Zoom link for video - 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81534075389?pwd=TTdGY2NxS3AzTW13ODJESkdYME9aUT09
Meeting ID: 815 3407 5389
Passcode: 803326
(Note -- if you have a problem with the above link, open your ZOOM app and insert the Meeting ID number and Passcode)
Theme: God’s unconditional everlasting Love
Welcome and Gathering
(Elena)
Happy Easter!! He is risen indeed Alleluia Alleluia!
Mary Mother of Jesus is an inclusive Catholic Community where all are welcome to share Eucharist. As you hear the Word, you will be invited to share your insights. As an inclusive catholic community, we encourage all to read the prayers with us and to listen and/or join us in song. Be sure you are muted unless you are a reader or prayer leader. Unmute to share in the reflections after the reading of the Gospel and mute when you finish. Please have bread and wine or juice with you as we pray the Eucharistic Prayer.
Gathering Song: Canticle of the Sun - By Marty Haugen
https://youtu.be/OGMIjwf0SVw
Refrain
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and all creation is shouting for joy.
Come, dance in the forest,
come, play in the field,
and sing, sing to the glory of our God.
Verse
Sing to the sun, the bringer of day,
He carries the light of our God in his rays;
The moon and the stars who light up the way
Unto your home. Refrain.
Verse
Praise to the wind that blows through the trees,
The seas mighty storms, the gentlest breeze;
They blow where they will, they blow where they please
To please our God. Refrain
Verse
Sing to the earth who makes life to grow,
The creatures you made to let your life show;
The flowers and trees that help us to know
The heart of love. Refrain
( Janet): As we gather together from our homes, made sacred by our presence, to 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.
(Elena): My sisters and brothers, God is with us!
All: God is with us indeed!
OPENING PRAYER:
All: God of life, wholeness and holiness, you direct all creation to its fulfillment in Jesus, the Christ. Open our hearts to the message of the Gospel so that your peace may rule in our hearts and your justice may guide our lives. Loving God, we ask that you impart your wisdom to all people, especially world leaders, to understand how unconditional and everlasting is your love of every person. Loving God, bless all of us gathered here and all those of our community who are not with us today. We ask this of You in the name of our brother Jesus, and our sister Sophia Wisdom. Amen
(Janet)Communal Reconciliation Rite
(Janet) 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. We pause now to remember the times we have let anxieties sap our energy to live our mission to be the Christ Presence in the world.
Let us place our concerns and issues in the loving hands of the Holy One, and open ourselves to recognize God’s unconditional everlasting love.
All: We take your Word into our minds and hearts. May we be open to a deeper understanding of your unconditional forgiveness and everlasting love.
(Pause briefly. Then extend your arm over your heart)
Let it be so, Yes, Alleluia!
Glory to God by Marty Haugen and video by Bridget Mary Meehan and Mary Theresa Streck
https://youtu.be/udjH7EON5IY
Refrain: Glory to God in the highest,
Glory to God in the highest,
Glory to God In the highest,
And peace to God’s people on earth!
We sing praises to you,
God of life, God of wonder,
Hearts filled with joy,
let our voices be thunder. Ref
Sing to Jesus, the Christ,
Word of life to the nations,
Raised up in glory
As our hope of salvation. Ref
In the Spirit we come
For the feast and the stories,
Speaking of God
In the pain and the glory. Ref (2x)
LITURGY OF THE WORD
(Elena)The scriptural reading for today is a passage from Acts, chapter 5, verses 27 to 32. The event that leads us to this passage is as follows. The disciples having been thrown in jail for preaching in the name of Jesus, and adding many to their number, were found missing from their jail cells. An angel of God had opened the jailhouse door and led them out, delivering to them a mandate from God to continue their work. Keeping this in mind we will hopefully understand the piece that Pat is proclaiming to us today about Jesus, his call, and living in the joy of serving in the great work of God.
(Pat F) Bringing them back they stood them before the High Council. The Chief Priest said:” Didn’t we give you strict orders not to teach in Jesus name? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying your best to blame us for the death of this man.” Peter and the apostles answered, “It’s necessary to obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the one you killed by hanging him on a cross. God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom god gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail.”
