Bridget Mary's Blog

Saturday, August 14, 2021

ARCWP Ordination of Jill Striebinger as Priest in South Carolina, Aug. 15, 2021

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84783363439?pwd=aHcvM0RpMzZ6UCtrRzIxZUtDK2ZjQT09

Meeting ID: 847 8336 3439

Passcode: 713347

Dial-in for Audio Only: 929 205 6099 US

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

LITURGY OF ORDINATION

Ordination to Priesthood

Jill Striebinger

Ordaining Bishop

Bridget Mary Meehan

August 15, 2021

2:30 PM EDT

WELCOME

Opening Song: I Am Light by India Arie Simpson, Sung by Jan Spencer

I am light, I am light

I am not the things my family did

I am not the voices in my head

I am not the pieces of the brokenness inside

I am light

I am light, I am light

I'm not the mistakes that I have made

Or any of the things that caused me pain

I am not the pieces of the dream I left behind

I am light

I, I am light

I am light, I am light

Ay-yeah

I am light, I am light

I am not the colour of my eyes

I am not the skin on the outside

I am not my age

I am not my race, my soul inside is all light

All light

All light, yeah

All light

I am light, I am light

I am light, I am light, yeah

I am devinity defined

I am the god on the inside

I am a star

A piece of it all

I am light

OPENING PRAYER

PRESENTATION of CANDIDATE FOR PRIESTHOOD

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: Truly Our Sister, by Elizabeth A. Johnson, p. 112

Second Reading: Truly Our Sister, by Elizabeth A. Johnson, p. 113

Gospel: A Reading from the Gospel of Luke (1: 27-29, 34-38, 39-56)

Homily: Bridget Mary Meehan and Jill Striebinger

ORDINATION RITE

Hymn to the Holy Spirit: Veni Sancte Spiritus – sung by Jan Spencer

Veni Sancte Spiritus Text: Come Holy Spirit; Verses drawn from the Pentecost Sequence; Taizé Community, 1978 Tune: Jacques Berthier, 1923–1994 © 1979, Les Presses de Taizé, GIA Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved One License Licensing Permission S-921481

Examination of Candidate for Priesthood

Litany of Saints – sung by Jan Spencer and Eric Novoa, II

Laying-On-of-Hands for Priest

Prayer of Consecration for Priest

Investiture

Anointing of Hands

PREPARATION OF TABLE FOR EUCHARIST

Music During Procession of the Gifts: Pheonix by Fia, Sung by Jan Spencer

Travel down with me

In the dark

You learn to see.

Cradled by the earth,

This is your rebirth.

All you ever thought you were

got taken by the fire

Naked in a brand-new world

Who are you what do you desire?

Go gentile

Go slow

Tasting life for the very first time

Go gentile

Go slow

Tasting life for the very first time

Nothing to be said

When everything is dead

Ashes in your mouth

A seed begins to sprout

All you ever thought you were

got taken by the fire

Naked in a brand new world

Who are you what do you desire?

Go gentile

Go slow

Tasting life for the very first time

Go gentile

Go slow

Tasting life for the very first time

Phoenix rising

Glorious to behold

Once you’ve been kissed by fire

The dark doesn’t scare you at all

Go gentile

Go slow

Tasting life for the very first time

Go gentile

Go slow

Tasting life for the very first time

Go gentile

Go slow

Tasting life for the very first time

Go gentile

Go slow

Tasting life for the very first time

PRESENTATION OF THE CUP AND PLATE

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Offering of the Gifts

Eucharistic Prayer

Bishop: Our God is with you.

All: And also with you.

Bishop: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them up to our God.

Bishop: Let us give thanks to our loving God.

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Priest: All-loving and ever-living God beyond all imagining, we give You thanks for the gift of awareness that allows us to recognize Your presence and action in our universe. Everything we have, everything we see, everything we do, everyone we love and everyone who loves us, reveals Your sustaining presence. We thank You for Your presence which animates life and all that exists.

Bishop: You express yourself in human life and through us you sing and dance, speak and write, love and create. In this we never cease to hope, and for this we always thank and praise You. We join with the saints of all times and places as they sing forever to Your glory:

All: Holy, Holy, Holy One, God of Justice, God of Light,

All of Creation is filled with your glory.

Hosanna in the Highest.

