Journal Prayer from The Healing Power of Prayer- Podcast with Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan

https://anchor.fm/bridget-mary-meehan/episodes/Journal-Prayer-e6fjjo

"Catholic Church Called to Plug Priest Gap with Lay Women" - AFP, My Response

https://www.france24.com/en/20191011-catholic-church-called-to-plug-priest-gap-with-lay-women

My Response: To affirm women in public ministry as "ministers of the word" and ministers of baptism and marriage is one way to affirm the diaconal ministry of women, while avoiding the issue of ordination. However, this approach does not address the issue of Eucharistic presiders  which is at the heart of the crisis in the Amazon and elsewhere. 
Pope Francis could have approved women as equal representatives with voting privileges at this Synod. Sadly,  he does not make the connection that the full equality of women in the Church is a justice and  issue that impacts human rights of women in the world.  Patriarchal oppression not only excludes women from full equality in the Church but also, has catastrophic effects on other major issues such as poverty, abuse, sex trafficking, violence, and environmental degradation.  Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

Vatican City

"Deep in the Amazonian forest, young couples looking to wed or baptise children often turn to Sister Alba, who fills in where Catholic priests cannot be found.

But in many remote areas, there are not even enough nuns to go around, and it is lay women who play a key role in the evangelisation of indigenous people.

Many Amazonian bishops present at a three-week assembly at the Vatican want the Roman Catholic Church to create official roles for them.

It is not a question of ordaining female priests. The very suggestion that the male-centric, centuries-old church could do that has thrown traditionalists into a tizzy, and it's not a change Pope Francis is currently willing to contemplate.

There is interest, however, in giving lay women official "ministries", whether that be performing marriages or preaching.

"Two thirds of the indigenous communities without priests are guided by women," says Bishop Erwin Krautler, an Austrian missionary who has lived in Brazil for three decades.

While personally he sees "no reason why women cannot be ordained priests", he thinks the debate should be focused now on female deacons -- a potentially invaluable resource in far-flung corners of the world.

- 'Extremely important' -

Male deacons, who can be single or married, are able to baptise, witness marriages, perform funerals and preach homilies.

They cannot say Mass, give the Eucharist, or absolve people after confession, which only priests can do.

Pope Francis in 2016 set up a study group to examine the role of such deacons at the beginning of Christianity, but in May he said the panel was extremely divided on the issue and still had a lot of ground to cover.

In the meantime, a week ahead of the bishops' assembly on the Amazon, Francis suggested that lay men and women could be given a formal Bible reading "ministry".

"The presence of women in the Amazonian forest is extremely important," says Sister Alba Teresa Cediel Castillo.

She is one of 35 female so-called "auditors" invited to the assembly so the bishops can hear their testimony firsthand.

"There are very few priests. The geographical distances are immense, many priests are constantly on the move," she said.

According to the Vatican's Osservatore Romano newspaper, there are areas with just one priest per 25,000 square kilometres, and others where just 45 priests have to serve 1,100 villages.

- Translating the Gospel -

Sister Alba says she does "everything a woman can do, starting with the baptism of children when the priest is not present".

"We can also celebrate a marriage and hear confessions," said the nun, whose congregation is present in six of the nine Amazonian countries.

The question is how and to what extent lay women can also play such roles.

In some areas, local churches have taken the matter into their own hands.

Bishop Wilmar Santin, who has spent nine years living with the Munduruku indigenous people -- a community of 11,000 people in a 175,000 square kilometre diocese in Brazil -- has been creative in compensating for empty pulpits.

He has created 48 "ministers of the Word", including nine women, who speak the Gospel in their local indigenous language, as well as "ministers of baptism and marriage".

Like many, he now hopes the spotlight on the issue at the assembly will result in concrete guidelines from Rome."

People's Catholic Seminary Courses Available Now

(C) Mary Theresa Streck

People's Catholic Seminary offers courses in contemporary theology and programs for spiritual enrichment. The courses below with hot links are available to the public now. To register for these courses or programs, click on the hot link to purchase the course. For more information visit our website at https://pcseminary.org or send an inquiry to peoplescatholicseminary@gmail.com 

PCS 302 - Feminist Introduction to the Bible - Hebrew Scriptures
This course presents an introduction to contemporary feminist scholarship with a focus on a biblical understanding of the women in the Hebrew Scripture as role models for contemporary women and men in the 21st century.


