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| Left to right: Janet Blakeley ARCWP and Elena Garcia ARCWP co-preside at Liturgy |
Theme: Radical
discipleship, single mindedness, compassion
WELCOME
Gathering Song: The Canticle of the Sun #422 verses 1, 2, 5
Presider: We come together in the presence of God who is the Source
of all Being, of our brother Jesus, and of Spirit Sophia, our wisdom.
All: AMEN
OPENING PRAYER
ALL: Gracious God, grant that by walking in the footsteps of St.
Francis, who lived a life of simplicity, poverty and humility, we may
experience our own mystical oneness with all of creation, including everything
that is simply “not us”. May we cherish
every amazing day, conscious of your presence in and around us. Like St.
Francis, may we recognize your goodness and beauty in everything everywhere in
the cosmos. May we respond with the same compassion and understanding.
PENITENTIAL RITE AND COMMUNITY FORGIVENESS
(Let us pause briefly while we
reflect on our need to grow in love for one another)
Presider: We know how we are called to live in right relationship
to God and to all creation. We ask God for forgiveness for all the times we
have not lived up to those messages from the Spirit and not opened our hearts
welcomingly to her presence.
(With
a raised arm over the community)
All: Loving Jesus, we ask for the grace to acknowledge our
continual need to grow in understanding, compassion, and care for ourselves,
for others, and for our planetary home. We ask you to instill in us the virtues
of pardon and peace, so that we may, in turn, learn to be forgiving; to our
brothers and sisters, whoever and wherever they may be. Give us the courage and
strength to extend your merciful presence that is your gift, through us to all
those with whom you graciously share your unending love. May this be so,
without exception. Amen
GLORY TO GOD
Presider: Let us give glory to our loving Creator
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:
Francis of Assisi
Response: Amen
Psalm 27: “I
believe that I shall see the good things of Yahweh in the land of the living”
Second
Reading: Canticle of Brother Sun (Laudato Si) St. Francis Response: Amen
Gospel
acclamation: Alleluia (Celtic Version)
Gospel: Mt.:6
26-33 Response: Glory and Praise to Jesus the Christ
Homily Starter for
celebration of Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
On the 27th
week of Ordinary Time
Recently, Radical discipleship,
Single mindedness and Compassion provided food for meditation which I was able
to identify in the life of St. Francis whose feast we celebrate today.
The concept of Radical speaks to
me of being Extreme. And discipleship
struck me as being a two part word. When I broke it down, I stared at
disciple and the first thought that came to mind was the concept of follower.
Free association of “ship” had me visualize Jesus, the unpredictable sea,
travel to new and unknown parts, casting the net again and again. When I put
them back all together I arrived at an inexplicable urge to follow someone or
something, somewhere not clearly mapped out.
As I moved on to meditate on
single mindedness. I envisioned a childlike determination to conquer a new
skill, like climbing up onto a chair unassisted for the first time. Knowing
that a loving parent is nearby to encourage and rescue, if necessary, is
comforting. Yet nevertheless, that child chooses to deal with all obstacles,
the height of the chair, the limited length of the legs, until reaching the goal. That child refuses
to be distracted from its task.
Most of us know compassion
as the experience of “feeling with”. Further meditation has provided more
information that includes the idea of charity, clemency, grace, and mercy.
When we ponder and examine the
life of Francis and other saints, those canonized and those saints who have
lived among us and have become a part of the fabric of our lives, we would most
likely be able to identify lives of radical discipleship, singlemindedness, and
compassion.
What does Radical Discipleship
mean to you?
In your experience, what does
positive Singlemindedness lead to?
When and how have you seen or
experienced compassion on your life
journey?
Shared
Homily/Community Reflections
PROFESSION OF FAITH
We believe in God, 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 Sophia,
the breath of God in the cosmos, who calls us to care for earth as the common
home we share with all creation. We believe that every living being is our
sister and brother and a reflection of God’s goodness in the circle of
life. Amen to loving actions on behalf
of environmental healing and transformation.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
Presider: Francis called Lady Poverty
his bride;
All:
Free us from the lure of consumerism that we may live the simplicity to
which the gospel calls us.
Presider: Francis found Jesus in the
poor;
All: Move us to action which seeks communion and
solidarity with the poor, the humble, and the lowly.
Presider: Francis reverenced all
creation as the reflection of the Creator;
All: May we respect all forms of life, especially
those living creatures which depend on our care.
