Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community April 2 2016 Octave of Easter Pat MacMillan and Katy Zatsick ARCWP co-presiders Mindy Simmons, Russ Banner, Cheri McDonough Music ministers

Katy Zatsick, ARCWP and Pat MacMillan

Pat MacMillan

Music Ministers: Mindy Lou Simmons with guitar and Cantor Cheri McDonough

Welcome

Gathering Song #430 Be not afraid” Verses 1 and 2

Co-presider: In the name of God our Love, Christ Sophia our Wisdom, and the Holy Spirit our Liberator. All: Amen

OPENING PRAYER

All: O Lover of All, in this journey into the heart of mercy, we celebrate your compassionate love unfolding in the healing and wholeness of everyone and of every living thing. You call us to see goodness and beauty everywhere and to live in harmony with creation. You call us to heal the wounds of hatred and violence, discrimination and oppression in our world. You call us to warmly welcome everyone who comes through our doors as the face of God. In communion with Jesus, our brother, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will live your love poured out each day. Amen.

PRAYER FOR RECONCILIATION AND PEACE

Co-Presider: God of tender compassion, you are our peace.

All: Now and forever, we will be your peace.

LITANY OF PEACE by Dan Schutte

Our sung response is “Let us be your peace”

1. God of all creation…let us be your peace

God of every Nation…let us be your peace

2)God beyond our knowing, let us…

God who walks among us, let us

3)God of great compassion, let us…

God of tender mercy, let us…

4)As we work for justice, let us…

With our hands and voices, …

5) With hope and healing, let us …

With light and loving, let us …

6)Here and all times, let us…

Now and forever, let us be your…

Gloria All: (sung 3 times) Glory to God, glory. O praise God Alleluia.

Glory to God, glory, O praise the name of our God.

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Acts 5:12-16

Psalm 118 All: #814 “This is the day that our God has made; let us rejoice and be glad; for this is the day that our God has made; alleluia, alleluia!”

Second Reading: Revelation 1:9-11, 12-13, 17-19

All Sing: Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel Reading: The Good News of Jesus the Christ from John 20:19-31

All: Glory to you O God

Reader:…….This is the Good News of Salvation!

All: Glory and praise to you Jesus the Christ!

 St. Thomas by Pat MacMillan

I am St. Thomas. I am sometimes the “doubter” (where is God?) but more often the “ believer”, ( “My Lord and my God.”). In reading about Thomas, I learned that he is characterized as being somewhat gloomy and easily discouraged. While he was considered a pessimist, he was, indeed, a full believer in Jesus and a very loyal follower through His life. His loyalty and love is depicted in John, Chapter 11, when the disciples were worried about going with Jesus to Judea (because the Jews had previously tried to stone Jesus there), Thomas encouraged them to stick with Jesus, who wanted to return to the area to help his friend Lazarus, even if that meant being attacked by Jewish leaders there. Thomas says in verse 16: “Let us also go, that we might die with him.”

Thomas was the one disciple who was not present on Easter Sunday, the day of the resurrection. Jesus knew why. He knew that Thomas was in deep mourning over his death. So, Jesus returned several days after the Resurrection- He returned for Thomas. Not to be little him for being a non-believer (“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” No, Jesus didn’t come back because of those words, not at all. He returned so that Thomas, who was suffering, could see and be healed. He knew Thomas loved HIM, he wanted Thomas to know HIS love.

And, isn’t that what we all need in our hours of greatest despair?

Reflection for April 2  by Katy Zatsick

When the doubts come

Today we celebrate the God of Love who died in Jesus has been raised from the dead. As Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead now he himself is raised and is present throughout the ages to all who believe. In our Gospel Thomas struggled to understand and accept that Jesus lives.

How many experiences have we had like Thomas?  We know there is a God but…and it is a BUT in the struggles of life we doubt, we hesitate in knowing our Higher Power, our Brother Jesus loves us unconditionally and is present to us.

