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Saturday, November 23, 2019

Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community Liturgy, Celebrating our Mystical Oneness in the Cosmic Christ , Presiders Katy Zatsick ARCWP and Sally Brochu ARCWP, Musician: Janet Blakeley ARCWP November 23, 2019




Theme: Today we celebrate the reality of Holy Mystery who loves us unconditionally from the original enfleshment of God in matter, the Big Bang of 14 billion years ago. Who loves us in the Creation of earth 4 billion years ago and who loves us in the blessing of the rise of human consciousness about 200,000 years ago.  What is my mission in the spiritual evolution of humanity?

Left: Sally Brochu ARCWP and Katy Zatsick ARCWP- Presiders




Our first reading from Jung relates the “spiritual awakening” we may encounter on our evolutionary spiritual journey. Pope Francis writes of his vision for the community living in the consciousness of Jesus Christ. What/would you add to this vision? In the Good News, Jesus the man asks if this suffering passage to greater consciousness could be removed from his life.  As we are called to do, Jesus surrenders his will and says, “Abba…your will be done” He will arise to Jesus Christ. What are we called to give up spiritually to gain new life in relationship to Jesus Christ? Sofia Wisdom? Our Creator, Love the energy of evolution, in whom we live, move, and have our being?


GATHERING SONG
#425 “How Great thou Art” verses 1, 2.      (please substitute ‘Love’ for Lord) 

Greeting-Presider 2:
All: (arms outstretched), Infinite God in whom we live and move and have our being
(hands in Namaste position, bowing to person across from you) Holy Spirit Sophia in every person and all Communities
(hands crossed over heart) God within, our brother Jesus Christ; we are your light for the world  Amen
Community Healing:
All: Let us pause now to pray with one another for forgiveness. Let us pray for the times we failed to ask Sofia to heal our own wounds which cause hurt to others. We desire to participate deeply in the spiritual evolution of our human consciousness.  

Raise hands in gesture of mutual forgiveness and healing and sing this Taizé chant:
All: Ubi Caritas, et amor, ubi caritas, deus ibi est.   (3 times)

OPENING PRAYER
All: God of the universe, you speak to us in all of creation, but you call to us most surely in the depths of our souls.  Help us to listen for your voice today, gentling our work, our re-creations, our relationships with others and the earth in ways that let us hear you.  Deepen our faith in your Presence in us and in all the universe. Grant this through the intercession of all your saints and prophets who listened in sincerity and truth. Amen.

Presider 1: Let us give praise and thanks to our Loving and Endlessly Creating God who asks us to be co-creators of the kin-dom of Holy Mystery on earth:
All Sing: Glory to God, glory, oh praise God, alleluia, Glory to God, glory. Oh, praise the name of our God (3 times)

LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading:  A Reading from Carl G Jung
But why on earth, “you may ask, “should it be necessary for man (woman) to achieve, by hook or by crook, a higher level of consciousness?”  This is truly the crucial question, and I do not find the answer easy.  Instead of a real answer, I can only make a confession of faith: I believe that, after thousands and millions of years, someone had to realize that this wonderful world of mountains and oceans, suns and moons, galaxies and nebulae, plants and animals, exists. (author’s emphasis)
From a low hill in the Athi plains of east Africa I once watched the vast herds of wild animals grazing in soundless stillness, as they had done from time immemorial, touched only by the breath of a primeval world.  I felt then as if I were the first man, the first creature, to know that all this is. (author) The entire world round me was still in its primeval state; it did not know that it was. (author) And then, in that one moment in which I came to know, the world sprang into being; without that moment it would never have been.  All Nature seeks this goal and finds it fulfilled in man (woman), but only in the most highly developed and most fully conscious man (woman).  Every advance, even the smallest, along this path of conscious realization adds that much to the world. These are the inspired words of CG Jung All: Amen                     (The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious p.95)
Psalm response: All: Make a joyful noise to your Beloved all the earth; break forth into grateful song and sing praises! 

Arise! Awaken to the new dawn! Come into the Light: shed darkness like skin on a snake! For the foundations for the cosmos are shaking with injustice. I say, “Within you dwells the Beloved, the Breath of your breath; Open your heart in the Silence and know the ONE in the many.”  Arise! Join in the new creation! Let harmony reign among all the nations!           (psalm 82)

All: Make a joyful noise to the Beloved all your earth; break forth into grateful song and sing praises! 

