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| Lee Breyer presides at Liturgy |
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 4, 2017
Theme: “You are the light of the world.” Who?…me???
Welcome and Gathering Hymn: We Gather Here to Celebrate (Mindy Simmons)
Gathering Prayer
Presider: Friends, let us pray as we come together to break bread and share in the banquet of love. And let us do so, as always, in the name of God, our Creator, of Jesus Christ, our liberator, and of the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier. ALL: Amen.
ALL: And we ask, Loving God that you bless all of us gathered here now, and all those of our community who are not physically with us today.
Presider: We celebrate with joy and we give thanks, O Holy One, for all the blessings that we have received from you. May we open our hearts to everything and everyone with whom we share this universe, with no exceptions. And may we be the light of the world that, through your disciples, you called us to be. ALL: Amen.
Opening Prayer
All: Creator God, as we make our journeys into the heart of compassion, we are grateful for your gifts of strength, guidance, direction and company. Open our minds and hearts to the message of the Gospel so that your inspiration and peace may guide our lives. 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 so widespread in our world. Loving God, may we always remember that we are all created as one body - your body - the Body of Christ. Amen.
Community Forgiveness
(Please raise an arm over the community as a sign of forgiveness)
Presider: Compassionate God, to you all hearts are open, no desires are unknown and no secrets are 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 toward our brothers and sisters. Forgiving God, teach us the virtues of pardon and peace so that we may - in turn - learn to forgive one another our hurtful actions to those of other beliefs, classes, sexual orientations, races, and nationalities. 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 the name of our God. (3X)
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Isaiah 58: 7-10 ALL: Thanks be to God.
Psalm: 112 Responsorial: We are the light of the world; may our light shine before all,
that they may see the good that we do and give glory to God. #609
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5 ALL: Thanks be to God.
Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 5: 13-16 ALL: Glory to you, O God.
Shared Homily and Community Reflection
Much of Matthew’s “great sermon”
was “organized” or “put together” from an oral traditions (memories) and
writings (records known as the “Sayings Gospel Q). Luke did pretty much the same thing. However, in Luke, his Jesus speaks the
beatitudes and follows it with the teaching on “loving your enemies.”
In Matthew, Jesus follows
the beatitudes with a much more personal message directed to the very soul of
the disciples. Scholars believe that Matthew’s description of the “great sermon”
is an accurate reflection of Jesus’ teaching.
Matthew’s Jesus told his
disciples, and through them, tells us why being the “light of the world” is so
important. “Your light – our light -
must shine before others so that they may see our good acts, and give praise to
God.” Isaiah, in the first reading, gave us the reason and motivation to let
our lights shine.
And that is why I worded the
theme: “You are the light of the world.” Who?...me???
Yes….you. Would you like to share a light with us
today?
Profession of Faith
ALL: We believe in one God, the Creator, the divine mystery beyond all description and understanding, the heart of all that has ever existed, that exists now, or that will ever exist.
We believe in Jesus, the Christ, a messenger of God’s Word, a carrier of God’s healing, and the heart of God’s compassion. We believe in the Spirit, the Breath of God, who strengthens us in our call to follow the example of Jesus as an expression of God’s love, a sharer of God’s wisdom and truth, and an instrument of God’s peace in the world.
And we truly believe that God’s kin-dom is surely here and now, spread out everywhere around us for those with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it, and hands to share it with everyone.
Prayers of the Community
Presider: We are a people of faith; we believe in the power of prayer. With loving compassion especially for the sick, needy, marginalized and oppressed, we are mindful of God’s unconditional love and care for everyone, everywhere. And so we lift up the needs of our community at this time. Our response will be: ALL: God of all compassion, love through us.
Presider: That the hungry and homeless receive the bread and the shelter that meets their needs from persons and organizations in our various charities and from caring individuals, social groups and societies, we pray. R.
Presider: That those who lack sufficient and adequate amounts and types of clothing may find what is necessary to meet their situations from caring individuals and organizations, we pray. R.
Presider: That those who find themselves bound by hatred, hostility, and violence will be set free, we pray. R.
Presider: That the sick may be healed, especially (mention names if you wish to), 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 whom or what else do we pray? Mention other intentions followed by R.
Presider: We will hold these, and all the unspoken intentions, in our hearts when we will gather around the “Table of our God’s Gifts.”
Offertory Procession and Preparation of the Gifts
Offertory Song: Room at the Table (Carrie Newcomer)
Presider: Blessed are you, Loving God, through your goodness we have this bread and this wine, the whole of creation, and our own lives to offer. Through this sacred meal we celebrate our role as your holy people. Help us recognize that in all our thoughts and actions.
