Mothers and the mothering love of God will be honoured this Sunday as part of virtual services broadcast from each of our three cathedrals. 
Ripon Cathedral will celebrate Mothering Sunday with a special service at 10.30am, filmed for those watching at home, during which they will give thanks for the love of God and hear from some of their youngest worshippers on the subjects of mums. Daffodils and candles will also be placed on the High Altar (pictured), in memory of those who have died and offered on behalf of us all.
At Bradford Cathedral the Saturday Singers (pictured) – a children’s community choir – will be performing a version of ‘Our God Saves’ for their Mothering Sunday Eucharist starting at 10.30am. 
The team at Wakefield Cathedral will be welcoming a restricted number of the congregation along for Mothering Sunday celebrations, with a Choral Evensong live streamed at 15.30pm on their YouTube channel.
Reflecting on Mothering Sunday, Jean Thurman, the Mother’s Union president for the Diocese of Leeds, said, “On Mothering Sunday because most places of worship are closed, cards, video calls and online gifts will be the way of connecting with our Mums for many people.
“As we say thank you to our mothers and caregivers for all that they mean to us, we also give thanks for the vaccination programme and frontline workers and look forward to the easing of lockdown knowing that sunshine is surely ahead when we will be able to hug our loved ones again. .png)
“As Mothers’ Union members seek to be there for families in need across the Diocese, we pray for God’s wisdom, guidance and support to all entrusted with the responsibility of motherhood and parenting.”
Mother’s Union members have been uniting in seven days of prayer for women and girls worldwide, which began on International Women’s Day and will finish on Mothering Sunday. Women and education, poverty, gender based violence, peace and reconciliation are just some of the prayer topics.
Every year, the Mother’s Union also has an appeal called Make a Mother’s Day when people can donate to say thank you their mother or caregiver. The 2021 theme is ‘Give a gift of togetherness this Mothering Sunday to help empower women and strengthen communities.’ The donations are used to support empowerment of young girls, independence for women and parenting skills through Mother’s Union projects across the world.
More details of the appeal be found at www.makeamothersday.org
Mother's Union resources to help churches mark Mothering Sunday, including themed prayers, a quiz, a service for Mothering Sunday and a recipe for Simnel cake, can be accessed at www.mothersunion.org