THE COMPANIONS’ ROSARY:Praying the Holy Rosary In Original Blessing Theology created by Deb Trees ARCWP

THE COMPANIONS’ ROSARY

Praying the Holy Rosary

In Original Blessing Theology

Introduction to The Companions’ Rosary

Saying the Holy Rosary is a special focus of prayer and meditation that provides for each of us a state of contemplation and mystical connection. 

When aligning to the Grace of Mary, we can have a sense of purpose in praying for others and ourselves. It can be a singular and private prayer or a community endeavor. 

For those of us who are becoming steeped in Original Blessing Theology, the traditional prayers of the Holy Rosary can be daunting. When changing the wording to better reflect the concepts of Blessing Theology, it seems important to keep a sense of the timing and inflection of the prayers as we have learned them. 

The Companions' Rosary is an attempt to combine the prayers of the rosary within present-day theology of original blessing. 

To all whom feel called to pray in this way, prayers and blessings to you. May we all continue to connect, in whatever way we can, to the Holy One, to Mary and to each other.  

And so it is.

The Sign of the “Cross”.  A Shield of Protection and Love.

The sign of the cross can impress on us the concept of a theology of sacrifice and atonement.  The sign of the “cross”, here, building on the trinity and St. Paul's greetings, can also be a Shield of Protection and Love.

In the name of Peace (hand at the forehead)

And Love (hand at the heart)

And Grace (The Infinity sign across from one shoulder to the other, and back to the heart.) 

AMEN.

Rose Aglow,

DETrees, 2017

THE COMPANIONS’ ROSARY

Praying the Holy Rosary

In Original Blessing Theology

The Sign of Protection and Love

In the name of Peace and Love and Grace. Amen.

A Simple Companions’ Creed

I believe in the Holy One, Lover, Creator, Enhancer, WHO IS Infinite and Present all at the same time.

Our Field of PEACE in all things.

I believe in Jesus, Friend and Companion, who shows us the Face of God in our human form. 

Our Sign of LOVE in all things.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, Our Heart and Soul, moving within and among us. 

Our Show of GRACE in all things.

I believe in this, our creed, in our communion of angels and saints and in life everlasting.
Amen.

The Prayer of Jesus

(From Miriam Therese Winter)

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 that 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.

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, Full of grace, Our God is with you.

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother and Friend,

Be with us now, at our hour, and beyond.  Amen.

The Glory Be

Glory and Joy Be to Peace and Love and Grace.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

World without End. Amen.

Hail Holy Mary

Hail Holy Mary, Mother and Leader, Our Life, our Sweetness and our Hope. You show us how to live with Courage in our convictions. You teach us to stand by each other with unending support and love.

Thank you for being with us now.  Walk this path with us as you did with your son, Jesus. May we follow his example of inclusive love, as you taught him.

O Clement, O Loving, Sweet Mary of Nazareth. Be with us as we look to you.

Praying the Companions’ Rosary

1.   Make the Sign of the Protection and Love.

2.   Say the Simple Companions’ Creed.

3.   On the first bead, say The Prayer of Jesus.

4.   Say The Hail Mary on each of the next three beads.

5.   Say The Glory Be on the fifth bead.

6.   For each of the five decades, announce the Mystery or a special intention then say The Prayer of Jesus

7.   While fingering each of the ten beads of the decade, say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery or Intention. Then say a Glory Be.

8.   After saying the five decades, say the Hail, Holy Mary.

Diagram from USCCB, Accessed 9-29-19

A PRAYER FOR YOU

For all who say the Companions’ Rosary, a special Blessing from our Lady and Above. The Angels watch over you in Peace, Grace and Love.

With Joy and Appreciation for All,

Deb Trees, 2019

Debra Trees, FCM, ARCWP

The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary

The First Joyful Mystery, The Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary.

