Last week a number of the RevGals discussed different ways of observing Mother's Day as they were making plans for Sunday worship. They were particularly concerned with the pain that the day causes for those who are mourning the loss of a mother, have a conflicted or estranged relationship with a mother or grieve their inability to have a child.
Yesterday at our church tables were set up in front of the chancel area with pens and medium size post-it notes. Several large easels displayed large boards to put them on. The congregation was invited to come forward and post prayers of thanksgiving, remembrance or for healing of relationship for their mothers on the boards while the choir sang an anthem. Then one of the pastors gave a closing prayer that specifically included prayers for those who struggled with fertility issues and those with troubled relationships with their mothers. The process was surprisingly efficient given the fact that there were several hundred in the congregation.
I pass this idea on in case some of the RevGals find it something they could use or adapt for their own congregations. By focusing on the the mothers OF the congregation rather than the mothers IN the congregation, the acknowledgment of Mothers Day was more inclusive. We all have mothers, but all women aren't mothers.
10 comments:
What a great idea, thank you for sharing it!
Oh that is just so cool!
Thank you; I too think that is more inclusive.
Especially since the prayers could be whatever--and we all have mothers, even if they are biological mothers we never knew--so people in that situation could write a prayer that was appropriate to them.
Good job MDPC.
That's a great idea. I am going to file and use it. And it is more inclusive.
Ditto what everyone said. I wish my church could have done something like that. Instead we got the "Who is a mom over 80" contest and they got a rose. *sigh*
Very good idea! Note to file for next year. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much! As a woman who struggled through her first Mother's Day after an infertility diagnosis, thank you for not making it even more difficult for those who want more than anything to be a mother.
Just read this, QG, and I too am printing it and filing it for next year. I love it.
I hope the road trip was uneventful and the meeting was productive.
That is a fantastic way to handle Mother's Day. I would have appreciated an approach like that.
I did not have a really good relationship with my mother, but I don't let that interfere with focus on mothers on Mother's Day. I emphasize the fact that we all have had mothers, and give opportunity for anyone who wishes to honor their mother, grandmother, other significant women, living or dead.
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