Mothering Sunday - is it observed in US Episcopal churches?
Gill H
Shipmate
My dad was asking!
For context he is a retired Canon in the Church in Wales, and is too frail to attend our church at the moment, but we got into a discussion about ‘Mother’s Day’ being a purely secular occasion in the US on a different date.
So - is Mothering Sunday observed in any US Episcopal churches? If so, when and how?
(Hey, it makes a change from comparing ailments…)
For context he is a retired Canon in the Church in Wales, and is too frail to attend our church at the moment, but we got into a discussion about ‘Mother’s Day’ being a purely secular occasion in the US on a different date.
So - is Mothering Sunday observed in any US Episcopal churches? If so, when and how?
(Hey, it makes a change from comparing ailments…)
Comments
Was it observed on the Fourth Sunday in Lent, which is the usual day in the UK? IIRC, the secular *Mothers' Day* is some time in May in other countries.
According to Wikipedia, Mothering Sunday was about people going back to visit the church where they were baptised, but according to various sermons I've heard over the years, it was more about young people employed as servants or in agriculture had a sort of customary day off that Sunday to go back to see their parents.
Cradle Episcopalian here, and the short answer is "no," although I note @Thomas Rowans'' comment upthread, and admittedly I have little experience of the A/C corner of TEC. Whether the US secular Mother's Day holiday (2nd Sunday in May) is observed in churches of any flavor is kind of a mixed bag. I worked in children's and youth programs within TEC for many years and saw any emphasis on it go from middling to nonexistent. I have known of other denominations (and non-denominational churches) where a very big deal is made of Mother's Day - indeed, I've been in many such conversations right here on the Ship. I believe, though, that the trend is well away from this in recent years, along with a growing sensitivity that such celebrations can be painful for many.
Both are correct. Originally it was about visiting their “mother” church where they were baptised, but if servants were returning to their home village, it makes sense that they would also visit their parents.
And to be clear, we well may have been the only Presbyterian congregation anywhere around that made mention of the day.
Yes, this is what I was told when at Sunday School. I suppose a Sunday half-way though Lent was chosen as it provided a brief respite from the austerity of the season.
I suspect that is because nobody knows the origin of the term, so its anybody's guess.
Dammit that could be a problem for me. I was I believe baptised in an Anglican school chapel in Nairobi.
I was baptised in the parish church in Somerset where my dad was curate. I wouldn't be surprised if the journey time to Nairobi was shorter.
Agreed, and same where I am. At most, there's a mention of mothers in the Prayers of the People on Mother's Day in May. Observing the day happens in individual families if desired.
Would that it were so here in the UK. Alas! the secular *Mothers' Day* is kept on the fourth Sunday in Lent each year, and becomes one of those Feasts Of Saint Hallmark* And The Emotional Blackmail.
The Church (or many parts of it) feels constrained to follow the herd, with the result that many people - those who have lost children through death or estrangement, those who have never been able to have children, those whose mothers did them great harm etc. etc. - feel alienated and left out of the mummy-fest that some Places put on (or try to put on).
(*one of the main greetings card publishers here)
Thanks @ChastMastr - I had a feeling that we were not alone, but wasn't sure...
"Mothers' Day" and its companion "Fathers' Day" rate a mention, but thankfully our place has moved away from the schmaltzy sentimentality that it had over these days a decade or so ago.