We say together the words printed in bold.
Praise God who loves us.
AllPraise God who cares.
[A large candle may be lit.
We light this candle to remind us that the
love of God is like a light in our darkness.
AllBlessed be God for ever.]
We praise you, our God, for all mothers who
have loved and laughed and laboured as they cared for their
children.
AllBlessed be God for ever.
We praise you, our God, for all mothers who
have wept in sorrow and joy for their children.
AllBlessed be God for ever.
We praise you, our God, for Jesus, born of
a woman and nurtured in her love, and for Mary, a reminder of
your patient, waiting love.
AllBlessed be God for ever.
Let us call to mind our sin, our failure to
value the love of others
and our failure to love as Christ has loved us.
Silence for reflection
Your love gives us life from the moment of
conception.
We fail to live as your children.
Lord have mercy.
AllLord have mercy.
You call us to do good. We seek our own
good.
Christ, have mercy.
AllChrist have mercy.
You hear us when we cry for help. We ignore
the cries of others.
Lord, have mercy.
AllLord have mercy.
May the Father of all mercies
cleanse you from your sins,
and restore you in his
image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AllAmen.
Praise God who loves us.
AllPraise God who cares.
The president says the Collect, the prayer of the day.
Reader: None
Reader: None
After each reading this response may be used
This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Refrain:
AllGather your little ones to
you, O God,
as a hen gathers her brood to protect them.
1Jesus, like a mother you
gather your people to you; ♦
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
2Often you weep over our
sins and our pride, ♦
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgement.
3You comfort us in sorrow
and bind up our wounds, ♦
in sickness you nurse us, and with pure milk you feed us.
4Jesus, by your dying we
are born to new life; ♦
by your anguish and labour we come forth in joy.
5Despair turns to hope
through your sweet goodness; ♦
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
6Your warmth gives life
to the dead, ♦
your touch makes sinners righteous.
7Lord Jesus, in your mercy
heal us; ♦
in your love and tenderness remake us.
8In your compassion bring
grace and forgiveness, ♦
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.
from Anselm of Canterbury
Glory to the Father, and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Preacher: None
Praise God who loves us.
AllPraise God who cares.
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.
cf Ephesians 3
As children of a loving God who always
listens to our cries,
let us pray to our Father in heaven.
After each section this response may be used
God of love,
Allhear our prayer.
Loving God, you have given us the right to be called children of God. Help us to show your love in our homes that they may be places of love, security and truth.
Loving God, Jesus, your Son, was born into the family of Mary and Joseph; bless all parents and all who care for children; strengthen those families living under stress and may your love be known where no human love is found.
Loving God, we thank you for the family of the Church. We pray that all may find in her their true home; that the lonely, the marginalized, the rejected may be welcomed and loved in the name of Jesus.
Loving God, as we see the brokenness of our world we pray for healing among the nations; for food where there is hunger; for freedom where there is oppression; for joy where there is pain; that your love may bring peace to all your children.
As God's children, and heirs with
Christ
we cry in the Spirit, 'Abba', Father.
AllOur Father in heaven,
hallowed be 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.
The peace of the Lord be always with
you
Alland also with you.
Praise God who loves us.
AllPraise God who cares.
Praise God who loves us.
AllPraise God who cares.
Children may lead the following responsory
For the care of mothers;
AllThanks be to God.
For their patience when tested;
AllThanks be to God.
For their love when tired;
AllThanks be to God.
For their hope when despairing;
AllThanks be to God.
For their service without limit;
AllThanks be to God.
Other words of thanksgiving may be added as appropriate.
Hymns or songs of praise may be sung during the distribution of flowers to the congregation.
At the end of the distribution of flowers we all say this prayer. Everyone sits except mothers, who are asked to remain standing.
AllThank you God for the love
of our mothers:
thank you God for their care and concern;
thank you God for the joys they have shared with us;
thank you God for the pains they have borne for us;
thank you God for all that they give us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Praise God who loves us.
AllPraise God who cares.
May God, who gave birth to all creation,
bless us:
may God, who became incarnate by an earthly mother, bless us:
may God, who broods as a mother over her children, bless us.
May almighty God bless us,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
AllAmen.
Go in peace to love and serve the
Lord.
AllIn the name of Christ. Amen.
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004