Two years ago I asked your prayers for my grandson James Charles then a junior at Jesuit High School in Tampa. He was experiencing a life-shattering emotional, spiritual and physical breakdown. JC has an uncle who is diagnosed schizophrenic and has lived a life of suffering. We did not know the possibilities for JC’s future. His mother took care of JC’s physical needs and found a nutritionist and a therapist. And the members of MMOJ prayed for his healing along with myself.

As JC completed his senior year at Jesuit he created this watercolor as a project. For me, it is the story of Thomas. From sufferings including depression, will come new life to bloom in fullness of living. My doubt about JC’s healing and God’s loving presence was transformed into rejoicing at his new life. May Jesus continue to heal JC as Thomas was healed, as I was healed.

Jesus is risen and is with us NOW., accompanying us as unconditional Love the energy of spiritual evolution.

Dialog Homily:

Creed :

We believe in a God of extravagant love who dwells within us, rejoices with us in our blessed selves and who weeps with us in our struggles, losses and sufferings.

We believe that we are one with all creatures great and small in a dynamic, evolving cosmos.

We believe in Jesus, whose life, death and resurrection, shows us how to live fully and joyfully and to serve others especially the outcaste and heavy burdened.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, who works through us for justice and peace and to overcome oppression of all kinds whether based on gender, sexual orientation, race or class.

We believe that we are called to live in mutual respect as disciples and equals in inclusive communities of empowerment.

We believe that we are forgiven, healed and whole in the heart of divine mercy.

We believe that we are united forever with all who have gone before us in the communion of saints.

Prayers of the Community

Co-Presider : With hearts filled with loving compassion and trusting in your Love we lift up the needs of our community at this time

Response All: Jesus, God of compassion love through us.

Co-presider: That those bound by hatred, hostilities and violence will be set free, we pray. R:

Other intentions from the community

Co-presider We hold these and all our unspoken intentions in our hearts as we gather around your banquet table today.

Preparation of the Gifts.

Song: ”There is Only Love” from back sheet

Co Presiders: Blessed are you, God of all life, through your goodness we have bread, wine, all creation, and our own lives to offer. Through this sacred meal may we become your new creation.

All: Blessed be God forever.

(Please gather around the altar, do sit in the front pew if you cannot stand.)

Presider: God is with us, loving and healing through us.

All: Nameste!

Presider: May we lift up our hearts.

All: We lift them up in tender love, open to serve.

Presider: Let us give thanks to our God.

All: It is our joy to give God thanks and praise

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Voice One: Gracious Wisdom, You embrace us with extravagant affection in our blessedness and brokenness. We thank you that in this festive meal, your Spirit continues to be poured out among the circle of disciples gathered here in our giving and receiving forgiveness and offering the gift of your shalom/peace. We join with the angels and saints and people of every race, faith and nation to glorify your presence as we sing:

ALL: “We are holy”-3 times, “you are holy”-3 times, “I am holy” 3 times, “We are Holy” 3 times

Voice Two: Gracious God, you set the banquet table and invite all to the feast of unending delight. Here we celebrate divine love beyond all words can describe in our evolving cosmos. Here your divine compassion connects us to the young, the old, the least and the last, to everyone everywhere on our journey into the heart of mercy.

Voice Three; We especially thank you, Nurturing God, for Jesus, God’s anointed, who shows us how to love with a peaceful and courageous spirit. In Jesus, you show us how to care for those who face illness, and grief and how to help those who experience rejection and marginalization.

Voice Four: God of tenderness, Jesus showed us the heart of mercy when he preached good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, healing to the broken. Jesus called women to be apostles and disciples and treated them as equals in his circle of companions.

Voice Five In response to people’s sufferings, Jesus broke rules and violated religious taboos. He shared meals with women, saved a woman from being stoned and said that prostitutes would enter heaven before religious leaders. He healed the sick and comforted the lonely. He challenged the priestly class and political leaders of his time and so they ridiculed, tortured and put him to death.

Voice Six: In faithful love, the Spirit of God, raised the crucified Jesus, radiant and glorious to new life. Like the holy ones throughout the ages, Moses and Miriam who led their people from oppression to freedom, Jesus’ life, death and resurrection shows us how to live freely and joyously in the midst of injustice, darkness, evil and death.

