Sophia Wisdom Inclusive Catholic Community At Valrico Presiders: Elena Garcia and Community Tuesday, 2/12/2019

                                                LIVE IN THE JOY OF BEING LOVED

GATHERING SONG:

This is the day, this is the day that Our God has made, that our God has made, let us rejoice, let us rejoice and be glad in it, and be glad in it.

This is the day that our God has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

This is the day, this is the day, that our God has made.

Presider: Let us begin in the name of our God source of all being, Jesus our Living Eternal Word and Spirit Wisdom who heals us and calls us to create and build peace. All: AMEN

OPENING PRAYER:

Presider:  Gracious and Gifting God of Extravagant Love.

Help us to be aware of your presence among us as we gather again in this Spirit Wisdom Community much like the first followers of Jesus, Your Beloved, after the Resurrection.  May our ears, eyes, and hearts be opened to your truth in the words and stories we will share this day. May the sharing of this simple meal of bread and wine strengthen us to stand tall with conviction and courage as “daughters and sons of Sarah and Abraham.” And may the sacred sacrament of our time together make us aware of your extravagant love poured out daily and inspire us to live in the Joy of that Love. We ask this in communion with Jesus, our brother, and in the power of Your Spirit.    AII: AMEN

PENITENTIAL EXPRESSION AND COMMUNITY FORGIVENESS

ALL: (with outstretched arm) God, Mother and Father, lover of all, throughout his life Jesus revealed that nothing can separates us from your unconditional love. You sent Holy Spirit Sophia to give us the understanding, willingness and courage to love one another. We ask you to grant us the grace of pardon and peace so that we may in turn forgive each other our failures to care for one another and for our Earth. We ask this in the name of Jesus our brother and Holy Spirit, our healer and comforter. AMEN

Sung:  Where Charity and Love Prevail   (3 verses)

LITURGY OF THE WORD

FIRST READING:  THE MANY FACES OF JOY  

The joy of life reveals itself in many forms.

At its most basic, joy is that special pang of pleasure that springs from happiness.

 It is that excitement from unrestrained abandon as well, from being free.

It is that thrill that comes from love.

It is that peace that can descend when the spirit is moved.

 It is that extraordinary feeling that is triggered by the expectation of good.

It is that jubilation that wells up when miraculous things occur.

It is that awe when the size and scope of the world are felt.

It is that arrow of delight that hits its mark when fulfillment is achieved. Joy is

contagious.

 It can spread like a forest fire, whipped by a high, hot wind.

Joy can be shared in a crowd. Or it can be savored all alone. Joy can bellow. Or it can fall soft as a kitten’s tread. Joy can excite. Or it can comfort. Joy can be sensuous. Or it can spring from intellect. Joy can bewitch. Joy can be sweet. Or it can be zesty, euphoric, giddy.

It can teach. It can heal. It can lay to rest old pain.

In a world darkened by suffering and uncertainty, joy can brighten our heaven and make life worth living again. 

THESE ARE WORDS WRITTEN BY PHILIP B. KUNHARDT Jr.

 ALL: THANKS BE TO GOD

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:   RESPONSE:  HOLY IS YOUR NAME

                My soul rejoices in you, Yahweh,

              and my spirit dances within your presence, my God,

               because you who love mightily look upon me,

               one who stands with arms stretched out toward you.

Holy is Your Name

            From this day and forever all who come to life,

            One after one, shall remember me and shall pray,

            “Blessed are we when we open our hearts and

            receive in joy the seed of the Everlasting One.”

Holy is Your Name

            You are the gentle one who reaches out in tenderness

 from age to age

to caress with your hand the heads of those

who bend their necks.

With powerful arms you embrace each of us.

Holy is Your Name

            The proud hearts that we hold out to you,

            You break and scatter.

            You pull down the structures and fantasies with which we fortify ourselves,

            And you teach us the simple things.

             When we are hungry you fill us with good things.

            When we are glutted you teach us patience

            That we may come hungry again to your table.

Holy is Your Name

            This day and forever you stand with your people,

            Those who remember your tenderness,

            …. having given us your word, your promise….

            we remember your tenderness as we walk in safety.

            For you are Yahweh in whom we trust.

                                                                               Taken from MIRYAM OF NAZARETH   BY Ann Johnson 

                                      

GOSPEL Acclamation:  Glory to God, Glory, O praise God Alleluia, Glory to God Glory O praise the name of our God!  (2x BEFORE AND 1x AFTER THE GOSPEL)

GOSPEL Reading:  JOHN 15:9-15                                        

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love,

Just as I have kept my Father’s commandments

and remain in his love. I have told you this

 so that my own joy may be in you

and your joy be complete.

This is my commandment:

Love one another

As I have loved you.