Blessed are we who come in Your Holy Name.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

Priest: Loving God, we live and move and have our being in You. We give thanks for those throughout history who have affirmed your loving presence and moved your people to give witness. They have witnessed to your presence in lives characterized by love, mercy, compassion, generosity and forgiveness.

Bishop: We thank you for Jesus, who loved so greatly, taught so clearly, and proclaimed so courageously. He set people free from images, ideas and religious practices that bound them in fear and a false sense of separation from you. Through Jesus, we know our loving actions become a share in your life. In Jesus, we see your Spirit challenging us to make your presence more visible on earth.

Priest: We thank You for Your Spirit of life and love among us. We are grateful that Your Spirit sets us free to discover your presence within us and in all of creation. And for this we thank and praise You.

Bishop: (addressing the assembly) I invite you, the People of God, to extend your hands and pray with me:

All: Loving God, intensify the presence of Your Spirit in these our gifts, as they, and we, become the Body and Blood of Jesus the Christ for our wholeness and the wholeness of all creation.

All: We remember that on the night before he died, while at supper with his friends, Jesus took the Bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it them saying: Take and eat, this is my body.

All: When supper was ended, Jesus took the cup of wine, spoke the blessing and offered it to them saying: Take and drink of the covenant made new again through my life in you. Do this in memory of me.

Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.

All: Nurtured by your Word, nourished by your food, called anew to be your people, we acclaim your praise.

Bishop: Loving God, through Jesus You entrusted this pledge of love to us. We celebrate the memory of his life, death and resurrection, and bring to You the gifts You have given us: reconciliation, justice, and peace. You fill us with Your Spirit in the sharing of this meal. You keep us in communion with one another and with all living beings. Your Spirit makes us a sign of unity, a model of equality and instruments of Your peace.

Priest: Inspire our leaders, both religious and political, so that they act without fear to bring your justice. May they become peacemakers who transform your church and society so that all living beings and our planet may thrive.

Bishop: You have gathered us around this table in friendship, with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the apostles, and all the saints. May all who are suffering in any way be strengthened and consoled by your Presence. You bless all who have gone before us and bring them into the lasting joy and peace of your presence.

Priest: You gather together women, men and children of every race, language, religion and way of life to share in your one, eternal banquet. In your presence, we give you glory with all creation and with Jesus through whom your goodness flows.

Bishop holds Bread, newly ordained priest holds cup.

All: Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit, may all glory and honor be Yours, all-loving God, forever and ever.

Amen: sung by Jan Spencer

Bishop: Let us pray together as Jesus taught us:

O Breath of Life,

Creator of the Shimmering Sound

That flows through the conscious place

Within our womb-space

Wherein our heart exists

Giving light, to all.

From this divine union

and our willing hands,

clear our intention

for co-creation

of a new world of peace.

Create in each of us

a divine cooperation,

one compassionate action.

And help us fulfill what lies within

the circle of our lives

Each day we ask no more, no less

Forgive us our hidden past, the secret shames,

As we consistently forgive

That of what others hide.

Don't let surface things delude us,

but free us from what holds us back

from our true purpose.

May these statements be the ground from which all

our actions grow

~ Amen

(Adapted by Jill from the translation from Aramaic to English by Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz))

Sign of Peace

Priest: The peace of Christ be with you always.

All: And also with you.

Priest: As we share our joy, let us share God’s abundant peace. Please share a sign of peace.

Communion

Bishop: Please join in praying the prayer for the breaking of the bread:

All: Loving God, You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice. We will live justly. Loving God, You call us to be Your presence in the world. We will love tenderly. Loving God, You call us to speak truth to power. We will walk with integrity.

Bishop holds up the bread, Newly Ordained Priests holds up the wine:

Bishop: This is the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing. How blessed are we who are called to this table.

All: Jesus, you affirm our worthiness and with your love, we will help heal the world.

