Anglican Church Twente
St.Mary's of Weldam
Chaplaincy in the Diocese of Europe
Did you know?
This section provides an insight in a variety of church items one may have heard of but did not know the details.
Advent Christmas Epiphany Lent and Passiontide Easter
Ascension Pentecost Trinity Sunday Assumption Ordinary Time
Electoral Roll Altar Clergy Sidespersons Blessing of the Oils Mothering Sunday
Advent: Anticipation and Hope
Advent is the beginning of the Church's Year and it starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). When Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent, with Christmas Eve proper beginning at sundown.
The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent.
Advent is a season of hopeful anticipation of God's breaking into our world and our time.
The Colour of Advent
The liturgical colour of Advent is Purple, which is also the colour of suffering used during Lent and Holy Week. This points to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death. The nativity, the Incarnation, cannot be separated from the crucifixion, the Atonement. The purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world, of the "Word made flesh" and dwelling among us, is to reveal God and His grace to the world through Jesus’ life and teaching, but also through his suffering, death, and resurrection.
The theme of the Lectionary for each of the Sundays in Advent:
Advent 1 The Patriarchs
Advent 2 The Prophets
Advent 3 John the Baptist
Advent 4 The Virgin Mary
Christmas Day The Christ
Each of the four Sundays then reminds us of those who prepared for the coming of Christ. 'The Patriarchs' can naturally focus on Abraham, our father in faith, and David, Jesus' ancestor in whose city he was born. 'The Prophets' gives an opportunity to reflect on the way the birth of the Messiah was 'foretold'. John, who proclaimed the Saviour, and Mary, who bore him in her womb, complete the picture..
On the third Sunday of Advent the liturgical colour changes to Rose
The Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath is a circular evergreen wreath with five candles, four around the wreath and one in the centre. Since the wreath is symbolic and a vehicle to tell the Christmas story, there are various ways to understand the symbolism.
The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent.
The colours of the candles are three purple candles, corresponding to the sanctuary colours of Advent, and one pink or rose candle. One of the purple candles is lighted the first Sunday of Advent, a Scripture is read, a short devotional or reading is given, and a prayer offered. On subsequent Sundays, previous candles are re-lighted with an additional one lighted. The pink candle is lighted on the third Sunday of Advent.
The light of the candles itself becomes an important symbol of the season. The light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world that comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life, and hope.
The first candle is traditionally the candle of Expectation or Hope
The remaining three candles of Advent may be associated with themes for the Sunday Mass.
The third candle for the Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally Pink or Rose, and symbolizes Joy at the Advent of the Christ. The colours of the sanctuary and vestments are also changed to Rose for this Sunday.
The centre candle is white and is called the Christ Candle. It is traditionally lighted on Christmas Eve or Day.
All five candles continuing to be lit in services to Epiphany (Jan 6).
The central location of the Christ Candle reminds us that the incarnation is the heart of the season, giving light to the world.
Like the Season of Lent there are no flowers decorating the church.
Christmas
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Anticipation and Hope
"Christ is born!"
Among all the festivals of the Christian Church year, Christmas remains the most observed and most popular. Of course, much of that popularity, especially in the West, is due to the commercial promotion of the holiday. The Season of Christmass starts after nightfall of December 24th with a Solemn Midnight Mass, and lasts to the day before the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th - 'the twelve days of Christmass'.
We celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; the Incarnation of the Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. We celebrate the beginning of the completion of God's plan for our restoration to relationship with Him; the plan that will lead our Incarnate Lord to His crucifixion, death, and glorious Resurrection
The Colour of Christmass
The liturgical colour of Christmas is Gold/White, which is the colour of purity and innocence and is worn on the feast days of Our Lord.
White vestments, signifying the purity of the soul and often worn for this great festival may be replaced by Gold as we have here. The symbolism is the same, no metal is more pure or more valued than gold. Nothing is more pure or of more value than the love of God, shown to us in the Babe of Bethlehem.
