Scripture Reading: Acts 9:36-43, NRSV updated edition
The
first thing about this story in Acts that probably got you attention is
that it says Tabitha or Dorcas in Greek – is a disciple. Yes, - she is a
follower of Jesus in the city of Joppa. When Peter heard of her death,
he immediately traveled to Joppa knowing that she was a greatly loved
person and many people of need had been helped by her. Her popularity and then being
raised from death were no doubt the reason for many of the people in the
city of Joppa converting to Christianity.
She is remembered for her
charitable acts in particular as they relate to clothing. Some Catholic
churches have Dorcas Societies that give clothing to the poor. She is
also commemorated in stained glass windows and some churches have a
feast day for her.
There were many weeping widows
there by her side when Peter arrived. The widows showed him (with great
pride) a lot of the clothing that she made and probably that which they
themselves were wearing. This reminded me of the mission that our
United Methodist women are doing now. Nice looking clothing is made for
women and girls who would normally be wearing clothing that reflected
their poverty and would make them vulnerable for exploitation.
The clothing that Tabitha made were both under garments and outer garments and they were very well made. The widows wanted Peter to
know that she wasn’t just providing clothes but fine clothes for them
and others to look the part of a wealthier class of people. The
stained-glass windows often show her standing holding these fine
garments that she has made. We don’t know if Tabitha was married or
perhaps was a widow herself. Her generosity may indicate that she had some wealth beyond her skills in making clothing.
That brings us to this day
that we commemorate as Mother’s Day because of an extraordinary woman in
this country. Most have heard this story, but on this day, it is worth
repeating. In the years before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis of
Grafton West Virginia helped organize “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach
local women how to properly care for their children.
In 1868 Ann Jarvis organized
“Mothers’ Friendship Day,” at which mothers gathered with former Union
and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation. The official
Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of
Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905
death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the
sacrifices mothers made for their children. In May of 1908 she organized
the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in
Grafton, West Virginia. (75 miles from my in-laws). Following the
success of her first Mother’s Day, Jarvis—who remained unmarried and
childless her whole life—resolved to see her holiday added to the
national calendar. She started a massive letter writing campaign to
newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special
day honoring motherhood. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President
Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second
Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
What is most important about
the founding of Mother’s Day is in the life of Ann Reeves Jarvis. She
was born in Culpeper, Virginia, on September 30, 1832, but moved to
Philippi, (West) Virginia - with her family when her father, a Methodist
minister, was transferred to a church in that town. Ann Marie gave
birth to thirteen children over the course of seventeen years. Of these
children, only four survived to adulthood. The others died of diseases
such as the measles, typhoid fever, and diphtheria epidemics common in
Appalachian communities in Taylor County.
A dynamic person, she started Mothers’ Day Work Clubs in five towns to improve health and sanitary conditions. These clubs raised money to
buy medicine and educate families on sanitary practices. They developed
programs to inspect milk long before there were state requirements to do
that. Club members visited households to educate mothers and their
families about improving sanitation and overall health. Ann Jarvis’
Mothers’ Day Work Clubs altered their mission to meet the changing
demands brought about by the Civil War. She urged the clubs to declare
neutrality and to provide aid to both Confederate and Union soldiers.
She illustrated her unending resolve to remain neutral and aid both
sides by refusing to support a proposed division of the Methodist Church
into a northern and southern branch. Additionally, she offered a lone
prayer for a man named Thornsbury Bailey Brown, who was the first Union
soldier killed by a Confederate in the civil war, when others refused to
do so at his burial.
Under her guidance, the clubs fed and clothed soldiers from both sides who were stationed in the area. When typhoid fever and measles
broke out in the military camps, Jarvis and her club members nursed the
suffering soldiers from both sides. After the fighting concluded,
public officials, seeking ways to eliminate post-war strife called on
Jarvis to help. She and her club members planned a "Mothers Friendship
Day" for soldiers from both sides and their families. Most believed that
it was a stupid idea, and no one would participate, but it was very
successful.