Communion Song: The Voice by Celtic Woman, sung by Jan Spencer

I hear your voice on the wind

And I hear you call out my name

"Listen, my child," you say to me

"I am the voice of your history

Be not afraid, come follow me

Answer my call, and I'll set you free"

I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain

I am the voice of your hunger and pain

I am the voice that always is calling you

I am the voice, I will remain

I am the voice in the fields when the summer's gone

The dance of the leaves when the autumn winds blow

Ne'er do I sleep thoughout all the cold winter long

I am the force that in springtime will grow

I am the voice of the past that will always be

Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields

I am the voice of the future, bring me your peace

Bring me your peace, and my wounds, they will heal

I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain

I am the voice of your hunger and pain

I am the voice that always is calling you

I am the voice

I am the voice of the past that will always be

I am the voice of your hunger and pain

I am the voice of the future

I am the voice, I am the voice

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

BLESSING

RECESSIONAL

Recessional Song: Make Your Own Kind of Music by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and Sung by Jan Spencer

Make Your Own Kind of Music. Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil.1968.

EMI Music Publishing

Nobody can tell you

There's only one song worth singing

They may try and sell you

'Cause it hangs them up

To see someone like you

But you've gotta make your own kind of music

Sing your own special song

Make your own kind music

Even if nobody else sings along

You're gonna be nowhere

The loneliest kind of lonely

It may be rough goin'

Just to do your thing's the hardest thing to do

But you've gotta make your own kind of music

Sing your own special song

Make your own kind music

Even if nobody else sings along

So if you can not take my hand

And if you must be goin', I will understand

You gotta make your own kind of music

Sing your own special song

Make your own kind music

Even if nobody else sings along

You gotta make your own kind of music

Sing your own special song

Make your own kind music

Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community, Celebration of the Assumption of Mary Mother of Jesus and Our Eternal Mother, August 14, 2021, Presider: Dotty Shugrue ARCWP and Joan Pesce, Music Minister: Linda Lee Miller

Zoom link for video - 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85108095506

ID 851- 0809-5506, Passcode 1066

Dial 1-929-436-2866

Meeting ID: 851 0809 5506

Password: 1066

You will be able to hear the Liturgy and we will be able to hear you during our shared homily.

Theme: Mary, Leader for Women Today.

Joan: Welcome to Mary Mother of Jesus Zoom Liturgy. Today we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.

All community members will be on mute during the liturgy except for the presiders and readers. During the shared homily we ask you to unmute yourself if you would like to contribute. Remember to mute yourself when you have finished sharing. Please have bread and wine/juice in front of you as we pray our Eucharistic prayer.

Opening Song: Courageous Women – Jan Novotka

https://youtu.be/QJXkt3bQ-p4

Blessed is she who believed

That the promise made her by our God

Would we fulfilled, would be fulfilled

And Mary said let me sing the praise of God

For having touched this lowly one

And from now on I shall be called woman most highly blessed

Holy is our God whose kindness never ends

Who by great strength has scattered the proud

And raises up the poor and gathers them into all fullness

For God has come to this servant Israel

To show all mercy now and forever as was promised

Sarah and Abraham and the children forever.

We gather to celebrate the life and ministry of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary supported Jesus his entire life and was both a witness and leader highly revered by the followers of The Way. Mary demonstrated a deep concern for the poor and all those who needed healing in her time. We call upon Mary to break the barriers of time and space and be with us during this, our hour of need.

Dotty: Opening Prayer

Let us pray:

We remember who Jesus was, who the Christ is and we look to Mary for vision, healing and strength. We have faith, we hold tight to our hope as we lift up our prayer and recognize we all share in the power to heal. May our eyes be open, may our hearts and souls, the depth of our being empower us to reach out in love and service to our suffering world.

ALL: So be it!

Maryal: As we prepare for our celebration of Eucharist, we pause to remember our broken world:

Our response is “Transform us, O Holy One

The variant to COVID has afflicted many. Our hospitals are predicted to be at full capacity of the sick again. We pray for healing of all those suffering and we pray for their families

All: Transform us, O Holy One.

Medical experts have set forth guidelines for us to keep ourselves healthy and safe and to provide the same protections for all those we meet

All: Transform us, O Holy One.

Health care professional of all levels of hospital care provide selfless services for those suffering from this pandemic so we commit ourselves to support them through our prayer

All: Transform us, O Holy One.

Cheryl: Gloria

Glory to the Spirit of Life, to the Holy One who surrounds us, who lives within us, whose Sacred Word is shared by us in our world.

Glory to the Spirit of Life, who offers us peace; peace in our hearts, peace in our thoughts, peace with one another as we reach out to others and ask for blessing.

Glory to the Spirit of Life, who cares for the sick, the homeless, the lonely through the good works of others.