May my heart be as your Heart; May my mind be as your Mind.  May your steadfast love guide me as I live according to your Will, You, O counselor, are my strength and my guide; so I choose the path of peace and wholeness.                                                         (Psalm 26)
All: Make a joyful noise to the Beloved all your earth; break forth into grateful song and sing praises! 

O sing to the Beloved a new song, for Love has done marvelous things!  By the strength of your Indwelling Presence, we, too, are called to do great things; we are set free through Love’s forgiveness and truth.  Make a joyful noise to the Beloved all the earth; break forth into grateful song and sing praises!  Yes, sing songs of praise extolling Love’s way; lift up your hearts with gratitude and joy.                                                                                                    (psalm 98)

All: Make a joyful noise to the Beloved all your earth; break forth into grateful song and sing praises!                                    Adapted from Psalms for Praying, Nan C Merrill


Second Reading:  From the writings of Pope Francis                           (May 6, 2016)
(We are called to be co-creators of the vision of Sophia for the kin-dom amongst humanity)
I dream of a World that is young, still capable of being a mother; a mother who has life because she respects life and offers hope for life.
I dream of a World that cares for children, that offers fraternal help to the poor and those newcomers seeking acceptance because they have lost everything and need shelter.
I dream of a World that is attentive to and concerned for the infirm and the elderly, lest they be simply set aside as useless.
I dream of a World where being a migrant is not a crime but a summons to greater commitment on behalf of the dignity of every human being.
I dream of a World where young people breath the pure air of honesty, where they love the beauty of a culture and a simple life undefiled by the insatiable needs of consumerism, where getting married and having children is a responsibility and a great joy, not a problem due to the lack of stable employment.  
I dream of a World of families, with truly effective policies concentrated on faces rather than numbers, on birth rates more than rates of consumption.
I dream of a World that promotes and protects the rights of everyone, without neglecting its duties toward all.
I dream of a World of which it will not be said that its commitment to human rights was its last utopia.
The inspired words of Pope Francis, and we affirm his truth by saying, All: “Thanks be to God.”                                                                                                (I changed Europe to World)

Alleluia, alleluia (sung) In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus Alleluia, alleluia                                                                        (1Thessalonians 5:18)                                                             

Gospel from the writings of Matthew, 27:36-47

(Jesus died a man, and arose as Jesus the Christ)

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray…My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death.  Please stay here and stay awake with me.  Jesus went on a little further and fell prostrated in prayer, “Abba, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by.  But not what I want—what you want.”

When Jesus returned to the disciples, he found them asleep.  He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay awake with me for even an hour?  Be on guard, and pray that you may not undergo trial.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 

Withdrawing a second time, Jesus prayed, “Abba, if this cup cannot pass me by without my drinking it, your will be done!”  We affirm the Good News of Jesus Christ our Brother All: Amen

Jack Duffy: Homily Starter.    “Sofia Wisdom” Shared homily

STATEMENT OF FAITH

ALL:  We believe in God, the creator of the universe and Earth with all its species and peoples. God calls us to be co-creators of a healthy life and environment for all. We believe in Shekinah, the breath of God, calling us to evolve in deepening consciousness and into Jesus the Christ.  We are called to enflesh Sofia’s dream for humanity of our Oneness; Peace and Justice for all and for the Earth.  We believe in Jesus Christ, nourishing us with abundant life as the Body of Christ at his sacred table, spiritually nourishing us for the work of human evolution.  Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Presider 1: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we pray for the needs of the people of God in our community and around the world, earth and all life God’s planet sustains.
Response to each prayer: All: May Shekinah guide us.

Presider 2:  for Marianne Smyth ARCWP recovering from surgery, for Janice S-D who is ill and all in MMOJ who are in need of healing prayer. All: May Shekinah guide us.

Please share your prayers…
Presider 2: We give thanks for all whom we hold in the circle of grace and will continue to pray for and serve. Amen.

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
Song: “Sing Out, Earth and Skies” #553 Verses 1, 3, 4

Presider 1:  Blessed are you, God of all Creation, Earth and humanity.  This bread is your community of Mary Mother of Jesus offering our spiritual evolution into the Heart of Christ as our ministry for humanity. May this bread become spiritual nourishment for our journey. ALL:  Praise and glory to our Creator, Shekinah, and Jesus Christ forever.  

Presider 2: Blessed are you, God of all Creation, Earth and humanity.  This wine is our desire to make co-creator choices in our own lives and for humanity.  May we grow into the faith, hope, and love, energy of evolution by following the Way of Jesus Christ, our wise elder Brother.
 ALL:  Praise and glory to our Creator, Shekinah, and Jesus Christ forever.  

