Mother’s Day
Notices
- Coffee and chat 11.15-12.15 on Sundays
- Craft and chat 2-3pm on Mondays
- Lent studies Thursdays 25 February – 25 March on Zoom 10.30am or 7.30pm
- ‘Lent Lunches’ Thursdays 25 February – 25 March on Zoom
Bring your own lunch, chat with others and short devotions - Online service on Wednesday 17th for St Patrick’s Day, focussing on his links with Dumbarton and West Dunbartonshire
- We are aware of the First Minister’s remarks on churches being able to re-open in late March and are working towards opening on Palm Sunday, but details will be confirmed in the next week
Watch this week’s service here:
Links to this week’s hymns:
- Hymn 124: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCnQNwQG5GI
- Hymn 694: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_ufwqwquqY
- Hymn 182: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zomyd5dVfM&list=PL6M8stFRZ2JTLskAbIz381tnIozxSi2IR&index=12
Welcome
Send out your light and your truth to be my guide;
Let them lead me to your holy hill, to your dwelling place
Psalm 43: 3
Hymn 124 Praise to the Lord the Almighty
Prayer
On Mother’s day we think about the care and concern of our family for us –
especially mums, grans, aunts, sisters
but it is also a time to think about your care and concern for us
your love is constant, faithful and true
you are our best and most faithful friend
always there for us
always working for the best for us
but also ready to speak plainly to us when we need it
as we get near to Good Friday and Easter
we remember how much your love for us cost
that Jesus was ready to suffer and die for us
but you showed us on Easter Day
that goodness, love and truth always have the last word
forgive us for the times we haven’t appreciated your love
for the times we haven’t appreciated
the love and kindness of family and friends
help us to begin again
and with your Spirit’s help
try to be the people you want us to be
the people you know we can be
Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
All age time
Today is Mother’s Day. Some mums may have been given breakfast in bed, or been given a present or card – maybe even something made by their children. In previous years many families would meet up on Mother’s Day for lunch, afternoon tea or dinner, or they might go out together for the day or afternoon.
Covid restrictions limit the opportunities for meeting up this year – putting a limit on the number of people who can meet up (and that only outside), and preventing it if mum lives in a different local authority area. It is still possible to send cards and presents, to phone or have a chat on electronic media – but there won’t be hugs, and no special cakes.
For some people Mother’s Day is a bit more complex. Some no longer have mum with them. Some in that position have good memories to comfort them, some have mixed memories. Some are coping with mum having serious health issues, or maybe dementia. Some have a difficult relationship with her, or maybe the relationship has broken down entirely. Some hurt inside because of a child they never had, or that they had but lost.
So when we mark Mother’s Day we celebrate the good relationships and good memories, we give thanks for all the other women who have played an important part in our lives (grans, aunts, sisters, teachers and so on), and we remember all those for whom the day highlights loss or pain.
Reading John 3: 14-21
Hymn 694 Brother sister let me serve you
Reflection
You know that saying, ‘you can pick your friends, but you’re stuck with your relations’, – never was a truer word said about Joseph’s relation Zac (son of his third cousin on his mother’s side, or something like that). Zac was always full of bright ideas on how to make a fortune. I don’t know that he ever tried any of them out – though if he did, I’m sure he’d have failed. Hair-brained wasn’t in it.
I remember one time we were at some family do or other in Jerusalem, and Zac was there. Zac had been drinking. He sidled up to me and declaimed in a stage whisper, ‘Hey Josh’ (to the annoyance of both my mother and grandmother, that’s what he called me), ‘I’ve had this brilliant idea. Me and you’se (his grammar was another thing that irritated my grandmother) is going to make a fortune. See that business you’ve got making doors and things in the middle of nowhere. Well I can transform it. We’ll make a fortune if we go into business together. You can run the production side, ‘cause costs is kind of low in the back of beyond, and I’ll take on planning, finance, sales and marketing from an office in Jerusalem. I’ve got this great idea – we’ll have ‘special offers’. How does this sound: two for the price of one, buy one get one free, clearance sale – all stock must go, when it’s gone it’s gone, record discounts, no deposit and no payments for a year? Doesn’t it just sound brilliant? We could have stores opening all over the Holy Land – Jerusalem, Jericho, Tiberias, Caesarea. You might have to put your men on double shifts. And..’ Then Nat arrived (the one from Pella, who loves the sound of his own voice, but bores everyone else silly, or drives them to distraction. For once I was actually glad to see him, because he quickly worked his magic on Zac who disappeared like snow in hell.
It set me thinking about offers and discounts, and what encourages people to buy things. Will a big enough discount, or large letter saying BARGAIN encourage people to buy what they don’t want, they don’t need, they’d never dreamt of having? Grandpa used to say that his sister was like that: call it a bargain and she’s buy the place up, and a few years later the whole lot would be in the synagogue Nearly New along with all the other things she didn’t need and never used.
The Good News I am offering to the people of Galilee and Judaea, indeed to the whole world, is the most amazing ‘special offer’ ever made. There is no deposit, 0% interest, no charge. God is offering humanity the opportunity to become his children, part of his family; to experience his forgiveness; to know the presence of his Spirit in their lives, guiding and directing them, enabling them to become holy people living by God’s values and standards. All that is asked of them is that they place their trust in me. It is so straight-forward, so simple – a free offer if ever there was one. But will they take it up? No! Why not? Well might you ask:
- some will argue that there isn’t a God, or this doesn’t fit with their picture of God. They know better than God
- some don’t want to have anything to do with God, and God’s standards and values. They would rather live by their own, which start and end with Self
- some turn down the free offer because they see a cost involved in trying to live by God’s values and standards, a cost of time, effort and money, of energy and emotions, of doing things without receiving thanks or appreciation. They aren’t necessarily opposed to God, or the idea of God, but prefer what they see as an easier way through life.
Even so, I’m still prepared to go to Jerusalem, with all that that will entail, in order to do my Heavenly Father’s will, and make this free gift available to them. I hope that in the aftermath of what lies ahead my friends and disciples here, and all those who come after them, will take to the highways and byways of the world and be salesmen and women for the most fantastic ‘free offer’ that will ever be available.
Prayer for others and Lord’s Prayer
Loving God
You care about everyone in the world
You are always working to try to put right the wrongs
that people or nature cause
trying to build peace and justice in your world
we pray today for our families and friends
but especially for mums and grans
for all those who are expecting a baby
and those for who, talk of babies brings tears
we pray for all who are struggling to cope with life
especially if they have children to look after too
for those who are ill, those who look after them, and those who worry about them
those waiting for or receiving treatment
and those for whom there is no treatment
those who are lonely, feeling down, grieving a friend or loved one
those who don’t have anywhere to call home
those who don’t have enough to eat
those worried about job, money, home, friends or family
those who long to live in peace and safety
we pray for the Queen and her family
for all in positions of leadership in this and every land
We pray for your church
for our own congregation
the wider church in Dumbarton
the worldwide church
We bring to you our prayers for people and situations of special concern to us
And we sum up our prayers in the words of the prayer Jesus gave us
Hymn 182 Now thank we all our God
Blessing
Be bold to share the life of Christ and show his love
and the blessing of God Almighty
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
rest and remain with you
today and every day and forever. Amen