Mother's Day Sharing

Thank God for Mothers! May 13, 2012

TIME	Title	Vocals/ Emcee	Keyboard		Guitar	Bass	Drums	Length	NOTES
	Welcome/Worship CCChurch
	3 Worship songs	Bee Luen						15	CCChurch team, songs chosen by women of the church
	Announcements	Pastor Amos						5
	100 Years Into	K!						3 [6]	Intro
Introduction When Pas Amos called to ask me to share with you a special message for Mother’s Day, I was so honored and excited. I’ve enjoyed teaching creative arts to some from this congregation, but haven’t had much opportunity to collaborate with them in doing something creative! Thank you Pastor Amos for inviting an artist to share your pulpit. Thank you to all of those in this church who have pitched in and added some element to what’s going to take place in the next 75 minutes! As I've been praying about Mother's Day with you and your church, I am convinced that this should be a morning to worship and thank God for what he has created in making women. All women. I have very strong convictions about this because for my first 8 years of marriage, I was childless, and a Pastor's Wife. Mother's Day was a very difficult day to attend church, and people said the most unintentionally hurtful things. In fact, the last 2 years before my biological son Tyler came, I didn't go to church on Mother’s Day! He’s 19 now, and off to University in USA, and today my awesome 15 year old Cameron is here to support me, but I still feel a pang of sadness on Mother’s Day for women who have not had the honor of bearing and raising a child. I believe that the church can have a day where we recognize mothers without making the women who are not mothers feel awful about themselves. So, church, help me make this a morning where we take a look at what God made when he created women. Did you ever stop to think that the Woman was his “finale of creation?” Hey, hey! Can I hear an AMEN? Have you read the creation accounts in Genesis recently? Genesis ch 1 & ch 2 go about telling the story in a little different way, but here’s how I pieced it together. Will you stand with me as I read God’s Word? Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”  [So, maybe we women were his Encore? He finished creation, said it was good, but…not quite good enough…] So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “Whoa! Man!’ This is now bone of my bones  and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man. ” God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning —the sixth day. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Don’t sit down yet! Men, boys, I want you to leave church today immensely thankful to God for what he has created when he created the girls, and more dedicated to being intentional about making sure you let these women, and the other women in your life know what a gift they are! Okay, you boys can sit. Women, look at me. The world is a richer place because of what God made when he made you females. All of you women have been given special gifting that is part of God’s nature. And it is unique to women: You have amazing power in your Nurturing, and in your ability to be quiet influencers. Women, and girls, at the end of this hour, I want you to leave with new resolve to explore and live out this nurturing, influencing aspect of your nature. Nurturing and influence is something in your DNA which is a unique exhibit of part of God’s attributes. Now, all of you women are part of God’s plan to nurture and influence the next generation for truth, righteousness and God’s Kingdom and his values. And for this moment this morning, I single out those of you who have raised children in your home. While the rest of the band comes up to join me, will you remain standing? Those of you who have raised children in your home. Those of you who have born or adopted children. [let others sit] You have sacrificed much of on behalf of the Someone or Someones who call you “Mum.” On your good days, and even on your bad days, you show us what God is like in his forgiveness, unrelenting care, faithfulness and nurturing heart. The way you care for your family and have dreams for your kids’ future success, it models what God is like as he patiently helps us grow to maturity in Christ and becoming all we are destined to be. Ladies who are mums and caregivers, there’s a whole lot you do to take care of your families that goes unrecognized by anyone but God. Thank you for your sacrifice of love. Can we all give these gals who are standing some applause? Let’s take a moment to recognize them and thank them. [lead in applause, they are seated, slide change] Here’s a little slideshow for you, from your families.
	100 Years	K!	Kara Lu		Daniel Ang		Jeffery	4:07	(Slide show of photos from families in the church)
	I Enjoy Being a Girl Intro							3
Blank theme slide My friends Daniel Ang on guitar and his wife Annabelle Ang-Bok singing with me have been among my artistic friends since they were dating, and I’m so thankful they agreed to join me today to worship God, and bless you by being part of this band today. They’ve known Jeffrey back there on the drums for a long time, and 12 year old Kara Lu came along willingly to play 100 Years, and to inspire all of you piano students to keep practicing! You’ve only got 100 years to live. Did you catch those lyrics? Five for Fighting may have put this message to a modern melody but an ancient version of it is in Psalm 90. It was prayer of Moses, This morning, I want to have it be a prayer of Kimberly, for us. Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world,  from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”  [Read with me] Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,      for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. ------- I don’t know about you gals, but when I was growing up, I thought being a girl was kind of a curse. I was raised by a family of athletes. My mom was a PE teacher. For the next song, Sheryl Ting will play the keyboard, and I’ve even got a surprise part for all of you. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Looking around this room, I’m wondering which of you women are the really girly girls. The ones who’ve embraced this and enjoy being a girl? It’s okay, you can call them out. Who loves make-up or shopping or dancing or manicures or making arrangements with flowers? Yes, I know you do. And God created you that way, and said, “IT IS GOOD.” Somewhere in my little girl years, I stopped being a girly girl. I used to make fun of girly girls. I was just jealous of the boys who were stronger, and seemed more important and valuable. Femininity seemed weak. I’ve learned to embrace being feminine over the years. I’m still learning to embrace it. Because, let’s face it, it’s FUN! When I was in my 20’s I learned this song for an event at my home church. It made me gag. It’s old fashioned. It’s from an old Musical called Flower Drum Song, written by these guys Rogers & Hammerstein. The ones who gave us South Pacific and Oklahoma!
	I Enjoy Being a Girl	K! & Annabelle	Sheryl Ting		Daniel		Jeff	4	(sing along) words on screen
I Enjoy Being A Girl I’m a girl, and by me that’s only great I am proud that my silhouette is curvy That I walk with a sweet and girlish gait With my hips kind of swivelly and swervy I adore being dressed in something frilly When my date comes to get me at my place Out I go with my Joe or John or Billy Like a filly who is ready for the race! When I have a brand new hairdo With my eyelashes all in curl I float as the clouds on air do,          I enjoy being a girl! When men say I’m cute and funny And my teeth aren’t teeth, but pearl, I just lap it up like honey,           I enjoy being a girl! I flip when the fellas send me flowers I drool over dresses made of lace I talk on the telephone for hours With a pound and a half of cream upon my face! I’m strictly a female female And my future I hope will be In the home of a brave and free male Who'll enjoy being a guy having a girl... like... me. Sing a second time through with everyone.
21+  1.5 You may think it’s strange to sing a song from a Rogers & Hammerstein musical in church on a Sunday morning, but I’ve got an activity planned next that also doesn’t usually take place in a worship service. If you grew up in church, however, you probably did this somewhere along the line in CHILDREN’s church. Helpers, if you would get ready to pass out the goodies we’ll need after this interview? You see, I’ve brought with me some coloured pencils and some art paper and envelopes and we’re going to give you the chance to make a homemade card. As we’ve been talking and singing so far this morning, it’s my guess that God has brought a special woman to your mind who either is your mother, or has been like a mother to you. If you’ve not thought of someone yet, Lord, I pray that you will bring to mind for every person in this room the name of a woman you want to encourage through them. I pray you will give them inspiration, images or words to use when we use these papers and pencils to make greeting cards. Amen. Now these things are getting passed out right now, but don’t start yet! We have an interview. There are many women in this room this morning, but before we began planning for this day, I only knew one mom in this church. And she’s an amazing woman. I admire her positivity, her great attitude, her spirit that says, CAN! Even when it’s something she’s never tried. Khimmy Lim was a student of mine in creative arts, and has been a great encouragement to me over the years, even though we don’t see one another very often. She has chosen one particular mother from church to have an interview with. Khimmy will you come and introduce the special mum you wanted to feature this morning? For now, I’m going to turn it over to Sister Khimmy.
	Interview/Testimony	Khimmy						10
Sister Karen (Last name) I’ve asked you if you’d be willing to be interviewed this morning for Mother’s Day. Thank you for saying yes! Though all of us in church know you, we have some guests with us today, who don’t know you. You are a mother, and we know your girls, Bee who led worship earlier and…. 1. When you were young, what were your dreams about what it would be like to become a mother? Was there something about your mom or anther woman in your life that inspired you? Can you give us an example of a memory about that? 2. Tell us something that has been rewarding about being a mom, can you think of something that happened along the journey of raising your two girls when you thought, “this is a little like heaven on earth” A happy moment you’ll never forget. Do you have another memory you want to share? 3. What surprises came along with the job when you became a mother?... Can you think of any examples when you thought the job was too hard for you and you couldn’t do it? Where did you struggle? How did you find a way through or out of it? Can you give us any specific ways you found strength, guidance or inspiration from God as you raised your children. If time permits: 4. You chose to be a fulltime mom, but now your children are grown. How has God opened doors for you to be like a mom to others outside your family? If time permits: Many women here today admire you because they know your girls and think you did an amazing job.  Thank you for being willing to be interviewed. Would you mind saying a prayer for the women in the room and their families?
