Quartz Forest Church March 2026
It’s that time of the year again. Closely following on from International Womans day, this year the 4th Sunday in Lent is the 15th of March and “Mothering Sunday” in the Scottish Episcopal church.
It is a day whose date changes each solar year because it is determined by the phases of the Moon. This is because he date of Pascha, celebrated in the English language as Easter, depends on the date of Passover.
The dating of that feast depends on the waxing and waning of the moon, one of the great lights in the sky, which also depends on the Sun to illuminate the earth.
When God created ‘everything’ he also created ‘nothing’, but all creation is whole. When we are born we physically separate from our mothers, and this is a good thing! But the relationship and its contribution to our identity remains. The relationship is ‘hidden’ in the separation. It is waiting there to be discovered, or perhaps it is potential formed through separation, waiting to be created.
When we encounter, explore, and express our relationship with our environment we can do it creatively. Choosing to seek the potential waiting there. Reflecting on the patterns. Learning to see in the light. Restoring the relationship to wholeness and healing human being.
Reading from the book:
John 12:1-8
“Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.””
Reading from Creation
Some things to reflect on:
- Try a circular walk today. Pause before you begin and when you return. You will be in the same place, but reflect on what has changed.
- Each person when they look at trees sees something particular to them – but can we also recognise “tree-ishness” That they share ?
- Where do your habits lead your mind when you gaze? Can we teach ourselves to look creatively and find the potential hidden in what we see?
Prayer
Our source, Mother,
grant that we, when we feel loss, separation,
or alienation from you may be relieved and encouraged by your grace;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
(There is no planned gathering at 2pm in the Crichton, Simon has to be away up north)