Welcome/Theme: Jim M
Good morning and welcome to the Upper Room!
For those of you who may be joining us for the first time, we are an intentional Eucharistic Community without walls, thanks to the technology of Zoom. While you will be muted for most of our prayer time together, please sing out loud, and pray alongside those whose voices we will hear today. If you have a speaking part, “unmute” yourself and remember to re-mute. At the homily time, there will be an opportunity to share a brief reflection on the Word proclaimed. Please save the “kudos” and “atta-girls” for the end when our formal prayer and worship is over.
Today is the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time; Terri and I have entitled today’s liturgy: The Call to Serve. Today’s Gospel may sound like a repeat of last week, however there are differences due simply to authorship. This week was certainly historic with the Inauguration of Joe Biden, as President, and Kamala Harris, as Vice President. Our second reading is a blending of their words from last August that share their vision and call.
Let’s begin our prayer in song, envisioning a better world and our call to serve!
Opening Song We’ll Build a World by David Lohman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOtHBYiX8nQ
We are different, you and I, yet together, fates entwine.
Now we gather in this space, joined in spirit, filled with grace;
bring your fullness, I'll bring mine, and together we will shine.
Refrain: Together, we'll build a world where there's room for all to be;
a world where we'll live our lives liberated, strong, and free!
This glorious future –build it now with me.
As we labor toward that day, don't let difference fall away.
Your uniqueness I will see, and the same, please, see in me.
Thus we're valued, known and named, honored, cherished, loved and claimed. Ref
In this varied universe all existence so diverse.
Filled with wonder, life so queer, steeped in mystery, oft unclear.
Yet together, hand in hand, we'll create that Promised Land. Ref
Liturgy of Word
First Reading Mark (1:14-18) Sandy D
After John’s arrest, Jesus appeared in Galilee proclaiming the Good News of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand! Change your hearts and minds and believe this Good News!”
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw the brothers Simon and Andrew casting their nets into the sea, since they fished by trade. Jesus said to them, “Follow me: I will make you fishers of humankind.” They immediately abandoned their nets and followed Jesus.
These are inspired words from the evangelist named Mark, and the community responds: AMEN!
Second Reading A Message from Joe & Kamala Bridget B-S and Rudy S
I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America.
I do so committed to the values my mother taught me. To the Word that teaches me to walk by faith, and not by sight. And to a vision passed on through generations of Americans. A vision of our nation as a Beloved Community — where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love. [KH]
"Give people light"…are words for our time. It is time for us to come together. United, we can and will overcome this season of darkness in America. So it's with great honor and humility, I accept this nomination for president of the United States of America.
America is at an inflection point, a time of real peril but also extraordinary possibilities. We can choose a path of becoming angrier, less hopeful, more divided, a path of shadow and suspicion or we can choose a … path of hope and light. [JB]
We can build that Beloved Community, one that is strong and decent, just and kind. One in which we all can see ourselves. [KH]
No generation ever knows what history will ask of it. All we can ever know is whether we're ready when that moment arrives. As God's children, each of us have a purpose in our lives. We have a great purpose as a nation to open the doors of opportunity to all Americans, … to be a light to the world once again, and finally to live up to and make real the words written in the sacred documents that founded this nation: “that all men and women are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” [JB]
Make no mistake, the road ahead will not be not easy. We will stumble. We may fall short. But I pledge that we will act boldly and deal with our challenges honestly. We will speak truths. And we will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us. [KH]
American history tells us that it has been in our darkest moments that we've made our greatest progress, that we found the light. I believe we can find the light once more. [JB]
There’s something happening, all across the country. It’s about you. It’s about us. People of all ages and colors and creeds are pushing us to realize the ideals of our nation, pushing us to live the values we share: decency and fairness, justice and love. [KH]
I believe there's only one way forward: as a united America. This is our moment to make hope and history rhyme with passion and purpose. Love is more powerful than hate. Hope is more powerful than fear, and light is more powerful than dark. [JB]
What an awesome responsibility. What an awesome privilege. [KH]
This is our moment. This is our mission. Are you ready? Let us begin. [JB]
These words are excerpted from the speeches addressed to all US Citizens by Jospeh R Biden and Kamala Harris at the DNC in August 2020; let the community respond: may it be so, AMEN!
