Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Liturgy, Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Father's Day, June 16, 2018, Presiders: Kathryn Shea ARCWP and Lee Breyer, Musician Linda Lee Miller

Priest Lee Breyer and Kathryn Shea ARCWP

   Theme: Nothing can separate us from the love of Divine Presence

Welcome and Centering Prayer

Presider:  We have all been created by the same Great Mystery; we have all been shown by the example of the same Jesus of Nazareth how to live; we are all supported and strengthened by the same Spirit on our journeys. In many important ways, we are all one. And at this time, we come together to share stories of Jesus, break bread, and share in a banquet of love.  

Gathering Hymn:  As We Gather at Your Table  #314,  all 3 verses

                                                                                          

Opening Prayer

All: O Lover of all, in our journeys into the heart of compassion…and that is you -- we celebrate the love that you continually unfold for us by your being in us -- in each one of us.  Help us to recognize and honor the “you” that is in the “me” of everyone.

You call us to see goodness and beauty everywhere and to live in harmony with all of creation. You call us to heal the wounds of hatred and violence, discrimination and oppression in our world. You call us to warmly welcome everyone with whom we come in contact as your presence among us. In communion with Jesus, our brother, and with the power of the Spirit, we will live your love poured out each day. Amen.

Community Reconciliation

Presider:  Compassionate God, to you all hearts are open, no desires unknown, and no secrets hidden.  Our desire is to be continually conscious of this in our own lives and recognize this in all we do with others.

All (with an outstretched arm):  May we reach deep within ourselves to hear Wisdom’s many messages, to faithfully understand them, and to respond to them with compassionate actions to our brothers and sisters.  May we emulate the virtues of pardon and peace that Jesus taught us so that we may- in turn - be more forgiving in our care for ourselves, for one another and for our planet Earth.

May we gather strength through the Divine Presence within us, to extend your merciful and forgiving presence that is your gift – through us – to everyone, everywhere - with whom you share your unending love. 

We ask this in the name of all that is Holy.  Amen.

Gloria

Presider:  Let us give glory to our loving Holy One.

All (Sung):  Glory to God, glory, O praise God, Alleluia.  Glory to God, glory.

O praise the name of our God. (3X)

     

Liturgy of the Word

Pat MacMillan proclaims reading

First Reading:  Ezekial 17: 22-24             

All:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 92  

Responsorial:  Forever I will sing the goodness of our God.  #790

Joan Meehan proclaims reading

Second Reading:  Mark 4: 26-34            

All:  Thanks be to God.

Acclamation:Celtic Alleluia 

Priest: Lee Breyer

Gospel:  Luke 15: 11-14, 21, 31               

All:  Glory to you, O God.  

Shared Homily and Community Reflections

Profession of Faith

 

All:  We believe in the Divine Mystery, beyond all definition and understanding, the heart of all that has ever existed, that exists now, or that ever will exist in the expanding universe. 

We believe in Jesus of Nazareth, the human Jesus, an enlightened soul who carried the message of God’s Word, who brought the ability to show us how to heal ourselves and others, and the heart of God’s compassion.  He is the bright star in the firmament of God’s prophets, mystics, and saints. And it is through him that we become a new people with a different story of salvation.  We are here to share his stories of the new message,  that we are all holy, we were born holy, and we shall be holy forevermore. 

We believe in the Spirit, the one that inspires our innermost life.  She keeps the Anointed One present to all those who are searching for meaning and wholeness in their lives.

She strengthens our call to follow Jesus as a vehicle of God’s love.  She is the one who helps us reach within ourselves so that she can heal and energize us when our spirits may grow weary in our lives.

And 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 take it to share with those around us.  

Prayers of the Community

Presider: With heads and hearts mindful of God’s unconditional love embedded in each one of us, let us bring our needs and those of our community forward.  After each intercession, we respond:  Holy One, we offer these prayers.  (Intentions are mentioned here.)

Presider:  That those who suffer abuse, may be healed and empowered, we pray.

All:  Holy One, we offer these prayers.

Presider:  That those bound by hatred, hostility, and violence will be set free, we pray.  R.  

Presider:  That the sick may be healed, especially (mention names), we pray.  R.   

Presider:  That those who have gone ahead of us -- especially, Joe and Jodie Adler – will

      dwell forever in their heavenly home, we pray. R. 

Presider:  And for whom else do we pray at this time?  Other Intentions followed by R.

Presider: We hold these and all our unspoken intentions in our hearts and take them with us when we will gather around the Banquet Table. 

Offertory Song:   There is Only Love   (Karen Drucker)

 

Presider:  Blessed are you, Jesus of Nazareth, through your goodness we have this bread and this wine and our own lives to offer.  Through this sacred meal may we remember how to live the new story.    

All:  Blessed be God forever.

  

Presider:  Divine Presence, we believe that you are always with us, loving in each of us and healing others through us.

All:  Namaste (with a nod…3x)

Presider:  Lift up your hearts.  

All:  We lift them up in tender love, open to serve.

Presider:  Let us give thanks for all that we have.

All: It is our joy to be grateful for our many blessings as we gather at our family table.                             