26 Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a young woman there who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary. 28 Gabriel came into her presence and greeted her, saying: “What joy! You have been shown great favor—the Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean, 30 when the angel spoke again: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive and give birth to a child, and you will give him the name Jesus. 32 The child will be great and will be called ‘Child of the Most High,’ and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, 33 and he will reign over the descendants of Jacob forever; and to his realm there will be no end.” 34 “How can this be?” Mary asked the angel. “For I have not known a man.” 35 “The holy Spirit will descend on you,” answered the angel, “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called holy, and ‘Son of God.’ 36 And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a child in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren; 37 for no word from God can fail.” 38 “I am the slave of the Lord,” exclaimed Mary; “let it be with me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Taussig, Hal. A New New Testament: A Bible for the Twenty-first Century Combining Traditional and Newly Discovered Texts (p. 90). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition. (Luk 1,26-38)

Humility, Surrender, Saying Yes to our Calling, Faith

The Second Joyful Mystery, The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.

39 Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill country, to a town in Judah; 40 and there she went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the holy Spirit, 42 and cried aloud: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But how have I this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the child leaped within me with delight! 45 Happy indeed is she who believed that the promise which she received from the Lord would be fulfilled.” 46 And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, 47 my spirit delights in God my Savior; 48 for he has remembered his humble slave; and from this hour all generations will count me happy! 49 Great things has the Almighty done for me; and holy is his name. 50 From age to age his compassion rests on those who fear him. 51 He has used the power of his arm; he scattered the proud of heart, 52 he overthrew princes from their thrones, and the humble he uplifted, 53 the hungry he has loaded with good things, and the rich he sent away empty. 54 He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy 55 (as he promised to our ancestors) for Abraham and his race forever.” 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.

Taussig, Hal. A New New Testament: A Bible for the Twenty-first Century Combining Traditional and Newly Discovered Texts (p. 90). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.

(Luk 1,39-56)

Caring for others, Praise of God, Servanthood, Mercy, Exaltation

The Third Joyful Mystery, The Birth of Jesus.

6 While they were there her time came, 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. And because there was no room for them in the inn, she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. 8 In that same countryside were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night, 9 when an angel of the Lord suddenly stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were seized with fear. 10 “Have no fear,” the angel said. “For I bring you good news of a great joy in store for all the nation. 11 This day there has been born to you, in the town of David, a Savior, who is Christ and Lord. 12 And this will be the sign for you. You will find the infant in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.”

Taussig, Hal. A New New Testament: A Bible for the Twenty-first Century Combining Traditional and Newly Discovered Texts (p. 91). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition. (Luk 2,6-12)

New Creation. A Fresh Start. Joy. Fulfillment of a Promise.

The Fourth Joyful Mystery, The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

22 When the period of purification of mother and child, required by the Law of Moses, came to an end, his parents took the child up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23 in compliance with the Law of the Lord that “every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord,” 24 and also to offer the sacrifice required by the Law of the Lord—“a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25 There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a good and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of the consolation of Israel, and a holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, Simeon came into the Temple, and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the Law, 28 Simeon himself took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said: 29 “Now, Master, release your slave, according to your word, in peace, 30 for my eyes have seen the salvation 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations— 32 a light of revelation to the gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel.” 33 While the child’s father and mother were wondering at what was said about him, 34 Simeon gave them his blessing, and said to Mary, the child’s mother: “This child is appointed to be the cause of the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign much spoken against—35 yes, the sword will pierce your own heart—and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed.”

Taussig, Hal. A New New Testament: A Bible for the Twenty-first Century Combining Traditional and Newly Discovered Texts (p. 92). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition. (Luk 2,22-35)

Prophecy, Revelation, Presentation of Gifts, Preparation. Patience, Bittersweet Joy.

The Fifth Joyful Mystery. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple.

41 Every year the child’s parents used to go to Jerusalem at the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem, 43 and had finished their visit; but when they started to return, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it. 44 Thinking that he was with their fellow travelers, they went one day’s journey before searching for him among their relations and acquaintances; 45 and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him. 46 It was not until the third day that they found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions. 47 All who listened to him marveled at his intelligence and his answers. 48 They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him: “My child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 “What made you search for me?” he answered. “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 His parents did not understand what he meant. 51 He went down with them to Nazareth and submitted himself to their control; and his mother treasured all that was said in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and the gracious presence of God and people as he also grew in years.

