Celebrating the Christ Presence, New Eucharistic Liturgy by Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP Inspired by Richard's Rohr's The Universal Christ

Theme: “We are not just humans having a God experience. The Eucharist tells us that , in some mysterious way, we are God having a human experience.” (The Universal Christ p. 137)

Welcome and Greeting

Opening Song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG9T8UmN6VY

One Bread, One Body

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John Michael Talbot

Refrain:

One bread, one body, one God of all


One cup of blessing which we bless


And we though many,

throughout the earth


We are one body in this one God.

Gentile or Jew, servant or free


Woman or man, no more (Refrain)

Many the gifts, many the works


One in our God of all (Refrain)

Grain for the fields,  scattered and grown


Gathered 

Communal Reconciliation Rite

Presider: We pause now to get in touch with our personal moral compass. Our inner spiritual authority is “an actual participation with Someone inside of us; the love of God that has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5).  

We reflect on how our lifestyle promotes God’s work on earth of liberty and justice for all.

(Quiet meditative music plays)

Presider1: (Please extend arm over community)

All:  We, as a community, stand up to challenge corporate evil by actions that reflect corporate goodness.

( The Universal Christ, pp. 196-198)

Glory to God by Marty Haugen

https://youtu.be/R5xsdVs8HmM

Opening Prayer

Presider: Holy One, this day, we explore your presence in us and in the entire universe. We reflect on a cosmic notion of Christ and a non-tribal notion of Jesus that will expand  our capacity for presence to see things in their depth and in their wholeness. ( Universal Christ, pp. 284-285)

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 11

Jesus on the night of his betrayal, took bread. Having given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me.”

After supper, he did the same thing with the cup;

“This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.

Each time you drink this cup, remember me.”

So, my friends, when you come together to the Table, be reverent and courteous with one another. If you’re so hungry that you can’t wait to be served go home and get a sandwich. But by no means risk turning this Meal into an eating and drinking binge or a family squabble. It is a spiritual meal- a love feast.

These are the words of the Apostle Paul and we affirm them by saying. Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm: 116 
Ubi Caritas et amo , Deus ibi est. (Taize)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHkmOi5Wzgo

Second Reading:  The Universal Christ

When Jesus spoke the words “This is my Body,” I believe he was speaking not just about the bread right in front of him, but about the whole universe, about everything that is physical, material, yet also spirit filled. Many mystics and liberation theologians have further recognized that inviting us to drink wine as his blood is an invitation to live in bodily solidarity” with the blood of every person whose blood has been unjustly shed on this earth.” Wherever there was and is suffering, there is the sympathy and the empathy of God. This is all my blood!” Jesus is saying.

Women shed  blood monthly for the sake of life and also give blood and water at birth, just as Jesus did on the cross (John 19:34). How daring and shocking it was for Jesus to turn the whole tradition of impure blood it its heels and make blood holy- and even a point of contact with the divine.

Jesus says, my body “given for you,”, “broken for you,” and my blood “poured out for you.” Anyone who has ever enjoyed lovemaking knows that the thrill comes not just from the physical sensation but from the other person’s desire to be specifically with you, to be naked for you, to delight in you, to pleasure you. You always want to say, “But why me?” And you hope the other says, “Because I love you!”

These are the inspired words of spiritual author Richard Rohr, and we affirm them by saying. Thanks be to God. (The Universal Christ, pp. 133-135)

Gospel Acclamation: Spirit of the Living God by Michael Crawford
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0_B0DpTbUI

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us.

Melt us, mold us

Fill us, use us

Spirit of the Living God

Fall afresh on us.

Gospel: John 13:1-15 A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John

 (Washing of the Feet, Inclusive Bible – Priests for Equality)

Gospel Acclamation: Spirit of the Living God by Michael Crawford (repeat)

Homily

Statement of Faith

Presider : Let us pray together our Statement of Faith

We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist.

We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.

We believe that We are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.

We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.

We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.

Prayers of The Community

Presider 1: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. 

Our response is: Holy One, You hear us.

At the end of prayers:

Presider 2: We pray for these and all unspoken concerns. Amen.

Procession of Gifts and Song

Come Be Beside Us by Jan Phillips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SR5k0UC9Vg

 Come Be Beside Us

Come be beside us.

Come be around us.

Come be within us.

Come be among us.

(Presiders lift up the bread and wine)

Presider 1: 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 as we respond to your call to use our gifts in loving service to our sisters and brothers.

All: Blessed be God forever.

Presider 2: All are welcome to join us around the table.

