WEBVTT

00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.339
 Well, good morning everyone and happy Mother's Day.

00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:10.839
 Today we're celebrating Mothering Sunday and I wish to emphasise the word celebrate.

00:00:12.280 --> 00:00:19.160
 It can mean rejoice, revel, have fun, enjoy and it can also mean praise.

00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:24.760
 Today's celebration is of motherhood, love, nurture and parenting.

00:00:24.760 --> 00:00:31.820
 Ideally, motherhood should be the most joyous and positive experience that we have.

00:00:32.480 --> 00:00:37.900
 Although realistically, I'm sure most of you know here, no lifelong experience like motherhood

00:00:37.900 --> 00:00:42.380
 will ever reach the perfection of total unwavering joy and positivity.

00:00:43.660 --> 00:00:49.620
 And our reading today reflects, as well as the joy, a little of the other side of motherhood.

00:00:50.260 --> 00:00:52.060
 So let's pray before I start.

00:00:52.060 --> 00:00:59.620
 Heavenly Father, we praise and thank you as we celebrate Mothering Sunday,

00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:05.480
 a chance to express thankfulness and joy as we remember our own mothers or carers

00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:08.920
 who have or still are serving their families.

00:01:09.859 --> 00:01:14.579
 We also remember and pray for those whom today will find it difficult and sad.

00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:18.040
 And we ask that your unfailing love will surround them

00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:21.420
 and that they will feel your presence in their lives.

00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:22.620
 Amen.

00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:27.600
 According to the latest UN global estimates,

00:01:28.260 --> 00:01:32.480
 over 300,000 women a year die in childbirth

00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:34.939
 because of complications due to pregnancy.

00:01:35.900 --> 00:01:39.120
 That's 830 women in the prime of their lives,

00:01:39.620 --> 00:01:40.520
 dying each day,

00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:43.820
 roughly one every two minutes.

00:01:43.819 --> 00:01:51.619
 Most of these are on the African continents in Nigeria and India.

00:01:52.659 --> 00:01:59.459
 The UK does fare much better with only 13 in 100,000 pregnancies tragically ending this way.

00:01:59.459 --> 00:02:06.139
 However, the greatest risk for maternal deaths in this country is social class.

00:02:07.079 --> 00:02:12.439
 The rate among socially excluded women is 20 times higher than professional women

00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:14.799
 with their own homes and reliable incomes,

00:02:15.019 --> 00:02:21.099
 while women from ethnic minorities have three times the rate of the overall population.

00:02:21.099 --> 00:02:24.019
 So happy Mother's Day, everyone.

00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:28.259
 Why are we thinking about this gap today?

00:02:29.060 --> 00:02:31.500
 Why on a day that we're supposed to be celebrating,

00:02:32.139 --> 00:02:33.799
 am I bringing up these tragic statistics?

00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:37.480
 Why pause to remember the gap,

00:02:37.939 --> 00:02:40.120
 the risk and tragedy that plays out globally

00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:44.200
 on a day when we come together as churches up and down the country

00:02:44.200 --> 00:02:45.780
 to pray and give thanks?

00:02:46.180 --> 00:02:48.620
 A time when we can celebrate the hard work,

00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:49.939
 the love, the nurture,

00:02:50.540 --> 00:02:53.680
 and the year in and year out investment of love,

00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:55.880
 no matter how flawed it may be.

00:02:55.879 --> 00:03:03.599
 Well, it's precisely the fact that there is actually no guarantee,

00:03:04.340 --> 00:03:07.620
 no cast-iron right for those who either want to conceive

00:03:07.620 --> 00:03:09.280
 and who are unable to,

00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:12.379
 or those who are awaiting the wonderful gift of birth

00:03:12.379 --> 00:03:14.719
 and the arrival of a newborn in the household,

00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:18.379
 but who might instead face a time of terrible grief

00:03:18.379 --> 00:03:21.579
 with the loss of a mother or the little baby, or both.

00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:25.859
 This, sadly, is sometimes the harsh reality of everyday life,

00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:30.159
 the slipstream of sadness, tragedy, risk,

00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:33.180
 social-economic injustice or accident

00:03:33.180 --> 00:03:35.579
 that pebbles our experience of living.

