Celebrating Mother’s Day
In the Middle Ages, many flowers were considered symbolic of the Virgin Mary, Jesus’ mother. Barbara Damrosch, in Theme Gardens, lists pink, carnations, sweet williams, iris, lavender, lilies, marigolds, pansies, roses and violets as flowers appropriate to Mary.

Mother’s Day will be upon us soon, so in honor of mothers everywhere (and remembering Mary the mother of Jesus), invite your children to make potpourri baskets to give to the women in your congregation, elderly women who are homebound or in nursing homes, or even their own mother.

Materials

• Plastic mesh strawberry baskets
• Ribbons in shades of pink, mauve, violet, etc.
• Small oranges or tangerines
• Cloves
• Thimbles
• Dried rose petals
• Dried lavendar petals

Directions

1. Weave ribbons in and out of the holes in the plastic mesh basket until the basket is covered with a pleasing design of ribbons.
2. Make a pomander by studding an orange or tangerine with cloves. If necessary, use a thimble to press the cloves deeply into the fruit.
3. Set the pomander in the middle of the basket.
4. Use the rose and lavender petals to make a nest for the pomander, alternating handfuls of petals in a pleasing design.

A Prayer for Mother’s Day

God our Creator, we pray:
for new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility;
for expectant mothers, wondering and waiting;
for those who are tired, stressed or depressed;
for those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family;
for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty;
for those whose children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities;
for those who have children they do not want;
for those who raise children on their own;
for those who have lost a child;
for those who care for the children of others;
for those whose children have left home; 
and for those whose desire to be a mother has not been fulfilled.
Bless all mothers, that their love may be deep and tender,
and that they may lead their children to know and do what is good,
living not for themselves alone, but for God and for others.
Amen.