Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday is a tradition dating from the Middle Ages. Originally a time to focus on ‘mother church’, it became a day when young girls, in service away from home, could visit their mothers.
For some, this is a difficult day, yet we are reminded of the love of God, which never fails.
Call to worship:
Come, worship God, whom Hosea likened to a mother with her children.
God said,
“When Israel was a child, I loved him.”
God loved the people of Israel even when they were disobedient.
‘Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love, I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.’ (Hosea 11.1a, 3-4)
Gracious God,
we come to worship and thank you for all that you have done in our lives.
Hymn: For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise
For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night
Hill and vale and tree and flower
Sun and moon and stars of light
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and brain’s delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight:
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above
For all gentle thoughts and mild
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For thyself, best gift of Thine
To the world so freely given
For that great, great love of thine,
Peace on earth and joy in heaven
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
Prayers of praise and confession:
Gracious God,
We are here to worship you,
To praise your holy name.
We owe our very lives to you.
You have watched over us from our birth,
Tenderly nurturing us,
Showering us with love.
We praise you that you lead, support and hold us
Throughout our lives.
When we have needed you, you have been there.
You have given us strength in times of need,
Comfort in times of distress,
Encouragement in times of despair,
Guidance in times of uncertainty.
Whatever we have faced, you have been with us.
You have always held firm to us,
Despite our faults and faithlessness,
Never letting go of us even when we let go of you.
Today we thank you for all those who have loved, helped, and encouraged us through the years.
We thank you for all those who care for us
in quiet, often unrecognised ways;
we thank you for all those who care for others
in patience and love.
Heavenly Father, parent of us all,
we know we don’t always treat each other
as you want us to.
Lord God, forgive us;
and help us to be more loving.
There are times when we insist on getting our own way
despite what others feel.
Lord God, forgive us;
and help us to be more loving.
Sometimes we increase the tension
when we ought to seek peace,
or say things which hurt one another.
Lord God, forgive us;
and help us to be more loving.
God has loved us,
sending his Son Jesus to show us the true meaning of forgiveness
Lord God, forgive us;
and help us to be more loving.
Silence
Lord, we thank you
that through everything your love remains constant.
You call us to be your children.
Help us to come to you in simple trust,
quiet confidence
and eager expectation,
knowing that you will hold us firm,
touching our lives through your grace.
Gracious God,
Accept our thanks and praise,
For we offer it in the name of Christ.
Amen.
Reading: John 19:25-27
Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
Song: Mary did you know
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God.
Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak the praises of the lamb!
Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is Heaven’s perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you’re holding is the great I Am.
Mary, did you know?
lyrics © Greensleeves Publishing Limited, Rufus Music, Word Music, Llc CCL: 57681
Reflection:
From the cross, Jesus speaks directly to two people who are so dear to him. He shows his mother and the disciple he loved, the way to carry on after his death. They are to continue to be mother and son, to each other. Jesus knows they’re not sure what to expect next, he knows they’re suffering with him and will grieve for him.
Mothering Sunday is always close to March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, when we recall the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary. In Luke’s Gospel, Gabriel tells Mary that she will have a Son, that he “Will be called the Son of the Most High and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
As Jesus grew, Mary’s experience of motherhood was one of ongoing discovery and revelation – from the birth, shepherds sent by angels, mysterious visitors from the east, the flight into asylum in Egypt, resettlement in a different home –
I wonder how she really felt when Simeon gave her that prophecy. With the child in his arms, he tells Mary that “A sword will pierce her heart” – hard and disturbing words for anyone to hear.
I wonder if she pushed it to the back of her mind in Jesus’ early years as he grew up. Perhaps it came back, along with the fears and frustrations of being a mum when he went missing, when he was twelve, and was found with the teachers in the temple. I remember losing Simon, our oldest son, once in a shop, and the feeling of panic is indescribable. Two minutes seemed like for ever. When I found him there was the overwhelming feeling of relief, as well as wanting to tell him off him for not staying with me.
Mary was often with Jesus during his ministry. And she was there at his death. In that short passage from John’s gospel, Mary stands at the foot of the cross with John, her sister, and Mary Magdalene and weeps for her son. “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home”
This verse is often seen as John taking on the care of Mary as she becomes older. As the oldest son this would have been an obligation borne by Jesus. Here he passes that obligation to John.
But – this relationship is not all one sided. Jesus does not just speak to John; he also speaks to his mother and gives his friend into her safe keeping. Jesus gives the people he loves the gift of each other.
Jesus provides for the needs of all concerned. In the midst of his own pain, he reaches out to provide his best friend with a mother. He reaches out and provides his mother with someone to care for her and someone for her to take care of.
Here is a reciprocal arrangement of mutual love and support, so that everyone has somebody to look out for and somebody looking out for them.
Not all of us have good experiences of motherhood and mothering. So, who cares for those who have had bad experiences? Who cares for the hurting and the vulnerable? Who cares for those who grieve?
We are all responsible for each other. We are a family in Christ, and, like all families, things aren’t always easy, but that shouldn’t discourage us from doing all we can for each other. We all need to bring God’s love to the hurting world on our doorstep and in our local community.
Jesus calls us all to care for one another, support one another, nurture one another, love one another, and be as Christ to one another.
Hymn: Brother, sister, let me serve you
Brother, sister, let me serve you;
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey,
and companions on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ light for you
in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow,
till we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven,
we shall find such harmony,
born of all we’ve known together
of Christ’s love and agony.
Brother, sister, let me serve you;
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that l may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.
C: 1977 Scripture in Song Admin: Song Solutions CopyCare
CCL: 57681
Prayers of intercession:
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.
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. We pray for all who are ill in body, mind, or spirit, and those 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 and for those whose anniversaries fall at this time Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We commend ourselves and one another to your unfailing love.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father…..
Hymn:
Living God, your joyful Spirit
breaks the bounds of time and space,
rests in love upon your people,
drawn together in this place.
Here we join in glad thanksgiving,
here rejoice to pray and praise:
Lord of all our past traditions,
Lord of all our future days.
As your bread may we be broken,
scattered in community;
we who know your greatest blessings
called to share Christ’s ministry.
May we gently lead each other,
share our hunger and our thirst;
learn that only through our weakness
shall we know the strength of Christ.
Lord, when we grow tired of giving,
feel frustration, hurt and strain,
by your Spirit’s quiet compulsion,
draw us back to you again.
Guide us through the bitter searching
when our confidence is lost;
give us hope from desolation,
arms outstretched upon a cross.
Living God, your power surrounds us,
as we face the way Christ trod,
challenge us to fresh commitment
to the purposes of God:
called to share a new creation,
called to preach a living word,
promised all the joys of heaven,
through the grace of Christ our Lord.
Blessing:
May the Lord who brought us to birth by his Spirit,
strengthen us for the Christian life.
May the Lord who provides for all our needs
sustain us day by day.
May the Lord whose steadfast love is constant
send us out to live and work for others.
And the blessing of God Almighty.
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with us and remain with us always.
Amen.
Prayers adapted from Rootsontheweb
CCL No: 57681
