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| Kathryn Shea ARCWP and Lee Breyer and MMOJ Community sharing Communion |
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| Presiders: Kathryn Shea and Lee Breyer |
Welcome
Welcome to Mary Mother of Jesus, an Inclusive Catholic Community where all are welcome to share our Eucharistic Celebrations. We use inclusive language in our scripture readings and prayers. We invite everyone’s respectful comments when we share the homily and, a little later, you will have an opportunity to share your personal intentions in the Prayers of the Community. Everyone will be invited to gather around the Table of Plenty and take part in praying the Consecration and Communion. We welcome everyone here today, both the “old timers” and the newcomers, and we are very pleased that we can all join together in worship this afternoon. And following the liturgy, there will be the Annual Community Meeting in Stewart Hall, and it will be accompanied with healthy dinners and wholesome drinks. Everyone is invited to this event.
All: Holy One, you have created everything that exists now or ever will in our ever-expanding universe. You have done so out of the kindness of your very being…that is your pure love, your unconditional and unending love…a model that leads us to our love for one another. Through your Spirit, your wisdom, may we realize and internalize that what is not of love… is not of you.
You call us to lives of love and peace in which see goodness and beauty everywhere and in which we live in harmony with all of creation, especially in our actions with our brothers and sisters with whom we all work while on separate journeys to you. You call us to heal the many wounds of hatred and violence, discrimination and oppression that exist in our world. You call us to warmly welcome everyone with whom we come in contact; they are your presence among us. In communion with Jesus, our brother, and with the power of the Spirit, we will live your blessings each day. Amen.
Opening Hymn: Gather Us In #303 vs. 1.3,4,
Community Reconciliation, Healing, and Transformation
Presider: Compassionate God, we are all aware that - to you - all our hearts are open, no desires are unknown, and no secrets are hidden.
All: So then, Loving God, we ask you for your grace that we may be always mindful of your all-knowing presence in us – and be always reflective of it in all our lives and actions.
We also ask for an increasing awareness of your forgiveness of our love-less and hurtful actions to people of other beliefs, nationalities, genders, races and actions.
We pray that we may gather strength through your Divine Presence so that we may extend your mercy and forgiveness that are your gifts - through us - to everyone, everywhere with whom you share your unending love. Amen.
Gloria
Presider: Let us give glory to our God ….
All (Sung): Glory to God, glory, O praise God, Alleluia. Glory to God, glory, O praise the name of our God. (3X)
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading: Wisdom 7: 7-14 ALL: Thanks be to God.
Ps 104 Responsorial: Send forth your Spirit, O God, and renew the face of the earth #798
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23 ALL: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia
Gospel: John 15: 9-15 This is a message that Jesus said to his disciples.
All: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation: Celtic Alleluia
Shared Homily and Community Reflections
Statements of Faith
All: We believe in God, the Divine Mystery that is beyond our understanding and who is the Creator of an unfinished world in an ever-evolving cosmos. God is the Holy One who invites us to join with one another in building a renewed world of justice and understanding, a world of love and peace on this, our planet Earth. We believe that our Creator God has not divided people into groups of rich and poor, healthy and the sick, wise and unwitting, or advantaged and disadvantaged. We do believe that God created us to be brothers and sisters, able to work out our differences lovingly and peacefully as members of a Blessed Family.
We believe in Jesus, the Word of God who, by his earthly birth, became human like us. He spoke truth to everyone with whom he came in contact, and practiced love and understanding, peace and justice to everyone. However, we know from our own personal experiences that as much as everyone makes sincere efforts to be mutually understanding of one another, it does not work out well all the time. Jesus, our teacher, knows this – he was subject to this experience too. Despite his loving and peaceful actions; he was put to death for doing what was his blessed mission.
We believe in the Spirit, the Holy One who inspires our innermost lives. She is present to all those who are searching for meaning and wholeness in their lives when their personal spirits may grow weary. She helps us reach deep inside ourselves so that she can heal and energize us. She is the one who brings order out of chaos, peace out of strife, love out of hatred, and life out of death. In doing so, She, as a blessed vehicle of God’s love, strengthens us in our calls to follow the example of Jesus.
And we believe that God’s kindom is with us, here and now. It is stretched out around us for those with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it, and hands to make it known to those with whom we come in contact.
Prayers of the Community
Presider: We are a people of faith, believing strongly in the power of prayer. We believe that we send blessings to those who are struggling in physical or emotional pain and who need to experience compassion and hope, as well as to those who are making sincere efforts to resolve their challenging situations and who need to experience peace.
With heads and hearts mindful of God’s unconditional love for each one of us, we bring these and those of our community to our merciful and gracious God. After each intercession, we respond: Compassionate God, bless our petitions.
Presider: We pray for those broken families, torn apart, suffering in their separations and unsure of their futures. Compassionate God, bless our petitions.
Presider: And for whom or what else do we pray at this time? Other Intentions are to be followed by Compassionate God, bless our petitions.