We can compare the popularity
of Ann and Tabitha. Their contributions to those who were most needy,
were so known that their influence went far beyond their intended
mission. Tabitha brought many to Jesus and Ann brought towns of warring
people together to heal the wounds of that war. After the Civil War Ann
Reeves Jarvis continued her social activist work and was very involved
with the Methodist church. She served as superintendent of the Primary
Sunday School Department at the church for twenty-five years. She was
also a popular speaker when women were not supposed to speak in public
in this part of the country and she had hecklers who would tell her to
go home. She often lectured on subjects ranging from religion, public
health, and literature for audiences at local churches and
organizations. Her lectures included, "Literature as a Source of Culture
and Refinement," "Great Mothers of the Bible,” “Great Value of Hygiene
for Women and Children,” and "The Importance of Supervised Recreational
Centers for Boys and Girls.” Little did she know that her daughter Anna
would consider her to be one of the great mothers in history.
But not just her – all mothers
should be honored with their own special day. On that first Mother’s
Day celebration years before it became a national holiday, she started a
Mother’s Day tradition at the Grafton Methodist Episcopal Church.
Included in that celebration were white carnations for every mother.
Tabitha ad Ann lived in two
very different parts of the world but there were some similarities. The
city of Joppa was a well know port city on a hill overlooking the
Mediterranean Sea. It changed hands many times being occupied by
numerous counties. Grafton, West Virginia was built on Hillsides
overlooking the Tygart Valley River where there were numerous railroad
tracks for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Because of its movement of
commerce, it was a place that changed hands a number of times between
Union and Confederate soldiers.
Today Grafton is best known
for two things the shrine for Mother’s Day and a Federal Cemetery that
was built to inter Union soldiers. In that cemetery is a special grave
for Thornsbury Bailey Brown the first death in the civil war. He is the
Union soldier that Ann Reeves Jarvis said the only prayer for, as all
others refused.
Tabitha/Dorcas and Ann Reeves Jarvis each knew that every widow and every soldier were some mother’s child. And that all are God’s children.
Would you pray with me: Good
Shepherd of all you sheep - we know that you look down upon every mother
every day and know their joys and sorrows. May this be a day of
recognition of their concern for your children, that you know surpasses
all others. Bless every one of them this day wherever they are. We pray
that they are safe, or at the least others are mindful and trying to
secure their safety in this world. May those who are sad be comforted
and those who are able to be with their children today, celebrate this
day in appreciation for their sacrifices and love. In Christ Jesus your
chosen good shepherd we pray this Mother’s Day - Amen
She is remembered for her charitable acts in particular as they relate to clothing. Some Catholic churches have Dorcas Societies that give clothing to the poor. She is also commemorated in stained glass windows and some churches have a feast day for her.
There were many weeping widows there by her side when Peter arrived. The widows showed him (with great pride) a lot of the clothing that she made and probably that which they themselves were wearing. This reminded me of the mission that our United Methodist women are doing now. Nice looking clothing is made for women and girls who would normally be wearing clothing that reflected their poverty and would make them vulnerable for exploitation.
The clothing that Tabitha made were both under garments and outer garments and they were very well made. The widows wanted Peter to know that she wasn’t just providing clothes but fine clothes for them and others to look the part of a wealthier class of people. The stained-glass windows often show her standing holding these fine garments that she has made. We don’t know if Tabitha was married or perhaps was a widow herself. Her generosity may indicate that she had some wealth beyond her skills in making clothing.
That brings us to this day that we commemorate as Mother’s Day because of an extraordinary woman in this country. Most have heard this story, but on this day, it is worth repeating. In the years before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis of Grafton West Virginia helped organize “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach local women how to properly care for their children.
