Sermon-Love at the Cross

Memorial to John Letts in St Olave Hart Street (from 'A London Inheritance')

A sermon given during Holy Communion at St Olave Hart Street on Sunday 15th March 2026 (Mothering Sunday) based on readings from Colossians 3.12–17 and John 19:25b–27. 

Sermon - Our Ministry of Bearing

Alice Neel, The Family, 1927, Metropolitan Museum of Art

A sermon given during the Sung Eucharist at St Olave Hart Street, City of London and at Choral Evensong at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Mothering Sunday 30th March 2025 based on the text of 1 Samuel 1.20-end and Luke 2.33-35.

Sermon – Behold your mother

In Memory of My Mother, 1969 - Minas Avetisyan (Armenia)
Image of the artists parents at the foot of the cross

A sermon preached at the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 27th March 2022 and St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 30th March 2022 (Year C, Mothering Sunday) based on readings from Exodus 2.10-10 and John 19.25b-27.

Sermon in a nutshell

Today the church marks Mothering Sunday. The gospel reading takes us to the foot of the cross where Jesus brings together his mother Mary and his Beloved Disciple, introducing them to each other as mother and son; affirming our understanding of ‘Mothering’ as transcending the bounds of biology. Jesus draws the whole human family to himself. His words remind us that mothering is not a one way relationship - or even a two way one; our relationships are sanctified and made complete through our relationship with Him. Standing in the shadow of the cross we see that mothering also involves the pain of letting go but the eternal presence of Christ our Mother brings reconciliation and peace. Today we give thanks for all who mother us.

Prayers of Intercession - Mothering Sunday

Natalya Rusetska (Ukrainian) The Annunciation

Prayers of Intercession written for the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 27th March 2022 (Year C, Mothering Sunday) based on words from John 19.25b-27 and St Anselm’s Prayer to St Paul.

A prayer for Mothering Sunday

We pray for all mothers.

For mothers here today,

For mothers far away,

For mothers with children and those with none,

For mothers and children who are alone,

For mothers feeling blessed,

For mothers feeling stressed,

For mothers giving birth,

For the fruits of mother earth,

For mothers to whom we have much to say,

For mothers who will die today, 

For mothers feeling homely,

For mothers who are lonely,

For mothers who are giving,

For mothers who are grieving,

For mothers who are tired,

For mothers who have inspired, 

For mothers taken for granted,

For all the faithful departed,

For my mother and for yours,

We give thanks to you, O Lord.


Phillip Dawson, Mothering Sunday 2018