"The Beatitudes as Translated from the Aramaic" by Patricia Fresen D.Th., RCWP

ARAMAIC, the language of Jesus, was and is a very different language from Greek.  Our written source for the Aramaic text is the Peshitta, which was started in the 1^st century, finalized in the 4^th century, subsequently copied in the following centuries. The name “Peshitta” in Aramaic means “straight”, in other words, the original and pure words of Jesus and stories about him.  The Peshitta is the only version of the New Testament written in Aramaic, the language of Mshikha (the Messiah) and of his disciples.

The Peshitta is the text of the New Testament used and translated from, by the Church of the East.   It is possible that some of the books of the New Testament were originally written in Aramaic, but later, in the West, translated into Greek by first-century Christians.  This never happened in the East, where Aramaic, or various forms of it, was the Lingua Franca of the Persian Empire. 

In the West, which had become largely Greek and then Roman-speaking, the  Aramaic texts were mostly discarded and then forgotten.  Unfortunately, Greek is a very different language from Aramaic, based on a different, dualistic philosophy:  e.g. heaven – earth.  Aramaic has no word for “heaven” as (a place) outside of or different from “earth”: they saw heaven and earth as part of a whole, forming the cosmos or universe.  There are some words and ideas in Aramaic that are simply not able to be exactly translated into Greek, or they are changed considerably in translation.   Unfortunately all our Scripture translations today in the West: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, etc. are translated from the Greek.  They are therefore a translation of a translation. Often the original meaning has been lost in in this double translation process.  The Aramaic is much closer to what Jesus actually said and meant because Aramaic was his language.

Note that Aramaic can have several layers of meaning in each word or phrase, so words or phrases can be translated in various ways.  This can be very confusing for us.  Greek is much more precise and fixed in its meanings.

Summary of Beatitudes in English:

          Matt. 5, 3 – 12                                                                   Lk. 6, 20 -23 

       “Sermon on mount”                                                       “Sermon on the plain”

1.  Poor in spirit                                                              1. Poor

2.  Meek   

3.  Mourn                                                                        3. Weeping

4. Hunger & thirst for righteousness                               4. Hungry

5. Merciful

6. Pure in heart.

7. Peacemakers

8. Persecuted in the cause of uprightness.

THE BEATITUDES; TRANSLATED FROM THE ARAMAIC based on Matthew’s version:

Tubwayhun =  ripe, mature;  having reached a stage of the fullness of the person I am meant to be.  The Beatitudes show us what a mature disciple of Jesus is like.

1. Tubwayhun l’meskenaee b’rukh: d’dilhounhie malkutha d’bwashmaya. 

Ripe are those who find their home in the breath (the Spirit);  they shall be attuned to the inner reign of God.

l’meskenaee:  rooted in, firmly based on; “meskenaee means a solid home base or resting point in a fluid, round luminous enclosure and of devotedly holding fast to something, as if one were ‘poor’ without it”. (Douglas-Klotz, 49)

b’rukh:  breath, Spirit, the Divine, God

d’dilhounhie: to be in tune with, attuned to

malkutha:  the reign of God. (Great Mother of Middle East, thousands of years before Jesus.)

d’bwashmaya: core of this word is “shm” or “shem:  vibration, radiation, resonance, name.  ... vibrating throughout the universe.

BREATH  “Tuned to the Source ... breathing unity”

rukha / ruha/ rukh = breath, soul, spirit.

Another name for Alaha (God) is Sacred Breath.  Our breath is part of the Sacred Breath that fills all of life. 

The Aramaic tradition is that the universe came into being through sound, vibration, breath:  ruha d’qodsha  (creating breath).

When feeling out of rhythm with yourself, others or your situation, experiment with breathing in and out, feeling the sound of the word rukha, or Alaha (Jesus’ name for God:  Source of Unity.)  Let the rhythm of the word and the rhythm of your breath merge in a way that feels natural.  Allow the sensation of the breathing to touch your entire body.  Gradually let go of the word and allow the feeling of your breathing to cradle and rock whatever part of yourself has been ignored or starved from tis connection with the source of life.

