., Instant mash, Teabags, Tinned fruit
Personal & domestic cleaning: W – up liquid, detergent pods, Kitchen/bathroom spray, Loo Rolls, Toothbrushes & paste, Shampoo, Shaving foam, Razors, deodorant (M & F), Soap, Nappies.
Please continue to bring items to any of our churches (all are open on Sundays & Wednesdays) or:
In Croston – You can leave donations in St. Michael’s Parish Church on Wednesdays & Sundays from 10 to 4pm or bring them to 32, Westhead Road or to 19, Highfield Road.
In Bretherton – You can leave donations in St. John the Baptist Church on Wednesdays & Sundays from 9:30 to 3:30 pm or in the box at the gate at 154 South Road.
In Mawdesley – You can leave donations in St. Peters Church on Wednesdays & Sundays from 10:30 to 4:30 pm or monetary gifts in sealed envelopes please to Robin Hood Cottage, Blue Stone Lane (Opposite Nook Lane).
Please donate if you can.
Thank you to everyone who has been supporting the food banks
The 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.
Amen
First Reading
Moses is loved by his mother so much she is prepared to bear the pain of separation from him in order to protect his life.
Exodus 2.1-10
A man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him for three months.
When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it.
When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him, ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Yes.’
So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.’
So the woman took the child and nursed it.
When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, ‘because,’ she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’
Second Reading
As we spiritually dress ourselves, we are to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with and forgiving one another.
Colossians 3:12-17
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 the 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.
The Gospel
Simeon’s famous prophecy to the parents of the baby Jesus. He tells Mary that “a sword will pierce your own soul too”.
Luke 2:33-35
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
Prayer after Communion
Loving God, as a mother feeds her children at the breast you feed us in this 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
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