Worshipping at Home 27th March 2022
Home Worshipping 

Lent 4 - Mothering Sunday - 27th March 2022 

The First Hymn
Welcome!

The natural world around us is often called Mother Earth. It is a homely phrase that makes us feel included, valued and loved. In the same way we often talk of Mother Church, and that title implies an embrace that again helps us feel included, valued and loved. Welcome to you on this Mothering Sunday when we celebrate mums and motherhood on many levels. 


Psalm 8

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Acclamation

Now thank we all our God, 
with heart and hands and voices, 
who wondrous things hath done, 
in whom his world rejoices; 
who from our mother’s arms. 
hath blessed us on our way. 
with countless gifts of love, 
and still is ours today.

The Collect Prayer

God of compassion, 
whose son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary, 
shared the life of a home in Nazareth, 
and on the cross 
drew the whole human family to himself:  
strengthen us in our daily living 
that in joy and in sorrow we may know 
the power of your presence 
to bind together and to heal; 
through Jesus Christ your son our Lord, 
who is alive and reigns with you, 
in the unit of the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. Amen.

Sharing the Peace

We are the Family of God;
In the one Spirit we were all baptised
into one body.

Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
and builds up our common life.

(At this point please think of others
and in your heart send them
the message: Peace be with you.)

Bible Reading

Luke 15: 11-24 (The example of unconditional parental love.)

 

Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them. ‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. ‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!


I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.” So he got up and went to his father. ‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him. ‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” ‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.

Thought for the Day

We know God by many different names. God was not called Father from the start; this was a title given to God as people started acknowledging him as the source of life. Mostly in the masculine, but occasionally in the feminine, God has been worshipped as a faithful and loving parent. One of the most moving illustrations of this has come from Jesus in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It’s a story of unwavering parental loving commitment to their child. That, in itself is inspirational, but the story becomes astounding when we realise that this is how Jesus wants us to view God. Yes, this devoted, faithful, unconditional kind of loving is at the heart of the whole created order – everything. 

So, if we were to ask why a mother or a father doggedly stands by their child, regardless of what they may have done, the answer is simple: it’s in the DNA; it’s what love does; it’s the divine hallmark on everything. The only question that remains is ‘Does this kind of loving work’? The parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us that the unconditional love of the father towards his son was not irrational, silly, or unjustifiable. Instead we are told that the love was serious and carefully thought out. Love is not a soft option. 

Sometimes love is the most demanding and difficult of options. But it has that divine stamp of authenticity and approval on it. It is of eternal merit. In the long-run it’s the only thing that works. God bless our mothers, fathers, and anyone else who shows this kind of loving.

Let us Pray

Abba Father, you know us well, made in your image, a part of your will. You’ve seen our thoughts, know our words, you’ve laid your hand upon us, Lord. If we lay down in the dark of the night, Closing our eyes to shut out your light, in our darkness you’re there beside us, a loving Father, a hand to guide. If we rise up on the wings of a bird, soar to the heavens, or fly to the depths of the earth, high or low, there’s nowhere to hide, nowhere to go. There’s no hiding place from the presence of your Spirit. No hiding place from the searching of our heart, no hiding place from the hand that’s there to guide us. For wherever we are, be it near or far, wherever we are, is the place where you are. We give thanks. Amen.

Lord, lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth. Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Let peace fill our hearts, our world and our universe. Let us dream together, pray together and work together, to build one world of peace and justice for all. Amen.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

(Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.)
The Blessing

May the love of the Father enfold you, the wisdom of the Son enlighten you,   the fire of the Spirit kindle you; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.


Amen.

 The Second Hymn

Bible Readings for the Week

Monday: Leviticus 23:26-41; Revelation 19:1-8

Tuesday: Leviticus 25:1-19; Revelation 19:9-10

Wednesday: 2 Kings 4:1-7; Luke 9:10-17

Thursday: Isaiah 43:1-7; Philippians 2:19-24

Friday: Isaiah 43:8-15; Philippians 2:25-3:1

Saturday: Exodus 12:21-27; John 11:45-57

If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact us

Henley in Arden The incumbent/priest in charge John Ganjavi
telephone 01564 792570 or email Incumbent / Priest in charge

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I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.
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