Zoom link for video and audio: Sat. Nov. 7, 4:00PM Eastern Standard Time
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86240868327?pwd=ZWNhdHRudTlFSjVBRlF5QVo5L3VGZz09
Meeting ID: 862 4086 8327
Password: 1066
Dial-in for audio only
929 436 2866
Meeting ID: 862 4086 8327
Password: 1066
 |
“We are God’s work of art created in Christ Jesus to do the Good things
God created us to do from the beginning” Eph 2:10
Katy: Welcome to our Zoom liturgy at Mary Mother of Jesus, an inclusive Catholic Community, where all are welcome. At these difficult times, it is now more important than ever to gather together to support one another as “companions on this journey”, a journey of the unknown. Our theme asks us to reflect on the results of Tuesday’s election its impacts on our country, and the Covid pandemic burning across the USA. We are challenged, where do we find hope and how are we called to be transformed as citizens and as a country?
Teresa: We invite you to light a candle and leave it burning throughout our liturgy. We invite you to pray the liturgy and respond where it says, ALL. All participants will be muted during the liturgy except for the presiders and readers. Our readers today are Cheryl and Jim Brandi. During the shared homily we ask you to unmute yourself to contribute your thoughts. Please, when you are finished, re-mute yourself. Please have bread and wine/juice in front of you as we pray our Eucharistic prayer. If you are attending our liturgy for the first time, we offer you a space to introduce yourself after Communion.
Let us begin with our Gathering Song
Opening Song: “Learning to Sit with Not Knowing” by Carrie Newcomer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_t8WqgKL3I&feature=youtu.be
Opening Blessing
Katy and All: Infinite God in whom I live and move and have my being (arms outstretched), Holy Spirit Sophia in every person and all Communities (hands in Namaste position, bowing to person across from you), Inner God, my brother Jesus: I am your light for the world (hands crossed over heart) Amen.
Teresa: God lives within and through us touching all whom we meet and what we say and do. All: And also, within you.
Opening Prayer
Kirsten: Our Brother Jesus Christ taught “Keep asking and you will receive, keep looking and you will find; keep knocking and the door will be opened to you. For whoever asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; whoever knocks is admitted.” We are gathered today in hope for transformation for ourselves and country. Be with us as we face our challenges with open hearts to receive your Sophia Wisdom for our future and the future of America. All: Amen.
Prayer for Transformation
(Prayer of the Christophers)
Katy and All: Holy Mystery, grant that I may be a bearer of Christ Jesus, your Son. Allow me to change the world for the better. Make me more energetic in setting right what I find wrong with the world, instead of complaining about it. Nourish in me a practical desire to build up rather than tear down, to reconcile instead of polarize, to go out on a limb rather than crave security. Never let me forget that it is far better to light one candle than to curse the darkness, and to join my light, one day, with yours. Amen
(With hand outstretched in blessing) All: I love you, I am sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you.
Liturgy of the Word
Jim B: First Reading from “On Hope” by Pope Francis
Abraham (of the Exodus) believed and his faith opened him to a hope that appeared unreasonable; such hope is the ability to go beyond human reasoning, wisdom, and prudence of the world, beyond what is normally considered common sense to believe in the impossible.
Hope opens new horizons, making us capable of dreaming what is not even imaginable. This hope invites us to enter the darkness of an uncertain future and to walk through and into the light. It is beautiful, the virtue of hope; it gives us great strength to walk in life. We affirm these words of wisdom of Pope Francis. All: AMEN
Psalm Response: Prayer for Healing by Diann Neu (adapted)
Response All: In your mercy, grant us healing.
Michael: Holy Healer of Many Names, Yahweh, Allah, Divine Providence, Wisdom-Sophia, Great Spirit, Giant Unifier, may your power and grace sustain us during and after this election. We need healing in our nations.
Response: In your mercy, grant us healing.
Katy: Eternal Holy One of our ancestors Sarah, Hagar, Abraham, Mother of our daughters and our sons, ease our fears, surround us with community, keep alive within us a world where difference is valued.
Response: In your mercy, grant us healing.
Teresa: Spirit of Peace, forgive us for our wars, wounds, hurts, misdeeds, violent acts, and
Our tendency to reduce others to the status of disposable. Save us from further terrorism and destruction So that children of all nations may live in peace.