(Please all extend hands as we recite the Epiclesis and Consecration together)

All: May your Spirit Sofia, present in these gifts and in us, fill us with a new outpouring of love that makes us more deeply one Body in the Cosmic Christ living the fullness of your compassion.

Presider: On the night before he was betrayed, Jesus gathered with his friends for a meal. he took bread into his hands, broke it and said

All: Take this all of you. This is my body. Do this to remember me.

Co-Presider: In the same way after supper, Jesus took the cup, raised it with love beyond all telling. Jesus gave thanks and shared the cup with those at table and said:

All: Take this all of you and drink from it. This is the cup of my life blood, of the new and everlasting covenatnt. Every time you drink of it, remember me.

Co- Presider: Now then, in sacred memory, let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:

All; In every creature that has ever breathed, we see your tenderness; in every living being that has passed on before us, we see your goodness; in everything yet to be, Christ will come again! In our breaking of the bread of earth, Christ of the Cosmos is being re-membered!

Voice Seven: Holy Spirit, your evolutionary energy of Love is always moving within us and working through us. We give thanks for all holy women and men who have been the face of God in our lives. They showed us how to forgive self and others, let go of guilt, refrain from judging others and see the good in people who irritate us. Let us pause to remember and name some of these holy women and men aloud or in the silence of our hearts.

Voice Eight: God, who opens doors and hearts, enlighten our religious ministers and political leaders. May they welcome refugees, transform poverty into plenty, and work for human dignity and justice for all. We pray for our pope and bishops, especially Bridget Mary, all ARCWP bishops and all God’s holy people.

Voice Nine: We remember those who are sick and suffering. May they be healed and strengthened, and filled with every blessing in your loving presence. We remember Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary Magdala, Peter, Paul, Junia, our patron saints and all the saints and angels who surround us with loving prayer each day. We remember our loved ones and all those who have died into the embrace of our loving God.

(Presiders lift up the bread and wine)

All: Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ all praise and glory are yours, God of Love through the power of Sofia your Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Prayer of Jesus: (Please hold hands and sing together)

All: Our father and mother….

The Sign of Peace:

Co-presider: God grant us peace and unity beyond all words can express.

Let us join hands in a circle of love and extend to the world by singing

All: “Peace is flowing like a river…Love is flowing…hope is flowing..Alleluia

Prayer before Communion

Co-Presiders; Loving God, as we come to share the richness of your table, we cannot forget the poverty of so many of our brothers and sisters.

Men: We cannot eat this bread and forget those who are hungry. O God of Love, your world is one world and we are stewards of its nourishment for your people.

Women: We cannot drink this wine and forget those who are thirsty. O Loving God the very earth and its people cry out for environmental justice.

All: We cannot listen to your words of peace and not grieve for the world at war and the destruction of life on your planet.

Litany for the breaking of the bread

All: Loving God, you call us to live mercy, we will do so.

Loving God, You call us to live justice, we will do so.

Loving God, You call us to live equality, we will do so.

Presider: This is Jesus, who calls us to open doors that are closed and share our bread on the altar of the world. All are invited to eat and drink at this sacred banquet of love.

All: Jesus we are worthy to receive you and to be your compassion for all the world. We are the Body of Christ.

Presider: Let us share the Body of Christ with the Body of Christ! ALL: Amen.

Music during reception of Communion

After receiving communion “The More I seek You” from sheet.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Co- Presider: O God of Compassion, Jesus showed us how to love one another and heal our hearts. Through the power of the liberating Spirit at work within us, we will give and receive forgiveness, live joyously, and work for healing, justice and equality for our earth and for all God’s holy people. All: Amen

Communal prayers of Thanksgiving

Announcements

CONCLUDING RITE

Co-presider: Our Risen God is with you.

All: and also with you.

BLESSING

(Everyone please extend your hands in mutual blessing)

ALL: May the God of Abraham and Sarah,

the Blessed One of Jacob and Rachel,

Sophia, Holy Wisdom,

walk with us and all created life

on our journey into the heart of mercy! Amen.

