Loving God, our heavenly Father, in our worship today we say thank you for all that our mothers are to us and for all that they do for us.

But we also know that for some people this is a difficult day holding hurt, grief and perhaps anger. We pray that you will draw alongside those who are hurting today to comfort them and surround them with your tender care.

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray:

· for women who grieve because they are unable to have the children they so long to hold and love.
· for mothers who grieve because, like Mary, they have had to see their child die too soon.
· for mothers who grieve because they are cut off from their children by disappointment, anger or bitterness.
· for mothers who are worried or afraid for their child’s well-being or safety.

We ask you, heavenly Father, to bring healing, comfort, forgiveness and peace into the hearts and minds of hurting mothers.

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray:

· for children who grieve because they have lost their mother through illness, accident or violence.
· for children whose mothers have been unable to give them the love and care they need so that they now live in families and homes which are not their own.
· for children who are still living in homes that are unsafe and with adults who cannot put the child’s needs before their own.
· for children who through hardship and poverty are not being provided with an adequate diet or basic medical care.

We ask you, heavenly Father, to bring love and security, courage and hope into the lives of hurting children today.

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We ask you heavenly Father, to bring healing and forgiveness into the lives of all those for whom today brings back painful memories of broken relationships and loss.

Help us all to find in the brothers and sisters of Christ a loving family with whom we may show your love and tender care for all your hurting children.

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Loving God, trusting in your promise to hear us when we pray in faith, we ask you to bless all our relationships in the families of our homes, our church and our communities so that through our lives your loving will for us may be done.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.