East Garston

The Mothering Sunday service at All Saints Church, East Garston on 3rd April, was conducted by the Revd Nigel Sands. Love of mothers and returning home to visit mothers, was the theme of the service. The children of the parish had made cards and posies of flowers, which they lovingly presented to their mothers during the service.

Equally important was the remembering by adults of their mothers, who may no longer be alive. They brought a flower in memory, which The Revd Tony Cumberlidge and Mr Sands, placed on the Altar for the duration of the service. The pathway through the churchyard was lined with posies to remind us, as we came to church, of mothers over the centuries that had gone before us.

A centre piece of the service was the part played by seven children from our Young Families Group who are either at primary or pre- school. They approached their tasks with dedication and reverence and were a great credit to their parents. They met and greeted the congregation, read prayers alongside Mr Cumberlidge, one sang a solo verse of All Things Bright and Beautiful, one wrote a poem to her mother and four solemnly took the collection. Sania's Poem

It was an illustration of the trust, care and love of mothers (and fathers) for their children, that we celebrate on Mothering Sunday. The bible reading, given by Mr Cumberlidge, echoed this theme of love for one another and Mr Sands address focused on the tradition of returning on this very special Sunday, to be with mothers and families in the safety of home.