(Douglas-Klotz:  Prayers of the Cosmos, 49)

to pray: shalu =  to open oneself, to make space within oneself for the Divine;  to become a “resonating space for your vibrations”.(nethqadash shmakh in the Our Father.)

(For the other 7 Beatitudes, we will focus mainly on key words).

2. Tubwayhun lawile d’hinnon netbayun.

Ripe are those who mourn/ weep/ grieve for people who are suffering;   they shall be comforted / shall be united inside by love. (cf Barbara Fiand, In the Stillness You Will Know, p.21 ff)

lawile.  mourners;  those who long deeply for something to occur;  those who suffer with people who are suffering/  are troubled or in emotional turmoil

netbayun:  comforted;  returning from wandering;  united inside by love.

3. Tubwayhun l’makhike d’hinnon nertun arha.

Ripe are the gentle;  they shall be open to receive strength from the earth (universe).

l’makhike:  gentle, one who has softened what is unnaturally hard, one who has submitted or surrendered to God.

nertun:  receiving from the universal source of strength;  softening the rigid places within leaves us more open to God, who acts through all of nature.

arha: earth (origin of English word);  understood as the universe

4.  Tubwayhun layleyn d’kaphneen watzheyn l’khenuta d’hinnon nisbhun.

Ripe are those who hunger and thirst for justice (righteousness);  they shall be encircled by the birth of a new society.

layleyn:  those who wait intensely

d’kaphneen:  hungering

watzheyn:  thirsting when one is parched

khenuta:  justice, an inner and outer sense of justice, a base upon which things

                  can rest, the perfection of natural ability.

nisbhun:  satisfied, encircled by birthing.

5.  Tubwayhun lamrahmane dalayhun nehwun rahme.

Ripe are the compassionate; upon them shall be compassion.

Lamrahmane, rahme:   compassion, mercy.  The ancient root means “womb” or an inner movement from the centre of depths of the body radiating heat, warmth, tenderness.  (The association of womb and compassion leads to the image of “birthing mercy”.)

 Karen Armstrong: Charter for Compassion; Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life. 

Judy Cannato:  Field of Compassion< Sorin Books, 2010.

Barbara Fiand:  Embraced by Compassion, Crossraod, N.Y.  1993.

6. Tubwayhun layleyn dadkeyn b’lebhon d’hinnon nehzun l’alaha.

Ripe are those who are consistent in heart /whose lives radiate from a core of love;  the shall contemplate the One (the Divine, God).

dadkeyn:  consistent in love;  having a fixed, electrifying purpose.  The old roots calll up the image of a flower blossoming because that is its nature.

lebhon:  heart;  any centre from which life radiates;  vitality, direction, desire, courage all rolled into one.

nehzun:  to see, but more especially to have inner vision or contemplation.

alaha:  God,  the Unity, the One.

7.  Tubwayhun lahwvday shlama  dawnawhie d’alaha nitqarun.

Ripe are those who plant peace in each season;  they shall be named the children (or emanations) of God.

lahwvday:  being committed to an action;  planting, tilling the ground, laboring regularly, bringing forth fruit and celebrating.

shlama:  same root as “shalom”:  peace.  it also means health, safety a mutual agreement or a happy assembly.

dawnawhie:  children;  any embodiment or emanation.

nitqarun:  digging a channel or well that allows water to flow  In this sense, as we ‘plant peace’ we become channels or fountains for hastening the fulfillment of the divine will.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.  Tubwayhun layleyn detrdep metol khenuta dilhonie malkutha d’bwashmaya.

Ripe are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice (or righteousness);

the reign of God is in them.

detrdep:  persecuted,( dominated, dislocated, discriminated against).

khenuta:  justice

malkutha d’bwashmaya:  the reign of God lives /vibrates within them, and radiates outwards.

Conclusion:   Ripe are you when you are conspired against, dislocated and wrongly labeled as immature for my sake;  no matter where you turn, you will find the Name (Unity, God) inscribed in light.  It is the sign of prophecy to be persecuted.