	Making Greeting Cards	Kimberly						10+32.5	Kimberly Explains Play: Try a Little Tenderness, Chris Brown 6:08
	Come to Me Intro/sharing	K!						1:15	43:45
As you finish up those cards, we have another song we want to give you. When my son Tyler went off to University this past year, listening to this song was the only thing that made me cry. I’m not going to cry this morning, even if I am singing it for my son Cameron who is leaving June 1st to start school in USA and make James and I empty nesters come August. I want to tell you that this song reflects a mother’s heart more than any I’ve ever heard. And as you listen, with whatever feelings you have about your own mother, I want you to think about this truth from scripture Isaiah 49:15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! God is also singing these words over you.  Many of you probably know Zephaniah 3:17, but I’ll repeat it if you don’t: The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing. Here’s Come to Me, originally recorded by Celine Dion.
	Come To Me		Sheryl Ting		Daniel Ang		Jeff	4:40	48:30
Come To Me I will always love you no matter what No matter where you go or what you do And knowing you, you’re gonna have to do things your own way, and that’s okay So be free, spread your wings, and promise me just one thing... If you ever need a place to cry Baby, come to me, come to me I’ve always known that you were born to fly But you can come to me If the world breaks your heart No matter where on earth you are You can come to me Don’t walk around with the world on your shoulders And your highest hopes laying on the ground I know you think you’ve gotta try to be my hero, but don’t you know The stars you wish upon, they fall, it’s true, but I still believe in you If you ever need a place to cry Baby, come to me, come to me I’ve always known that you were born to fly But you can come to me If the world breaks your heart No matter where on earth you are You can come to me
	You are My Stronghold Intro/Sharing							4	52:30
Those of you in the room today who have had the privilege of bearing and raising children, we honor you today. Yours is not an easy job. It’s partly hard because our mother Eve used her ability to influence and after eating from the tree, woo’d Adam into disobeying God, and we got the Curse: which, if you remember included not only work making us sweat and exhausted, but included a special “pain in childbirth.” Thanks a lot Eve. But we also live in increasingly difficult times to protect our children and to raise children to honor God. From nearly every direction, our society, even here in safe Singapore, bombards their senses and threatens their innocence & purity. We cannot get away from the dangerous messages and images that our Enemy the devil wants to use to entice us away from our Creator and the intimacy, nurture and joy and creativity he offers – and is the only real thing that can satisfy us. For those of you mothers who’ve had or have a child who has not embraced their Father God’s love and values, we recognize the heartache you have over this disappointment. All women may be nurturers, and have a role in shaping the next generation of Godly leaders, but only a mother can experience the anguish that comes from a prodigal son or daughter. There are plenty of joys that come from bearing or adopting children, but it takes a lot of courage to be a mom when these little buggers can hurt you. When a child you’ve bonded to rejects you and rebels, it hurts like nothing else can hurt.  As far as I know, my two boys so far have only wandered to the edges of God’s path for them, and if they strayed to far, I’ve still been able to see them and call them back. Knowing how these seasons have hurt me, I can’t imagine what it takes to bear up under more outright rebellion and disobedience. This next song, taken from Psalm 27 is dedicated to you. I’ve invited some friends to dance for you moms today. Four members of the Islandgals Worship Hula Company have come to help me lead you in worship through this Psalm. As they come up, can I ask you to read this Psalm? MEN: The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.   Though an army besiege me,  my heart will not fear; though war break out against me,  even then I will be confident. WOMEN: One thing I ask from the Lord,  this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord  all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord  and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent  and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;   I will sing and make music to the Lord. LEADER: Hear my voice when I call, Lord;  be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face! ”  Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me,  do not turn your servant away in anger;     you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me,      God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me,  the Lord will receive me. MEN: Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,      for false witnesses rise up against me,  spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. ALL: Wait for the Lord;      be strong and take heart     and wait for the Lord.
	You are My Stronghold	K	Sheryl Ting		Daniel		Jeff	3:40	56:00
New order	Video Greetings/Tributes	Bee Luen						10	66:00
	Finale: How You Live Intro	K!						2:00 + moving	70
