Praying Together 19th March 2023

Collects for Lent 4 – Mothering Sunday

God of compassion, whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary, shared the life of a home in Nazareth, and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself: strengthen us in our daily living that in joy and in sorrow we may know the power of your presence to bind together and to heal; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Col 3: 12-17

Luke 2: 25-35

Mothering Sunday (not just for Mothers!)

Whoever we are, we share two things in common. The first is that we all had parents. Most of us – although sadly not all – have been blessed in them, and on this Mothering Sunday, we give thanks for their love, guidance and example. It’s important, because I also suspect that at times, we took them for granted; disobeyed; caused pain and heartache – perhaps mothers feel it most. It’s only really when you become a parent yourself that you realise the worries that go alongside the joys of parenthood. Worry about their safety, their vulnerability (they would deny that, but it’s a lot more true than they think), the decisions they make, the company they keep. We know the story of the Prodigal, and his fathers’ rejoicing on his return – but we don’t hear about the agony his mother would have felt when he was away. In Rembrandt’s famous painting, she is in the background (top left) – no doubt preparing the meal with tears of joy in her eyes. I hope that the son remembers to thank her too

The second thing we have in common is God’s love, and that is true for every single one of us, with no exceptions. He experiences the same emotions – usually also being taken for granted until we’re in a fix, ill or desperate. He never turns us away, however long it has been since we spoke to Him last. His infinite grace is made possible on His Cross.

Sadly, however, all too often, when the crisis is over, we leave Him behind again, going our own way – until the next time. In our arrogance, we simply expect Him to be there – and it is a measure of the depth of His love, that He will be. We don’t deserve Him. But ‘deserve’ isn’t a word in His dictionary. Love isn’t a reward. It’s the breath that enables us to start again, the birth that gives us life.

Perhaps, then instead of just giving chocolate and flowers on Mothering Sunday, we might resolve to offer love in return throughout every day of the year, through the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows, and the blessings that come through all these scenes of life when we live in thanksgiving with our earthly and heavenly parents.

We pray together

Loving God,

Thank you for parents and children and for all the joy of family life.
Be with those who are grieving because they have no mother or father;
Be close to those who are struggling because they have no children;
Be near to those who are sad because they are far apart from those they love.
Let your love be present in every home,
And help your church to have eyes to see and ears to hear the needs of all who come.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Thank you God for the love of our parents:

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;
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Jesus, like a mother you gather your people to you;

you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness;
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead,
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us;
in your love and tenderness remake us.
In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness,
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us

We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

We pray the Lord’s Prayer – And then as we listen, we may break bread together as a family, a company of love that serves together as the body of Christ.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Jesus. Amen.