Take a moment to be peaceful.
If you are able you may like to plant your feet on the floor and concentrate on your body being still (if this is hard then do just sit quietly and comfortably).
Notice how you feel and what you are thinking about and let those things float away giving thanks for each, even if they are difficult feelings or thoughts.
When you are ready, raise your hands open before you and give thanks for the moment you are in.
Pause.
Place your open hands on your lap and consider all that’s happened this week and what you might want to lay down before God asking for help or offering thanks.
Pause.
Lift one hand high in the air and think about what you will offer of yourself as you worship today.
Pause.
Lower your hands.
If you feel able offer the following prayer:
Loving God, I am here in this moment to worship you.
Thank you for your presence with me.
Come, by your Spirit, Lord,
Amen.

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever.
Amen​

​Response to on the reading
When we hear about Mary in the New Testament, some people mix up the lives of several very different women. Mary was a very common name among Palestinian Jews – so much so that around one in four women were called Mary. So it’s only to be expected that a lot of the women Jesus met were actually called Mary.

There are three stories in the Bible where we can be sure that the Mary we are hearing about is this Mary, Mary of Bethany, here we encounter having lost her brother, Lazarus.

Grief – especially the kind of grief that comes when we lose a loved one – can literally bring us to our knees. Perhaps you have experienced that kind of grief. We can take heart from Mary of Bethany as she doesn’t fall to bits… rather, she falls towards Jesus. And here’s the comfort for us all: Jesus wept. Jesus shared in her pain. His comfort does not come from a place of detachment but from a place of understanding. So for those of us experiencing grief, let’s remember that the feet of Jesus is a place of comfort and understanding.

Mary of Bethany’s story challenges us in many ways. We often hear of Fathers of faith but here we see a Mother of our faith – and what a great legacy she leaves. When we look at Scripture with fresh, unbiased eyes and open ourselves to learning from her example, we see something beautiful and challenging. Here is a woman who had a
deep connectedness with Jesus and lived a life of study, devotion, and reliance on Jesus.

How do you respond to this quote, from a blog by Sarah Nelson?
‘Mary of Bethany is the Rosa Parks of her day as she refuses to be seated in the back, instead taking a seat up front at Jesus’ feet. Jesus promised that the place of discipleship would not be taken away from Mary.’

Further questions for conversation / discussion / reflection:
- How can you demonstrate a love and devotion for Jesus that is extravagant and bold?
- Where do you hold back and guard yourself? Why is that?
- How am I affected by grief, and do I make space to process that grief?
- What do I learn from Mary that I can emulate in my own life?

Blessing
God of the wilderness places, journey with me today as I pray.
As I go from this place, this time of worship, inspire and uplift my heart that I may work to seek your kingdom come, your will be done, in this place and throughout your world.
Amen.

‘Mother’s day or mothering Sunday?’  ​Mothering Sunday originally nothing to do with mothers – but a day off for household servants to go back to their mother church – their home church (and probably visit mum too)

Prayer of praise 
Gracious God on this special day of thanksgiving we catch a glimpse through a mother’s love for a child of your love for us, the care dedication and devotion you show to all your children which makes you as much our mother as well as our father – Loving God we praise you!
You offer us what any loving parent would offer a child only more so – instruction, food and fresh air, joy and discipline. You comfort us in hard times and encourage us in times of challenge; you watch over us ready to give yourself entirely to save us from ourselves
Gracious God, mother and father of us all we worship and adore you. Amen

​Readings: Luke 2: 33-35
and Luke 2: 41-52

Message - Revd Christine Fox
There is maybe a tendency to glamorise motherhood – and certainly in the case of Mary the mother of Jesus  - she has been put on a pedestal and made out to be perfect by some parts of the Christian church. But Jesus’ parents were not perfect – they made at least one mistake that we know of – that day when they forgot him and left him behind when they set off home after the festival!  But they took steps to put it right – going back and looking for him – and it took them three days! And when they found him, all they got was what we’d call back-chat – from a twelve year old ‘going on 22’. I don’t intend to disrespect Jesus, but rather to imagine how that incident must have felt like for his mother and father.

I wonder, when you listen to that story which character you identify with. Were you that almost-teenager, absorbed in your own life and all the new experiences of the city, and surprised at your parents lack of understanding!? 

