“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
1. Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever child-like, no cares can destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
2.Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labours, and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
3.Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
4.Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day
The collect for 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.
A reading from Exodus 2:1-10
A man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him, ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Yes.’ So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.’ So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, ‘because,’ she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’
The Finding of Moses: Master of Edward 1V C15
In this familiar story of “Moses in the Bulrushes” there are three women who played a pivotal part in bringing up the future leader of the Israelites: his birth mother who had the courage and wisdom to allow her son to be given away, his sister whose engaging manner inspired the confidence of Pharoah’s daughter and the princess herself who showed compassion for the seemingly abandoned baby boy and gave him a home. On Mothering Sunday we give thanks for our mothers and all who have nurtured us over the years. We also give thanks for those in our communities who guide, protect and care for us, all who embody the qualities of “Mother Church”. Mothering Sunday is an opportunity to reflect on the many different ways in which God shows his love, even when the world seems bleak.
The prophet Isaiah wrote: “As a mother comforts a child so will I comfort you, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 66.13)
Psalm 34: 11 - 20
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
Christ blessing
the children:
Lucas Cranach.
1545
Second Bible Reading: Colossians 3:12-17
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Gospel reading: St. Luke 2:33-35
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Jesus.
Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed - and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
The Presentation of Christ: Fra Angelico
The Gospel reading takes us back to our Epiphany texts with Simeon’s starkly prophetic words about Mary’s child. In January we considered how this episode in Jesus’s early life pointed to his identity as the Son of God. Today our thoughts turn to Mary who was taking on the responsibility of bringing up a very special child to face a future of joys and sorrows, welcome and hostility, healing and suffering, light and darkness – and she would be drawn into all of this too. Life is full of contrasts, highs and lows. We can never predict where our path will take us. After several decades of peace, who could have known how uncertain would be the world we now live in? But as mothers and caring friends, family and neighbours help see us through difficult times, so is Mother Church always there through the Holy Spirit to renew our hope and give us strength to face the future.
Heavenly Father, we give thanks for our mothers, grandmothers and godmothers and all who have loved and nurtured us over the years through their friendship and care for others. We thank you for the body of your Church and we pray you will help us to cherish and console each other and also to reach out to those in need of your love and healing power.
- We pray for all mothers to be and those bringing up small children in challenging times. We pray that they may receive the support and encouragement of family, friends and neighbours.
- We pray for doctors, midwives, nurses and social workers advising and caring for young mothers.
- We pray for those who longed for children and who have none.
- We pray for single parents contending with additional challenges and expectations.
- We pray for mothers who have been separated from their children because of war.
- We pray for those known to us who are in poor health, thinking of ..........................................
- We pray for the repose of the souls of those who have recently departed this life, thinking of ...................... We ask you, loving Father, to be with the bereaved, wherever they are, that they may be comforted by your constant presence.
Tender and compassionate God, surround us all in your loving embrace; and hold us always in your care.
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. St Anselm of Canterbury (1109)
Prayer from Archbishop Hosam Naoum of Jerusalem
O God of all justice and peace we cry out to you in the midst of pain and trauma of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land.
Be with those who need you in these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths – Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all the people of the land.
While we pray to you, O Lord, for an end to violence and the establishment of peace, we also call for you to bring justice and equity to the peoples.
Guide us into your kingdom where all people are treated with dignity and honour as your children, for to all of us you are our Heavenly Father. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Lord, you promise us a future in which the weapons of war will be transformed into instruments of peace.
Today is not such a day, as missiles rain down on Ukraine and innocent people take refuge underground..
You taught us to pray your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven,
and so we pray that you will restrain the aggressor, grant courage and wisdom to the resistance, and bring peace to this part of your world.
Look with mercy on the peoples of Ukraine and Russia, and grant our leaders wisdom and courage to seek a resolution that will allow truth and freedom to return to these lands.
Grant Lord, that through this conflict that we would have unimaginable four years ago, we may recognise anew our need for you, and live to thank you for answering our prayers.
Amen