We praise and thank you this day for your gift of Mothers in this world – for the unconditional love you instill in their souls and the unlimited sacrifices they make for us their children.
May you bless the women who are at the beginning of their journey of motherhood with newborn babies and toddlers.
May you bless the mothers who are in the midst of teenage years with their children.
May you bless the single mother who is challenged to be all things to her children.
May you bless the mother who chooses to love and nurture the child of another.
May you bless the mothers who continue to guide their children and the next generation as grandmothers.
May you bless the mothers who grieve the loss of their children.
May you comfort the women who yearn to know the blessing of motherhood.
Continue to bless these women. Keep them healthy in body, mind and spirit. Allow them to tum to you when they struggle in their daily lives. And give them the courage, compassion and vision to meet the daily challenge of motherhood.
For those of us whose mothers now share your heavenly banquet: May you enable us this day to remember a special memory to help us endure the loss we feel from the absence of our mother in our daily lives. Thank you that they are in your presence knowing joy that we cannot imagine.
All this we ask in the name of the one who also knew the loving touch of his own mother Mary, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Prayer
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Oh My Soul” – Casting Crowns
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Reading: John 14: 1-12 (NLT)
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
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Reflection & Prayer:
Lord Jesus: you are the only way to the Father and, by your grace, you have claimed me as your own. My hope is in you alone; you will never leave me or forsake me. In you I have found rest for my soul.
+ You are the Way; you find me when I become lost; you direct me when I become confused; you walk me through my problems and difficulties.
+ You are the Truth: you embody the ultimate mystery of reality; you existed before all things, all things hold together in you.
+ You are the Life: you transform my life from within; your presence fills me with confidence and overflowing joy; in you I live and move and have my being.
Lord Jesus: you have prepared a place in eternity for all of us. Use me to connect others with you that they too may come home to the Father – who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“I Will Follow Him” – André Rieu
I will follow him, follow him wherever he may go | That near him I always will be | For nothing can keep me away | He is my destiny
I will follow him | Ever since he touched my heart I knew | There isn’t an ocean too deep | A mountain so high it can keep, keep me away | Away from his love
I love him, I love him, I love him | And where he goes I’ll follow, forever, and ever | And side by side together, I’ll be with my true love | And share a thousand sunsets together beside him
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Concluding Prayer – Excerpts Psalm 42-43 (NLT)
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!
Each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.
You are God, my only safe haven…. Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live. There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Prayer
Lord our God, you are distant and unknown, and yet so near that you know us and love us and save us through your Son Jesus Christ. May he be present in us and in our actions that we may do the same works of mercy, truth and loving service and thus become the sign to the world that your Son is alive and that you are a saving God now and for ever. Amen.
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Reading: John 14:7-14 (NLT)
If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
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Reflection & Prayer:
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for showing us the Father in all that you said and did. Draw me close to you, that I may draw life from you and breathe deeply of your Spirit.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being the face of the Father here in our midst. Live in me and through me, that I may faithfully fulfill your purpose for my life.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for opening up a new world of possibilities for us. Attune my heart to yours, and my will to yours, that I may successfully intercede for others in your name – and bring glory to the Father.
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“God Who Moves the Mountains” – Dustin Smith
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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 98:3-4 (NLT)
He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ is the way that leads to you and to one another, the truth that is good news of love and hope, and the life which he sacrificed to give it.
Help us to show the way to him and to go his way to one another, to speak the truth that is encouraging and credible, and to give life by sharing happiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Reading: John 14:1-6 (NLT)
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
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Reflection & Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ: in this evil age of conflict and uncertainty, speak to us a word of peace and encouragement.
+ Pacify our troubled hearts that we may love and serve all believers as members of our family in faith.
+ Thank you for preparing a place for us in our Father’s home where we can live together with you forever.
+ Give us patient endurance while we wait confidently for your return; even so, Lord, come quickly.
+ Sustain us with your Spirit that our lives may reflect your presence and bear credible witness to your Way to the Father.
Lord Jesus Christ: you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life – the only way by which we come to the Father. Secure us in our faith and support us in our trust that we may live with you forever in our Father’s house. For your name’s sake, we ask it. Amen.
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“Big House” – Audio Adrenaline
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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 98:1 (NLT)
Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Prayer
All-powerful God, you remind us today that we are not greater than your Son Jesus, our servant Lord and master. Give us the love and endurance to serve you and to serve others without waiting for awards or gratitude; and to accept the difficulties and contradictions which are part of the Christian life, and which are normal for followers of him who bore the cross for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Reading: John 13:16-20 (NLT)
I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
“I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah. I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”
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Reflection & Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ: you gave up your divine privileges, took the humble position of a servant, and were born as a human being. In washing your followers’ feet, you gave us an example of how to love and serve others.
+ Fill me with your Spirit that I may set aside all distractions and wait quietly for your word spoken to me.
+ Deepen my faith and trust in your loving-kindness that I may set aside my fears and do what you call me to do.
+ Give me the willingness to expend myself for others that I may find true happiness in their joy.
Lord Jesus Christ: you are the presence of the liberating face of God in our midst. May I decrease and you increase that I may find true freedom in your Father’s service, who lives with you and the holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“God I Look to You” – Bethel Music, Jenn Johnson
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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 89:1-2 (NLT)
I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
The Peanut Gallery 