Mothers Day Gravelhole

Isaiah wrote that God is a mother to us, comforting and carrying us in her arms. 'As one whom a mother comforts, so I will comfort you' (Isaiah 66.13).

Loving Lord, thank you for your tender care

Isaiah also wrote that God would never forget us. He knows each of us, like a mother knows her own children. 'Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should have no compassion on the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you' (Isaiah 49.15). Loving Lord, thank you for your tender care.

David wrote that in God's presence, he was quiet and at peace, trusting his mother God like a child safe in loving arms. 'But I have calmed and quieted my soul like a child quieted at its mother's breast; like a child that is quiet is my soul' (Psalm 131.2). Loving Lord, thank you for your tender care.

Paul writes about his missionary ministry and likens his work to that of a nurse who looks after those in her care. 'I was gentle among you like a nurse taking care of her children' (1 Thessalonians 2.7). Loving Lord, thank you for your tender care.

I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.' Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. Blessed are they who dwell in your house. They will always be praising you.

233: LEAD US, HEAVENLY FATHER LEAD US

Gathering Prayer

We gather in the name of Christ. In him we are restored to God. In him we are made new. In his name we rejoice. Through his love we are forgiven. In his presence we are united. May his name be praised for ever. Amen.

Prayers of Confession with Absolution

Nurturing God, we praise you for the way in which you care for each one of us. Like a good parent, you love us whoever we are, whatever we do. Even though we frequently disappoint you, you are always there, concerned for our welfare, forgiving us. Nurturing God, we praise and thank you.

Forgive us for the times that we take you for granted, when we do things to hurt others, particularly members of our family and friends. Forgive us for running away, for getting so involved in the activities, pleasures and concerns of our lives that we forget that you are there. Nurturing God, forgive us. Bring us home again to you. As we praise you. Amen

Silence. Thank you for welcoming us when we stray, for forgiving us and celebrating our return. Thank you for your love that seeks and restores. Amen.

The Lord’s prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy 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

66 THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD NEVER CEASES

Sermon

Mothering Sunday dates to the Middle Ages. Originally a time to focus on 'mother church', it was a day when young girls, in service went home, and could visit their mothers.

Today lots of churches will gather to give thank God for mothers.

And despite the gloomy statistics about family breakdown, there remains a deeply rooted desire to celebrate all that is best about the family, especially the role that motherhood plays.

On this day when we give thanks for mothers and for those of us who have lost their mum’s it is a day to recall them and give thanks for their lives and the influence, they have had on us.

Some women may never have been able to have children, or it just wasn’t in their life plan, some people may never have known their mother and began life an orphan. Some relationships may have been strained and resentments may run deep.

It is always inspiring as we leaf through the pages of history to see the great influence that mothers have had on their sons and daughters. Our own founder and spiritual mentor, John Wesley, was deeply influenced by the godly character of his mother, Suzanna.

Every mother here this morning knows that motherhood brings more joy and love and fulfilment than seem possible.

But every mother here this morning knows that the role of motherhood brings more fears and sorrows and heartbreak than can ever be imagined.

It is all part of the continually changing, growing, extending, exhausting, exhilarating job description of motherhood.

And throughout life mother's give advice.

A Mother’s advice

Bible reading John 2.1-5

Jesus was probably invited to this wedding in Cana because his mother was known to the family. Mary must have been a respected figure at the celebration because they told her of the embarrassing problem that they got their catering sums wrong!

You know the way the caterer works out how much food and wine to prepare, for example if you have 50 guest your caterer for 40 so, less waste.

But in this case the guest numbers where totally wrong so the problem arose.

This story is so well known that we sometimes miss the fact that it contains the only recorded words of Mary during Jesus' adult life. They stand as a marvellous piece of advice from a mother – 'Do whatever he tells you.'

Just as our best mother’s instincts are a signpost towards the God who loves and cares for us, so this best advice from Mary takes us to the truth that we all need to listen and follow the words of Jesus.

Congregational activity

When you were growing up what advice do mothers normally give their children?

Invite the congregation to suggest what they often hear from their mums and those who are like mums to them. It may include:

Don't forget to wash your hands. Tidy your room. Finish your homework. Make sure you're home before 9 o'clock.

Or more general life advice, such as: Don't talk to strangers. Don't forget to say thank you.

What else can the congregation come up with? Link this everyday advice to the profound and important advice that Mary passes on to the servants and through Scripture to us.

Even when your grown up we must promise to give three rings when you get home.

In the book Ghost Soldiers, there's a scene where soldiers starving for food enjoy a spiritual feast by calling out their favourite foods cooked by their mothers. Let's try it this morning. When you think of mom's cooking, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

For me it’s my Grandmothers cooking I remember best, simple potato ash that I have never found anywhere else, followed by the sweetest custard that could melt your teeth.

But the image of her spills back at the thought of this simple meal.

I always feel it’s a funny time of year to celebrate this day as we recall memories of our parents, when we are in the middle of lent when we look forward to what Jesus is about to undertake, and the suffering that his mother will face.

Mothers Love

Bible reading Matthew 23.37

Jesus describes himself by using the striking image of a mother hen with her chicks. A mother's deepest instinct is to protect her children – an echo of God's amazing love that goes to the very depths to rescue and protect us.

These heartfelt words of Jesus immediately precede the events of Holy Week when we witness the ultimate expression of the lengths to which this sacrificial love will go. As we to look forward to the events of Easter this story may help to prepare us and link Easter to the sacrifice that mothers make for their young.

