Gracious Father, we come to you this morning and we rest in Christ. We worship you by the Holy Spirit and glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. And we praise you that in him our “though our sins are like scarlet they shall be white as snow; they are red like crimson they shall become like wool.” Give us the grace, Lord, to be willing and joyfully obedient feasting upon all that is offered to us in Christ Jesus. Make this gospel, this good news, be central to all we do here at Restoration as we strive to make disciples that delight in the supremacy of Jesus Christ.

We pray this gospel message starts and sustains and strengths a Spanish-speaking church plant in Columbia Heights. We praise you the M’s are on their way to DC; we praise you that you have provided housing; we praise you for the financial means to support the M’s; we praise you for the many members in our congregation eager to help in this work. For the glory of your name in Christ Jesus, use our efforts to start this church to hallow your holy name. Give us wisdom and discernment and favor as we come alongside A, M, R and B. Do this Lord; do it for the sake of your name and for the salvation and eternal satisfaction of your people.

Father, this morning we rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. We know that on a day like Mother’s Day there are so many different emotions that we bring to you. We thank you for the godly mothers among us. We thank you for those of us here who had godly mothers growing up. We thank you for the new mothers here this morning.

Father, what a gift you have given to use in mothers – their compassion and tenderness and wisdom and strength and intelligence. We pray for our moms and the moms here, that you would give them strength where they are weak, wisdom where they are unsure, patience with the many demands placed upon them, faith in your care for them and their families, and love—deep love—for those whom you have given them to nurture.

And we pray for those of us here who have a hard time on a day like today. We pray for those who have lost their mother. We pray for those who have a strained relationship with their mom or never knew her at all. We ask this morning Lord that you would meet us in our pain, heal our hearts where they are wounded, soften our hearts where they are hardened, and enable us to forgive and to love even those who have hurt us.

Some here this morning are saddened on a day like today because they long to be a wife that they might be a mom, or they long to have children, and yet are not able to do so. Father of mercies, give us comfort in our sadness, help us all trust in you despite unfulfilled longings, and joy in knowing that you never stop loving us or having our best in mind.

Lord, we thank you for the children among us. We pray that you would use Restoration Kids to make disciples of the children here at our church. We thank you for the many members who serve and teach the gospel to our children. Grant salvation to each child here that they might never know life apart from trusting and treasuring Jesus Christ.

We pray for K this morning, cause the joy of the Lord to be her strength. We pray for J&L that Christ would be exalted in their marriage. We pray that M&T would rest in the sovereign goodness of you, our great God. Build up our body in love that we might spur each other on in faithfulness of Christ as we journey toward heaven together.

For the glory of your name Lord advance your gospel among the BKs. Grant peace and wisdom and joy to R&E. Help them to continue to learn the language. Cause your word to be sweet to them and encourage them in their work.

Lord this morning as we begin a new sermon series, fill our brother N with your Spirit; grant him wisdom and insight as he leads us through heralding your word. Feed our souls this morning; cause our eyes to see the majesty of your glory. We pray all of this in the matchless name of Jesus. Amen.