PCS 304 - Celtic Holy Women: Our Wisdom Guides
This course presents Celtic holy women as wisdom guides, prophets, spiritual leaders and anam charas. It also introduces sacred wells and monastic sites in Ireland and Wales associated with the sacred feminine. The goal is to celebrate the contributions of Celtic spirituality and to make the connections with contemporary life today. This material can be utilized as an independent or cohort study.

PCS 307 - Hildegard of Bingen and the Greening of the Soul
This course will begin with an engaging introduction to Hildegard’s life followed by an overview of her works and their significance for us today. It will conclude by weaving it all together through the lens of Hildegard’s understanding of the theological concepts of Viriditas (greening power) and the Living Light (primordial energy force). The contemporary contributions of this medieval woman and Doctor of the Church, St. Hildegard of Bingen, have the potential for inspiring a new model of empowered companionship for ministry today through creativity, mysticism, and the greening of the soul.

Spirituality Program

Spiritual Spa 101: Healing Power of Prayer
This program features ten healing prayer approaches, grounded in scripture and the Christian tradition that will help you tap into the presence of the Divine within you and to access your spiritual energy for healing and transformation.

Healing-of-Memories Prayer from The Healing Power of Prayer Podcast with Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan

https://anchor.fm/bridget-mary-meehan/episodes/Healing--of--Memories-Prayer-with-Rev--Dr--Bridget-Mary-Meehan-e6fikg

Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community Liturgy - Sunday, October 13, 2019 - Presiders: Kathleen Ryan, ARCWP, and Tim Perry

Kathleen Ryan, ARCWP, and Tim Perry led the Upper Room liturgy with the theme: “More than Gratefulness.” Their homily reflections follow the readings.

Opening Reflection

Take a moment. Breathe. Breathe deeply.
Put aside for this hour your worries, things on your “to-do” list.
Think of the gift of being alive on this sunny, warm Fall day in upstate New York.
Let this sense of peace flood in.
Let us listen to our opening song, Deep Within.

Deep Within by David Haas
https://youtu.be/F6OVOk1yUJM 

A Reading from the Book of Kings (2 Kings 5)

Now Naaman was a commander of the army of the ruler of Aram. He was a great officer and highly esteemed. And he had leprosy.

On one of their raids the Arameans captured a young woman who was an Israelite. She served Naaman’s wife. One day she suggested to her mistress “If only Naaman would go and see the prophet Elisha who is in Samaria.”

When Elisha heard Naaman had come to Samaria Elisha said, “Have Naaman come to me and he will learn there is a prophet in Israel. Elisha sent a messenger to say to Naaman “Go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

But Naaman was angry. He thought Elisha should come and stand in front of him, evoke the name of YHWH and wave his hand over the spot and cure his leprosy. After all “the rivers of Damascus are just as good as the rivers of Israel.” Naaman went away in a rage. Naaman’s attendants went to him saying, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed.’

So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of Elisha, the man of God.

His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child,
and he was clean of his leprosy.

Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before Elisha and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.

These are the inspired words from Second Kings. The community affirms these words AMEN.

Ruah by Colleen Fulmer
https://youtu.be/2uofLLMwLCI

A Reading from the Gospel of Luke (17:11-19)

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"
And when he saw them, he said,
"Go show yourselves to the priests."
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
"Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

These are the inspired words of Luke a disciple of Jesus. The community affirms these words AMEN

Kathie’s homily starter: These two scripture readings are being read in many churches today. I added some of the backdrop to the chapter in the first reading. This reading originally started with the verse Naaman following Elisha’s directions and washing in the Jordan. But reading what happened before Naaman plunged into the Jordan is, I believe, even more important than the miracle curing of his leprosy. 

Naaman expected a cure because he was powerful, rich and well known. Elisha was expected to perform the cure in a manner worthy of a powerful, rich man. But in order to be cured, Naaman had to listen to his attendants, swallow his pride, and then follow Elisha’s simple directions. Naaman needed encouragement and support from those around him who had little power, especially his attendants and his wife’s servant girl. Once he accepted their help and then followed Elisha’s directions his leprosy disappeared. This encounter with Elisha changed his life but it may not have happened if he had not been surrounded by his community and humbly listened. If you have time later today please read the entire chapter. You and I may not be rich and powerful like Naaman but we are each like him in so many ways.

In the Gospel reading Jesus is once again teaching his community. They were his companions and friends, most likely other Jews. All 10 followed Jesus’ directions and all 10 were cured but only one was grateful. Was Jesus’ major point the nine were ungrateful? The nine truly messed up!

You and I can identify with the nine as we each have all messed up, taking life for granted and forgetting to live gratefully. Living gratefully is very important but I think Jesus had another point similar to the one in the story of Naaman.