Third Reading from the prophet Isaiah (11:2-4, 5-6, 9-10) Phillis S
The Spirit of YHWH will rest upon you—
a spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a spirit of counsel and strength,
a spirit of knowledge and reverence for YHWH.
You will delight in obeying YHWH,
and you won’t judge by appearances, or make decisions by hearsay.
You will treat poor people with fairness and will uphold the rights of the downtrodden.
Justice will be the belt around your waist—faithfulness will gird you up.
Then the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat;
the calf and the lion cub will graze together, and a little child will lead them.
There will be no harm, no destruction anywhere in my holy mountain. On that day, the Root of Jesse will serve as a symbol to the peoples of the world, and your home will be a place of honor.
These are inspired words from the Hebrew prophet Isaiah, and the community responds: AMEN!
Shared Homily
Homily starter – Jim M
The story from Mark’s Gospel is certainly about a call. It begins by placing Jesus in Galilee, not Jerusalem the city that represented power, both political and religious. Unlike the version we heard last week, John the Baptizer is no longer on the scene—he’s been arrested. Jesus, who probably was a disciple of John since he sought to be baptized, picks up the mantle, so to speak, and proclaims a message similar to John’s: “this is the time of fulfillment … God’s reign, God’s kin-dom is at hand!” And who does he call to follow him and make it happen? He calls folks who are busy working; working to provide for their children and families. There must have been a real sense of urgency because we are told they immediately followed him…. no questions. Did they even know where they were going?
Fast forward nearly two millennia and we have the appearance of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on the American stage. They each heard a call that shaped a vision of what could be, as we heard from them in our second reading today.
Our third reading is comforting and challenging at the same time. The prophet tells us that God’s Spirit of wisdom, understanding, knowledge and reverence will rest upon us and will give us strength to not make decisions by hearsay or judge by appearances, but to act with justice, treat people fairly and uphold the rights of all those held down. The result is a powerful image of peaceful co-existence—the wolf will lie down with the lamb …. no more harm, destruction or divisiveness!
My friends, perhaps we once had the notion that a call (vocation) was a one-time happening like a call to religious life, ordination or marriage or that hard-earned career. If we’re honest, we have to admit that there have been several calls as we look back over our lives ... calls within callings that give our lives’ purpose and direction.
Joe and Kamala have issued a call for each of us to ‘build back better.’ The moment has arrived … it’s happening! Are we ready to once again be a nation where all are welcome? What do we need to leave behind? Do we, you and I, have a part to play in re-creating God’s vision as the Beloved Community. In Kamala’s own words “what an awesome privilege and responsibility!”
What did you hear? How will you respond?
Liturgy of Eucharist
Statement of Faith Mary Skelly
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.
Terri K: As we prepare for the sacred meal, Dennis will give voice to all the blessings,
cares, and concerns we bring to our tables. Dennis will end with:
O Holy One, you know our needs before we even speak. Yet, we must speak, if only to remind ourselves of our call to care for the least among us. With your grace, may we act justly and love tenderly in addressing the needs of our world, and may we walk humbly on the Earth all the days of our lives. Amen
Jim M: Let us pray the Eucharistic prayer together:
God beyond our words, we gather to give thanks and open our awareness to
the goodness of all creation. You invite us to co-create with you and we
remember our responsibility to serve.
We open this circle to the memory of all of the joyful troubadours and faithful
servants who have gone before us. Joined with them and all creation, we lift our voices and sing: Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy
HOLY ONE, may your presence here open our minds
may your Spirit among us help us to find you are rising up now
like a fountain of grace from the holy ground
here in this place, here in this place.
