This Mother’s Day service began with an honest acknowledgment that the day is not simple for everyone, and that the stories we carry about mothers are often more complicated than we expect. What first seemed like a straightforward celebration of gratitude and “lessons learned from my mother” opened into deeper conversations about pain, distance, love, and unfinished healing. Drawing on research about the changing expectations placed on mothers across generations, the service reflected on how easily we judge past generations without recognizing the very different worlds they were living in. Ultimately, it invited us to hold both gratitude and grief with compassion, to widen our understanding of motherhood and family, and to remember that even in imperfect relationships, there is still learning, growth, and grace. The Chalice Choir sang during this service.