Whilst many of our churches will have a service on Mothering Sunday, because of COVID these will be 'low key' affairs, and it means that we won't be able to provide flowers to give to their mothers, or to those who have played a mother’s role in their life. 

If you’re preparing for Mother’s Day at home, it can be a good time to help children learn about God’s love for them too, which is also like a mother’s love. Here are some things to do together as you think about that love:

• Make a few pom pom chicks, (you can save them for Easter Day as a table decoration): see: www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/easter-craft-ideas.html 

•Ask your child who the chicks’ mummy is. If you like, you can talk about how they are born from an egg. 

•Talk about how a hen protects her little chicks by hiding them under her wings. She feeds them and holds them close to her to keep them warm and safe. 

•Think about how God’s love is like this. We are like God’s little chicks and God wants to keep us safe too, just like the hen. 

•Why not play at being hens and chicks together, spreading out arms and gathering underneath them? 

•At home, you can also read one of the Bible stories that has a mother’s love at its centre – for example, the story of Moses. 

A mother’s love is so special it’s worth celebrating, but some people may find Mother’s Day difficult for lots of different reasons. Some people may not have a mother who they see any more. She may have died, or they just never knew her. Some parents find Mother’s Day sad because they have lost a child and still grieve. 

As well as celebrating the love of mothers, we will always remember that Mother’s Day can be difficult as well, and will include some special prayers during the service.  Revd Mark is happy to offer a confidential listening ear and prayer if that is something you would like.