may 10, 2026

Guest Preacher: Raquel Irizarry

Please use this Order of Service to easily follow the service online.

CLICK HERE FOR HYMNS (or scroll to the bottom)

For Your Meditation

"Becoming a mother makes you realize you can do almost anything one-handed."

—Unknowm

Prelude           Debbie Deane

 Our opening Prelude invites you into a time of quiet reflection.

Chalice Lighting: In the Mystery of Life About Us There is Light by George Kimmich Beach

In the mystery of life about us there is light.

It gives us a place to be, to grow, to rejoice together.

It opens the pathways to love.

In this place of friendship there is freedom.

Let the light we kindle go before us,

Strong in hope, wide in good will,

Inviting the day to come.

Opening Hymn:        “In the Bulb There is a Flower”    NCH 433

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship: For All the Mothers by Lindasusan Ulrich

Leader: For all the mothers and mother figures

All: The grandmothers, aunts, and extended family members who mother

Leader: The soon-to-be mothers, the wish-they-were mothers, the never-wanted-to-be mothers, the “it’s complicated” mothers

All: The birth mothers, foster mothers, adoptive mothers, stepmothers

Leader: The “used to be Dad” mothers and “more than one Mom” mothers

All: The single mothers, separated mothers, stay-at-home mothers, unhoused mothers

Leader: The grieving mothers, those who grieve their mothers, and those whose grief is complex

All: For all the communities that mother

Leader: And for all who depend on the Great Mother

All: You are held — and beloved.

Prayer of Invocation

Modern Testimony:  Mother, a Cradle to Hold Me by Maya Angelou

It is true

I was created in you.

It is also true

That you were created for me.

I owned your voice.

It was shaped and tuned to soothe me.

Your arms were molded Into a cradle to hold me, to rock me.

The scent of your body was the air

Perfumed for me to breathe.

Mother,

During those early, dearest days

I did not dream that you had

A large life which included me,

For I had a life

Which was only you.

Time passed steadily and drew us apart.

I was unwilling.

I feared if I let you go

You would leave me eternally.

You smiled at my fears, saying

I could not stay in your lap forever.

That one day you would have to stand

And where would I be?

You smiled again.

I did not.

Without warning you left me,

But you returned immediately.

You left again and returned,

I admit, quickly,

But relief did not rest with me easily.

You left again, but again returned. You left again, but again returned.

Each time you reentered my world

You brought assurance.

Slowly I gained confidence.

You thought you know me,

But I did know you,

You thought you were watching me,

But I did hold you securely in my sight,

Recording every moment,

Memorizing your smiles, tracing your frowns.

In your absence

I rehearsed you,

The way you had of singing

On a breeze,

While a sob lay

At the root of your song.

The way you posed your head

So that the light could caress your face

When you put your fingers on my hand

And your hand on my arm,

I was blessed with a sense of health,

Of strength and very good fortune.

You were always

the heart of happiness to me,

Bringing nougats of glee,

Sweets of open laughter.

I loved you even during the years

When you knew nothing

And I knew everything, I loved you still.

Condescendingly of course,

From my high perch

Of teenage wisdom.I spoke sharply of you, often

Because you were slow to understand.

I grew older and

Was stunned to find

How much knowledge you had gleaned.

And so quickly.

Mother, I have learned enough now

To know I have learned nearly nothing.

On this day

When mothers are being honored,

Let me thank you

That my selfishness, ignorance, and mockery

Did not bring you to

Discard me like a broken doll

Which had lost its favor.

I thank you that

You still find something in me

To cherish, to admire and to love.

I thank you, Mother.

I love you.

Passing of the Peace

 Sharing of our Joys and Concerns:  Open to the Congregation

 Prayers of the People/Pastoral Prayer

 Offering        

Doxology:                   We Give You But Your Own - NCH 785

We give you but your own

Whatever gift may be,

All that we have is yours alone

We give it gratefully

Ancient testimony: John 14:15-21 New International Version

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[a] in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Hymn of Reflection:             “We Thank We All Our God” NCH 419

Sermon:                                  Are You My Mother?             Raquel Irizarry

Closing Hymn:                      “Bring Many Names”           NCH 11

Benediction 

Postlude                      Debbie Deane

All Souls Bethlehem Church

An Open and Affirming Congregation

Pastor: Rev. Dr. Boon Lin Ngeo

Ministers: All Members of ASBC

Minister Emeritus: Rev. Bill Nye 

First Time Visitor?  

Please sign our red Guest Book (located near the entrance)

and be our guest at the gathering following the service!

Interested in “Official” Church Membership?  

Please speak with Council President Raquel Irizarry about our next New Member gathering!  

An All-inclusive, Welcoming Community of Faith

born from the traditions of the:

Disciples of Christ - www.Disciples.org

United Church of Christ - www.UCC.org

Unitarian Universalist Association - www.UUA.org 

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