Father's Day Prayer

Here is a prayer of thanksgiving for Father’s Day. It was written by Rev. Dr. Libby Grammer of Martinsville, Virginia.

Prayer for Father’s Day

 We give thanks today…

For fathers who showed up, played and danced,

ran and twirled, taught and learned;

 

For fathers who kissed boo-boos

and held us in strong arms when we were weak;

 

For fathers who believed in us and trusted us with our own futures,

even as they taught us how best to live;

 

For fathers who exhibited the very best of what it means to be men,

and tossed aside toxic masculinity

in favor of a strength in love and empathy;

 

For fathers who had high standards,

yet deep compassion;

 

For fathers who taught us rules to live by,

and with integrity lived by these rules themselves;

 

For fathers who protected us

and sought after our welfare;

 

For fathers who were never related to us by blood or by law

but stood in as a father figure;

 

For fathers who were not always present

but by grace came back into our lives.

~ Rev. Dr. Libby Grammer, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Martinsville, VA www.fbcmartinsville.com

 

Scriptural Call to Worship

Scriptural Call to Worship

Grace and peace to you from God our Father,

who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing

that comes from heaven: (Eph 1)

who knew you and chose you before the world began; (I Pet 1, Eph 1)

who loves you so much that he calls you his own children; (I Jn 3)

who has brought you from darkness into light

and filled you with his glorious power; (Col 1)

who has prepared an inheritance for you

that will never spoil or fade; (I Pet 1)

who encourages and strengthens you

in every good deed and word; (2 Thess 2)

who comforts you in your troubles

so that you can comfort others. (2 Cor 1)

This is our God,

the ultimate source of all things,

and the One for whom we live. (I Cor 8)

Let’s worship God together!

~ compiled by Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Prayer for Fathers in Our Lives

Here is a prayer of blessing for fathers on Father’s Day. It was written by Tony Rossi and posted on JesuitResource.org.

Prayer for Fathers

Heavenly Father,
Today we ask You to bless our earthly fathers
for the many times they reflected the love, strength,

generosity, wisdom and mercy

that You exemplify in Your relationship with us, Your children.

We honor our fathers

for putting our needs above their own convenience and comfort;
for teaching us to show courage and determination in the face of adversity;
for challenging us to move beyond self-limiting boundaries;
for modeling the qualities that would turn us

into responsible, principled, caring adults.

Not all our fathers lived up to these ideals.
Give them the grace to acknowledge and learn from their mistakes.
Give us the grace to extend to them

the same forgiveness that you offer us all.
Help us to resist the urge to stay stuck in past bitterness,
instead, moving forward with humility and peace of heart.

We ask your blessing on those men who served as father figures in our lives
when our biological fathers weren't able to do so.
May the love and selflessness they showed us
be returned to them in all their relationships,
and help them to know that their influence
has changed us for the better.

Give new and future fathers the guidance they need
to raise happy and holy children,
grounded in a love for God and other people -
and remind these fathers that treating their wives
with dignity, compassion and respect is
one of the greatest gifts they can give their children.

We pray that our fathers who have passed into the next life
have been welcomed into Your loving embrace,
and that our family will one be day be reunited

in your heavenly kingdom.

In union with St. Joseph,
whom you entrusted with Your Son,
we ask Your generous blessings today and every day. Amen.

~ written by Tony Rossi and posted on JesuitResource.org. https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/fathers-day-prayers

Mother's Day or Father's Day: Offering Prayer

Here’s an offering prayer for Father’s Day or Mother’s Day. It was written by Carol Penner and posted on her excellent Leading in Worship blog.

Offering Prayer

for Father’s Day or Mother’s Day

God of Great gifts,

we give you these gifts today

knowing that you are the Father of gifts.

You mother us constantly

providing for us, caring for us.

As we have been abundantly provided for,

so we give abundantly to the work that you give us to do,

the work of the church,

the care for those who are poor.

Accept these gifts in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

~ written by Carol Penner, and posted on Leading in Worship. https://carolpenner.typepad.com/leadinginworship/prayers-offering/

Father's Day Prayer

Here’s a prayer for fathers originally attributed to the Methodist Church in Africa. It was posted on the Casa Franciscana Outreach website.

Prayer for Fathers

Loving and Merciful God,

our thoughts and prayers today are turned toward our fathers.

For those whose fathers have increased the joy in their families’ lives,

we give You thanks.

For those good men who sustain and support us in our living,

who love us no matter what,

we give You thanks.

For those whose fathers have been a source of hurt and pain,

may their wounds be healed

and may they find in You, in us, in others,

the nurturing love that is needed for their well-being.

We also pray that these fathers find forgiveness.

For those fathers who are separated from their children,

give them the insight and perseverance

to parent in whatever ways are open to them.

Give them the courage to make the decisions

that allow their children to thrive.

For those fathers whose relationships with their children

have been difficult or disappointing, we pray.

We pray, too, for those fathers who have lost a child.

We turn to You, most holy God, for consolation

where consolation seems impossible.

For single fathers who struggle to be both parents to their children,

may they find the strength and wisdom for their task.

For those who have recently lost

or who are facing the imminent loss of their fathers,

may they find comfort in the love

that their fathers have given them. Amen.

~ attributed to the Methodist Church in Africa. Posted by Father Tommy on the Casa Franciscana Outreach website. https://casafranciscanaoutreach.org/fathers-day-prayer/

Prayer for Fathers and Families

Here is a prayer for fathers and families from Rev. John DeBevoise. It was posted on the Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church website.

Prayer

Our heart-felt prayer today, O God, is this:
Bless our family,
and help us be a blessing to it…

Touch all those who are fathers to us – or to others.