Voice: We celebrate with people everywhere the dynamic Presence of Christ in every human being who has ever lived and loved tenderly and passionately. With St. Paul we believe that there is a real transfer of human and spiritual identity from Christ to Creation, to the Elements of bread and wine, and through them to human beings. (The Universal Christ, p. 137)

Voice: We contemplate our divinity immersed in our humanity. We encounter the Christ Presence in the evolving universe in “everything that is physical, material and yet also spirit-filled.” (The Universal Christ, p. 132)

 In gratitude for all that is, we raise our voices in praise and sing: 

Holy Holy Holy

Karen Drucker, JD Martin & David Roth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyVAyQi_wdg

Holy Holy Holy

We are holy, holy, holy
We are holy, holy, holy
We are holy, holy, holy
We are whole...

Spirit divine
Come to me
Feeling love
Healing me

Open my heart
Allow me to see
Beauty & love
Lives in me

You are holy, holy, holy You are whole
(Repeat)

I am Whole
Spirit divine
Come to me I am holy, holy, holy Feeling love I am whole
Healing me

Open my heart
Allow me to see
Beauty & love
Lives in…

Voice: We especially thank you, Holy One, for Jesus  who “came to undo our notions of scarcity and tip us over into a world view of absolute abundance” as we share the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing.  (The Universal Christ, p. 185)

(Extend hands in blessing toward bread and wine for Invocation of the Holy Spirit)

All: We deepen our awareness of Your Spirit within all creation and in these gifts of bread and wine. We keep eating and drinking the Mystery, until it dawns on us that we are what we eat! We are the Body of Christ.   (pause) (The Universal Christ, p. 136)

 Presider: (lifts the bread as community prays the following:)

All: On the night before he died, Jesus gathered with his friends to share a banquet of love. He took break, spoke a blessing, broke the bread and shared it with them saying: 

“Eat this.”

 Whenever you remember me like this  

I am among you. (pause) 

Presider: (lifts the cup as community prays the following:)

All: Jesus then raised a cup of blessing and offered it to them saying,

“Take and drink of the covenant 

Made new again through my life in you. 

Whenever you remember me like this, 

I am among you. (pause)

All: “As we absorb the divine desire for us- and for Itself,” we proclaim Christ dies in our suffering, , Christ rises in our loving, and Christ comes again in our serving. (The Universal Christ, p. 138.)

Voice: Holy One, You inspire us to feed the hungry, comfort the lonely and  challenge injustice in our world. We know that we are  the Body of Christ, blessed, broken and shared with our sisters and brothers. (The Universal Christ, p. 132)

ALL: …for you are the Love that dwells in our depths, the Wisdom of the Ages that speaks within us and through us, and the Divine Connection that makes us all one.  

ALL:  Amen.

ALL sing: Prayer of Jesus (“Our Father and Mother”)

Sign of Peace: Peace is flowing like a River by Carey Laundry

Litany for the Breaking of the Bread:

All: Christ of the Universe, we live in solidarity with everyone treated unjustly.

Christ of the Universe, we work to change unjust structures

Christ of the Universe, we care for the earth because it is the Body of God. 
(The Universal Christ, p. 134)

Communion:

Presider: All are invited to partake in this banquet of love and to celebrate our oneness with living beings everywhere.  ALL: We are the Body and Blood of Christ loving and serving all.

Communion :Room at the Table for Everyone. Carrie Newcomer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92OM5bdQ4N4

            Prayer after Communion:

Presider: Compassion One, all suffering is both our suffering and your suffering. We are connected to one another as we live in right relationship, work for justice and equality and walk  together in love. ALL: Amen (The Universal Christ, p. 168)

Gratitude, Introductions, Announcements

Concluding Rite:

Presider: Beloved Community, we are partners in an evolving divine dance with all creation. Let us bless one another!

Blessing:

(with hands extended in prayer):

ALL: The blessing of the Holy One flows through us every day. Let us kick up our heels and leap for joy!

Presider: Go in the creative energy of the Universal Christ, let the service continue!  

ALL: Thanks be to God.

Recessional: Anthem by Tom Conry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpAaj0GMtOI

Refrain:

We are called, we are chosen,

We are Christ for one another,
we are promised to tomorrow,

While we are for him today.

We are sign, we are wonder,

We are sower, we are seed,
We are harvest, we are hunger.

We are question, we are creed.

1. Then where can we stand justified?

In what can we believe?
In no one else but Christ who suffered,

Nothing more than Christ who rose
Who was justice for the poor,

Who was rage against the night,
Who was hope for peaceful people,
Who was light.

2. Then how are we to stand at all,

this world of bended knee?
In nothing more than barren shadows,

No one else but Christ could save us.
Who was justice for the poor, Who
was rage against the night,
Who was hope for peaceful people,
Who was light.


3. Then shall we not stand empty

at the altar of our dreams?
When Christ promised us ourselves,
Who mark time against tomorrow,
Who are justice for the poor,

Who are rage against the night,
Who are hope for peaceful people,
Who are light.

 

Bridget Mary Meehan, Association of Roman Catholic Woman Priests http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/https://arcwp.org

With special thanks to Richard Rohr for inspiration in the Universal Christ.

 

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