Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sun City Celebrates Easter Liturgy with Co-Presiders Theresa and Roman Rodriquez/ Liturgy and Photos

Welcome:  Katy Zatsick, ARCWP

All:  Opening Prayer

God the Father and Mother of mercies, through his living, dying and rising, Jesus has revealed that nothing can separate us from the infinite love of God.  May God give us pardon and peace, and may we forgive each other our failures to care for one another and for our earth in the name of God our Creator, and Jesus our brother, and of the Holy Spirit our wisdom.  Amen.

First Reading from the prophet Micah:

“My people, you struggle blindly to know what God wants, and you act as if you remember nothing from your history, as if you know nothing.  From the beginning of time, there has been one message from God.  What God wants if this, ONLY this:  That we live justly, that we love tenderly, that we walk with integrity in God’s presence!”

This is the inspired word of the prophet.

A reading from the Gospel according to John       26:1-18   All will take turns reading each paragraph.

            On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.  So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus love, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put Jesus!” 

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.  They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloth there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.  For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. 

Meanwhile, Mary stood weeping beside the tomb.  Even as she wept, she stooped to peer inside, and there she saw two angels in dazzling robes.  One was seated at the head and the other at the foot of the place where Jesus’ body had lain.

They asked her, “Why are you weeping?”  She answered them, “because they have taken away my Rabbi.  And I don’t know where they have put the body.”  No sooner had she said this than she turned around and caught sight of Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus.  He asked her.  “Why are you weeping” For whom are you looking?”

She supposed it was the gardener, so she said, “Please, if you’re the one who carried Jesus away, tell me where you’ve laid the body and I will take it away.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary!”  She turned to him and said, “Rabbon”—which means “Teacher”

Jesus then said.  “Don’t hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to Abba God.  Rather, go to the sisters and brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my Abba and your Abba, my god and your God!”

Mary of Magdala went to the disciples.  “ I have seen the teacher!”  she announced.  Then she reported what Jesus had said to her.

This is the inspired word of John, disciple of Jesus.

A moment of silence.

Presider:

A quote from Clarence Jordan (1912-1969)

“The proof that God raised Jesus from the dead is not the empty tomb, but the full hearts of his transformed disciples.  The crowning evidence that he lives is not a vacant grave, but a spirit-filled fellowship.  Not a rolled-away stone, but a carried-away church”

How are we partnering with God today in transforming despair into hope, apathy into compassion, hate into love, and death into new life?”

Interactive homily

Renewal of Baptismal Promises  (adapted from Jay Murnane)

Presider:  Let us all renew the promises we made in Baptism

I promise to see what is good for my sisters and brothers everywhere, rejecting injustice and inequality, and living with the freedom and responsibility of the family of God

I promise to work for the realization of God’s vision of Harmony and right relations among people, rejecting the idols of money, property, race, gender and position.

I promise to seek peace and live in peace in one human family, rejecting prejudice in every form, and all barriers to unity.

I promise to cherish the universe and this previous planet, working creatively to renew and safeguard the elemental sacraments of air, earth, and water.

I believe in God, the Creator, in Jesus, the teacher of justice and love, who lived among us so that all might live with abundant fullness.

I believe in the Spirit, the breath of God, who continues the work of birthing and blessing, of forgiveness and reconciliation, of challenge and hope, so that together we all can continue the work of creation.

Presider:  God has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins.  May God also keep us faithful to Jesus the Christ forever and ever. Amen.

 Presider: As we prepare for this sacred meal, we stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers and we bring our many needs and concerns to the table. We pray for all who have asked for our prayers and for all who need our prayers.  Amen.  Response:  Loving God, hear our prayer.

Presider: Healing God, we know that you hear our prayers.  May we celebrate our planetary oneness in our works for justice, equality and peace.  We ask this through the risen Jesus, our brother, and the Spirit, our sanctifier.  Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer.     Please gather around the table. All are invited to our community meal.   

Presider: Holy One, You stirred the waters of creation, and you dwell in us.  ALL: And in every living being.           

Presider: Lift up your hearts.  
ALL: We lift them up to our Creator in whom all are one. 

Presider: Let us give thanks for the Breath of life in all forms throughout the Universe. 
All:  It is right to give glory to God, present everywhere and in everything, with thanks and praise.

All:  Holy One, we bring you these gifts that they may become the Christ Presence.  Fill us with reverence for all creatures, great and small.       
                                      

All: (extend arms): On the night before Jesus died, while at supper with his friends he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bead and gave it to them saying:  Take this all of you, and eat.  Do this in memory of me. (Pause)

In the same way, Jesus took the cup of wine.  He said the blessing, gave the cup to his friends and said: Take this all of you and drink.  Do this in memory of me.

All:  This bread is you; this bread is me.  We are one body in communion with all creation.

Prayer of Jesus (“Our Father and Mother,) sung

Presider:  Risen Christ, you said to our disciples.  “My peace I leave you, my peace I give you.” Look on the faith of all those gathered here.

Group Sign of Peace:  Peace is flowing like a river, flowing out to you and me. flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free….Love….Alleluia, Alleluia.

Presider:  This is Jesus who liberates, heals and transforms us and our world.  All are invited to partake of this banquet of love.  All:  We are the Body of Christ.

Passing the bread: “We are the Body of Christ.”  Passing the wine:  “We are the blood of Christ.”

Closing hymn: (to be determined)

Closing Community Blessing:  All (with arms extended):  The blessing of God is upon us as we go in the peace of Christ to live justice!  Thanks be to God.

Presiders:  Let us go forth in peace and share the good news:  The Risen Jesus is with us today and for all time. ALL:  Thanks be to God.  Let it be so!