Devotional Materials. Week Commencing Sunday 27th March 2022
Mothering Sunday
‘Fighting for Hope’/ The Children’s Society
Welcome
Today is Mothering Sunday. We want to thank God for our mothers and show appreciation for all they do. Let’s begin with a couple of verses from the Bible that remind us about fathers and mothers:
“Honour your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” Exodus 20: 12
“I bow my knee before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named” Ephesians 3:14, 15
Prayer
Let’s turn to our Heavenly Father in prayer:
“Lord God, our heavenly Father,
Thank you for our families and homes
Thank you for your love and care
Thank you for everything you give us
Make us thoughtful at home
Make us helpful to our parents
And above all teach us to love you more day by day.
Please lead us now
We offer to You this time of worship
May all that is said or sung be acceptable in your sight.
Amen
Songs
Let’s praise and thank God together:
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow” MP 557 (Piano)
Thomas Ken
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiMZprhxZw4
“Father Me” (Not in Mission Praise) (Guitar)
Paul Oakley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL1CmJCL6KU
What is Mothering Sunday?
Mothering Sunday is celebrated in churches on the fourth Sunday in Lent (27th March in 2022). Traditionally it is a day when we thank God for the love of our mothers, and we thank them in person for their care for us. In the UK, the service dates back hundreds of years to the time when people were encouraged once a year, on Laetare Sunday, to return to their home or ‘mother’ church or cathedral. In Latin, the first words of the prayer for this Sunday were ‘Laetare, O Jerusalem’ (‘Rejoice, O Jerusalem’) taken from Isaiah 66.10, and the prayer spoke of the love for Jerusalem – the original ‘mother church’
The practice of returning home from domestic service to visit church and family – picking flowers on the way to give to mothers and decorate the church.
The Children’s Society
Over the last 15 years, The Children’s Society has studied and reported on children’s well-being. And each year we have seen a consistent decline, which has only worsened as a result of the pandemic. We don’t think that’s acceptable – which is why we have launched our ambitious goal of overturning that decline by 2030. To find out more about our 2030 goal and the gospel values it is rooted in, (please watch this video talk by our Chief Executive, Canon Mark Russell: vimeo.com/501682834.) The theme of this resource is ‘Fighting for hope’, as that’s what we continue to do for children and young people. We fight for hope by providing support for those who need it most and by campaigning for changes that make life better for young people like Alyssa. (Alyssa will be mentioned in the talk).
Prayers
We remember Mary, the mother of Jesus, as we worship today. We think of her example to all those who care for others. We remember her willingness to obey and her thoughtfulness. We remember her trust in you and obedience to your will though it meant opposition and misunderstanding. We remember her deep concern, and her painful sorrow. Help us to learn from the mother of Jesus, and give thanks for all who care for us. Amen.
Father God we thank you for your care. We are created by you and we are special to you, yet we have not appreciated that relationship. We are made to follow your ways and we are special to you, yet we have chosen to ignore you. We are loved without conditions and we are special to you, yet we have not learned to love others. We have the hope that you give us and we are special to you, yet we have failed to share your hope with others. We are special to you. Forgive us all our failings, and renew us. Amen.
Hymn
“Father I place into your hands.” MP 133 (Piano)
Jenny Hewer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T8759Wdg3U
Reading. Exodus 2:1-10
2 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
Talk
On Mothering Sunday, we give thanks for the love and nurture of mothers but we also think of all those who play any kind of ‘mothering’ role in the lives of children and young people – whether extended family members (siblings, aunties, grandparents) or those in the wider community (teachers, nurses, all those who care for others).