These are inspired words found in the book of Acts and we respond by saying: Thanks be to God.
(Bob F) RESPONSORIAL PSALM: 29
Response: Give Praise to The Beloved
~Exalt the glory of Love’s Name; Adore the Beloved in Holy splendor.
The voice of the Beloved is upon the waters;
Loves voice echoes over the oceans and seas.
Response: Give Praise to The Beloved
~The voice of the Beloved is powerful, majestic is the heart of Love.
The Mercy of the Beloved breaks the bonds of oppression,
Shatters the chains of injustice.
Response: Give Praise to The Beloved
~Love invites all to the dance of Freedom, to sing the Beloved’s song of truth.
The voice of Love strikes with fire upon hearts of stone; uproots the thorns of fear. Love uproots fear in every open heart.
Response: Give praise to the Beloved
~The voice of Love is heard in every storm, and strips the ego bare.
And in the heart’s chapel all cry, “Peace and Glory forever!”
The Beloved lives in our hearts; Love dwells with us forever. You who awaken to the Light of universal Oneness will know the blessed joy of serving in the great work of Love.
Response: Give Praise to The Beloved
(Pat F): Second Reading: Part One of the Gospel reading from John the Evangelist: 21:1-14
After this, Jesus appeared to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (The Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed
“Twin”), Nathaniel from Cana in Galilee, the brother Zebedee and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.”
The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him. Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?” They answered, No.”
He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.” They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!” When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it. Jesus s, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore--- 153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip. Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.”
Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master. Then Jesus took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.
This is the word of God as shared by John the Evangelist and presented in The Message. All: Thanks be to God
Alle, Alle, Alleluia: Linda Lee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID5UGWcS6Ws
( Bob F) Gospel: Part Two of the Gospel Reading from John 21:15-19
After Breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.” Jesus said, Feed my lambs.”
He then asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes Master you know I love you.” Jesus said, ”Shepherd my sheep.”
Then he said it a third time: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I’m telling you the vey truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you’ll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don’t want to go.”
He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would Glorify God. And then he commanded, “Follow me.”
This is the word of God as shared by John the Evangelist and presented in The Message.
All: Thanks be to God
“The Message” by Eugene Peterson is a contemporary rendering of the Bible from the original languages, crafted to present its tone, rhythm, events and ideas in everyday language.
Homily Starter: Janet Blakeley (Followed by a time of silence led by Janet to ponder the readings and homily and to allow for Holy Spirit to inspire our sharing.)
HOMILY by Janet Blakeley
The other day, Elena and I were reflecting on the way Scripture has a way of engaging us in different ways. We may be comforted. We may find ourselves left with a hundred questions. We may be delighted or disturbed. We are seldom left empty. This week, the Scripture readings invite us to gaze at the topic of love… just gaze. Our minds and imaginations may move around, looking from different angles at this love - our love, God’s love. We are invited to look at that as a way to understand it better and desire it more, cultivate it in ourselves and in the world.
The reading from Acts gives us what was probably a common view of God for the people of that day. They spoke of God as one who was expected to be obeyed. Even the followers of Jesus, when replying, described God as caring for Israel, but lofty. They don’t describe a felt love. Rather they speak admiringly of grand gestures made by God. Today, after the fact, we believe that God’s actions were made out of love, and we hear, embedded in that, the nearly unbelievable love of a Father who gives his son to save a people. Perhaps it was just too soon for those people to have passionate feelings about God.
The Psalm is a different matter if it is read slowly and contemplatively, a sentence at a time. It can teach us much about our God and about different facets of God’s love. In fact, we hear that God’s very name is Love! - that Love’s voice may be heard everywhere in nature and everywhere in life’s experiences, in every change of heart – that we experience Love as it takes away our fears, or as our egos are laid bare. We are encouraged to listen to our hearts to hear Love living life there. And if we need encouragement, the Psalmist assures us that, when we reach a point in our awareness of Oneness of all things, all beings, “we will know the blessed Joy of serving in the great work of Love.” God’s work! That thought alone deserves our contemplation.