We give you thanks for the ways we have been blessed

by good character, wisdom, helpfulness, or care.
Anoint with your healing goodness our brothers and our sisters,
Smile upon our children and help them to grow…….
Lord hear our prayer.

We thank you God for our family.
We thank you God for your family –
for the family you have given us by our birth,
for the family you have bestowed by our rebirth…

And we pray for your special presence

with those who grieve
and have entrusted their parents to your loving care,
Reassure them that in you the bonds of love are still connected,
and nurtured, and will be sustained…

We pray for those for whom this day carries special challenges,
and for the gifts of healing, forgiveness,

and your peace where needed.
Lord, hear our prayer…

In the name of your son Jesus,
who taught us to pray as a family saying,
Our Father….

~ written by Rev. John DeBevoise. Posted on the Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church website. https://palmaceia.org/2018/06/a-prayer-for-fathers-day/

Call to Worship for Mother's or Father's Day

Here’s a call to worship for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. It comes from Carol Penner’s Leading in Worship website.

Call to Worship for Mother’s Day

or Father’s Day

Father of us all, Mother of each one,
thank you for your love for us from the beginning of time.
You formed us when we were in our mother’s wombs,
you knit us together lovingly,
your devotion  to us has not failed,
your care has followed us our whole life long.
All we are and all we have, we owe to you,
and so on this, the Lord’s Day,
in this house devoted to your glory,
we give honour to you
with our hearts and hands and voices.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

~ written by Carol Penner, and posted on Leading in Worship. http://carolpenner.typepad.com/leadinginworship/

Prayer of Adoration: Open Arms

Here is an opening prayer of adoration written by Rev. Jonathan Fleming, Minister of Cumbrae Parish Church in Scotland. It was posted on the Church of Scotland’s Weekly Worship website.

Opening Prayer

God our Parent,

we gather to open our hearts to You

trusting that You will welcome us with open arms.

We come to worship You.

The One who leads us through times of trial;

the One who supports us in sorrow and struggle;

the One who is beside us when all is bleak.

Holy One, we praise You.

~ written by Rev. Jonathan Fleming, Minister of Cumbrae Parish Church in Scotland and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Weekly Worship website. https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly_worship 

Prayer of Thanks for All Who Care

Here’s a responsive prayer of thanks and blessing for mothers, fathers, and all those who express their care and compassion to the people around them. It comes from the Children’s Society website in the United Kingdom.

A Prayer of Thanks

Thank you, Lord, for all who care

Bless them with your love

Thanks for mothers everywhere

Bless them with your love

For those who brighten up our day

Bless them with your love

Who always have the right words to say

Bless them with your love

Thanks for hugs, and love and smiles

Bless them with your love

Thanks for all those extra miles

Bless them with your love

And when they feel they're not enough

Bless them, bless them, with your love.

~ posted on the Children’s Society website. https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/Mothering%20Sunday-%20Prayers%20and%20intercessions.pdf

Call to Worship for Father's Day

Here’s a call to worship for Father’s Day. It was posted on Worship Words.

Father’s Day Call to Worship

Come to God who gathers us in.
We come to God who nurtures us like a father.

Come to God whose arms are open and waiting.
We come to God who welcomes and forgives us.

Come to God who journeys with us.
We come to God who sees us as we really are

and loves us anyway. 

Come, praise our loving nurturing God! 

~ posted on Worship Words. http://worshipwords.co.uk/prayer-of-intercession-for-fathers-day/

Prayer of Confession: Father's Day

Here’s a prayer of confession for Father’s Day. It was posted on the website of the First Presbyterian Church in Matoon, IL.

Father’s Day Prayer of Confession

O God, Father that you are,

you know what is right for us,

but too often we only want our way or no way,

instead of your way.

Have mercy upon us when we turn from you.

Forgive us when we do not realize

your fatherly love and direction for us.

Have mercy upon us indeed,

and teach us anew how to follow you,

Father that you are.

We pray this through your Son,

our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

~ author unknown. Posted in a worship order from First Presbyterian Church. http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/878014/25039268/1402607286727/6-15-14

Prayer of Blessing for Father's Day

Here’s a prayer of blessing for Father’s Day. It was posted on Bereaved and Blessed.

Blessing on Fathers

on Father’s Day

Loving God, 

we give you thanks for the many gifts you have given us;

the gift of life, 

the gift of those who love us,

and especially, today,

we thank you for the gift of our fathers.

We ask your blessing upon our fathers

who gave us rules to live by,

standards to uphold,

joys to cherish,

faith to live by,

hopes worth dreaming of

and who blessed our lives

with their unselfish and unconditional love.

We ask your blessing upon our fathers

who are unable to be with us today.

May they know how much we love and care for them.

We ask your blessing upon adoptive fathers,

that they may always know their special role of being a true father,

a revelation of God’s love for their children.

We ask your blessing upon fathers who have lost children

through miscarriage, stillbirth, crib death, 

sickness, accident and tragedy,

that they may have your continuing strength and courage.

We ask your blessing upon those

who want to be fathers or have another child,

that they may practice patience

and feel your love as they wait and hope.

We remember our fathers who have died

and for the unique way they revealed for us your love.

We ask that you keep them in your care

until the time comes for us to join them in your Kingdom.

And we ask your blessing upon the fathers

standing here before us.

Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.

Give them the strength 

to live the faithful and loving lives

you call them to live.

Protect and guide them.

Keep them in your care

and grant that their children may always honor them

with a spirit of profound respect.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

~ author unknown. Posted on Bereaved and Blessed. http://bereavedandblessed.com/2013/06/fathers-day-blessings/