East Garston

Eighty People – half of them young people and children, including two new born babies in their prams, gathered for the Motheri ng Sunday Service at East Garston on 18th March. The children had made cards and posies of flowers which they presented to their mothers during the service. Flowers were also given to grandmothers or laid on the altar in memory of mothers no longer alive.

Children played a major part in the service greeting the congregation, reading prayers, singing, or playing superbly in the Active Music Club string ensemble conducted by Patricia Glover. This group goes from strength to strength and gives an interesting new dimension to Family Services at East Garston.

Susan Holmes the church’s talented organist, currently studying for a Masters Degree in Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, conducted the congregation in the singing of the hymn Seek ye first the kingdom of God – sung as a canon. All joined in, singing with great gusto!

The address was on the theme of The woman at Bethany, who poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ head in preparation for burial. This represented a gesture of love. The children then experimented with applying perfume and reflected on gifts they had given with love to their mothers, on Mothering Sunday.

Five children including two 3 year olds solemnly took the collection. Parents and Grandparents looked on all the activity with delight.

Thank you to everyone and particularly The Young Families of the parish, for contributing and coming to the Mothering Sunday service. Special thanks to the String Ensemble who played so beautifully for us again and to the children who met and greeted the congregation, sang, read prayers and took the collection. What a fine example they set in their tender years, performing their duties with reverence and dedication.