South West Norfolk Pastoral Charge

     Come to  Coffee & Conversation:)  

Join Pastor:   Rev. Ted Smith   WEDNESDAY'S at 10:00am , bring your coffee for great conversations on ZOOM

Click on the ZOOM MEETING Link Above

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A WELCOME INVITATION TO ALL WOMEN OF THE CHURCH to U.C.W. Meetings

Meeting Dates for 2026:   Meeting the 1st Wednesday at 1:00pm at Courtland United Church

May 6, 2026 

June 3, 2026      Lorraine's Cottage / Potluck Lunch

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                                                                                   Prayer for Mothers           (Bruce Sanguin, 2010)

O Holy One, we know you in the fierce love of a mother for her children, in acts of tender care at times of illness, in the voice of encouragement, and in times of self - doubt.

We learn something of your love in the long - suffering love of mothers for children who have lost their way, in forms of love that may persuade but never coerce.

We know you on this Mother's Day as we remember Julia Ward Howe, who rose up against injustice and the carnage of war.

We know you as we give thanks for Mother Earth, from whom and through whom all blessings flow.   Amen. 

Ah, Mother's Day....... ahh.... Mom. I can't help but feel the unconditional love my mom had for us, her children, her boys. We messed up all the time, and yet she had this way that kind of recognized the human frailty and sort of stumbling about that we do as we learn to live and grow and be and she was always there for us.

It was a love that knew no boundary, a love that was there even before we came into being, a love that we carried with us no matter where we went or what we did. Her greatest wishes were that we, as family cared for one another without reserve, and that our actions in the world were life- giving and not self- serving.

As I reflect on the love our mom had for us, I cannot help but feel my mind and heart wander to a place or a feeling that tells me God’s love for us is the same. That God’s love created us for a purpose, and through Jesus, God sent a message to the world that is about charity, mercy, patience, peace, and reckless love.

                         The heart and soul of the Gospel message offers Jesus’ passion to his beloved disciples.

 “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves   at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain  intimately at home in my love.”     (John 15: 9, The Message)

What a beautiful, life-giving image of home, family, and love this is; “You’ll remain intimately at home in my love”. This paints a picture that reveals the whole world as family. It teaches us that God’s household invites and includes all people to be family members, sister/brothers that include all people; the poor, the wealthy, the in- between, refugees, the disabled, social activists, all people regardless of age, race, language, religion, orientation, or gender.

It was this kind of response to Christ’s command to love that gave birth to the first Mother’s Day which was proclaimed by Julia Ward Howe in 1870. In Bruce Sanguin’s “Prayer for Mothers”, that we shared at the beginning of this discussion, Bruce remembers Julia and sees God working through her as this amazing feminist reformer who was way ahead of her time. Following the Civil War, she campaigned for women’s rights, anti-slavery, equality and world peace. She published several volumes of poetry, travel books and a play. She also wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic in 1862.

As you reflect on God’s commandment to “Love one another”, listen to Julia’s words in some excerpts from her “Mother’s Day Proclamation” of 1870.

“Arise, then women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts, whether your baptism be that of water or tears!  Say firmly: ‘We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have taught them of charity, mercy, and patience. We woman of one country will be too tender of those of another to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs’...In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that an general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.”

 O, what a message of inclusive love that truly transcends political borders and agendas, calling all people to come together, and with urgency to do so, in the name of peace. The peace that comes when we love one another just as our God loves us. And this God that loves us is always abiding with us. Our brief reading from Acts 10 reminds us that God is at work in the world ongoing, seeding faith, provoking unimagined relationships not unlike those that Julia Ward Howe dreamed of.

“The believing ones who had come with Peter couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured on an ‘outsider’, non-Jews, but there it was--- they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God.”  (Acts 10: 44 – 46, The Message)

When we love one another as our mothering God commands us there will be no outsiders. As “church” we can add our Amen to what God has already done. What is our response to Peter’s question: “Do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water?” (Acts 10: 46 The Message).

On this Mother’s Day and Christian Family Sunday we celebrate belonging to a special family---- the followers of Jesus and God’s beloved children. We are invited to lift our voices in celebration together while continuing to express God’s inclusive love in our world today. And Jesus also said:

“I’ve told you about these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you”

May it be so.

 HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY and BLESSED CHRISTIAN FAMILY SUNDAY TO ALL!!!

                                                            PT