Loving God, on this Mother’s Day we are grateful for mothers. We are grateful that you designed life such that when we each come into this world we’re not alone, but held and nurtured, first in the body of our mother, and then in her arms. As we grow our mothers are often our strongest cheerleaders, and our soft place to land in life. Mothers matter a lot.
So today we are mindful of our mothers, of those who gave us life, and those who have given us love, whether biological mothers or not.
We pray for all those in mothering relationships today, at all stages of life. We pray for good relationships and for difficult ones, and for all those normal relationships that are a mix of both.
We pray for those who are missing their mothers today, and for mothers who are missing children. Comfort too those who have longed for a mothering relationship that they haven’t had.
God, we experience your love for us as like that of a mother. Deeply rooted, unconditional, hopeful, persevering, warm and caring. As a congregation we hope to embody that love for each other and our community.
We pray for those you hold especially close today:
– those who are living with illness, and perhaps worry or frustration or pain;
– those dealing with changes, decisions, transitions, who need your reassurance and support;
– those who are grieving loss of someone dear to them;
– those who are lonely, or heartbroken.
Hold their hearts securely within your own and help us to show your love.
We pray not only for those close by, but for your children in all corners of this world. Whatever they are going through today, hold them securely, and bring them peace.
We pray all this in the name of your dear Son Jesus, and as we pray the prayer he taught us, we remember he spoke of you as our heavenly parent, saying “Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
We pray for all who are caregivers for aging parents and loved ones.
Surround and keep safe our loved ones in long-term care.
For needs that have been named and for those which we carry deep in our hearts we pray.
We pray for our Households of Faith. Surround and hold each one in the embrace of your love and grace. Whether at work, at school, at rest, or at play, may each experience joy with each new day and purpose and meaning with each new day. Amen