Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81534075389?pwd=TTdGY2NxS3AzTW13ODJESkdYME9aUT09
Meeting ID: 815 3407 5389
Passcode: 803326
Presiders: Kathryn Shea and Jerry Bires
Readers: Pat Lewis and Mary Al Gagnon
Prayer Leaders: Lee Breyer and Suzanne Bires
Music Ministers: Linda Lee and Rick Miller
IT: Cheryl Brandi
Theme: Let’s transform our world
Welcome and Gathering
Jerry: Welcome to our Zoom liturgy at Mary Mother of Jesus, an inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota, Florida.
-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.
-Please have bread and wine/juice nearby as we pray our Eucharistic prayer.
-Our theme today is, “Let’s transform our world.”
Whoever you are,
Wherever you are,
Just as you are,
You are welcome at this table. (Integral Christianity by Paul Smith)
Let us focus our minds and our hearts on our knowledge that we are all one, one world, brought together at this time to transform ourselves and our world through love; love for our Holy One, love for our neighbors, love for ourselves, and love for our planet. Let us begin our liturgy by expressing this love through song.
Welcoming Song: The Transfiguration of Jesus original song - YouTube
Opening Prayer
Kathryn: Oh Holy One, we delight that you are here with us today as we gather with one another and as we share this sacred space and celebrate our oneness in and with You. You told us that “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am among them.” We are grateful you are among us today during these very difficult times on our planet Earth. As we gather today, may we be ever more mindful of our call and responsibility to Be transformed so that we can truly love one another.
”It is ours to praise the beauty of the world, even as we discern the torn world. For nothing is whole that is not first rent and out of the torn we make it whole again. May we live with the promise in creation’s lap, redemption budding in our hands.” (Marcia Falk). AMEN.
Reconciliation Rite
Pat: Let us remember we are born in Divine Blessing and that we are perfect in the Holy One’s eyes. Let us also realize, and forgive ourselves, for not always acting in ways of Divine Blessing, both towards ourselves and others. Now, let us imagine all of the ways we can be brightly lit by a love that heals and transforms us as we evolve and grow in awareness of our divinity and our humanity.
(Pause for several moments…… Now place hand over your heart as we say the Ho’oponopono prayer)
All: I love you. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.
Liturgy of the Word
Mary Al: First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a
The LORD said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.
“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.”
Abram went as the LORD directed him.
Responsorial: Psalm 33 - Lord, Let Your Mercy Be On Us - Francesca LaRosa
Psalm 33 - Lord, Let Your Mercy Be On Us - Francesca LaRosa (Lyric Video) - YouTube
Suzanne: Second Reading: Transfigured from Unfolding Light
Sometimes someone changes and you get to see it.
And sometimes you finally see what was always there.
Maybe this is the real grace of transfiguration,
not that thing change but that our seeing does.
that we see with eyes of wonder,
that we see divine presence in this world,
that we see resurrection in every death,.
see the gleam that is each person, even the doomed,
that we see them beyond the limits of their flesh,
See them in company with saints, see them divine,
risen already from whatever deaths and disappointments
They will endure, still shining. We see with eyes of mercy.
Maybe the miracle is not in the light that enters our eyes
But the light that shines out from them.
Pray that by the grace of the God who shines
our eyes may be transfigured.
Spirt of the Living God
Lee: Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9
Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
These are the words of the Gospel writer known as Mathew, and we affirm them by saying, Amen.
Spirt of the Living God
Homily Starter – Kathryn
Community Sharing
Communal Statement of Faith
Pat and ALL: 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.
Mary Al and ALL: 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 and for the Community
Suzanne: We now bring our prayer intentions to the Table.
Our response is: ALL: You heal us as we awaken to your call.
We pray for the devastated families of those still suffering from hurricanes and all the natural disasters in our world. R
We pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia that they may live in peace without fear and that justice will prevail for all. R
We pray that our political leaders will put the flourishing of all people before power and greed.
ALL: You heal us as we awaken to your call.
We pray for our MMOJ intentions on our community prayer list. (Joan shares)
Our response is: You heal us as we awaken to your call.
For what else should we pray?
Our response is: You heal us as we awaken to your call.
Suzanne: Holy Mystery may we respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers in loving prayer and solidarity. Amen
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Lee:: O Holy One, you have been called by many names by many people in the centuries of our planet’s life. Yet, no name truly defines you or describes you. We celebrate you as the marvelous, loving energy of life who caused us and our world to be. We celebrate you as the Source of light and life and love, and we celebrate your presence and all-ways care.
Lee:: Please join in praying the Eucharistic prayer together: (Eucharistic prayer taken from the work of Diarmuid O’Murchu and Jay Murnane, adapted)
Lee and All: O Holy One, we stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history – a time when humanity must choose its future.
As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future holds both peril and great promise.
May we recognize that, in the midst of a magnificent diversity of cultures and life forms, we are one human family and one Earth and world community with a common destiny.
United with our vast universe, with our Mother-Planet and her people everywhere, with one another and You, Holy One, our spirits dance and sing this song of praise:
Song: Holy, Holy, Holy (Karen Drucker)
Pat: We give grateful thanks for those who came before us, for all those who gave from their hearts, who gave from their lives, that there might be a better world, a safer world, a kinder world, we pray for peace in their name.