Or did you identify with Mary or Joseph -  maybe bringing back a time when you made a mistake that threatened to be disastrous – or reminding you of the effort of trying to rectify that error, or even remembering the back-chat of a teenager whose words showed up the huge gap in understanding between the generations!?

I will never forget two occasions of losing a child - one in a shop and another time leaving her behind at home when the rest of us went out – these things are such a shock at the time that we don’t forget them easily!

Maybe somewhat surprisingly. despite how difficult that time was for her and Joseph we hear that Mary treasured the memory of these things. It must have been her memories recounted to the gospel writer.   She held the memories in her heart and turned them over in her mind, and they became treasure. So the difficult times for parents and children may be the source of a new understanding of life, when they have been remembered and pondered on as time goes by.

On Mothering Sunday we celebrate both mothers and all who act as parents to children, and we also celebrate Mother church. In the same way as Joseph and Mary and all parents make mistakes  - so too the church that we look to for guidance and sustenance make mistakes – it is after all a group of human beings.

In the same way as Mary and Joseph then tried to put right their mistake that day– going back and searching for Jesus until they found him – so too Mother church can follow their example and do everything possible to remedy any errors that have been made. And mother church, treasuring all these things  - pondering and remembering both the difficult times and the things that can be understood at the time – might also find a new understanding of life.

I read a surprising article in a magazine this week1 that seemed to be encouraging people to hold grudges! The writer said she couldn’t understand the advice of many self-help books that said ‘don’t keep old grudges in your life; they’ll weigh you down and make you bitter!’- because she loved her grudges! But then she realised that her definition of a grudge was wrong  - what she loved, was just what Mary did – thinking on the painful experiences of life until you work through to the point of being able to forgive – either yourself or someone else – and hold onto it then – a kind of redeemed grudge – as a valuable lesson learned. I this something we can do too as the people who make up Mother church?

Some people speak ill of the church – talking back against disciplines perhaps that Mother church requests for the benefit of the whole church – as she tries to point her children away from self-focus, and to see the bigger picture of being part of a family, and the good of one, being connected to the good of all.

But that day in the temple, though Jesus’ words may have been surprising to his parents, and even shocking for them to discover that he hadn’t put obedience to them first - we see that what he was saying was true.  Jesus knew that ultimately obedience to his heavenly father was of first importance, and for the one who would be known as Rabbi not many years later, the pull towards knowledge of God was strong.  But he did go back with his parents, balancing obedience to them and to God.

Some people find Mothering Sunday hard for different reasons – some of you may find it hard if the loss of your mother is still painful for you, or your parents made mistakes that you don’t feel were ever fully put right. Maybe your own experience of being a parent or not being able to be a parent means you find others celebration of Mother’s day hard to bear. And some may even miss the church that was your mother, or even feel sad or angry that Mother church has failed you.  For you I pray that as Mary pondered all these things, and eventually remembered them as treasure, so you too will find as you recall the hurts and seek understanding, that you will know God in them one day.

We thank God too for the mothers and others who do their best to raise children, we thank God for Mother church – and for all of you who make up that church as you do your best to pass on the love and wisdom of God to all God’s children.
​
Having read Bible words that we usually hear around Christmas time we also think of Jesus’ life starting from his birth now as we sing :-

​StF 350 I cannot tell

​Prayers for others
Response –to ‘Loving parent God,’ -  hear our prayer
Loving parent God who cares for all, listen to our prayers today for our world, our nation, our church and ourselves.
Give insight to the leaders of all national governments and help them to see the policies that will bring about peace throughout our world. We pray for the leaders of Turkey and Syria as they seek to help their countries rebuild after the devastation of the earthquake.
Loving parent God, hear our prayer

Give wisdom to our national government that they may govern with compassion and justice. We pray for the implementation of the budget that it truly will help those in need and play a part in bringing economic recovery. Guide those who are shaping policy to respond to refugees. May they know that all those seeking asylum are some mother’s sons and daughters.
Loving parent God, hear our prayer

We pray for the leaders of the churches that they may work together to proclaim the good news of God’s love for all. Bless those with authority in our own denomination and church. Help them to discern the needs of local communities and respond with loving care. May your church reveal your grace and draw others to you.
Loving parent God, hear our prayer

Loving Lord you gave sight to the blind and healing to the sick. We commend to your tender care those with particular needs at this time naming in our hearts any about whom we are especially concerned. (s) May they know strength and peace from your presence. For we ask it in the name of Jesus
Amen

​Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever.
Amen​

Blessings
God of all grace, show me how to embody your human, broken, precious love in all that I do this day, this week, and beyond. God of all hope, show me how to stand with those most in need, as you stand with me in my times of suffering and pain. Show me what is mine to do, in the healing of this whole world, in Jesus’ name,
Amen.