DISMISSAL

Presider: Let us go in the peace of the risen Christ. May our service continue as we minister with each other and all the People of God.

All: Thanks be to God Alleluia!

Recessional All: “Room at the Table for Everyone” by Carrie Newcomber, from sheet.

Adapted from “Journey into the Heart of Mercy”

by Bridget Mary Meehan, Bishop ARCWP

http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/

www.arcwp.org

Woman Priest Georgia Walker, ARCWP Peace Activist, Receives Highest Award from Peace Works, Kansas City

http://www.peaceworkskc.org/activities.html#2016meeting

T

Georgia Walker rejoices at receiving the highest PeaceWorks honor, the Bebb Award.

Bebb Award

Georgia Walker, a 2014-2015 member of the PeaceWorks board, received the organization’s highest award, the Charles E. Bebb Peace Merit Award. Walker has been arrested for civil resistance against the making of nuclear weapon parts in KC, and against drone warfare, and directs Journey to New Life, helping former prisoners find housing, jobs, rehabilitation, and health care.

Mountenay commented, "Heading up Journey to New Life: the perfect job for a jailbird!" Laughing, Walker said, "I’m finally off probation now, and ready for more resistance!" Mountenay continued, "It’s not enough to set captives free. Georgia makes sure they have the chance to live free."

http://www.kansascity.com/living/religion/article69642592.html

The sisters of Troost: 50 years ago, Vatican II set nuns loose to raise ‘a light in the darkness’ Journey to New Life was co-founded by Georgia Walker 

Radical Grace: Trailer of Documentary About Three Feminist Nuns Premiere at Sarasota Film Festival on April 2, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFyLKlpVvYk

When the Vatican reprimands U.S. nuns — citing their “radical feminism” — three fearless nuns risk their place in the Church to follow another higher calling: social justice.

One sister takes on Church patriarchy, another finds hope in the former prisoners she counsels, and the third launches a cross-country Nuns on the Bus tour, leveraging her newfound fame to spotlight social needs. These sisters “bring humor and down-to-earth grit to an epic battle for justice, equality and the dignity of women” (Gene Siskel Film Center).

Following their struggles through the election of Pope Francis, Radical Grace captures a period of dramatic transformation as the Catholic Church grapples with the modern word.

Bridget Mary's Response;
This is a great film on the holy shakeup that is occurring in the Roman Catholic Church. The international Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement is a holy shakeup leading the church toward justice and equality for women by ordaining women deacons, priests and bishops in apostolic succession. We are disobeying an unjust law and living prophetic obedience to the Spirit as we follow our consciences in living Gospel equality and partnership now. We ordain women and men to serve  in inclusive Catholic communities and ministries where all are welcome and all are treated as beloved daughters and sons of God.
In Sarasota, Florida, Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community gathers every Sat. at 4 PM to celebrate a Catholic liturgy at St. Andrew United Church of Christ. All are invited to receive sacraments. There is room at our table for everyone who comes.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org, www.marymotherofjesus.org

A Parent's Prayer for Daughters and Sons from the Ignatian Tradition

Build us Daughters and Sons, O God,

Who will be strong enough to know when they are weak,

And brave enough to face themselves when they are afraid.

Daughters and Sons who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat,

And humble and gentle in victory.

Build us Daughters and Sons

Whose wishbones will not be where their backbones should be.

Daughters and Sons who will know You—

And that to know themselves is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead them, we pray, not in the path of ease and comfort,

But under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge.

Here let them learn compassion for those who fail.

Build us Daughters and Sons whose hearts will be clear,

Whose goals will be high.

Daughters and Sons who will master themselves

Before they seek to master others.

Daughters and Sons who will learn to laugh,

Yet never forget how to weep.

Daughters and Sons who will reach into the future,

Yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are theirs, add, we pray,

Enough of a sense of humor, so that they may always be serious,

Yet never take themselves too seriously.

Give them humility, so that they may always remember

The simplicity of true greatness,

The open mind of true wisdom,

And the meekness of true strength.

Prayer shared Mary Eileen Collingwood  in remembrance of her Dad, Robert F. Cook who died this week in the Cleveland area. Robert had ten children who celebrate his life and memory.

