Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Liturgy with Co-Presiders Kathryn Shea ARCWP, Lee Breyer, Music Minister: Linda Lee Miska

Kathryn Shea ARCWP, Lee Breyer, Co-Presiders

Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community


Interesting, Inviting, Involving, Inspiring






Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time


January 28, 2017






Presiders: Lee Breyer and Kathryn Shea, ARCWP


Music Minister: Linda Lee Miska


Cantor: Russ Banner



Theme: Consider your calling






Greeting and Gathering Hymn: We Are Called # 628


(all verses, using “God” for “ Lord”)






Gathering Prayer






Presider: Let us pray as we come together to break bread and share in the banquet of love in the name of God, our Creator, of Christ, our liberator, and of the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier. ALL: Amen.






Presider: We celebrate with joy and we give thanks, O Holy One, for all that you bring to us. We are grateful for the strength you give us to fight injustice and for the hope that one day all peoples of the Earth will live fully rejoicing in the kin-dom of God. All: Amen.






Opening Prayer






All: O Lover of All, in this journey into the heart of compassion, we celebrate your 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 your presence among us. In communion with Jesus, our brother, and in the power of the Your Spirit, we will live your love poured out each day. Amen.






Penitential Rite






Presider: Compassionate God, to you all hearts are open, no desires unknown, and no secrets hidden. We thank you for sending your Spirit to us so that we may live more fully according to your will for us and we are thankful that you have called us to be your chosen people.






All: Help us to hear Wisdom’s messages, to faithfully understand them, and to respond to them with compassionate actions with our brothers and sisters. Loving God, teach us the virtues of pardon and peace so that we may – in turn- learn to forgive our failures to care for one another and for our planet Earth. We ask this of you in the names of Jesus, our brother and of the Holy Spirit, our healer and comforter. Amen.






Gloria






All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all God’s people on earth.






(Sung): Glory to God, glory, O praise God, Alleluia. Glory to God, glory. O praise the name of our God. 3X


Liturgy of the Word






First Reading: Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 All: Thanks be to God.


Psalm: 89 Responsorial: Forever I will sing the goodness of our God. (#790)


Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 All: Thanks be to God.


Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia


Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 All: Glory to you, O God.


Homily Starter-4th Sunday of Ordinary Time


January 28, 2017


Kathryn Shea, ARCWP






A Letter from Your Calling


By Tara Sophia Mohr


“Every calling is great when greatly pursued.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes


It’s me. The one who keeps talking to you about that thing. That project. That possibility.


I know you think you couldn’t be the one for the job, but honestly, if you weren’t the one for the job, I wouldn’t have come to you with it.


I wouldn’t have come knocking at the door of your mind. I wouldn’t have come into your dreams, into your imagination, into your heart.


I wouldn’t have made it so compelling to think about me.


I wouldn’t have planted in you the frustration with what is.


I wouldn’t have planted in you the vision of what could be.


You say you want more meaning, more adventure, and to have a greater impact.


I’m offering you all of that, but you keep telling me I’m silly, unrealistic, too big, when here I am, ready to give you the greatest adventure of your life.


I don’t take it personally, but I do weep about it.


I weep for the joy you are missing out on. I weep because you aren’t getting to witness your immense strength and brilliance. I weep for what the world is missing out on too.


When I took this job, they told me much of it would be waiting. Waiting on you.


I want to make sure you know, I’m here, close as breath, waiting. I’m waiting for you to say yes.


We can do this. Together, we can do this thing.


It’s true, part of my job is creating challenges and dark moments along the way—but only enough of them to teach you the most beautiful lessons you’ll ever learn.


I need you. Your hands. Your heart. Your mind. Your circumstances. Your strengths. Your weaknesses. Your wounds. Your wit. Your tale.


I need you, just as you are.


Say yes?


Love,


Your Calling






So, I had the most amazing experience of my lifetime last Saturday at the Woman’s March on Washington. Standing there among the thousands of pick hats; talking, laughing, sharing stories with children, their parents and grandparents, the elderly, men, women, people of every race, sexual orientation, I truly felt like I was standing in the center of the kin-dom of God. And I thought, this is exactly what life on Earth should be. Every day. Not just one day during a march. As I stood there for hours soaking in the immense joy and peace of the moment, I thought how do I take this back with me? Am I doing all I can do? What more can I do? What more should I do? And then I heard a response. I heard, “you are standing right where you belong. This is your calling.” I actually felt stunned because the message was so clear. I had no idea then that one of the Readings this week was about considering our calling. But, I have a feeling our Creator did.


I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to attend the march. I feel very blessed to have received the message and I am staying grounded in my calling. And, I have carried the peace and joy with me all week, even though this week has brought much crazyness.


