Mother's Day: Sunday, May 14, 2017

CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 31

MUSIC
Bethel Music - Love Came Down
Bryan & Katie Torwalt - Holy Spirit
Nothing But The Blood
John Mark McMillan - King of My Heart

MOTHER'S DAY PRAYER
By Bobbi Salkeld

I realized this week as I was preparing a prayer for Mother’s Day that there was no way to name all the experiences we have with this noun: mom.  For some of us mom is a word filled with love, safely, and joy. And sure, we likely know that our experience with our mom is not perfect, but we also know it is deeply good. For others mom is a word filled with tension, or longing, or heartbreak. Maybe our own relationship with our mom is fraught, or we live with the loss of our mom, or we’ve lost a child or terminated a pregnancy. We believe that our prayers can hold all of this. That we can sit with God when our hearts are happy and we can sit with God when our hearts need healing.  

Together let’s offer this prayer in three parts:  
First, celebrating moms,
Second, praying for each other,  
Third, resting in the palm of our parenting God.  

Let us pray:  
For all of the ways we have been mothered well – through moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, friends, and mentors, Jesus, we give you thanks.
For those who welcomed new life this year, who expanded their role as mothers, who deepened their connection with the children in their lives, Jesus, we give you thanks.
For those who are in the trenches of parenting, who are working so hard to feed, teach, nurture, and shape children and youth while juggling so much more, Jesus, we give you thanks.
For those who have lost a mom, grandma, or a child this year,  we grieve; Holy Spirit send your comfort and care.
For those who experience distance from moms, who cannot have children of their own, who have redefined motherhood for themselves as something bigger than giving birth, spirit, send your comfort and care.
For moms in need of encouragement, strength, and support, spirit, send your comfort and care.

The prophet Isaiah (49:15-16) said that God is like a super-mom. That God’s children are never forgotten. Isaiah shows us this image when God says, “See, I have written your name on my hand.”

Holy One, you keep us close, you keep track of us, and you never stop loving us.  
God, parent us with your love.
For all needs mentioned and those that go unnamed,
God, parent us with your love.

May you infuse all of our mothering efforts with grace and bless those in need of your mothering care today we pray,
God, parent us with your love.
AMEN.

PRAYER
By Kevin Borst

God we lift our hearts with praise to you. Jesus, on Mother’s Day We thank you for all those here who care and love so graciously. May the blessing they have been to so many be honored on this day.

We pray in the Spirit of the risen Christ.
Amen.

TEACHING & DISCUSSION NOTES
Romans Pt II