Mothers Day

Call to Worship

I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.' Blessed are they who dwell in your house. Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Blessed are they who dwell in your house. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. Blessed are they who dwell in your house. They will always be praising you.

175 Here I am to Worship

Gathering Prayer

We gather in the name of Christ. In him we are restored to God. In him we are made new. In his name we rejoice. Through his love we are forgiven. In his presence we are united. May his name be praised for ever. Amen.

Prayers of Confession with Absolution

Nurturing God, we praise you for the way in which you care for each one of us. Like a good parent, you love us whoever we are, whatever we do. Even though we frequently disappoint you, you are always there, concerned for our welfare, forgiving us. Nurturing God, we praise and thank you.

Forgive us for the times that we take you for granted, when we do things to hurt others, particularly members of our family and friends. Nurturing God, forgive us. Forgive us for running away, for getting so involved in the activities, pleasures and concerns of our lives that we forget that you are there. Nurturing God, forgive us. Bring us home again to you. Nurturing God, we praise you. Amen

Silence. Thank you for welcoming us when we stray, for forgiving us and celebrating our return. Thank you for your love that seeks and restores. Amen.

The Lord’s prayer

78 Give Thanks

Exodus 2 1-10

Moses in the basket

1 Samuel 1 20-28

Samuel given to the Lord

Both passages speak of a Mother giving their child away.

Luke 2 33-35

Christ on the Cross

628 Faithful one

Sermon

Video interview

You may have worked out how the Video would end, that the interview would be for the job of Mother, but it does prove a point. Mothers can be taken for granted.

Can I ask a question anyone who has or have had a Mum please stand up!

What everyone what a surprise.

Mothering Sunday is a day when we give thanks to our mothers and for those who have lost their mother it is a day to recall them and give thanks for them.

I assume the men are preparing tea after the service? Although I doubt it.

It’s a funny time really, to celebrate this joyful day, when we are in lent when we look at what Jesus is about to face, and the suffering that his mother will face.

But mothers may agree that bearing and bringing up children is not all sweetness and light. There is the old saying that if men gave birth, then the human race would have died out.

If we look at the readings from this morning the first one was about Moses, what would have happened if his Jochebed hadn’t put him in the basket?

How do you think she may have felt setting her son adrift? Anything could have happened as it transpired, he was adopted by Pharaoh’s sister.

As we know Moses went on to free the nation of Israel.

Our second reading was about Samuel who’s, mother, Hannah had prayed for a child and promised him to God.

Samuel went on to be a great prophet.

What about other women in the bible?

Eve, - the first woman who had to deal not only with losing a son, then having a murderer in the family.

Rebekah – Isaac’s wife struggled with favouritism with Jacob and Esau.

These are just a few examples.

We heard in our Gospel reading Jesus is presented to the temple and on this joyful celebration. Mary receives a grim warning from Simeon

The promise that he will raise people up but will be a sword that will pierce her soul.

Have you ever given something away you really love, I mean really love not just like?

Most parents must do this at some time in their lives,

They must do this for each one of you children.

It may be the child goes to university.

They may meet someone and get married.

In most cases Mum must let their most precious gift go.

So, do you think we need to do something for them?

Now don’t open your cards.

Inside there are some seeds, I would like to ask you to plant them, nurture them (maybe the children might want to help) and when the spout into lovely flowers

Give them away to someone….

361 In Christ Alone

Prayers of intersession

Loving God, we pray for your Church worldwide, for its leaders and all its people.

May it feed the faithful with your word, and nurture those who are hungry in spirit.

May it cherish the abandoned and rejected, protect the weak, and bind the wounds of those who look for forgiveness and healing.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We thank you for all who have formed and nourished our own faith. When we meet with challenge, doubt or difficulty, keep us always conscious of your love guiding and sustaining us.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer hardship or persecution for your sake. Give them courage and strength in the situations which force them to face the cost of loving you.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Loving God, we pray for your world. Teach us to value the earth and its gifts above the satisfaction of our own greed, so that the whole human family may share its fruits in peace. We pray for all those whose lives are ravaged by poverty, famine and disease.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for nations and communities torn apart by war, (especially…) Uphold all who have lost family, homes or livelihood as a result of conflict or persecution. We pray especially for children orphaned by war, and for all refugees.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Loving God, we thank you for all who show us special love and care, in our families, our church, and the places where we live and work. Help us to realise the cost of that love, and to return it selflessly.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for those in our community who are without family or friends and who long to be loved.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Loving God, we pray for those who live daily with grief and loss, especially those separated from children through quarrels, resentment or misunderstanding. We pray too for those who have lost a child.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for those who live with pain and disability, and for those facing death. (Among those commended to our prayers we pray especially for…) We pray too for all who care for the sick, especially those who have sacrificed personal freedom to look after someone they love.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Loving God, we thank you for those of our families and community who have shared your love with us and who are now at peace. We pray too for those who have died recently (especially…) and for those whose anniversaries fall at this time (especially…)

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Finally, we pray for a moment in silence, bringing our particular thanksgivings and petitions to the Lord.

Joining our prayers with those of Mary, the mother of God, and all the saints, we commend ourselves and one another to your unfailing love.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

AMEN

15 How Great is our God

Blessing

May the blessing of God be with us as we love and serve one another; and as we share Christ’s unconditional love – in the name of God the Creator, Redeemer and Spirit. Amen