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| Kathryn Shea ARCWP and Lee Breyer, Co-Presiders at MMOJ Liturgy |
Theme: The Care of the Divine Mother for the People of God/Creation
Welcome and Gathering Song: “Lean In Toward The Light” – Carrie Newcomer
Opening Prayer
ALL: Nurturing Mother God, You embrace each person and every living thing with delight. May, we who are stardust, be filled with awe as we experience our mystical oneness, with all creation in the Heart of Love. May we cherish every amazing day, conscious of your presence and abundance all around us. We ask this through Jesus, our brother and the Holy Spirit, our wisdom.
ALL: Amen
Penitential Rite and Community Forgiveness
PENITENTIAL RITE AND COMMUNITY FORGIVENESS
Pause briefly and reflect on the need to grow more in love with others and with creation
General Absolution by Community:
(All raise hands extended in prayer and recite together.)
God, our Mother and Father of compassion, through his living, dying and rising, Jesus has revealed that nothing can separate us from the infinite love of God. May God give us pardon and peace, and may we forgive each other our failures to care for one another and for our earth in the name of God our creator, and of Jesus our brother, and of the Holy Spirit our wisdom. Amen.
All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all God’s people on earth. Creator God, Divine Mother of the universe, we thank you for the breath of the Spirit sustaining everything that exists, everywhere in the cosmos. Through the example and teachings of Jesus Christ, you gave us the grace to know that you are always among us – and that we can experience you in our brothers and sisters. We give you glory and praise through Jesus Christ, our brother, and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom. Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First reading: Isaiah 58:7-10.
Psalm 33: Responsorial: Our God fills the Earth with love, with love. Our God fills the Earth with love. #767
Second reading: A Reading from Radical Passion; Sacred Love and Wisdom in Action by Andrew Harvey All: Glory and thanks to our God.
Gospel Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16
Shared Homily/Community Reflection
Homily Starter – Lee Breyer
May 13, 2017
A caring mother’s story
In today’s gospel, Jesus told us that we are the salt of the earth.
He also called us a light on a hill … a lamp on a stand.
And he explained how we are to understand these metaphors, namely…
That we are to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good deeds and give praise to our God in heaven.
And like any good mother with her children, our Divine Mother gave us a lesson on how we might do this. In short, it was “do as I tell you,” an instruction that we’ve probably heard often from our own good and caring mothers.
Our Divine Mother is also a good teacher…she “helps us along” by describing a process to follow to get to having our light shine before others. She told us (through John):
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to God but through me. If you really know me, you would also know God. Trust me…believe that I am in God and God is in me. And the truth of the matter, the way that this works, is that anyone who has faith in me will do what I do…and even greater things. The God-in-me will lead to my being a shining light…and even more.
To encourage us, the people of God, our Caring Divine Mother gave us an example of this process in the first reading this afternoon, the passage from Isaiah — believing that God is in us and that we are in God leads to such actions as Isaiah described: “sharing your bread, sheltering the homeless, and not hiding from the needs of our own flesh and blood” and results – as said: “your light shining like the dawn;” and “your light rising for you in the darkness.” We will never be alone in this, our learning process. Our caring mother won’t let us out of her sight and caring support.
Now, our Divine Mother – teaching us well through the prophets of yesterday and our brothers and sisters of today and tomorrow – watches over us on our journeys and will not let us fail, though we may not be as successful as either God or us would like to be.
Question: Jesus said we should set as a goal – to be a light to be seen by all so that it can shine before others and that they may see our good acts. What do we ask from our Divine Mother that would help us keep our lights ever shining and our lamps from under bushel baskets? We know that our Divine Mother is always caring for us and will do so “till the hour of our death” as we pray in the Hail Mary.
Profession of Faith
ALL: We believe in God, the Creator of the Universe, the fountain of life, flowing through every being. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who reflects the face of God and the fullness of humanity. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God in the cosmos, who calls us to love and serve without counting the cost. We believe in our global communion with all in the circle of life. Amen to loving actions on behalf of justice, healing, compassion and equality for all in our world! We believe we are light to the world!
Prayers of the Community
Presider: We are a people of faith, believing in the power of prayer. We are always mindful of God’s unconditional love and care for all of us. And so, we bring the needs of people – throughout the world – to our merciful and gracious God. After each intercession, respond: Divine Mother, may we work for healing for our earth and justice for all.
Presider: Healing God, you faithfully listen to our prayers. We ask you to strengthen us in our caring for one another and in our works for justice, equality, and peace in a world without violence. As always, we make this prayer in the names of Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom. Amen.
Offertory Procession: Song: “Mary, Woman of the Promise” #708 (verses 1,3,5)
Preparation of the Gifts
Presider: Blessed are you, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, this grain that the earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.
All: Blessed be God forever.
Presider: Blessed are you, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, this fruit of the vine that human hands have made. It will become for us our spiritual drink.
All: Blessed be God forever.
Gathering of the Gifted
Presider: Jesus, who has sat at our tables, now invites us to be guests at his family table. Everyone is welcome around our family table.
ALL: Nurturing God, we are united in this sacrament by our common love of Jesus. We are in communion with everyone, everywhere, who proclaims your mercy to all those who are marginalized and oppressed. May we love tenderly, do justice, and walk humbly with you in solidarity with our brothers and sisters. May we live as prophetic witnesses to the Gospel, supported by the vision of Jesus and the wisdom of the Spirit. Amen.