This retreat has been based mainly on books and tapes by Neil Douglas-Klotz, especially “Prayers of  the Cosmos – Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus” and “The Hidden Gospel – decoding the Spiritual Message of the Aramiac Jesus”.  Also the set of CD’s: “Healing Breath”  -  Body-based Meditations on the Beatitudes”.  Study-guides and teaching tapes for all of these are available.  There is a German CD called “ABWUN” from Düsseldorf, Lichthaus Musik, 1997. A program is available on the internet by Rev. Elizabeth Reed in a course called Self-healing Expressions.   Reed works with Douglas-Klotz.  

                                                                                          (Patricia Fresen, DTh, RCWP)

"I was a stranger and you did not welcome me", Fr. James Martin SJ

http://www.justice100.org/single-post/2017/01/27/I-was-a-stranger-and-you-did-not-welcome-me%E2%80%9D

100 Days of Justice from Faith in Public Lfe

http://www.justice100.org/

Inclusive Catholic Liturgy with Women Priests Donna Rougeux ARCWP and Carol Giannini ARCWP in Albuquerque, New Mexico

A small gathering of friends came to my first liturgy in Albuquerque. Carol Giannini, ARCWP priest con presided with me. Lisa Lucero was the drumming leader.  

The reading from the Gospel of Matthew said "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world." 

Our first reading was the poem/song by Leonard Cohen called "The Window." 

Our dialog homily took us to another quote from Cohen, "There is a cracked in everything, that's how the light gets in." We even have a painting of this quote (shown in the picture of us). 

We shared a potluck meal after the liturgy. Dennis Kane, Nancy Costea, Lenore Wang, and Capo (our dog) were part of this warm gathering. We look forward to many more liturgies and hope that more people will join us.

Pope Francis Critiques Capitalism and a Society that Discards the Poor

"When capitalism makes the seeking of profit its only purpose, it runs the risk of becoming an idolatrous framework, a form of worship,” he said. “The principal ethical dilemma of this capitalism is the creation of discarded people, then trying to hide them or make sure they are no longer seen,” the Pope continued. “A serious form of poverty in a civilization is when it is no longer able to see its poor, who are first discarded and then hidden.”

http://angelusnews.com/articles/pope-francis-explains-why-your-money-won-t-save-you

"Beyond the fine points over the nature of sovereignty, the limits of papal authority, and so on, perhaps one key lesson is this: Just how determined Pope Francis can be when he wants reform, especially when it’s a question of his core vision of a “poor Church for the poor.”

https://cruxnow.com/commentary/2017/02/05/knights-malta-might-papal-axe-fall-next/

More Important Links to Stories on Pope Francis:

Francis believes the US bishops are addressing the refugee ban and crisis

http://angelusnews.com/articles/pope-be-more-than-a-mannequin-when-it-comes-to-helping-refugees

Francis on Chinese prisoners forced to give their organs...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/06/vatican-defends-inviting-chinese-ex-minister-huang-jiefu-to-organ-trafficking-talks

Upper Room Liturgy - Afire with Divine Presence

Liturgy at the Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community, Albany, NY
February 5, 2017
Presiders: Marge Milanese and Mary Theresa Streck, ARCWP.

Welcome to our inclusive catholic community. On this fifth day of February we begin a new month in ordinary time. Our theme today is Afire with Divine Presence. As we begin, "let us be ever mindful that the day begins with the sun and ends with the moon and stars, and what we do in between is our gift to the world." (Reyna Craig)

Opening Song: Imagine by John Lennon

Opening Prayer: We gather as a community committed to the creative power of Love, the human expression and the Spirit of that Love dwelling in each of us.   As we prepare to celebrate this glorious mystery of the Divine Presence within us and our gathering, we open our minds and hearts to hear your Word. We ask for the grace to continually acknowledge our need to grow in goodness and caring for ourselves and for others. And joining with Jesus, we believe the strength and insight of the Holy One will lead us to deeper dedication to justice, equality and peace in our world.   