The Season of Epiphany
In western Christian tradition, January 6 is celebrated as Epiphany. Because of differences in church calendars, mainly between the Eastern Orthodox and the western Catholic and Protestant traditions, both Christmas and Epiphany have been observed at different times in the past. Today, most of the Eastern Orthodox traditions follow the western church calendar.
Epiphany is the climax of the Christmass Season and the Twelve Days of Christmass, which are counted from December 25th until January 5th. The day before Epiphany is the twelfth day of Christmas.
In traditional Christian churches Christmass, as well as Easter, is celebrated as a period of time, a season of the church year, rather than just a day. The Season of Christmass begins with the First Sunday of Advent, marked by expectation and anticipation, and concludes with Epiphany, which looks ahead to the mission of the church to the world in light of the Nativity. The season of Epiphany extends from January 6th until Ash Wednesday, which begins the season of Lent. The Sundays following Epiphany are also known as Ordinary Time.
The Coming of the Three Wise Men
Epiphany remembers the coming of the wise men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child, who by so doing "reveal" Jesus to the world as Lord and King.
The Colours of Epiphany
The colour of the Feast of Epiphany is white and gold, the colour of celebration, newness, and hope that mark the most sacred days of the church year. For the following Sundays after Epiphany green the colour of Ordinary Time is used.
Season of Lent and Passiontide
The season of Lent spans 40 weekdays beginning on Ash Wednesday and climaxing during Holy Week with Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Good Friday, and concluding Saturday before Easter
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter Sunday, is the first day of the Season of Lent. Its name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes on worshippers’ heads or foreheads, who have confessed their sins, as a sign of humility before God, a symbol of mourning and sorrow. The imposition of ashes has now been extended to include the whole congregation. Ashes became symbolic of that attitude of penitence. Ash Wednesday is a sombre day for reflection of our own faith.
Lent
Since Sundays celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the six Sundays that occur during Lent are not counted as part of the 40 days of Lent, and are referred to as the Sundays in Lent. The number 40 is connected with many biblical events, but especially with the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for His ministry by facing the temptations that were placed before him. Christians today use this period of time for self examination, and repentance.
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross refers to the liturgical practice of using various events in the final hours of Jesus’ life as a structure for prayer and meditation (also called Way of the Cross). These events encompass Jesus’ journey carrying his cross from the Hall of Pilate where he was condemned to death to the site of his execution on Golgotha (Calvary).
Images below are paintings in the St. Nicolaaskerk in Denekamp
Passiontide
Passiontide starts the on the Sunday before Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday).
Holy Week
HOLY WEEK begins on Palm Sunday morning with the triumphal entry of Christ the King into Jerusalem.
Maundy Thursday
On Maundy Thursday we commemorate the Institution of the Eucharist or Communion. On this day in Jerusalem, Jesus, with his disciples, ate at the Last Supper where He commanded them to go out and "do this in remembrance of me".
Good Friday
It is the one-day of the year when the Church does not celebrate Mass.
The Liturgy of Good Friday is in three parts.
Colours and Symbols of Lent
The colour used in the Church for most of Lent is purple. Purple symbolises both the pain and suffering leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus as well as the suffering of humanity and the world under sin.
The decorations for the church during Lent should reflect this mood of penitence and reflection. At St Mary's the use of any flowers is avoided in Lent.
On the Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mid-Lent or Mothering Sunday) the liturgical colour changes to rose for the day.
For the last two weeks of Lent (Passiontide) all crosses, statues and adornments are covered with purple cloth, which intensifies our visual senses ready for the drama of Holy Week. This is a very ancient tradition of the Anglican Church. going back to medieval times. It was the general practice when the first Book of Common Prayer was published in 1549
The colour changes to red for Maundy Thursday, a symbol of the disciples and through them the community of the church. The Institution of the Eucharist or Communion is observed on Maundy Thursday with a Sung High Mass, with the emphasis on the gathered community in the presence of Jesus the Christ.
