Church of England home page Common Worship   Publications Site Map

A Service for Mothering Sunday

We say together the words printed in bold.

Preparation

Greeting

Praise God who loves us.
AllPraise God who cares.

Praising and thanking God

[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.

Confession

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.

The Collect

Praise God who loves us.
AllPraise God who cares.

The president says the Collect, the prayer of the day.

Reading(s)

Reader: None

Reading(s)

Reader: None

After each reading this response may be used

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.

Hymn or song

A Song of St Anselm

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. 

Sermon

Preacher: None

Hymn or song

Praise God who loves us.
AllPraise God who cares.

Affirmation of Faith

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

Prayers

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.

The Lord's Prayer

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.

Loving God, accept the cries of our heart as we offer you prayers;
through them transform us and all creation until you are in all and through all.
We ask these and all our prayers in the name of Jesus.
All Amen.

The Peace

Through the prophet Isaiah, God says,
'As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.'

The peace of the Lord be always with you
Alland also with you.

Praise God who loves us.
AllPraise God who cares.

Prayer for Mothers and Distribution of Flowers

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.

The Blessing

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.

The Dismissal

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
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.