Mother’s Day!

Dear Congregation,

Sunday is, of course, Mother’s Day. In worship we will pray together a special litany asking God to bless and help mothers who are doing their best to raise the children they love in so many challenging circumstances today. This would be a good day to invite your mother to come to church with you, if you’re blessed to have that opportunity.

Since 1914 Mother’s Day has been a national observance on the second Sunday of May in our country. Did you know that Julia Ward Howe, a Unitarian, was the first person to try to start a Mother’s Day, back in 1870? Her reasons for doing so had nothing to do with the Hallmark card reality that has evolved in which buying cards, flowers, and gifts for mothers and taking them out for dinner is seen as the norm. Rather, because Julia had lived through the Civil War and seen some of the worst effects of that war in death and disease and in its aftermath on the lives of widows and orphans of soldiers on both sides of the war, she called on women to rise up and oppose war in all its forms. She wanted to organize a Mother’s Day for Peace.

I know we members and friends of CCC support and renew her call to oppose war in all places where it rages today, particularly in Ukraine and Iran.

This coming Sunday’s worship service will be in the Garden Chapel for the last time until the weather becomes cooler. I invite you to come take advantage of the peace that is to be found in this special place to restore your soul.

In Christ’s love.

Pastor Candy