This is the good news of our Brother Jesus

ALL: WE PRAISE YOU O GOD FOR TIME AND ETERNITY

SHARED HOMILY/ COMMUNITY REFLECTION

PROFESSION OF FAITH 

ALL:   We believe in a God of extravagant love, who dwells within us, rejoices with us in our blessed selves and who weeps with us in our struggles, loses and sufferings. We believe that we are one with all creatures great and small in a dynamic evolving cosmos. We believe in Jesus whose life, death and resurrection shows us how to live fully in the joy of his love while serving our sisters and brothers, especially the outcasts and heavy burdened. We believe in Sophia Spirit Wisdom who works through us for justice and peace and who strengthens us to stand against oppression of all kinds whether based on gender, age, sexual orientation, race or class, without exception.  We believe that we are called to live in mutual respect as disciples and equals in inclusive communities of empowerment. We believe that we are forgiven, healed and whole in the heart of divine mercy. We believe that we are united forever with all who have gone before us in the communion of saints.

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

 Presider: With hearts filled with loving trust and in humility, we lift up the needs of our community at this time.

(After each intercession please respond) ALL: GOD OF EXTRAVAGANT LOVE HEAR OUR PRAYER

Presider: That all hatred, hostility and violence end in our country and throughout the world, we pray.  R.

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

Presider: That all who have died dwell forever in God’s presence, especially (name names), we pray.  R.

For what else shall we pray?

Presider: We lift up to you O God these and all the unspoken intentions we hold in the silence of our hearts as we gather around your Banquet Table today.

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

Presider: Jesus who has often sat at our tables, now invites us to partake at his family table.

ALL: O God of extravagant love we, your people who live in the joy of that love, are united in this sacrament by our common love of Jesus. We are in communion with everyone everywhere, who shares your gift of love, especially all those who are marginalized and oppressed. May we love tenderly, do justice, and walk humbly with you in solidarity with our sisters and brothers everywhere. May we live as prophetic witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus, supported by the vision that directed him, and the wisdom of the Spirit who enkindles in us the fire of your love. AMEN

Presider:  Blessed are you God, Source of all being, through your goodness we have this bread, wine, all creation, and our own lives to offer. Through this sacred meal may we become your new creation.    ALL:  BLESSED BE GOD FOREVER.

Presider: God is with us, loving and healing through us.  ALL: NAMASTE

Presider: Lift up your hearts.    ALL: WE LIFT THEM UP IN TENDER LOVE, OPEN TO SERVE.

Presider: Let us give thanks to our God.  All: IT IS OUR JOY TO GIVE GOD THANKS AND PRAISE            

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

VOICE ONE:  Gracious Wisdom, You embraced us with extravagant affection in our blessedness and brokenness. We thank you that in this festive meal of unending delight, your Spirit continues to be poured out among this circle of disciples. Yes, we are gathered here to give, receive forgiveness, and offer each other the gift of your peace/shalom.  Filled with the joy of being loved by you we join with the angels and saints and people of every race, faith and nation to glorify your presence as we sing:

ALL SING:  WE ARE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…3X WE ARE WHOLE

                   YOU ARE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY,…3X YOU ARE WHOLE

                   I AM HOLY, HOLY, HOLY….3X   I AM WHOLE.

                  WE ARE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…3X WE ARE WHOLE

VOICE TWO:  Gracious God,  in this moment we celebrate your indescribable love for your evolving cosmos. Here your divine compassion connects us to the young, the old, the least and the last, to everyone everywhere on our journey into your heart of mercy.

VOICE THREE: We especially thank you for Jesus, your anointed, who shows us how to love with a peaceful and courageous spirit. In Jesus you show us how to care for those who face illness and grief and how to help those who experience rejection, slavery and marginalization. Jesus preached the good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind and healing to the broken. Jesus called women to be apostles and disciples and treated them as equals in his circle of companions.

VOICE FOUR: In response to people’s sufferings, Jesus broke rules and violated religious taboos. He shared meals with women, saved a woman from being stoned and said that prostitutes would enter heaven before religious leaders. He challenged the priestly class and political leaders of his time and so they ridiculed, tortured and put him to death. His life, death and resurrection shows us how to live freely and joyously in the midst of injustice, darkness, evil and death.

(PLEASE ALL EXTEND HANDS AS WE RECITE THE EPICLESIS AND CONSECRATION TOGETHER)

ALL:  MAY YOUR SPIRIT, PRESENT IN THESE GIFTS AND IN US, FILL US WITH A NEW OUTPOURING OF LOVE THAT MAKES US MORE DEEPLY ONE BODY IN THE COSMIC CHRIST LIVING THE FULLNESS OF YOUR COMPASSION.

PRESIDER: On the night before he was betrayed, Jesus gathered with his friends for a meal. He took bread into his hands broke it and said:

ALL: TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU, AND EAT IT. THIS BREAD IS YOU; THIS BREAD IS ME. WE ARE ONE BODY. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

PRESIDER: In the same way after supper, Jesus took the cup, raised it with love beyond all telling, gave thanks, and sharing the cup with those at table he said:

ALL: TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU AND DRINK FROM IT. THIS IS THE CUP OF MY LIFE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT WHICH WILL BE SHED FOR EVERYONE. EVERYTIME YOU DRINK OF IT, REMEMBER ME.