In this passage, we see a wider community involved in the rescue of Moses from death to life
The context for this passage from Exodus 2 is that the Israelites were slaves in Egypt and oppressed by their Egyptian masters, who feared they were being ‘overrun’ by the Israelites (Exodus 1.13-14). They exploited them and made them work without pay. Pharaoh also ordered that all Hebrew boy children should be killed at birth (Exodus 1.16). So because Moses was a boy his life was in immediate danger from the moment of birth – hence the reason his mother hid him for three months (Exodus 2.2)
Moses’ mother does her best for him but there is a point at which she can no longer protect him and she decides to entrust him to the Lord, by faith she trusts the Lord will oversee his protection and the course of his life, by placing him in a basket on the river – making sure he is as well protected as he can be (Exodus 2.3)
Others are moved by compassion and care for this child, including Pharaoh’s daughter, who technically is an enemy of the people of Israel but is moved to act by the vulnerability of this small child floating down a river in a basket (v.6)
Note how many others are involved in caring for Moses – his sister keeps a watchful eye out (v4), and intervenes in v.7, cleverly enlisting her own (and Moses’ mother) to care for the child
The name ‘Moses’ means ‘I drew him out of the water’ – the name is given to him by Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses has been rescued from sure and certain death by a community of people who have compassion for him and act All-age talk 1: Moses – a community of care. Based on Exodus 2.1-10 8 ÔŽ Link with the work of The Children’s Society, who want to help children and young people to be freed from all that oppresses them and stops them living life to the full, so they fulfil their potential – as Moses did in his life, growing up to be a great leader of Israel and leading them out of oppression in Egypt
The Children’s Society does this by helping children and young people fight for hope – young people like Alyssa
Alyssa grew up in a home where things were difficult and that affected her mental health. At one point Alyssa felt that she was completely overwhelmed, like she was ‘drowning’ (there is a parallel here with the account of Moses, who might have been at risk of drowning if his basket had overturned in the river). Unfortunately school didn’t offer her the support she needed and she bottled up her feelings and thoughts. She says: ‘My life before The Children’s Society, I wouldn’t even consider it a life. I would try and stay in the house as much as possible. I’d refuse to go to school, or I would pretend to be sick so I wouldn’t have to go, and it wasn’t healthy.’
Eventually, Alyssa came to one of Children’s Society projects and received counselling from Kerry, one of our project workers. This gave Alyssa the strength and tools to get better. Today she says: ‘I probably would be dead by now without The Children’s Society and I’ve noticed such a big change in myself, it brought back the Alyssa that I knew, that I love and that everyone else around me seems to love, but I guess she got lost on the way before that. I don’t know what I would have done without The Children’s Society and I’m very grateful for everything they’ve done for me.’
Alyssa found a community of care through The Children’s Society, and the care and help she received has enabled her to move forward in life and to reach her full potential.
The Children’s Society helps young people to fight for hope through direct project work, for example in prevention work, counselling and well-being work, as well as through campaigning and lobbying for changes in government policy to improve the lives of children and young people
Hymn
“Let there be love shared among us” MP 411 (piano)
David Bilborough
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be0PnbdKkkc
Prayers
A prayer of confession:
There are things that happen which bring pain upon those who care for us, and sometimes we have been responsible for them. We seek God’s forgiveness. There are things we have done that cause upset for those who care for us. We seek God’s forgiveness. There are things we have done that cause despair for those who care for us. We seek God’s forgiveness. There are times when we fail and cause sadness for those who care for us. We seek God’s forgiveness. Amen.
Loving God, give us the will to care for children and young people. Help us to fight for hope. Give us the compassion to help those who are lonely. Help us to fight for hope. Give us the generosity to share what we have. Help us to fight for hope. Give us the kindness to support those who struggle. Help us to fight for hope. Give us the energy to work to bring change. Help us to fight for hope. Give us a heart that loves and gives without conditions. Help us to fight for hope. Amen.
A prayer for the work of The Children’s Society:
Creator God, you made us to help and serve others, you call us to fight the good fight, fighting for hope. We pray for staff of The Children’s Society as they serve others, fighting for hope. As they work to improve lives of children and young people, fighting for hope. We pray for their project workers who support individuals in crisis, fighting for hope. We pray for their teams, campaigning for hope and change, fighting for hope. We pray for their volunteers, giving time and energy, fighting for hope. We pray for The Children’s Society as they fight the good fight, fighting for hope. Amen
Supporting the work of the Children’s Society
Will you stand with us and be part of that community of care, that ‘mothering’ community that will fight for the hope that lies within the hearts of all children and young people?
There are many ways you can get involved in supporting our vital work with vulnerable children and young people and their families.
- By Cheque Please make all cheques payable to ‘The Children’s Society’ and send to: The Children’s Society, Whitecross Studios, 50 Banner Street, London, EC1Y 8ST. It’s helpful if you can send a covering note, explaining that this is a Mothering Sunday collection.
