Staff Prayer Ritual for Mother’s Day: OUTLINE of Ritual We Gather: Welcome & Introduction

Lighting of the 3 Candles (extended today) Opening Prayer

We Listen: Scripture Reading Sharing

We Respond: Writing the names of our mothers

Special Blessing for mothers Closing Prayer

We Go Forth: Blessing

Dismissal Sign of Peace

The Environment Ideally, set out chairs in a circle – creating a space that where people can be present to one another. Three candles are placed near (or on) a small table in the centre of the circle. It is on this small table that the bible rests open. Beside the bible, is an empty bowl. You will need:

� a Leader of prayer; a Reader (who will read from the Bible); 3 people to light the candles at the appropriate times in the ritual.

� a Bible (open at the Reading) on a small table covered with a white cloth (of lace or of

fabric that will suggest femininity).

� 3 candles + matches

� a bowl and some slips of paper (+ pens) on which people will write the names of their mothers at a certain point during the Prayer Ritual.

� Handouts for each staff member

� full text of the ritual for the Leader

Staff Prayer Ritual for Mother’s Day: Detail We Gather Welcome & Introduction Leader: Today, we remember our mothers and all those women who have given birth ... Lighting of the 3 Candles Leader: We light our 3 candles, as we remember the head, heart and hands

of those we call ‘mother’. Our first candle honours the innate wisdom with which mothers guide their children ... One of the group lights the ‘head’ candle in the prayer space.

Our second candle honours their loving hearts which never cease to believe and hope ... One of the group lights the ‘heart’ candle.

Our third candle honours our mothers’ capable hands which nurture and comfort ... One of the group lights the ‘hands’ candle.

Opening Prayer Leader: Let us pray ... All: Nurturing God,

You are the Eternal Life-Giver. Teach us how to recognise, protect and encourage new life as it develops so that, with you, we may create a better world for all people. We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

We Listen Scripture Reading

Reader: A reading from the prophet Isaiah (Is 49:15-16a)

Can a woman forget her baby at the breast,

feel no pity for the child she has borne? Even if these were to forget, I shall not forget you. Look, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. ... pause ... Sharing Leader: I invite you to take some time to link this image of a mothering God with your own experience of birthing ... as mother or father ... or as the creator

of something new, ie, art, music, etc. When you are ready, share what you can with the person near you ...

We Respond Leader: Let us take a moment now to write the names of our mothers on a slip of paper.

I invite you to place your mother’s name in the bowl near the Word of God. After we have done this, we will pray a special blessing for our mothers. (Give enough time for everyone to do this ...)

Now the Leader steps forward and takes the bowl with all the names of the mothers and holds it high while all pray this special blessing:

All: God of Sarah, Ruth and Rebecca; of Elizabeth, mother of John,

of Mary, mother of Jesus, listen to our prayer:

Bless all who ‘mother’ and bring new life in any way, these ‘mothers’ who teach and guide, who encourage and heal.

Invite them to the table of your eternal feast, these ‘mothers’ who feed and nurture the life that has been entrusted to them.

Embrace them warmly in the intimacy of your love, these ‘mothers’ who embrace with affection those who are helpless and dependent.

Bless them today with all good things: with health, with laughter, with joy and with love, with pride in their ‘children’ and the support of many friends.

May all ‘mothers’ who have nurtured life in others be themselves nurtured one day in your strong embrace, there, for all eternity, to rejoice with their families and friends.

The Leader puts the bowl of names back beside the Word of God. S/he then invites the Closing Prayer as follows:

Closing Prayer Leader: Let us pray ... All: Nurturing God,

Fill this world with a mother’s love! We ask this through your Son Jesus Christ, who gathers us together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

We Go Forth Blessing Leader: May the God who gives us Life bless us all in the name of the Father,

+ and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. All: AMEN! Dismissal Leader: Go forth from here to bring the best to birth in all you meet today! All: Thanks be to God! Sign of Peace Leader: Let us begin with one another by offering a Sign of Peace and friendship ...