With the coming of Jesus, there is an evolution from a somewhat abstract notion of God’s love to a personal knowing of it. Although the Hebrew Scriptures speak much about God’s love and encourage us to acknowledge that love, Jesus was one with whom people could fall in love! They did – and they do! What, besides a passionate love, would have made Peter throw himself into the water just to be able to reach Jesus a little quicker!? What, besides a passionate love, would have motivated Mother Theresa to walk the dark streets of Calcutta to search out unwanted, unhealthy, unclean bodies to treat with tender care as they moved to death? What, besides passionate love, prompts you to treat an unappealing person with kindness? You may not stop to acknowledge your love of Jesus in that moment, but you are loving Christ who lives in everyone averything, in all of creation. Creation is an expression of God’s being. With your gesture of kindness you are acknowledging the Oneness of it all, and doing God’s great work of loving,
These are some of the things we observed as we gazed at these Scripture passages. We would like to hear where these words and images have taken you.
These are some of our thoughts having gazed at these Scripture passages for a while. We wonder where your reflections have lead you, and invite you to share them with us.
Community Sharing
COMMUNAL STATEMENT OF FAITH
(Bob F and 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 that we are called 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.
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 AND FOR THE COMMUNITY
(Bob F): We are a people of faith. We believe in the power of prayer. We are mindful of God’s unconditional love and care for each one of us. And so, we bring the needs of the people to our merciful and gracious Creator.
Our response is: Your love fills our hearts.
~Loving Jesus, you showed yourself to your disciples and assured them with your touch, give us the grace we need to embrace the mysteries of your life with our minds and hearts.
R: Your love fills our hearts.
~Your disciples recognized you in the miraculous catch of fish, help us to see you in your care for us each day of our lives.
R: Your love fills our hearts.
~You challenged Peter’s love and commissioned him to lead your people, fill our hearts with the love and zeal we need to fulfill our mission on earth.
R: Your love fills our hearts.
~Throughout your life and to the last, your message was a call to love, teach us how to hear and live your message in the complexity of our lives.
R: Your love fills our hearts.
~We pray for the people of Ukraine, Russia and all war torn countries that they may live in peace without fear of invasion and that goodness and sanity will fill the hearts and minds of those that are causing them harm.
R: Your love fills our hearts.
~We pray for our MMOJ intentions in our community prayer book. (Joan M shares)
R: Your love fills our hearts.
~And for what else should we pray?
R: Your love fills our hearts.
~God of Mystery, hear our prayers, those spoken and those presented to you in the silence of our hearts. God of Love, send your Spirit into our hearts with the grace we need to recognize at all times that we are your Beloved and to live always in the joy of being loved. We long to love and serve you. This we ask through the intercession of all your saints. Amen
OFFERTORY PROCESSION
(Elena) Let us listen as Joe Wise helps us to bring ourselves, just the way we are, to the celebration of Eucharist.
Song: 🎶 “Here is My Life” by Joe Wise
https://youtu.be/Ao5VnopCP-Y
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
(Pat F): O Holy One, you have been called by many names by many people in the centuries of our planet’s life. Yet, no name truly defines you or describes you. We celebrate you as the marvelous, loving energy of life who caused us and our world to be. We celebrate you as the Source of light and life and love, and we celebrate your presence and all-ways care.
(Elena): Please join in praying the Eucharistic prayer together: (Eucharistic prayer taken from the work of Diarmuid O’Murchu and Jay Murnane, adapted)
(Bob F and All): O Holy One, we stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history – a time when humanity must choose its future.
As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future holds both peril and great promise.
May we recognize that, in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms, we are one human family and one Earth and world community with a common destiny.
United with our vast universe, with our Mother-Planet and her people everywhere, with one another and You, Holy One, our spirits dance and sing this song of praise:
Song: Holy, Holy, Holy (Karen Drucker)
https://youtu.be/orKBBIj5LZA
( Pat F and All): We give grateful thanks for those who came before us, for all those who gave from their hearts, who gave from their lives, that there might be a better world, a safer world, a kinder world, we pray for peace in their name.