00:03:36.759 --> 00:03:39.620
 So our reading today from the Old Testament,

00:03:39.819 --> 00:03:44.699
 it really underpins Hannah's greatly desired joy of conception,

00:03:45.300 --> 00:03:47.439
 a safe pregnancy and birth of a child.

00:03:48.259 --> 00:03:49.979
 However, as we've read today,

00:03:50.379 --> 00:03:53.479
 she was locked in an intimate arena of public humiliation,

00:03:53.479 --> 00:03:57.799
 persistent bullying and ridicule from her wife, Penaya.

00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:00.600
 Now, it's probably good to say here

00:04:00.600 --> 00:04:04.320
 that whilst having another wife in this culture was tolerated,

00:04:04.700 --> 00:04:06.640
 it definitely wasn't recommended,

00:04:07.020 --> 00:04:08.740
 and it caused a lot of problems.

00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:11.000
 And as a good friend of mine says,

00:04:11.200 --> 00:04:12.960
 just because you can do it

00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:14.880
 doesn't actually mean that it's right.

00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:18.500
 And I think we can surmise here

00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:20.019
 that Elkanah loved Hannah,

00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:22.240
 who at the time wasn't able to have children,

00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:23.939
 so much more than Penaya,

00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:25.699
 who he was married to,

00:04:25.959 --> 00:04:27.159
 because she could have children,

00:04:27.579 --> 00:04:28.579
 and had many of them.

00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:31.219
 Having children in those days

00:04:31.219 --> 00:04:32.839
 was not just a nice thing to do.

00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:34.360
 It was a necessity

00:04:34.360 --> 00:04:36.639
 when you lived in those kind of farming cultures.

00:04:37.319 --> 00:04:39.339
 You needed your children to help with the work,

00:04:39.399 --> 00:04:40.259
 and they were assets.

00:04:40.259 --> 00:04:42.399
 So as you can imagine,

00:04:43.039 --> 00:04:44.539
 there would have been a lot of conflict.

00:04:45.219 --> 00:04:47.379
 Penaya would have known that Elkanah loved Hannah,

00:04:47.779 --> 00:04:49.219
 and would have been jealous of this.

00:04:49.699 --> 00:04:51.300
 And she would have used that fact

00:04:51.300 --> 00:04:54.199
 that Hannah couldn't have children

00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:55.860
 to bully and provoke her.

00:04:56.740 --> 00:04:59.180
 Having to have children as an asset or a legacy

00:04:59.180 --> 00:05:01.939
 was deeply embedded in the Hebrew culture.

00:05:03.699 --> 00:05:04.339
 Hannah, sadly,

00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:06.839
 had been able to conceive with her husband Elkanah,

00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:09.060
 and despite reassurances from him

00:05:09.060 --> 00:05:10.359
 that it was devoted to her,

00:05:10.799 --> 00:05:12.119
 whether she had kids or not,

00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:13.419
 she was distraught.

00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:15.759
 And not only were the presence

00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:17.379
 of Penaya's sons and daughters

00:05:17.379 --> 00:05:18.819
 a constant reminder

00:05:18.819 --> 00:05:19.759
 that Hannah had been able

00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:21.319
 to fulfil the demand of culture,

00:05:21.859 --> 00:05:23.699
 the expectations of her wider family,

00:05:24.099 --> 00:05:26.299
 and her own heart's desire to have a child.

00:05:27.620 --> 00:05:29.419
 So then we look at Hannah's prayer.

00:05:30.359 --> 00:05:31.599
 It's in this chapter

00:05:31.599 --> 00:05:33.039
 that Hannah brings the Bible's

00:05:33.039 --> 00:05:35.039
 first wordless prayer to us.

00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:36.680
 Every year,

00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:38.240
 Elkanah and his household

00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:39.120
 would make a pilgrimage

00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:40.900
 to the shrine of Shiloh,

00:05:41.260 --> 00:05:42.379
 where the tent shrine

00:05:42.379 --> 00:05:44.220
 and the Ark of Covenant were present.

00:05:45.220 --> 00:05:46.760
 It was one of the key sites

00:05:46.760 --> 00:05:49.379
 for the Israelite pilgrimages

00:05:49.379 --> 00:05:50.500
 at that time.

