The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham is encouraging people to pray and celebrate mothers this Mothering Sunday.
The Right Reverend Paul Butler spoke of the special connection his diocese has with Mothering Sunday. It is a hundred years since Constance Penswick-Smith, the daughter of the vicar of Coddington, in Nottinghamshire, caught the vision to re-establish Mothering Sunday nationally.
In 1921, she laid out that vision in a booklet asking for a full revival of Mothering Sunday. Her call led to the founding of the Society for the Observence of Mothering Sunday and after three decades of campaigning, Mothering Sunday was being celebrated across the country.
Bishop Butler said he was especially aware this year of the children and young people who do not have mothers or fathers.
Parishes in Southwell and Nottingham are being asked to focus on the work of Family Care, a local adoption and family support agency that gives practical help to children and young people.
"Mothering is something we all need at times although it's something we can take for granted," he said.
"This special Mothering Sunday is an opportunity to think and pray for mothers and pray about how we can be a 'mother' to someone who desperately needs care and love."
The Reverend David Anderton, vicar of All Saints Coddington, is looking forward to a busy Mothering Sunday service.
The service will be joined by the choir of Coddington Church of England Primary School and every mother will receive a primula plant.
The congregation will then take part in 'clipping the church', when they will hold hands to form a ring around the building and 'embrace' it.
"Mothering Sunday is important in the life of the church and it is one of our most popular services – thanks to Constance, who is buried here in the churchyard," he said.
"It's a wonderful celebration and I'm encouraging people to post their prayers for mothers online as we mark 100 years of Mothering Sundays."
Prayers for mums can be posted at http://www.prayoneforme.org
