Congregation Unitarian Universalist

Mother's Day

A Day for All Women

En Español

Prelude and Opening Words

Mothers come in many guises. They are birth mothers, adoptive mothers, foster mothers, mentors and Mother's of Invention. There are the ones who guided, nurtured and challenged us, and they lived next door, or across the country. Some families have no women as parents, and others have only women as parents. It's a day to honor mothers and consider who has been a mothering presence for you in your life. Special recognition to all those of you who are not "technically" mothers, but who have expressed your "maternal" care to others - step-children, students, nieces and nephews, patients, beloved pets, neighbors, friends. Anyone can value and express the virtue of unselfish caring, one of the most visible expressions of "maternal instinct." And, as we recall on Mother's Day, many of us learned that behavior from our mothers - but also from grandmothers, sisters, friends, teachers, neighbors - even fathers and other caring men.

Lighting the Chalice:

In the quietness of this place and in the Spirit of this Community in which we share and find strength

To rediscover the wondrous gift of free religious community;
To renew our faith in the holiness, goodness, and beauty of life;
To reaffirm the way of the open mind and full heart;
To rekindle the flame of memory and hope; and
To reclaim the vision of earth made fair, with all her people one
Prayer: ( followed by a moment of silent meditation) Original Mother's Day Proclamation by Julia Ward Howe
Mother's Day Proclamation - 1870

Arise then...women of this day! Arise, all women who have hearts! Whether your baptism be of water or of tears! Say firmly: "We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies, Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, For caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We, the women of one country, Will be too tender of those of another country To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs." >From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice." Blood does not wipe our dishonor, Nor violence indicate possession. As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil At the summons of war, Let women now leave all that may be left of home For a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means Whereby the great human family can live in peace... Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar, But of God - In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask That a general congress of women without limit of nationality, May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient And the earliest period consistent with its objects, To promote the alliance of the different nationalities, The amicable settlement of international questions, The great and general interests of peace. Let us pray.

Joys and Concerns: (We throw a small stone into this bowl filled with water, to symbolize our thoughts, which move in circular rings eternally, like concentric waves.)
We invite you to share your joys and concerns since our last meeting
Story for All Ages:  (the children go to Religious Education at the end of the story and the adults sing "Spitit of Life" )

Hymn::    # 123  (STLT)   "Spirit of Life"   by Carolyn McDade (adapted)

Spirit of Life, come unto us,
Sing in our hearts all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
Move in our hands, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold us close; wings set us ,;
Spirit of Life, come to us, come to me.

First Reading:

Second Reading:

Discussion Theme : "Parenting as a Spiritual Journey"   Copyright Congregation Unitarian Universalist of Puerto Rico Domestic Non-Profit Corporation #6268

Part of the challenge of parenting is that our role changes as our families grow. Perhaps it would help if we understood the path of parenthood as a spiritual journey.

*Closing circle of hands: (Holding hands or link arms as you read the closing words together)

Extinguish Chalice:

Final Thoughts: "How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong because some day in life you will have been all these."

by George Washington Carver

*Hymn: Go now in Peace,

Go now in Peace, Go now in Peace,

May the Love of God surround you

Everywhere, everywhere, You may go

*Stand as you are willing or able






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