Both Naaman and the one grateful leper were not Israelites both were foreigners, both outsiders. The importance of being grateful is there for sure but even more importantly everyone including the powerful and rich, the poor and the marginalized, those on the inside and the outside need one another and all are cared for and loved by the Holy One.

We teach our little children to be grateful-always emphasizing “say please and thank you.” I am not so sure we teach our children the importance of including everyone and that everyone is loved.

Sometimes we may actually have a physical healing-but most often our healing is ordinary every day insight and understanding. We learn to love one another, even our enemies, those who hurt us, those who rub us the wrong way, or those who are polar opposite. We are healed every day so together, hand in hand we participate in all of life. The Holy One is present, incarnate in everyone, everything, in all of creation.

What did you hear? How will it change you? What will it cost?

Tim’s Concluding thoughts:

When I reflected on these readings these were my thoughts:

Consider for a moment our friend, Jonathan Gradess, who died October 2 and is among us today. Consider how he chose to live his life.

His entire professional career was spent seeking justice for the downtrodden and disenfranchised among us. He cared and fought for the outsider, the disadvantaged, the underdog.

And Jonathan is not alone. There are many of us in this Upper Room community working with the hungry, migrants, homeless, victims of domestic violence, welcoming Muslims, or taking other actions, caring for those who are disadvantaged, who “look different.”

There are women and men in this room who have been denied full access to God’s call to ministry in the institutional Roman Catholic Church. You too are outsiders, now ministering to other outsiders.

Jesus showed us the way- we are on the path and we reach out to the shunned and the outsider individually and in community. 

Closing Song: Send Down Your Fire
https://youtu.be/2cSkl0IiioM

The Women the Vatican Cannot Silence- Mary McAleese and Sister Joan Chittister, Saturday, Nov, 2, Trinity College

 

We congratulate Mary McAleese who will receive the prestigious Alfons Auer Ethics Prize from Tubingen University on 30.October 2019. 

To mark this award We are Church Ireland, Voices of Faith and the School of Religion in Trinity College will present two leading Catholic women in a public conversation to overcome the silence on issues that affect Catholics today and must be openly discussed for the future of an inclusive, egalitarian and harmonious Church.

Former Irish President Mary McAleese and feminist nun Sister Joan Chittister have both experienced attempts by the Catholic hierarchy to silence their voices. In this conversation, for the first time ever, these two courageous women come together to discuss their views on the many issues besetting our Church today and the possible solutions for change. Titled 'The Women The Vatican Couldn't Silence' this event will take place in Trinity College at 2pm on Saturday the 2nd of November 2019. NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FULLY SOLD OUT. CONTACT COLM HOLMES TO PUT YOUR NAME ON AWAITING LIST.

We congratulate Angela Hanley on the launch of her very important book 'What happened to Fr Seán Fagan?' which tells the sad story of  how Seán  suffered greatly at the hands of the Vatican's Congregation for Doctrine and Faith. The truth has been told at last.

We welcome your feedback on the Charter of 15 Rights and Responsibilities for Christ’s Faithful which was approved at the Warsaw ICRN meeting in September 2019.

 

Blessings and best wishes,
 

Colm Holmes
Core Group Member
colmholmes2020@gmail.com

Healing Power of Prayer by Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan- Introduction to NewPodcast

https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/e6elae

Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community - Liturgy: Seasons of Creation/Feast of St. Francis, Presiders: Dennis McDonald, ARCWP, and Bridget Ball Shaw

Liturgy – Seasons of Creation/Feast of St. Francis

Opening Prayer:
The Earth is the Creator’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all that dwells therein.  We share this life with the heavens and the earth, with the waters and the land, with trees and grasses, with fish, birds, and animals, with creatures of every form, and with all our brothers and sisters. Together we form strands in the web of creation woven and held together by the Divine Creator.

All: Great Spirit of Creation come worship with us, embrace us with your spirit of life. We celebrate the power of creation, the gift of life and relationships, we celebrate the diversity of life on this planet, the oceans and lands, people and wildlife. We open our hearts and minds to hear the voice of creation. Amen.

Opening Song: Sing Out, Earth and Skies by Marty Haugen
https://youtu.be/bTYOglt9ab0

First Reading: A reading from the Hindu Tradition by Ahtarva Veda

Homage to you, Breath of Life, for the whole universe obeys you.

You are the rule of all things on earth, and the foundation of the earth itself.

