Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Christmas Liturgy 2016 Presiders: Bridget Mary Meehan, Karen Hylen, Music Ministers, Linda Lee Miska, Alicia Bartol Thomas

Welcome!

Gathering Song: O Come All Ye Faithful #79, vs. 1-2

Bridget Mary Meehan and Karen Hylen Co-Presiders at MMOJ Christmas Liturgy 2016

Opening Prayer. Presider

God of love, You became human in Jesus and showed us how to live life fully. May we, like Mary, rejoice as we give birth to God within us in everything we say and do.  ALL:  Amen.

ALL: Angels we have heard on high

#82 (Gloria in excelsis Deo)

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5

Response: Go Tell it on the Mountains #99, vs. 1,2, 4

Second Reading:  Hebrews 1:1-6

Acclamation (Sing): Alleluia!

Gospel: Luke 2:15-20

Response. ALL: Glory and praise to you, Jesus the Christ!

Dialogue Homily: Journey Towards Justice Christmas Day, pp.30-31

Dialogue Homily: Journey Towards Justice Christmas Day, pp.30-31 (Karen and Bridget Mary)

“Jesus, the human being, the Incarnation of God’s Word had to have had an ordinary birth and subsequent childhood to have become who he became for us. Jesus taught us through his exaample that our quest is to fully embrace all the facets of our humanness while relying totally on a passionate and vibrant relationship with a God who is intimately and mysteriously involved and in love with us.“ (Journey Towards Justice, by Cathy Woodson, Sr. Anne-Louise Nadeau, SNDdeN, Published by Pax Christi)

Question for Reflection and Sharing by Presiders and Community:

What does Jesus’ humanness teach us about our spiritual path?

Profession of Faith. ALL: We believe in God who is creator of all. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who is our love, our hope, and our light. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of Wisdom Sophia, who energizes and guides us to build caring communities and to challenge injustices.  We believe in the communion of saints our heavenly friends, who support us on life’s journey.  We believe in the partnership and equality of women and men in our church and world.  We believe that all are one in the community of creation. We believe that God calls us to live fully, love tenderly, and serve generously.  Amen.

Community Petitions.

Presider: For a deeper coming of Christ in our world, we pray. 

Response: Nurturing God, hear us.

Presider: May we experience the coming of God anew in our lives, we pray. R.  Presider: May people who suffer from destitution & despair experience the mothering comfort of God, we pray.  R.

Presider: May the sick and suffering receive the healing love of God, we pray. R.

Presider: May those who have died rest in God's eternal embrace, we pray.  R.

(Other Intentions)

Offertory Song: Mary, did you know?

Alicia Bartol Thomas (Solo)

Presider: Blessed are you, God of all life, through your goodness we have bread, wine, and our own lives to offer. Through this sacred meal may we become your new creation. 

ALL:  Blessed be God forever.

Presider: God is with you. ALL: And also with you. Presider: Lift up your hearts.  ALL:  We lift them up to God.  Presider:  Let us give thanks to our God. All: Amen

Eucharistic Prayer.

Voice: Mothering God, you brought forth all creation from your life-giving womb. O Love of the ages, we praise you and leap for joy in your presence.

Voice: Holy One of ancient Israel, you revealed yourself in Mary's womb, in a shining star, in humble shepherds, in a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. You embrace us with infinite love in every situation and relationship. You dwell in the depths of our hearts.

Voice: As God’s beloved, we celebrate our own sacred presence on the table and around the table in joyful song.

ALL: Holy, Holy, Holy (Karen Drucker)

Voice:, God, of all people. we glorify you for the dawning of the sacred promise of God's Anointed, fulfilled in Jesus, the Christ.

Voice: We celebrate the birth of Jesus, our newborn Emmanuel, who came to share your extravagant kindness. During this holy season we share the bread of hope and lift the cup of life. 

All (with hand extended to invoke the Spirit): Indwelling Spirit deepen your Presence within us and in these gifts of bread and wine, that they may become the Body of Christ.

Presider: As Jesus gave birth to the new covenant, he took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, and shared it with all those present saying:

 ALL: Take this all of you and eat it. This is my body.

Presider: Then Jesus took a cup of wine, blessed you, Loving God, shared the cup with all those present saying:

 ALL: Take this all of you and drink from the covenant, poured out for you and for everyone. Do this in memory of me.

Presider:  Let us proclaim the infinite love of our nurturing God:

ALL: Christ, by your life, death and rising, you have blessed us with abundance that will never end.

Second Invocation of the Spirit: All (with hand on next person’s shoulder): God of all people, you call us "beloved." Give us courage to accept your faith in us and to live your compassion in the world. You infuse us with Sophia, Holy Wisdom, to serve you in the last and the least.

Voice: As we wait with joyful hearts for the fulfillment of your loving presence in our lives, we remember the saints who have gone before us:. (Community names mentors they want to remember, living and dead.)

Voice: God of Inclusiveness. may we work for justice and equality for all God’s people and for the healing of our earth.

ALL: Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, all praise and glory are yours, Holy God, through the power of the Spirit.  Amen.

ALL: Our Father and Mother….

Sign of Peace. Presider:   Let us join hands and hearts and pray for peace in our world as we sing “Let there be peace on earth”

Litany for the breaking of bread.  ALL:   Loving God, you call us to speak truth to power. We will do so. Loving God, you call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice.  We will do so. Loving God, you call us to be your presence in the world. We will do so. 

Presider: This is the banquet table of our brother Jesus,. All are invited to the feast. ALL: May we be who we are, the Body of Christ. In our world.

Presider:  Let us share the Body of Christ with the Body of Christ!   ALL:  Amen.

Communion Hymns: O Holy Night, Alicia Bartol Thomas (solo)

 Silent Night #89

Prayer after Communion.

Presider:  God of promises   thank you for opening our hearts to your Spirit of love flowing through us this Christmas Eve.  May Jesus’ humanity help us to embrace our humanness and grow in love each day.

ALL: Amen.

Thanksgiving/Intros/Announcements

Final Blessing. ALL (with hand extended in prayer):  We bless one another with love, peace and joy as we celebrate the birth of Jesus in history and the Christ Presence in our cosmos.

Presiderr: Let us birth Christ anew in our world today. Go in the peace of Christ.

ALL:   Thanks be to God.

Recessional: Joy to the World #80, vs. 1-2

-->

Liturgy: Bridget Mary Meehan, www.arcwp.org,
www.marymotherofjesus.org