Traditionally, the sanctuary colour of Good Friday is black, the only day of the Church Year that black is used, apart from some requiem masses. It symbolizes the darkness brought into the world by sin, it also symbolizes death. Black is always replaced by white before the ceremonies of Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.
The three days before Easter Sunday (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday) are collectively known as The Triduum.
The Season of Easter - Eastertide
Resurrection of the Lord
Easter Sunday is the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus the Christ from the dead. The early church saw his resurrection as the central witness to a new act of God in history and the victory of God in vindicating Jesus as the Messiah.
Easter is an annual celebration of the Resurrection that lies at the centre of a liturgical year has been observed at least since the fourth century. Even in churches that traditionally do not observe the other historic seasons of the church year, Easter has occupied a central place as the high point of Christian worship.
First, Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.
Second, Christ was buried. There should be no doubt about the awful finality of his death and burial. Yet this was not merely a martyr's death for a noble cause. It was for our sins, and therefore redemptive.
Third, Christ was raised on the third day in accordance with Scripture. The passive verb means that Jesus did not rise by himself but was raised by God. The terrible dilemma of a messiah executed as a criminal gave way to the good news that God vindicated him by raising him up.
Finally, Christ appeared to Cephas and the twelve, as reported also in the gospels.
Eastertide
In the Christian church year, the two major cycles of seasons, Christmas and Easter, are far more than a single day of observance. Like Christmas, Easter itself is a period of time rather than just a day. It is actually a seven-week season of the church year called Eastertide.
These seven Sundays are called the Sundays of Easter, climaxing on the seventh Sunday, the Sunday before Pentecost Sunday. Ascension Day (actually the 40th day after Easter Sunday, which always falls on Thursday, is celebrated on the actual day. Ascension Day marks not only the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, but his exaltation from servanthood to Ruler and Lord as the fitting climax of Resurrection Day.
Easter encompasses a time of preparation (Lent; Advent for Christmas) as well as a following period of reflection on its significance for the life of God’s people (Pentecost; Epiphany for Christmas). However, while Epiphany following Christmas focuses on the mission of God’s people to the world, the Pentecost season following Easter focuses on the church as the witness to the resurrection. In anticipation of this emphasis at Pentecost, the Scripture readings during the Sundays of Easter are different, with readings from the Acts of the Apostles replacing readings from the Old Testament. This emphasizes that the church, as empowered by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, is the best witness to the resurrection and the work of God in the world in Jesus the Christ.
The Colours of Easter
Colour used in worship is especially important during the season of Easter (see Liturgical Colours of the Church Year and The Meaning of Church Colours). The changing colours of the sanctuary from the purple of Lent to the black of Good Friday provide graphic visual symbols for the Lenten journey.
The Sanctuary colours for Easter Sunday, the five Sundays of Easter and Ascension Day are white and gold.
For the Easter season, white symbolizes the hope of the resurrection, as well as the purity and newness that comes from victory over sin and death. The gold symbolizes the light of the world brought by the risen Christ that enlightens the world, as well as the exaltation of Jesus as Lord and King. The sanctuary colour of Red is used for Pentecost Sunday.
The Ascension of Our Lord
Ascension Day marks the day when Jesus Christ ascended up into Heaven, by his own powers. It was 40 days after his resurrection from the dead, which was on Easter Sunday (in A.D. 30). Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday.
It marks the last appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection at Easter. Jesus had spoken to his disciples about what was going to happen to them and what he expected them to do. He was with them on the Mount of Olives when 'a cloud hid him from their sight' (Acts 1.9) and 'he left them and was taken up into heaven' (Luke 24.51).
This is what we call 'the ascension'. Although this is the last time the Bible records the risen Jesus being seen, it did not mark the end of his work. The story of Jesus' ascension in the Acts of the Apostles tells of two angels appearing to his followers and telling them that Jesus will return one day.
The Colours of Ascension Day
Following Easter the liturgical colour of The Ascension is Gold and White
The Paschal Candle
The Paschal Candle has been lit at all Sung Masses in the church from Easter Sunday to Ascension Day. The Paschal Candle is lit during these 40 days, as a symbol of the Resurrection.