Taussig, Hal. A New New Testament: A Bible for the Twenty-first Century Combining Traditional and Newly Discovered Texts (pp. 92-93). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition. (Luk 2,41-52)

Celebration, Trust, Lost and Found, Fulfillment, Awe

The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary (from The Dynamic Catholic Website).

God wants us to have complete joy. He created us for it. Jesus came so we could be immersed in complete joy: “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete” (John 15:11). The Joyful Mysteries celebrate when joy entered the world, when God entered into the mess of the world because of his incredible love for us.

The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation. 

This is Mary’s moment, the moment when her “yes” changed the world. Imagine the monumental courage that would have required. Think about it. An angel appeared to Mary, and told her she would be the mother of the savior, the mother of God. She was a teenager, only a child. And what the angel said made no earthly sense. What was Mary thinking? What would have happened if she had said no?

The Second Joyful Mystery: The Visitation. 

God turned Mary’s world upside down. What did Mary do? She rushed off to serve her cousin, Elizabeth, who was pregnant in her old age. It was Mary’s first reaction. Too often our first reaction is one of selfishness: “I don’t feel like it,” “I’ll do it later,” “Can’t someone else take care of it?” But Mary had an instinct to serve, an entrenched humility.

The Third Joyful Mystery: The Birth of Jesus. 

The world is a mess: war, poverty, corruption, greed, selfishness, violence, abuse, injustice. The face of evil torments ordinary people every day, and yet God chose to put himself in the middle of our mess. The humility of God is incredible. He places himself right in the middle of our mess as the solution to it. We don’t deserve it. We have no claim to it. God gives us a new beginning, a fresh start, freely and without merit.

The Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation. 

Mary presented Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem, dedicating him to God according to the Jewish custom. As she did so, a man named Simeon said something astounding, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:29-30). Have you ever waited for something with great anticipation? Did you wait patiently? What are you waiting for in your life right now? Simeon had waited. He had waited patiently, and prayed patiently for the savior. Now, he took baby Jesus in his arms. Imagine the emotion as he pulled the child to his chest. His face filled with a strange combination of joy and anguish. Joy for the present, anguish for the future he knows the child will face.

The Fifth Joyful Mystery: The Finding of Jesus in the Temple. 

On their way home from celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph actually lost Jesus. God, the Creator of the universe, had entrusted Jesus the Messiah to Mary and Joseph’s care—and they lost him. Imagine what they were thinking and how they were feeling: grief, torment, distress, anguish, torture. So often we lose Jesus in our own lives and don’t even notice.

Rediscovering the Rosary, Unlocking the Mysteries of the Rosary.  from The Dynamic Catholic website.

https://dynamiccatholic.com/rosary/unlocking-mysteries-rosary

Accessed June 1, 2020.

There are many and varied resources to assist with preparation of the Rosary. Keeping in mind the Theology of Blessing, finding contemplative pieces can be challenging. These resources are basic and just offering some food for thought as one might pray the rosary using the Mysteries.

Deb Trees, ARCWP, FCM                                     June 1, 2020

Judy Lee RCWP- Pentecost Homily- Addressing Racism

https://judyabl.blog/2020/05/31/spirit-of-the-living-god-fall-fresh-on-us/

A Call for Justice, Non-Violence and Solidarity in Response to Murder of George Floyd by Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

Today the brother of George Floyd and mother of Breonna Taylor called for protesters to abstain from violence in response to Floyd's death last week. News media report that curfews are in place tonight in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles. 

Amid the tension and confrontations were powerful scenes of police officers kneeling in solidarity with protesters. 