First Reading:

A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah - IS 58:7-10

 Thus says the Holy One:

Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the Holy One shall be your rear guard.
If you remove from your midst
oppression, false accusation and malicious speech;
if you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

Second Reading:

 A Reading from Psalm 112  - Interpreted by Nan Merrill

Praises be to you, O Gracious One!

Blessed are those who reverence the Holy One,

who delight in Love Consciousness!

For they dwell with the Beloved,

and their children will learn of peace and justice.

Abundance and wholeness will be their heritage,

and truth will be their banner.

Light penetrates the darkness for those

who face their fears;

love stands by them with mercy and forgiveness.

It goes well for those who are loving and kind,

who live their days with justice and integrity.

They become co-creators with the Divine One;

they bless the world with their presence.

In times of trouble, they know not fear;

their hearts are firm,

trusting in your loving Companion Presence.

Yes their hearts are steady, they are not afraid,

even their enemies are blessed by their love.

They are generous and give freely;

the needy are offered shelter and food;

justice and mercy make their home there;

and their righteousness endures forever.

The unloving are witness to this;

Who knows when the Seed

will find a fertile heart?

The fruits of those who know love

are blessing to all!

These are the inspired words of our ancestors as interpreted by Nan Merrill. And to these inspired words we say, Amen.

Light from Light  - A reading based on the Gospel of Matthew

Written by Archbishop Oscar Romero

A Christian community is evangelized in order to evangelize.

A light is lit in order to give light.

A candle is not lit to be put under a bushel, said Christ.

It is lit and put up on high in order to give light.

That is what a true community is like.

Community is a group of men and women who have found the truth in Christ and in his gospel,

and who follow the truth

and join together to follow it more strongly.

It is not just an individual conversion,

but a community conversion.

It is a family that believes, a group that accepts God.

In the group, each one finds that the brother or sister is a source of strength,

and that in moments of weakness they help one another,

and by loving one another and believing,

they give light and example.

The preacher no longer needs to preach,

for there are Christians who preach by their own lives.

I said once and I repeat today

that if, unhappily, someday they silence our radio

and don't let us write a newspaper,

each of you who believe must become a microphone,

a radio station, a loudspeaker,

not to talk, but to call forth faith.

I am not afraid that our faith may depend only on the archbishops preaching;

I don't think I'm that important.

I believe that this message,

which is only a humble echo of God's word,

enters your hearts,

not because it is mine,

 but because it comes from God.

These are the inspired words of Archbishop Oscar Romero, prophet, visionary and saint.

BLESSING

Enlivened by the Spirit of Hope rooted in Love “Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, we will have discovered fire." (Teilhard de Chardin)

May the light of your soul guide you.

May the light of your soul bless the work you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart

May you see in what you do, the beauty of your own soul.

May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light, and renewal to those who work with you and to those who see and receive your work.

May your work never weary you. May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration, and excitement.  May you be present in what you do.

May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities, and promises.  May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.

May you go into the night blessed, sheltered, and protected.

May your soul calm, console, and renew you.     

(from Anam Cara by John O’Donohue)

May the fire of God's love ignite our hearts in love; may the passion of Jesus radiate through us; may the Spirit of truth and justice burn within us forever. 

All:  Amen.

Dorothy Day's Coffee Cup Mass

https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/true-lesson-dorothy-days-coffee-cup-mass

“All over the world — all the troubled, indeed anguished spots of the world — there Christ is with the poor, the suffering, even in the cup we share together, in the bread we eat.”

—Dorothy Day

Dorothy Day’s biographer Jim Forest tells a story that I first remember hearing at a 1997 conference at Marquette University marking the 100th anniversary of her birth: “When a priest close to the community used a coffee cup for a chalice at a Mass celebrated in the soup kitchen on First Street, she afterward took the cup, kissed it, and buried it in the backyard. It was no longer suited for coffee — it had held the Blood of Christ. I learned more about the Eucharist that day than I had from any book or sermon.”

Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Liturgy with Presider Lee Breyer, Music Minister: Mindy Lou Simmons, Cantor: Russ Banner

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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