The GRUENE UMC NEWS
May 2018
Mother’s Day: We remember, celebrate, and pray for Mothers. When we were talking about the sacraments, my theological tutor Rev. Jim Mayfield compared Holy Communion to a mother’s kiss. "Like a mother’s kiss," he said, "It is a reminder that you are loved and cared for, that you are not alone, that you matter, that you belong- that you are part of the family. Long before you could wrap your mind around a concept of “love” you were kissed. On this special day we remember, celebrate, and thank our mother. Those who wake up at all hours of the night and care for children, those who selflessly sacrifice day in and day out for their children and would never use the word “sacrifice” they would use a much better word... “love” - We remember, thank and celebrate those mothers who mother adultssometimes even across country. - We celebrate the mothers who gave their children up for adoption so that someone else could have the chance to be a mother and we pray for those mothers who adopted. - We remember those who always longed to be mothers but never had the chance- we celebrate that longing today and we pray that longing comes to fruition by blood or otherwise. - We celebrate those mothers who are no longer with us. We remember them and the gravity of that loss.
- We remember those to whom the word “mother” doesn’t really conjure up images of warmth- those who have troubled relationships- and so we pray for you this day- for surrogate mothers who show true maternal nurturing, strength, and wisdom… to enter your life. - We pray for and remember those mothers who have lost children. Those for whom today is particularly tender- we remember you, and lift you up today in our prayers. - And of course we are grateful that our Bible teaches us that our personal pronouns do not apply to God. There are abundant images in the scriptures that speak of God as very maternal and feminine. We learn of a God who is a mother hen or eagle whose wings protect its offspring. We have all kinds of images of God giving birth and nurturing her children- It is in this image we were made and because of this we know what it means to mother and for that we thank God. Thank God for Mothers! Rev. Dan Harrington
This Month • Mother/Son Event • Vacation Bible Party • New Safety Certification • Mission Update • Senior Sunday