Dear People of St. James’,
One distinctive inflection point within Lent is the fourth Sunday, which has been known as Mid-Lent, Refreshment, Rose, Mothering Sunday, or Laetare Sunday. Since the Middle Ages in certain parts of Romanized Western Christianity, this day has been viewed as a time for rejoicing in the midst of a season of penitential rigor. For example, marriages have typically not been celebrated during Lent, but Laetare (be glad) Sunday might have been an exception to that rule. On Laetare Sunday, penitents who would kneel or prostrate themselves in church, might be invited to stand with their fellow Christians in anticipation of the grace and joy of Easter. In England, Mothering Sunday was originally an invitation to the baptized to return to their “mother church” or the church of their baptism. Later it became a day to go to church with mom or grandmother to appreciate the spiritual witness of women to the world-renewing work of God. For us at St. James’, it is a time to pause during the Lenten season and to recenter ourselves in our Lenten intentions. We do this with rejoicing in God’s graciousness and in community that gives us the strength to renew these intentions.
The Lenten Tea gathers that community of people of all ages who are our strength, our role models, and our companions for the journey. In the spirit of Mothering Sunday, it honors the spiritual witness of women in our St. James’ community and those who have touched our lives and changed them. This year, St. James’ invites you to come home for worship and to join us in the Founders Hall from 3-5 pm for the Tea. Rhona Williams London, President of the Union of Black Episcopalians – Myra McDaniel Chapter, will be our keynote speaker. Food will plenteous, and there will be joy in sitting down together in the middle of this long season of Lent to be strengthened and reminded of the light we carry.
This Laetare Sunday, let us keep the feast!
Rev. Eileen
