May 12 2024 5 mins
On this Mother’s Day, we give thanks to God for the divine gift of motherhood in all its diverse forms. Mothering is a gift to our community providing regeneration, healing, hope and community building. We recognize this day can be complex and filled with grief, disappointment and loneliness. May God’s Spirit be with each of you wherever you may find yourself this morning. A special thank you to all who celebrated and shared their time yesterday at the 4th Annual Mother’s Day Weekend Event - where we celebrated mother’s with free professional family photos and a meal from Carribean Kitchen Food Truck. A special shoutout to JSA for partnering with us to utilize their space and creating a community art project together! As we gather separate yet together in Spirit, I invite you to settle in, take a deep breathe as we pray together. This Prayer is written by Cole Arthur Riley, from their book Black Liturgies God our Mother, We thank you for grounding your character in the tenderness, protection and even sorrow of a mother. To know that no human experience - mother or child - is far from you gives us permission to uncover the particularities of how we were made to love and be loved. On this day, we’re reminded that we do not begin with ourselves. Our beauty, our pain, do not exist in a vacuum but are tethered to those who’ve come before us. We pray for the mothers who have protected us, who are weary, who have stayed, who have left, who are grieving, who are proud- understanding that the story of what it means to be a mother is not singular. And as children, would you remind us that it is okay to lament the ways we have not been loved well, while also celebrating the miracle and mystery of those who loved us fiercely. We are made of more than us. Help us to behold it. Amen. And now may we pray this prayer of Blessing over all those who are mothering in all of its diverse forms written by Pastor Stephanie Gracious God, On this Mother’s Day, we give thanks to God for the divine gift of motherhood in all its diverse forms. Bless the women who care for and nurture others by leading people and communities toward hope Loving God, look gently upon mothers of newborn and young children, give them energy, patience and gentleness in these fleeting days of sticky hands, messy houses and ever flowing laundry. Bless mothers who are raising school aged children and teenagers, give them peace and joy in parenting in moments that seem both hard and wonderful all at the same time Bless mothers who from afar watch and wonder about their adult children, give them perspective and wisdom as their children make choices. Bless those who are stepping in as a mother-figure in numerous ways to those around them. Bless those who have chosen not to be mother’s and may feel shame or misunderstanding from our society. Healing God, comfort all those who mourn the absence of their mother today from death or illness or because of broken and challenging relationships. Comfort those who had hoped to be mothers, but have been unable to do so and those who continue to hope to become mothers. Ever present God, embrace and comfort those mothers who mourn over the loss of their own children. Gracious God, help us to recognize all the women who have guided us and loved us like mothers, shining forth as an example of the deepness of the love you offer to all people. Bless us and keep us today in that love and always. In your name we pray. Amen. See you next Sunday as we celebrate Graduating Seniors and Pentecost Sunday together as a community at the WHCC building. Your presence and encouragement is appreciated as we gather to pray for and honor the graduating seniors among us. Have a Happy mothers day and a great rest of your day! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wellingtonheightschurch/message