Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
Feast of the Ascension /Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 23, 2020
Presiders: Judy Connelly and Elena Garcia ARCWP
Lectors: Michael Rigdon and Kevin Connelly
Theme: “I will not leave you comfortless”
WELCOME
Elena: We warmly welcome you to the inclusive catholic community of Mary, Mother of Jesus in Sarasota, Florida where all are welcome. Because of the pandemic, we have been unable to gather in St. Andrew UCC Church where we have met for many years. As usual, God has brought good out of what seems bad, and has given us the gift of being able to go beyond the boundaries of space and time to include friends and family from North and South, East and West- something we would love to have done before, but couldn’t imagine how!
Elena: Let us join in to sing our OPENING Song: “Blessing Song” by Jan Phillips
COMMUNAL RECONCILIATION RITE
Judy: Let us pause for a moment to reflect, on a time when in hindsight we wish we had been less judgmental, more patient, more compassionate, more present, kinder etc. Now imagine this person(s) or situation in the light of healing love as we ask for forgiveness and reconciliation.
Please raise your hand in blessing and say the “Ho’oponopono Prayer.”
Judy and All: I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.
OPENING PRAYER
Elena: Almighty and Eternal God, gladden us with holy joy and grant us the grace to rejoice with devout thanksgiving, for the Ascension of Jesus the Christ, your Son is our exaltation. Where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Christ, your son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit Sophia Wisdom, one God forever and ever.
Elena and All: Amen
LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST READING: (Michael) Acts 1:1-11
The first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles
Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said goodbye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kin-dom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.”
When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kin-dom to Israel now? Is this the time?”
He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”
These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared – in white robes! They said, “You Galileans! – why do you just stand there looking up at the empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly – and mysteriously – as he left.”
This is a reading from the Acts of the Apostles and we affirm it by saying
Michael and All: “Amen”.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 66: (Michael) Psalm 47 from “Psalms for Praying” by Nan Merrill.
Michael and All: Clap your hands people of all nations!
Michael: Acclaim the Creator with joyful songs! Rejoice in the beauty of diversity!
The Beloved of our hearts is mighty, reigning over all of Creation: the land, sea and air.
Love Consciousness invites all people to co-creation, the nations to peace.
Love Consciousness is our heritage, our birth right, to be awakened in every soul.
Michael and All: Clap your hands people of all nations!
Michael: Let the Love you are sing praises with loud acclamation; join the cosmic dance of celebration!
Sing praises to the Creator, Sing praises to the Beloved, sing praises one and all!
For Love Consciousness created the universe, let us dance to the flute and the harp.
Love Consciousness hovers over the nations, awaiting our awakening to Love.
Michael and All: Clap your hands people of all nations!
Michael: May the leaders of the nations gather as One, choosing to walk in peace.
For Earth is made of Love and Light; abandoning ourselves to your Will,
We can choose the path of healing. We sing songs of gratitude for Earth:
Our home, to You, O Great Healer, Life of our lives.
Michael and All: Clap your hands people of all nations!
PROMISE SONG: “I Will Not Leave You Comfortless” by Jan Phillips
SECOND READING: (Kevin) Ephesians 1:17-23
I ask – ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of Glory – to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the intensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him – endless energy, boundless strength!
All this energy issues from the Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne deep in heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church , you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
These are the inspired words of Paul in a letter to the Ephesians and we affirm them by saying
Kevin and All: “Amen”
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: (ALLELUIA) (First Half) https://youtu.be/IC4nbwmQDVw
GOSPEL READING: (Judy) Matthew 28:16-20
Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountains Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the three-fold name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
This is the Good News as shared by the Apostle Matthew and we affirm these words by saying
Judy and All: “Amen”.
Gospel Acclamation (2nd Half)
HOMILY FOLLOWED BY SHARING
Homilist: (Elena) If you feel called to share, unmute yourself, raise your hand and wait to be asked to speak. Mute yourself again after speaking.
STATEMENT OF FAITH (Taken from “The Friends in Faith” and shared by Joan Meehan)
Elena: Let us now profess our faith.
Elena and All: Gathered together as people of faith, we profess our belief in God who is larger than we can name, unable to be contained, yet present in each one of us. We have come to know this God in the living of our lives. And in the holiness of the earth we share.
We believe in a God revealed in all peoples, all genders, religions, and orientations. We embrace a compassionate God, who champions justice and mercy, and is always faithful when we call. Our God gives and forgives, patiently loving without conditions.
We gratefully believe in a God who feels our deepest struggle, and celebrates our deepest joys. A God who both dances with us in celebration, and holds us when we cry. This God is not the “other” to us, but shares our breath in every moment and promises we are never alone.
