Celebration of the Season of Creation #3

Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community

An Inclusive Catholic Community

Celebration of the Season of Creation #3

September 10, 2022

Zoom link for video - 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81534075389?pwd=TTdGY2NxS3AzTW13ODJESkdYME9aUT09

Meeting ID: 815 3407 5389

Passcode: 803326

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Presiders:  Joan Pesce & Dotty Shugrue

Readers: Jim Brandi,  Cheryl Brandi, Beth Ponce, Andrea Seabaugh,

Joan Meehan, Jack McKillip, Mary Montavon, Suzanne Bires

IT:  Peg Bowen, Cheryl Brandi

Theme:  We are summoned to care for all of creation

Welcome to Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota Florida  

Whoever you are, 

Wherever you are, 

Just as you are, 

You are welcome at this table. 

(Integral Christianity by Paul Smith)

Theme:  Listen to the Voice of Creation

Presider:  Dotty Shugrue

As members of humankind, we are called to listen to the voices of creation. These are voices of those who suffer the impacts of climate change. These are voices of people who hold generational wisdom about how to live gratefully within the limits of the land. These are voices of a diminishing diversity of more-than-human species. These are the voices of the wolf, the bobcat, the lion, tiger, bears, all creatures who live and survive off the land: these are the voices of the whales, the dolphins, the salmon, the tuna, the lobster, the snail, all life within the ocean, sea and lake; these are the voices of the sparrow, the blue bird, the humming birds, the dove, the blackbird, the owl, the crow; all creatures of the sky.

Presider:  Joan Pesce

Opening Prayer:  Creator, Source of all that we are, we gather to honor your Creation as an integrated and holy system of plant, animal and human life placed lovingly side by side with water, air, wind, and earth. We pray for the imagination and resolve to establish a supportive ecology so that all of Creation may not just survive but thrive as a continuing sign of your wondrous love.  Amen

Opening Song:   Canticle of the Sun by Marty Haugen

https://youtu.be/CfJ6WJPUff8

LITURGY OF THE WORD

Reader:  Jim Brandi

A passage inspired by Celtic theologian Pelagius (360-418) adapted:

Look at the animals roaming the forest: God’s spirit dwells within them. Look at the birds flying across the sky: God’s spirit dwells within them. Look at the tiny insects crawling in the grass: God’s spirit dwells within them. Look at the fish in the river and sea: God’s spirit dwells within them. There is no creature on earth in whom God is absent.  When God pronounced that his creation was good, it was not only that his hand had fashioned every creature; it was that his breath had brought every creature to life. Look too at the great trees of the forest; look even at your crops. God’s spirit is present within all plants as well. The presence of God’s spirit in all living things is what makes them beautiful; and if we look with God’s eyes, nothing on the earth is ugly.  Go out into the natural world and look with God’s eyes; listen with God’s ears; know your place within God’s good creation.

These are the inspired words of Pelagius, Celtic theologian, and we affirm them by saying: So Be It

Reader:  Beth Ponce

Second Reading:  Earth Mother, Star Mother by Starwalk 

Earth mother, star mother,  you who are  called  by a thousand names, may all remember  we are cells in your body  and dance together. You are the grain and  the loaf  that sustains us each day,  and as you are patient  with our struggles to learn  so shall we be patient  with ourselves and each other.  We are the radiant light  and sacred dark - the balance - you are the embrace that heartens and the freedom beyond fear. Within you we are born  we grow, live, and die -   you bring us around the circle  to rebirth  within us you dance  forever. These are inspired words of Starwalk, and we affirm them by saying: Let it be so! Presider:  Joan Pesce Gospel:   John 1: 1-5 as written in A New New Testament In the beginning the Word was and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. The Word was in the beginning with God, through the Word all things came into being.  Nothing came into being apart from the Word. That which came into being in the Word was life and the life was the light of humanity, and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness never overpowered it. These are the inspired words of the apostle called John, and the community affirms them by saying:   Let it be so! Celtic Alleluia https://youtu.be/o1rc7ojQtJU Shared Homily

Prayer Leader:  Andrea Seabaugh

Our Statement of Faith  

 
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. 

