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| Co-Presiders: Karen Hylen and Lee Breyer |
Theme: Our Father and Mother….May [y]our kindom come….
Welcome and Opening Expression
Presider: Welcome everyone. Today
we come together as partners on our own particular journeys. We know
that, although our paths may differ in many ways, the goals and ways to reach
them are the same…to spend eternity with our God by following the messages of
the gospels. And this is identified in what is, allegedly, the most common
prayer of Christians, The Prayer of Jesus. In it we pray, “may your kindom come”
and – by definition – a “kindom” is a relationship, and a relationship – by
definition – implies more than one subject. To illustrate this mutual
sharing in the prayer’s phrase, I worded it, in print above, with
brackets. And in words I could say something like “may your kindom
come…and mine too!”
And now let’s take a moment or two to collect
ourselves in mind and spirit to celebrate today’s liturgy. And what
better way to do this than sing together what I termed “our camp song,” Karen
Drucker’s “We are holy.”
Opening Hymn “We are Holy (Karen Drucker)
Gathering/Opening Prayer
All: We gather now to pray to God…while
believing that God speaks (or “prays”) in and through us. We pray that
God at work in us comes to visual and audible expression in our words and
actions to those around us. We rejoice in the wonder of the fulness who
we are and for the responsibility we carry with us. We are grateful that
the Breath of Life, our Spirit, supports us in the roles we share in the coming
of the kindom.
Loving God, bless all of us gathered here and
all those of our community who are not with us today. We ask this of you,
our brother Jesus, and our Wisdom Sophia. Amen.
Presider: This is the day that our
gracious God has made…
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in
it!
Penitential Expression and Community
Forgiveness
All: (raise an arm toward our brothers and
sisters, as we pray…) Compassionate God, we believe that nothing we do
can separate us from your infinite love. And we also know that we have to
continually enrich our never-satisfied need to grow in our acts of
understanding and compassion so that we may be more forgiving of our brothers
and sisters. We ask for your forgiveness for any of our actions that may be
hurtful to people of other beliefs and interests, nationalities and races.
Caring God, give us the strength to spread
your merciful blessing that is your gift – through us – to all those with whom
you share your unending love. We ask this in the names of Jesus, our
brother, and the Holy Spirit, our healer and comforter. Amen.
Glory to God
Presider: Let us give glory to our loving
Creator. We give thanks for the wonder of the Spirit at work in us that
strengthens us on our journeys. And so, in deep gratitude, we sing…
All: Glory to God, Glory, O praise God
alleluia. Glory to God, glory, O praise the name of our God. (3x)
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20,
30-31 All: Thanks be to God
Psalm 128 Responsorial: Blessed are
those who listen to Jesus and walk in his ways.
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:
1-6 All:
Thanks be to God
Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30
All: Alleluia (Celtic version)
Shared Homily/Community Reflections
Profession of Faith
All: We believe in God, the Creator of
the Universe, whose divinity infuses all that exists, making everything
everywhere in the cosmos sacred. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, the
touch of God to humanity, who leads us to the fullness of life. Through his
incarnation, we have become a new people…a holy one called beyond the
consequences of our brokenness. We believe in the Spirit, the Breath of
God who keeps the Christ-vision present to all those who are searching for
meaning and wholeness in their lives. She is the Sustainer who heals and
energizes us when our strengths grow weary in our journeys. We believe
that God’s shared kindom is here with us now and will always be present for
those with eyes to recognize it, hearts to receive it, and hands to make it
known to everyone.
We say amen to faith, hope, and love. We
say amen to the partnership and equality of all people, regardless of gender,
race, and beliefs. We say amen to a world of peace and justice for
everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions. In all of this, we surely
believe.
Prayers of the Community
Presider: We are a people of faith; we
believe in the power of prayer. We are mindful of God’s unconditional love and
care for each of us. And so, we bring the needs of the people to our
merciful and gracious God. After each intercession, please respond: Compassionate
God, we ask you to bless our petitions.
(community intentions)
Presider: Healing God, we ask you to
strengthen us in our concerns for one another, here and throughout the world.
We ask you to bless our efforts for justice and equality so that, with our
sisters and brothers, we may promote cultures of peace and nonviolence in our
world. As we always do, we make these prayers to you, O God, in the names
of Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom. Amen.
Offertory Procession and Song: “You Are
Mine” #462
Presider: Blessed are you, God of Creation,
through your goodness we have this bread to offer…this grain of the earth that
human hands have prepared for our use. It will become for us the bread of
life.
All: Blessed be God forever.
Presider: Blessed are you, God of Creation,
through your goodness we have this wine to offer…this fruit of the vine that
human hands have prepared for our use. It will become for us our
spiritual drink.
All: Blessed be God forever.
Gathering of the Gifted
Presider: Jesus, who has often sat at our
tables, now invites all of us to join him at his. Everyone is welcome to
share with one another in this blessed meal.
All: Loving and caring God, we – your
people – are united in this sacrament by our common love of Jesus. And we
are in communion with everyone, everywhere, who shares your gift of compassion
especially all those who are marginalized and oppressed. May we love
tenderly, act with justice, and walk humbly with you in solidarity with our
sisters and brothers everywhere. And may we always live as prophetic
witnesses to the gospel of Jesus. Amen.