Homage to you, Breath of Life, in the crashes of thunder, and in the flashes of lightning. The rain you send gives food to the plants and drink to the animals.

Homage to you, Breath of Life, in the changing seasons, in the hot dry sunshine and the cold rain. There is comfort and beauty in every kind of weather.

The plants themselves rejoice in your bounty, praising you in the sweet smell of their blossom. The cattle rejoice, praising you in the pure white milk they give.

Homage to you, Breath of Life, in our breathing out and breathing in. At every moment, whatever we are doing, we owe you praise and thanksgiving.

Homage to you, Breath of Life, in our birth and in our death. In the whole cycle of life you sustain and inspire us.

Homage to you, Breath of Life, in the love and friendship we enjoy. When we love one another, we reflect your infinite love.

Men and women rejoice in your bounty, praising you in poem and song. The little children rejoice, praising you in their innocent shrieks of laughter.

These are the inspired words by Ahtarva Veda, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.

Responsorial

Left: "The Earth. . . is a sparkling blue and white jewel. . . laced with slowly swirling veils of white. . . like a small pearl in a thick sea of black mystery." (Edgar Mitchell, US Astronaut)

All: "All creation is a song of praise to God." (Hildegard of Bingen, Mystic)


Right: "O moving force of Wisdom, you encircle the wheel of the cosmos, you encompass all that is, all that has life, in one vast circle." (Hildegard of Bingen)

All: "All creation is a song of praise to God." (Hildegard of Bingen, Mystic)


Left: "It could be that god has not absconded but spread, as our vision and understanding of the universe have spread, to a fabric of spirit and sense so grand and subtle, powerful in a new way, that we can only feel blindly of its hem." (Annie Dillard, naturalist writer)


All: "All creation is a song of praise to God." (Hildegard of Bingen, Mystic) 

Right: ". . . stardust is not just fairy-tale magic; it is what we are really made of. . ." (Elisabet Sahtouris, Ecofeminist) 

All: "All creation is a song of praise to God." (Hildegard of Bingen, Mystic) 

Left: "Great Spirit, . . . give me the strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is! . . . all over the earth the faces of living things are all alike. . . This is my prayer; hear me!" (Black Elk, Oglala Sioux) 

All: "All creation is a song of praise to God." (Hildegard of Bingen, Mystic) 

Right: ". . . When you stand in the presence of the moon, you become a new creation. . . The elementary particles of your body have absorbed an influence and in that sense they--and you--are brand spanking new, a human being resonating everywhere with moonlight." (Brian Swimme, physicist) 

All: "All creation is a song of praise to God." (Hildegard of Bingen, Mystic)

These are the inspired words of Hildegard of Bingen and we affirm them by saying, Amen.

Second Reading: A reading from Hildegard of Bingen

God's Word is in all creation. All creation is awakened, called, by the resounding melody of God's invocation of the Word, the Word that manifests in every creature. All living creatures are sparks from the radiation of God's brilliance, emerging from God like the rays of the sun. The truly holy person welcomes all that is earthly.

Alleluia

Third Reading: A reading from Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

“The human environment and the natural environment are deteriorating together and this deterioration of the planet weighs upon the most vulnerable of its people. The impact of climate change affects, first and foremost, those who live in poverty in every corner of the globe. Our

obligation to use the earth’s goods responsibly implies the recognition of and respect for all people and all living creatures. The urgent call and challenge to care for creation are an invitation for all of humanity to work towards sustainable and integral development.”

These are the inspired words of Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the World Day of Prayer for Creation and we affirm them by saying, Amen.

Homily Reflection by Dennis McDonald

“And God saw that it was good” (Gen 1:25). God’s gaze, at the beginning of the Bible, rests lovingly on his creation. From habitable land to life-giving waters, from fruit-bearing trees to animals that share our common home, everything is dear in the eyes of God, who offers creation to men and women as a precious gift to be preserved.”  Pope Francis Prayer for the Care of Creation

Our first reading from the Hindu tradition, speaks of the Breath of Life, that the Divine breathed in, according to Genesis, to Adam and Eve, which has been breathed into all elements of Creation.  Like us, all creation is imbued with the essence of the Divine.  We are called by that very life-given breath to embrace and sustain all that has been gifted to this planet.  

We watch and experience today, the on-going destruction of that creation. We see the melting of the polar ice cap, the deforestation of the Amazon and the African jungles, the eradication of species. We see the wanton disregard for the lives of our brothers and sisters, across the globe, who die attempting to find a better life, or who are murdered by fellow human beings due to the color of their skin, or embracing a different religious tradition, or being rooted out in ethnic cleansing. 