Presider: We pray for environmentalist,
recyclers, and those who till, care for and harvest the fruits of our earth.
All: May they be confirmed and supported in
their efforts to preserve the earth for future generations.
Presider: Francis radiated seraphic joy
born of love for God;
All: May our hearts be inflamed and made big enough
to embrace all as our sisters and brothers.
Presider: And for what else shall we
pray?
Presider: Healing God, we trust that
you hear our prayers. May we celebrate the beauty of nature and work to heal
our Earth. We make this prayer through Jesus, our brother, in union with Holy
Spirit Sophia. All: Amen
OFFERTORY SONG: “In the Stillness"
” by Karen Drucker
PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS (Please gather around the table)
Presider:
(Raise bread and wine)
Ever gentle
God, as co-creators of our planet, we offer you the gifts of bread, wine, and
our lives. May we celebrate our oneness with all creatures great and small in
the family of God.
All: Blessed be God forever.
Presider: Pray that as we recognize our
call to use our gifts in loving service to our sisters and brothers we may become one with all in the
Cosmic Christ,
All:
Blessed be God forever.
Presider: We are gathered as a community to
celebrate the gift of life pulsating around us in the glories of Nature
everywhere. As we recognize the presence
of the Divine within each other, let us greet one another with the word that
signifies that recognition.
All:
Namaste! Namaste! Namaste!
Presider: Our loving God who speaks to
us through wild flowers, butterflies and our beloved animal companions, dwells
on Earth,
All: and in every living being
Presider: Lift up your hearts.
All:
It is with joy that we lift up our hearts to our Creator and to all
creation!
Presider: Let us give thanks to the
Source of life.
All: It is right, with hearts full of joy,
to give thanks and praise to the Living God!
Voice One: Gracious Wisdom, we bring these gifts
to this banquet table that they may become the Christ Presence. Through your love and compassion, we are
connected to each other,,,,,,, the young and the old, the least and the last.
,,,,,, everyone, everywhere, no exceptions.
All: WE ARE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (You, I, We) –Karen
Drucker
Voice Two:
Holy One, we thank you for the gift of Jesus of Nazareth in history- and
the gift of Jesus in faith. His life was moved by his consuming vision of your
presence in himself and in his mission. He extended that vision when he also
recognized your presence in every person he met. He showed us through his
example, not only how we should live, but also for what cause we may consider as
worthy to give up our lives.
Voice Three: When his time on earth had come to an end,
Jesus, aware of and accepting his destiny, gave up his life as a witness for
the values that he deeply believed, lived and taught, and his conviction that
love is stronger than death. He then opened wide his arms,,,,, and died. The
Spirit that lived in Jesus raised Jesus to new life. This same Spirit of resurrection will raise
each of us to new life.
All:
On the night before he died, while at supper with his friends, Jesus
took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to them saying,
“Take this, all of you, and eat. This is my body. Do this in memory of me” (Pause)
In the same way, Jesus took the cup of
wine. He said the blessing, gave the cup to his friends and said, “Take this
all of you and drink, Do this in memory of me.”
Presider: Jesus who was with God “in
the beginning of creation” is with us now in this bread. The Spirit of whom the
prophets spoke of in history, is with us now in this cup. Let us proclaim the
mystery of faith.
All:
Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ lives in us and loves through
us in the world today.
AMEN (Sung)
Voice Four: Christ of the Cosmos, we thank
you that there are 18 galaxies for every person, that our bodies are made of
stardust and that every place we turn You are present, loving us. You call us
“beloved” and invite us to join the dance of creation, one with all living
things in your divine embrace. We
rejoice that our beloved animals speak your words of living presence to us each
day.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Presider: Let us join hands and raise
our voices as we sing the prayer Jesus taught us.
All:
Our Father and Mother……….
Presider: Deliver us, God of Love, from
every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy, keep us holy in your
sight and protect us from all anxiety and fear. We watch and wait, discerning
signs that you are continually with us.
All: Amen
SIGN OF PEACE
Presider: The peace of Jesus Sophia is
always with you.
All: And also with you.
Presider:
Let us reach out to each other as we sing “Let There be Peace on
Earth”
(Change father
and brother to: God as creator, family
all are we.)
LITANY FOR THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
Presider: Christ of the Cosmos, All:
May we live our oneness with you and all creation.