PLEASE JOIN US AROUND THE TABLE

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Presider 1: Holy Mystery, you stirred the waters of creation and you dwell in us.  
All: and in every living being and earth itself.
Presider 2: Let us lift up our hearts
All: We lift up our hearts to our Creator in whom, past, present, future and ALL that exists are ONE. 


(Extend hands in blessing toward bread and wine for Invocation of the Holy Spirit)
All: Come Sophia Wisdom, Holy Spirit and settle on this bread and wine.  Fill them with the holiness and wholeness of our Brother Jesus our Universal Christ who is calling us to justice, peace, equality and dignity for all.  We give thanks and praise this day. Amen.

All: On the night before he died, Jesus gathered with his friends, and washed their feet, so that they would follow his example in service of human consciousness and evolution into Jesus Christ.

Presider 1:  (lifts bread as community with hands extended prays the following:)

All: When he returned to his place at the table, he spoke the blessing, broke the bread and shared it with them saying: 
Take and eat of the Bread of Life 
Whenever you remember me like this  
I am among you. (pause) 

Presider 2  (lifts the cup as community with hands extended prays the following:)
All: Jesus then raised a cup of blessing, spoke the grace saying: 
Take and drink of the covenant 
Made new again through my life in each of you and in your community.  
Whenever you remember me like this, 
I am among you. (pause)

All:             (2nd Invocation of the Holy Spirit, with right hand on the shoulder of the one next to you.)
Come Shekinah to rest on us.  Refreshed from our worship together and joined with you within the Communion of Saints may we continually grow in faith, hope and Love your energy of evolution for humanity and all existence. Amen.

Great Amen:  (lift up bread and wine)
All: Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in unity with Shekinah Holy Spirit, all glory, honor and praise to you, loving Creator God forever and ever.

Sing…Amen, Amen, Amen.

THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Holding hands in our circle of community and unity
Presider 1: Let us sing the prayer Jesus taught us.  All sing:  Our Father and Mother…
Sign of Peace, sung with gestures:
All: Peace before us, peace behind us, peace under our feet.  Peace within us, peace over us, let all around us be peace.
                    Then use words “love before us…” then “Christ before us…”

LITANY FOR THE BREAKING OF BREAD
Presider 1:  Please join in the prayer for the breaking of the bread. (Presiders break the bread)
Presider 1: Creator of the Cosmos…All: may we live our Oneness with you and all that live on your blue planet Earth
Presider 2: Shekinah Presence of God…All: Energize us for the journey as we minister for peace and justice for all our brothers and sisters and earth itself.
Presider 1: Jesus Christ our brother…All: may we live following your Path for spiritual evolution and consciousness.

(Presiders hold up bread and wine)
Presider 1: "This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Through it we are nourished and we nourish each other. All are welcome to the Feast.
All: What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives; as we share communion, we will become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge to grow in consciousness and evolution in Jesus Christ for all.
When passing the bread, you may say “You are Love for the world”
When passing the wine, you may say “You are hope for the world”

Communion song: instrumental
Post communion song: recording of “Shekinah” sing along if you know the words. 


PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Presider 1: Loving Creator of the Universe, fill us with awe at your extravagant Love living in us and flowing through us to all we meet each day. May we immerse ourselves in the beauty of nature speaking of your Presence to us each day. May we reach out to our sisters and brothers who are in need with the Compassion and Peace of Jesus Christ growing within us each day. All: Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving: Introductions; Announcements

CONCLUDING RITE
Presider:   The Holy One dwells within us all and illuminates God’s world through our own spiritual evolution into the Compassion of Jesus Christ.  ALL: And the Holy One is also within you.

BLESSING
(everyone please extend your hands in mutual blessing)
All sing: You are the face of God, I hold you in my heart, you are my family, you are the face of God. (Sing 3 times)

Presiders: Let us go in peace continuing our spiritual evolution as we serve our brothers and sisters and earth itself in the faith, hope, and love of Jesus Christ.
ALL:   Thanks be to God as we go out in joy and hope. Amen

CONCLUDING HYMN
“Sing a New Song” #543 Verse 1 please substitute “our Love” for “the lord”



Liturgy adapted from Bridget Mary Meehan, Elena Garcia and Katy Zatsick
Association of Roman Catholic Woman Priests