14/3/2010 Lent 4 - Mothering Sunday

Theme: Amazing Mum

Bible Reading

Exodus chapter 2 verses 1-10

Preparation

A photograph of your own Mother. (Make sure that you are happy to lead the introduction - if not ask a colleague to share the load.)

Introduction

Share a story about something special your mother did for you. Ask the children for similar examples.

Remind them that last Sunday was Mothering Sunday and that in the churches people would have been hearing stories about the special mothers in the Bible:

The Message

Pharaoh was a strong king. He didn't like the people of Israel, who were living in his country of Egypt, and he ordered that they should be made into slaves. The slaves were then forced to make bricks that were used to build the pyramids, and houses for the people of Egypt. Pharaoh hoped that gradually he would kill all the people of Israel off with all the hard work, but it didn't happen, so next he ordered that all their baby boys should be put to death, so that eventually there would be only women and girls left.

Imagine how desperate the families must have felt every time the Mum had a baby boy he was snatched away and they never saw him again. One mother tried to hide her baby, but it became more and more difficult. The little boy got bigger and he got noisier, at last he became too big to hide, and the parents decided that all they could do now was to trust God to care for him.

So the mother made a basket out of strong papyrus leaves, and lined it with waterproof tar and clay. The baby's big sister Miriam took the baby to the River Nile, and placed the basket in the rushes that grew at the edge of the River. Then she waited and watched.

A little while later, Pharaoh's daughter came down to the river to bathe. She heard the baby crying, and her maid found the basket and took the baby out. Pharaoh's daughter didn't have any children, so she decided to keep this one. The baby's sister came up and offered to find a nanny to care for the baby. She ran home and arranged for her mother to come and look after the baby! Pharaoh's daughter called the baby Moses. That means, 'I drew him out of the water.'

Baby Moses was able to live safely and openly with his family for several years until he was old enough to go and live in Pharoah's palace. How strange that one of the babies Pharoah had wanted to kill should end up being treated like Pharoah's grandson all because of his clever Mum and sister!

Later this special baby grew up to do a very special job - he saved the people of Israel from Pharoah by following God's commands. His sister Miriam left Egypt with him and the rest of their people.

Prayer

Dear God,

We thank you for all the wonderful things that our mothers do for us and how they take care of us especially when things are difficult. Bless our mothers and all those who care for children, especially those who are facing very difficult times like Moses' mother. (You may like to include a mention of any particular trouble spots in the world.) Amen