Prayers

Prayers of the People: Mother’s Day

Holy One, we gather in your presence to give you thanks and to celebrate the gift of your love; a love that supports, nurtures and challenges us in ways that strengthen and transform us. We offer you praise and thanksgiving for your unfailing presence in our lives and all of the blessings that you so generously offer us.

Today, as we celebrate Mother's Day, we give thanks for mothers the world over. We give thanks for all those who have nurtured and care for us, remembering especially, birth mothers, adoptive mothers, surrogate mothers, aunts, grandmothers, teachers, neighbors and all women who have shared their faith with us.

We pray, compassionate God, for those mothers who have been hurt, disillusioned, or disappointed in their role as mother. We pray for those who have been denied a longed-for chance at motherhood, and for those whose years of mothering have been cut short by the loss of a child.

We lift up before you, O God, the members of our human family around the world—for those who are afflicted or suffering at this time—for those who need healing, for those who require bread or shelter, for those who live in violent homes and communities, for those who are grieving, and for those whose needs are known to you alone.

We remember (specific petitions may be mentioned here)

Holy Mother and Father of us all, touch us with your healing peace and gentle e embrace that we may walk in your ways bringing dignity, justice and peace to all corners of your world. All of this we pray in the strong name of Jesus.

Amen.

~ from the World in Prayer website.
http://www.worldinprayer.org/

Prayer (based on Psalm 139)

You have looked deep into my heart, LORD,
and you know all about me.
You know when I am resting or when I am working,
and from heaven you discover my thoughts.
You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.
Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say,
and with your powerful arm you protect me
from every side.

I can't understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.

You are the one who put me together
inside my mother's body,
and I praise you because of the wonderful way
you created me.

Everything you do is marvelous!
Of this I have no doubt.

Nothing about me is hidden from you!
You watched as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

Even before I was born,
you had written in your book everything I would do.

Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding,
much more than I could ever imagine.
I try to count your thoughts,
but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach.

Look deep into my heart, God,
and find out everything I am thinking.
Don't let me follow evil ways,
but lead me in the way that time has proven true.

~ Christine Longhurst, based on verses from Psalm 139

A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Mothering Sunday

For the mothering of mothers
and the mothering of fathers
for the mothering of others:
Mother God,
we give you thanks.

For those who act as midwife to our hopes,
for those who nurse us through our pain,
for those who nurture, strengthen and guide us:
Mother God,
we give you thanks.

For those who gently push us from the nest,
for those who welcome us home,
for those who become our family,
for the motherhood of the Church:
Mother God,
we give you thanks.

~ from a collection of Mothering Sunday Prayers produced by Mother’s Union.
http://www.themothersunion.org/

Prayer of Confession (following the reading of Proverbs 31:10-30)

Lord, many of us read these words from Your Holy Word
And are inspired, encouraged, and grateful.
But some of us are tempted to doubt
That Your grace could ever produce
these kinds of virtues in our lives.

Some of us are tempted by resentment and unforgiveness
Because of those who have let us down.
Some of us are tempted to condemn ourselves for past failings,
and all of us remember times when we have fallen short.

Forgive us for doubt, resentment,
unforgiving hearts, self-condemning attitudes.
Remind us of your forgiveness, always available in Jesus Christ.

In Spite of our failures and sin,
We trust in Your power to transform our lives.
Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus,
So that our lives may bring Joy to Your world
And Praise to Your Name.

~ Copyright © 2007 Rick Lindholtz. Posted on the tracks.
http://rlindholtz.blogspot.ca/2007/05/confession-for-mothers-day.html