First Reading from Pope Francis, October 26, 2013*
“Dear families, the Lord Knows our struggles. He knows them! He knows what weighs us down. But the Lord also knows our great desire to find joy and rest! Remember? Jesus said, “…that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). Jesus wants our joy to be complete! He said this to the Apostles and He says this to us today. So, this is the first thing I want to share with you … and it is a saying of Jesus: Come to me, families from around the world—so says Jesus—and I will give your rest, so that your joy may be complete. Take this Word of Jesus home with you, carry it in your hearts, share it with your families. Jesus invites us to come to Him so that He may give us joy; so that He may give everyone joy.” The inspired word of Pope Francis. All: Thanks be to God
PEACE
Second Reading from Pope Francis, January 17, 2015 Homily*
“The gift of piety means being truly capable of rejoicing with those who rejoice, of weeping with those who weep, of staying close to those who are lonely or in anguish, or correcting those in error, of consoling the afflicted, of welcoming and helping those in need. The gift of piety is closely aligned with gentleness. The gift of piety is given to us by the Holy Spirit, and it makes us gentle, calm, and patient. This gift fills us with a God-given peace, and so we meekly, gently, seek to serve others.” The inspired word of Pope Francis. All: Thanks be to God
HOPE
Third Reading from Pope Francis, chapter “Hope is a Journey”** pg16-17
“For a Christian, to hope means the certainty of being on a journey with Christ toward the Father who awaits us. Hope is never still; hope is always journeying, and it makes us journey. This hope, which the child of Bethlehem gives us, offers a destination, a sure, ongoing goal, salvation of humanity, blessedness to those who trust in a merciful God. In other words, walking in this world, with hope, we are saved. Here we can each ask ourselves that question, each one of us: Am I walking with hope or is my interior life static, closed? Is my heart a locked drawer or a drawer open to the hope which enables me to walk not alone but with Jesus?” The inspired word of Pope Francis. All: Thanks be to God
Psalm 96; adapted from Nan Merrill, “Psalms for Praying”
Response, All: Sing to the Cosmos a new song: Sing to God, all the earth!
O sing to the Cosmos a new song; sing to the Beloved, all the earth! …Truth and integrity live with Love; strength and beauty dwell with the Beloved. Yield to Love, O families of the earth, yield to Love and learn of justice; make of yourselves an offering and be guided by Love!
All: Sing to the Cosmos a new song: Sing to God, all the earth!
The Creator of the Cosmos reigns! Yes, the world has been created, gift to all generations: let truth and justice give birth to peace and harmony! Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the seas laugh, and all that fills them; let the fields exult, and everything in them!
All: Sing to the Cosmos a new song: Sing to God, all the earth!
Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the coming of God, who reigns in glory! For through Love will come truth and justice, offering all the people gifts of new Life.
All: Sing to the Cosmos a new song: Sing to God, all the earth!
Gospel: John 20:19-21
“In the evening of the same day, the first day of the week, the doors were locked in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Temple Authorities. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Having said this, the savior showed them the marks of crucifixion. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw Jesus, who said to them again, “Peace be with you. As Abba God sent me, So I’m sending you.” After saying this, Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit…” This is the Good News of our Brother Jesus. All: Praise to you Jesus Christ, saving Word.
*Pope Francis “Happiness in This Life” Random House, 2017.
**Pope Francis “On Hope” Loyola Press, 2017.
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Mary Mother of Jesus
Inclusive Catholic Community
At Sun City Center
January 3 2019
“Joy, Peace, Hope for 2019”
“Where there is no vision, the people are wild; those who keep the Law find happiness.” Proverbs 29:18
All: Infinite God in whom I live and move and have my being (arms outstretched), Holy Spirit Sophia in every person and all Communities (hands in Namaste position, bowing to person across from you), Inner God, my brother Jesus: I am your light for the world (hands crossed over heart) Amen.
Presider: God is within us all. All: And also with you.
Opening Prayer.
All: O God, Source of all Good, you constantly broke through our history calling us to joy, peace and hope. As we celebrate the beginning of our New Year, we ask you to renew this vision in us and our fidelity to Jesus who is our Way. We ask this in his name. Amen.
See Sheet for Readings
First, Second, Third Reading
Psalm Response:
Gospel reading
Shared Homily: What is your vision for 2019? for joy? for hope? for peace? For family, for community, for our country? For our world? Where do you see these being expressed in our world today?
