Holy God, in whom we live and move and have our being, we lift up to you the prayers on our hearts this day. We name to you these, our precious hopes.

Mother God, who nurtures us as a Mother Hen watches over her flock, cover us with your love. On this Mother’s Day, we give thanks for the mothering we have received. We lift up our gratitude for the creative and steadfast power of the women who brought us into this world and those who sustain us in it. For lessons taught, for sacrifices made, we lift up our prayers of praise. 

For those of us who need your tenderness on this day, whether we are grieving a loss of a parent, child, or a role within our family, be with us.
For those of us who long to be mothers, hold us in your embrace, oh loving God. Show us the path to nurturing, whatever form that takes.
For those of us who have had to mother ourselves, strengthen us this day.
For those who mother under threat of violence or war, or who seek a better life for their children, lend your courage, lend your presence of steadfast love.
Move your spirit of gentleness through each of our hearts - whatever they hold on this day. Rejoice with us in our rejoicing, if this day brings tears let your love be there, help give us the strength and courage to be makers as you have been, Creator God.
Be with us in the moments when we desire the faith of Lydia, even as we feel within us our fears or questions.

Lift in our hearts your spirit of tender mercy as we behold our neighbors near and far, especially those we imagine are not like us. Teach us to see each other as you created each of us: in your holy image, beloved just as we are. Help us to be bold in our actions on behalf of the poor, and the oppressed, the refugee and the immigrant, as you commanded us, oh Christ.

Waymaker, peacebuilder, we call on your holy names today to bring peace even where peace feels unreachable. Bring peace to all those in Sudan and Ukraine and Pakistan, bring peace, real peace, to Israel and Gaza, bring peace to our nation as we work toward the promise of together what we can be.

Loving God, we know you accompany us even when we do not see it. We lift up to you the joys and sorrows of our lives. The news we await from doctors and tests. The care we hold for those who mourn, and who long to be comforted.

We pray all this in the name of the one who came to give abundant life, as we pray together the prayer your son Jesus taught us, saying:

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.