Response: In your mercy, grant us healing.
Kirsten: Holy Wisdom of our mothers, Gaia, Kwan Yin, Brigit, and Pachamama, Eve, Lilith, Miriam, Mary, Mary of Magdala, and Harriet Tubman, Mystics, witches, crones, saints, and uppity women, wake us up to resist the politics of division and hate.
Jim B: Wake us up to defend all peoples. Wake us up to bring compassion, and new life into the coldness of empire. Let your songs of justice and love be heard through us across the lands.
Response: In your mercy, grant us healing.
Cheryl B: Guardian of all people, help us keep our eyes on the goal of democracy. Give us courage to address the issues that have been left to fester, and boldness to model what love and compassion look like. In a polarized nation in desperate need of healing, bring people of all political parties together That we may work for liberty and justice for all. Response: In your mercy, grant us healing.
Jill: Holy One of Many Names, Guide the leaders of the United States and its allies; Soften their hearts to hear the cries of those most in need. Strengthen them to act responsibly to bring peace and welfare to humankind so that all may have food, housing, jobs, equity, peace, respect, and dignity. May our new president-elect lead this nation with compassion, and unite us and beyond bigotry, hatred, and divisions. Response: In your mercy, grant us healing.
Katy: Holy Healer of Many Names, Yahweh, Allah, Divine Providence, Wisdom-Sophia, Great Spirit, Giant Unifier, bring us together to bridge divides, to work for healing and justice in our country and around the world so that all creation may live in peace, forever and ever.
Response: Amen, Holy Mystery, let it be so.
Cheryl B: 2nd Reading of Wanda Russell ARCWP written Oct 17, 2020
I have been asking, what would Jesus do in this election atmosphere? Jesus would call us to do the best we can with the knowledge we have and our spiritual consciences. All my friends of differing opinions are really good people. That is why we are friends. We are to continue to love them just as we have been. Differences of opinions are not meant to separate us from our friends and neighbors any more than our loving Creator loves each of us more or less. Jesus just loves; no matter what. We are called to do the same. Jesus loves Trump and Biden equally. We are called to do the same with our Christian love. We are called to pray and vote. Vote to make our democracy filled with justice and patriotism. Vote to lift up our diplomacy and all the other resources we have to make all people created by God equal in all areas. We affirm these words of wisdom from Rev Wanda Russell All: AMEN
Alleluia
https://youtu.be/IC4nbwmQDVw
Teresa: Our Gospel is taken from John 20:19-21
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were locked in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Temple Authorities.
Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Having said this, the savior showed them the marks of crucifixion. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw Jesus, who said to them again, “Peace be with you. As Abba God sent me, so I’m send you.”
This is the Good News of John and we affirm by saying All: Amen
Alleluia
Shared Homily
Let us take a look at our readings today.
First, we read Pope Francis’ reflection on the Abraham story. In Genesis Abram is 100 and Sara is 90 years old, well past child bearing age. Yet YHWH tells him, “You will be the ancestor of many nations…you are the progenitor of a multitude of nations. I will make you most fruitful...” Both Sara and Abraham laughed at YHWH’s promise. Pope Francis writes “Hope opens new horizons, making us capable of dreaming what is not even imaginable.” And this hope is what we are called to carry forward in these challenging times.
In our second reading Wanda reminds us that Jesus our brother taught and lived, first to Love God, then “Love your Neighbor as yourself” Wanda writes that how we can do this is to respect the differences between us and continue to Love as Jesus teaches. For me this is practical everyday spiritual and emotional advice from the time and Way of Jesus to our own lives. This time and place during the raging Covid pandemic and results which will come after the election decisions made at every level of our country.
From the Gospel of John, our blessing from the time of Jesus is to continue to walk on his Way. In these turbulent times, when we are anxious as his family and disciples 2000 years ago, remember our gift is the Peace of Jesus, not as the world gives but as he gives to us with his very Presence in our souls and community. Jesus says “Peace be with you,” twice to those gathered after his suffering, death and resurrection. Jesus says it to us each day in our silence as we listen for his voice from the depth of our souls in quiet prayer. It is Jesus’ gift to us as we work and minister for transformation from the uncertain turbulent now to his kin-dom of justice, peace and equality for all and our planet.