Presider: Let us give thanks to the
Creator of all that exists.
All: With hearts full of love, we give God
thanks and praise.
Presider: Let us show our gratitude to
Jesus who has shared with us his life-vision.
All: Open our hearts to your message through
your words and actions while on this earth.
Presider: Let us recognize the presence
of the Spirit among us gathered at the family table.
All: Fill us with reverence for you, for one
another, and for all creation.
Presider: Let us lift up our hearts.
All: We lift them up to the One who lives in
us and loves others through us.
Presider: God dwells in each one of us.
All: Namaste!
Eucharistic Prayer
Voice 1: Ever living and ever-loving
God, it is through you that we live and move and have our very being while on
planet Earth. And we know that in the days to come, that Spirit, who
raised Jesus from the dead, is the foretaste and promise of the paschal feast
of heaven. Her dwelling with us gives us everlasting hope of unending
peace and joy with you. And so, we sing with thankful praise….
All: Holy, Holy, Holy God, God of power,
God of light. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the
highest. Blessed are all who come in the name of our God. Hosanna
in the highest.
Voice 2: We thank you for the gift of
Jesus in history – and the gift of Jesus in faith. Through him, you breathe
life into us. He was moved by his vision of your constant presence in
everyone he met, everywhere he went. He revealed you in everything he did in
his life well lived. And he showed us, through his example, not only how
we should live, but also for what is worth dying.
Voice 3: And when his time on earth had
come to an end, Jesus – aware of and accepting his destiny – gave up his life
for the values that he deeply believed, lived and taught…his conviction that
love is stronger than death. And then, providing a personal example of
this insight for the easier understanding of people in ages to come, he opened
wide his arms and died. Then the Spirit, one stronger than death, raised Jesus
to life, showing everyone that life is eternal and that love is immortal.
Jesus is with us today as he will be through the end of time.
All: O God, let your Spirit of life,
healing and wholeness come upon these gifts – this simple wheat and wine.
May She make them holy so that they will become for us the Body and Blood of
Jesus, our brother.
All (With an outstretched arm, 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, broke the bread and gave 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. Do this in memory of me. [Pause]
In the same way, Jesus took the cup of
wine. He 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 today in
this bread. The Spirit, whom the prophets spoke of centuries ago in
history, is with us today in this cup. Let us proclaim this
mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died. Christ is
risen. Christ lives in us in the world today.
Voice 4: In memory of Jesus’ life, death
and resurrection, we offer you, God, this life-giving bread, 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 as freely in our lives as She did in his.
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. We remember, as well, the entire
communion of saints, both those living and dead, who touched our lives and left
your footprint on our hearts. We remember especially …(pause as names are
mentioned).
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…(and everyone sings)…Amen. (3x)
All (holding hands): Our Father and
Mother, who are in heaven, blessed is your name…..
Presider: God, we have just prayed that
your kindom may come among us. Grant that we may open our hearts to make
it real and our hands to serve one another.
The Sign of Peace
Presider: Jesus, you said to your disciples,
“My peace I leave you; my peace I give you.” Look on the faith of those
gathered here today 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 through our words and actions to everyone, everywhere, with
no exceptions. Amen.
Presider: May the peace of God be
always with us, and let us extend that peace to one
another.
Let There Be Peace on Earth, #532
Litany for the Breaking of the Bread
Presider: Loving God…. All: you call us
to Spirit-filled service and to live the Gospel of 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 understanding and
compassion, forgiveness and healing 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: Gracious God, as we come to share
the riches of your table, we cannot forget the poverty of so many of our
brothers and sisters, our families and neighbors.
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 all your people.
Women: We cannot drink this wine and
forget those who are thirsty. O God, this very earth and its people cry
out for environmental justice.
All: We cannot listen to your words of
peace and not grieve for the world at war’s doors.
Communion Hymn: Instrumental
After Communion Song/Reflection: “Taste
and See” #331
Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion
Presider: Loving God, may this Eucharist
in which we share Christ’s healing love deepen our
oneness with you and with one another.
May we reflect, like Mary, your liberating, mothering
love for all. And may wonder and
thanksgiving fill us with knowledge, understanding and experience of your love
and compassion for us, your sacred people. We ask this in the name of
Mary’s son, Jesus the Christ. All: Amen.
Introductions, Gratitudes, Announcements
Closing Community Blessing
All: May our hearts be
glad on our journey as we dream new dreams, see new
visions, and create a new heaven and earth.
May we live and work for compassion and peace,
justice and non-violence in our hearts and in those of everyone we meet.
May we learn to bless and honor and hold in
reverence all creation, the earth, and one another.
Closing Community Commissioning
Presider: Loving God, we have looked for
others to save us and to save our world. Yet, we have been called and blessed,
and are now commissioned and sent into the world to create cultures of peace
and justice. May we again commit to our role in making a more smooth
development of the “coming of the kindom” of God.
Presider : As we leave here in the peace of
Christ, let us be the people that God created us to be. Let our service
continue so that everyone observing us will know we are Christians by our love
.
All: Thanks be to God. Let it be
so!
Closing Community Hymn: “They’ll Know We
Are Christians” (verses 1,2, &3) #584
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