St Mary's Church, Mudford

Intercessions

                                                  Prayers of Intercession 

Sunday 30th March, the fourth Sunday of Lent and Mothering Sunday

A prayer for mothers and those who mother: 

Clothed with strength and dignity,  

Lord, on this special day set aside for Mothering,  

we thank you for our mothers,  

for all who fulfil the role of mother,  

and for ‘Mother Church’.   

We thank You for the dignity, high calling  

and honour you give to mothers and mothering.  

Equip all mothers with the courage  

and confidence to share their faith with joy.   

Grant them wisdom, tenacity and love,  

to meet the demands of this age.  

Grant them zeal and grace  

to meet the opportunities of each day.  

Protect them. Guide them.  

Comfort them. Strengthen them.   

May all who serve in ‘mothering roles’   

know the peace that passes all understanding  

as they seek to live and work for you. 

Amen  

As we honour mothers today, let us also pray for peace:

Loving God, we pray for peace in the world. We pray for an end to war and conflict and to all the suffering that goes with it. We ask for your peace to rest upon mothers and all who show us what it means to love, nurture, and care. May they experience your peace in their hearts, in their homes, and in their relationships. Grant them strength in times of weariness, wisdom in moments of uncertainty, and grace when faced with challenges. Help them to be peacemakers in their families, to model forgiveness and reconciliation, and to teach a new generation how to live in peace. May the peace of Christ reign in their hearts and overflow into the lives of those they love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Loving God, you have given us the right to be called children of God. Help us to show your love in our homes that they may be places of love, security and truth.

God of love, hear our prayer.

Loving God, Jesus, your Son, was born into the family of Mary and Joseph; bless all parents and all who care for children; strengthen those families living under stress and may your love be known where no human love is found.

God of love, hear our prayer.

Loving God we pray for all those who work with children and families. We pray for voluntary sector organisations, community groups, social workers, teachers and health visitors - all those who help the families living in our community.

God of love, hear our prayer.

Loving God, we thank you for the family of the Church. We pray that all may find in her their true home; that the lonely, the marginalized, the rejected may be welcomed and loved. On this day we pray especially for all those who long to be parents, for those who must work away from their children and those who have suffered the pain of losing their child. We pray especially for all those for whom Mothering Sunday is a day of pain and regret.

God of love, hear our prayer.

Loving God, we bring our special prayers to you, those we have written on the flowers and those that are still locked up in our hearts. We know that you always listen and will always answer when we pray in faith. Help us to hear you voice when you speak to us, now and always.

God of love, hear our prayer