Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community, Christmas Liturgy, Presiders Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP and Jack Duffy, Music Minister: Mindy Lou Simmons, 13th Anniversary of MMOJ 2006-2019

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP and Jack Duffy presiders at Christmas Liturgy on 13th Year Anniversary of the Foundation of Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota, Florida 
https://marymotherofjesus.org

Mindy Lou Simmons Music Minister 

Theme: Let everyday be Christmas!

Presider 1: GREETING and WELCOME!

Welcome to Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community where everyone is welcome to share in our celebration of the Eucharist.  We use inclusive language in our scripture readings and prayers.  We also welcome your respectful comments when the entire community is invited to share the homily. Everyone is invited to gather around the Table to pray the Eucharistic Prayer and for Communion.  We warmly welcome our newcomers to the liturgy and will invite you to introduce yourselves, if you wish, at the announcement time that follows the Communion.

Opening Song: "O Come All Ye Faithful" #79, vs. 1-2

Opening Prayer
Presider  2: Nurturing Love of the Ages, you became human in Jesus and showed us how to live life fully. We know what it means to laugh and cry, to walk and talk, to love and be loved. We rejoice that your mothering presence is always with us. May we, like Mary, give birth to God within us, in everything we say and do so that every day will be Christmas. ALL: Amen.

Community Reconciliation: 

Presider 1: Let us pause now to place our imperfections, failures and holy messes in the arms of Divine Love and ask one another for the gift of forgiveness. 

All: Please forgive me, I forgive you, I love you. Thank you. 

ALL: Glory to God, glory, o praise God, alleluia, Glory to God, glory, o praise the name of our God (sung 3 times)

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of deep shadows
a light has shone.

You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing.

For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
They name him Wonder-Counselor, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast and forever peaceful.

Psalm Response: adapted from Psalm 96 (Music and Words by Kathy Sherman)

Sung Response:

May the Christ Light Shine in You!

May the Christ Light shine in Me.

And together we will shine

With God’s love to the world.

Your light enlivens the world, O Holy One

There is none to compare with you!

All of Creation is clothed with your majesty .

Mirroring your love throughout the cosmos.

Rejoice in the Radiant One, O people of the light.

Sung Response: May the Christ Light Shine in You!(Repeat whole verse)

Second Reading: The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr

Christ is the light that allows people to see things in their fullness. The precise and intended effect of such a light is to see Christ everywhere else. In fact, that is my only definition of a true Christian. A mature Christian sees Christ in everything and everyone else. That is a definition that will never fail you, always demand more of you, and give you no reasons to fight, exclude, or reject anyone. Isn’t that ironic? The point of the Christian life is not to distinguish oneself from the ungodly, but to stand in radical solidarity with everyone and everything else.

These are the inspired words of Richard Rohr. We affirm them by saying:

All Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation ALLELUIA! (sung)

Gospel: A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem and see this event which God has made known to us.”  They went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger; once they saw, they reported what had been told them concerning this child. All who heard of it we astonished at the report given them by the shepherds.

Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

A reading adapted from the Gospel according to John

In the beginning was the Christ,
Who was with God,
And is the Holy One.
All things came to be through The Christ,
and what came to be was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

These are the inspired words of the Gospel writers Luke and John. We affirm them by saying: All; Thanks be to God.

Homily Starter: Jack Duffy, one of original founders of Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community, Christmas 2006-2019
Dialogue HOMILY: Community shares

Profession of Faith: ALL: We believe in God who is creator and nurturer of all. We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who is our love, our hope, and our light. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of Wisdom Sophia, who energizes and guides us to build caring communities and to challenge injustices. We believe in the communion of saints our heavenly friends, 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.

Prayer of the Community

Presider 1: For a deeper realization of the Christ Presence in everyone, we pray.

Response: Nurturing Love, you embrace us

Presider 2 : That we may experience the birthing of the Spirit anew in our world today, we pray. R.

Presider1: That those who suffer from poverty and abuse may experience the liberating strength of the Holy One in our outreach, we pray. R.

Presider 2: That the sick and suffering may experience the healing love of God, in our compassionate service, we pray. R.

Presider 1: That those who have died may rest in God's eternal embrace, we pray. R.
(Other Intentions)

Offertory Song: What Child is This Mindy Lou Simmons

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

Presider1: Blessed are you, God of all life, through your goodness we have 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 2: Join us around the table.

Presider 1: God dwells among us. ALL: And in all people everywhere.

Presider 2: Lift up your hearts. ALL: We lift them in the joy of Christ embracing all.
Presider 1: Affirm the power of love within you and within all.  All: Alleluia

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Voice: Mothering Presence, you brought forth all creation from your Life-Giving Womb. O Love of the Ages, we leap for joy in your presence everywhere.

Voice: Holy One of ancient Israel, you revealed yourself in Mary's womb, in a shining star, in humble shepherds, in a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. You dwell in the depths of our hearts and continue to reveal yourself here and now in our everyday moments of laughter and tears, hopes and dreams.

