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| Sally Brochu ARCWP and Janet Blakeley ARCWP, Presiders |
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| Ann Cooke, lector, Linda Lee Miska, Music Minister at piano |
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| Anna Davis, Sally Brochu, Bob MacMillan |
WELCOME:
GATHERING SONG:
#47 - “Beyond the Moon and Stars” - (Dan Schutte) Verses 1,4,5
Presider: As
we gather together in this sacred place and share in this banquet of love, let
us pray in the name of God, our Creator, of Christ, our liberator, and of the
Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier.
ALL: Amen.
Presider: My sisters and brothers, God is with
you! ALL: And also with you.
OPENING PRAYER:
ALL: O Holy One, in this journey into the heart of
compassion, we celebrate your love as we see it. Open our eyes and hearts to
the message of the Gospel so that your inspiration and peace may rule in our
hearts, your justice guide our lives, and your love direct and support us in
our concern and care for one another. You call us to recognize and warmly
welcome everyone who comes through our doors as your presence among us, which they
are. In communion with Jesus, our brother, and with the power of your Spirit,
we will try to live the example of your love each day. Amen.
PENITENTIAL RITE
Presider: Creator God to whom all hearts are open, no
desires unknown, and from whom no secrets can be hidden, cleanse our hearts by
the inspiration of Holy Wisdom.
ALL: We take
your Word into our minds and hearts. Open them to new understanding.
Presider: We ask for the grace to continually
acknowledge our need to grow in goodness and caring for ourselves, for others
and for our earth, and all the while to be Jesus for others and to meet Jesus
in others.
ALL: We accept your love and understanding of the
frailty of our human nature.
Presider: And we join with you, Jesus the Christ, believing
the strength and insight of the Holy Spirit will lead us to deeper dedication
to justice, equality and peace in our world.
ALL: Amen.
(All raise hands extended in blessing over
one another)
Presider:
God, our Father and Mother of Mercy and Love,
ALL: Through
his living, dying and rising, Jesus has revealed that nothing can separate us
from your infinite love. May you, Loving
God, give us pardon and peace, and may we forgive each other our failures to
care for one another and our earth in the name of you, our Creator, of Jesus,
our brother, and of the Holy Spirit, our wisdom. Amen.
GLORY TO GOD
ALL: (sung) Glory to God, glory, O praise and
alleluia. Glory to God, glory, O praise the name of our God. (3x)
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Acts 2: 42-47 (Response: Thanks be to God)
Responsorial Psalm 118 (written
by Nan Merrill)
Response: #814 “This is the day that our God has
made, let us rejoice and be glad, for this is the day our God has made;
alleluia, alleluia”.
Second Reading: Excerpt from the Book “Mercy – The Essence of the
Gospel and the Key to Christian Life” by Cardinal Walter Kasper (p. 111) (Response: Thanks be to God)
Gospel Acclamation: # 565 - “Alle, Alle, Alleluia!”
Gospel: Luke 24: 1-12 (Response: Glory and praise to Jesus, the Christ)
SHARED HOMILY:
Today’s readings, which seemingly are
not connected, give me the opportunity to speak of the good news of the resurrection
with a slightly different focus. Let me
first say that the first reading from Acts is a look at the early community of
Christians after the resurrection and after the Spirit-filling event of
Pentecost. These Christians, although there were well aware of the possible
threats from the outside, they lived with love and caring for one another and
without fear. As in the Psalm 118 that we read, they knew that God was with
them and walked with them each day. For me, this is a reminder of how we are
called to live each day, with a deep trust in a loving and merciful God.
The second reading is an excerpt from
Cardinal Walter Kasper’s book, “Mercy”. Although, it is a very dense read, the
message of God’s loving mercy, as the central message, reminds us that we too
will experience our resurrection after we die and return to our loving Source
of all Life – this same God who created us with that spark of the divine within
us, desires union again with us. Now you might say, yes but am I good enough! After
all, we were taught that we are sinful people and may not be deserving of
heaven, or at least not right away. We really need to look at the theology
behind this, namely the Theology of Atonement. This was developed in the 5th
century by the Dominican, to somehow explain evil in the world. These teachings
taught that we were all born with original sin and that Jesus had to come to
die for us, to save us and then open the gates of heaven for us. These
teachings also almost took God out of the picture, and made God in our own
image. God became a judging, fearful God, much like the Roman gods and the
Roman leaders. What happened to the God of Mercy? And what happened to the
Theology of Blessing that was actually taught by the Franciscans during this
same period of time as the Theology of Atonement. Sadly, the Theology of
Atonement won out and became the teaching of the Roman Church. Gone was the God
who delighted in us and created us without original sin – yes, without! Gone
was the God of Mercy who in God’s own way looked at our broken lives, yet saw
into our hearts and then said “Come on home”.
