These examples are all very heartening. I didn't make it to church today - life as a carer for my parents, plus a full time job, means I often don't as I'm frankly exhausted most of the time. But I managed to find a huge card that actually said Mothering Sunday as opposed to Mother's Day (a task that gets harder every year), and despite the dementia, Mum did actually seem to understand the meaning of it and stopped complaining about anything and everything for at least 20 seconds...! That's the best I'm going to get, I think.
Absolutely nothing was said about it being Mothers' Day (the term likely to be used at our place) in the (new) early service that Mr Nen and I went to, but I was given several daffodils at the door on the way out. It may have been mentioned more at the 10.30 service, or it may not. Mr Nen and I were drinking coffee and eating cake in the local cafe by then.
I think it would be more illuminating if @Alan29 explained what exactly his friends think is bad form about what he writes. Certainly it wouldn't be accurate to suggest that single dads exist as often as single mums or face the same kinds of societal pressures.
Single dad's face different societal pressures. The loneliness of being the sole father in the parents at the school gate for instance and the wary glances that causes (Think man alone at school gates, if you do not get it). The difficulty of getting a baby changing place when out and about is another.
On Sunday we went to not-our-usual church (my teenager rarely comes to church now and dislikes the loud Hillsong diet of our usual place) and since he had agreed to come with me..
It was a parade service so things were clearly angled towards the scouts and guides etc. As we entered we were all given a "gem"( actually those small pieces of polished coloured glass you can buy) and a stone ( your common or garden pebble) . At the start of the prayers we were invited to come up and place our gem and stone in baskets at the base of a cross: the gem "in thanksgiving for those who have mothered us" and the stone " as a symbol of those times we have experienced disappointment in motherhood ". The prayers generally spoke of mothering rather than mothers. I think using the word as a verb rather than a noun was an astute way of widening the idea out and the thanksgiving/ disappointment dichotomy is a healthy thing to acknowledge.
There were bunches of flowers given out; distributed by the scout leaders to each pew and passed along so anyone could have them - not just a mothers/women thing.
All in all I was very impressed. Almost enough to forgive them the dreck that was the opening hymn: some twee stuff about mothers to the tune of All things Bright and Beautiful.
I think it would be more illuminating if @Alan29 explained what exactly his friends think is bad form about what he writes. Certainly it wouldn't be accurate to suggest that single dads exist as often as single mums or face the same kinds of societal pressures.
Single dad's face different societal pressures. The loneliness of being the sole father in the parents at the school gate for instance and the wary glances that causes (Think man alone at school gates, if you do not get it). The difficulty of getting a baby changing place when out and about is another.
Sure, but single dads also don't get targeted as proof of a broken society. Which isn't to say that their problems aren't real, but their problems don't also come with the misogyny that single mums get.
On Sunday we went to not-our-usual church (my teenager rarely comes to church now and dislikes the loud Hillsong diet of our usual place) and since he had agreed to come with me..
It was a parade service so things were clearly angled towards the scouts and guides etc. As we entered we were all given a "gem"( actually those small pieces of polished coloured glass you can buy) and a stone ( your common or garden pebble) . At the start of the prayers we were invited to come up and place our gem and stone in baskets at the base of a cross: the gem "in thanksgiving for those who have mothered us" and the stone " as a symbol of those times we have experienced disappointment in motherhood ". The prayers generally spoke of mothering rather than mothers. I think using the word as a verb rather than a noun was an astute way of widening the idea out and the thanksgiving/ disappointment dichotomy is a healthy thing to acknowledge.
There were bunches of flowers given out; distributed by the scout leaders to each pew and passed along so anyone could have them - not just a mothers/women thing.
All in all I was very impressed. Almost enough to forgive them the dreck that was the opening hymn: some twee stuff about mothers to the tune of All things Bright and Beautiful.
That sounds really good - I like that idea a lot. I wonder if it was something created by a Scouts or Guides etc leader, since I think working with children does often make you more sensitive to those with difficult home lives (particularly if you - general you - haven't had those experiences). Shame it was spoiled by the opening hymn!
The language of "mothering" rather than "mothers" was always the choice at church when I was growing up.