And for the children, that they may live, that they may have children of their own and that it will go on - this great blossoming that is meant to go on and on – we pray for peace, in their name.
And for all peoples of this earth who have no voice in this,
For the animals that have no voice in this,
For the plants, the trees, the flowers that have no voice in this,
For all who share this earth with us, we pray for peace in their name.
Mary AL: We thank you for our brother, Jesus. He showed us so simply, so tenderly, how the world is in our hands. He had nothing in this world but your love, companions on the journey, and his very self. Together, that was more than enough, and that remains our clarity in the midst of confusion: the miracle of healing, new hope, nurturance, nourishment, liberation and life.
(Please extend your hands in blessing)
Jerry: Your Spirit is upon the gifts of this Eucharistic table, bread of the grain and wine of the grape, and they are gifts of wisdom, light and truth which remind us of our call to be the body of Christ to the world.
On the night before he faced his own death and for the sake of living fully, Jesus sat at the Seder supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly within them, he bent down and washed their feet.
Jerry and ALL: When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the Passover bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying:
Take and eat; this is my very self.
(pause)
Kathryn and ALL: He then raised high the cup of blessing, spoke the grace, and offered them the wine saying:
Take and drink of the covenant made new again through my life,
for you and for everyone, for liberation from every oppression.
Whenever you do this, Re-member me and all that I have taught you!
(pause)
Lee: The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead showed us, by Her action, that life is eternal and that love is immortal. Loving Source of All, we have looked for others to save us and to save our world. Yet, we are called, and consecrated and sent into the world to establish justice and show the blessed fulfillment that comes with simplicity and the giving of ourselves in love. We will make new our commitment to the harmony of the original vision of creation.
Suzanne: We will open up wide all that has been closed about us, and our small circles. Like Jesus, in all openness, we will be filled with your own Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
For it is through learning to live as he lived,
And why he lived,
And for whom he lived,
That we awaken to your Spirit within,
Moving us to worship you truly,
O Holy One,
At this time and all time and in all ways.
And we say yes to You!
Great Amen: Linda Lee Miller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy76fpfkNsg
The Abba Prayer
Kathryn:
Gracious Spirit,
Who loves us like a mother,
Whose realm is blooming among us now.
And within.
We pray that your compassion guide us in every action.
Give us what we need for each day,
and help us to be satisfied with the miracle of that alone.
Forgiver, whose embrace brings us to wholeness without our asking,
May we reconcile ourselves to one another in humility.
And may we cancel the crushing debts that imprison our neighbours
So that communities of joy and health may flourish.
May we neither profit from nor ignore evil.
But ever work to thwart it with non-violence
As we co-create the realm of peace in this world.
Now and each day.
Amen. (Bret Hesla/wsj)
Sign of Peace:
Jerry:
Eternal wellspring of peace-
May we be drenched with the longing for peace
That we may give ourselves over
As the earth to the rain, to the dew,
Until peace overflows our lives
As living waters overflow the seas. (Marcia Falk)
Jesus said to his disciples, “My peace I leave you. My peace I give you.” Let us now extend a sign of peace to one another as we say, “Namaste, Namaste, Namaste.”
Mary Al: Please join in praying the Litany for the Breaking of the Bread:
Mary Al and ALL: Holy One, You call us to speak truth to power; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to live the Gospel of healing and justice; we will do so. Holy One, You call us to be Your presence in the world; we will do so.
Mary AL: This is the bread of life and the cup of blessing. Blessed are we who are called to Christ’s table.
Pat and All: What we have heard with our ears, we will live with our lives. As we share communion, we become communion, both Love’s nourishment and Love’s challenge.
Please receive/share Eucharist now, saying: “You are the bread of life.” And “You are the cup of compassion.”
Communion Song: Transform us as You Transfigured
Transform us as You Transfigured - YouTube
Introductions/Thanksgiving/Announcements
Closing Prayer
Jerry: Oh Holy One, we go forth in our calling to serve and committed to our own spiritual transformation so that we might work together to transform our earth to one of peace, equality, and justice for all. Timeless One, Your eternal love wraps courage around us as we enter into your invitation to bring your Light into the world. Your ageless presence draws us to you as we step forward, ready to embrace where you lead us. Your sustaining peace rests within our every heartbeat and accompanies us into the unknown future. We have no fear. We are forever grateful to live in your presence and your love. Amen.
Community Blessing
Kathryn: Please raise your hands in blessing: And together with our arms extended to one another as we say,
May we find still moments, quiet places within to refresh our soul;
May we cease our questions, inner debates, and let us meditate in Your goodness instead,
May we nurture our courage, recall moments of strength, and days of fortitude.
May we turn to the light in all of us, to feel the warmth of Your touch, our own face and fingers outstretched;
May we be alive, alive in Your sight and be Your face in our world.
(adapted from Chaim Stern/Mishkan T’filah)
ALL: Thanks be to God. Let it be so! Alleluia! Shalom.
Closing Song: The Handing Over Time - By Carrie Newcomer & Gary Walters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTiFpbafj6k
NEW PO BOX:
Please send donations to:
Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community
5342 Clark Road #3079
Sarasota, FL 34233
Please send intention for our community prayer book to Joan Meehan.
