Mothering Sunday

All Age Service

2011

Greeting

This is the day, which the Lord has made.Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Lord, direct our thoughts, teach us to pray,lift up our hearts to worship youin Spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ. Amen

Hymn

For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies,for the love which from our birthover and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raisethis our sacrifice of praise.

For the beauty of each hourof the day and of the night,hill and vale and tree and flower,sun and moon and stars of light:

For the joy of human love,brother, sister, parent, child,friends on earth and friends above,pleasures pure and undefiled:

For each perfect gift of thineto our race so freely given,graces human and divine,flowers of earth & buds of heaven:

For Thy Church which evermorelifteth holy hands aboveoffering up on every shoreher pure sacrifice of love,

Saying sorry to God

Heavenly Father, parent of us all, we know we don't always treat each otheras you want us to.Lord God, forgive us;and help us to be more loving.

There are times when we insist on getting our own way despite what others feel.Lord God, forgive us;and help us to be more loving.

Sometimes we increase the tension when we ought to seek peace, or say things which hurt one another.Lord God, forgive us;and help us to be more loving.

God has loved us,sending his Son Jesus to show us the true meaning of forgivenessLord God, forgive us;and help us to be more loving.

Let us return to the Lord our God and say to Him:

Father, we have sinned against heaven and against you.We are not worthy to be called your children.We turn to you again.Have mercy on us, bring us back to yourselfas those who were once deadbut now have life through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May the God of love and powerforgive us and free us from our sins,heal us and strengthen us by his Spiritand raise us to new life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Song

Lord Jesus ChristYou have come to usYou are one with usMary's sonCleansing our souls from all their sinPouring Your love and goodness inJesus, our love for You we singLiving Lord

Lord Jesus ChristNow and every dayTeach us how to praySon of GodYou have commanded us to doThis in remembrance, Lord, of YouInto our lives Your power breaks throughLiving Lord

Lord Jesus ChristYou have come to usBorn as one of usMary's sonLed out to die on CalvaryRisen from death to set us freeLiving Lord Jesus, help us seeYou are Lord

Lord Jesus ChristWe would come to YouLive our lives for YouSon of GodAll Your commands we know are trueYour many gifts will make us newInto our lives Your power breaks throughLiving Lord

Bible Reading Luke 2:33-35

Talk

Song

He's got the whole world in his hand.He's got the whole world in his hand.He's got the whole world in his hand.He's got the whole world in his hand.

He's got you and me brother, in his handHe's got you and me brother, in his hand.He's got you and me brother, in his hand.He got the whole world in his hand.

He's got you and me sister in his hand,He's got you and me sister in his hand,He's got you and me sister in his hand,He's got the whole world in his hand.

He's got the ting little baby in his hand,He's got the ting little baby in his hand,He's got the ting little baby in his hand,He's got the whole world I his hand.

He's got ev'rybody here in his hand.He's got ev'rybody here in his hand.He's got ev'rybody here in his hand.He's got the whole world in his hand.

Presentation of flowers

Song

Father in heaven, thank you for mothersloving and caring all the day long.Thank you for parents working to feed usmothers and fathers loving and strong

Thank you for Mary, blest among women.She whom You chose to mother Your son.Pattern of goodness, trust and obediencehelp us to love you as she has done.

Parents and children, praise God togetherpraise for our homes and all that He gives.May we serve others as serving Jesusmake every home the place where he lives.

Affirming Our FaithLet us declare our faith in God.

We believe in God the Father,From whom every family in heaven and 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

Prayers

We thank God for giving us other people to be a part of our lives: For parents, and the love which brought us to birthWe give you our thanks and praiseFor mothers who have loved and looked after us:We give you our thanks and praiseFor fathers who have loved and supported us:

We give you our thanks and praiseFor brothers and sisters with whom we have shared our homes:We give you our thanks and praiseFor children, entrusted to our care as parents:We give you our thanks and praiseHelp us to live as those who belong to one another, and to you, and to the family of the Church, now and always. Amen

Please do come and light a candle for people and places in the world in need of God's love and peace at this time......

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven,hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come; thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those that trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation;but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,the power and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen

PEACE

We are all one in Christ Jesus. We belong to him through faith, heirs of the promise of the Spirit of peace.The peace of the Lord be always with you

and also with you

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.Song

From heaven you came, helpless babe,Entered our world, your glory veiled;Not to be served but to serve,And give your life that we might live.

This is our God, the Servant King,,He call us now to follow Him,To bring our lives as a daily offeringOf worship to the Servant King.

There in the garden of tears,My heavy load he chose to bear;His heart with sorrow was torn.“Yet not my will but yours” He said.

Come see His hands and His feet,The scars that speak of sacrifice,Hands that flung stars into space,To cruel nails surrendered.

So let us learn how to serve,And in our lives enthrone Him;Each other’s needs to prefer,For it is Christ we’re serving.

Final Prayer

In darkness and in light,in trouble and in joy,help us, heavenly Father,to trust your love,to serve your purpose,and to praise your name;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Blessing