   (so… let us all  “gather at our family table”…)                          

  

Eucharistic Prayer

Voice 1:  Gracious Wisdom, you embrace us with your extravagant affection in both our blessedness and times of weakness.  You are always with us and live in us, and we in you.  In this festive meal, your Spirit is poured out to each of us gathered in this circle of your disciples to share your gift of shalom, our peace.  And we break out in joy as we sing our “family camp song.”

All: We are holy, holy, holy (3x), we are whole. You are…I am… We are (Karen Drucker)  

Voice 2:  Gracious God, you have set the banquet table and have invited all of us to the feast of unending delight. Here we celebrate your divine love beyond what words can describe.  Your divine compassion connects us to the young and the old, the least and the last, to everyone, everywhere, on our journey into the heart of your mercy.

Voice 3:  We thank you, Holy Mystery, for the gift of Jesus of Nazareth in history –and the gift of Jesus in faith. You brought him from among your people to baptize us in your Spirit.  His life was moved by his vision of your presence in himself and in his mission, and he recognized you in everyone he met.  He showed us, through his example, not only how we should live, but also for what was worth dying.

Voice 4:  And when his time on earth had come, to a close, 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, in providing an example of this wisdom for all people in the ages to come, he opened wide his arms…and died.  And the Spirit that lived in Jesus is resurrected in all of us who decide to live the new story.  Jesus is with us today as he will be through the end of time.

All:  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.  When you do this, remember me, and all I have taught you.   (pause a moment, then continue….)

All: 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.  When you do this, remember me, and all I have taught you.  

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 our faith.

All:  The Anointed One lives in us and through us in the world today.

Voice 5:  God, we know that you bless your church throughout the world.  We, your people, desire to grow in our love and caring for Francis, our Pope, Bridget Mary, our Bishop, and with everyone we come in contact, especially those who live on the margins of church and society.  They are all our brothers and sisters and are reflections of your presence within all your people.  We remember also 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:  We believe that the Spirit of God is at work in and among us and will do more than we can ever ask or imagine.    Amen. (sung, x times)

The Prayer of Jesus

All (sing): Our Father and Mother, who are in heaven, blessed is your name…...

                                                

The Sign of Peace

Presider:  God, we know that you give us peace and unity beyond what any words can express.  You are here with us as we join hands in a circle of love and sing our prayer: “Let there be peace on earth.” (#532)

Litany at the Breaking of the 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 calls us to open doors that are closed and share our bread and wine on the altar of the world. All are invited to eat and drink at this sacred banquet of love. 

All:  When we share in this meal, we who have always been worthy, commit to live your teachings, dear Jesus, and to tell your stories that allow Spirit to rise up within us and empowers us to bring the kin-dom of God to this world.  This is the good news of salvation.   

Presider:  Let us share and spread this good news!  ALL:  Amen.  (As we share this sacred meal, we say to one another with the passing of the bread, You are the love of God in the world.”  When we share the wine we say, “You are the peace of God in the world.”)

Communion Music:  Instrumental  

Post Communion Meditation Hymn:  Sacred Love   (Daniel Nahmood)

Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion

Presider: Holy One, may this Eucharist in which we share Jesus’s healing love, deepen our oneness with you and with one another.  May we reflect like Mary, your mothering love for all your people everywhere.  And may wonder and thanksgiving fill us with knowledge and understanding as we experience the infusion of your love and compassion in us, your sacred people.  We join in unity in this prayer with Mary, and her son, Jesus.

All:  Amen

Community Prayer of Gratitude and Remembrance for Joe Adler

Presider: MMOJ remembrance of our community brother, Joe Adler and his family.

Joe’s send-off song:    On Eagle’s Wings    #43

Closing Prayer

All:  May our hearts be glad on our journeys as we dream new dreams and see new visions.

May we live and work for mercy, peace and justice, in our hearts for ourselves and our brothers and sisters…whoever they are and wherever they are.

May we learn to bless, honor and hold in reverence one another and the planet Earth.

May we be the face of God to the world, reflecting a compassionate and caring presence in us to everyone we meet.

Closing Community Blessing  

All (extend an arm in mutual blessing):  May the Holy One, bless us all of us gathered here, in the name of God our Creator, in the name of Jesus our Liberator, and in the name of the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier as we minister in love to one another and to all those we meet on our journey.  May our Loving God be with us as we continue on our paths and follow in the footsteps of Jesus -for we are the face of God to the world.  Amen.

Closing Song:  What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love.

Chorus: What the world needs now is love sweet love,
It’s the only thing that there's just too little of.

What the world needs now is love sweet love,
No, not just for some but for everyone.

Lord we don't need another mountain;
There are mountains and hillsides,
Enough to climb.

There are oceans and rivers,
Enough to cross,

 Enough to last till the end of time.

Chorus
 

Lord, we don't need another meadow;
There are cornfields and wheat fields,
Enough to grow.

There are sunbeams and moonbeams,
Enough to shine,
Oh listen Lord, if you want to know.
Chorus

Commissioning

Presiders:   May we all go in the peace of Christ and spread our caring love for one another.  Let this be our mission…and let our service continue!  It is what the world needs now…and always.

All:   Thanks be to God; let it be so.

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