 Racism, like sexism, is a dominator system that separates us from one another, oppresses people of color, and breaks our spiritual connection. It is rooted in hatred and fear. We all have a responsibility to take a stand now  as members of the human race. This is a clarion call for action to change structures of inequality in our society in response to the evil of racism.  Let us come together and advocate for justice, non-violence and solidarity. 

Every person is an image of God and should be treated with respect. We are all equals, connected in the circle of life in God's family. Our unity and beautiful diversity is our strength. I believe Jesus was about a love that reconciles, heals and does justice. 

Now is the time to come together  to mourn the loss and heart break of violence against our sisters and brothers that has gone on for centuries, and to come together to work for justice for all who have suffered from racism in our country and in our world. 

The travesty, the heartbreak and the violence will end as we unite in loving solidarity. We shall overcome! Let us begin that journey now. If not us, who? If not now, when?

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

Celebration of Pentecost - Community of St. Hildegard, Fair Harbor, Ohio, with Dr. Shanon Sterringer ARCWP, Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger RCWP, Dagmar Celeste RCWP, Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP, Diane Dougherty ARCWP, Olivia Diehl ARCWP Candidate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oisIOVckcQQ&feature=youtu.be

St. Hildegard Community celebrated with over 100 online participants in this beautiful liturgy hosted by Dr. Shanon Sterringer ARCWP today.
Bishop Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger RCWP from Austria and I co- presided at this Pentecost celebration and she preached the homily. Christine and Dagmar Celeste, two of the Danube 7, gave a historical presentation on the foundation of the women priests' movement after the liturgy on Zoom.

"May the Christ Light Shine in You, in Me and Together We Will Shine with God's Love to the World", Song by Kathy Sherman CSJ

https://youtu.be/tY0Rj9Yd2lk

Video graphics: Mary Theresa Streck ARCWP

https://www.amazon.com/Kathy-Sherman-Live-in-Concert/dp/B001N86ZY8

Pentecost Homily by Rev. Karen Kerrigan, Priest ARCWP with Heart of Compassion Faith Community, Windsor, ON, Canada (30 May 2020 by Zoom)

More Grey Please, Evelyn Ward de Roo

mixed media artist and sonic mystic 

1st Reading: Act 1:12-14; 2:1-21 and Gospel: Luke 17:20-25a

     All the texts, images and lyrics in today’s service, convey a plethora of different ways to speak about, experience and celebrate how we are all equally Spirit empowered. Every single one of us is inspired to proclaim The Good News of God’s Realm that has come and continues to come to be, in and with each one of us! And no matter how much we try, we can never exhaust or control the ways to name and describe this Divine power of love. Therefore, when we come upon someone or a group with a new or different way of describing and experiencing The Reign of God that is different than our own, we need not defend against this difference. Instead, let us celebrate another outpouring of Pentecost, for we are encountering an additional reminder of how unlimited and marvelous God’s Love is!

To begin to name some of the ways God works in and through us would be a Power of Grace who sustains and protects. This same Divine Force is like fire that always burns yet never consumes. Like the shade of a Mighty Oak that helps us to know that our Resurrection and Epiphany moments, seemingly so isolated, can actually initiate and energize ongoing transformative movements.  

And even in this strange and difficult Covid time, we have been given the power to wait with fortitude and to remember that in the wake of former plagues, much strife was brought down! Just like our fellow members of the Cloud of Witnesses, we may be looking at the daily news reports of this pandemic and we can see that many people have reached beyond their own isolated, small self for the sake of the common good.

Today’s readings point to two different versions of Acts, where isolated persons, who had sheltered in place for so long, were suddenly Spirit-transformed to move beyond their upper room.  The first account, read in our opening acclamation, is from the Gospel of Mary (Magdalene).  The words spoken come from Mary as she embraces and reassures her fellow disciples, that even though Jesus has gone and things have changed, they have the power of Grace to sustain, protect and proclaim the Fullness of Humanity as The Good News of God’s Realm. 

