A Mother's Day Prayer

Loving God, we give thanks today for mothers!
Thank you for mothers who gave birth to us,
and women who have treated us as their own children.
You teach us how to be good mothers,
cherishing and protecting the children among us.
Help us mother lovingly, fairly, wisely and with great joy.
Help us raise our children to be the people they are born to be.

We need your comfort here today, Lord,
because some are missing mothers, some are missing children,
some are parted by distance or death.
Comfort those who have given up their child for adoption,
or who chose not to give birth, and had an abortion.
Comfort those who longed to be biological mothers, and could not.
We pray for those here whose mothers have disappointed them;
we ask for grace in relationships where there is pain and bitterness,
for healing in relationships where there is abuse and violence.
Help our congregation be a space where people can feel mothered,
their gifts and talents appreciated and nurtured.

Finally, we pray today for mothers around the world;
mothers who cannot feed their children,
mothers who are homeless or without a homeland;
mothers who must teach their children about the dangers of bombs and bullets.
Help us create a world where mothers can raise their children in peace and plenty.
God of mothers, who created mothers, who came as a child and had a mother,
God our Mother, loving us with a sweeter and deeper love than we have ever known,
hear our prayer this day, Amen.

Carol Penner
www.leadinginworship.com

A Mothers’ Day Litany

Voice 1: Like a mother eagle teaching her young to fly, You push us to stretch our wings and risk falling. Yet You do not abandon us but lift us up, protecting us from evil.

All voices: We thank You protecting God.

Voice 2: Like a mother bear, furious when her cubs are in danger, You bring justice on those who oppress the young.

All voices: We thank You, compassionate God.

Voice 3: Your Spirit comforts us as one whom a mother comforts.

All voices: We thank You, nurturing God.

Voice 4: Holy Spirit, You are everywhere, the Lord and Giver of life. We praise You for the gift of mothers, through whom You give us life.

All voices: We thank You for their willingness to nurture life, for their trust in You to guide them through the labour of childbirth, the uncertainties of youth, the letting go of young adulthood.

Voice 1: We thank You for all those women, who did not give us birth, but through whom You give us abundant life.

All voices: We thank You for school teachers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters, pastors, elders, Sunday School teachers, supervisors, and friends who share wisdom.

Voice 2: We ask Your tender mercies on all those whose mothers now sing with the heavenly chorus, for those whose tears are not yet dry.

All voices: Grant them Your peace, which passes understanding.

Voice 3: We ask Your comforting presence on those mothers who have buried sons and daughters.

All voices: Grant them the grace to trust their loved ones to Your never-ending care.

Voice 4: We pray for those who are alienated from their mothers by harsh words, distance, misunderstanding.

All voices: Grant them Your grace to forgive and to love again.

Voice 1: We pray for mothers whose children have met a violent death.

All voices: Deliver them from anguish.

Voice 2: We pray for mothers who work but cannot earn enough to feed, clothe and educate their children.

All voices: Wake us to our responsibility for common welfare.

Voice 3: We pray for mothers who are dying of AIDS and other diseases for which we know no cure.

All voices: Raise up among us caregivers for their children and expand our compassion.

Voice 4: We pray for mothers who are guardians for grandchildren whose parents are unable or unwilling to care for them.

All voices: Grant them courage and strength and patience for the living of each day.

Voice 1: We pray for mothers whose children face limitations of intelligence, emotional, or physical ability.

Voice 2: Deliver them from hovering; grant them wisdom to encourage each child’s full potential with You.

All voices: We thank you, oh God, for those who have committed themselves to us:

Voice 3: for those who have been there in our times of trouble and heartache to encourage and support us,

Voice 4: and in times of joy and celebration to share that joy, and give it even more meaning and worth.

All voices: We thank you, oh God, for all those who have been prepared to grow with us, learning the meaning of commitment and faith as they lived it out each day, so that faith became an exciting shared experience in deepening understanding of the world and of ourselves.