Printed below is the Mothering Sunday service for you to follow at home while Gillian conducts the service in isolation at the church. Why not download the words to the hymns and sing along too. A PDF version is on the services page.
Introduction
Today is Mothering Sunday. Today we are going to think about how God cares for each one of us, his children, and how we care for one another. We thank God for our parents, who love us and care for us. And we remember those parents who are no longer with us but whose love and care we remember with deep affection and gratitude.
Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
and also with you.
Hymn: 337 Morning has broken
Confession
We are going to say sorry to God, for those times when we have behaved badly and forgotten to love you and one another as we should.
Loving God, you love us as good parents love their children.
When we have not loved you:
forgive us.
When we have not given our parents the love they have shown to us:
forgive us.
When we have been angry with our brothers and sisters
and other members of our family:
forgive us.
When the example we have set before our children has been less than perfect:
forgive us.
Lord, forgive us for those things
we have done wrong
and help us to be better people in the future.
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Reading: A Thank you
For all your patience day by day: for all the tears you wipe away. For little hands you gently hold: for all the stories you have told. For your consoling tender heart: and all the wisdom you impart. For silly songs and quiet times; for peaceful naps and nursery rhymes. For teaching children how to share: for being kind – for being fair. For every shoe that you have tied and thoughtful words that instil pride. For all the sweet things that you do to help our children all year through. For finding a place just for me: I’m grateful and will always be. Anon
Activity: A survival kit for mothers
A special prayer for Mothering Sunday
God of love,
your Son was given the love and support of a human family
and you are with us throughout our lives;
so feed us with our daily bread
that we shall only hunger for what is right and just.
We ask this through our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Hymn: 62 Blessed assurance
Reading: Exodus 2:1-10
The story of Moses
2 1-3 A man from the family of Levi married a Levite woman. The woman became pregnant and had a son. She saw there was something special about him and hid him. She hid him for three months. When she couldn’t hide him any longer she got a little basket-boat made of papyrus, waterproofed it with tar and pitch, and placed the child in it. Then she set it afloat in the reeds at the edge of the Nile.
4-6 The baby’s older sister found herself a vantage point a little way off and watched to see what would happen to him. Pharaoh’s daughter came down to the Nile to bathe; her maidens strolled on the bank. She saw the basket-boat floating in the reeds and sent her maid to get it. She opened it and saw the child—a baby crying! Her heart went out to him. She said, “This must be one of the Hebrew babies.”
7 Then his sister was before her: “Do you want me to go and get a nursing mother from the Hebrews so she can nurse the baby for you?”
8 Pharaoh’s daughter said, “Yes. Go.” The girl went and called the child’s mother.
9 Pharaoh’s daughter told her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me. I’ll pay you.” The woman took the child and nursed him.
10 After the child was weaned, she presented him to Pharaoh’s daughter who adopted him as her son. She named him Moses (Pulled-Out), saying, “I pulled him out of the water.”
Talk
Offertory Hymn: 87 Colours of day
Prayers
Loving God, we are your children and you have brought us up to do your work in the world. Be with us as we come to you in prayer to ask you for your help and guidance.
Lord, you gave the Church to be a home for your family on earth. Help us to love each other as brothers and sisters in one big family.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, the people of the world are always fighting each other and hurting each other and not behaving as a family should. Help all people to see the good in each other and to love the good in each other, whatever their race or religion, so we may be the brothers and sisters you want us to be.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, many of your children are starving because of the greed of others. Help us to find ways of making life fair for everybody, so nobody is hungry, or thirsty or cold.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, we are grateful for the love of our parents and our friends in our community. Help us to care for them and love them as they love us. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord, like our own parents you are sad when we are poorly. Help us to bring comfort to the people we know who are not well and hear us as we pray for those who have asked us to pray for them in this church, today …
Give them strength and courage, Lord, and make them better.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, eventually we have to say goodbye to our families on earth, but you will bring us back together in our heavenly home. We remember, Lord, those who have already left this world to join you in the next …
Lord, welcome your children who have died into your kingdom and refresh us with your spiritual food and with your love, so we may be ready to meet you face to face and live with you for evermore.
Amen.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thin is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen
Hymn: 153 Give me joy in my heart
During which flowers will be offered to the congregation
The dismissal
May the Father be always there for us.
May the Son, be our brother and sister.
May the Holy Spirit grant us a mother’s love and wisdom and may God’s love be with us and remain with us always.
Amen.
Both young and not so young,
go in the love, joy and peace of Christ!
Thanks be to God.