For the rest of the year, the candle stands beside the Baptismal Font. The Paschal Candle is then lit at all Baptisms.
Pentecost
The word 'Pentecost' comes from the Greek; it simply means 'fiftieth'. Pentecost Sunday ends the season of Easter
Pentecost is the time to remember when the Holy Spirit came to the followers of Jesus. 50 days after Jesus' resurrection - Easter - his frightened followers were meeting in a room in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit changed them as much as you can imagine! Not in how they looked but in the sort of people they became. Instead of being frightened and in hiding, they became bold and spoke out about the effect Jesus had had on their lives with dramatic results. Pentecost is often referred to as 'the birth of the Christian Church'.
The symbols of Pentecost are those of the Holy Spirit and include: flames, wind, the breath of God and a Dove.
Some Christians also call this time 'Whitsunday' because traditionally it was the occasion when followers were baptised and they wore white clothes. 'White Sunday' became 'Whitsun'.
The Liturgical Colour For Pentecost
Red is the liturgical colour for this day. Red recalls the tongues of flame in which the Holy Spirit descended on the first Pentecost.
The colour red also reminds us of the blood of the martyrs. These are the believers of every generation who by the power of the Holy Spirit hold firm to the faith even at the cost of their lives
Trinity Sunday (the first Sunday after Pentecost)
Trinity Sunday is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost Sunday. The season of Trinity also know as Ordinary Time starts with the Second Sunday after Pentecost and runs until Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday before the beginning of Advent.
On this day, the church rejoices in the impenetrable mystery that God is triune (three-in-one) -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. How the Lord can be one God in three distinct persons is completely beyond the ability of any human to understand. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians accept this incomprehensible mystery as a fundamental article of faith.
The Colour of Trinity Sunday
The sanctuary colour for Trinity Sunday is dark green, although other shades of green are commonly used. Green has traditionally been associated with new life and growth. In Christian tradition, green came to symbolize the life of the church following Pentecost, as well as symbolizing the hope of new life in the resurrection.
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
August 15, The Feast of the Assumption celebrates both the happy departure of Mary from this life by her natural death, and her assumption bodily into heaven.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, sometimes shortened to The Blessed Virgin is a traditional title specifically used by Anglo-Catholics, Roman and Eastern Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and others to describe Mary, the mother of Jesus. Colloquially she is often referred to as Our Lady.
The Colour of the Feast of the Assumption
The Liturgical Colour of the Feast of the Assumption is White / Gold. The colour of purity and innocence. Vestments used for The Feast are often decorated with gold and blue.
Ordinary Time
The rest of the year following Epiphany and Pentecost is known as Ordinary Time.
Rather than meaning "common" or "mundane," this term comes from the word "ordinal," which simply means counted time (First Sunday after Trinity, etc.), which is probably a better way to think of this time of the year.
In Common Worship, the first section of Ordinary Time starts on the day after Candlemass ( February 2nd) and ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent.
Ordinary Time resumes after Pentecost and always begins with Trinity Sunday and ends with Christ the King Sunday (last Sunday before the beginning of Advent).
The season of The Sundays after Trinity usually focuses on the evangelical mission of the church to the world and its responsibility in carrying out that mission of proclamation.
The Colour of Ordinary Time
The Liturgical colour for Ordinary Time is dark green, although other shades of green are commonly used.
Green has traditionally been associated with new life and growth.
Electoral Roll
The Electoral Roll is the official listing of the members of our Chaplaincy. People who are on the Electoral Roll are entitled to vote at our Annual General Meeting. Anyone who is not yet on the Electoral Roll and who wishes to have their name included may request and fill in an application form.
In order to be on the Electoral Roll you need to be baptized, at least 16 years of age and to be a member of the Church of England, a Church in communion with the Church of England, or a member of another Church which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Also, if you are not a member of the Church of England, you need to have been attending St Mary’s Weldam for at least six months.