__._,_.___

The Inspired Words of Diarmuid O’Murchu, from Ancestral Grace

Hope, more than any other virtue, is what is needed in these troubled times-- hope born out of the conviction that the living Spirit of God imbues and endows everything in creation. That which emanates and sustains all beings and continually begets new possibilities for birthing and flourishing is that dimension of the great mystery we invoke as the Holy Spirit of God. A more dynamic understanding of this living and abiding Spirit is crucial for a more hope filled future. In the Hebrew Scriptures the Holy Spirit indwells primarily through the Temple whereas in the New Testament the Holy Spirit regenerates in and through the people.
Fortunately theology is beginning to reclaim a more foundational role for the Holy Spirit as that divinely imbued empowering energy operative in creation from time immemorial. Our ancient ancestors readily identified such empowerments in the elements of nature--the living Spirit of God is depicted as the vivifying breath, healing wind, living water and purgative fire. 
For much of Christian history the Holy Spirit was dimension of understanding of God that received least attention. It was that nebulous birdlike entity that lacks the anthropocentric characteristics that would have made it more credible.  God the Father epitomized power and governance so important for patriarchal cultures.  Jesus, son of the ruling Father, had an embodied existence on this earth that could be historically verified; but the Holy Spirit was too big for these otherwise narrow and quantifiable horizons.
When those horizons begin to stretch in the latter half of the 20 century, the Holy Spirit was gradually rehabilitated, with a much more significant role. As humanity outgrows its biological conditioning in which our physicality confers our identity and grows into higher levels of spiritual maturation, then the relationship to God as Spirit becomes more central in experience and more empowering for growth and development.
God as Holy Spirit has a particular appeal for our time because that dimension and articulation of the divine-in-our-midst embodies most readily and tangibly what we are being lured into as evolving creatures today. This is not about God changing. Rather, it is about humans undergoing a new moment of transformation and recasting our relationship with the divine in a more empowering way for this new moment of emergence. It is a new way of recognizing and naming the role of the Holy Spirit of God, congruent with the graced experience of this time.
Grace triumphs in the power of this animating and enlivening spirit but it is always an awakening toward a new and better future. The spirit that allures us also awakens in our hearts dreams for a future that will often feel threatening to the guardians of conventional reality. The living spirit lures us to a culture of alternate thinking… that may look both strange and dangerous {but this is} where resurrection and new life stand the best hope of thriving today.

Alleluia!!

"Why Atonement Theology Will Kill Christianity" by Bishop John Shelby Spong

World Day of Prayer for Women's Ordination from Women's Ordination Conference

Monday, April 4th marks the 22nd annual World Day of Prayer for Women's Ordination. This concerted, global action is celebrated on the Feast of the Annunciation and together we will honor Mary's "yes" to God to bear Christ for the world.  On this day we also celebrate the women who courageously say "yes, I am called" to priestly ministry. In solidarity with women's ordination advocates around the world, WOC members host prayer services and liturgies to honor this special day.  Please pray with us!  Click here for the full 2016 Liturgy for Women's Equality in the Church.  Click here for the WOW prayer.  Whether you host a liturgy with your community or take a moment to personally pray in solidarity with us, thank you for saying "yes" to women's equality the Church. Blessings,  Erin Saiz Hanna & Kate McElwee Co-Executive Directors

15 Christian Women Get Real About the Role of Women in the Church, Huffington Post

ttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/15-christian-women-get-real-about-the-role-of-women-in-the-church_us_56e1dd0ee4b0860f99d84e80

Sunday Liturgy and Celebration::"As We Journey in One Heart of Compassion" by Barbara Billey ARCWP, Michele Birch-Conery ARCWP and Jeni Marcus ARCWP, Windsor, Canada

Heart of Compassion

International Faith Community

All Are Welcome

Sunday Liturgy and Celebration     

As We Journey in One Heart of Compassion

CC – Co-celebrant

 … sacred pause

Opening Prayer and Gathering In

Ringing of chimes

Celebrant 1:

Welcome

Invitation into Silence

Join in Song or Chant

Celebrant 1: In the name of our Loving Creator, Source of all, and of Jesus, Heart of Compassion, and of Wisdom Spirit, our Holy Guide. Grace, love and peace are with us.

