Mothering Sunday 19th March

Hymn – A New Commandment I Give Unto You

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you

All: And also with you

Loving Lord,

Fill us with your life-giving,

joy-giving peace-giving presence,

That we may praise you now with our lips,

and all the day long with our lives

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Cast your burden upon the Lord

All: And he will sustain you

Create in us clean hearts, O God

All: And renew a right spirit within us

Cast us not away from your Presence

All: And take not your Holy Spirit from us

Give us the joy of your saving help

All: And sustain us with your life-giving Spirit

Blessed be the Lord day by day

All: The God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.

We have a moment of quiet, to call to mind the things we

Have thought, said and done which we know grieve the God

who loves us 

Come, let us return to the Lord and say: 

All: Almighty God

Long-suffering and of great goodness

I confess to you.

I confess with my whole heart

My neglect and forgetfulness of your commandments

My wrong doing, thinking and speaking:

The hurts I have done to others,

And the good I have left undone.

O God, forgive me, for I have sinned against you;

And raise me to newness of life;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

May the God of love and power

Forgive us and free us from our sins,

Heal and strengthen us by his Spirit,

And raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.

All: Amen. 

We praise God for his love and forgiveness with:- 

Hymn – I Watched The Sunrise (Close to Me)

Our First Reading is from – 2 Corinthians Chap: 1

3 Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father, the God from whom all help comes!

4 He helps us in all our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.

5 Just as we have a share in Christ’s many sufferings, so also through Christ we share in God’s great help.

6 If we suffer, it is for your help and salvation; if we are helped, then you too are helped and given the strength to endure with patience the same sufferings that we also endure.

7 So our hope in you is never shaken; we know that just as you share in our sufferings, you also share in the help we receive. 

This is the word of the Christ

All: Praise to you oh Christ 

Our Second Reading is From – Luke Chap: 2

33 The child’s father and mother were amazed at the things Simeon said about him.

34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is chosen by God for the destruction and the salvation of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God which many people will speak against

35 and so reveal their secret thoughts. And sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart.” 

This is the word of the Christ

All: Praise to you oh Christ 

Sermon for Mothering Sunday 

Love

Today’s sermon spoke of love for children and being a mother of even them even that you are not the actual mother of.

Think of Mother Tressa and Gladys Allwood and  All the children they loved and cared for.

Thing have changed over the years from when servants were permitted to go and visit their mothers this special day.

When children just gave a simple bunch of picked flowers to today when vast sums are spent on presents.

Love is so important.

Mary was that perfect example and although she was told at the outset that a sword would pierce her heart, she still brought Jesus up and loved Him.

Love is teaching children to say their prayers and telling them that if they bring their problems to God He will help them through.

And the quote

“If you find it too hard to stand, then kneel”.

Amen 

Hymn – Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep

  1. Loving Shepherd of your sheep,
    all your lambs in safety keep;
    nothing can your power withstand,
    none can pluck them from your hand.
  2. May they praise you ev’ry day,
    gladly all your will obey,
    like your blessed ones above,
    happy in your precious love.
  3. Loving Shepherd, ever near,
    teach your lambs your voice to hear;
    suffer not their steps to stray
    from the straight and narrow way.
  4. Where you lead them may they go,
    walking in your steps below;
    then, before your Father’s throne,
    Saviour, claim them for your own.
    (by Jane Elizabeth Leeson – 1807 to 1882) 

Let us declare our faith in God.

All: We believe in God the Father,

From whom every family

In heaven and on earth is named.

We believe in God the Son

Who lives in our hearts through faith,

And fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit

Who strengthens us

With power from on high.

We believe in one God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Prayers and Intercessions

We pray for God to fill us with his Spirit.

Generous God,

we thank you for the power of your Holy Spirit.

We ask that we may be strengthened to serve you better.

Lord, come to bless us

All: and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the wisdom of your Holy Spirit.

We ask you to make us wise to understand your will.

Lord, come to bless us

All: and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the peace of your Holy Spirit.

We ask you to keep us confident of your love wherever you call us.

Lord, come to bless us

All: and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the healing of your Holy Spirit.

We ask you to bring reconciliation and wholeness

where there is division, sickness and sorrow.

Lord, come to bless us

All: and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the gifts of your Holy Spirit.

We ask you to equip us for the work which you have given us.

Lord, come to bless us

All: and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the fruit of your Holy Spirit.

We ask you to reveal in our lives the love of Jesus.

Lord, come to bless us

All: and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the breath of your Holy Spirit,

given us by the risen Lord.

We ask you to keep the whole Church, living and departed,

in the joy of eternal life.

Lord, come to bless us

All: and fill us with your Spirit. 

All: Generous God,

hear our prayer,

and make us one in heart and mind

to serve you with joy for ever.

Amen.

We gather our thoughts and prayers in the words our Saviour gave us 

All: Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed by your name,

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done,

On earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread,

Forgive us our sins

As we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, ‘

Now and for ever.

Amen.

Hymn – In heavenly love abiding

1 In heavenly love abiding,
no change my heart shall fear;
and safe is such confiding,
for nothing changes here:
the storm may roar without me,
my heart may low be laid;
but God is round about me,
and can I be dismayed?

2 Wherever he may guide me,
no want shall turn me back;
my Shepherd is beside me,
and nothing can I lack:
his wisdom ever waketh,
his sight is never dim,
he knows the way he taketh,
and I will walk with him.

3 Green pastures are before me,
which yet I have not seen;
bright skies will soon be o’er me,
where darkest clouds have been;
my hope I cannot measure,
my path to life is free;
my Saviour has my treasure,
and he will walk with me.
(by Anna Letitia Waring-1823-1910)

The Blessing
Praise God who loves us.
All Praise God who cares.
May God, who gave birth to all creation, bless you:
may God, who became incarnate by an earthly mother, bless you:
may God, who broods as a mother over her children, bless you.
May almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and for ever 

All: Amen.

Hymn Jesus, God’s Righteousness Revealed

The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil

And keep us in eternal life. 

All: Amen

© 702211.