- ii) By Giro slip Please use the Fundraising Giro slip (please request from supportercare@childrenssociety.org.uk) to pay in cash donations at any bank or Post Office. Please note that paying at any bank other than Barclays may cost you a small fee.
- iii) BACS payments. To ensure that we can accurately tie your BACS payment to your records, please ensure that you include your full name and Supporter number (if you have one).
- Pray for our work. We send out a monthly prayer email, enabling you and your congregation to pray for our work. Sign up at: childrenssociety.org.uk/ how-you-can-help/support-in-church (scroll to the bottom of the page).
Hymn.
“All things bright and beautiful”. MP 23. (Piano)
Carol Frances Alexander
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5Cnf0UyHDY
(Flowers distributed to the ladies of the church during the final hymn)
Blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The lord turn his face towards you and give you peace. Amen. (From Numbers 6).
David Barnes 23/3/22
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The following is an article I wrote for ‘All about Angmering’ (the April edition). This may be of interest to you, particularly if you do not receive the magazine where you live. The article also includes details of our Easter services, and our plans to run an ‘Alpha Express’ Course:
The Servant King
by Revd David Barnes, Angmering Baptist Church
We celebrate Palm Sunday on the 10th April this year as part of our Easter celebrations
John’s Gospel (12:12-26) records how Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey’s colt. This was a deliberate claim to be the Messiah. It was a dramatic fulfilment of the words of Zechariah 9:9. ‘Do not be afraid O daughter of Zion, see your King is coming seated on a donkey’
But the claim was to a particular kind of Messiah. The point is that a King came riding upon a horse when he was bent on war. He came riding on a donkey when he was coming in peace. Jesus action was a sign. He was not the warrior King they dreamed of but a Servant King.
If the people looked at Jesus’ ministry more closely they would have seen his use of power was radically different from that of a political revolutionary. Jesus used His power to serve others in their need. Particularly those who were regarded as outcasts. A political revolutionary, however, is more likely to create inhuman conditions and more outcasts. Steve Turner in his poem ‘When your revolution is over’, carefully brings out the difference in approach:
When your revolution is over
When your revolution is over
Will you rebuild the city?
Will you rebuild the city?
Will you drain away the tears?
Will you retouch every scar?
Will you mend the broken hearts?
Will you find the stolen years?
Will you light up the blind eye?
Will you raise up the dead?
Ah
Then I do not want
I do not want
Your revolution
Jesus used His power to serve people in their need. And He served them in their greatest need. He served them in such a way as to ensure their forgiveness and make possible a right relationship with God. To save His people would not be achieved by violent means, but rather through suffering.
Now the crowd shout for him as King of Israel. But the only anointing Jesus receives is an anointing for death (12:7) PTO
The only crown he will wear is a crown of thorns (19:2)
The only robe a cloak of mockery.
When he stands before His people and is so presented as their King. Then, the crowd will shout ‘crucify!’
And why should the servant King suffer in this way? The Prophet Isaiah had already explained it:
‘Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed. We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all’ (Isaiah 53:4-6).
As servant king Jesus has suffered in order that you and I can be forgiven and restored into right relationship with God
Easter Services
10th April. Palm Sunday. Easter Guest Service. Includes DVD presentation ‘Three Days that Changed the World’. 10.30am.
14th April. Maundy Thursday Service. 7.30pm.
15th April. Good Friday Service. 10.30am.
17th April. Easter Sunrise Service. 7.00am, St Nicholas Garden (behind library).
Morning Service. 10.30am
Evening Guest service. Introduction to Alpha Express Course1. Including talk by Nicky Gumbel ‘Christianity, boring, untrue and irrelevant?’ 6.30pm.
1 Please note we will be running the original Alpha ‘Express’ Course, presented by Nicky Gumbel, here at ABC .This is a well-known introduction to the Christian Faith. It will run once a week from Sunday 24th April for thirteen weeks, 4.30pm. (Attendance is not required for all sessions). Each session is no more than an hour and includes refreshments. No charge.
If you would like to reflect further on Christ’s redeeming work through music please visit davidbarnes.bandcamp.com to listen to the album ‘Christ the Redeemer’. Put in ‘0.00’ to download for free.
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