Zoom link for video - 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85108095506
ID 851- 0809-5506, Passcode 1066
Dial 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 851 0809 5506
Password: 1066
Theme: “... and let it begin with me”
Welcome and Centering Prayer
Kathryn: Welcome to Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community where everyone is invited to participate in our services. Once again, we gather in this “zoom room,” our current sanctuary, to share the compassionate presence of God with each one of us in this liturgy. Now, at these difficult times, it is more important than ever for us to gather together to support one another as companions on our earthly journeys, each of us with separate paths and different destinies … but all of us are guided by Jesus, our common guide, in our individual ways.
Lee: We certainly invite you to pray the liturgy, although the style is somewhat different than most of us are accustomed to from our experiences in “concrete churches.”
Although we are all encouraged to “say our prayers,” especially where the liturgy text says “ALL,” there are parts where there is some oral control, not unlike what we may have heard earlier… “Don’t talk in church.” Think and pray, yes; talk, not now.
Everyone will be muted (silenced) during the liturgy except for the presiders and readers. During the shared homily, we ask you to unmute yourself when you would like to contribute a comment so that you can be heard by everyone who is with us today. Then, when you are finished, please re-mute yourself again so that the next person has a similar opportunity to speak-and-be-heard as you had. And please have your bread and wine or juice near you so that you may consecrate them for your Communion later in this liturgy.
Kathryn: And let us now focus our minds and our hearts on our knowledge and experiences that we are all formed as one body, made by our one creator. We are all supported and strengthened by the same Spirit of God from whom all our gifts come, and that is for the same purpose: the common good.
And what could be a better way to celebrate our sacred commonality than by singing together our blessedness, expressed to one another in our actions of love and peace.
Opening Song:: Let There Be Peace On Earth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPH4LRASWbo&feature=share
Community Forgiveness
Lee: Compassionate God, to you all hearts are open, no desires unknown, and no secrets hidden. And, our desire is that we may be continually conscious of this in our own lives and recognize this in all that we do with others… our sisters and brothers; they are all members of your Sacred Family.
Joan and All: Please outstretch an arm for this prayer. May we reach deep within ourselves so that we can hear Wisdom’s many messages, faithfully understand them, and compassionately respond to them in all our actions. Loving and understanding God, we ask you to teach us the virtues of pardon and peace so that we may - in turn - learn to extend your gifts of mercy and forgiveness to others. We ask this in the name of the Holy Spirit, our healer and comforter.
Glory to God
Jack D: Now let us take this opportunity now to give glory to our loving Holy One…and do so in song.
(Song) Glory to God, glory, O praise God, Alleluia. Glory to God, glory.
O praise the name of our God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbarqE9o8QY
The Liturgy of the Word
Lee: And now we will listen to the lessons the Scriptures have for us today. Our
First reading is a selection from the book of Proverbs, chapter 9 and verses 1-6. It will be proclaimed to us by Jack Duffy.
Jack D: Wisdom has built a house and in has prepared much food, decanted lots of wine and set a table for the listeners who follow her mission.
Wisdom had sent out the household staff to call out from a spot overlooking the city. That was done so Wisdom could be seen and her simple message heard.
She cried out: “Whoever wants enlightenment, step this way!” …. Wisdom was inviting all who lacked understanding of the message.
“Come, eat my bread and drink the wine that I have prepared for you. Abandon your foolishness so that you may live …and walk the path of understanding.”
This, my brothers and sisters, is the Word of the Spirit. And for it, we all say:
Thanks be to the Spirit of God.
Lee: A second reading relates to our creative and wise use of the words of Wisdom and is from the second book of James, chapter 2 and verses 14 to 18. This will be read to us by Joan Meehan.
Joan: My sisters and brothers, what good is it to profess faith without practicing it? Such faith has no power to save.
If any people are in need of clothes and have no food to live on, and one of you says to them, “Goodbye and good luck. Stay warm and be well fed” without giving them the bare necessities of life, then what good is that? So it is the same with faith… if good deeds do not go with it, faith is dead!
Some of you will say that you have faith, while I have only deeds. Fine. I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds. Now, prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show.
And now, my friends, this is James’ message to his community of readers centuries ago. And we know, it has a real meaning for us today as well. For this wise and enduring description, we say:
“Thanks be to James, and thanks be to God who enlightened him for us.
(Song) Alle, Alle, Alleluia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIHnZn3JjcM
Lee: And today’s gospel will be presented to us by Kathryn. It is from the book of Matthew, his 28th chapter and verses 16 to 20.
Kathryn: The Eleven made their way to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had brought them. And, then, at the sight of the risen Christ, they fell down
in homage -- although some of them doubted what they were seeing.
Then, Jesus came in front of them and said: All authority has been given to me, both in heaven and on earth. So go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.
Baptize them in the name of Abba God, and of the Only Begotten One, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to carry out everything I had commanded you.
And both you and those you are with should know that I am with all of you always, even until the very end of the world!
This is the holy message of Jesus that Matthew has passed on to us. And in gratitude to Matthew for doing we say:
Amen, Amen,….Thanks be to God.
