Getting Acquainted:
“But Mary Kept All These Things...” Luke 2:19
Many wonderful things happened around the birth of Jesus. All that heard about them wondered, "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." Mary kept these thoughts in her mind and heart. Many times mothers keep more than thoughts of their children. I kept a few of the toys my children played with when they were very young. As you plan your Mother's Day activity, ask all the mothers to bring a small item they have kept down through the years. Each mother can place the item on the table in front of them and some may wish to share a story of why they kept this thing for all these years.Door Prize:
“... A Woman That Feareth The LORD, She Shall Be Praised.” Proverbs 31:30
Potted plants and flowers make good door prizes for a Mother's Day Banquet. You could give the door prize to the woman with the oldest kept item (above). Or you could give a door prize to the oldest mother, or youngest mother, or mother with the youngest child. I went to a Mother - Daughter Banquet once where many women brought small gifts to be used as door prizes and numbers were drawn until all the gifts were given out.
“But Mary Kept All These Things...” Luke 2:19
Mary kept all those things in her heart. When my first son was young someone gave me a "wordless book" as a Christmas gift. I started keeping a journal of things that happened in my life. Not only the big, important things, but the little, everyday things that my children said, and did. I wrote about my hopes and dreams, and about my fears and sorrows. Now, over twenty years later, I would not take anything for my journals. My children are growing up and I am glad that I can bring back the memories of when they were small. These little books would make wonderful door prizes. I have seen them range in price from $1.00 in the dollar stores, to around $20.00 in the book stores. It doesn't matter how much you spend on them, it is what is written on the inside that counts.Refreshments:
“...Come To The Banquet...” Esther 5:8
Choose a time that you wish to have your special time to honor your mothers and plan your meal around that. I have been to a Mother - Daughter Brunch between breakfast and lunch with breakfast foods and fresh fruit. I have also been to an evening Banquet where a meal was catered and also those where each person brought a dish. An afternoon "tea" might also be something different for your group. Ask everyone to "dress up" and serve tea and finger sandwiches and fresh fruit. Devotions:
“Honour Thy Father And Mother...” Ephesians 6:2
If you want to have your devotional time on mothers in the Bible, you may find Honor Thy Father And Mother or A Mother's Heart helpful. For a crossword puzzle on mothers in the Bible go to Who's My Mother? All of the answers are also matching and include scripture references to make the crossword a little easier. Out Reach:
“... A Joyful Mother Of Children” Psalm 113:9
Now would be a good time to visit the neighborhood around your church to invite the families for a special Mother's Day worship service. Let them know if you have a nursery available and maybe some in your group could volunteer to help with the children in the nursery or young children' classes.Projects:
“... A Joyful Mother Of Children” Psalm 113:9
Maybe your group would want to plan a special time for the Mothers in your church. Some may be talented and interested in doing a skit on the stages of a young girl as she goes from her teen years, to marriage, motherhood, and on to being a grandmother. You may choose a special speaker with a topic for women. Fresh flowers, even wildflowers, make pretty centerpieces for your tables. You may also want to gather baby pictures of your guests and use them around the room. If you put a number beside each picture, everyone could guess who is in each picture.“... He Was A Goodly Child ...” Exodus 2:2
Moses was a goodly child and when Pharaoh's daughter found baby Moses she had compassion on him and wanted to keep him for her own. She let Moses' own mother keep him for her while he was very young and even paid her wages to do so. We have a nursery available in our church where children can be watched during the services. A thoughtful project for your group would be to make cards for these nursery workers who give their time to watch over the babies during the worship services. You could give them out on Mother's Day to say "Thank you for being a part-time Mother to our nursery babies."
