Mother's Day

How should churches handle non-religious holidays that fall on a Sunday? Take Mother's Day for example. After all a mother was required for us to enter the world and who not better to honor with a special day. Though it does highlight the amount of influence Hallmark and the other card-producers have over our society. Mother's are special.

One dillema for churches is how to honor mothers, especially in the context of how churches honor fathers on Father's Day. I know of a church that one year, mother's received a carnation on Mother's Day and on Father's Day they gave each father a tract on how to be a better father.

While we all came into this world with a mom, there are many who have lost their mom, many who have not been blessed with children, and many who have lost children. For some in these categories, Mother's Day can be especially difficult; some even avoiding church all together because celebrating motherhood reopens too many wounds and excessive pain. Therein lies the dillema, how to honor mothers while being sensitive to and cognizant of those who are in pain.

I've heard of churches who don't give out gifts to mothers, in an attempt give less emphasis to the Mother's Day celebration. After all, it isn't a religious holiday. I've also heard of churches that in recognizing mothers also recognize those who've lost their mother or aren't able to be a mom through a prayer during the worship service.

To be serious about winning as many as possible, churches have to figure out how to navigate this dillema.