Prayers of the Community

Presider: Joan Pesce  

As we prepare for this sacred meal, and as we celebrate the beauty of creation, we bring to this table all concerns we hold in our hearts.

We bring to this table our cares for all life, and we pray that the people of the earth will be more sensitive and committed to taking care of all life on our planet. 

We bring to the table the keepers of flowers, trees, plants, and all growing things that make our earth beautiful.

We bring to the table the protectors of all wild animals working to let them live freely on our earth.

We bring to the table all those who suffer the impact of our neglect of our Earth.

Joan M. will now share with us the prayer requests received:

ALL:  SO BE IT!

Prayer Leader:  Mary Montavon

Please join us, with arms raised, in praying our Eucharistic Prayer. 

Sacred Spirit within us, surrounding us, we lift our hearts in praise and thanksgiving that we are One with you and with one another.  Open our hearts that we may hear the call of all living things in pain, the cries of all animals, the whispers of the wind, the moaning of our earth.   Le us all believe in our power to make all things new.

Holy, Holy:  Here in This Place by Christopher Grundy

https://youtu.be/sgkWXOSGmOQ

Prayer Leader:  Joan Meehan

Creator of the whole universe, we glory in the environment, especially forests that surround us. May we have the vision and strength to protect all ecosystems and the whole of Your creation, which have been corrupted by human exploitation, pollution, and destruction, so that the all of creation may be renewed and made whole. 

We join with the earth and with each other to bring new life to the land, to restore the waters, to refresh the air.

We join with the earth and with each other to renew the forests, to care for the plants, to protect the creatures.

We join with the earth and with each other to celebrate the seas, to rejoice in the sunlight, to sing the song of the stars.

We join as many and diverse expressions of one loving mystery: for the healing of the earth and the renewal of life. 

Presider:  Dotty Shugrue:  Together we call Sacred Spirit upon these gifts of the earth, bread and wine, as we bless them and remember our call to be the Body of Christ in the world. 

On the night before he died, he sat at a table with his friends, both women and men, and relived with them his work, his teaching and wisdom of the universe. Then he went among them as a servant, washing their feet, touching their hearts.  

When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread, and offered it to them saying:  

Take and eat, this is my very self.

Pause

Then he took the cup of blessing, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying: 

Take and drink. 

Whenever you remember me like this, 

I am among you. 

Pause

What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives, as we share Communion, we will become Communion, both love’s nourishment and love’s challenge

Please receive the blessed bread and cup with the words, “I am a caretaker of Creation”. 

Communion Meditation: So, Will I by Hillsong United

https://youtu.be/C2U7ffUM5Ec 

Prayer Leader:  Jack McKillip

Let us pray in the manner that Jesus taught his companions to pray:

O Holy One, you are 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, Miriam Therese Winter, MMS)

Prayer Leader: Cheryl Brandi

Mystery of Life present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures, embrace with tenderness all that exists. May the power of divine love rain down upon us, that we may protect life and beauty. Help us to reach out to the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards divine light and love. We are thankful for the pulse of life that fills us each day. May we be encouraged and strengthened for our struggle for justice, love, and peace in the world.

INTRODUCTIONS  --  THANKSGIVINGS – ANNOUNCEMENTS

Prayer Leader:  Suzanne Bires

Let us raise our hands and pray our closing blessing:

Go out from this place, ready to hear creation’s call. 

Go out, ready to answer, “I am here, standing up for you!” 

And as you go, know that the love of Divine Mystery surrounds you, 

the peace of Christ empowers you, 

and the companionship of the Spirit moves within you 

and all of creation, now and always. 

AMEN

Closing Song:  One Ohana by Marty Haugen

https://youtu.be/NMP-j31Yr88

_______________________________

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Mailing Address:

Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community

St Andrew UCC, 6908 Beneva Rd, Sarasota, FL 34238

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