ALL: Blessed be God forever.
Presider: God is with us, and loving and healing others through us.
ALL: Namaste
Presider: Lift up your hearts.
ALL: We lift them up in tender love, open to serve our families and yours.
Presider: Let us give thanks to our God.
ALL: It is our joy to give God thanks and praise. (Please remain in your pew for now)
Eucharistic Prayer
Voice: Gracious Wisdom, You embrace us with your overwhelming love despite our brokenness. You invite us to your table to share your food with us. We thank you that in this festive meal, your Spirit continues to pour yourself out among us gathered here as we join with one another in our 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…You are holy…I am holy… we are holy… (Karen Drucker)
Voice: Gracious God, you set your table and invite all of us to a feast of endless delight. Here we celebrate divine love beyond what all that words can express. 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.
“Bread, Blessed and Broken” #329 Verses 1, 2, and 3 only
(After the song, everyone is welcome to join together around the table)
ALL: We thank you for the gift of Jesus in history – and the gift of Jesus in faith. Through him, you breathe life into us. He was moved by his vision of your everlasting presence in everyone he met, wherever he went. He revealed you in everything he did in his life well lived. He showed us, thorough his example, not only how we should live, but also what is worth dying for.
(Please extend an arm as we pray the consecration together.)
Presider: On the night before he was betrayed, Jesus gathered with his friends to share a final Passover meal. He took bread, said a blessing, broke the bread and shared it with them saying…
ALL: …take this all of you and eat it. The bread is you; this bread is me. We are one body, the presence of God in the world. Do this in memory of me.
Presider: In the same way after supper, Jesus took a cup of wine, said the blessing and gave it to his friends saying…
ALL: …take this all of you and drink it. This wine is you; this wine is me. We are one blood, the presence of God in the world. Do this in memory of 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 hungry and homeless. May they be healed and strengthened; may they be gifted with your compassion shown through the caring of their brothers and sisters, and may they be filled with every blessing in your loving presence.
ALL: Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, all praise and glory are yours, Loving God, forever and ever. (Singing, and holding hands) Amen (x times)
The Prayer of Jesus
ALL: Sing: Our Father and Mother …...
The Sign of Peace
Presider: Jesus, you said to your disciples, “My peace I leave you; my peace I give you. Look on the faith of those gathered here today and…
ALL: God, grant us your peace beyond what any of our minds can imagine and our words express.
(Please join hands in a circle as we sing “Let There be Peace on Earth” #532)
( …with God as creator, family all are we… … With every breath I take…)
Litany at the Breaking of the Bread
Presider: Loving God….ALL: you call us to Spirit-filled service and to live the Gospel of peace. and mercy. So we will live justly.
Presider: Loving God….ALL: you call us to be your presence in the world and to be bearers of understanding and compassion, forgiveness and healing everywhere in your name. So we will love tenderly.
Presider: Loving God….ALL: you call us to speak truth to power. So we will walk humbly with you.
Presider: Loving God.…ALL: You call us to show mercy to our brothers and sisters. So we will do that.
ALL: Loving God, You call us to live equality, respecting all your creation. 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. Everyone is created in your image and likeness. May they share in this sacred banquet of love.
ALL: We thank you, God, for creating us as worthy to experience the presence of Jesus in our lives. May we reflect 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 Song: “You Are The Face of God” (Karen Drucker)
Communion Meditation Song: “Christ, Be Our Light” #604 verses 1, 2,3, 4)
Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion
Presider: O God of Compassion, Jesus showed us how to love one another and care for one another’s needs. Through the power of your liberating Spirit at work within us, we will learn how to give and receive forgiveness, live joyously and work for the healing of our society and the earth.
ALL: Amen
Community Prayers of Gratitude & Announcements
Concluding Rite
Presider: Our God is with you.
ALL: and also with you.
Closing Community Blessing
(Please extend an arm in mutual blessing)
ALL: May our gracious God, bless all of us gathered here… in the name of God our Creator, in the name of Jesus our Liberator, and in the name of the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier as we care and minister in love to one another and to all those whom we meet on our journies. Be with us as we continue on our paths and follow in the footsteps of Jesus -- for we are the face of God to the world. Amen.
Commissioning
Presider: May we all go in the peace of Christ. Let our service continue! Let us be the people that God created us to be. ALL: Thanks be to God.
Concluding Hymn: “The Summons” #384
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