Presider: God dwells in each one of us. All: Namaste!
Presider: Let us give thanks to the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists.
All: With hearts full of love, we give God thanks and praise.
Presider: Holy Spirit, we realize your presence among us as we gather at our family table.
All: Fill us with reverence for you, for one another, and for all your creation.
Presider: Let us lift up our hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Holy One, living in us and loving through us.
Eucharistic Prayer
Voice 1: Ever present and always caring God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks. In you we live and move and have our very being. Your Spirit dwelling in us gives us the hope of unending peace and joy with you. And so, we sing your praise…
All: We are holy, holy, holy X3….we are whole
Voice 2: We thank you for the gift of Jesus in history and the gift of Jesus in faith. On earth, Jesus burned with the vision of his mission and truth. He revealed you to us through his compassionate life well lived. Jesus showed us not only how we should live, but also for what we might die. Through him, you continue to breathe life into us.
Voice 3: (Place your hand on the shoulder of the person to your right) Compassionate God, let your Holy Spirit rest upon us, your people, converting us from the patterns of the world, until we conform to the shape of him whose food we now share.
All: O God, let your Spirit of life, healing and wholeness come upon these gifts that we gathered from the fields and placed on our table — this simple wheat and wine. May she have them become for us the Body and Blood of Jesus, our brother.
(With an outstretched arm as we pray the consecration together. We remember the gift that Jesus gave us on the night before he died. He gathered with his friends to share a final Passover meal. And it was at that supper that Jesus took bread, said the blessing and shared it with 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. Do this in memory of me. [Pause]
In the same way, Jesus took a cup of wine, said the blessing and gave it to his friends 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. Do this in memory of me.
Presider: Jesus, who was with God “in the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth,” is with us now in this bread. The Spirit, of whom the prophets spoke in history, is with us now in this cup. Let us proclaim this mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ lives in us and through us in the world today.
Voice 4: In memory of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we offer you, God, this life-giving bread and this saving cup. May all who share this sacred meal be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit. And may that Spirit, that Wisdom, that moved in Jesus move freely in our lives as well.
Voice 5: God, remember your church throughout the world, help us grow in love, together with Francis, our Pope, Bridget Mary, our Bishop, and all your people everywhere – especially those who live on the margins of church and society. Remember also all those, living and dead, who touched our lives and left their footprints on our hearts. We remember especially….(mention names, if you would like to).
All: Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Creator God, forever and ever. Amen (sung).
All: Our Father and Mother ……..Amen.
All: Lord God, we have prayed that your kindom may come among us. Open our ears to hear it, our hands to serve it, and our hearts to hold it. Amen.
The Sign of Peace
Presider: Jesus, you said to your disciples, “My peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” Look on the faith of those gathered here and ….
All: … grant us your peace. O God, following the example of Jesus and with the strength of the Spirit, help us spread that peace throughout the world, to everyone, everywhere, no exceptions. Amen.
Presider: May the peace of God be always with us, as we join hands and sing, “Let There be Peace on Earth”. #532 (Substituting “Creator” for Father and “family” for brothers)
Litany for the Breaking of Bread
Presider: Loving God…All: you call us to Spirit-filled service and to live the Gospel of non-violence for peace and justice. We will live justly.
Presider: Loving God…All: you call us to be your presence in the world and to be bearers of forgiveness and understanding, healing and compassion everywhere in your name. We will love tenderly.
Presider: Loving God…All: you call us to speak truth to power. We will walk humbly with you.
Presider: This is Jesus, who liberates, heals, and transforms us and our world. All are invited to partake of this sacred banquet of love. All: We are the Body of Christ.
Pre-Communion Prayer
Presider: Lord God, as we come to share the richness of your table, we cannot forget the poverty of so many of our brothers and sisters.
Men: We cannot eat this bread and forget those who are hungry. O God, your world is one world and we are stewards of its nourishment for your people.
Women: We cannot drink this wine and forget those who are thirsty. O God, the very earth and its people cry out for environmental justice.
All: We cannot listen to your words of peace and not grieve for the destruction of our precious earth.
Communion: Instrumental
After Communion Reflection Song: “I Will Carry You” – Kathryn Christian
Prayer of Thanksgiving After Communion
Presider: Eternal God, may this Eucharist in which we always share Christ’s healing love deepen our oneness with you and our unity with one another. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Christ, and the Spirit, the Wisdom. All: Amen.
Community Prayers of Gratitude and Announcements
Closing Community Blessing
Presider: Divine Mother of Compassion, Jesus showed us how to love one another and heal our hearts. Through the power of your liberating Spirit at work within us, we will give and receive forgiveness, live joyously, and work for healing, justice and equality for our earth and for all your holy people. As Jesus gave to us his peace, may we spread his peace to all peoples of the earth, everywhere; no exceptions. ALL: Amen
ALL: (with an outstretched arm in blessing)
May the blessing of God go before you.
May Her grace and peace abound.
May Her Spirit live within you.
May Her love wrap you ‘round.
May Her blessing remain with you always.
May you walk on holy ground.
May we continue to be the face of God to each other and may our name be a blessing in our time! Amen.
Co-Presiders: As we all go in the peace of Christ, let our service continue in all that we do!
ALL: Thanks be to God. Let it be so! Alleluia!
Concluding Hymn: “Woman’s Spirit”- Karen Drucker
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