(Song) Alle, Alle, Alleluia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIHnZn3JjcM
Homily Starter and Community Sharing
Lee Breyer
…and let it begin with me
Communal Statements of Faith
Kathryn and ALL: We believe in God, the Sacred Mystery that is beyond all definition and understanding, the creator of the ever-expanding universe, the heart of all that has ever existed and that exists now, or even that will ever exist. God’s divinity infuses everything in the cosmos, making everything in it sacred.
Joan and ALL: We believe in Jesus of Nazareth, the touch of God in earthly humanity, the one who leads us to the fullness of our being. Through his Incarnation, we are a new people called beyond the consequences of our brokenness. It is through Him that we have become a new people – we were born holy, and shall be holy forevermore.
Kathryn and ALL: We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God in the cosmos who inspires our innermost life. She brings the Divine Presence to all those who are searching for meaning and wholeness in their lives. And She is the one who helps each one of us reach deeply within ourselves so that we can find the graces that will bring us healing and energy when our spirits may grow weary.
Jack D and ALL: And we believe that God’s kin-dom is here and now, and will be forever, stretched out all around us for those with eyes to see it, minds to understand it, hearts to receive it, and hands to make it known to everyone.
Prayers of the Community
Lee: We are a people of faith; we believe in the power of prayer. With heads and hearts mindful of God’s unconditional love and care for each and every one of us, let us bring our needs and those of our zoom community to our prayerful attention.
After each intercession, our response is:
R. God of Compassion, we know – and are grateful - that you bless our petitions.
Joan: That those who suffer abuse from their families, their brothers and sisters, anywhere on this planet may be healed and be empowered in their service to their earthly humankind. we pray.
R. God of Compassion, we know – and are grateful - that you bless our petitions.
Jack D: That those suffering from the Coronavirus and its related, unnamed sicknesses may find healing and consolation… we pray. R. God of …..
Joan: That those who are suffering personal hurt, destructions and damages from Hurricane Ida…we pray. R. God of ….
Kathryn: That those 3 thousand plus people who, in the 9-11 attacks we commemorate today, have gone ahead of us and now dwell forever in their heavenly home… we pray. R. God of ….
Lee: And for whom else do we pray at this time today? Let us mention their names in the silence of our hearts now.
This will be ended by : R. God of Compassion, we know – and are grateful – that you bless our concerns.
Joan and ALL: We hold these and all the unspoken intentions in our hearts and we pray for them all. As always, we bring the needs of our sick and suffering brothers and sisters to you, our merciful and comforting God.
Jack D: Loving God, we ask you to strengthen us in our caring of one another and in our works for justice, equality and peace in a world without violence. As always, we make these prayers in the names of Jesus, our Brother and teacher, and of the Sprit, our Sister and wisdom.
Preparation of the Gifts
Kathryn: If it is convenient for you to handle the bread and drink that you have with you for this liturgy, please hold it up a bit where you are for this short prayer.
Kathryn and ALL: Blessed are you, Jesus, through your goodness we have - with us bread and the fruit of the vine, this grain and the plant that the earth has given us and human hands have prepared for our use. We will bless them in your name shortly and - in the Consecration - they will become for us the Bread of Life and our Spiritual Drink.
Eucharistic Prayer
Kathryn: We thank you for the gift of Jesus in history – and the gift of Jesus in faith. On earth his life was moved by his driving vision of your presence in himself and also by his engaging understanding of his mission. He recognized and experienced you in everyone he met. Through the example of his life, he showed us not only how we should live, but also for what was worth even dying.
Lee: 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…his conviction that love is stronger than death. And then, in providing an example of this wisdom for all the people in ages to come, he opened wide his arms on a cross…and died. Then the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, showed us that life is eternal and that love is immortal. The same Spirit 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.
Lee and ALL: 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, broke 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 a moment, then continue….
Kathryn and 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.
Joan and ALL: 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, whom the prophets spoke of in history, is with us now in this cup. Let us proclaim this mystery of our faith.
Jack and ALL: Jesus has died. Christ is risen. The Divine Presence lives in us - and through us - in the world today.
Joan: May all of us who share this sacred meal in our varied locations be strengthened now in our unity by the Spirit. And may that Spirit, that Wisdom, that moved in Jesus move as freely in our lives as She did in that of Jesus.
Kathryn and ALL: God, of blessing and peace, help us to continually grow in love of you and each other. May we always be aware that we are your Body and Blood on earth, reflecting your care and concern for everyone, everywhere. .
We know that you bless your church throughout the world. We, your people, ask for your grace that we may continually grow in our love and caring for Francis, our Pope, Bridget Mary, our Bishop, and for everyone with whom we come in contact, especially those who live on the margins of church and society. They are all our brothers and sisters. We remember also all those, living and dead, who touched our lives and left their footprints on our hearts. We remember especially…
Kathryn and ALL: We believe that the Spirit of God is at work in and among us and will do more than we could ever ask or even imagine. Amen.
The Prayer of Jesus
Lee: Let us pray to God with the words that Jesus taught us.
