Last week I published our most recent Mother’s Day church liturgy at the Sojourn Church blog. As we do every year for Mother’s Day, we structured the service to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). Mother’s Day is a sad day for many, especially moms who have lost children from inside or outside the womb. But of course the holiday is a joyous celebration as well.
I’ve republished the entire liturgy here:
Prelude: Shelter Me written by Buddy and Julie Miller.
Call to Worship
We want to celebrate Mothers as a wonderful gift from God, but we want to be certain that we recognize mothers – and likewise, families in general – as a gift from the God who has created all things. So today, as we are called to worship by the scriptures, we’re called to worship a God who loves us and welcomes us into his family.
He has set us free by His blood;
He has forgiven our sins.
He has given us His Holy Spirit,
the seal and pledge of our inheritance.
All praise and glory be yours, O God,
for the richness of your grace,
for the splendor of your gifts,
for the wonder of your love.
—based on Ephesians 1:7-18 (from the Worship Sourcebook)
Song: All Creatures Of Our God And King written by Francis of Assisi.
Prayer of Lament:
Lord, Creator and giver of every good gift
We recall your creation isn’t as it should be.
Sin has broken what was good and inflicted pain.
On this day, we lift up to you the hearts that ache for healing in their family;
who long to be mothers, but mourn the absence of new life within them
who have conceived, but suffered loss through miscarriage or abortion
who have given birth, but endured the tragedy of burying a child.
Their grief is often hidden from us or neglected on this day of celebration of motherhood.
We pray that they may experience healing in this church family.
How long, O Lord, must death get its way at the outset of new life?
How long must joy be deferred or interrupted by such cruel sorrow?
Risen Lord of life, grant them comfort and peace,
breathe in us all the breath of new life.
Through Jesus Christ, who defeated death,
Amen.
Song: Bless the Lord Who Gives and Takes written by Kristen and Bobby Gilles, recorded on my wife Kristen’s new worship record Parker’s Mercy Brigade. Read the story behind the song and get the free “Bless The Lord Who Gives And Takes” chord sheet here.
Assurance
Jesus promises a day coming when our tears will be wiped away and everything is set right once and for all. Hear this hopeful vision John was given:
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”
– Revelation 21: 3-5
Song: All You Saints adapted by Brooks Ritter from a Gadsby hymn.
Passing Of The Peace: Because we have been adopted into God’s family, let’s greet each other here today.
Then our teaching pastor Jonah Sage taught a sermon from the prayer of Hannah, in 1 Samuel 1:20-2:11. You can listen to the sermon here.
Song: Future/Past written by John Mark McMillan. This was our Communion song of the week.
Reading: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
-Colossians 1:15-17
Because Jesus rules over all things and everything is held together in His hand, we can have hope in all things! In him we can rest and be secure so let’s continue to sing together to our rock and our redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Song: Rock of Ages written by Augustus Toplady and Thomas Hastings.
Song: Our God written by Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin and Jesse Reeves.
Benediction
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope. Go in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.