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| Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it..." 1 Corinthians 12:27 |
GATHERING SONG:
The Gathering of Spirits- Opening
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| Peg Bowen ARCWP and Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP preside at MMOJ Liturgy to honor our saints: Imogene Rigdon, Helen Duffy, Eileen Miller, Bob MacMillan |
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| Michael Rigdon shares Imogene's witness to living the beatitudes of loving care |
Presider 1 Theme: Today we celebrate our MMOJ saints who have gone before us and all
saints-in-the making! As St. Julian of Norwich reminds us we are not only made by God, we are made of God.
Presider 2: Welcome
to Mary Mother of Jesus, an inclusive Catholic Community where everyone is
welcome. We use inclusive language in our scripture readings
and prayers. We invite your tributes to our saints who have gone before us and
all saints-in-the-making. You are
invited to gather around the altar table to take part in praying the Eucharistic
Prayer and sharing Communion. All are invited to supper at a local restaurant
after the liturgy.
Community Reconciliation Rite:
All: Let us pause now to pray with one another for forgiveness for the times
we failed to trust Your Spirit speaking within us and through others in our
world.
All: Raise hands in gesture of mutual forgiveness and sing this chant:
Ubi Caritas, et amor, ubi caritas, deus ibi est.
(Sing 3 times refrain from-Taize)
Gloria:
ALL Sing: Glory
to God, glory, o praise God, alleluia, Glory to God, glory, o praise the name
of our God (3 times)
OPENING PRAYER
Presider 1: Today, we celebrate the saints in our families, among our friends,
the saints with whom we identify, and the
saints we are becoming.
Presider
2: We celebrate especially this day, the Saints who have crossed over this past
year, Bob McMillan, Imogene Rigdon, Eileen Miller, and Helen Duffy.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings:
First Reading: 1 Letter to the Corinthians 12:27
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.
You are Christ's body-that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" ean anything.
These are the inspired words of St. Paul and we affirm our belief by saying, "Thanks be to God"
Excerpt from The Message by Eugene H Peterson
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.
You are Christ's body-that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" ean anything.
These are the inspired words of St. Paul and we affirm our belief by saying, "Thanks be to God"
Excerpt from The Message by Eugene H Peterson
These are the inspired
words of All: Thanks be to God.
Sung response by Noirin Ni Riain
Response: Amen. Truly I say to you, gather in my name, I am with you. (2x)
We serve and praise you, O Holy One.
Just to speak Your name is praise!
Just to remember You is a blessing,
now and tomorrow and always.
Response: Amen. Truly I say to you, gather in my name, I am with you. (2x)
From east to west, from dawn to dusk,
We lift all our hearts to You!
You are above all else,
No one can compare to you.
You care for the poor and oppressed
And seat them among Your honored guests.
Response: Amen. Truly I say to you, gather in my name, I am with you. (2x)
Second Reading: A reading from The Universal Christ by Richard
Rohr.
The full Christian story is saying
that Jesus died, and Christ “arose”—yes, still as Jesus, but now also as the
Corporate Personality who includes and reveals all of creation in its full
purpose and goal. Or, as the “Father of Orthodoxy,” St. Athanasius (296–373), wrote
when the church had a more social, historical, and revolutionary sense of
itself: “God was consistent in working through one man to
reveal God everywhere, as well as through the other parts of creation,
so that nothing was left devoid of Divinity and self-knowledge…so that ‘the whole universe was filled with the knowledge of God as the waters fill the sea.’ ” This whole book
could be considered nothing more than a footnote to these words of Athanasius!
The Eastern church has a sacred
word for this process, which we in the West call “incarnation” or “salvation.” They call it “divinization” (theosis).
If that sounds provocative, know that they are only building on 2 Peter 1:4,
where the author says, “God has given us something very great and
wonderful... you are able to share the divine nature!” Most Catholics and Protestants still think of
the incarnation as a one-time and one-person event having to do only with the
person of Jesus of Nazareth, instead of a cosmic event that has soaked all of
history in the Divine Presence from the very beginning.”