Holy, holy, holy God of love and majesty
the whole universe speaks of your glory
from the holy ground here in this place, here in this place.
Dotty S: We thank you for Jesus, simple servant, lifting up the lowly,
revealing you as God-With-Us,
and revealing us as one with you and all of creation.
[extend hands in blessing]
We are ever aware of your Spirit in creation. Intensify your Spirit anew in these simple gifts of bread and wine and in us, that we might truly be the Christ presence in our world.
On the night before he faced betrayal and death, Jesus shared supper with the people closest to him. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly, he bent down and washed their feet like the least household servant.
[lifting bread]
Terri K: When he returned to his place at the table, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and offered it to them saying: Take and eat, this is my very self. [pause]
[lifting cup]
Then Jesus took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace and offered it to them saying: Take and drink; whenever you remember me like this, I am among you. [pause]
Jim M: Let us eat and drink; mindful of our call to proclaim and live the gospel of peace and justice. Be nourished!
Communion Song Morning Prayer: I Will Surrender by Karen Drucker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjamx4MtAYw&list=PLxpMz9ImDYa-5q7leDRCpkbebFTfBzxR3&index=7
I will surrender to my greatest highest good.
I will release any fear that blocks my way.
For every step I take is taken in pure faith,
And I am stronger every moment every day.
I will surrender to my greatest highest good.
I will release any fear that blocks my way.
For every step I take is taken in pure faith,
And I am grateful every moment every day.
I will surrender to my greatest highest good.
I will release any fear that blocks my way.
For every step I take is taken in pure faith,
And I am kinder every moment every day.
My mind is willing and my heart is open wide.
I trust my instincts and let Spirit be my guide.
I vow to live a life that's real and true and free,
As I continue walking in this mystery.
There may be walls there may be roadblocks in my way,
But I can choose to take a higher path each day.
And now I know that what I thought was safe and sound,
Was only habit and regret that held me down.
Katie N: Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
O Holy one who is within, around and among us.
We celebrate your many names.
Your wisdom come; your will be done,
unfolding from the depths within us.
Each day you give us all that we need.
You remind us of our limits and we let go.
You support us in our power, and we act with courage.
For you are the dwelling place within us, the empowerment around us,
and the celebration among us, now and forever, Amen.
(Adapted by Miriam Therese Winter)
Dotty S: Recognizing our call, we are willing to do everything Jesus did.
By your own in-dwelling Spirit, may we re-create the living presence of a love that does justice,
of a compassion that heals and liberates,
of a joy that generates hope and a light that illumines people and confronts the darkness of every injustice and inequity.
All honor and glory are yours, O Holy One, forever and ever. Amen!
Terri K: Let us raise our hands and bless each other, as we pray:
May we continue to be the face of God to each other.
May we call each other to extravagant generosity.
May we walk with an awareness of our call as companions on the journey, knowing we are not alone.
Like Jesus, may we be a shining light and a blessing in our time! AMEN.
Closing Song Make A Difference by Denise Gagne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGjlkIkQiVs&list=RDfll8f0gUNNE&index=2
-sung by the Red Deer Children's Choir (directed by Lisa Ward.)
We can make a difference in our world today
Together we can make our world a better place.
When we work together, so much can be done.
If all the children in the world would sing in unison.
We know what’s right, and we know what to do.
The future can be brighter. It’s up to me and you.
Take my hand and join me. Sing along with me.
When all the children join us there will be a change you’ll see.
Do you have the courage? Do you have the pride?
Do you have a vision of a world where all is right?
We know what’s right, and we know what to do.
The future can be brighter. It’s up to me and you.
We can make a difference in our world today
Together we can make our world a better place.
When we work together, so much can be done.
If all the children in the world would sing in unison.
We know what’s right, and we know what to do.
The future can be brighter. It’s up to me and you.
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