Profession of Faith. All: We believe in God who is creator and nurturer of all. We believe in Jesus the Christ our brother and Beloved Son of God who is our love, our hope, and our light. Born in a stable, he now resides in our souls. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of Wisdom Sophia renewer of the brokenness within our society and the world. Sofia who energizes and guides us to rebuild caring communities and to challenge injustices. We believe in the Communion of Saints our heavenly friends and family, 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.
Presider: Always mindful of God’s love and care for us, we bring the needs of God’s people to our loving Creator and Sustainer.
Response: Christ our Light, hear our prayer.
Presider: We desire to be your joy, peace and hope for the world, we pray. Response.
Presider: In 2019, may we stand in solidarity with all those who are marginalized and work for justice and equality, we pray.. Presider: For what else should we pray…
Presider: We know you hear our prayers; those we speak and those we keep in our hearts. Energize our community as we begin our New Year, gift from you. All: Amen
PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
Presider: Blessed are you, O God, Lover of all. This bread is your MMOJ community at the beginning of the new year wanting to do your will. Through your divine providence, we have this bread to offer, it will become for us the Bread of life. ALL: Praise to God, our Emmanuel forever.
Presider: Blessed are you, O God, Creator of all. This wine is our desire to follow your Way of Joy, Peace, and Hope. Through your divine providence, we have this wine to offer, it will become our spiritual drink. ALL: Praise to God, our Emmanuel forever.
Presider: Divine Presence, we are united in this sacrament by the love of our Brother Jesus Christ and all those who seek to be the Compassionate presence of God in our world and our time. ALL: Amen.
All: Blessed are you, God of all life, through your goodness we have this bread and this wine and our own lives to offer. Through this sacred meal and the gifts of joy, peace and hope may we become your Presence for all. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer.
All Sing: We are holy holy holy (x3) We are whole; You are holy holy holy (x3) You are whole; I am holy (x3) I am whole; We are holy holy holy (x3) We are whole.
All: Come Holy Spirit and settle on this bread and wine. Fill them with the holiness and wholeness of our living Brother Jesus our Cosmic Christ born in a stable and living in the center of our souls today.
Remembering Jesus. (hand extended in blessing):
All: On the night before he died, while at supper with his friends, Jesus took bread, broke it, and shared it with those present, saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat. This is my body which will be broken for you.”(Pause)
Then Jesus took a cup of wine and shared it with those present, saying, “Take this all of you and drink. This is the cup of my life-blood. Do this in memory of me.”
All (2nd Invocation of Spirit, with hand on each other’s shoulder): Come Holy Spirit to rest on us. Refreshed from our worship together and joined with Jesus’ parents Joseph and Mary, and the wise ones; may we extend your Joy, Peace, and Hope to all whom we meet.
Prayer of Jesus “Our Father and Mother”
Song of Peace Joy is flowing like a river, flowing out of you and me, flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free. Peace is flowing...Hope is flowing…Alleluia
Litany for 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 Jesus born in a humble stable who liberates, heals and transforms us and our world. All are invited to partake of this banquet of love and to live as the Heart and Hands of our Cosmic Christ in our time. All:We are the Body of Christ.
Prayer of Thanksgiving (Didache, 100CE)
Men 1: For the thanksgiving, give thanks this way: First, for the cup: We thank you, Abba God, for the sacred vine of David your son, whose meaning you made clear to us through our brother Jesus, yours ever be the splendor.
Women 2: And for the bread fragment: We thank you, Amma God, for the life and wisdom whose meaning you made clear to us through Jesus, yours ever be the splendor.
All 3: As this fragment was scattered high on hills, but by gathering was united into one, so let your people from earth’s ends be united into your single reign, for yours are splendor and might through Jesus Christ down the ages.
Prayers of Gratitude from community
Final Blessing.
All (hand extended over community):
May Sofia’s vision and joy companion you.
May peace and hope fill your being,
May Jesus who is Love hold you close.
As we celebrate the beginning of our New Year with Jesus alive in our hearts each day. Amen
Individual Blessing, around the circle. Place your hands on head of person and say
“Remember that you are highly favored,
And Deeply loved,
And Greatly blessed”
Presider: Let us go in the peace, joy, and hope of our newly born Prince of Peace, let our service continue through all of 2019!
All: Thanks be to God.
Thanks to and adapted from a liturgy by Michael and Imogene Rigdon of MMOJ-Sarasota
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