Greetings!
As we approach Mother's Day on Sunday, I recognize that for some it is a day of joy and gladness; for others it is a day merely to survive and to get through because of a variety of pains and losses some seek to endure. With that in mind, I offer to each of you one of my favorite Pastoral Prayers for Mother's Day, some of which is original, some of which is borrowed from others.
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A prayer for Mother's Day
O God who births us into nuclear families and then calls us into families of faith, a wonderful collection of creatures all formed by you, we rejoice this day to name you Love. For it is your love that brings us together, your love that sustains us in all things, your love that sends us forth to serve and love one another. Thank you for your gift of love to us and to all.
O God who holds on to us in the darkness, we pray for those for whom this day is particularly difficult. For those whose mothers have joined you in heaven and whom we sorely miss here on earth, for those who have lost a child to death and must carry on with a hole in their heart, for those who desperately want to have a child of their own but whose arms only hold someone else's. We pray for every woman who didn't know her child, and for all of the children who didn't know their mother, and we ask for your holy healing on hearts that are fragile and wounds that are raw.
O God, as we celebrate Mother's Day, we rejoice with moms who have warm and close relationships with their children, and we also pray for and sit with those who live with disappointment, heartache, and distance from their children. We pray for those who think they're doing a fairly good job of juggling the various roles of motherhood, and for those who frequently feel at the end of their rope. We lift before you our families of upbringing and those whom we now claim as family and we ask your blessing on us all. Thank you, O God, for all people who love us with motherly love.
O God, we pray for your children all around the world. Keep us from sibling rivalry. Help us remember that we don't need to prove ourselves better than anyone else, because we are all loved by you ... totally, completely, and without condition. Like a Mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a Father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, you are faithful still. Thank you for being our God. Amen.
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Whatever your own feelings are about Mother's Day, know that you are not alone. And Monday will come.
God's peace to you all,
Clara Thompson
Interim Parish Associate
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Our Easter season sermon series Life In All Its Fullness continues (click for video). This week, Rev. Kathleen Owens joins us and preaches on John 10:22-30. And we have not one, but TWO baptisms in store. Ann Kechele and Emmaline McLaughlin will be baptized into the church. Join us in person OR ONLINE for worship!
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In-Person and Livestream worship at 9:00 & 11:00am
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Visit our Worship HQ for everything you need to worship with us online!
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Life In All Its Fullness Easter Sermon Series Week 3
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Rev. Kathleen Owens - "Claiming Our Place in the Abundant Flock of Christ" (John 10:22-30)
- Baptism of Ann Kechele and Emmaline McLaughlin (11:00)
- Music from New Day Ensemble and Ben Welch (9:00), and Doug McNeel, Melissa Hinz, and the Covenant Handbell Choir (11:00)
- Children's Time with Jo Wiersema
- Kaleidoscope Kids during 9:00 service
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If you missed a service or would like to watch a service again, all livestreamed services are saved to our YouTube channel. Or you can give the sermons another listen on our sermon podcast!
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Join us on Sunday at 10:00am in person (Bradfield Hall) or on Zoom for the class “Lazarus, Come Out… and then what?” with Covenant member Marilyn Krichko. During this class, we will explore the meaning of the name Lazarus, why Jesus was not alone that amazing day, and how we can apply this teaching to our own lives.
For more info on Adult Education at Covenant, visit covenantmadison.org/adult. There, you can watch past classes, or access class resources.
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"Show me you love me by how you live your life."
This week, it's Pastor Clara's turn! On the evening of May Day, she had an unexpected visitor at her home. Read more to find out what happens next! Click on image above.
Midweek Musings is a weekly Covenant blog with a variety of authors and spiritual topics. Feel free to leave a comment as you are moved. We are excited to be reviving this blog, and hope that it blesses you this week and the weeks to come.
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Spiritual Strolls are hosted by CONNECT, a program of events sponsored by the deacons of Covenant Presbyterian Church with the intention of fostering connection within the congregation and community.
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The VBS theme this year is Playing with Parables, where kids ages 3 years old to 5th grade can learn the stories of the Bible in a new and exciting way! We will be joining alongside Bethany United Methodist Church this year. REGISTER HERE or pick up a paper registration form outside of Jo Wiersema’s office. It will be $5 per child, or $10 for families. Friends of Covenant are welcome. Click on the image above for more information. If you have an interest in volunteering or questions about Vacation Bible School, please contact Jo Wiersema.
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Mercy Mats - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays from 1:30-3:00pm |
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Mercy Mats is a project where a group of people gather in Bradfield Hall to cut up plastic shopping bags, join them into long “skeins” of “plarn”, and crochet them into mats. The completed mats are then distributed to our Mission Partners Friends of State Street and Porchlight for use by the homeless. The project not only gives a little more comfort to those sleeping on them, since it takes about 700 bags to complete a mat it also keeps a lot of plastic out of the landfill and waterways!
Please come join us! No special skills are required and it provides a great fellowship opportunity. If you can’t come on Wednesdays but still want to help, please save your clean plastic shopping bags and newspaper bags and bring them to church for the group to use. You’ll find the Mercy Mats display and receptacle for plastic bags on the west wall of the coatroom, located to your left inside the main entrance. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Laurie Jones.
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