We believe in a God who believes in us – believes that we are precious and incredible gifts, worthy to claim image and likeness to the divine. We hold fast to our God who journeys with us, who continually calls us to choose the shape of our days through the choices we make. This God accepts us as we are and shares each hope we have for becoming. This is the God in whom we believe, our Creator, our Mother and Father, who became human in Jesus, our brother. Our God is the Spirit of Life, the voice that continues to speak love, and asks us to answer. In this God we choose to believe. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY
Judy: As we prepare for the sacred meal, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. We give you thanks, Christ Jesus for your appearances to your early followers and the many ways you appear to us. We cry out in Joy!
Judy: Christ Jesus you sent your followers to preach the good news to all creation.
Judy and All: May all people and all creatures experience your justice and love through those who profess faith in you.
Judy: You told us that signs and wonders would accompany our profession of faith.
Judy and All: Safeguard us from literalism and give us the wisdom and insight to hear your words in the reality of our lives.
Judy: After leaving your disciples you continued to work with them.
Judy and All: Strengthen our faith in your presence in times of darkness and disillusionment.
Judy: We see with you our overworked and stressed friends and neighbors who care for the sick and who keep our civilization running.
Judy and All: Stand beside them, strengthen them, and work through them.
Judy: For what else shall we pray?
Unmute your microphone Speak your concern when there is an opening
Re-mute your microphone
(Judy) We pray for these and all unspoken concerns we hold in the silence of our hearts.
All: Amen.
OFFERTORY SONG: “How Can Anyone Ever Tell you” by Jan Phillips or Shaina Noll
PRESENTATION OF GIFTS (Please set out your own bread and wine.)
Elena: Blessed are you, God of all life. Through your goodness we have bread, wine, all creation, these prayers of the heart, 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.
Elena and All: Blessed be God forever.
Elena: God is within you, blessing the world through you.
Elena and All: And within you.
Elena: O Holy One, we lift up our hearts to You, You who gently invite us to enter into a deeper relationship with you that will affect how we live our lives and make decisions. This transformation seems to come through difficulties and pain, yet you are there with us always. Come Holy Spirit, be with us and with all who have gone before us, as we lift up our hearts in praise and sing:
All: We are holy, holy, holy (Karen Drucker)
Judy: Our Holiness is your Holiness within us. Help us to seize opportunities to reveal it to the world.
Judy and All: You pour out Your Spirit anew upon this bread and wine and upon us as we become more deeply the Christ Presence in our world. On the night before he died, Jesus gathered for the Seder supper with the men and women he loved. He washed their feet. For this they would remember him.
Judy : Please lift the bread as we pray the Prayers of Consecration:
Judy and All: When he returned to his place, he lifted the Passover bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat of the Bread of Life, my body, given to strengthen you. Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you. (pause)
Judy: Please lift the cup as we pray:
Judy and 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 you. Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you. (pause)
Elena: Let us share this bread and cup, and welcome everyone to the Banquet as we live the gospel of justice and peace in our world.
Elena and ALL: We are called to do everything Jesus did, to be the living presence of a love that does justice, of a compassion that heals and liberates, of a joy that generates laughter, of a light that illumines right choices and confronts the darkness of every injustice and inequity.
Elena and All: We trust you to continue to share with us your own Spirit, the Spirit that filled Jesus, for it is through his life and teaching, his loving and healing that all honor and glory is yours, O Holy One, forever and ever. Amen
Elena: Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
Prayer of Jesus: “Our Father and Mother…”
Judy: Sign of Peace: If you are with others now, please turn to them and share a sign of peace. Then let us all face the screen and express a sign of peace to one another.
“May God’s peace be with you”
Prayer for the Breaking of the Bread
Elena: Please join in the prayer for the breaking of the bread.
Elena and All: O God of Courage, You call us to live the Gospel of peace and justice.
We will live justly. O God of Compassion, You call us to be your presence in the world. We will love tenderly. O God of Truth, You call us to speak truth to power. We will walk with integrity in your presence.
We will live justly. O God of Compassion, You call us to be your presence in the world. We will love tenderly. O God of Truth, You call us to speak truth to power. We will walk with integrity in your presence.
(All hold up the bread and wine.)
Judy: This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Through it we are nourished and we nourish each other .
Judy and All: Through him, we have learned how to live.
Though him, we have learned how to love.
Through him, we have learned how to serve. AMEN.
Elena: Please now receive Communion with the words “ I am (You are) the Body of Christ” and “I am (You are) the Blood of Christ”
Communion Meditation Song: “In the Stillness” by Karen Drucker
Blessing
Judy: Let us raise our hands and bless each other.
Judy and All: May you be blessed with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships.
May you seek truth boldly and love deeply within your heart.
May you continue to be the face of the Holy One to all you meet.
May your name be a blessing in our time.
Elena: Prayers of Thanksgiving, Announcements:
Closing Prayer
Elena: O Holy One we believe that Jesus, your Incarnate Word lives in you and in us. Strengthen our faith ,hope and love that your reign will be proclaimed in our lives and the presence of your Spirit be manifested in our thoughts words and actions. We ask this through Jesus and in the Holy Spirit.
Elena and All: AMEN
Closing Song: Blessing to the World – Karen Drucker
https://youtu.be/P5FGZsulkSk
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