PRESIDER:  Jesus who was with God “in the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth” is now with us now in this bread and this cup. Now then, in sacred memory let us proclaim the mystery of our faith.

ALL: IN EVERY CREATURE THAT HAS EVER BREATHED, WE SEE YOUR TENDERNESS; IN EVERY LIVING BEING THAT HAS PASSED ON BEFORE US WE SEE YOUR GOODNESS; IN EVERYTHING YET TO BE, CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN! IN OUR BREAKING OF THE BREAD OF EARTH, CHRIST OF THE COSMOS IS BEING RE-MEMBERED! WE LIVE IN THE JOY OF BEING LOVED BY OUR EXTRAVAGANT GOD!

VOICE FIVE: Holy One, your transforming energy is always moving within us and working through us. We give thanks for all holy women and men who have been your face in our lives. They show us how to forgive self and other, let go of guilt and refrain from judging others and see the good in people who irritate us. Let us pause to remember and name some of these holy women and men aloud or in the silence of our hearts.

VOICE SIX: God who opens doors and melts hearts of stone, enlighten our religious ministers and political leaders. May they welcome refugees, transform poverty into plenty and work for human dignity and justice for all.  We pray for Francis, our Pope, Bridget Mary, our Bishop and all God’s holy people.

VOICE SEVEN: We remember those who are sick and suffering. May they be healed and strengthened, and filled with every blessing in your loving presence. We remember Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary of Magdala, Peter, Paul, Junia, our patron saints and all the saints and angels who surround us with loving prayers each day. We remember our loved ones and all those who have died in your embrace.

ALL:  THROUGH CHRIST, WITH CHRIST, IN CHRIST, IN THE UNITY OF SPIRIT WISDOM, ALL PRAISE AND GLORY ARE YOURS, LOVING GOD FOREVER AND EVER.       THE GREAT AMEN 3X

ALL: (HOLDING HANDS) OUR FATHER AND MOTHER WHO ARE IN HEAVEN, BLESSED IS YOUR NAME, YOUR……..

ALL: GOD WE HAVE JUST PRAYED THAT YOUR KINDOM MAY COME UPON US. GRANT THAT WE MAY OPEN OUR EARS TO HEAR IT, OUR HANDS TO SERVE IT, AND OUR HEARTS TO MAKE IT REAL.

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 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, and now let us extend that peace to one another.

LITANY FOR 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 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.

Chant : “Sanctuary”  God prepare me…………

Presider: This is Jesus, who calls us to open doors that are closed and share our bread on the altar of the world. All are invited to eat and drink at this sacred banquet of love.

ALL:  JESUS WE ARE WORTHY TO RECEIVE YOU AND TO BE YOUR COMPASSION IN OUR WORLD. WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST.

 Presider: Let us share the Body of Christ with the Body of Christ!     ALL: AMEN

COMMUNION—

Prayers of Thanksgiving

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Presider: O God of Extravagant Love, 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 God’s holy people.    All:  AMEN

CONCLUDING RITE

PRESIDER: Our God is with you.   ALL:  AND ALSO WITH YOU

COMMUNITY BLESSING         (EVERYONE PLEASE EXTEND YOUR HANDS IN MUTUAL BLESSING)    ALL: MAY THE GOD OF SARAH AND ABRAHAM,THE BLESSED ONE OF JACOB AND RACHEL, AND SOPHIA HOLY WISDOM, WALK WITH US AND ALL CREATED LIFE ON OUR JOURNEY INTO MYSTICAL UNION WITH THE HEART OF OUR GOD OF EXTRAVAGANT LOVE.

DISMISSAL Presiders: Remember that each day we wake up ……………….  Let us go and live in the joy of being loved.     All: THANKS BE TO GOD

Closing Song: Cause we live For Love.

CAUSE WE LIVE FOR LOVE

The morning sun shines full of laughter-

Waking up all walks of life.

Shining a love he says “It’s a bran knew day, give all the Love you can away

Refrain :

And open your hearts for our children and the universe.

To have and hold,

Embracing the good in those who feel they must give of  themselves.

Cause we live for Love and Love lives through all.

The evening star shines on each person- with a sparkle of light and a smile, touching their hearts for all to feel, the presence of love for its real.

Refrain: So open your hearts for our children and the universe.

To have and hold,

Embracing the good in those who feel they must give of  themselves.

Cause we live for Love and Love lives through all.

Let the rainbow rain shower you,  raining down on us for all sowing seeds and dreams of our future, a lord of love and feast of forever more.

 Refrain: Open your hearts for our children and the universe.

To have and hold,

Embracing the good in those who feel they must give of  themselves.

Cause we live for Love and Love lives through all.  2x