    The other account is from the second book that the author Luke wrote often called The Acts of the Apostles.  Sometimes when I read this second work of Luke’s, I get hung up on the fact that the only woman named, out of the 120 people present at Pentecost, was Mary, Jesus’ mother. Or, I get hung up on how the title given to the text much later, suggests the work is about all the Apostles, when it is mostly about Peter's and Luke’s version of Paul.  These realities are rarely spoken of.

     In this passage, Luke’s audience is mostly Jewish people, immigrants who gathered in Jerusalem, coming from all over the Roman Empire to celebrate the Jewish Feast of Pentecost. Then a sudden coming of the Spirit is experienced amongst them as a gale force wind.  These Jewish listeners would probably have thought this Spirit to be Ruach, the feminine Hebrew word that describes the Spirit in Genesis. Ruach is the one who moved and hovered over the waters of creation.  In addition, Luke explains the Spirit as tongue-like flames coming upon each person individually, as an equal inclusive outpouring and not just upon the men that he chose to name. Those who received this powerful, feminine wildfire outpouring were so dramatically transformed with enthusiastic excitement that they appeared to be drunk to their onlookers!

Perhaps the most important attribute of this account of the Divine Outpouring of Pentecost is the one that empowers us to navigate continuous change as it allows us to be able to understand each other in our differences.  This Spirit energizes us to be able to comprehend what another, especially someone who is speaking and acting different than us, is up to and not be threatened by it! Often these verses about the languages are thought to mean that the listeners present in Luke’s story, who spoke different foreign languages, could understand the disciples from Galilee.  I wonder, does this gale force wild fire presence of the kin-dom of God within, give us more power and patience to try to understand people who are speaking and acting upon a different point of view? Could this finally be the gift of The Risen Christ’s Peace that surpasses conventional understanding? Could that even be the fuel for the hope for world peace? The Divine Power of Love that enables us to comprehend and act upon a greater fullness of humanity’s ways of being and not just our own? Now wouldn’t that be The Good News of God’s Realm that we need, especially for times such as these? 

Happy Pentecost and Amen!

Evelyn Ward de Roo, mixed media artist and sonic mystic @ www.nurturingspace.ca

Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community - Pentecost 2020 - Presiders: Kathleen Ryan, ARCWP, and Deven Horne

Pentecost 2020 - Presiders: Kathleen Ryan, ARCWP, and Deven Horne

Radical Compassion of Self Love

Welcome- Pentecost and the Upper Room Birthday

Today is Pentecost and we also celebrate the Birthday of the Upper Room.  The Upper Room, not yet named, began in Mary Theresa Streck’s living room in 2013. Mary Theresa continued her and her beloved Jay’s tradition of home church. Mary Theresa’s house was overflowing. By the time Mary Theresa was ordained on September 15, 2013 we were celebrating at the Unitarian Church once a month on Sundays at 2pm.

The Spirit was strong and was calling our community to create our own space.  In the spring of 2014 we moved to River St. in Troy.  We replaced monthly Sunday afternoon liturgy with monthly Sunday morning liturgy. It was not long before we began celebrating every Sunday morning. Diarmuid O’Murchu, author and social psychologist, was in Albany for a conference. He came to the Upper Room and celebrated Pentecost with us that year. Diarmuid offered the phrase “I bring to the table” and it has been part of our Eucharistic celebration ever since.  Our Theology of Blessing was evolving as our community was growing.

We still needed to name ourselves.  Honoring our value of inclusivity, we had several community discussions and many names were suggested.  The Spirit led us to choose the name “The Upper Room”.

In the fall of 2016 our lease was unexpectedly not renewed and we had to find another place to gather.  After an extensive search and discussion, we found The New Covenant Fellowship Hall.  As they say “and the rest is history”!  But not quite, Covid-19 forced another transition and here today we are telecommuting the celebration of Pentecost and our 7^th birthday. Everything is upside down and there are still so many unknowns.  What we do know no matter where we gather, we are community, we are The Upper Room.

Opening Song: Ruah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uofLLMwLCI

Ruah, Ruah, Breath of God within us, 

Ruah, Ruah, Spirit of our God. 

