Mother’s Day is a month away. Have you thought of ways you might celebrate the moms in your sphere of ministry? While Mother’s Day can be difficult for many women in your ministry, you can still find ways to encourage those who are in all stages of motherhood.
Here are some ways you can encourage moms of all ages this year:
1. Consider providing a subscription to Journey devotional magazine or HomeLife magazine. Encourage your church to order these monthly subscriptions at a discount when ordering them in bulk. Provide them in various places throughout your church facility, including the foyer and children’s area. It’s a gift that continues all year round and can strengthen a woman’s personal time with the Lord and give her practical helps for raising children. Plus, encourage women to share them with others as a way to share the gospel with those they encounter.
2. Provide a photo booth in your church lobby. My social media feed the past couple of years has been full of photos where families are celebrated on Mother’s Day with a special photo booth provided in the church lobby or children’s area. All that is needed is a little creativity and time to provide something special for moms.
3. Offer special snacks or breakfast items so moms won’t have to worry about breakfast on Sunday morning. Who doesn’t love a good donut?
4. Consider the following gift bundles from Lifeway if you’re looking for a personal Mother’s Day gift that is fun and easy to purchase. Order them online and have them delivered directly to your mom or a special woman in your life.
Strawberry Mini Box ($19.99)
Tis So Sweet Hostess Kit ($29.99)
Strawberry Gift Box ($39.99)
Thank You Mom Box ($29.99)
Grow in Grace Box ($39.99)
On the flipside, here are a few ways not to celebrate moms on Mother’s Day:
1. Plan an exclusive event just for moms. Nothing is worse than a “moms only” or “Mother/Daughter” event if you’re trying to include all women in your church. Instead, consider an event that celebrates every woman and that reminds women that every woman is someone’s daughter.
2. Draw attention to moms by having them stand in the service. For the woman in your church who has experienced a miscarriage, this causes confusion because while she has carried a child in her womb, she may not be carrying a child in her arms. I’m also not a fan of celebrating the oldest mom, youngest mom, or moms with the most children.
3. Neglect the holiday completely. Motherhood is a wonderful thing and should be celebrated and honored. Proverbs 31:28 reminds us: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praises her.”
Mother’s Day is the third highest attendance day for many churches behind Christmas and Easter. Don’t let this day go by without thinking intentionally about how you celebrate…or don’t.