On behalf of the mom’s who just were greeted in those videos, I’ll thank you now and they’ll thank you later.  Thanks for the energy and creativity you put to making these greetings! Those of you youths who didn’t get around to making a video, well, let me just say, I hope you have something planned to make it up to mom today since you weren’t up there! Ha ha! Let’s play some of that music on the CD. We’ve almost come to the end of our morning together. We’ve spent this past hour thinking about what is wonderful in God’s creation of women and what makes for a good mum. Together we women are encouraged and inspired to be more courageous and nurturing. I am confident that God has been speaking to you today. He’s been reminding you of something about himself, or he’s been asking you to step it up in some area where you’ve been slack. Around the room are posters with issues women face. There will be one last song we’ll sing, a challenge, a benediction through a song we want to give you before we have a chance to pray for you about these issues. But before that, I need you to listen carefully to these instructions, because this is a little clunky in this room. Men, guys, children, girls. We need you to make a big circle around this room. You are going to encircle the women of this church as a demonstration of your love and support for them. On your way to making a circle, I want you to pass your card to the woman you made if for, if she is here. Got it? Ok. Those of you who are women who are finished with your schooling, are say, 20 years or older come down here to the center. And while you do, take a look at these posters and be deciding which one you would most like to be prayed for in just a few minutes. [wait for everyone to settle] in Ephesians 2:10 it says: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. This last song from Point of Grace is my last challenge for you today. You ready for one last song? Gals, this is for you:
	How You Live	K! Annab	Sheryl Ting		Daniel Ang		Jeff	4:30	74:30
Wake up to the sunlight With your windows open Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken Wear your red dress Use your good dishes Make a big mess and make lots of wishes Have what you want But want what you have And don't spend your life lookin' back Turn up the music Turn it up loud Take a few chances Let it all out You won't regret it Lookin' back from where you have been Cuz it's not who you knew And it's not what you did It's how you live So go to the ballgames And go to the ballet And go see your folks more than just on the holidays Kiss all your children Dance with your wife Tell your husband you love him every night Don't run from the truth 'Cause you can't get away Just face it and you'll be okay Turn up the music Turn it up loud Take a few chances Let it all out You won't regret it Lookin' back from where you have been 'Cause it's not who you knew And it's not what you did It's how you live Oh wherever you are and wherever you've been Now is the time to begin So give to the needy And pray for the grieving E'en when you don't think that you can 'Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you So think of your fellow man Make peace with God and make peace with yourself 'Cause in the end there's nobody else Turn up the music Turn it up loud Take a few chances Let it all out 'Cause you won't regret it Lookin' back from where you have been 'Cause it's not who you knew And it's not what you did It's how you live 'Cause it's not who you knew And it's not what you did It's how you live
	Close Service with Prayer Post Worship playlist: Women can find a place in the room to pray for different issues.							14	PLAY recordings of:
Psalm 139 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm You have searched me, Lord,     and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down;  you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue  you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before,     and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,  too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit?      Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there;     if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn,     if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me,     your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me     and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you;     the night will shine like the day,     for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being;     you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;     your works are wonderful,     I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you     when I was made in the secret place,     when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;     all the days ordained for me were written in your book     before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God!     How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them,     they would outnumber the grains of sand —     when I awake, I am still with you.
								95	Est total time 1 hr, 35 min

Categories for Prayer (posters around the room of the things women are concerned about)

Life balance: Work, Relationships, Serving

Caring for family

Health & Beauty

Confidence & Joy vs Worries  Fear

Self Care: Taking care of yourself!

Deuteronomy 5:16
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Exodus 21:17
“Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.

Matthew 15:1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’[a] and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[b] 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.

9 

They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules. ’[c] ”