In 1868 Ann Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” at which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation. The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. In May of 1908 she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. (75 miles from my in-laws). Following the success of her first Mother’s Day, Jarvis—who remained unmarried and childless her whole life—resolved to see her holiday added to the national calendar. She started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
What is most important about the founding of Mother’s Day is in the life of Ann Reeves Jarvis. She was born in Culpeper, Virginia, on September 30, 1832, but moved to Philippi, (West) Virginia - with her family when her father, a Methodist minister, was transferred to a church in that town. Ann Marie gave birth to thirteen children over the course of seventeen years. Of these children, only four survived to adulthood. The others died of diseases such as the measles, typhoid fever, and diphtheria epidemics common in Appalachian communities in Taylor County.
A dynamic person, she started Mothers’ Day Work Clubs in five towns to improve health and sanitary conditions. These clubs raised money to buy medicine and educate families on sanitary practices. They developed programs to inspect milk long before there were state requirements to do that. Club members visited households to educate mothers and their families about improving sanitation and overall health. Ann Jarvis’ Mothers’ Day Work Clubs altered their mission to meet the changing demands brought about by the Civil War. She urged the clubs to declare neutrality and to provide aid to both Confederate and Union soldiers. She illustrated her unending resolve to remain neutral and aid both sides by refusing to support a proposed division of the Methodist Church into a northern and southern branch. Additionally, she offered a lone prayer for a man named Thornsbury Bailey Brown, who was the first Union soldier killed by a Confederate in the civil war, when others refused to do so at his burial.
Under her guidance, the clubs fed and clothed soldiers from both sides who were stationed in the area. When typhoid fever and measles broke out in the military camps, Jarvis and her club members nursed the suffering soldiers from both sides. After the fighting concluded, public officials, seeking ways to eliminate post-war strife called on Jarvis to help. She and her club members planned a "Mothers Friendship Day" for soldiers from both sides and their families. Most believed that it was a stupid idea, and no one would participate, but it was very successful.
We can compare the popularity of Ann and Tabitha. Their contributions to those who were most needy, were so known that their influence went far beyond their intended mission. Tabitha brought many to Jesus and Ann brought towns of warring people together to heal the wounds of that war. After the Civil War Ann Reeves Jarvis continued her social activist work and was very involved with the Methodist church. She served as superintendent of the Primary Sunday School Department at the church for twenty-five years. She was also a popular speaker when women were not supposed to speak in public in this part of the country and she had hecklers who would tell her to go home. She often lectured on subjects ranging from religion, public health, and literature for audiences at local churches and organizations. Her lectures included, "Literature as a Source of Culture and Refinement," "Great Mothers of the Bible,” “Great Value of Hygiene for Women and Children,” and "The Importance of Supervised Recreational Centers for Boys and Girls.” Little did she know that her daughter Anna would consider her to be one of the great mothers in history.
But not just her – all mothers should be honored with their own special day. On that first Mother’s Day celebration years before it became a national holiday, she started a Mother’s Day tradition at the Grafton Methodist Episcopal Church. Included in that celebration were white carnations for every mother.
Tabitha ad Ann lived in two very different parts of the world but there were some similarities. The city of Joppa was a well know port city on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It changed hands many times being occupied by numerous counties. Grafton, West Virginia was built on Hillsides overlooking the Tygart Valley River where there were numerous railroad tracks for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Because of its movement of commerce, it was a place that changed hands a number of times between Union and Confederate soldiers.
Today Grafton is best known for two things the shrine for Mother’s Day and a Federal Cemetery that was built to inter Union soldiers. In that cemetery is a special grave for Thornsbury Bailey Brown the first death in the civil war. He is the Union soldier that Ann Reeves Jarvis said the only prayer for, as all others refused.
Tabitha/Dorcas and Ann Reeves Jarvis each knew that every widow and every soldier were some mother’s child. And that all are God’s children.
Would you pray with me: Good Shepherd of all you sheep - we know that you look down upon every mother every day and know their joys and sorrows. May this be a day of recognition of their concern for your children, that you know surpasses all others. Bless every one of them this day wherever they are. We pray that they are safe, or at the least others are mindful and trying to secure their safety in this world. May those who are sad be comforted and those who are able to be with their children today, celebrate this day in appreciation for their sacrifices and love. In Christ Jesus your chosen good shepherd we pray this Mother’s Day - Amen
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