Lee: Oh Holy One, who is present with us always, the rich and the poor, the well-satisfied and the hungry, the free and the oppressed, the leadership and the marginalized, and everyone in circles of community and especially the excluded, Blessed is your name, our Comforter and our Sustainer.
Lee and ALL: May we rejoice in your kin-dom on Earth.
Kathryn: May we exalt in your kin-dom on Earth and know that your will to be done, in our actions as we struggle with the complexities of this world and try to confront greed and the desires of power in ourselves, in our nation and in the entire global community.
Kathryn and ALL: May we rejoice in your kin-dom on Earth.
Jack D: Give us this day our daily bread…bread that we are called to share…bread that you have given us abundantly, and the bread that we are to distribute fairly, nourishing the health and welfare of all you holy family, with no exception.
Jack D and ALL: May we rejoice in your kin-dom on Earth.
Joan: Forgive us our trespasses…for those times that we have turned away from the struggles of other peoples and countries, and for those times we have thought primarily – and sometimes even only – of our own selves.
Joan and ALL: May your kindom come.
Lee: Lead us not into temptation. The temptation to close our minds, our ears and our eyes to the unfair global systems that create ever-larger and longer-lasting gaps between the rich and the por, the temptation to think it is just too complex and difficult to bring about alternatives.
Lee and ALL: May your kin-dom come.
Jack: Deliver us from evil…the evil of a world where violence happens even in Your name, where the wealth for a few is more important than the economic rights of all, where gates and other barriers between people are so hard to bring down for peace.
Jack and ALL: May your kin-dom com,
Lee: We know you will bring about peace and justice in the blessed time to come…that will be surely in your time; may we have the grace to move our actions toward it in our time as well.
Lee and ALL: And - to that - we say Amen, Amen.
The Passing of Peace
Lee: Jesus, you said to your disciples, “My peace I leave with you; my peace
I give to you.” Look on the faith of all us who share this liturgy on Zoom, we are thankful of Your gift of peace.
Kathryn and ALL: Spirit of God, we know that you bless each one of us and grace us with more than we could ever think of - or even imagine. We ask that you strengthen in us your grace and love so that we may - by our actions - make your kin-dom more obvious to everyone we meet as we serve one another. And we know that you gave each one of us the gift of peace. We ask for the strength of the Spirit that we too might spread that peace to everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions.
We recognize your presence with all of us now as we offer a sign of peace to one another:
Namaste…Namaste…Namaste.
Litany at the Breaking of the Bread
Jack D: Loving God, you call us to Spirit-filled service and to live the Gospel of non-violence in our efforts for peace and justice. We will live justly.
Joan: Loving God, 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.
Jack D: Loving God, you call us to speak truth to power. We will walk humbly with you.
Joan: This is Jesus, who calls each one of us to open doors that are closed and share our bread and wine on the altar of the world. We are invited to eat and drink at this sacred banquet of love.
Kathryn and ALL: When we share our sacred meals in our Zoom “churches,” we - who have always been worthy people – ask you for your grace so that we may strengthen our commitments to living the teachings of Jesus, and to spreading the message of the kin-dom of God everywhere we go. This is the good news of the Gospel.
Kathryn: Let us now consume the Body and Blood of Christ that we celebrated in this liturgy.
Communion Song: Companions on the Journey by Carey Landry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfYZCQXFm0Q&t=25s
Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion
Lee: Let us continue our lives in compassion and peace, holding fast to what is good and rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. May we always be the Face of God to the world, reflecting well God’s compassion and caring presence to everyone we meet. Amen.
Gratitudes – Introductions - Announcements
Closing Prayer
Kathryn and ALL: May God who promises peacemakers a place in the kindom of heaven guide us on our different paths through our pilgrimages on earth. May we do so with God’s gifts of Christ-like love for one another – and with a consuming hunger for justice and nonviolence in ourselves, our homes, our country, and the world in which we live…with no exceptions. With the grace of God, the fellowship of Jesus, and the strength of the Spirit, we believe we can do all this. Let it be so.
Closing Community Blessing
Lee and ALL: (let us extend an arm in mutual blessing) May our Gracious God bless us and our entire Zoom community. We ask this in the name of God, our Creator, in the name of Jesus, our Liberator, and in the name of the Spirit, our Sanctifier, as we minister in love to one another and to all those we meet on our journeys. Be with us, Loving God, as we continue on our paths and follow in the footsteps of Jesus - for we are always and at all times, the Face of God in the world. Amen.
Commissioning
Kathryn and ALL: May each one of us, as we go into the world around us, spread the messages of love and compassionate care to everyone we meet, wherever that may be. May we actually demonstrate the peace that we profess to be… and may it be contagious to all those with those with whom we come in contact.
May we all go in the peace of Christ and our caring love for one another. Let our service continue!
And to this, we all say: Thanks be to God; let it be so.
Closing Song:
Go Make a Difference by Cary Laundry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2vYFN1YNIk
If you would like to add your intercession to our MMOJ Community Prayers book,
Please send an email to jmeehan515@aol.com
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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