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Call to Worship (based on John 14)
L: People of God, let not your heart be troubled,
P: For we believe in God, we believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord!
L: As we draw near unto God, God will draw near unto us;
Come, let us worship the Lord!


Call to Worship (based on Psalm 31)
L: In you, O LORD, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
P: Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily.
L: You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me and guide me.
P: Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me.
L: Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD.

 

A  Prayer for Commitment in the Spirit of St. Stephen

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who laid down his life for your kingdom. May we be as committed to you and as faithful to proclaim your good news; may we be as willing to forgive those who trespass against us as was St. Stephen.

Grant, O Lord, that, in all our sufferings here on earth for the testimony of your truth, we may steadfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors. In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand: where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.  Amen.

Poem: "I am the Way, the Truth, the Life"
by Carl Heinrich von Bogatzky

I am, says Christ, the way;
Now, if we credit him,
All other paths must lead astray
How fair soe'er they seem.

I am, says Christ, the truth;
Then all that lacks this test,
Proceed it from an angel's mouth,
Is but a lie at best.

I am, says Christ, the Life;
Let this be seen by faith;
It follows, without further strife,
That all besides is death.

 

Closing Prayer:
Loving God, you said, "Let not your hearts be troubled." This morning we have brought our troubled hearts to you for comfort, for healing, for encouragement. We know you love us, but sometimes we don't trust ourselves to you. This morning, we pray that we might feel your presence as near as our very breath and be willing to follow your leading, whatever that may lead us. May we open our hears and minds for the comfort you have especially for us and respond with gratitude. Amen.

 

Mothers’ Day Liturgy

Lord, on this day set aside to honor and remember mothers, we give you thanks for our mothers. We are grateful that you chose to give us life through them, and that they received the gift of life from your hands, and gave it to us. Thank you for the sacrifices they made in carrying us and giving us birth.

We thank you for the women who raised us, who were our mothers in childhood. Whether birth mom, adopted mom, older sister, aunt, grandmother, stepmother or someone else, we thank you for those women who held us and fed us, who cared for us and kissed away our pain. We pray that our lives may reflect the love they showed us, and that they would be pleased to be called our moms.

 

We pray for older moms whose children are grown.

Grant them joy and satisfaction for a job well done.

 

We pray for new moms experiencing changes they could not predict.

Grant them rest and peace as they trust you for the future.

 

We pray for pregnant women who will soon be moms.

Grant them patience and good counsel in the coming months.

 

We pray for moms who face the demands of single parenthood.

Grant them strength and wisdom.

 

We pray for moms who enjoy financial abundance.

Grant them time to share with their families.

 

We pray for moms who are raising their children in poverty.

Grant them relief and justice.

 

We pray for step-moms.

Grant them patience and understanding and love.

 

We pray for moms who are separated from their children.

Grant them faith and hope.

 

We pray for moms in marriages that are in crisis.

Grant them support and insight.

 

We pray for moms who have lost children.

Grant them comfort in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 

We pray for mothers who aborted their children.

Grant them healing and peace.

 

We pray for moms who gave up their children for adoption.

Grant them peace and confidence as they trust in your providence.

 

We pray for adoptive mothers.

Grant them joy and gratitude for the gift you have provided.

 

We pray for girls and women who think about being moms.

Grant them wisdom and discernment.

 

We pray for women who desperately want, or wanted, to be moms.

Grant them grace to accept your timing and will.

 

We pray for all women who have assumed the mother’s role in a child’s life.

Grant them joy and the appreciation of others.

 

We pray for those people present who are grieving the loss of their mother in the past year.

Grant them comfort and hope in Christ’s resurrection.

 

Closing Prayer for Mother's Day

Lord, we thank you for the gift of motherhood. We thank you for the many examples of faithful mothers in scripture, like Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Lois. Hear now the first names of other women who have inspired us by their motherly examples . . . We are mindful this day of all these women, and especially Mary the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, who had the courage in faith to say “yes” to your calling. May these women gathered here today emulate these examples of faith. And may they model for all the rest of us what it means to be your disciple. Bless them on this special day; in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.