This is the inspired word of
Richard Rohr, and we affirm our acceptance by saying, “Thanks be to God.”
Alleluia (eightfold) https://youtu.be/APtNt5iG1oY
Gospel: A reading from the fifth
chapter of the Good News according to Matthew.
When Jesus
saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were
apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place,
he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
“You're blessed when you're at the end of your
rope. With less of you there is more of God and divine rule.
“You’re blessed when you feel you've lost what
is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
“You're
blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the
moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
"You're
blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. This food and drink is
the best meal you'll ever eat.
“You're
blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves
cared for.
"You're blessed when you get your inside
world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
“You're blessed
when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's
when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
"You're
blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution
drives you even deeper into God's kindom.
"Not
only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you
out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is
too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that
happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven
applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have
always gotten into this kind of trouble.”
This is the word
of Jesus written for us by Matthew and we proclaim our acceptance by saying,
Thanks be to God!
Excerpt Adapted from The Message by Eugene H Peterson
Bridget Mary: Homily Starter:
Our MMOJ Saints, Imogene, Helen, Eileen and Bob reflected the compassion of God which Jesus described in the Beatitudes. They lived fully, loved extravagantly and their daily acts of kindness manifested the glory of God that was within the Body of Christ.
Four members of our community will now testify to their loving witness.
Michael Rigdon will share about his beloved wife Imogene.
Jack Duffy will share about his beloved wife Helen Duffy
Russ Banner will share about his dear friend, our sister Eileen Miller
Pat McMillan will share about her beloved husband Bob
Russ Banner will share about his dear friend, our sister Eileen Miller
Pat McMillan will share about her beloved husband Bob
Shared HOMILY
Statement of Faith: ALL: We believe in God, the creator and lover of
all. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who shows us how to live in the fullness
of God’s love. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, who empowers
us with spiritual gifts for loving service of our sisters and brothers. We
believe in Shekinah, God’s dwelling among the people. We believe in Sophia,
Holy Wisdom, leading us to justice, and equality. We believe in Christ Sophia, nourishing us
with abundant life as the Body of Christ at the table, on the table and around
the table at the Banquet of love.
General Intercessions:
Presider 1: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we pray for
the needs of the people of God in our community and around the world.
I bring to the Table… Response to each
prayer: Amen
Please share your spontaneous prayers.
Presider 2: We give thanks for all whom we held in
the circle of grace and will continue to pray for and serve. Amen.
PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
Presiders: Blessed are
you, God of all Life. Through your goodness we offer these gifts: bread, wine,
our lives and the lives of those we love. ALL:
Blessed be God Forever.
Please
join us around the Table:
Presider
1: God dwells in you. ALL:
And also in you.
Presider: Lift up your
hearts. ALL: We lift them up to the Holy One
Presider: Let us give thanks to our God. ALL:
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Voice
One:
We thank you, Holy One, for the saintly women and men of old, the cloud of
witnesses who have gone before us, and who accompany
us on our journey.
We pause now to mention the names of our beloved family members and friends who
have loved us tenderly and revealed your goodness to us. ………………….
ALL: Holy, holy,
holy, Lover of all
saints and saints-in-the-making, blessed
are all who have
lived and continue to live the Christ Presence now.
Voice
Two: We thank you for the courage
and fidelity of all the ones you sent to prepare a path for us to follow - the
holy women and men of every age, race and culture.
Voice Three: We especially thank you, Nurturing God, for Jesus, who accompanies us on our
journey. And who energizes us to live the Beatitudes in our world today.
(Extend hands
in blessing toward bread and wine for Invocation of the Holy Spirit)
All: Now, as we share the bread of life and lift the cup of joy, we pray come
Holy Spirit deepen your Presence within us and in these gifts of bread and
wine.