ALL: We give thanks and praise.

Celebrant 2: Loving Creator, You seek and search us, one with us and all of creation in each and every breath. We gather to celebrate Your active presence in all of creation, and to receive You.  

Prayer of Healing and Peace

Celebrant 1:  Divine Comforter, You heal and transform us. Now, we surrender what separates us from You and others in this our prayer of healing and peace …
Celebrant 2: Breath of God, we bring awareness to our breath, Your presence  within us … with eyes closed we feel the rise and fall of our chest and belly … into the space of our hearts, we breathe in Your passionate love … we breathe out Your infinite love, become Your love.
Celebrant 1: First, we receive healing for ourselves … we surface an image of ourselves … silently and deeply with love we say, “Please forgive me … I forgive you … I embrace you” … allow this image to fade …
Celebrant 2: Now we surface an image of another person, place or being to whom we desire to extend peace and forgiveness … silently and deeply with love we say, “Please forgive me … I forgive you … I embrace you” … allow this image to fade …
Celebrant 1: From this place of in-dwelling love, we take a moment of silence to offer this same love to all creatures and to Mother Earth herself.
Song or Chant
Celebrant 2: Divine Comforter, You empower us to choose only love and to be Your peace. ALL: Amen.
Liturgy of the Word

Reading, Song, Chant or Dance

Gospel Reading

Reader:  A Reading according to the Gospel of … ALL:  We open to your Word.

(At the end of the Gospel) Reader: The good news of Jesus, Our Risen Christ. ALL: Chant

Homily or Homily Starter for Shared Homily                                                                                                                                 

Profession of Faith

Community Creative Process

Prayer of the Faithful

Response (ALL Sing and gesture)

Celebrant 1: We are the Body of Christ. From the sacred space within where You dwell, Mother/Father God, we offer our prayers for the highest good of all.

CC1: For those of us without shelter, food, or community, that we might seek and receive the help we need ... R

 CC2: For those of us who suffer from violation of our dignity and human rights, that we remember ourselves one with the harmed and those who harm … R

CC3: For those of us who are vulnerable and lost, who choose self-harm in order to cope. Free us to choose actions that release us from darkness into Your Light ... R

CC4: Inspire us to grow in relationship with the planet and all beings. Move our hearts to support the continued existence and well-being of creation … R

CC5: Now, let us offer any other prayer arising within our hearts (spontaneous prayer) ... R

CC6: For these and for all other petitions, too deep for words, we rest into a moment of silence ... R

Celebrant 2: God of mercy and love, our essence is Your compassion – in thought, belief, word and deed. You are our source and guide, one with Jesus, the Cosmic Christ, and Spirit Holy, always and everywhere.                  

Eucharistic Prayer

Preparation of the Gifts

(Gathering of offertory gifts)

(Please assume a praying posture comfortable for you)

Celebrants:  Blessed are You, Beloved Creator, through Your love we have this bread to offer, gift of the earth and created by our hands. It is food that nourishes our body and spirit, reminds us of You within and among us.  

ALL sing: Blessed are You, blessed are we, blessed is all.

Celebrants: Blessed are you, Beloved Creator, through Your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and created by our hands. It is our spiritual drink that reminds us of Your covenant of love with us.

ALL sing:  Blessed are You, blessed are we, blessed is all.

Celebrant 1: Beloved One, we are united in this sacred meal by the love of Jesus Christ, in communion with Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mary of Magdalene and all the Saints. They and we are Your light in darkness.

ALL: We offer these gifts for our good and the good of all Your people.

Celebrant 2: Beloved Creator, You reveal Yourself through Jesus Christ who shows us how to live compassion and love, to bring hope to all. Receive our gifts as we remember who we are in You.

ALL: Amen.

Prayers of the Eucharist

Celebrant 1:  Sacred Presence is one with us.

ALL: One with us.

Celebrant 2: With gratitude, we lift up our hearts as we come to the table of Love.