(From Pax Christi)
The story of Jesus is true, not simply for its historical veracity or its religious validity, but beyond that, the story of Jesus is a story of the truth of the world. The truth is that underneath the suffering, underneath the longing, underneath the desperation and despair, therein lies hope. That the testimony of John is true ought to give us hope. Hope enough to imagine a world that is brighter tomorrow than it is today. Hope to create new structures that support the flourishing of all instead of advancing the privilege of some. We must, alongside the audacity to live, have the audacity to hope. To prophetically declare, like John, that the Christ has arrived and is now among us. We must have the audacity to imagine a new world into being.
What tomorrow can you imagine?
What is your hope?
What are your/our challenges? After the election? In the Covid pandemic?
What needs to be transformed within you or our country?
Profession of Faith
Teresa and ALL: We believe in one God, 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 God's Word, bringer of God's healing, heart of God's compassion, bright star in the firmament of God's prophets, mystics, and saints. We believe that we are called to follow Jesus as a Presence of God's love, a Source of God's wisdom and Truth, and God's peace in the world. We believe that God's kindom is here and now, stretched out all around us for those with eyes to see it, and hearts to receive it. We must be hope, courage and with our minds and hands participate in transformation of what is to Holy Mystery’s dream for our future. Amen.
Prayers of the People of God
Teresa: In the Time of Covid and after our election we minister in solidarity to bring healing for all who are suffering and will suffer. We ask you to inspire our lives with hope and ministry going forward. Response: All: Sophia Spirit of God fall on us anew.
Michael: For our country as we face the present and future and their challenges to create a just and sustainable life for all our citizens and Earth itself. All:
Kirsten: for our country and our ministry to establish a living income, health care and address human needs for all citizens and families. All:
Jill: For all those including FBI, police, attorneys, and volunteers, defending our Constitution, its Amendments and the Rule of Law, we pray. All:
Teresa: For what else should we pray…
Katy: Most Loving God, we know you hear our prayers; those we speak and those we keep in our hearts. Pour out your Spirit Sophia on our community as we begin the necessary work to bring healing, justice and equality for all in the USA, those across your world and Earth itself. All: Amen
Preparation of the Gifts
(All lift up bread, then wine)
Teresa: Blessed are you, O God, Creator of all species. This bread is your MMOJ community living with hope amidst the world’s Covid pandemic. Through your love, we have this bread to offer, it will become for us the Bread of Life. ALL: You are the Author of all Life; we give you thanks and praise.
Katy: Blessed are you O God, this wine is our desire to “Love our neighbors as ourselves” making the necessary sacrifices so that others may live free from want. May this wine become for us Love, Energy for evolutionary change. ALL: You are the Author of all Life; we give you thanks and praise.
All: Blessed are you, God of all life, through your goodness we have this bread and wine and our own lives to offer. Through this sacred meal may we find Your hope, courage and strength to create a sustainable world with equality, justice, peace free from Covid and any pandemic. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer
Teresa: Your Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, is rising up in all who work for humanity’s healing and well-being especially now during this Covid pandemic and political, religious, and cultural turmoil. With thankful hearts, in the company of all holy women and men, your Loving Spirit rises up within us, works through us and we sing:
ALL: Holy, Holy, Holy (adapted from Holy, Holy, Holy by Karen Drucker)
https://youtu.be/orKBBIj5LZA
Katy O Heart of Love, Your Spirit moved through Peter, Mary of Magdala and all who serve the needs of their sisters and brothers. Your Spirit moves through us as we live our Oneness and diversity in these chaotic times of Covid and as we promote civil and human rights for all under our Constitution. Please extend your hands in blessing over the bread and wine.
Teresa and ALL: 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 came to the table with his family and the women and men he loved. Jesus took bread blessed and broke it, saying, “Take, eat, this is my body. Do this in memory of me.” (pause)
Katy and ALL: After supper, Jesus poured a cup of wine and shared it with his friends, saying, “This is the cup of the covenant of my Love. As often as you drink of it, remember me.”
Michael and All: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died in all those who have passed away; Christ is rising in all those working for the well-being of humanity and planet Earth; Christ comes each day in our prayers and actions for a renewed world with justice and equality for all.