Today’s Gospel, is not the gospel for
this week, but one that I chose to take another look at the resurrection and
dove-tails with the previous readings. It tells of the story, about the women
who were there at the crucifixion. This gospel isn’t often told because it
favored the women who were there and who first experienced Jesus resurrection –
and then tried to tell the men about it – and who didn’t believe them. I can’t
help making this aside, but things haven’t changed much! But I digress!
The point that I want to make about
the resurrection story is contained in an article that I recently read. It was
a book review of a recent book that was written by Scripture Scholar, John
Dominic Crossan and his wife Sarah. The article speaks an icon that the
Crossans saw in an 11th century Cappadocian Church that led them to
an in-depth quest of deeper understanding of the implications of the theology
behind this icon. May I add that this icon can be seen today in every Greek
Orthodox Church throughout the world. “Unlike the lone figure of a triumphant
Christ generally seen in Western Churches, this icon that they first saw in
Turkey showed Christ surrounded by other human beings. This led them to
question why Western Christianity depicts the individual resurrection of Jesus,
whereas Eastern Church icons show a universal resurrection for Jesus and all
humanity together”. Resurrection in Greek is referred to as ‘anastasis’ which
literally means ‘up-rising’. The conclusion of the Crossans’ study, as believed
by the Eastern Church, was that “Christ’s resurrection was a divine, universal,
communal event. It was not for the sake of stunning us with his (Jesus) divine
glory. It was so we – the new Adam and the new Eve created in God’s image – can
rise and live fully in the light of divine goodness.” For me, this new way of
seeing the resurrection, speaks of the God of love and mercy, a God who never
abandons us and who walks the walk with us, and who in the end, welcomes us
home.
Footnote:
Article: Book
Review, written by Melissa Jones, National Catholic Reporter:- ‘ “Eastern Icons
Challenge Notion of Resurrection” a new book by Scripture Scholar John Dominic
Crossan and Sarah Sexton Crossan’.
Profession of Faith:
ALL: We
believe in one God, a divine mystery beyond all definition and understanding.
God the Creator, is the heart of all that has ever existed, that exists now, or
that will ever exist. God's divinity infuses the entire cosmos, making
everything in it sacred.
We believe in Jesus, the messenger of God's Word,
bringer of God's healing and the center of God's compassion. Through his
incarnation, we have become a new people, called beyond the consequences of our
brokenness.
We believe in the Spirit, the Wisdom that strengthens
our call to follow Jesus who is a vehicle of God's love, a source of God's
compassion and truth, and the instrument of God's peace in the world.
And we believe that God's kin-dom is here now and
will be forever. It is stretched out all
around us for those with eyes to recognize it, and hands to share it with
everyone.....with no exceptions.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
Presider: We are people of faith. We believe in the power of prayer. We believe that we send blessings to those
who are struggling and who need to experience hope, to those who are grieving
and need to be comforted in their loss, to those who are facing medical
challenges that they be granted hope and healing. We bring the needs of the
people throughout our community and our world to our gracious God.
After each intercession, the response is: ALL: Loving God, bless our petitions.
Presider: Presider: That those who are hungry and
homeless, especially the children, that they may receive the food and shelter
that they so badly need, we pray. ALL: Loving God, bless our petitions.
Presider: For what else shall we pray?
Presider:
Healing God, you faithfully listen to our prayers. Strengthen us as we strive
to respond to the needs of your people. We make this prayer in the name of
Jesus, the Christ, Amen.
Offertory Song: “#553 – The Sacrifice of Praise” (Michael Joncas) Verses.
1,2,3
* * Please change
“Father” to “God” and “Master” to “Creator”
PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
Presider: Blessed are you, gracious God of all life,
through your goodness we have this bread, wine, all creation and our own lives
to offer. ALL: Blessed be God forever.
Presider: Through
this sacred meal may we become your new creation as we respond to your call to
use our gifts in loving service to our sisters and brothers. ALL: Blessed be God forever.
Presider:
Jesus, who has often sat at our table, now
invites all of us to join him at his. There is room and a place for everyone at
this table. Please join us in this circle of love that feeds us all on our
life’s journey. (Everyone is welcome and has a place at God’s table).
Presider:
As we recognize God within each other, let us greet one another at this table.
ALL: Namaste! Namaste! Namaste!
Presider: Pray
my friends that as we celebrate this breaking of bread and blessing of wine we
accept more fully the mission of our Church by actively living our response to
God’s call.