St. Francis of Assisi stated: “If you have people who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have people who will deal likewise with their fellow men.” Unfortunately, this sentiment is true enough in our world today.

Pope Francis states: “Each Christian man and woman, every member of the human family, can act as a thin yet unique and indispensable thread in weaving a network of life that embraces everyone. “ 

Think of that, each of us a unique and indispensable thread.  What does that mean for how I live my life? What thread or threads am I choosing to add to the network of life.  There is so much need, and we, as individuals, aren’t able to weave the total network.  It takes all of us, each doing their special part, in taking action, to make a difference.

Our Hindu companions share the following:  “the second Dharma principle is ethical conduct, which is rooted in a compassionate concern for all living beings in the vast web of life. We need to make a firm moral commitment to adopt ways of living that protect the climate and help restore the Earth’s ecosystems and living organisms. In our personal lives, we should recognize the value of contentment and sufficiency and realize that, after a certain modest level, additional consumption, material wealth, and power will not bring happiness.

When we come together to celebrate our love for the natural world and all of the beings that inhabit it, and when we take a stand to counter the forces of craving, aversion, and delusion, we reclaim our own inner stability and strength and live closer to the truth, closer to the Dharma.”

I had a dream the other night, which involved Ed, Lynn and I.  It was sort of a spiritual talk show, with Ed asking Lynn and I questions on how we live out our live as Christians and as ordained priests.  It was pretty intense with at least one question on our support of creation.  At the end, he handed us each a Italian lira. I thought, why is he giving us outdated Italian money? I think this is the connection to St. Francis.  But then, he handed each of us five $20 bills, with the admonition to spend it wisely for assisting others.  In my dream, I started to think about what I would do with these funds?  What could I do to have the biggest impact with $100?  Then, I woke up. 

So, the question remained, what can I do with $100? In some ways that seemed too easy. I could donate the funds to an organization dedicated to a cause, or share it with those less fortunate, homeless, on the street.   But what if we take it a step further, what can I do to “adopt ways of living that protect the climate and help restore the Earth’s ecosystems and living organisms.”  There is certainly much to be done and various ways to make changes in our lives to make a difference.  St. Francis of Assisi said, “Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

As the end of the Seasons of Creation comes to a close this weekend, it has me considering what I might be able to do to improve life on this planet. What commitment can/must I make to become a thread in the network of life?  What can I do that is necessary and possible?  Together, weaving our threads, can we do the impossible? 

So, what is your thread? What will you do with it? What will it cost you?

After sharing, pray:

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.  Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. Amen.

— Laudato Si'

Statement of Faith:  

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 in the Holy Spirit,  

the life of God that is our innermost life,  

the breath of God moving in our being,  

the depth of God living in each of us.  

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. 

Presider 2: As we prepare for this sacred meal, we lay our stoles upon the table as a sign that just as Jesus is anointed, so each of us is anointed. And we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. please feel free to voice your concerns beginning with the words “I bring to the table….”    

[end with]   We bring all of these prayers and unspoken concerns to the table of friendship. Amen. 

Eucharistic Prayer

Presider 1: Please join in praying the Eucharistic Prayer

Loving God, all creation calls you blessed, and so do we. Your spirit imprints the whole universe with life and mystery. Yes, all creation proclaims your love. We now join this chorus of praise.

Alleluia, sing!   

(Alleluia Sing by David Haas)  

https://youtu.be/-FvAFEjAnrc

Blessed be our God!  

Blessed be our God!   

Joy of our hearts, source of all life and love!   

God of Heaven and Earth!  

God of Heaven and Earth!  

Dwelling within, calling us all by name!   

Alleluia, sing!  

Alleluia, sing!  

Gift of love and peace!  

Gift of love and peace! 

Jesus Christ, Jesus our hope and light!  

A flame of faith in our hearts! 

A flame of faith in our hearts! 

Proclaiming the day, shining throughout the night!  

Alleluia, sing!  

Alleluia, sing! 

All: Loving God, all of nature calls you blessed, and so do we. For you have woven an intimate tapestry and call it life and call it good. In love you have formed a universe so diverse yet so related, and into its web you call us forth to walk the land and swim the sea with all our natural brothers and sisters. To the stars we seem no more than blades of grass.