All: On the night before he died, Jesus gathered with his friends, and
washed their feet, so that they would follow his example.
Presider 1: (lifts bread as community prays the following:)
All: When he returned to his place at the
table, he spoke the blessing, broke the bread and shared it with them saying:
Take and eat of the Bread of Life
Whenever you remember me like this
I am among you. (pause)
Presider 2 (lifts the cup as community prays the following:)
All: Jesus then raised a cup of blessing,
spoke the grace saying:
Take and drink of the covenant
Made new again through my life in you.
Whenever you remember me like this,
I am among you. (pause)
All: As we share this bread and cup, we proclaim Christ dies, Christ rises and Christ comes again and again.
Voice
4: Holy One , Your creativity flows through our beings. Your joy
fills us and Your empowerment bubbles up inside us as we celebrate your presence
always within us and within all creation.
ALL: . For you are the Love that dwells in our depths, the
Wisdom of the Ages that speaks within us and through us, and the Divine Passion that makes us all one.
ALL: Amen.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
ALL: Our Father and Mother…
Sign of Peace:
Presider 1: Let
us hold hands and sing “Peace is flowing
like a River” as we pray for peace and justice to spread through our world.
Song: Peace
is flowing like a river by Carey Landry
LITANY FOR THE BREAKING OF BREAD
Presider 2: Please join in the prayer for the breaking of the bread:
(Presiders
break the bread)
All: O God of Courage, You call us to live the Gospel of
peace and justice. We will live justly.
O God of
Compassion, You call us to be Your presence in the world. We will
love tenderly.
O God of Truth,
You call us to speak truth to power. We will walk with integrity in
your presence.
(Presiders hold
up bread and wine)
Presider 1:
"This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Through it we are
nourished and we nourish each other. All are welcome to the Feast.
All: What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives; as we
share communion, we will become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s
challenge.
Communion Song:
Go in Beauty
(Chant)
All: O go
in
beauty
Peace be with
you.
Until we meet
again
in the Light
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Presider 1: Holy One, we praise your glory reflected in
our saints. May we who share at this table be filled with your love and
celebrate with joyful hearts our communion with all the saints
especially our beloved MMOJ saints. ALL:
Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving/Announcements:
Prayers of Thanksgiving/Announcements:
Thanksgiving Reflection
In the Great Mystery of the Communion of the Saints where earth and heaven, meet and kiss, we encounter our loved ones who have passed into the Divine embrace.
Each day I do a spiritual practice of seeing each of my loved ones in the communion of saints. I either look at a photo nearby of each one or in my imagination I see each one as full of what I most loved about them- full of joy, full of love, full of music in Dad’s case. When I contemplate their spiritual presence, I believe they are with me.
I conclude my prayer by saying:
Today I choose to act and think as if this vision is a reality.
As one author wrote: Something of their life lives in us, flows through us and empowers us. And maybe, they carry something of us in them, still speaking to us . . . still teaching us, loving us . . . pouring hope into us.'
Like our dear MMOJ saints, all of us, saints-in-the-making are called to make Divinity visible in our daily loves. Amen. May it be so!
CONCLUDING RITE
Presider 2: The Holy One dwells
within you and illuminates our world through all our saints. ALL: And is also
within you and
within all saints in the making!
BLESSING
(everyone
please extend your hands in mutual blessing)
All: May the God of Sarah and Abraham bless us;
may the God of Jesus and Mary Magdalene bless us; may the God of Bob,
Imogene, Eileen and Helen bless us and may we always celebrate our oneness
in the communion of the saints. ALL: Amen
DISMISSAL
Presider:1 Go in peace, let the celebration
continue!
ALL:
Thanks be to God.
CONCLUDING HYMN
"When the Saints Go
Marching In”
Liturgy
written by Bridget Mary Meehan
Association of Roman
Catholic Woman Priests
http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/
https://marymotherofjesus.org
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