(at the end…) Presider: Bless our efforts for justice and equality so that, with our brothers and sisters everywhere, we may promote cultures of peace and nonviolence in our troubled world. We hold these - and the so many unspoken intentions - in our hearts and will take them with us when we will gather around the Banquet Table of Plenty.
Offertory Song: “Companions On The Journey” #581 all verses
Presider: Blessed are you, Jesus of Nazareth, through your goodness we have this bread to offer…the grain of the earth that human hands have prepared for our use. It will become for us the bread of Life. All: Blessed be God, forever.
Presider.: Blessed are you, God of Understanding and Peace, through your goodness we have this wine of offer, the fruit of the vine that human hands have prepared for our use. It will become of us our spiritual drink. All: Blessed be God, forever.
Gathering of the Gifted
Presider: Jesus, who has often sat at our tables, now invites us to be guests at his. Everyone is welcome to join him at His family table. (Everyone is welcome to gather around the table.)
Presider: As we gather around Jesus’ table, let us take this opportunity to recognize the presence God who dwells in each one of us, his Sacred People.
All: Namaste! Namaste!! Namaste!!! (3x)
Eucharistic Prayer
All: Gracious Wisdom, you embrace us with your extravagant affection in both our times of blessedness and weakness. You are always with us and live in us, as we do in you. In this festive meal, your Spirit is poured out in each of us gathered in this circle of your disciples to share your gift of shalom, our Peace. And we express our joy in this by singing our “family camp song.”
All (singing): We are holy, holy, holy… (3x), we are whole. You are…I am…We are…
Presider: Blessed are you, God of Love, through your goodness we have this bread to offer…this grain of the earth that human hands have formed for our use. It will become for us the bread of life. All: Blessed be God forever.
Presider: Blessed are you, God of Peace. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer…this fruit of the vine that human hands have prepared for our use. It will become for us our spiritual drink. All: Blessed be God forever.
All: Gracious God, you have set the Banquet Table and have invited all of us to your feast of unending delight. Here we experience your divine compassion beyond what any words can describe. Your divine love connects all of us together, those who are here with us todayand those who are elsewhere, on our journeys into the heart of your mercy.
Voice 1: We thank you for the gift of Jesus of Nazareth in history - and the gift of Jesus the Christ in faith. While on earth, your brought him from among your people to baptize us in your Spirit. His life was moved by his consuming vision of your presence in himself and in his earthly mission. He revealed you to us through his compassionate life well lived. And he showed us, through his teachings and examples, not only how we should live our lives, but also for what we may suffer … and possibly even die, as he did. Through Jesus and your Spirit, you breathe life into us and bless us with your energy so that we may be true witnesses to his gospel messages.
Voice 2: And when his time on earth had come to an end, Jesus - aware of and accepting his destiny - gave up his life for the values that he deeply believed, lived and taught…namely his conviction that love is stronger than death. And then, in providing an example of this wisdom for everyone in ages to come, he “paid the price,” he opened wide his arms on a cross…and died. Then the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead showed us, through him, that life is eternal and that love is immortal. And that same Spirit that lived in Jesus will be resurrected in each one of us. The Jesus of history and faith is with us today as he will be through the end of time.
All: (With an outstretched arm we pray the Consecration together). We remember the gift that Jesus gave us on the night before he died. He gathered with his friends to share a final Passover meal. And it was at that supper that Jesus took bread, said the blessing and shared it with them saying: take this all of you and eat it. This bread is you; this bread is me. We are one body, the presence of God in the world. When you do this, remember me and all that I have taught you. This is the new and everlasting covenant. (pause)
All: In the same way, Jesus took a cup of wine, said the blessing and gave it to his friends saying: take this all of you and drink it. This wine is you; this wine is me.
We are one blood, the presence of God in the world. When you do this, remember me and all that I have taught you. This is the new and everlasting covenant.
Presider: Jesus, who was with God “in the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth,” is with us now in this bread. The Spirit, of whom the prophets spoke in history, is with us now in this cup. Let us proclaim this mystery of our faith.
All: Jesus has died. Christ is risen. The cosmic Christ lives through us in the world today.
Voice 3: Ever Caring God, we know that you bless all of us - your church - anywhere we may be. Hep us to grow in our love for Francis, our Pope, Bridget Mary, our bishop and your sacred family everywhere - especially those who live on the margins of church and society. They are all our brothers and sisters. We remember also the Communion of Saints, living and dead, especially those who touched our lives and left warm footprints on our hearts. These we remember now….. (mention names).
All: We believe that the Spirit of God is always at work in and through us, and She will do more than we could ever ask or even imagine. And now in our recognition of that blessing, let us praise our God by holding hands as we sing…Amen. (3 times)
The Prayer of Jesus
All: still holding hands, we continue to (sing): Our Father and Mother, who are in heaven …
Presider: God, we have just prayed that your kindom may come among us. We ask for your grace and love that we may recognize that it is already among us and that we will continually open our hearts to its presence. To this we all say… Amen.