The Spirit of God within us,  

Crumbles the ancient walls, 

Building a new creation 

The city of our God.

Refrain 

Have no fear within you 

For I will be your strength 

The barren will be fruitful 

The lame shall dance and leap. 

Refrain 

Your power will come to fullness 

In the weak and humble child 

From the roots of the smallest flower 

To the hearts of the old and wise.

Refrain 

Old men will see their visions 

Young men will dream their dreams 

Women will be our prophets 

With children in the lead. 

Refrain

A wisdom enfleshed in Jesus 

Grace that moves anew 

Enkindled in a people 

The many and the few.

Refrain  

The dance of all creation, 

Singer of living song 

Beauty from days eternal 

The praise of a loving God.

Refrain 

The Holy One is as close as your breath.  Breathe deeply.

                                    LITURGY OF THE WORD

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles                                  2:1-11

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout people from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the marvels of God.

These are the words of the Acts of the Apostles and the community affirms them with, AMEN!

                     

                      Spirit of the Living God

                       Fall fresh on me

           Melt me, mold me,

           Fill me, use me

           Spirit of the Living God

                       Fall fresh on me

A Reading from the Gospel of John                               20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the authorities, Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

These are the inspired works of John, a disciple of Jesus and the community affirms them with, AMEN!

Pause

         

Homily and Shared Reflections

Imagine we are present with the disciples, men and women in the Upper Room. Let’s focus on all the emotions in these two readings.   They were all scared, some terrified. Their imaginations were running wild, no idea of what will happen next.  They were living with the unknown.

Then enters the Holy Spirit- not in a gentle comforting manner but with a noise that sounds like wind but is not wind, followed by tongues of fire. The sounds and the tongues of fire had to increase their fears.  But somehow, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. How many times in our lives have we been living in fear, full of anxiety, and suddenly or slowly, we are at peace, all is well once again. We know we have experienced the spirit of God, an inner peace, Divine Presence.

The Gospel reading has similar emotions- the disciples are all together full of fear, so afraid they locked themselves in.  Enter Jesus. Unlike the Holy Spirit Jesus enters quietly and is standing there. The disciples must be confused at first but once they recognize him imagine their joy. It reminds us of Mary of Magdala’s joy at the tomb.  I bet they all got to hug Jesus and slap him on the back, and laugh and enjoy his presence.   After they all settle down I believe Jesus goes to each disciple, looks each one in the eye and says “Peace be with you.”  He breathes on them.  They feel his love and hold his love and his Spirit in their hearts.

All these emotions are very familiar to us, even more so with Covid-19.  We are all locked in, rumors fly around us- the economy is tanking, our 401k’s and pensions are in jeopardy. There are food shortages. We need more medical supplies and testing. Our anxiety is high and we, just like the disciples, are living in the unknown.

And then we breathe, center ourselves and open our minds and hearts to Divine Presence.  We find Peace.  And with the strength of that peace we are called to act.  We zoom in to celebrate liturgy, to see each other and pray together. We meet in the church parking with donations for the Children’s Café and St. Vincent’s Food Pantry, and buy fresh eggs from Kelley’s farm. We send monetary donations to those who we know are struggling.  We make calls to touch base with neighbors and friends. We make masks for each other, and sometimes leave a piece of blueberry coffee cake on a friend’s porch.

Life went on for the disciples-it was not how they imagined. Sometimes it was wonderful and other times not so much.  Just like you and me, after Covid-19 life will go on, sometimes wonderful and other times not so much- all the unknowns-but the one most important known- we are loved and we are filled with the Spirit.

Statement of Faith

We believe in the Holy One, 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 the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.

 We believe that We are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.

We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.

We believe that the Divine 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.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Presider 1:  As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring our prayers and intentions to our table:

We bring to the table Mary Theresa, sending her love and blessings, gratefully remembering she listened to her call and gathered us to become the community of the Upper Room.

We bring to the table all members and friends of the Upper Room who have crossed and continue to watch over us.  They are with us in spirit and in our hearts forever.