So, how do today’s Readings speak to you? Do you feel like you know your calling? How can we stay grounded in our calling in these turbulent and frightening times?


Shared Homily






Profession of Faith






All: We believe in one God, a divine mystery beyond all definition and rational understanding, the heart of all that has ever existed, that exists now, or that ever will exist.


We believe in Jesus, messenger of God’s Word, bringer of God’s healing, heart of God’s compassion, bright star in the firmament of God’s prophets, mystics, and saints.


We believe in the Spirit that strengthens our call to follow Jesus as a vehicle of God’s love, a source of God’s wisdom and truth, and an instrument of God’s peace in the world.


And we believe that God’s kin-dom is here and now, stretched out all around us for those with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it, and hands to make it happen.






Prayers of the Community






Presider: With hearts filled with loving compassion and mindful of God’s unconditional love and care for everyone, everywhere, we lift up the needs of our community at this time.






Presider: That those who suffer abuse, that they may be healed and empowered, we pray.


All: God of all compassion, love through us.


Presider: That those bound by hatred, hostility, and violence will be set free, we pray. R.


Presider: That the sick may be healed, especially (mention names), we pray. R.


Presider: That those who have gone ahead of us may dwell forever in our heavenly home, we pray. R.


Presider: And for what else do we pray at this time? Other Intentions followed by R.






Presider: We hold these and all the unspoken intentions in our hearts when we gather around the Banquet Table.






Offertory Procession and Preparation of the Gifts






Offertory Song: Here I Am, Lord #377 (all verses, using “God” for “Lord”)






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


ALL: Blessed be God forever.


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


ALL: Namaste


Presider: Lift up your 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. (join around the banquet table)






Eucharistic Prayer






Voice: 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 sharing the gift of your shalom, our peace. We join with the angels and saints and people of every race, faith and nation in an unending hymn of praise as we sing:






ALL: We are holy, holy, holy. (Karen Drucker)






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






Voice: We especially thank you, Nurturing God, for Jesus, your anointed one, who showed 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 stand up to injustice to protect those who are vulnerable.






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






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






(Please extend arms as we pray the consecration together)






All: May your Spirit, present in these humble gifts, 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, broke it and said:






ALL: Take this all of you. This is my body. Every time you eat it, remember me.






Presider: In the same way after supper, Jesus took the cup, and raising it with love beyond all telling, he 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, the making of a new and everlasting covenant. Every time you drink of it, remember me.






Presider: Jesus, who was with God “in the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth,” is with us now in this bread. The Spirit, of whom the prophets spoke in history, is with us now in this cup. Let us proclaim this mystery of faith.






All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ lives in us and through us in the world today.






Voice: We ask you to bless those who are sick and suffering, those who have no place to turn, especially those who are homeless. May they be healed and strengthened, may they be gifted with your compassion shown through their brothers and sisters, and may they be filled with every blessing in your loving presence.






ALL: Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, all praise and glory are yours, Loving God. Amen.


The Prayer of Jesus






ALL: Sing: Our Father and Mother ……






The Sign of Peace






Presider: God, grant us peace and unity beyond what any words can express. Let us join hands in a circle of love as we sing “Let there be peace on earth.”






Litany at 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: We thank you, God, for creating us as worthy to receive the experience of your son Jesus in our lives so that we can be your compassion in our world. We are the Body of Christ.






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






Communion Music: Instrumental


Communion Meditation Song: Beauty of the Dancer – Sara Thomsen






Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion






Presider: May wonder and thanksgiving fill us, may compassion fully fill our beings, that you may heal the numbness that continues because of our society’s injustices. May you know that you are loved and may we continue to be the face of God to one another.


ALL: Amen






Community Prayers of Gratitude


Announcements






Concluding Rite


Presider: Our God is with you.


ALL: and also with you.






Closing Community Blessing






(Everyone please extend your hands in mutual blessing.)


ALL: May our gracious God, bless us all gathered here, in the name of God our Creator, in the name of Jesus our Liberator, in the name of the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier as we care and minister in love to one another and to all those we meet on our journey. Be with us as we continue on our path and follow in the footsteps of Jesus — for we are the face of God to the world. Amen.






Commissioning






Presiders: May we all go in the peace of Christ. Let our service continue!


ALL: Thanks be to God.






Concluding Hymn: We Are Marching In the Light of God






We are marching in the light of God, we are marching in the light of God.


We are marching in the light of God, we are marching in the light of God.


We are marching, we are marching, we are marching in the light of God.






We are praying in the light of God, etc.


We are singing in the light of God, etc.


We are dancing in the light of God, etc.

MMOJ Annual Meeting: Sally Brochu reviews budget for 2017