Names can be added to the Electoral Roll at any time during the year but it has to be brought up to date and frozen two weeks before the date of the Annual General Meeting. This year our AGM will be on 19th April 2015. Therefore, I need to receive any new forms by 5th April 2015 at the latest, but preferably before 29th March so that the updated roll can be published in the AGM papers. If you would like to be on the Electoral Roll, please see me for an application form.
Please note that being on the Electoral Roll does not involve any financial commitment on your part. However, the annual quota that our Chaplaincy has to pay to the Diocese is based on the number on our Electoral Roll. As already mentioned, being on the Electoral Roll entitles you to vote at the AGM. This enables you to take part in the election of those who represent you on the Church Council and gives you a say in any decisions taken at the AGM. Anyone standing for election to the Church Council must have been on the Electoral Roll for at least six months prior to election.
The Electoral Roll is completely renewed every six years, which we did last year in 2013. If your name was not added last year, please give some thought to having your name included this year on the Electoral Roll of the Anglican Church Twente.
Source: Lay Minister Simone Yallop
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The Altar
The setting of the altar is usually assigned to a few people and they know more about it. It is, however, of interest to us all, as it concerns the core of our worship.
In the first picture we see the chalice covered with the green cloth: pall or pallium with the bursa on top.
The bursa is like an envelope and contains the corporal (second picture).
The corporal is like a table cloth. It is made of white linen or a similar material. It is spread on the altar for the chalice, the paten and all that is needed for the communion to be placed.
The colour of the pall and the bursa vary according to the liturgical season. Purple for Advent and Lent, White for Festive Days, Red for Pentecost and Martyrs and Green for the remaining part of the celebrations.
The pictures could help with the explanation, but if not: do ask!
Source: Chaplain Alja Tollefsen
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Clergy
Quite likely you will know what a chaplain is, but what about a rector, a curate, a deacon or a vicar? All these titles can be confusing sometimes. Let me try to explain some of this, having picked up this question.
I need to begin with theHoly Orders that the Churchinstituted:deacon, priest and bishop. One is ordained deacon and priest, but one is consecrated bishop. The ordination to the diaconate always comes first. You cannot be ordained priest without being ordained deacon. And so it is with bishops: one is first deacon and then priest before being consecrated bishop.
Now, these orders are for life. You are clergy and, unless you make a major mistake (think, for example, of child abuse), you will remain a deacon, priest or bishop for the rest of your life. In the case of grave misbehaviour, you will be defrocked and you can no longer function as a member of the clergy. Once you are ordained, you can be appointed to a certain function. The functions arechaplain, vicar, archdeacon, curate. The different roles as chaplain, vicar and so on change according to the appointment you are in.
- Curate
Acurateis a deacon or a priest who is still in training after studies at college or a seminary. The full title is assistant curate, but quite regularly it is abbreviated to curate. A curate “serves his or her title” under the guidance of a training incumbent, usually for a period of three to four years. It depends a bit on the judgement of the bishop, whether he considers you to be ready to take up the responsibility for a parish.
- Archdeacon
Anarchdeaconis a church official who is in charge of temporal and other affairs in a diocese, with powers delegated from the bishop.
Archdeacons serve the church within a diocese by taking particular responsibility for buildings, including church buildings, the welfare of clergy and their families and the implementation of diocesan policy for the sake of the Gospel within an archdeaconry.
An archdeaconry is a territorial division of a diocese; these vary in number according to the size of the diocese and in a few cases an assistant bishop in a diocese will also fulfil the duties of an archdeacon in part of it. An archdeacon is usually styled The Venerable instead of the usual clerical style of The Reverend.
In the Church of England the position of an archdeacon can only be held by a priest who has been ordained for at least six years. In some other Anglican churches archdeacons can be deacons instead of priests. The Anglican Ordinal presupposes that the functions of archdeacons include those of examining candidates for ordination and then presenting them to the ordaining bishop. (Archdeacon source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archdeacon#Anglican_Communion)
- Vicar
In the UK you can be appointedvicar, responsible for a parish with tenure. This means that the bishop cannot remove you to another parish without your consent. These days, with so many changes, it is helpful if the bishop can remove you. He will still seek your consent, but you are licensed.