We bring to the table every member who celebrates with us in person, on zoom, on line, or supports and watches from a distance.

We bring to the table the development of our strategic plan.  May we hear and listen to the Spirit as she continues to guide us.

Please bring to the table your silent intentions.

Presider 1: We pray for these and all unspoken intentions. Amen. 

Presider 2: Let us pray our Eucharistic prayer with open hearts and hands:

We are grateful for our brother Jesus teaching us the way of compassion through entering into the suffering of others. May we care for ourselves as Jesus cared for us, seeing humanity through the eyes of “Love”. Through his loving eyes we are healed and we open our hearts to the pain and suffering of others.

Because of your empowering unconditional loving Presence Beloved, we are aware of your presence in and among us. Your love radiates from our hearts, minds, and bodies. The nurturance of ourselves and one another empowers your embodied presence. “We are not the survival of the fittest but the survival of the nurtured.”

With joy and gratefulness today and always, we sing:

                    

Blessed be our God! 

https://youtu.be/9LKivUf48AA

   

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!

(Alleluia Sing by David Haas)

                                     

Holy One, you speak to our hearts and say “I don’t need anything from you for me to love you - I don’t need you to evolve for me to love you - I don’t need you to grow for me to love you - I don’t need you to succeed for me to love you - I will stay with you in any circumstance. I was here at the beginning, I am here in the middle, I will be here in the end.  There is nothing you can do to lose me.” “Just your being is love to me”.

We thank you for Jesus who heard the Divine voice of deep love for him as “this is my beloved son”. Jesus showed us a path to comforting ourselves as the Divine Beloved would comfort us and as we would nurture our own children, family, and friends. May we hear God’s voice as Jesus did to love and forgive ourselves so that we may more fully love and forgive each other.

Presider 1: Please extend your hands in blessing.

All: We call upon your Spirit that is present in us at this Eucharistic table. We are grateful for the bread and wine that remind us of our call to be the light of Christ to the world.

All: On the night before he faced betrayal and death, Jesus shared supper with his 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 the bread as the community prays:

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.  (Everyone consumes the bread)

 All:  Lift the cup as community prays:

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.  (Everyone consumes the drink)                                         

Let us share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace.

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

Communion Song:  By Breath by Sara Thomsen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HgOJiJRKMM

By breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we are all one

The air that is my breath is the air that you are breathing
And the air that is your breath is the air that I am breathing
The wind rising in my breast is the wind from the east, from the west
From the north, from the south, breathing in, breathing out

By breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we are all one

The water that is my blood, my sweat, tears from crying
Is the water that is your blood, your sweat, tears from crying
And the rising of the tide is in our veins and in the ocean wide
We are in the rising steam, rushing river, running stream

By breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we are all one

The earth is dust, the earth is clay, flow’rs blossoming and fading
We are dust and we are clay, we are blossoming and fading
Every color, every sound, every place is holy ground
Oh, every living thing, can you hear it laugh? Can you hear it sing?

By breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we are all one

The fire in my heart, my soul flame burning
Is the fire in your heart, your soul flame burning
We are Spirit burning bright, by the light of day, in the dark of night
We are shining like the sun, and like the moon, like the Holy One

By breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we are all one

Presider 2: Let us pray as Jesus taught us: 

Holy One, you are 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 that 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.                                      Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter 

All: Holy One, your love transforms us so we love and heal each other.  We resolve to love as Jesus loved. Jesus loved the marginalized, the poor, the homeless, the mentally ill, the immigrants, the stranger.  Amen.

BLESSING

Presider 1:  Let us Bless each other with words and song

ALL:   May the infinite beauty and joy of Creation continue to astound us 

May the Presence of the Divine always comfort and inspire us

May we be the face of the Holy One in all we say and do, and

May we be a blessing in our time. AMEN.

Closing Song:  May the Christ Light by Kathy Sherman, CSJ

May the Christ light shine in you. 

​May the Christ light shine in me. 

Then together we will shine with  

God's love to the world.