And for the children, that they may live, that they may have children of their own and that it will go on - this great blossoming that is meant to go on and on – we pray for peace, in their name.
And for all peoples of this earth who have no voice in this,
For the animals that have no voice in this,
For the plants, the trees, the flowers that have no voice in this,
For all who share this earth with us, we pray for peace in their name.
We thank you for our brother, Jesus. He showed us so simply, so tenderly, how the world is in our hands. He had nothing in this world but your love, companions on the journey, and his very self. Together, that was more than enough, and that remains our clarity in the midst of confusion: the miracle of healing, new hope, nurturance, nourishment, liberation and life.
(Please extend your hands in blessing)
(Janet and All): Your Spirit is upon the gifts of this Eucharistic table, bread of the grain and wine of the grape, and they are gifts of wisdom, light and truth which remind us of our call to be the body of Christ to the world.
On the night before he faced his own death and for the sake of living fully, Jesus sat at the Seder supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly within them, he bent down and washed their feet.
All lift bread and pray the following:
When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the Passover bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat; this is my very self.
(pause)
All lift the cup and pray the following:
(Elena and All): He then raised high the cup of blessing, spoke the grace, and offered them the wine saying:
Take and drink of the covenant made new again through my life,
for you and for everyone, for liberation from every oppression.
Whenever you do this, Re-member me and all that I have taught you!
(pause)
The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead showed us, by Her action, that life is eternal and that love is immortal. Loving Source of All, we have looked for others to save us and to save our world. Yet, we are called, and consecrated and sent into the world to establish justice and show the blessed fulfillment that comes with simplicity and the giving of ourselves in love. We will make new our commitment to the harmony of the original vision of creation.
We will open up wide all that has been closed about us, and our small circles. Like Jesus, in all openness, we will be filled with your own Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
For it is through learning to live as he lived,
And why he lived,
And for whom he lived,
That we awaken to your Spirit within,
Moving us to worship you truly,
O Holy One,
At this time and all time and in all ways.
And we say yes to You!
Great Amen: Linda Lee Miller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy76fpfkNsg
The Abba Prayer
(Janet and All))
Gracious Spirit,
Who loves us like a mother,
Whose realm is blooming among us now.
And within.
We pray that your compassion guide us in every action.
Give us what we need for each day,
and help us to be satisfied with the miracle of that alone.
Forgiver, whose embrace brings us to wholeness without our asking, may we reconcile ourselves to one another in humility.
And may we cancel the crushing debts that imprison our neighbors, so that communities of joy and health may flourish.
May we neither profit from nor ignore evil.
But ever work to thwart it with non-violence, as we co-create the realm of peace in this world, now and each day.
Amen. (Bret Hesla/wsj)
( Bob and All)
PRAYER FOR THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
~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.
(Elena and 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.
(Elena) **Please share Eucharist with the words “You are the Body of Christ”, “You are the Face of God”.
COMMUNION I have loved you with an everlasting Love
https://youtu.be/qoeyyAXQBTc
Pause
Thanksgiving Introductions Announcements
CLOSING RITE: (Janet)
O Holy One, You have gathered us at this holy banquet table of your Eucharist that we may more deeply realize your infinite and unconditional love for us and all creation. Grant that we may at all times yearn for a deeper union with you and throughout our lives live in the Joy of Being Loved unconditionally. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our risen savior. Amen
(Elena) May we all go in the peace of Christ, and let our services to our sisters and brothers be those of the loving people that each one of us were created to be… and may we do so following in the footsteps of Jesus.
(All) Amen, Thanks be to God, Alleluia!
Closing Hymn: Canticle of the Sun - By Marty Haugen
https://youtu.be/OGMIjwf0SVw
_________________________________________________________
If you would like to add your intercession to our MMOJ Community Prayers book,
Please send an email to jmeehan515@aol.com
If you would like to invite another person to attend our liturgy please refer them to
www.marymotherofJesus.org where the day’s liturgy is found. Zoom instructions are also included there.
Please support our community, send your check to:
Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
% St Andrews UCC, 6908 Beneva Rd., Sarasota, FL 34328