​This weeks gospel story is a story of deep transformation, a simple exchange at a well becomes the transformation of a whole community.

Opening Prayers
Look at your feet.
Notice the scraps and marks on your shoes or slippers, or if your feet are bare notice the lines and wrinkles. Wriggle your toes and notice how that feels.
Look at the ground your feet are on. Is it a carpet? Or wood? Laminate or something
else?
Do you feel grounded and connected? Or a bit rushed and flustered and cut off?

[Pause].
​
When you are ready, offer this time of worship to God, you might like to say these words out loud:

“Creator God, thank you that my feet are on holy ground. As I sit here I choose to offer the time to you. I long to meet with you on this holy, ordinary ground.”
Amen.

Response to the reading
This gospel story is a story of deep transformation, a simple exchange at a well becomes the transformation of a whole community and deep learning for those who follow Jesus: there are no outsiders. None of us are outside God’s love, however shady our past. God will sit with us at the well, knowing all we are and offering us eternal life, a drink from the deep spring of God’s love. And all we are expected to do is share that joy with others – just as the Samaritan woman did with those around her.

If we are tempted to draw the circle small or find ourselves avoiding certain people, then, like Jesus, our challenge is to take a different route and place ourselves in spaces with people we may not encounter. For it is in those moments of encounter we truly experience the Other and learn of the depth of humanity and all that God is and in that we learn to draw the circle wider. For as we do, we open up the possibilities of transformation as we build bridges and discover the love of God in the midst of mutual encounter.

- Take a moment to imagine yourself at the well with Jesus, how might the
conversation go?

- Are there people you avoid who you might spend some time with?
​
- How might God speak to you of grace in that experience?

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever.
Amen​

Blessing
I have come to meet with you at the well, Jesus the Christ.
As I head back into my day, my week, my life, may I be transformed by this moment of encounter.
I have come into the presence of love, and grace and hope, inspire me to share these divine qualities with the world, by your Spirit, Lord God.
Embolden my actions, Lord, in Jesus’ name
Amen.

​Come, worship the Lord, and meet with the living God.
In this space of listening, learning, inspiration and challenge, may I see that how I respond is part of an attitude of worship, part of what it means to follow you, Lord God.
​
Come into this space, by your Spirit, Lord God.

Prayers
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that nothing can separate me from your love,
Thank you for the life, freedom and healing I have in Jesus.
Today, as I pray Lord God, I am ready for something new, a new way of thinking and a new way of living that brings love and hope to those most marginalized in the world.
But I know I can only do this in your strength, so today I put my trust and hope in you again, O God.

As I join with our brothers and sisters across the world in prayer, I confess my own sins and shortcomings, and I wait for you, heal and forgive me, Lord God. Thank you, that by your grace I am loved, forgiven and set free.
Loving God, I pray that this day I will experience your presence lifting me up on wings like eagles, to run and not grow weary, to walk and not grow faint.
Please lead me and guide me for your glory and the expansion of your Kingdom
today.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.

 

 

Response to the reading
How do you feel about ‘temptation’? What are your experiences of being ‘tempted’?
Perhaps, this word and this idea brings about negative emotions, difficult memories, our own battles with addiction or addictive behaviours, our struggle with our shadow side.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is in the wilderness, being tempted by Satan – being challenged to make the same mistakes that Adam made and to turn away from God’s guidelines. Jesus resists those temptations here, at the beginning of his ministry.

In Matthew, Jesus’s resistance of the three offers made by the tempter shows that he is anti-consumption, anti-ego and in opposition to the worship of false gods. Perhaps this is the narrative, the story we need to hear, to help us get beyond the temptations that cause climate change? It is the temptation of cheap fuel that adds to the carbon in the atmosphere, it is the temptation of packaging that adds to the single use plastics in the ocean, it is the temptation of cheap resources that leads to the felling of large swathes of forest.
Can we resist the temptation this Lent?

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever.
Amen​

Blessing
As you go from this place, may the God who releases and trusts you to be the builders of his Kingdom, inspire you to trust and release others – fanning into flame the potential which is all around.
Amen.