Happy Easter

During Victorian times young people who were 'in service', working away from home, were usually given this Sunday off - probably their first free day of the year - and they were encouraged to go home to visit their mothers and attend their parish churches.

Other traditions associated with Mothering Sunday include visiting the cathedral, the 'mother-church' of the diocese, remembering Mary the mother of Jesus, and looking forward to the end of time when all Christians will be citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, the mother-city of our faith.

It is good that we have a day when motherhood is celebrated, for mothers play a vital part in nurturing the faith of their children. Children learn best by example, and a mother who can talk clearly and unselfconsciously about God will be rewarded with a child who knows love, goodness and grace. Even more, a mother who prays with her children and teaches them to talk to God in prayer will be rewarded with children who know what is right, honest and true.

Holy Week and Easter bring us to the very centre of the Christian faith. The belief that the Son of God lived, died and rose again for our sake is what makes Christianity different from all other faiths. Without Jesus there would be nothing for us after this life, and no grace and guidance from God to help us in this life. This must make it worth putting aside any shyness, laziness or distractions and joining with other Christians to thank God and worship him in church at this most important time of the year.
You will be welcome, and God will bless you.

With every blessing,

Ann