00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:51.879
 And they thought

00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:53.259
 if they were going to hear God,

00:05:53.640 --> 00:05:55.240
 that was the place that it would be.

00:05:56.120 --> 00:05:58.439
 And as it says in verses 12 to 14,

00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.140
 such was Hannah's fervent prayer

00:06:01.140 --> 00:06:03.080
 that the high priest Eli

00:06:03.080 --> 00:06:04.259
 thought she was drunk.

00:06:05.900 --> 00:06:07.120
 If anyone has seen

00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:08.360
 the Holy Spirit at work,

00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:09.960
 sometimes it does look like,

00:06:10.020 --> 00:06:11.700
 yeah, you can have strange manifestations

00:06:11.700 --> 00:06:13.680
 and it can look like you're drunk.

00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:16.220
 But her wordless petition

00:06:16.220 --> 00:06:18.240
 is answered by the priest Eli

00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:21.100
 when he tells her to go in peace

00:06:21.100 --> 00:06:22.720
 and that the God of Israel

00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:24.600
 grant the petition you have made to him.

00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:26.780
 She then departs

00:06:26.780 --> 00:06:27.879
 with a steady conviction

00:06:27.879 --> 00:06:30.340
 that God has heard her deepest desire

00:06:30.339 --> 00:06:32.319
 and it says her countenance

00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:33.819
 was sad no longer.

00:06:35.019 --> 00:06:36.739
 So God answers her prayers

00:06:36.739 --> 00:06:38.459
 and she becomes pregnant with Samuel.

00:06:39.259 --> 00:06:40.859
 Her exultant song of praise

00:06:40.859 --> 00:06:42.519
 when she finally gives birth

00:06:42.519 --> 00:06:43.719
 and brings him to the temple

00:06:43.719 --> 00:06:45.599
 when he is fully to be weaned,

00:06:45.659 --> 00:06:46.839
 to be lent to the Lord

00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:48.179
 as long as he lives,

00:06:48.739 --> 00:06:50.939
 reminds me of the beautiful song,

00:06:51.019 --> 00:06:51.859
 the Magnificat,

00:06:52.219 --> 00:06:53.739
 which is Mary's song from Luke,

00:06:53.959 --> 00:06:55.159
 when she finds out

00:06:55.159 --> 00:06:56.779
 that she's going to be pregnant with Jesus.

00:06:56.779 --> 00:06:58.819
 And that goes like this.

00:06:59.179 --> 00:06:59.779
 My soul proclaims

00:07:00.500 --> 00:07:01.739
 the greatness of the Lord.

00:07:02.179 --> 00:07:05.179
 My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:07.039
 He has looked with favour

00:07:07.039 --> 00:07:08.319
 on his lowly servant.

00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:10.119
 From this day,

00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:12.559
 all generations will call me blessed.

00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:15.419
 The Almighty has done great things for me

00:07:15.419 --> 00:07:17.159
 and holy is his name.

00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:20.079
 He has mercy on those who fear him

00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:21.919
 from generation to generation.

00:07:22.619 --> 00:07:24.979
 He has strong strength with his arm

00:07:24.980 --> 00:07:26.680
 and has scattered the proud

00:07:26.680 --> 00:07:27.879
 within their conceit,

00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:29.720
 casting down the mighty

00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:30.660
 from their thrones

00:07:30.660 --> 00:07:31.980
 and lifting up the lowly.

00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:33.800
 He has filled the hungry

00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:34.860
 with good things

00:07:34.860 --> 00:07:36.580
 and sent the rich away empty.

00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:38.280
 He has come to the aid

00:07:38.280 --> 00:07:39.400
 of his servant Israel

00:07:39.400 --> 00:07:41.680
 to remember his promise of mercy,

00:07:42.340 --> 00:07:44.080
 the promise made to our ancestors,

00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:46.620
 to Abraham and his children forever.

00:07:47.280 --> 00:07:47.720
 Amen.

00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:50.879
 So this morning,

00:07:51.780 --> 00:07:54.060
 what is your heart's desire?

00:07:54.980 --> 00:07:58.759
 What is your wordless prayer on this day

00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:01.040
 as we remember the authenticity

00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:05.540
 of wordless, heartfelt, fully focused prayer?

