God of compassion,
whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary,
shared the life of a home in Nazareth,
and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself:
strengthen us in our daily living
that in joy and in sorrow
we may know the power of your presence
to bind together and to heal;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Samuel 1.20\u201328<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 20<\/sup>In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, \u2018I have asked him of the Lord.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n 21 <\/sup>The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. 22<\/sup>But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, \u2018As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the Lord, and remain there for ever; I will offer him as a nazirite for all time.\u201923<\/sup>Her husband Elkanah said to her, \u2018Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only\u2014may the Lord establish his word.\u2019 So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. 24<\/sup>When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh; and the child was young. 25<\/sup>Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. 26<\/sup>And she said, \u2018Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. 27<\/sup>For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. 28<\/sup>Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is given to the Lord.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n She left him there for the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luke 2.33\u201335<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 33 <\/sup>And the child\u2019s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34<\/sup>Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, \u2018This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35<\/sup>so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed\u2014and a sword will pierce your own soul too.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n All collects and readings appointed for this day as well as the orders of Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer can be found at http:\/\/almanac.oremus.org\/2020-03-22<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sunday 22nd March – Fourth Sunday of Lent – Mothering Sunday Collect God of compassion,whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary,shared the life of a home in Nazareth,and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself:strengthen us in our daily livingthat in joy and in sorrowwe may know the power of your … <\/p>\nGospel
<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n