ALL: We thank and praise You.

CC1: Thank You for Jesus who courageously lived Your vision, who set us free to be one with You. 

CC2: In the Spirit of the Risen Christ, we know our loving actions become a share in Your life. 

CC3: We join with the Saints of all times as they sing forever to your glory:                     

ALL Sing:

Holy, holy, holy God, Spirit of Love, Justice and Peace.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed are all who come in the name of our God. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

Celebrants and All (extend hands toward and over the gifts):

Loving Creator, intensify the presence of Your Spirit in these our gifts, as they, and we, become the + Body and Blood of Jesus the Christ.

In Remembrance

Celebrant 1: Together we say …

Celebrants and All:   On the night before he died, while at supper with his friends, Jesus took the Bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:  Take and eat, this is my body. (ALL bow)

Celebrants and All: When supper was ended, Jesus took the cup of wine, spoke the blessing and offered it to them saying: Take and drink of the covenant made new again through my life in you. Do this in memory of me. (ALL bow)

Eucharistic Acclamation

Celebrant 1: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.

All:  In every creature that has ever breathed, Christ has lived; in every living being that has passed on before us, Christ has died; in everything yet to be, Christ will come again ...

CC 4: As we celebrate the memorial of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we offer You, Beloved One, the bread of life and the cup of hope for our life and the life of all creation.

CC5: We know that in receiving You we are gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

CC6:  One with all creation, we remember those who have died … We trust they have been received into Your light and love.

ALL: Through Christ, with Christ and in Christ, now and forever.

ALL Sing: The Great Amen

The Jesus Prayer

Celebrant 2:  Please join hands as together we pray...

ALL: (To begin, we speak our name for the Divine)

You with us and all of creation

holy is your truth

and generous is Your mercy.

May your Wisdom come,

your circle be one

uniting us within our difference.

Nurture our loving spirit

as Your vision evolves through us.

Heal and forgive us

as we heal and forgive one another.

Liberate our goodness

into Your fullness and joy.

For we are Your One Heart of Compassion,

now and forever. Amen.

The Sign of Peace

Celebrant 1: Jesus said to his friends, “Peace I leave you. My peace I give you.”

ALL: We commit to become this peace and now share it with one another.

Communion

ALL: (Pray as Celebrants break bread)

Loving Creator, You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice; we will live justly...

Loving Creator, You call us to be your compassionate presence; we will love tenderly...

Loving Creator, You call us to speak truth to those who oppress; we will walk with integrity...                                                                                                                                               

Celebrants: Jesus Christ, You dwell in us. You liberate, heal and transform us and all of creation.  Blessed are You who provides food and drink for the journey.

ALL: We are one Body of Christ, worthy to receive You and ready to be healed by You. We desire to become what we eat.

Celebrants: The gifts of God for the people of God.

ALL: Thank You, our God.

Bread is passed then …

Celebrant 1: Jesus, Bread of Life. Response: Amen (all eat together)

Celebrant 2: Jesus, Cup of Hope.  Response: Amen (as cup is passed)

Join in Song or Chant

(Period of silence)

Prayer after Communion

Celebrant 1:  Gracious Mystery, continue to be with us this and everyday as we follow in Your way, Your truth and Your life.

Final Blessing

 (Please extend your hands in mutual blessing.)

Celebrant 2: Go in the peace of Christ.  Be fire and light our world with justice and compassion!

ALL: In gratitude we came …

In gratitude we celebrated …

In gratitude we become Christ.

Closing Song, Chant or Dance

Kindly return this worship aid for

 our use each liturgy

Feb 2016

Heart of Compassion Faith Community

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Bloomfield Township, Michigan, U.S.A.

Rev. Dr. Michele Birch-Conery, Bishop

Association for Roman Catholic Women Priests

(519) 990-9176

mbcb1939@gmail.com

Rev. Dr. Barbara Billey, Priest

Association for Roman Catholic Women Priests

(519) 735-3943

barbbilley56@gmail.com

Rev. Dr. Jeni Marcus, Priest

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

(248) 568-8662

jsmaurelius@aol.com