Church Prayers and Intercessions for Mothering Sunday

We pray especially for all who find Mothering Sunday painful:
We pray for mothers who watch over children who are ill
and children who watch over their suffering mothers;
We remember mothers who are apart from their children
and mothers who grieve because their children have died.

For those who longed for children and who have none
For those without their mothers because of illness or death
And who, in their longing, know themselves to be alone;
For children who are abused or neglected,
For children missing their mothers on this day
And all who suffer the impact of family breakdown
We ask that you would be a light in the darkness.

Tender and compassionate God
surround us all in your loving embrace;
and hold us always in your care.

Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

We commit our struggling world and the conflicts that spoil our relationships into your hands of love.
For people we know who are sick and for those close to death,
We ask for peace.
For all who offer us love and compassion
And nurture us into growth and wholeness
we give you thanks.

May we walk more faithfully with Jesus
and follow him, as Mary did,
to the foot of the cross
and onwards into the light of resurrection hope.

In the company of one another and of all the saints in glory
May we gaze on Jesus, the light of the world that will never be overcome.

 

Second Prayers

Prayers of Intercession
Father of mercy
and God of all consolation,
turn your gaze towards us as
we humbly lift our prayers
to you saying:
Abide in our hearts
All: Show us your love.

We praise and glorify you
for your steadfast love and
the nurture of all your children.
Abide in our hearts
All: Show us your love.

We thank you for the body
of your Church and we pray
you will teach us how to console
and cherish each other as
followers of your beloved Son.
Abide in our hearts
All: Show us your love.

May the voices of all Christians
be united as one voice,
proclaiming a message of
love and hope.
Abide in our hearts
All: Show us your love.

May your Spirit of Truth
enrich our Bible reading and prayer
with the light of your wisdom.
Abide in our hearts
All: Show us your love.

May the circle of your love
close around those whose
relationships are broken
and in need of your healing.
Abide in our hearts
All: Show us your love.

May the light of Christ
shine into the darkness
of injustice and suffering.
Abide in our hearts
All: Show us your love.

Teach us to hold pain
with the compassion
and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Abide in our hearts
All: Show us your love.

May the faithful departed
know the fulfilment of their hope
as you receive them into your Kingdom
to live with you forever and ever.
Abide in our hearts
All: Show us your love.

May you fill our hearts with the assurance
that our prayers will rise up to you as a
fragrant offering and be pleasing to you.
Merciful Father,
All: accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Third Prayers

We give thanks for the Church, our mother, who brought us to birth in the family of Christ, through the waters of baptism.

We pray that all Christians will hear again God’s call to mother those in need, and bring them home to God.

Lord, in your mercy. All Hear our prayer.

We pray for all those in authority in our nation and in our world. May they learn from the example of Jesus Christ that true power is the power to feed the poor and the hungry, to make a home for the homeless and to offer hospitality to the broken-hearted.

Lord, in your mercy. All Hear our prayer.

We pray for our own community. May we see each other as brothers and sisters, called to sit at God’s family table together. Let us work together for that great day when God comes again to restore heaven and earth.

Lord, in your mercy. All Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who suffer today, in mind, body or spirit. In particular, we pray for those who have lost a motherly presence, and for those who have never known a mother’s love. May they find consolation in God, the one in whom every family on earth finds its home.

Lord, in your mercy. All Hear our prayer.

We give thanks for all who have loved us and nurtured us in faith. May we be bold to share what we have received.

Lord, in your mercy. All Hear our prayer.

We give thanks for all those who have gone before us into the many mansions of the Father’s home. May we learn from them to trust God’s care and provision for us, all the days of our life and into our death.

Lord, in your mercy. All Hear our prayer.