We recited this litany to celebrate mothers on Mother's Day
Leader: Mothers come in many different forms, and today we celebrate them all!
People: We confess ourselves as the children of God: each of us is a son or a daughter.
L. Bless those who are mothering in strange ways and times, for we know that God is with them.
P: We remember Elizabeth who had a child in old age, we remember Mary who had a child as a teenager.
L. For all those mothering people who are not here, for whatever reason, and help us to take some time today to give thanks for their lives, and to grieve their absence.
P: We remember Esther who grew to be a mother of faith, without having a mother of her own.
L: We give thanks to all those who have acted in love, mothering those who need it in their lives: the single fathers, the aunts, the grandmothers, those not tied to us by blood, all of whom provide the care we need.
P: We remember the Pharaoh's daughter, who took in Moses in his time of need and became mother to him.
L: For all those parents who have lost a child we pray and honor their parenthood.
P: We remember Naomi who grieved the death of both of her sons.
L: For those who feel their family is not normal, who feel motherless or childless, we pray forgiveness for forgetting or ignoring those for whom mother is a complicated word, for whatever reason.
P: We remember Sarah who was taunted by her own mother and sisters for her infertility.
L: For those for whom the church is their family, and see God as the mother they need, we give thanks.
P: We remember Ruth who committed herself to her mother-in-law's family, fortune and faith.
L: We give thanks for all the mothering people who practice waiting, waiting for a phone call or a visit, who are far away fro the children of their heart for whatever reason.
P: We remember the unnamed mothers, like the mother who had to wait for the prodigal son.
L: Help us to celebrate the full meaning of mother today.
All: Lord let us celebrate all motherhood in all its forms, today and every day in honor of you, God who birthed all creation into being, Amen.