The Passing 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 today and….
All: …grant us that peace. O Loving God, following the example of Jesus and with the strength of the Spirit, help us spread that peace to everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions. Amen.
Presider: May the peace of God be always with us and let us extend that peace to one another as we continue to join our hand in a circle of love and sing .Let there be Peace on Earth #526.
Litany at 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 forgiveness and understanding, healing and compassion everywhere in your name. We will love tenderly.
Presider: Loving God…All: you call us to speak truth to power. We will do so, walking humbly with you.
Presider: This is Jesus, who calls us to share our bread and wine on the altar of the world. He calls us his family, and we are all invited to the sacred meal.
All: We are the Body of Christ.
Pre-Communion Prayer
Presider: Gracious God, as we come to share the richness of your table, we cannot forget the needs of so many of our brothers and sisters, our families and neighbors around the world.
Presider: Loving God … All: we cannot eat this bread, your Body, and not remember those who are malnourished in so many places.
Presider: Loving God …All: we cannot drink this wine, your Blood, and not remember those who are dehydrated and even dying of thirst.
All: Loving God, we cannot listen to your words of love and peace, and not grieve for the world at war’s doors.
Communion: Music Minister’s Choice
Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion
Presider: Holy One, may this Eucharist in which we shared Jesus’ healing love today, deepen our oneness with you and with one another in all our tomorrows. May we share with one anther our bountiful blessings, knowing that God who embraces us always gives us more than we ever need. May we be grateful daily for all of our many blessings. And may wonder and thanksgiving fill us with knowledge and understand your gifts of love and compassion in us, your sacred people. To this we all say….All: Amen.
Introductions, Gratitudes and Announcements
Community Blessing and Commissioning
All: May we give and receive abundant love to our brothers and sisters everywhere.
May our belief in the power of love enrich and sustain us as we live our lives to be the family God created us to be.
May our belief in the power of love enrich and sustain us as we live our lives to be the family God created us to be.
May we find wonders and miracles in the ordinariness of life; they area there if we but look for them.
May we know and experience true peace, the peace of Jesus, in our minds and in our hearts.
May we recognize God’s presence as we continue on our different paths, on different journeys, as we do our best, with Spirit’s support to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
May we always remember that we are the Face of God in the world…and may we reflect that well. Amen.
Let this be our ministry: the mission of Jesus in the world - and let our service continue!
Closing Song: Take The Word Of God With You #382 verses 1,2,4
Readings:
Readings:
1st Reading: Wisdom 7: 7-14
The first reading is a selection from the Book of Wisdom. This particular book, in the 7 book collection, was written around 132 BC by a Jew in Greek….and it was known to the Greek population as “Sophia.” Earlier pieces in the collection have different book titles and some may have been written as far back as the 10th century BC. The authorship of today’s piece is unknown but it was written for pious Jews of the second century BC.
I prayed, and understanding was given to me…
When I called for help, the spirit of Wisdom came to me.
I valued Wisdom above my throne and scepter, and riches were worth nothing next to it.
I considered no precious jewel as an equal to the gift of Wisdom. To me, all the gold in the world was just a handful of sand compared to Her, and all the silver in the world was worth no more than mud.
I loved Wisdom more than health and beauty; I even preferred Wisdom to the light of day. Through Wisdom, I received all that I ever wanted or needed and those who acquire it win God’s friendship. The wonderfulness of Wisdom was sufficient.
And to this reflection, we can add …
Amen.
2nd Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23
This is from the beginning of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. He was trying to coordinate the peoples’ beliefs in God with their understanding about Jesus. Paul’s major focus to get across to the people of Ephesus was that God was the Father and Jesus was the Master.
I pray that the God of Jesus Christ, the God of Glory, will give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation to bring you a rich knowledge of the Creator. I pray that God will enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see the hope this teaching has for you. These are the promised glories that God’s holy people will inherit, and the infinitely great power that is exercised for us who believe. You can tell this from the strength of God’s power at work in Jesus -- God had the power to raise Christ from the dead and to seat Christ in heaven at God’s right hand! This power was far above every sovereignty, authority or dominion … above any other name that could be used – not only in this age but also in the ages to come.
This is the Word of God, a decade before the first Gospel and a generation before the fourth. Paul’s audience needed simple teachings that could be easily understood, so they were pretty direct and simple. For Paul’s role in the formation earliest days of Christianity, we say…
Thanks be to God.
Gospel: John 15:9-15
This is a message that Jesus said to his disciples.
The way my Abba has loved me is the way I have loved you. Live on in my love.
And you will know that you “live on in my love” if you are keeping my commandments.
That is how I live on in Abba God’s love, by keeping God’s commandments.
I am telling you all this so that my joy may be yours, and so that your joy may be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another the way that I have loved you.
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
And you are my friends if you do what I command you.
I call you “friends” because I have made known to you everything that I have learned from Abba God.
The command that I give you from God is this: that you love one another.
And so, we hear once more, a central command… And to that, we say…
Thanks be to God.
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