Kirsten: Holy One, we remember and we are grateful for the companions who have gone before us: Mary Mother of Jesus, Peter, Mary of Magdala, and all holy women and men who embrace every race and culture as Your own. May we be one as You are one in us and we in You. We are grateful for our brother, Jesus, and we follow him… (lift bread and wine)
All: For it is through learning to live as Jesus Christ lived, And why he lived, And for whom he lived, that we awaken to your Spirit within, moving us to heal all divisions caused by our rituals, rules and theologies, At this time and all time and in all ways.
Sung Amen Linda Lee and All
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sDDgwZlijc&feature=youtu.be
Prayer of Jesus (from the Resurrection liturgy for Michele Birch Conery, ARCWP)
Katy and All: O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos,
Create your reign of unity now through our fiery hearts
and willing hands.
Help us love beyond our ideals,
and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures.
Animate the earth within us so we then feel
the Wisdom underneath supporting all.
Untangle the knots within so that we can mind our hearts’
simple ties to each other.
Don’t let surface things delude us.
Free us from what holds us from our true purpose.
From You all comes and returns
Astonishing fire, returning light and sound of the cosmos. Amen.
(adaptations by Michele Birch Conery and Barbara Billey ARCWP)
Song of Peace Make me a Channel of Your Peace Linda Lee and All
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC77O0fMuL0&feature=youtu.be
All: Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there is hatred, let me bring Your love
Where there is injury, Your pardon Lord
And where there's doubt, true faith in You
Make me a channel of Your peace
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there's sadness, ever joy
Oh Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul
Make me a channel of Your peace
It is pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we're born to eternal life
Litany for Breaking of Bread.
Teresa: Loving God, you call us to speak truth to power. All: We will do so!
Katy: Loving God, you call us to live the Gospel of peace, equality and justice.
All: We will do so!
Kirsten: Loving God, you call us to be your Presence in the world for its transformation.
All: We will be so!
(Let us lift up our bread and wine)
Cheryl: Jesus Christ came to liberate, heal and transform all persons and all communities in our world. All are invited to partake of this banquet of love and to live as the Heart and Hands of our Wise Elder Brother Jesus Christ. All: We are the Body and Blood of Christ in our place and time of hope, challenge and transformation.
Communion Song
For Everyone Born
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqpdZq6TAfo
Katy: Prayers of Gratitude, Introductions, Announcements
Final Blessing
Teresa (holding hand out in blessing)
Every day as you arise and before you retire at its end:
“Remember that you are highly favored,
And deeply loved,
And greatly blessed”
Katy and All (hands extended over community):
May Sofia’s vision of the future and Her joy companion you.
May peace and hope fill your being,
May Jesus who is Love hold you close.
As we celebrate our future in hope with Holy Mystery alive in our hearts each day. Amen
Closing Song: “What on Earth?” by Earth Mama from Love Large CD
https://youtu.be/1AvRCN-sogg
WHAT ON EARTH? by Joyce Johnson Rouse
What on Earth are you doing today for tomorrow?
Where on Earth are you going if you don’t find a better way?
Every little thing we do really makes a difference
What on Earth are you doing for tomorrow, today?
We have the power to claim the future
We have the knowledge to change our path
We have love enough to move us
To a vision that can last
What on Earth are we doing today for tomorrow?
Where on Earth are we going if we don’t find a better way?
Every little thing we do really makes a difference
What on Earth are we doing for tomorrow, today?
Today is only a fleeting moment
It will be gone in the blink of an eye
But tomorrow goes on forever
Like the footprints of you and I
What on Earth are we doing today for tomorrow?
Where on Earth are we going if we don’t find a better way?
Every little thing we do really makes a difference
What on Earth are we doing for tomorrow, today?
What on Earth are we doing for tomorrow, today?
_________________________________________________
“The times are bad! The times are troublesome!”
This is what humans say. But we are our times. Let us live well
And our times will be good.
Such as we are, such are our times.
St Augustine of Hippo
If you would like to add your intercession to our MMOJ Community Prayers book, please send an email to katyrcwp@tampabay.rr.com, or call 813 938 5750
If you would like to invite another person to attend our liturgy please refer them to www.marymotherofJesus.org where the day’s liturgy is found. Zoom instructions are also included there.
Please support our community, send your check to: Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community % St Andrews UCC, 6908 Beneva Rd., Sarasota, FL 34328
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