A story

The farmyard was a peaceful place – safe and warm for the animals that lived there. The pig in his Sty, the young calves in the big shed, the lambs in the pen, the ducks on the pond and the hens – the hens were everywhere, clucking and pecking at the grain and food scraps all around the yard.

The hens truly were everywhere – except for one mother hen, who was busy with her newly hatched brood of chicks. Little, fluffy, yellow bundles of new life looked after by a proud mum. It was a typical, peaceful farmyard scene – a safe place to live – at least it was, until one night three weeks before Easter.

All the animals had settled to sleep, when a strange new smell was caught on the wind – an unfamiliar, unpleasant smell, a dangerous smell. The mother hen awoke. She smelt it too. It was the smell of burning. Somehow, somewhere in the darkness of the night a fire had begun. It was spreading fast, licked into a fury by the wind. Stubble began to burn, the hay in the hayloft caught light and the dry wood of the pens was soon ablaze.

Panic set in among the animals. The lambs were bleating, the cattle lowing in distress, the pigs snorting with fear, the ducks were flapping and squawking, the hens scurrying about in confusion. The mother hen sensed the danger and drew her chicks closer to her for safety. Surely the farmer would be alerted by now.

He would come and rescue them from the corner of the barn that had become their temporary home. The mother hen sat tight and waited – too frightened to leave, too protective of her young to move.

The farmer did come but not to the barn. Bringing water and beaters, he and his friends did their best to douse the roaring flames and rescue the bigger animals. It was hard work. Exhausted they had to be content with containing the disaster and waiting for dawn to see the damage. They rescued all they could.

What about the mother hen? When the farmer began the morning search of the ashes in the barn, he spied something unusual – a sad lump of charred feathers in one corner. The poor hen, overcome by the fumes and the heat, had died. But – didn't the feathers move? Yes! Something was alive. He brushed back the mess and out stumbled six little chicks, safe and sound, protected from disaster by a mother's love. She had died so that they could be saved. She had given her life so that they would go on living.

It was only three weeks to Easter and this one event, more than anything else, helped the farmer to understand for the first, time what Easter was really, all about.

Seeing God differently

This day we celebrate mothers, and God describes himself as our mother, but Jesus was much, much more.

Let’s listen to the story of Jesus and some close friends on the mountaintop, from Matthew.

Reading: Matthew 17.1-8

Some of your children or grandchildren may have asked for the toys called transformers.

They could be changed from one thing with one shape into another thing with a completely different shape. Some might also remember the little clay man that used to appear on children’s television, called Morph? In butter advertisements more recently a character that could be Morph’s cousin appears. Morph is another word for shape. If something goes through metamorphosis it changes shape, like a caterpillar into a butterfly.

In the story told in Matthew 17.1-8, three friends of Jesus saw him differently. Probably Jesus wasn’t changing shape, but he appeared different. The followers of Jesus saw him not just as their friend, or a wonderful teacher, or a marvellous healer, but also as one of the greatest people ever to have lived. Jesus was alongside the founders of their faith – Moses, who brought to the people the law of God, and Elijah the greatest ever prophet. Jesus was even greater than they were - they saw Jesus as the Son of God.

Sometimes we have experiences of God that help us to see God differently, to know God personally and intimately. Our ideas and feelings about God are never the same again afterwards.

As God’s love guides and leads us like a mother, correcting, encouraging, and develops us into the people we are meant to be.

OFFERING DURING HYMN

504 MAY THE MIND OF CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR

Prayers of intersession

Loving God, we pray for your Church worldwide, for its leaders and all its people.

May it feed the faithful with your word, and nurture those who are hungry in spirit.

May it cherish the abandoned and rejected, protect the weak, and bind the wounds of those who look for forgiveness and healing.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We thank you for all who have formed and nourished our own faith. When we meet with challenge, doubt or difficulty, keep us always conscious of your love guiding and sustaining us.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer hardship or persecution for your sake. Give them courage and strength in the situations which force them to face the cost of loving you.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Loving God, we pray for your world. Teach us to value the earth and its gifts above the satisfaction of our own greed, so that the whole human family may share its fruits in peace. We pray for all those whose lives are ravaged by poverty, famine and disease.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for nations and communities torn apart by war, (especially…) Uphold all who have lost family, homes or livelihood as a result of conflict or persecution. We pray especially for children orphaned by war, and for all refugees.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Loving God, we thank you for all who show us special love and care, in our families, our church, and the places where we live and work. Help us to realise the cost of that love, and to return it selflessly.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for those in our community who are without family or friends and who long to be loved.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Loving God, we pray for those who live daily with grief and loss, especially those separated from children through quarrels, resentment or misunderstanding. We pray too for those who have lost a child.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for those who live with pain and disability, and for those facing death. (Among those commended to our prayers we pray especially for…) We pray too for all who care for the sick, especially those who have sacrificed personal freedom to look after someone they love.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Loving God, we thank you for those of our families and community who have shared your love with us and who are now at peace. We pray too for those who have died recently (especially…) and for those whose anniversaries fall at this time (especially…)

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Finally, we pray for a moment in silence, bringing our particular thanksgivings and petitions to the Lord.

Joining our prayers with those of Mary, the mother of God, and all the saints, we commend ourselves and one another to your unfailing love.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

AMEN

594: LORD JESUS CHRIST YOU HAVE COME TO US

Blessing

May the blessing of God be with us as we love and serve one another; and as we share Christ’s unconditional love – in the name of God the Creator, Redeemer, and Spirit. Amen.

Related Media

Related Sermons