ALL: May our
gracious God accept these gifts for the praise and glory of God’s name, for our
good, and for the good of all our Church.
Presider: God is always with you. ALL: And also with you.
Presider: Together, we lift up our hearts. ALL: To God and one another we lift them.
Presider: Together, we give thanks to our gracious
God. ALL: Indeed it is right to
constantly give thanks and praise.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Voice: Gracious God, source and sustenance of life,
redeeming presence to the pain and brokenness of our world, Holy Spirit who
enlivens all that exists, we beseech your healing power upon us and all for
whom we pray today. We join together
with our community, with all creation everywhere, with all those who have gone
before us and live in the eternal now (Names of our loved ones…………)
Let us sing:
ALL: We are
holy, holy, holy (x3), we are whole. (You, I, We) By Karen Drucker
Voice: We ask you to enliven anew in our hearts the
empowering grace of your abundant Spirit, who infuses for us these gifts of
bread and wine with the transforming energy of life, to nourish and sustain us
in all times and especially in times of need.
(Please all extend hands as we recite the
consecration together.)
ALL: Before he
was given up to death, a death he freely accepted, Jesus took bread and gave you
thanks. He broke the bread and gave it
to his disciples and said: take this,
all of you, and eat it; this is my body which will be given up for you.
ALL: When
supper was ended, Jesus took the cup.
Again he gave You thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and
said, take this all of you, and drink it; this is the cup of my blood, the
blood of the new and everlasting covenant.
It will be shed for you and for all.
Do this in memory of me.
Presider: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
ALL: Christ
has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Voice: (Please
place your hand on the shoulder of the person to your right)
As we gather around this
Eucharistic table, we recall God’s blessing and love from ages past, and we
celebrate anew the gift we share among us at this Eucharistic feast. May the
Spirit of life and wholeness, who transforms the gifts we present, transform us
too, that we may be refreshed in our inner being and be empowered to bring
mercy, love and healing to those whose lives we touch and who are Jesus to us.
Voice: Remember Gracious God, your Church throughout
the world that we are open to all of your creation, all of your people
everywhere who are made in your image, for you are a God of Extravagant Love
for all of us.
Voice: Grant that, in union with all peoples living and
dead, we may strive to create a world where suffering and pain are diminished,
where justice and peace are restored, and where all people can live in health
and wholeness. Let us be united in acclaiming the God of Life, whose abundance
is offered to each and to all, until the Kin-dom arrives in the fullness of
time.
ALL: Through
Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory
and honor is Yours, gracious God, forever and ever. Amen (sung).
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Presider: Let us join hands and raise our voices as we sing the
Prayer Jesus taught us:
ALL: Our
Father and Mother…….
Presider: Deliver us, God of Love, from every evil and
grant us peace in our day. In your mercy
keep us holy in your sight and protect us from all anxiety and fear. We watch and wait, discerning signs that You
are continually with us.
ALL: Amen.
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 all and grant us the
peace and unity of your kin-dom where you live forever and ever. ALL: Amen.
Presider: May the peace of our gracious and loving God be
always with you. ALL: And
also with you.
Presider: Let
us offer each other the gift of peace..
LITANY FOR THE BREAKING OF BREAD
Presider: Loving
God,
ALL: You call
us to live the Gospel of peace and justice. We will live justly.
Presider:
Loving God,
ALL: You call
us to be the presence of Jesus in the world. We will love tenderly.
Presider: Loving God,
ALL: You call
us to speak truth to power. We will walk with integrity in your presence.
Presider: This is Jesus, our Light, who liberates,
heals and transforms our world. All are
invited to partake of this sacred banquet of love. ALL: We are the Body of Christ.
Communion: Instrumental
After Communion Song: #332 – “Bread That Was Sown” (Weston Priory)
Verses 1, 4, 6
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Presider: May love, wonder, gratitude and thanksgiving
fill us, may compassion fully fill our hearts, that you may heal the numbness
that continues because of our society’s injustices. May we each know that we
are loved and may we continue to be the face of God to each other. Amen.
PRAYERS OF GRATITUDE / INTRODUCTIONS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONCLUDING RITE
Presider: May God be with you. ALL: And also with you.
Presider: Let us call upon our gracious God as we share
blessings with each other. We bless one
another and pledge to live the Gospel of Christ. ALL: Amen.
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 Light, in the name of the Holy Spirit our Wisdom, as we
care and minister to one another in love, for we are the Body of Christ and the
face of God to the world. Amen.
DISMISSAL
Presider: Go in the peace of Christ. Let our service continue!
ALL: Thanks be
to God.
CLOSING HYMN: #422 – “Canticle of the Sun” – (Marty Haugen) Verses 4,5,6)
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