Yes, and it still is, as far as Our Place is concerned - but the term doesn't seem to be applied to anyone other than *official* mothers, with everyone else engaged in nurturing being, as it were, left out of the reckoning.
I was surprised to hear that none of our usual cohort of students were in church on Mothering Sunday. They are all from India (Kerala, mostly), and I guess this curious English festival is under their radar. I wonder if FInC's emphasis on the service being all about *wives and mothers* may have put them off, but perhaps they all had other things to do...
I’m lucky with my church. Mothering Sunday was a “family service” (so no sung Kyrie & only one reading + gospel). However, it was acknowledged as a great day for many but difficult for some.
Prayers were said and candles lit for those who couldn’t or didn’t have children, those who have difficult relationships with their mothers &/or children, and those who have lost mothers &/or children. Posies had been made by local children and were given out to all who wanted one. Mine was left beside me on the organ seat. Despite being single and childless (with a cute dog) I am made to feel very welcome at my church.
I’m lucky with my church. Mothering Sunday was a “family service” (so no sung Kyrie & only one reading + gospel). However, it was acknowledged as a great day for many but difficult for some.
Prayers were said and candles lit for those who couldn’t or didn’t have children, those who have difficult relationships with their mothers &/or children, and those who have lost mothers &/or children. Posies had been made by local children and were given out to all who wanted one. Mine was left beside me on the organ seat. Despite being single and childless (with a cute dog) I am made to feel very welcome at my church.
Comments
There are scripture scholars who think it is implied in John's gospel.
Yes. Made by LBlet #2
Unfortunately, my wife does not like marzipan
Well, yes. It occurred to me to wonder why FInC hadn't simply gone out and bought one!
Single dad's face different societal pressures. The loneliness of being the sole father in the parents at the school gate for instance and the wary glances that causes (Think man alone at school gates, if you do not get it). The difficulty of getting a baby changing place when out and about is another.
It was a parade service so things were clearly angled towards the scouts and guides etc. As we entered we were all given a "gem"( actually those small pieces of polished coloured glass you can buy) and a stone ( your common or garden pebble) . At the start of the prayers we were invited to come up and place our gem and stone in baskets at the base of a cross: the gem "in thanksgiving for those who have mothered us" and the stone " as a symbol of those times we have experienced disappointment in motherhood ". The prayers generally spoke of mothering rather than mothers. I think using the word as a verb rather than a noun was an astute way of widening the idea out and the thanksgiving/ disappointment dichotomy is a healthy thing to acknowledge.
There were bunches of flowers given out; distributed by the scout leaders to each pew and passed along so anyone could have them - not just a mothers/women thing.
All in all I was very impressed. Almost enough to forgive them the dreck that was the opening hymn: some twee stuff about mothers to the tune of All things Bright and Beautiful.
Sure, but single dads also don't get targeted as proof of a broken society. Which isn't to say that their problems aren't real, but their problems don't also come with the misogyny that single mums get.
That sounds really good - I like that idea a lot. I wonder if it was something created by a Scouts or Guides etc leader, since I think working with children does often make you more sensitive to those with difficult home lives (particularly if you - general you - haven't had those experiences). Shame it was spoiled by the opening hymn!
Yes, and it still is, as far as Our Place is concerned - but the term doesn't seem to be applied to anyone other than *official* mothers, with everyone else engaged in nurturing being, as it were, left out of the reckoning.
I was surprised to hear that none of our usual cohort of students were in church on Mothering Sunday. They are all from India (Kerala, mostly), and I guess this curious English festival is under their radar. I wonder if FInC's emphasis on the service being all about *wives and mothers* may have put them off, but perhaps they all had other things to do...
Prayers were said and candles lit for those who couldn’t or didn’t have children, those who have difficult relationships with their mothers &/or children, and those who have lost mothers &/or children. Posies had been made by local children and were given out to all who wanted one. Mine was left beside me on the organ seat. Despite being single and childless (with a cute dog) I am made to feel very welcome at my church.
Welcome aboard @Mydnyght!
I'd say your church has it about right - Our Place was all about wives and mothers, despite the majority of the congregation being neither of those...