00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:09.220
 You may grieve for children you never had

00:08:09.220 --> 00:08:11.680
 or who you are separated from

00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:13.000
 or you've lost.

00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:16.860
 Maybe you're grieving for a household divided

00:08:16.860 --> 00:08:19.819
 or dreams of a family full of peace

00:08:19.819 --> 00:08:21.920
 being ransacked by disappointment,

00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:23.439
 human frailty,

00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:24.779
 illness

00:08:24.779 --> 00:08:26.339
 or the cruelty of others.

00:08:27.339 --> 00:08:29.019
 Or you may lift up your voice

00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:30.939
 to petition against the poverty

00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:33.240
 and the lack of fairly shared resources

00:08:33.240 --> 00:08:34.840
 to enable all pregnant women

00:08:34.840 --> 00:08:37.139
 to be able to have a safe pregnancy

00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:38.340
 and healthy babies.

00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:40.820
 or maybe your prayer

00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:43.120
 is something different entirely.

00:08:45.300 --> 00:08:46.480
 So loving God,

00:08:46.700 --> 00:08:47.680
 our Heavenly Father,

00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:50.080
 in our worship today,

00:08:50.460 --> 00:08:51.200
 we thank you

00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:53.580
 for all that our mothers mean to us

00:08:53.580 --> 00:08:55.639
 and for all that they do for us.

00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:58.220
 But we also know that for some people

00:08:58.220 --> 00:08:59.460
 in this is a difficult day

00:08:59.460 --> 00:09:00.960
 of hurt, grief

00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:02.440
 and perhaps anger.

00:09:03.900 --> 00:09:05.759
 For those whose mothers have died,

00:09:06.500 --> 00:09:07.600
 whose child has died,

00:09:08.620 --> 00:09:10.420
 or those who have been able to have children.

00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:13.480
 For those who have or have had

00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:15.379
 difficult relationships with mothers

00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:17.800
 or those whose mothers are unwell.

00:09:18.920 --> 00:09:20.040
 We ask for comfort

00:09:20.040 --> 00:09:21.100
 for all who are grieving,

00:09:21.800 --> 00:09:23.300
 dealing with loss and heartache,

00:09:23.500 --> 00:09:24.900
 especially on this day.

00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:26.480
 And we ask for strength

00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:27.379
 for those who mourn,

00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:28.519
 for healing for those

00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:30.019
 who have been hurt by relationships

00:09:30.019 --> 00:09:31.980
 and faith for those

00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:33.120
 who long to have a child.

00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:35.759
 We thank and praise you, Lord,

00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:37.360
 today for all the women

00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:38.539
 who has cared for us,

00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:39.539
 fed us,

00:09:39.980 --> 00:09:40.659
 taught us,

00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:41.879
 clothed us,

00:09:42.319 --> 00:09:43.100
 believed in us,

00:09:43.579 --> 00:09:44.259
 loved us,

00:09:44.860 --> 00:09:46.600
 made sacrifices for us

00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:47.879
 and given in all manner

00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:48.600
 of other ways

00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:49.480
 to raise us

00:09:49.480 --> 00:09:50.659
 to become the people

00:09:50.659 --> 00:09:51.460
 we are today.

00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:53.779
 And finally, Lord,

00:09:53.779 --> 00:09:56.379
 we ask that as we make

00:09:56.379 --> 00:09:57.559
 our petitions of prayer

00:09:57.559 --> 00:09:58.539
 to you this morning,

00:09:58.539 --> 00:10:00.120
 that we would also

00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:00.939
 work together

00:10:00.939 --> 00:10:02.639
 to work for a world

00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:03.819
 where children are raised

00:10:03.819 --> 00:10:04.779
 in full health

00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:06.299
 and their mums enjoy

00:10:06.299 --> 00:10:07.599
 peace in their homes,

00:10:08.179 --> 00:10:08.839
 in households

00:10:08.839 --> 00:10:09.899
 where neighbour cares

00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:10.480
 for neighbourhood

00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:13.559
 and no one is left behind.

00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:15.159
 Amen.

00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:15.259
 Amen.

00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:16.700
 Amen.

00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:19.059
 Amen.

00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:37.179
 Amen.

00:10:37.179 --> 00:10:39.159
 Amen.

00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:40.939
 Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmmM