MOTHERING SUNDAY SERVICE
OUR MONTH OF OPEN EYES
THE VEN. KIRI WAKAMA (VICAR)
OUR YEAR OF DIVINE SATISFACTION
#happymothersday #parenting #lent
What Mothering Sunday is all about
Mothering Sunday is a celebration of the Anglican Church. It was originally a day to honour and give thanks to the Virgin Mary, also known as “Mother Mary”, for her agony as recorded in Luke 2: 35.
The Celebrations required people to visit their mother Church or Cathedral in the family area. As Christianity spread through Europe in the 16th Century, the celebration increased and was included in the Church Calendar as Mothering Sunday; an occasion to thank and appreciate all mothers as well as a family honoured reunion.
It also became a celebration when children, especially the girls who had been away from home as domestic helps or apprentice had a day off to join their family and see their mothers.
Mothering Sunday is celebrated in the Anglican Church every Fourth Sunday in Lent. It does not have a fixed date, as it is linked to Easter season, which changes annually according to the Church Year Calendar.
Between Mothering Sunday, Mother’s Day, Women’s World Day of Prayer and International Women’s Day - Although the four celebrations center on women and are internationally celebrated, they are different from one another.
Mothering Sunday is celebrated by the Anglican Communion on the fourth Sunday in Lent.
Mother’s Day is an American social celebration in honor of mothers. It is celebrated every second Sunday of May.
Women’s World Day of Prayer is an ecumenical World Christian Women Prayer, which comes up every 1st Friday of March. It is meant for every Christian Woman Worldwide to participate.
International Women’s Day – is a United Nations Day for the celebration of women all over the world.
Significance Of Mothering Sunday In The Anglican Church Today
It is a day of honoring Women and Mothers in the Anglican Church.
Mothering Sunday is the only Sunday women are given free hand to officiate in Sunday worship, taking charge of all the functions.
One of the days the family takes the center stage in worship and special prayers are offered on behalf of families.
A Message For All Mothers At This Year’s Mothering Sunday
Mothers are called upon to be Lois and Eunice of our time (2nd Tim. 1:5; Act 16:1). mother and grandmother of Timothy. Despite living in Lystra, a gentile city, they were committed Christian and passed this faith to Timothy. Their lives had great influence on the young Timothy, which helped him to grow spiritually and became one to whom Paul could entrust the Church’s leadership.
As women and mothers, we have greatest influence to impact our present generation and generations to come. Our lives speak volumes and people around us learn a lot from them.
Let us be Lois and Eunice of our time to bring up godly children and grandchildren, the moral vices and evils of our present age notwithstanding.
Mrs. Angela Ndukuba,
Provincial President, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion)
