Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
Memorial Liturgy for Eileen Miller
Michael
Rigdon, & Elena Garcia ARCWP Presiding
Mindy
Lou Simmons Music Minister
June
29, 2019
Welcome!
Gathering Song: God of Day and God of
Darkness
All: In the name of Mother/Father, Christ the Chosen One, and
the Holy Spirit, our Wisdom. Amen.
Presider: We pray…Holy One our God, we
give thanks and remember our sister, Eileen.
Although her journey was but for a time among us, we are grateful for
all you accomplished in, with and through her: wife, mother, grandmother,
great-grandmother, companion and friend. For it was in dying that she rose with
you to everlasting life, and a dying that set her free in this life to know you
for all eternity. Blessings upon you our
God forever and ever. Amen.
All
sing: Glory to God, Glory! O praise God, Alleluia! Glory to God, Glory! O praise the name of our God [3x]
First Reading: Teilhard de Chardin
selection
This
prayerful offering bespeaks the drama held forth in so many lives that are struggling
as we speak. This drama embraced Eileen for several years, releasing her to be
one with the God of us all.
A
selection from the writings of Teilhard de Chardin
When
the signs of age begin to mark my body [and still more when they touch my
mind]; when the ill that is to diminish me or carry me off strikes from without
or is born within me; when the painful moment comes in which I suddenly awaken
to the fact that I am ill or growing old; and above all that last moment when I
feel I am losing hold of myself and am absolutely passive within the hands of
the great unknown forces that have formed me; in all those dark moments, O God,
grant that I may understand that it is you [provided only my faith is strong
enough] who are painfully parting the fibers of my being in order to penetrate
to the very marrow of my substance and bear me away within yourself. Sisters
and Brothers, we have heard the Word of God through Teilhard de Chardin Eileen
enjoyed being an active part of the Body of Christ. Worshipping the God of all
in the midst of all of us was the blessing that kept her going.
All: Thanks be to God!
Sung response: Come to me all you who labor and are heavy burdened,/ and I will
give you rest/. Take my yoke and learn
from me,/ for I am meek and humble of heart./
And you’ll find rest for your souls,/ for my yoke is easy/ and my burden
is light. [Weston Priory]
Second Reading: A reading from the
book of Judith
And
Judith sang this song to God: I will sing a new song my God: Adonai, you are
great and strong! Your strength is marvelous; you are invincible. Let all your
creatures worship you; as a result of your words, they came to be. You breathed
into them and they lived. None can resist your voice. The mountains shake to
their foundations; the seas tremble, and rocks melt like wax at your glance.
But you show mercy on those who revere you. Even the most fragrant sacrifice is
a small thing to you, and the fat of a single burnt offering is but a trifle.
But worshipping you in reverence is the greatest gift of all.
THANKS
BE TO GOD
All
Sing: “Alleluia, Alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia! Give praise to Christ’s name.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11: 28-30 Come to Me!
“Are
you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and
you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me
and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I
won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll
learn to live freely and lightly.”
All: repeat Alleluia, Alleluia!
Sharing of the Living Word in and by
the Body of Christ
Profession of Faith: All: We believe in the Holy One Our
God, divine mystery beyond all definition and understanding, heart of all that
has ever existed, exists or will ever exist; whose divinity infuses the entire
cosmos, making everything in it sacred.
We believe in the Chosen One, Christ of the Cosmos, God’s Word
enfleshed, bringer of healing, new life and compassion, who brought us through
the consequences of our brokenness to now share life eternal as the Body of
Christ. We believe in the Spirit,
Wisdom, who strengthens us on our journey to follow Christ as a loving people,
source of compassion, truth, and instruments and witnesses of peace in the world. We believe in God’s reign on earth here and
now and forever—a reign that embraces all and stretches all about us for those
with eyes to recognize it and hearts to share it with everyone, no
exceptions. Amen.
Community Petitions: Please respond to each petition offered: Holy One, hear us!
Offering taken up and procession of
Gifts to the table.
All
Sing: You Are Mine [David Haas - all
verses]
[After song, please gather around the
table for our community meal. When in
place, we will sing…]
All
sing: We are holy, holy,
holy!
All: As we do in this place what you did in an upstairs
room, send down your Spirit Sophia on us and on these gifts of bread and wine
that they may become for us your body: healing, forgiving, and making us
whole. And that we may become for you,
your body, loving and caring in the world until your kindom comes. Amen.
Presider: On the night before he died,
Jesus sat at the Seder meal with his companions. Reminding them of what he taught, he bent
down to wash their feet.
All with hand extended in blessing: Jesus returned to
his place at table, lifted the Passover bread and spoke the blessing, then
broke the bread saying: “Take and eat, this is my very self.” [pause]
Jesus then raised the cup of blessing,
spoke the grace, and offered them the wine saying: “Take and drink of the
covenant made new again through my life for you and for everyone. Whenever you do this, do so in remembrance of
me.”
All: Remember, Holy One our God, your church through-out the
world. May we be open to receive
everyone. In union with all people, may
we strive to create a world where suffering is diminished, and where all people
can live in health and wholeness.
Thru Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in union with the Holy
Spirit, all glory is yours, Holy One
our God. [sing] Amen
Prayer of Jesus [Sing, “Our
Father/Mother”]
Presider: Let us now share with each
other a sign of peace.
All: This is Jesus who liberates, heals and transforms us
and our world. All are invited to
partake of this banquet of love. We are the Body of Christ!
All [sing]: Holy gifts for holy people, come you hungry and
believe. Come receive Christ’s body offered, come and be what you receive. [2X]
After Communion: We Will Rise Again [David Haas]
Thanksgiving Prayer [Didache,
Instruction, 100 CE]
Men: 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: 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: 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 Thanksgiving -
Introductions - Announcements
All
sing with hand extended in blessing:
You are the face of God; I hold you in my heart; you are a part of me; you are
the face of God. You are the face of
God; I hold you in my heart; you are my family; you are the face of God.
Presider: Go in the peace of Christ!
May our loving service to all continue! All: Thanks be to God, Alleluia!
Closing Song: Shall We Gather At the
River