Voice: We invite you this day to deepen our awareness of our great oneness in God as we gather around the table of abundant love. With grateful hearts, we proclaim your praise:

ALL: Holy, Holy, Holy, Creator of heaven and earth. All beings are pregnant with your glory. Namaste, alleluia, Namaste. Blessed are you who dwell in all creation. Namaste, alleluia, Namaste

Voice: Praise to you, all-giving Love, born of Mary. We rejoice in the dawning of the sacred promise of God's Anointed, fulfilled in Jesus, the Christ and in us each day.

Voice: We celebrate the Christ Presence born anew each day in us, illuminating the whole universe. Now, we share the bread of life and lift the cup of blessing at this festive meal as we pray:

Invocation of the Holy Spirit
(raise hands toward bread and wine for Invocation of the Holy Spirit)

All: Come Holy Spirit deepen your Presence within us and in these gifts of bread and wine.

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. Do this in memory of me.”

Pause

ALL: 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.” 

Second Invocation of the Holy Spirit: (Place hands on each other's shoulder)

All: God of all people, today we celebrate your birth as the son of a poor woman, born among animals and proclaimed by angels. We see your tender presence shining forth as pure love in the eyes of the elderly, in the service of care-givers and in the depths of our own hearts.

Presider 2: Let us proclaim the sacred presence of our nurturing God:

ALL: Jesus, by your life, death and rising, you have shown us the fullness of our humanity and divinity, as the Beloved of God.

Voice: We remember the prophet and saints who have gone before us:, Mary, Mother of Jesus, Joseph, and all our beloved friends… (pause now and name our saints.)
(Community names mentors whom they want to remember, living and dead.)

Voice: Creator of All,  we open our hearts to the music of life and the joy of giving as we serve our sisters and brothers in need and pledge ourselves to live in harmony with all creatures on the earth.

ALL: Through Christ, in Christ, with Christ, all praise and glory resounds through the universe as the Holy Spirit dances with all. Amen. (Sung)

THE PRAYER OF JESUS

ALL: Our Father and Mother ...

THE SIGN OF PEACE
Presider 1: Let us share deep peace and justice with everyone in the circle of life as we sing “Peace is flowing like a River”, (love, joy, alleluia).

LITANY FOR THE 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 2: This is Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, loving us forever. All are invited to partake of this sacred banquet of love. ALL: We are the hands and feet of Christ in our world.

Presider1: Let us share the Body of Christ with the Body of Christ! ALL: Amen.

COMMUNION- Meditation: Let every day be a Christmas by Mindy Lou Simmons

Community Sing "Silent Night"  with traditional and new words

1. Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright


'Round yon virgin mother and child.


Holy Infant so tender and mild,


Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.


2. Silent Night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight


Glories stream from heaven afar


Heavenly hosts sing alleluia


Christ, our brother is born, Christ, our brother is born.



3. Silent night, holy night! When will peace conquer might?

Pray that justice will set victims free,


Those who are shackled to bleak poverty.


Christ be born in each heart, Christ be born in each heart.

Verse 1& 2: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848 Verse 3: Rae E. Whitney

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Presider2: Creator of new beginnings, we awaken to your love born anew in our lives each day. May your tender presence continue to open our hearts to the daily miracles of life that surround us each day, through Emmanuel, God-with-us.

ALL: Amen.

CONCLUDING RITE

Presider1: The Holy One is within you.

ALL: and within all.

BLESSING

(everyone please extend your hands in mutual blessing)

ALL: May we sing and dance for joy as we celebrate every day as Christmas !

DISMISSAL

Presider2: Let us birth Christ anew in our world today. Go in the peace of Christ. 

ALL: Thanks be to God.

CONCLUDING HYMN: Joy to World ( see new words!)

Sound forth the news that Wisdom comes
to bring new life to birth.
Arise with hope, Her labor join,
and peace shall fill the earth,
and peace shall fill the earth,
and peace, and peace shall fill the earth.

No more let fear and custom hide
the path of Wisdom fair.
She leads the way to life and joy,
with gifts for all to share,
with gifts for all to share,
with gifts, with gifts for all to share.

Joyful are we who heed the call
of Wisdom in our souls.
With Her we break oppression’s wall,
so love may freely flow,
so love may freely flow,
so love, so love may freely flow.

Crown Wisdom Queen of heaven and earth;
Her reign will set us free.
Fling wide the gates that all may come
join hands and dance with glee,
join hands and dance with glee,
join hands, join hands and dance with glee.

Words © Jann Aldredge-Clanton, from Inclusive Hymns for Liberating Christians
“Sound Forth the News That Wisdom Comes” calls us to co-create with Wisdom a world of justice, peace, equality, love, freedom, and joy. This Christmas carol comes with the hope that Wisdom will guide us to change our violent culture and to co-create with Her a peaceful world. Let us join together in our churches, communities, and home in caroling for change."

Liturgy by Bridget Mary Meehan https://arcwp.org, https://marymotherofjesus.org