Glory to the Spirit of Life, who sent Jesus who teaches us how to live the Gospels, who brings hope and healing through our hands.

O Holy One, you are one with us. We are strong in our faith and will live life in hope and faithfulness to you, to be Church committed to the message of the Gospels. We depend upon the ever-present Spirit to walk with us as we journey in the present and rejoice in the life before us.

Gospel Reading:

Alleluia: CELTIC ALLELUIA – Linda Lee Miller

https://youtu.be/2ME1cF2iSgE

Jerry Bires: A reading from the Gospel of Luke 1:39 - 56 as interpreted in The Message New Testament by Eugene H. Peters

Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit and sang out exuberantly.

You’re so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed! Why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, the babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. Blessed woman, who believed what God said and believed every word would come true!

Jan Lo Galbo: And Mary said,

I’m bursting with God-news,

I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.

God took one good look at me, and look what happened—

I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!

What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.

His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud. The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. He embraced his chosen child, Israel. He remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. It’s exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.

These are the inspired words of the Apostle Luke. And the community responds by saying:

All: Let it be so!

Joan P: Second Reading: excerpts from Abounding in Kindness by theologian Elizabeth Johnson - pp.309 -310

Mary’s canticle finds special resonance in the hearing of women who struggle against sexism as well as against racism, classism, heterosexism, and all other injustice that demeans their humanity. They note that this is the longest set of words on the lips of any woman in the whole New Testament, the most any woman gets to say. In its spirit, they draw many and varied lessons of encouragement. One of the strongest and most unusual lessons in light of traditional Mariology is the right of women to say “no.” Leonardo Boff makes the point well: “Men toiling in the service of male power interests represent Mary only as the woman who knew how to say yes.” But here she takes on as her own the divine NO to what crushes the lowly. She stands up fearlessly and sings out that injustice will be overturned. No passivity here, but solidarity with divine outrage over the degradation of life, coupled with God’s merciful promise to repair the world. In the process she bursts out of the boundaries of male-defined femininity while still every inch a woman. Singing of her joy in God’s victory over oppression, she becomes not a subjugated but a prophetic woman.

CELTIC ALLELUIA – Linda Lee Miller

https://youtu.be/2ME1cF2iSgE

HOMILY STARTER: Dotty –

Thoughts gleaned from the preaching of Pastor Dawn Hutchinson

References:

Jane Schalberg’s “The Illegitimacy of Jesus”, John Shelby Spong’s “Born of a Woman” and “Jesus for the Non Religious” along with John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg’s “The First Christmas”

Maryal: Together let us profess our 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 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.

Mary M. As we prepare the altars before us to share this sacred meal, we bring to the table our prayers and intentions.

Jack Mc K: We bring to the table members of our MMOJ community who are experiencing difficult times for a variety of reasons. May they find peace of mind and heart through our special prayer.

Mary M. We bring to the table all those who serve the needs of others, those who serve our communities, all those who give of themselves locally, whose compassion brings healing of hearts.

Jack Mc K: We bring to the table the people of our troubled country, especially those who actively address issues of bigotry of all kinds, may they be heard, may they be listened to, may we all see transformation within ourselves, our communities and our government.

Mary M. We bring to the table all women of the world who are mothers and all those who have been “mother” to others. May they be inspired by the life of Mary the mother of Jesus, and may we recognize that the power and Spirit of Mary lives within us, within both women and men, always giving us strength and wisdom.

Jack Mc K: We bring to the table all members of our community; we remember in a special way everyone in our midst who needs to be healed.

…pause… unmute and share name/s….

may all be healed by the Spirit of Mary, our eternal Mother.

We pray for these and any other unspoken intentions. And together we say:

So Be It!

(Place your bread and wine before you on your table)

Joan P:

Ever present Sacred Spirit, you who hold us in your loving hands, we offer these gifts of bread and wine as we celebrate your life with us.

Holy, Holy, Holy…. Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy

https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ

Jim B: We give thanks to you. Every life and heart stretch toward you, O name untroubled, honoring the name of God, praised with the name Creator. To everyone and everything comes the kindness of the Holy One and love and desire.

Cheryl: And if there is sweet and simple teaching, it gifts us mind, word and knowledge; mind, that we may understand you; word, that we may interpret you; knowledge: that we may know you. We rejoice and are enlightened by your knowledge; we rejoice that you have taught us about yourself. We rejoice that in the body you have made us divine through your knowledge.

