January 31st, 2015

This is a service outline that was put together by those of us at the workshop on 31 January 2015

Either begin with intro or with drama

Intro

We speak often of God as Father.  We have fathers – some of them have been good fathers and some of them haven’t.  Some of us are fathers with varying degrees of success.  We look to God as father to help and inspire us towards the best in fatherhood and to understand what makes for healthy fatherhood and what doesn’t.

We also have need to speak of God as Mother.  We have mothers.  Some of our mothers have been good mothers and some of them haven’t.  Some of us are mothers with varying degrees of success. We look to God as mother to help and inspire us towards the best in motherhood and to understand what makes for healthy motherhood and what doesn’t.

Openning Hymn/Song

Drama

Kids fighting over who’s better – girls or boys – boy saying that God’s a boy…

Then kids saying qualities of their mothers  and fathers – but they’re the same….

My mum cooks for me /my dad cooks for me etc

Reading

Isaiah,  psalm 139  or Janet Morley’s Psalm.

Song

Question

What is it it that you can give away and share and it never runs out

Gospel Reading

Feeding of the 5000  Mark 6: 34-44

Talk

Feeding of 5000 –  Love never runs out

Maybe bring in here our good enough mother stuff?
Bring what we have to god – our offerings are small

Confession

Sometimes our parents fail us.  Sometimes we fail in our care of others.

Like an eagle teaching its young to fly,   catching them safely on its spreading wings,  the Lord kept Israel from falling. Deut 32:11,12

 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem,  how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34)

Mother God, your desire is to keep us safe.  You put children and the vulnerable into our care to keep safe.  Forgive us our failures.   Give us grace to forgive our mothers and carers where they failed to keep us safe.  Show us where healing can be found.

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I [God] comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” (Isa. 66:13)

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isa. 49:15)

Mother God your desire is to love us body and soul, no strings attached.  Unconditional love for those in our care, is our highest aim.  Forgive us  when we fail.  Give us grace to forgive.  Show us where healing can be found.

Absolution

Prayers

• Could have kids standing up around the church and saying a short prayer (get them to make them up in Trax/Youth Club before)
• Thanks for love shown and pray for healing for those who are lonely, hurt by lack of love… etc
• Give out slips of paper for people to write on – with pen or their finger… Bring up the prayers

Peace

do our peace song with actions?

Hymn/Song

Eucharistic Prayer

Song

Eat this bread

Give out Posies

With Celebration and Thankgiving – Church mediating God’s love to all