Somewhere This Morning: A 21st Century Africana Liturgy Resource for Mother's Day

Gathering Call
Leader: Somewhere this morning, mothers are awakening and saying: "Good morning, Lord. Thank you for another day!"

People: Good morning, Lord. Thank you for another day!

Leader: Somewhere this morning, mothers are awakening and saying: "Oh Lord, not another day."

People: Oh Lord, not another day.

Leader: Somewhere this morning, mothers are awakening and saying: "Oh Lord, order my steps this day." People: Oh Lord, order my steps this day.

Leader: Somewhere this morning, mothers are awakening and saying: "Oh Lord, will I make it through this day?"

People: Oh Lord, will I make it through this day?

Leader: Somewhere this morning, mothers are awakening on the other side of glory and saying: "Oh Lord, we knew you didn't bring us this far to leave us. Thank you, Lord, for eternal life!"

People: Oh Lord we know you didn't bring us this far to leave us. Thank you, Lord, for eternal life!

Opening Special Music (could also be danced):
"My Lord, What a Morning," "I Don't Feel Noways Tired," or "Give Me Jesus"

Morning Prayer
Oh Lord, thank you for waking us up this morning to pay homage to you through your son, Jesus Christ. We pay homage also this day to our mothers, whether we knew them or not. We pay homage to our mothers, whether they showed us love or not. We pay homage to them Lord, because you chose women to usher new life into the world. Through their pains, we have been born onto this earth. We love them just because they are our mothers. Through the pain of Jesus, we have been born again on earth and in heaven.

Thank you for mothers everywhere. To mothers who are strong, grant gentleness and understanding. To mothers who are weak, grant grace sufficient to meet their every need. God of our mothers, hear their prayers and fill them with your Divine Spirit and Wisdom. "While on them you are calling," do not pass us by. Amen.

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Sherrie Boyens-Dobbs is a Conference Approved Evangelist, the Assistant Dean of the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and a clergy member of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference.

Copyright © 2005 the Rev. Sherrie Boyens Dobbs. Used with permission.