Yet to you, each of us, as each blade of grass and each star, is an irreplaceable treasure, an essential companion on this journey of love. Loving God, as you lure the whole world into salvation, guide us with your Spirit that we might not be only pilgrims on the earth, but pilgrims with the earth, journeying home to you. Open our hearts to understand the intimate relationship that you have with all creation. Only with this faith can we hope for tomorrow’s children. Loving God, all creation calls you blessed, and so do we.

Presider 2: Please extend your hands in blessing.

All:  We invoke that same Spirit upon the gifts of this Eucharistic table, bread of the grain and vine of the grape, that they may become gifts of passion, wisdom, insight and inspiration, which remind us of our call to be the body of Christ in the world.

On the night before he faced his own death, 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 with them, he bent down and washed their feet.

Presider 1 lifts the bread

All: When he returned to his place, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and offered it to them saying: Take this, all of you, and eat it. This bread is you; this bread is me. We are one body, the presence of God in the world (pause)

Presider 2 lifts the Cup

Jesus then raised a cup of blessing, spoke the grace and offered the wine saying:

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. (pause)

Therefore we ask that, in the sharing of this bread, and in the drinking from this cup, our own eyes might be opened to behold you in the glory of your Creation, in the Wisdom of your Word, and in the faces of our sisters and brothers gathered in your name to celebrate your astounding love for us.

All: We are thankful for the passion of the children and youth among us who push us to recognize the urgency of the environmental crisis. Thank you creator and giver of passion. 

We are thankful for the wisdom of the aged among us who remind us of what it means to respect the earth and to live in community with one another. Thank you creator and giver of wisdom. 

We are thankful for the insights of our native brothers and sisters among us, who draw on their tradition and teach us about the sacredness of all creation and how to live in kinship with it. Thank you creator and giver of insight.

We are thankful for the inspiration of those among us who have already begun to live their lives in ways that show a caring for the earth, water, and the skies. Thank you creator and giver of inspiration.

We thank you God for all signs of hope that keep us from despairing and point us toward new ways of living. We confess our part in hurting the earth. We express our thanks for creation and those who care for it. We are ready to commit ourselves to a new way of living.

This we know, the earth does not belong to us, We belong to the earth This we know, all things are connected, like the blood that unites one family This we know, we did not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand in it This we know, whatever we do to the web we do to ourselves Let us give thanks for the gift of creation Let us give thanks that all things hold together in Christ.

Presider 1: Let us pray together the Prayer of Jesus

O Birther! Father- Mother of the Cosmos

Focus your light within us - make it useful.

Create your reign of unity now-

through our fiery hearts and willing hands

Help us love beyond our ideals

and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures.

Animate the earth within us: we then

feel the Wisdom underneath supporting all.

Untangle the knots within

so that we can mend our hearts' simple ties to each other.

Don't let surface things delude us,

But free us from what holds us back from our true purpose.

Out of you, the astonishing fire,

Returning light and sound to the cosmos. Amen.

(Translation by Neil Douglas-Klotz in Prayers of the Cosmos)

Presider 2: Please join in the prayer for the breaking of the bread: (Presiders break the bread) 

ALL: O Holy One, you call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice.  We will live justly.  

You call us to be the Presence of Love in the world.  We will love tenderly . 

Presider 1:  This is the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing, through it we are nourished and we nourish each other. 

ALL:  What we have heard with our ears, we will live our lives; as we share communion we will become communion, both love’s nourishment and love’s challenge.  

Presider 2: Our Eucharistic celebration is all-inclusive. You are a spark of the Divine and nothing can separate you from Divine love. All are welcome to receive at this table.  Please pass the bread and the cup with the words “You are a Spark of the Divine.”  

Communion Song: By Breath by Sara Thomsen

https://youtu.be/5HgOJiJRKMM

Presider 1: Creator of all, we are thankful for this holy meal which reminds us of the need to willingly give of ourselves completely.  Our hearts are fueled with divine energy. May we share the love we have experienced with all of creation, and may we live always as instruments of your faithful love. Amen.

Wedding Blessing for Kim and Donna

Please raise your hands and hearts as we bless Kim and Donna.

Kim and Donna, We bless you as you prepare to commit your lives to one another. May all things be possible through the tender love shared by your two spirits.

As you hold each other’s hands, and eagerly look into the future in each other’s eyes, may your unconditional love, and devotion take you to places where you both only dreamed.

May your life be filled with deep happiness sheltered in the warmth of each other’s embrace.

Amen.

Final Blessing:  May the Divine Creator bless us as we commit to love and care for all of creation and one another.  Amen.

Closing Song: All You Works of God by Marty Haugen

https://youtu.be/bjGKpwMFXSY