Mother’s Day Service | A Time to Give Thanks for Mothers and Families before God
At Tsukuba Love of Christ Church, we offered our Mother’s Day Service on May 12. In the sanctuary, we took time to give thanks for those who walk as mothers, as well as those who have supported their families, and we brought our thanksgiving and prayers before God.
Mother’s Day can be a day when we express gratitude openly. At the same time, it can also bring many different feelings for different people. As a church, we value the time to bring each person’s thoughts before God and to pray for mothers, families, and the paths they are walking.
During the service, gifts were given with gratitude to the mothers who pour their hearts into caring for their families each day. In the faces of those who received the gifts, and in the eyes of those who gave them, we could see the warmth of people cherishing one another.
In the special Mother’s Day message, we heard from God’s Word through the story of Samuel and Hannah. Hannah prayed to God in the midst of her sorrow and continued to walk in deep trust. Through this message, we were reminded of a mother’s love and prayer, and of the importance of living in trust before God.
The journey of raising children and walking with family includes not only joy, but also days of uncertainty and weariness. Mothers, too, come before God as people who need prayer, care, and support. To hold this together in worship became a great encouragement for those who walk as mothers and for their families.
In the sanctuary, the smiles of families and the praise offered to God quietly filled the space. We give heartfelt thanks for the grace of sharing this Mother’s Day service together in gratitude.
Scenes from the Mother’s Day Service
The Beginning of Mother’s Day and Its Meaning in the Church
The origin of Mother’s Day is said to be found in churches in the United States in the early 1900s. Anna Jarvis held a memorial gathering at church in honor of her late mother and gave white carnations, which her mother had loved. This is said to have led to what we now know as Mother’s Day.
From its beginning, Mother’s Day held not only gratitude, but also a heart that mourned and gave thanks for one’s mother. In that sense, Mother’s Day is not a day that asks us only to be bright and thankful. It can also be a day when we quietly bring each family’s journey and the pain of the heart before God.
In Japan, Mother’s Day gradually spread during the Taisho era through Christians, churches, Sunday schools, and others connected with the Christian faith. Around 1915, gatherings for Mother’s Day are said to have been held mainly among Christian communities, including those connected with Aoyama Gakuin.
When we observe Mother’s Day in church, we give thanks for a mother’s love and devotion, and we also turn our hearts toward the unchanging love of God. Mothers themselves are also held in prayer and care before God.
Today, the ways people walk as mothers and the ways people support their families are varied. As a church, we value each person’s journey, praying for one another, and supporting one another.
Through the gratitude expressed in carnations and flowers, the words “thank you” shared within families, and the praise we offer to God, we become aware again that we are all upheld together before God.
If you are looking for a church in Tsukuba or are interested in attending worship, you are welcome to join us in a way that is comfortable for you. If you have any questions, please feel free to speak with a brother or sister nearby.
We pray that each family’s journey will be held before God and supported in prayer.