- Chaplain
Achaplainis a vicar working in a parish abroad, outside the UK, but can also be a cleric in the army or assigned to assist the bishop. Then there are hospital chaplains, who care for the sick in that particular hospital.
Source: Chaplain Alja Tollefsen
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Sidespersons
Sidesmen are the first people you meet when you enter a church and quite a lot depends on them. They need to be welcoming and spot the people who are new or a bit uneasy because they haven’t been to church for a long time. They need to make people feel comfortable enough so that they will be reassured and able to cope with the unusualness of the liturgy.
Sidesmen in the Church of England are more than people who hand out the books and leaflets. They share, when they are on duty, the responsibility with the wardens.
In the UK the wardens are sworn in by the Archdeacon after their election and every year special services are organized to do so. The sidesmen and women are specifically invited to be present at those services. In one of my parishes even a special meal was organized for the council members and the sidesmen after such a service, to emphasize the importance of a sidesperson. It is a particular job and a sidesperson needs to be sensitive to the needs of people, especially if they are newcomers. They need to give people space to find their feet, but also make them feel welcome, without overwhelming them. Quite a job to find the right balance, but very important if we want new people to cross the threshold of our churches − and that threshold is sometimes higher than we can imagine!
Source: Chaplain Alja Tollefsen
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The Blessing of the Oils
At the beginning of Holy Week the Chrism Mass is celebrated. A Chrism Mass is the Eucharist in Holy Week in which the oils are blessed and then given to the people who have come to collect them and take them to their chaplaincies or parishes. This not only happens in the Anglican Church, but also in the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches.
On a visit to the Syrian Orthodox Monastry in Glane, the monk who guided us round explained that a baby baptized in their church is undressed entirely and rubbed with oil all over. We Anglicans and Roman Catholics just make a sign of the cross with oil on the baby’s forehead.
There are three oils: the oil for anointing catechumens, the oil for anointing the sick, and the chrism for the great rites that make visible the great power of the Holy Spirit: baptism, confirmation and priestly and episcopal ordination. The oils are sacramental signs. We are a sacramental people. Our Christian faith is not only spiritual but also physical. Our redemption is about the salvation of the fullness of what we are – body and soul. The oil points us towards his presence.
The first oil, the oil of catechumens, is perhaps the least understood of the oils. This is because it is used for those who are not even Christian – it is used before baptism, sometimes long before a baptism. It was originally used for those who were just beginning their journey towards Christ. It therefore is a sign that even before we are certain that we wish to be with God, God already seeks us!
The oil of the sick expresses God’s strengthening presence when a person’s body or mind or spirit is weakened. The third oil, the sacred Chrism, seems to be perhaps the most noble, because aromatic oils are blended in with that of the olive. Since Old Testament times, it has been used to anoint kings, including the monarchs of England, to this day. It is used at ordinations, and most importantly it is the oil used after baptism and in confirmation, to express the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Source: Chaplain Alja Tollefsen
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Mothering Sunday
During the sixteenth century, people returned to their mother church, the main church or cathedral of the area, for a service to be held on Laetare Sunday. This was either a large local church, or more often the nearest cathedral.
Anyone who did this was commonly said to have gone "a-mothering", although whether this term preceded the observance of Mothering Sunday is unclear. In later times, Mothering Sunday became a day when domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother church, usually with their own mothers and other family members. It was often the only time that whole families could gather together, since on other days they were prevented by conflicting working hours, and servants were not given free days on other occasions.
Children and young people who were "in service" (as household servants) were given a day off on that date so they could visit their families (or, originally, return to their "mother" church). The children would pick wild flowers along the way to place in the church or give to their mothers.
Eventually, the religious tradition evolved into the Mothering Sunday secular tradition of giving gifts to mothers.
Source Wikipedia.
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