Presider: Christ of the Cosmos, ALL: May we work for healing of the earth.
Presider: Christ of the Cosmos,
All: May we celebrate justice
rising up in a global communion everywhere.
All: When we share this meal, we who have
always been worthy, commit to living your teachings, dear Jesus, and to tell
your stories that allow Spirit to rise up within us and empower us to bring the
kin-dom of God to this world. This is the good news of salvation.
Presider: This is the Cosmic Christ in
whom all creation lives, moves and has its being. All are invited to partake in
this banquet of love and to celebrate our oneness with all living beings on the
planet.
All: We are the Face of God
Presider: Let us share and spread this
good news. All:
Amen
When sharing
the consecrated bread, we say “YOU ARE
THE LOVE OF GOD IN THE WORLD”
When passing
the consecrated nonalcoholic wine, we say
“YOU ARE THE PEACE OF GOD IN THE WORLD.”
COMMUNION
Instrumental (Music Minister Choice)
Post Communion: “I See You Everywhere” by
Jan Phillips
(Words are on the
last page if you wish to sing along.)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Presider: Almighty, eternal, just, and
merciful God, grant us the grace to do for You alone what we know You want us
to do, and always to desire what pleases you. Thus, inwardly cleansed,
interiorly enlightened, and inflamed by the power of Holy Spirit Sophia, may we
be able to follow in the footsteps of Your beloved Son, Jesus, our Brother. And
by your grace may we attain union with You in time and eternity.
All: Amen
INTRODUCTIONS, GRATITUDES, AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLOSING COMMUNITY BLESSING
All: May we live and work for
compassion and peace, justice and non-violence in our hearts and in all those
we meet.
May we learn to bless, honor and hold in reverence all creation, the
earth and one another.
May the gospel of Jesus be the guide for our actions – as it was for
St. Francis whom we honor today.
May we always remember, with gratitude, that we are the face of God to
the world. Amen.
COMMISSIONING
Presider: As we leave here in the peace of Jesus, let us be the
sacred people that God created us to be. Let our service continue!
All: Thanks be to God; Let it be so.
CLOSING HYMN: Prayer of St. Francis #531
Verse 1, Lord becomes GOD
Verse 3 Master becomes GOD
I Feel You Everywhere by Jan Phillips
I feel you in my heart. I feel
you in my hands.
I feel you in the stars. I feel
you in the sand.
I feel you everywhere, inside
every cell.
There is no place here that you
do not dwell. I feel you everywhere.
I feel you in my arms. I feel you
in my feet.
I feel you in the eyes of
everyone I meet.
I feel you everywhere, inside
every cell.
There is no place here that you
do not dwell. I feel you everywhere.
I feel you in the clouds. I feel
you in the storms.
I feel you in the cold. I feel
you in the warm.
There is nowhere I can go and not
find you.
I feel you all day long. I feel you late at night.
I feel you in the dark. I feel you in the light.
There is nowhere I can go and not
find you.
I feel you when I sing. I feel you when I cry.
I feel you breathe in me. I feel you when I sigh.
I feel you everywhere, inside
every cell.
There is no place here that you
do not dwell. I feel you everywhere.
I feel you in my words. I feel you in my love.
I feel you all around. I feel you
up above.
I feel you everywhere, inside
every cell.
There is no place here that you
do not dwell. I feel you everywhere.
I feel you in the clouds. I feel
you in the storms.
I feel you in the cold. I feel
you in the warm.
There is nowhere I can go and not
find you.
I feel you all day long. I feel you late at night.
I feel you in the dark. I feel you in the light.
There is nowhere I can go and not
find you.
I feel you in my womb. I feel you in my breast.
I feel you in the east. I feel you in the west.
I feel you everywhere, inside
every cell.
There is no place here that you
do not dwell. I feel you everywhere.
(continued)
I feel you in the earth. I feel you in the clay.
I feel you when I work. I feel you when I pray.
I feel you everywhere, inside
every cell.
There is no place here that you
do not dwell. I feel you everywhere.
I feel you in the clouds. I feel
you in the storms.
I feel you in the cold. I feel
you in the warm.
There is nowhere I can go and not
find you.
I feel you all day long. I feel you late at night.
I feel you in the dark. I feel you in the light.
There is nowhere I can go and not
find you.
There is nowhere I can go and not
find you.
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