Joan P: The thanksgiving of the human who reaches you is this alone; that we know you. We have known you, O light of mind. O light of life we have known you. O womb of all that grows, we have known you. O womb pregnant with the nature of Creator God, we have known you. O never-ending endurance of the Spirit of Life who gives birth, we worship your goodness. One wish we ask: we wish to be protected in knowledge; one protection we desire, that we do not stumble in this life. When they said these things in prayer, they welcomed one another, and they went to eat their holy food, which had no blood in it.

s disabled in your br/div></div>

(Hold your hands over the bread and the wine):

Joan P. Ever present Sacred Spirit, you who hold us in your loving hands, you are one with us in blessing these gifts of bread and wine as we celebrate your life with us. These gifts are made sacred through our faith.

We celebrate Mary the Mother of Jesus as a liturgical leader who praised God, preached the gospel, led the prayers, and healed with her hands.

During Jesus’s life on earth, he lived and died loving the poor, healing the sick and challenging the injustices within society. Because of his ministry, Jesus was feared by the authorities of his day, and they sought out ways to bring him to his death.

Dotty: 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.

(All lift your bread and pray)

When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread, and offered it to them saying:

Take and eat, this is my very self. (pause)

(All lift your cup and pray)

Then he took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:

Take and drink.

Whenever you remember me like this,

I am among you. (pause)

Let us share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace, remembering that we are bearers of light and hope.

Maryal: 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.

Dotty: Let us now share the Bread of Life and drink from the cup of the New Covenant, with the words “You are the face of the Holy One”

Communion Song:

https://youtu.be/g2eBbv7vVZg

Cheryl: Sacred Spirit, we remember Mary, Mother of Humanity, who birthed Jesus into our world. We rejoice that the Universal Christ remains always and ever present within and around us. We remember all those who have transitioned from life on earth to complete union with the Sacred Presence: Mary of Nazareth and all great saints, prophets and martyrs.

Maryal: We remember our sister priests, strong extraordinary women: Adele, Judy, Tish, Joan, Michele and our dearest Sally. We remember John O’Callaghan, beloved husband of Dena. Both John and Dena were part of the MOJO Community in the early years. Together they served as priests at Mary Mother of Jesus.

Mary M. We remember, too, family members and friends who have transitioned into New Life. We remember all those whose lives have been lost to war, to racism and all other “isms” that exist in our world. And we remember those you wish to be remembered

… Share the names of your loved ones in silence…

All beloved who have blessed our lives and whose memory continues to inspire us, we remember you.

Jerry B. We pray that the Holy One renew in our hearts our commitment to journey always in faith and hope as we reach out and support, comfort and love those closest to us, those who live in our country and all the people of the earth.

And we respond together:

Amen. Linda Lee Miller

https://youtu.be/0sDDgwZlijc

Jan Lo Galbo: Let us pray as Jesus taught us:

O Holy One, who is within, around and among us,

We celebrate your many names.

Your Wisdom come,

Your will be done, unfolding from the depths within us.

Each day you give us all we need.

You remind us of our limits, and we let go.

You support us in our power, and we act with courage,

For you are the dwelling place within us,

the empowerment around us,

and the celebration among us, now and forever. Amen

(Miriam Therese Winter)

Joan P: Prayers of Thanksgiving and Announcements

Blessing:

We together raise our hands as we bless one another.

May you be wrapped up in God’s love, found deep in his everlasting wings, carried and kept, safe and cherished. May the healing power of Christ breathe across your being now. May you forever be the living love of the Christ throughout all your Days:

Closing Song: Oh Mother God by Karen Drucker

https://youtu.be/_Je14HVGbaM

Oh Mother God flowing through our hearts.

We give thanks for the bread of our lives.

For the hands in the earth and the fruit of your womb.

Oh Mother God, blessed be. Oh Mother God, blessed be.

Oh Mother God thank you for this day.

For the love that you wash over me.

And this joy in my heart I will share with the world.

Oh Mother God blessed be. Oh Mother God, blessed be.

*(The Eucharistic Prayer, in part, is adapted from “The Prayer of Thanksgiving”. It can be found in A New New Testament edited by Hal Taussig)

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